Abstract:
The invention generally relates to a shopping cart that could have: (i) a slidably movable lower container; (ii) a telescoping container; (iii) dual handles; (iv) a stand having a number of holders and a writing surface formed therein; (v) a wheel having a brake coupled thereto; (vi) a generally A-shaped frame; and/or (vii) a retractable child seat assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/939,742 filed May 23, 2007, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this patent application in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to a shopping cart. More particularly, the shopping cart could have: (i) a slidably movable lower container; (ii) a telescoping container; (iii) dual handles; (iv) a stand having a number of holders and a writing surface formed therein; (v) a wheel having a brake coupled thereto; (vi) a generally A-shaped frame; and/or (vii) a retractable child seat assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shopping carts are known in the art and generally include a frame, a main container, wheel assemblies and a handle for pushing the cart. The average shopper is buying more fresh produce than in years past, yet many shopping carts remain essentially the same with one main container. The main container typically has a limited size child seat assembly that is used in most cases to transport a child or a shopper&#39;s personal belongings. Shoppers without children often place fragile items, such as produce, in the child seat assembly in order to protect the produce from heavier items. 
     The majority of the produce is placed inside the main container due to the limited size of the child seat assembly. Such placement causes the shopper to risk damage to the produce or to constantly relocate the produce to prevent damage as heavier items are placed in the main container. Also, most grocery stores are designed so the shopper begins shopping in the produce department. While the produce department may make the store look more appealing by stimulating the senses of shoppers, the layout also increases the risk of produce being crushed by heavier items placed in the main container as the shopper moves through the remaining aisles of the grocery store. 
     The shopping cart is also oftentimes difficult to maneuver throughout the grocery store when many shoppers are in the store as well. The shopping cart is additionally hard to move around the grocery store when the aisles are closely spaced together. The shopping cart is also tricky to steer in various directions due to the dimensions of the main container and the wheel base. 
     Accordingly, a need exists in the art for shopping carts that have additional containers. 
     A need also exists in the art for shopping carts that have greater maneuverability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a shopping cart that has additional containers. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a shopping cart that has greater maneuverability. 
     Certain objects of the invention are achieved by providing a shopping cart having a frame. A number of front wheel assemblies and a number of rear wheel assemblies support the frame. A main container is coupled to the frame and a mounting assembly is coupled to the frame. A lower container is slidably coupled to the mounting assembly. The main container includes a base, a front, a rear and side walls. The front, the rear and the side walls are coupled together and extend upward from the base. The lower container is structured to be slidably moved in rearward and/or forward directions. 
     Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a shopping cart having a frame. A number of front wheel assemblies and a number of rear wheel assemblies support the frame. A main container is coupled to the frame and a telescoping container is located adjacent to a front of the main container. The main container includes a base, the front, a rear and side walls. The front, the rear and the side walls are coupled together and extend upward from the base. The telescoping container is slidably coupled to an upper end of the side walls and the telescoping container is structured to be slidably moved forward. 
     Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a shopping cart having a frame. A number of front wheel assemblies and a number of rear wheel assemblies support the frame. A rear handle is coupled to the frame and a main container is coupled to the frame. A front handle is coupled to the main container. The main container includes a base, a front, a rear and side walls. The front, the rear and the side walls are coupled together and extend upward from the base. The front handle is coupled to the front of the main container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a shopping cart of the invention that shows, among other elements, a lower container, a front handle and a telescoping container; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1  showing the lower container which has been slidably moved in a rearward direction; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1  showing the lower container which has been slidably moved in a forward direction; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1  showing the telescoping container which has been slidably moved in a forward direction; and 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of two shopping carts of the invention shown nested together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “axial”, “top”, “bottom”, “aft”, “behind”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing FIGS. or as it is oriented when resting upright on a flat horizontal surface. However, it is to be understood that the shopping cart may assume various alternative configurations when the invention is moved about or the shopping cart is resting in a non-upright position. It is also to be understood that the specific elements illustrated in the FIGS. and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Therefore, specific dimensions, orientations and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting. 
