Patent Publication Number: US-2023150561-A1

Title: Personal shopping cart and method of use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/987,315, filed on 2020 Aug. 6, which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/883,981, filed on 2019 Aug. 7, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     When purchasing shopping items from a store, shopping items are typically transported from one compartment to another. For example, a purchaser typically rolls a shopping cart around a store, placing the shopping items in a basket of the shopping cart. The purchaser then rolls the shopping cart to a purchasing station and places the shopping items on a movable belt which then advances towards a checkout machine to inventory the purchases. The shopping items are then typically placed in bags, which are then placed back into the shopping cart which is rolled to a vehicle. The shopping bags containing the shopping items are then moved from the shopping cart to the vehicle for transport. The inconvenience of this system is compounded by the fact that many stores no longer provide shopping bags, requiring a purchaser to first transport shopping bags from the vehicle to the shopping cart before collecting the shopping items within the shopping cart. 
     There is a need for improved systems and methods for transporting shopping items to minimize the movement of shopping items from one compartment or shopping bag to another. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A modular shopping cart is disclosed having a bottom basket and one or more upper baskets. The bottom basket has a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall to form a compartment which can hold shopping items. The bottom basket has a plurality of wheels that extend downwardly to allow the shopping cart to roll around in a store, such as a grocery store. Modular shopping carts with baskets that can be taken apart and put back together allow a user to use the same shopping cart baskets to store shopping containers in their vehicle, to form a shopping cart for use in a store, to separate shopping items in different sections during shopping, to easily deposit shopping items in a checkout area for a shopping transaction, to easily store the shopping items in a vehicle, and to easily transport the shopping areas from their vehicle to their home. 
     An upper basket of the modular shopping cart can have a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall to form a compartment which can hold shopping items. A portion of the bottom wall of the upper basket could be configured to fold to define an access pathway between the upper and lower sides of the upper basket, allowing a user to access the bottom basket via the access pathway. The upper baskets could be stacked on top of one another, allowing a user to access the bottom basket via a plurality of access pathways. In a preferred embodiment, at least two upper baskets are stacked above the bottom basket, forming stacked top, middle, and bottom baskets. The bottom wall of an upper basket preferably has one or more panels that are pivotally attached to a lower edge portion of the upper basket, allowing a portion of the bottom wall to fold upwards to be parallel with a side wall in a retracted position, and substantially perpendicular with the side wall in a deployed position. One or more locks could be used to lock portions of the bottom wall in either the retracted or deployed position. 
     Each of the upper baskets are preferably removably engageable to a lower basket via an attachment mechanism to hold the baskets in place relative to one another, such that when the baskets are engaged to one another, pushing horizontally on the uppermost basket causes the bottom basket to roll along the plurality of wheels. 
     Each of the baskets could be fabricated from any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, carbon fiber, wood, or combinations thereof. The baskets could be sized and shaped to be any suitable position. A width of each of the baskets is preferably equal to, or at most, a width of a conveyor belt in a cashier&#39;s aisle of a grocery store, such as 18 inches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a front perspective view of an exemplary modular shopping cart. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 C  is a front plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 D  is a rear plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 E  shows a cross-sectional area of an exemplary lower basket having an upper bracket with a taper and a support with the upper basket in an up position. 
         FIG.  1 F  shows a cross-sectional area of the exemplary lower basket having an upper bracket with the taper and the support with the upper basket lowered into the upper bracket. 
         FIG.  2 A  is an exploded side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  2 B  is an exploded perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  3 A  is an exploded side plan view of an alternative modular shopping cart. 
         FIG.  3 B  is an exploded perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4 A  is a front cross-sectional plan view of the top basket of the shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  having a false bottom right side in a deployed position. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a front perspective cross-sectional view of the top basket of  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  is a front cross-sectional plan view of the top basket of  FIG.  4 A  having a false bottom right side in a partially raised position. 
         FIG.  5 B  is a front perspective cross-sectional view of the top basket of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  6 A  is a front cross-sectional plan view of the top basket of  FIG.  4 A  having the false bottom right side in a retracted position. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a front perspective cross-sectional view of the top basket of  FIG.  6 A . 
         FIG.  7 A  is a front perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  having a cross-sectional marker having false bottoms of the top basket and the middle basket in engaged positions. 
