Patent Publication Number: US-2011062675-A1

Title: Wire Shopping Cart Having Foldable Seat Mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to shopping carts, and more particularly, to a wire shopping cart having a foldable seat mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shopping carts are extensively used in retail stores, such as grocery stores and department stores to facilitate handling of merchandise by customers. The shopping carts are provided with a basket having a rear gate which enables shopping carts to be nested inside one another and wheeled to a desired location. One desirable feature commonly found on shopping carts is a seat assembly for a child. Such a seat assembly commonly has a seat on which a child sits, the child facing the operator of the shopping cart. The rear gate of the basket of the shopping cart may have an opening through which the child may put his/her legs. The seat assembly typically has a backrest for the child. 
     One drawback with existing wire shopping carts is that the collapsible child&#39;s seat assembly may require a considerable amount of force to collapse when multiple shopping carts are nested together. Over time, store employees may suffer injuries due to the excessive force required to collapse the child&#39;s seat assemblies of the carts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a shopping cart comprising a gate and seat assembly. The gate and seat assembly comprises a wire gate having a first end pivotally mountable to a horizontal wire of a rear portion of a shopping cart. 
     A second component of the gate and seat assembly is a wire backrest comprising a perimeter wire, a seat support wire extending from one side of the perimeter wire to the other side and a back support portion. The back support portion is spaced above the seat support wire, thereby defining a slot. Lower portions of the perimeter wire are pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the wire gate to enable pivotal movement of the wire backrest relative to the wire gate. 
     A third component of the gate and seat assembly is a wire seat pivotally mounted to the wire gate and slidably extendable through the slot of the wire backrest, the wire seat including a pair of outer wire U-shaped catches on opposed sides of the seat for releasably engaging the perimeter wire of the wire backrest. 
     The seat is pivotally movable from a seating position to a collapsed position upon pivotal movement of the backrest in a first rotational direction toward the gate with the seat slidably moving through the slot of the backrest and the seat pivoting in a second rotational direction downward toward the gate until both the seat and the backrest are collapsed against the gate, wherein the first rotational direction and second rotational direction are generally opposite one another. Conversely, the seat is pivotally movable from the collapsed position to the seating position upon pivotal movement of the backrest away from the gate with the seat slidably moving through the slot of the backrest and pivoting upwardly away from the gate until the seat is in a generally horizontal orientation with the U-shaped catches of the seat in releasable contact against the perimeter wire of the backrest to maintain, in combination with gravitational forces, the seat in the seating position. 
     The cart may further comprise a plastic seat flap pivotally secured to the seat. The plastic seat flap is slidably movable through the slot of the backrest with the seat when the gate and seat assembly is collapsed. Alternatively, the plastic seat flap is movable to a raised position when the gate and seat assembly is collapsed so the plastic seat flap is sandwiched between the backrest and the gate when the assembly is collapsed. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a gate and seat assembly is provided for a shopping cart. The gate and seat assembly comprises a wire gate having a first end pivotally mountable to a horizontal wire of a rear portion of a shopping cart. The gate and seat assembly further comprises a wire backrest having a slot and a pair of legs and being pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the gate to enable pivotal movement of the backrest relative to the gate. The gate and seat assembly further comprises a wire seat pivotally mounted to the gate and slidably extendable through the slot of the backrest, the seat including a pair of outer wire U-shaped catches on opposed sides of the seat for releasably engaging the legs of the backrest. The seat is pivotally movable from a seating position to a collapsed position upon pivotal movement of the backrest in a first rotational direction toward the gate with the seat slidably moving through the slot of the backrest and pivoting in a second rotational direction downward toward the gate until both the seat and the backrest are collapsed against the gate, wherein the first rotational direction and second rotational direction are generally opposite one another. 
     Conversely, the seat is pivotally movable from the collapsed position to the seating position upon pivotal movement of the backrest away from the gate with the seat slidably moving through the slot of the backrest and pivoting upwardly away from the gate until the seat is in a generally horizontal orientation with the U-shaped catches of the seat in releasable contact against wires of the backrest to maintain, in combination with gravitational forces, the seat in the seating position. 
     The gate and seat assembly may further comprise a plastic seat flap pivotally secured to the seat. The plastic seat flap is slidably movable through the slot of the backrest with the seat when the gate and seat assembly is collapsed. Alternatively, the plastic seat flap is movable to a raised position when the gate and seat assembly is collapsed so the plastic seat flap is sandwiched between the backrest and the gate when the assembly is collapsed. 