     As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality). As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “attached”, “connected”, “coupled”, or “engaged” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a shopping cart  10  is shown. The shopping cart  10  includes a frame  12 , a number of front wheel assemblies  14  and a number of rear wheel assemblies  16  supporting the frame  12 , a rear handle  18  coupled to the frame  12 , and a main container  20 , for holding items (not shown), coupled to the frame  12 . The main container  20  includes a base  22 , and a spaced apart front  24 , rear  26  and opposing side walls  28  and  30 , which are coupled together and extend upward from the base  22 . 
     The main container  20  preferably has a reduced length than a main container found in the prior art. A main container  20  with reduced length provides the shopping cart  10  with greater maneuverability. The main container  20  preferably is also wider than the main container found in the prior art. A wider main container  20  provides the shopping cart  10  with greater safety. 
     The main container  20  is additionally shallower than the main container found in the prior art. A shallower main container  20  provides the shopping cart  10  with easier access. 
     The frame  12  of the shopping cart  10  has the rear handle  18  coupled thereto, a number of upstanding support members  32  and a number of curved support members  34 . The curved support members  34  are coupled to the upstanding support members  32 . The curved support members  34  provide the shopping cart  10  with an aesthetically appealing appearance. The upstanding support members  32  are coupled to the rear wheel assemblies  16 . The curved support members  34  are coupled to the front wheel assemblies  14 . The frame  12  also has a bottom support member  36  that is structured to support a portion of the main container  20 . In the depicted embodiment, the bottom support member  36  is four-sided in shape, generally lies in a horizontal plane and is coupled to the upstanding support members  32  and the curved support members  34 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame  12  has a generally A-shaped appearance in a side view of the frame  12 . The frame  12  comprising the upstanding support members  32 , curved support members  34  and bottom support member  36  provide the generally A-shaped appearance in a side view of such elements. The A-shaped appearance provides the shopping cart  10  with an aesthetically appealing appearance. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , each member of the upstanding support members  32  forms an angle with the bottom support member  36 . The upstanding support members  32  are each formed of a tubular member bent into portions including a first portion  38  and an intermediate portion  40 . The first portion  38  of each member of the upstanding support members  32  is coupled to one of the rear wheel assemblies  16  at one end and each first portion  38  extends at an angle towards the front  24  of the main container  20  until reaching the bottom support member  36 . 
     After reaching the bottom support member  36 , each member of the upstanding support members  32  then bends away from the front  24  of the shopping cart  10  at an angle forming the intermediate portion  40 . Each member of the curved support members  34  is bent and may be coupled together. The curved support members  34  provide an upper surface to which the rear handle  18  could be coupled thereto. 
     As is generally known in the art, the frame  12  is supported by a plurality of wheel assemblies. In general, the shopping cart  10  includes the front wheel assemblies  14  and the rear wheel assemblies  16 . The front wheel assemblies  14  and the rear wheel assemblies  16  could include a castor  42 , a U-shaped bracket  44 , and a wheel  46 . At least one of the rear wheel assemblies  16  may be provided with a brake  48  coupled thereto that is structured to stop movement of the rear wheel assemblies  16 . 
     As is known in the art, each U-shaped bracket  44  for a respective castor  42  is adapted to pivot about a generally vertical axis, thereby allowing the castor  42  to swivel. In addition, each U-shaped bracket  44  includes a shaft (not shown) which extends horizontally through the U-shaped bracket  44  defining an axis about which the wheel  46  rotates. The wheels  46  have a wider wheel base than the wheel base of wheels found in the prior art. A wider wheel base provides the shopping cart  10  with greater safety. Each wheel  46  in the rear wheel assemblies  16  includes a rear wheel  50  and a rear shaft  52 . The rear shaft  52  extends horizontally through the rear wheel  50  and couples the rear wheel  50  to one of the upstanding support members  32 , thereby providing a connection between the rear wheel  50  and the upstanding support members  32  and providing an axis about which the rear wheel  50  can rotate. 
     The shopping cart  10 , as mentioned above, includes a main container  20 . The main container  20  can be formed of metal, plastic, or a metal/plastic combination. The main container  20  can be formed from an open latticework structure, an intersecting bar structure, solid sheets of material or combinations thereof. The main container  20  is adapted to be supported by the frame  12  and is coupled to the upstanding support members  32 , the curved support members  34  and the bottom support member  36 . 
     In addition, the rear  26  of the main container  20  includes a number of leg apertures  54  associated with a retractable child seat assembly  56  that is coupled to the main container  20 . The child seat assembly  56  may be optionally provided with a padded cushion  58  ( FIG. 2 ). The child seat assembly  56  is generally formed from a back portion  60  and a seat portion  62  and may be retractable. The back portion  60  is coupled to the seat portion  62 . The seat portion  62  is coupled to approximately the middle of the rear  26  of the main container  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an upper portion of the rear  26  is pivotally attached to the frame  12 . Specifically, the upper portion of the rear  26  is pivotally attached to the upstanding support member  32 . The pivotal connection allows the retractable child seat assembly  56  to be moved upwardly and out of the main container  20  to allow one shopping cart  10  to nest within another shopping cart  10  as shown in  FIG. 6 . When the shopping carts  10  are not in use by shoppers, such nesting is advantageous in minimizing the amount of floor space consumed by the shopping carts  10 . 
     Alternatively, the shopping cart  10  could be provided with a retractable shopping cart assembly (not shown) of the type known in the art. Such a retractable child seat assembly is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,102 which is incorporated by reference into this patent application as if fully set forth herein. That retractable child seat assembly is typically formed from a back portion and a seat portion. The back portion is pivotally connected to the base where the base meets the rear. The seat portion is pivotally connected to the back portion and the rear of the main container. The pivotal connection allows the retractable child seat assembly to be stowed when not in use. 
     In operation, the back portion of the child seat assembly can be pushed away from the rear of the main container, thereby placing the child seat assembly in an open position. When in the open position, the child seat assembly can hold a child or personal items. When not in use, the back portion of the child seat assembly can be pulled towards the rear of the main container, thereby placing the child seat assembly in a stowed position. By placing the child seat assembly in a stowed position, a shopper can free up additional space in the main container. Since the structure and function of such a retractable child seat assembly is generally known in the art, the retractable child seat assembly will not be described in further detail. 
     The shopping cart  10  has a lower container  64  for holding additional items. The lower container  64  eliminates the use of a lower rack in the shopping cart  10  of the invention. In the prior art, a shopping cart is typically provided with a lower rack. The shopping cart  10  of the invention is safer due to the elimination of the lower rack. 
     The lower container  64  is slidably coupled to a mounting assembly  66 . The mounting assembly  66  is located below and adjacent to the main container  20  and the bottom support member  36 . The mounting assembly  66  is coupled to the frame  12 . The mounting assembly  66  is coupled to the upstanding support members  32  and the curved support members  34 . The lower container  64  is located below and adjacent to the main container  20  and the bottom support member  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the lower container  64  is structured to be slidably moved in rearward and forward directions in order for the shopper to advantageously easily access the lower container  64  to place items in the lower container  64 . The easy access provided by the slidable movement of the lower container  64  is an ergonomic and convenient improvement over a lower rack used in the prior art. Stops (not shown) may be provided to limit movement of the lower container  64  in only a single direction (i.e., forward or rearward). 
     The lower container  64  also has a number of notches  68  provided therein in order for the shopper to place his or her fingers in the notches  68  in order to grasp the lower container  64  and move the lower container  64  rearwardly or forwardly. Optionally, the shopper could remove the lower container  64  from the shopping cart  10  if desired. 
     The lower container  64  includes a base  70 , and a spaced apart front  72 , rear  74  and opposing side walls  76  and  78 , which are coupled together and extend upward from the base  70  to yield a preselected container volume. One of the notches  68  is provided in the front  72  and the other one of the notches  68  is provided in the rear  74 . The preselected container volume advantageously provides the shopping cart  10  of the invention with a larger capacity over the prior art lower rack approach. In the invention, the lower container  64  could have a preselected volume whereas the prior art lower rack approach, which lacks any type of side support, does not have a volume. The lower container  64  could be made from a transparent material which would assist in eliminating grocery store losses. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a stand  80  may be placed adjacent to the rear handle  18 . Optionally, the stand  80  may be an integrally formed component (not shown) of the rear handle  18 . In the depicted embodiment, the stand  80  is shown coupled to the frame  12  and the curved support members  34 . The stand  80  could be made of metal, plastic, or a metal/plastic combination. A number of holders  82  are formed in the stand  80 . The holders  82  are structured for receiving cups, flowers, change, or other items. Optionally, a writing surface  84  is formed in the stand  80 . The writing surface  84  is located adjacent to the number of holders  82 . The writing surface  84  is optionally in the form of a recess that is located adjacent to the number of holders  82  that provides a convenient surface for the shopper to take notes on a piece of paper (not shown) or to cross off items listed on the piece of paper once the sought after items are deposited in the shopping cart  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a front handle  86  may be provided in opposed relation to the rear handle  18 . The front handle  86  is coupled to an upper end of the front  24  of the main container  20 . The front handle  86  provides the shopper with an additional graspable surface to allow for greater maneuverability of the shopping cart  10  around a grocery store. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the main container  20  could be provided with a divider  88  for segregating various items that the shopper places in the main container  20 . The divider could have a preselected height on the order of about 7 inches to about 8 inches. The divider  88  advantageously allows a shopper to organize the main container  20 . 
     A telescoping container  90  could also be located adjacent to the front  24  of the main container  20 . The telescoping container  90  is slidably coupled to an upper portion of the side walls  28 ,  30 . The telescoping container  90  surrounds a portion or all of the front  24  and a portion of the side walls  28 ,  30 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the telescoping container  90  may be slidably moved in a forward direction in order for the shopper to access the telescoping container  90  to place items in the telescoping container  90 . As desired, the telescoping container  90  advantageously increases the overall space of the shopping cart  10  to provide additional room for depositing items. The telescoping container  90  adds additional preselected volume to the main container  20  when the telescoping container  90  is extended whereas a prior art main container does not have such a means for adding additional volume to the prior art main container. 
     The telescoping container  90  includes a base  92 , and a spaced apart front  94  and opposing side walls  96  and  98 , which are coupled together and extend upward from the base  92 . The front  24  of the main container  20  provides support for a rear of the telescoping container  90  when the telescoping container  90  has been extended in a forward direction and is in use by the shopper. The front  24  of the main container  20  provides that support since the telescoping container  90  does not have an integrally formed rear that is coupled to the base  92  and the side walls  96 ,  98  of the telescoping container  90 . The front  94  of the telescoping container  90  includes a projection  100  that defines a suitably sized recess to allow a shopper to insert a number of fingers therein in order to slidably move the telescoping container  90  in a forward direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the upper portion of the rear  26  is pivotally attached to the frame  12  as was described above. The pivotal connection allows the retractable child seat assembly  56  to be moved upwardly and out of the main container  20  to allow one shopping cart  10  to nest within another shopping cart  10 . Also, the rear  74  of the lower container  64  is pivotally attached to the base  70  and the side walls  76 ,  78  of the lower container  64 . The pivotal connection allows the rear  74  to be folded downward in a collapsed position within the lower container  64  in order to allow one lower container  64  to nest within another lower container  64 . When the shopping carts  10  are not in use by shoppers, such nesting is advantageous in minimizing the amount of floor space consumed by the shopping carts  10 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended hereto and any and all equivalents thereto.