         FIG.  7 B  is a cross-sectional plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  7 A  along the cross-sectional marker. 
         FIG.  7 C  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  7 A  along the cross-sectional marker. 
         FIG.  8 A  is a cross-sectional plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  7 A  along the cross-sectional marker having false bottoms of the top basket in a partially raised position. 
         FIG.  8 B  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  8 A  along the cross-sectional marker. 
         FIG.  9 A  is a cross-sectional plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  7 A  along the cross-sectional marker having false bottoms of the top basket in a disengaged position and false bottoms of the middle basket in a partially raised position. 
         FIG.  9 B  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  9 A  along the cross-sectional marker. 
         FIG.  10 A  is a front perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  7 A  along the cross-sectional marker having false bottoms of the top basket and the middle basket in disengaged positions. 
         FIG.  10 B  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  10 A  along the cross-sectional marker. 
         FIG.  10 C  is a top perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  10 A . 
         FIG.  10 D  is a top plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  10 A . 
         FIG.  11 A  is a top plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  having a first cross-sectional line ( 1 ) and a second cross-sectional line ( 2 ). 
         FIG.  11 B  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  11 A  along the cross-sectional line ( 1 ). 
         FIG.  11 C  is a side perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  11 B  along the cross-sectional lines ( 1 ) and ( 2 ). 
         FIG.  12 A  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  11 A  along the cross-sectional line ( 1 ) with the clamp loosened slightly. 
         FIG.  12 B  is a side perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  12 A  along the cross-sectional lines ( 1 ) and ( 2 ). 
         FIG.  13 A  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  11 A  along the cross-sectional line ( 1 ) with the clamp loosened fully. 
         FIG.  13 B  is a side perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  12 A  along the cross-sectional lines ( 1 ) and ( 2 ). 
         FIG.  14 A  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  11 A  along the cross-sectional line ( 1 ) with the clamp disengaged. 
         FIG.  14 B  is a side perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  12 A  along the cross-sectional lines ( 1 ) and ( 2 ). 
         FIG.  15    is a rear perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in a horizontal position. 
         FIG.  16    is a rear perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in an obtuse-angled position. 
         FIG.  17 A  is a rear plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in a horizontal position. 
         FIG.  17 B  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  17 A . 
         FIG.  18    is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in an acute-angled position. 
         FIG.  19    is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in another acute-angled position. 
         FIG.  20    is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in a right-angled position. 
         FIG.  21    is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with the handle in an obtuse-angled position. 
         FIG.  22 A  is a front perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  with a mount for a mobile device. 
         FIG.  22 B  is a front plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  22 A . 
         FIG.  22 C  is a side plan view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  22 A . 
         FIG.  23 A  is a rear perspective view of a vehicle containing the disassembled modular shopping cart of  FIG.  22 A . 
         FIG.  23 B  is a rear plan view of the vehicle of  FIG.  23 A . 
         FIG.  24 A  is a front perspective view of the assembled modular shopping cart of  FIG.  23 A . 
         FIG.  24 B  is a top perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  24 A . 
         FIG.  25    is a front cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  24 A . 
         FIG.  26    is a front cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  25    containing shopping items in the bottom basket. 
         FIG.  27    is a front cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  26    having false bottoms of the middle basket in an engaged position. 
         FIG.  28    is a front cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  27    containing shopping items in the middle basket. 
         FIG.  29    is a front cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  28    having false bottoms of the top basket in an engaged position. 
         FIG.  30    is a front cross-sectional perspective view of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  29    containing shopping items in the top basket. 
         FIG.  31    is a front perspective view of a user of the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  1 A  at a store counter. 
         FIG.  32    is a front perspective view of the store counter of  FIG.  31    having some shopping items from the top basket placed on the counter. 
         FIG.  33    is a front perspective view of the store counter of  FIG.  32    having the top basket placed on the counter. 
         FIG.  34    is a front perspective view of the store counter of  FIG.  33    having some shopping items from the middle basket and the middle basket placed on the counter. 
         FIG.  35    is a front perspective view of the store counter of  FIG.  34    having some shopping items from the bottom basket placed on the counter. 
         FIG.  36    is a front perspective view of the store counter of  FIG.  35    having each of the bottom, middle, and top baskets loaded with shopping items. 
         FIG.  37    is a front perspective view of the store counter of  FIG.  36    having the modular shopping cart in an assembled formation. 
         FIG.  38    is a rear perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG.  23 A  having the modular shopping cart of  FIG.  37    in a disassembled formation within the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, a modular shopping cart  100  is shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D  having a top basket  110 , a middle basket  120 , and a bottom basket  130 . While only two baskets are shown stacked above bottom basket  130 , any suitable number of baskets could be staked on bottom basket  130  and could be used. 
     The modular shopping cart  100  is shown here in an assembled configuration having top basket  110  coupled to middle basket  120  via clamp  114 , and middle basket  120  coupled to bottom basket  130  via clamp  124 . While two clamps are used on opposing sides of the baskets to couple one basket to another basket, any number of clamps and/or any other suitable attachment mechanism could be utilized to couple baskets to one another, such as screws, buttons, clamps, and hook and loop fasteners. Attachment mechanisms used to couple one basket to another preferably comprise mechanisms capable of being engaged and disengaged using a hand to allow for a user to easily engage and disengage the baskets from one another without utilizing a tool. Preferably, the attachment mechanisms couple the baskets to one another such that a force directed towards push handle  116  of top basket  110  is transferred through middle basket  120  to bottom basket  130  to move the modular shopping cart  100  along the ground to roll on rear wheels  136  and front wheels  138  of bottom basket  130 . Aspects of the disclosed clamps are discussed in more detail below. 
     While an upper bracket is sized and disposed to fit around and press-fit against an upper perimeter of a lower basket in the embodiments disclosed in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D , a lower perimeter of an upper basket could be sized and disposed to press-fit within an inner-perimeter of a lower bracket as well. In some embodiments, a modular shopping cart could be assembled without the use of clamps at all, where each basket sets on top of one another with a self-adjusting fit, such as the fit between the lower bracket of basket  110  and the upper perimeter of basket  120 . In such embodiments, an inner perimeter of an outer lip that accepts an edge of a basket is tapered to allow for self-adjustment.  FIGS.  1 E- 1 F  shows a cross-sectional area of an exemplary lower basket  120  having an upper bracket  121  with a taper  123  and a support  125 . When the upper basket  110  is lowered into upper bracket  121 , the lower edge  111  of the upper basket  110  moves inward as it follows the edge of taper  123  to self-align within upper bracket  121 , finally coming to rest on support  125  of upper bracket  121 . 
     Rear wheels  136  preferably comprise stationary wheels while front wheels  138  preferably comprise swivel wheels to allow for easier steering of shopping cart  100  by pushing forward on handle  116 . More or less wheels could be used, and the wheels could be substantially identical, for example all the wheels could comprise stationary wheels or swivel wheels in other embodiments. 
     Each of baskets  110 ,  120 , and  130  comprise materials suitable for forming a container within which shopping items can be placed. The material is preferably rigid enough to allow for a force directed towards push handle  116  of top basket  110  to be transferred through middle basket  120  to provide a pushing force on bottom basket  130 , allowing modular shopping cart  100  to roll on rear wheels  136  and front wheels  138 . Any portion of baskets  110 ,  120 , and  130  could be fabricated from metal, plastic, carbon fiber, wood, or combinations thereof, and preferably are arranged in a fenced grid having at least one side wall and one bottom wall. In rectangular embodiments, the basket preferably has four side walls. As shown, the four walls form a rectangular prism having an upper periphery and a lower periphery to form a container. While the dimensions of the upper and lower peripheries are shown as having substantially the same dimensions, other shapes could be utilized having upper and lower peripheries of differing dimensions, for example an upper periphery having a length longer than a lower periphery, or vice-versa, trapezoidal peripheries having non-parallel opposing sides, or even hexagonal or pentagonal peripheries. Here, the lower periphery is surrounded by a bracket of larger dimensions, forming a recess within which the upper periphery of the lower basket can be placed. Preferably, the bracket is tapered to allow for self-alignment of the basket as it is placed within the recess of the lower bracket. The bracket could be coupled to the lower periphery of the side walls in any suitable manner, for example via screws, clamps, or welding. 
     In some embodiments, handle  116  could comprise an attachment mechanism that couples to the top basket  110 , such that handle  116  is detachable for ease of transport. In other embodiments, handle  116  could be retractable and could slide in and out between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In still other embodiments, top basket  110  could lack a separate handle completely, and could be gripped along an upper edge of top basket  110 . In embodiments where top basket  110  lacks a handle, top basket  110  and middle basket  120  could be identical and fungible. In other embodiments, an edge of top basket  110  could comprise a grip, such as a rubber grip molded over an edge of top basket  110 , which could act as a handle integrated into the top edge of top basket  110 . 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate exploded views of modular shopping cart  100 , having each of top basket  110 , middle basket  120 , and bottom basket  130  detached from one another. When in a detached configuration, top basket  110  could be lifted by a user via lift handles  112 , middle basket  120  could be lifted by a user via lift handles  122 , and bottom basket  130  could be lifted by a user via lift handles  132 . The lift handles allow for a user to easily grasp and lift each basket when modular shopping cart  100  is in a disassembled configuration. Lift handles  112 ,  122 , and  132  could comprise any suitable material used for a handle, such as metal, plastic, wood, rubber or combinations thereof, but preferably comprise a rectangular thermoplastic wrapped around bars of opposing side walls of shopping cart  100  to provide a comfortable grip for a user lifting the basket. In some embodiments, each handle could be coupled to a pivoting bar that allows the opposing handles to touch one another so that the basket can be carried in one hand of a user. 
     As shown, a bracket surrounds the lower periphery of each of the side walls of baskets  110 ,  120 , and  130 , allowing for the upper periphery of the brackets to self-align within the brackets when a user assembles modular shopping cart  100 . In preferred embodiments, the bracket could be tapered from a larger lower periphery to a smaller upper periphery to assist in self-alignment of the baskets relative to one another. While the embodiment in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  show the rear wheels  136  and front wheels  138  affixed to the base of bottom bracket  130  (e.g. using screws or welding), the wheels could be coupled to a separate base, such as wheel base  340  shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a modular shopping cart  300  having top basket  310 , middle basket  320 , bottom basket  330 , and wheel base  340 . Wheel base  340  comprises an upper grating  341  that is affixed to rear stationary wheels  346  and front swiveling wheels  348 . In some embodiments, wheel base  340  could have a visual indicator, such as a color marker, or a mechanical indicator, such as a recess that mates with a projection of bottom basket  330 , to ensure that wheel base  340  is not coupled to bottom basket  330  backwards. In other embodiments, each of the wheels of wheel base  340  could comprise swiveling wheels so that wheel base  340  does not have a designated “front.” 
     In alternative embodiments, bottom basket  330  could comprise a bottom wall that opens similarly to middle basket  320 . In such embodiments, middle basket  320  and bottom basket  330  would both be substantially identical and can be fungible with one another during assembly, allowing bottom basket  330  to be assembled on top of middle basket  320 , which is then assembled on top of wheel base  340 . Such embodiments allow fungible “kits” to be manufactured comprising top basket  310 , wheel base  340 , and any number of middle baskets  320  to be interposed between the two. While middle basket  320  and bottom basket  330  are shown as having substantially identical dimensions, the baskets could be configured to have different heights, allowing for a modular shopping cart to comprise multiple modular baskets of differing sizes for differing needs. For example, top basket  110  could be sized and disposed to be taller than middle basket  120 , which could be sized and disposed to be taller than bottom basket  130 . 
     Elements of the bottom wall of top basket  110  and middle basket  120  are shown in more detail in  FIGS.  4 A,  4 B,  5 A,  5 B,  6 A, and  6 B , which illustrate that the bottom wall of top basket  110  and false bottom right side  420 . False bottom right side  420  is shown in a deployed position in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , having a stationary magnet  412  attached to the side wall and a false bottom magnet  422  attached to false bottom right side  420 . False bottom right side  420  is rotatably coupled to bottom edge  430  via pivot point  432 , shown as a pivoting hinge that allows false bottom right side  420  to fold upwards, shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , until false bottom right side  420  is substantially parallel to right side wall  410  of top basket  110  in the retracted position, shown in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . When false bottom right side  420  is rotated to the retracted position in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B , stationary magnet  412  engages with false bottom magnet  422  to hold false bottom right side  420  in place until a user applies force to separate the two. 
     While stationary magnet  412  and false bottom magnet  422  are both shown as magnets, either element could be replaced with a ferrous material, for example a material comprising iron or steel. In other embodiments, right side wall  410  could comprise a ferrous material, allowing false bottom magnet  422  to engage directly with basket side wall  410  without the need of stationary magnet  412 . In preferred embodiments, false bottom magnet  422  engages with a flat surface having a surface area at least 80% of the size of false bottom magnet  422  when in the retracted position to increase the magnetic hold of false bottom magnet  422 . 
     While magnets are used to hold false bottom right side  420  in the retracted position, any attachment mechanism could be used, for example matching indents and detents, clamps, clasps, and buttons. Preferably, any such attachment mechanisms can be engaged and disengaged with a human hand, allowing for ease of changing positions without using additional hand tools. 
     Pivot point  432  could comprise any suitable mechanism that allows false bottom right side  420  to rotate relative to right side wall  410 , for example a hinge that allows for at least 85 or 90 degree movement, or a hinge that allows for at least 175, 180, or even 190 degree movement. When false bottom right side  420  is in the deployed position shown in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , false bottom stop  424  prevents false bottom right side  420  from over-rotating. In some embodiments, false bottom stop  424  could be disabled, for example by pulling a pin comprising false bottom stop  424  or by engaging a switch coupled to false bottom stop  424 , allowing false bottom right side  420  to rotate to a free-swinging position shown in  FIG.  32   . This allows for a user to dump shopping items onto a destination, such as a shopping conveyor belt, easily simply by disengaging false bottom stop  424  while top basket  110  is placed above the destination. In other embodiments, false bottom stop  424  could be static, allowing false bottom right side  420  to only be rotated upwards, and not downwards. 
     Basket  110  preferably has two false bottoms that are mirror images of one another, such as false bottom right side  420  and false bottom left side  730  shown in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B . While embodiments of baskets having only two false bottoms running perpendicular to the handle are disclosed, a basket could have any number of false bottoms in any suitable configuration, such as one, three, four, or more false bottoms, or two false bottoms running parallel to the handle. Preferably, the false bottoms are rotatably coupled to a portion of the basket to allow the false bottom to fold to a position at least substantially parallel to a side wall, to allow items to travel from a position below the basket to a position between the side walls of the basket. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7 A,  7 B,  7 C,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D , similar false bottoms could comprise the bottom wall of middle basket  120 , allowing for a user to access the bottom wall  131  of bottom basket  130  through access pathways through top basket  110  and middle basket  120 . In this manner, modular shopping cart  100  could comprise three discrete compartments as shown in  FIGS.  7 A,  7 B, and  7 C , two discrete compartments as shown in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , or a single compartment as shown in  FIGS.  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D . A user could move the false bottom sides to the side walls from a deployed position to a retracted position and back again to alter the configuration of modular shopping cart  100 . 
       FIG.  7 A  shows modular shopping cart  100  having three discrete compartments for each of top basket  110 , middle basket  120 , and bottom basket  130 .  FIGS.  7 B and  7 C  show alternative views of modular shopping cart  100  in this configuration along cross-sectional line  710 . In  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , a user moves false bottom right side  420  and false bottom left side  730  from a retracted position to a deployed position to open up an access pathway in top basket  110 . This allows a user to access the bottom walls ( 740  and  750 ) of middle basket  120  through the access pathway through top basket  110 . In  FIGS.  9 A and  9 B , the user then moves false bottom right side  740  and false bottom left side  750  from a retracted position to a deployed position to open up another access pathway, this time through middle basket  120 . This allows a user to access the bottom wall  131  of bottom basket  130  through access pathways through both top basket  110  and middle basket  120 . This configuration with all false bottoms in retracted positions is shown in  FIGS.  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D  having main compartment  760 . 
     In some embodiments, a false bottom could comprise a pivot point that is sized and disposed to allow the retracted false bottom to rotate more than 90 degrees to rest against a side wall. Such false bottoms could have a pivot point that is closer to a centerline of the basket, which would create a lip along the bottom edge of the basket that does not retract. Such a false bottom could stay in the retracted position without the need of a latch, and would stay in place via gravitational and friction forces. 
       FIG.  11 A  shows a top view of modular shopping cart  100  having two cross-sectional lines, lines ( 1 ) and ( 2 ), which illustrate the cross-sectional views shown in  FIGS.  11 B and  11 C .  FIGS.  11 B and  11 C  show details of draw-down latch  1110  that couples the bottom edge  1130  of top basket  110  with the top edge  1120  of middle basket  120 , holding both baskets together when in a stacked formation. Draw-down latch  1110  locks in place by pushing handle  1111  towards the side wall of top basket  110 , adding tension to tension bar  1114  coupled to latch attachment  1116  and latch attachment  1118 . Latch attachment  1118  is attached to bottom edge  1130 , while latch attachment  1116  is coupled to handle  1111 . In  FIGS.  12 A and  12 B , a user pushes handle  1111  away from the side wall of top basket  110 , decreasing the tension on tension bar  1114 , allowing the user to push latch handle  1111  downwards in  FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  to disengage hook  1112  from top edge  1120 . Hook  1112  could then be moved away from top edge  1120 , as shown in  FIGS.  14 A and  14 B , allowing a user to pull handle  1111  upwards to rotate draw down latch  1110  flush against the side of top basket  110  and fully disengage the baskets from one another. 
     Handle  116  of top basket  110  is rotatably coupled to top basket  110  via an adjustable locking hinge  118 , although other hinges could be used that can be similarly applied. In other embodiments, handle  116  could be configured not to rotate at all. Locking hinge  118  allows handle  116  to rotate between several locked positions, for example the horizontal-angled position shown in  FIG.  15    or the obtuse-angled position shown in  FIG.  16   . Preferably, locking hinge  118  comprises a manual lock that can be engaged or disengaged, allowing a user to rotate handle  116  about locking hinge  118  when the lock is disengaged, and does not allow rotation when the lock is engaged. Exemplary locked positions are shown in  FIGS.  17 A and  17 B , showing handle  116  in the horizontal-angled position,  FIG.  18   , showing handle  116  in an acute-angled position,  FIG.  19   , showing handle  116  in another acute-angled position,  FIG.  20   , showing handle  116  in a right-angled position, and  FIG.  20   , showing handle  116  in an obtuse-angled position. More or less locked positions could be used in alternative embodiments. 
     An alternative handle  116  is shown in  FIGS.  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C , having a mobile device mount  2210  which is configured to hold mobile device  2220  in-place relative to handle  116 . Mobile device mount  2210  is shown here as a magnet that couples to a case of mobile device  2220  to hold it in place, although any other suitable device mount could be used, for example an elastic recess that holds a periphery of mobile device  2220 , a suction cup, or a clamp. 
     Hence, modular shopping carts, such as modular shopping carts  100 , could be utilized to easily transport shopping items. An exemplary method is explained below. 
     In  FIGS.  23 A and  23 B , vehicle  2310  has a storage space  2312 , shown here as a trunk of vehicle  2310 , that holds top basket  110 , middle basket  120 , and bottom basket  130  in the trunk of the car. Handle  116  is shown rotated to the horizontal-angled position, and top basket  110  and middle basket  120  are shown as coupled together via clamp  114 . In alternative embodiments, the baskets could fold such that the vertical side walls are parallel to the bottom walls, allowing the baskets to be stored in the vehicle without taking much room. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  24 A and  24 B , a user could then remove the baskets from storage space  2312  and stack the baskets of modular shopping cart  110  to a fully retracted position by placing bottom basket  130  on a flat surface, stacking middle basket  120  on bottom basket  130  and clamping them together using clamp  124 , and then stacking top basket  110  on middle basket  120  and clamping them together using clamp  114 . False bottom right side  420  and false bottom left side  730  of top basket  110  could then be retracted to open an access pathway through top basket  110 , and false bottom right side  740  and false bottom left side  750  of middle basket  120  could be retracted to open an access pathway through middle basket  120 . Handle  116  could then be rotated from the horizontal-angled position to an obtuse-angled position, and mobile device  2220  could be coupled to handle  116  via device mount  2210 . 