     One advantage of the present shopping cart is that the gate and seat assembly may be collapsed with the plastic seat flap in either a raised or lowered position. Another advantage of the present shopping cart is that the gate and seat assembly may be collapsed or opened with a minimal amount of force. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will more readily become apparent from the description of the drawings herein, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shopping cart of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the gate and seat assembly of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the gate and seat assembly of  FIG. 2  being collapsed; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the gate and seat assembly of  FIG. 2  in a collapsed position with the plastic seat flap in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1  showing a second shopping cart being nested inside the shopping cart of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the gate and seat assembly of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1  in an open position and the plastic seat flap in a raised position; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of the wire seat of the gate and seat assembly of the shopping cart of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the gate and seat assembly of  FIG. 2  in a collapsed position with the plastic seat flap in a raised position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a shopping cart  10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated. The shopping cart  10  has a rear end  12  and a front end  14 , for purposes of this document. A handle  16  is located at the rear of the shopping cart  10  and a wire basket  18  located generally in front of the handle  16 . Below the wire basket  18  is a base  20  to which are attached four wheels  22  for moving the cart. 
     The wire basket  18  comprises a front wall  24 , two parallel side walls  26  and a pivotal rear gate  28  which pivots about a wire  29  defining a first horizontal pivot axis A. Handle  16  facilitates moving the shopping cart  10  while the wire basket  18  provides a storage compartment for storing groceries or items while shopping. 
     The shopping cart  10  further comprises a gate and seat assembly  30  which includes the pivotal rear gate  28 . See  FIG. 2 . The gate and seat assembly  30  enables a child to travel in the cart while another (usually an adult, such as a parent) is operating the cart. This frees the hands of the cart operator for maneuvering the cart. The child faces rearwardly, toward the cart operator. Two leg openings  32  in the pivotal rear gate  28  enable the child rider&#39;s legs to pass therethrough. The gate and seat assembly  30  is movable between a collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4  and an open position shown in  FIG. 2 . In its collapsed position, the assembly  30  may pivot upwardly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , to allow the basket of another shopping cart to nest inside the basket of the front shopping cart. 
     The gate and seat assembly  30 , in addition to the pivotal rear gate  28 , further comprises a wire backrest  34  comprising a generally rectangular back support portion  36  and a seat support wire  40  located below the back support portion  36 . The wire backrest  34  has a perimeter wire  42  of a larger diameter than the wires  44   a ,  44   b  of the back support portion  36 . Although the drawings illustrate a predetermined number of vertical wires  44   a  and two cross or horizontal wires  44   b , any number of wires  44   a ,  44   b  arranged in any desired configuration or any desired size may be incorporated into the back support portion  36  of the wire backrest  34 . 
     The perimeter wire  42  is generally rectangularly shaped, having a linear top portion  46  and two parallel linear spaced, side portions  48  extending downwardly from the outer ends of the linear top portion  46  of the perimeter wire  42 . Each side portion  48  terminates in an end portion  50  which is circular in shape and wrapped around a cross wire  52  of the pivotal rear gate  28 . This cross wire  52  defines a second horizontal pivot axis AA about which the wire backrest  34  pivots, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The seat support wire  40  is illustrated as being the same gauge or diameter as the perimeter wire  42 , but may be any desired gauge or diameter. The seat support wire  40  extends between the opposing side portions  48  of the perimeter wire  42  and functions as a support as the seat  54  of the gate and seat assembly  30  moves between its collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4  to its seating or open position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     A generally rectangular open area or slot  56  in the wire backrest  34  is defined by the opposing side portions  48  of the perimeter wire  42 , the seat support wire  40  and the back support portion  36 . The seat  54  moves through the generally rectangular slot  56  as seat  54  moves between its collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4  and its seating or open position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the wire seat  54  of the collapsible gate and seat assembly  30  is pivotal about a third horizontal pivot axis AAA between its collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4  and its seating or open position shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows the wire seat  54  moving in a downward direction indicated by the arrow  58  of  FIG. 3  (clockwise as shown in  FIG. 3 ) as the seat pivots about axis AAA from its open position to its collapsed position. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 6A , wire seat  54  comprises two outermost wires  60 , each one having a U-shaped catch  62  at the front end thereof for engaging one of the side portions  48  of the perimeter wire  42  of the wire backrest  34  to maintain the seat  54  in a horizontal position for a child to sit on. These U-shaped catches  62  at the front ends of the outermost wires  60  provide a secure means of engaging the wire seat  54  with the perimeter wire  42  of the wire backrest  34  without allowing any lateral or side-to-side movement. The perimeter wire  42  of the wire backrest  34  becomes trapped inside the U-shaped catches  62  at the front ends of the outermost wires  60  of the wire seat  54  to provide stability and structure for the collapsible gate and seat assembly  30 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , at the rear or other end of each of the outermost wires  60  of the seat  54  is an end portion  64  which is generally circular to pivotally secure the wire seat  54  to one of the cross wires  66  of the pivotal rear