     A user could then add shopping items to modular shopping cart  110 . In some embodiments, shopping items could be piled into the large compartment of modular shopping cart  110  formed by the access pathways through top basket  110  and middle basket  120 . In other embodiments, shopping items could be placed in each basket and closed by deploying the false bottoms. For example, in  FIG.  26   , shopping items  2610  are added to bottom basket  130  by placing them on the bottom wall  131  of bottom basket  130 . False right bottom wall  740  and false left bottom wall  750  are then moved from a retracted position to a deployed position in  FIG.  27   , allowing a user to then place shopping items  2810  into middle basket  120  by playing them on the bottom walls  740  and  750  of middle basket  120 , as shown in  FIG.  28   . False right bottom wall  420  and false left bottom wall  730  of top basket  110  are then moved from a retracted position to a deployed position in  FIG.  29   , allowing a user to then place shopping items  3010  into top basket  110  by playing them on the bottom walls  420  and  730  of top basket  110 , as shown in  FIG.  30   . This allows user  3110  to transport shopping items  2610 ,  2810 , and  3010  in separate compartments within modular shopping cart  110  easily to counter  3120  so that seller  3130  could easily inventory the purchases, as shown in  FIG.  31   . 
     In  FIG.  31   , a user  3110  needs to place the shopping items on conveyor belt  3122  that move the shopping items to checkout area  3124 , which are then placed in baggage area  3126  after seller  3130  inventories the shopping items. User  3110  could remove the shopping items from each basket, placing the shopping items on conveyor belt  3122  and placing each basket in the checkout area  3124  so that seller  3130  could place the shopping items into the basket during the transaction. In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  32   , a user  3110  could disengage a bottom stop of top basket  110  to easily dump shopping items  3010  onto conveyor belt  3122 . In still other embodiments, the user could simply place top basket  110  onto the conveyor belt and allow the seller to individually inventory the items. In such embodiments, where the shopping items have bar codes on their top surface, a seller does not even need to remove the items from top basket  110  to inventory the items, as the seller could merely aim a barcode reader at the bar codes within top basket  110 . Preferably, a width of the basket is configured to be shorter than a width of conveyor belt  3122  so that the basket can be easily placed on the conveyor belt for advancement, such as at most two inches shorter or at most four inches shorter. For example, where a conveyor belt is 24 inches wide, a width of each basket of modular shopping cart  100  is preferably at most 22 inches wide. However, baskets having a width wider than a checkout conveyor belt are contemplated. 
     In  FIG.  33   , user  3130  has placed shopping goods  3310  onto conveyor belt  3122  for inventorying, and has given top basket  110  to seller  3130  to place shopping goods  3310  into after inventory. In  FIG.  34   , seller  3130  has placed shopping goods  3010  into top basket  110  in baggage area  3126 , and user  3130  can then place shopping goods  2810  onto conveyor belt  3122  for inventorying. User  3130  could then give middle basket  120  to seller  3130  to place shopping goods  2810  into after inventory. In  FIG.  35   , seller  3130  has placed shopping goods  2810  into middle basket  120  in baggage area  3126 , and user  3130  can then place shopping goods  2610  onto conveyor belt  3122  for inventorying, pushing bottom basket  130  to an area adjacent to baggage area  3126  for shopping goods  2610  to be placed. In  FIG.  36   , the seller has placed shopping goods  2610  into bottom basket  130 . 
     As shown, the shopping goods have easily been inventoried and placed back into their original baskets due to the modular nature of the baskets of modular shopping cart  100 . User  3110  could then assemble modular shopping cart  100  containing the shopping goods, and roll them to a vehicle, where the baskets can be disassembled and placed within storage compartment  2312  after purchase. The baskets could further be used to transport the shopping items elsewhere, for example to a person&#39;s home, by assembling modular shopping cart  100  with the shopping items still in the basket. 
     Such modular shopping carts with baskets that can be taken apart and put back together allow a user to use the same shopping cart baskets to store shopping containers in their vehicle (as shown in  FIG.  23 A ), to form a shopping cart for use in a store (as shown in  FIG.  24 B ), to separate shopping items in different sections during shopping using deployable false bottoms (as shown in  FIG.  30   ), to easily deposit shopping items in a checkout area for a shopping transaction (as shown in  FIGS.  31 - 36   ), to easily store the shopping items in a vehicle after purchase (as shown in  FIG.  37   ), and to easily transport the shopping areas from their vehicle to their home or to any other location after the vehicle has been driven to that location. 
     As used herein, the term lock and latch may be interchangeable. Moreover, the lock and latch may also encompass a catch or supporting surface upon which a panel rests. Additionally, the terms lock and latch or other similar terms used herein may also include a friction fit between two parts or components discussed herein. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of manufacturing and using modular shopping carts. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.