gate  28 . This cross wire  66  of the pivotal rear gate  28  defines the third pivot axis AAA about which the seat  54  pivots. When collapsed, the wire seat  54  pivots downwardly, with the aid of gravity, in the direction of arrow  58 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the cross wire  66  defining the third horizontal pivot axis AAA passes through these loops or end portions  64  of the outermost wires  60  of the wire seat  54  of the gate and seat assembly  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , wire seat  54  further comprises a plurality of parallel interior wires  61  welded or otherwise secured at their outer ends to the outermost wires  60  of the seat  54 . Although five such interior wires  61  of the wire seat  54  are illustrated, any number of interior wires may be used, depending upon the desired size of the wire seat  54 . Wire seat  54  further comprises a pair of spaced support wires  63  which extend perpendicular to the interior wires  61  of the wire seat  54  and may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. These support wires  63  support a flap wire  65  which is shorter in length than the interior wires  61 , but extends parallel to the interior wires  61 . The length of the flap wire  65  is approximately equal to the width W of the plastic seat flap  80 . See  FIG. 4 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the plastic seat flap  80  is pivotally secured in a snap-fit manner to the flap wire  65  of the wire seat  54  using two sets of injection molded fingers  82  of the plastic seat flap  80 . The plastic seat flap  80  may be independently pivoted relative to the wire seat  54  in a manner described below. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the pivotal rear gate  28  of the gate and seat assembly  30  is made of wire and comprises a generally planar grate  68 . The grate  68  comprises a plurality of parallel first wires  70  oriented in a first direction, including a plurality of connecting wires  72  (four being shown) of a heavier gauge or larger in diameter than the other wires  70  of the grate  68 . Each of the connecting wires  72  has an upper end portion  74  in the form of a loop. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wire  29  of the shopping cart  10  defining the first horizontal pivot axis A passes through these loops or end portions  74  of connecting wires  72  of the pivotal rear gate  28  of the collapsible gate and seat assembly  30 . The grate  68  of the pivotal rear gate  28  of the gate and seat assembly  30  further comprises a plurality of cross wires  76 , including the cross wire  52  defining the second pivot axis AA and the cross wire  66  defining the third pivot axis AAA to which are pivotally attached the outermost wires  60  of the seat  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , to collapse or close the gate and seat assembly  30  from its open position, an operator pivots the pivotal wire backrest  34  about pivot axis AA by pulling the top portion of the wire backrest  34  rearwardly toward the pivotal rear gate  28  of the gate and seat assembly  30 , as shown by the arrow  84  of  FIG. 3 . This movement causes the pivotal wire backrest  34  to pivot about pivot axis AA in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The lower portions of the side portions  48  of the perimeter wire  42  of the wire backrest  34  or legs  90  (below the seat support wire  40  of the wire backrest  34 ) slide along the outermost wires  60  of the seat  54  in a rearward direction toward the pivotal wire rear gate  28  of the gate and seat assembly  30 . This movement of the pivotal wire backrest  34  about axis AA causes the wire seat  54  and plastic seat flap  60  resting on top of the wire seat  54  to pass through the slot  56  of the pivotal wire backrest  34 , sliding on top of the seat support wire  40 . Thus, the wire seat  54  (with plastic seat flap  60  attached) pivots about third pivot axis AAA in the direction of arrow  58  in a clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 3  and opposite the direction of movement of wire backrest  34  depicted by arrow  84 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the gate and seat assembly  30  in a fully collapsed position with the plastic seat flap  60  outside the wire seat  54 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when a second shopping cart  10   a  is pushed against the collapsed gate and seat assembly  30  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the collapsed gate and seat assembly  30  pivots about first pivot axis A in a direction shown by arrow  86  in  FIG. 4  and arrow  88  in  FIG. 5 . The ability of the collapsed gate and seat assembly  30  of shopping cart  10  to pivot upwardly in the direction of arrow  88  of  FIG. 5  enables the basket of shopping cart  10   a  to nest inside the interior of basket  18  of shopping cart  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the gate and seat assembly  30  of shopping cart  10  in an open position, like  FIG. 2 . However, the plastic seat flap  80  is pivoted about pivot axis AAAA (see  FIG. 6A ) upwardly to a raised position, the fingers  82  of the plastic seat flap  80  still being engaged with the flap wire  65  of the wire seat  54 . The flap wire  65  of the wire seat  54  defines yet another horizontal pivot axis AAAA about which the plastic seat flap  80  pivots. See  FIG. 6A . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the gate and seat assembly  30  of shopping cart  10  in a collapsed position, like  FIG. 4 . However, the plastic seat flap  80  is pivoted upwardly to a raised position, the fingers  82  of the plastic seat flap  80  still being engaged with the flap wire  65  of the wire seat  54  before the gate and seat assembly  30  is collapsed. The gate and seat assembly  30  may be collapsed with the plastic seat flap  80  in its raised position. Therefore, the plastic seat flap  80  ends up sandwiched between the pivotal wire backrest  34  and the pivotal rear gate  28 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     One advantage of the present invention is that it facilitates easy opening and closing of the collapsible gate and seat assembly of a shopping cart. This improved performance, in part, derives from the configuration of the wires. The wire collapsible gate and seat assembly may be manufactured to meet specific resiliency requirements, for example, the collapsible gate and seat assembly may be manufactured to support children safely within certain weight or size limits. 
     While we have described several embodiments of our invention, those persons skilled in the art will readily recognize modifications and changes which may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, we intend for our invention to be limited only by the following claims: