Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6364326?dq=5,960,411
Timestamp: 2016-08-27 05:18:56
Document Index: 420415774

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n8', 'art.\n12', 'art.\n13', 'art.\n18', 'art.\n19', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'arts 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 1']

Patent US6364326 - Child carrier accessory attachable to a shopping or luggage cart - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA child carriers accessory attachable to a shopping or luggage cart which does not significantly reduce the functionality of the cart....http://www.google.com/patents/US6364326?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6364326 - Child carrier accessory attachable to a shopping or luggage cartAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6364326 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/483,340Publication dateApr 2, 2002Filing dateJan 14, 2000Priority dateMay 27, 1994Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2190088A1, CA2190088C, DE69503245D1, DE69503245T2, EP0760767A1, EP0760767B1, US5823548, US5882021, US6022031, WO1995032881A1Publication number09483340, 483340, US 6364326 B1, US 6364326B1, US-B1-6364326, US6364326 B1, US6364326B1InventorsMary J. Reiland, Kenneth H. ReilandOriginal AssigneeFour D IncorporatedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (36), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (27), Classifications (11), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetChild carrier accessory attachable to a shopping or luggage cart
US 6364326 B1Abstract
A child carriers accessory attachable to a shopping or luggage cart which does not significantly reduce the functionality of the cart.
We claim: 1. An apparatus comprising a child carrier accessory rigidly attached to a cart, the cart comprising a base frame supported by two front swivel caster wheels and two rear wheels, the base frame supporting a carrying location thereon, the child carrier accessory comprising a platform adapted to assist in ingress and egress to at least one seat supported by at least one swivel caster child carrier wheel such that the child carrier accessory and the cart is adapted to pivot around a vertical axis located between the two rear wheels.
2. An apparatus comprising a cart basket and a child carrier accessory having at least one seat and a platform adapted to assist in ingress and egress to the seat, the apparatus being supported by a first set of swivel caster wheels located near a front portion of the cart basket, a second set of non-swivel wheels supporting the apparatus near a location where the child carrier accessory is rigidly connected to the cart basket and a third set of swivel caster wheels supporting the child carrier seat such that the apparatus is adapted to pivot around a vertical axis located between the second set of wheels.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the child carrier accessory comprises a unitary structure.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the platform extends forward of the seat.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the child carrier accessory is maintained a fixed distance from the cart during operation.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the child carrier extends behind the cart to provide additional leverage for maneuvering the apparatus.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the child carrier accessory does not significantly reduce the overall functionality of the cart.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus is adapted to pivot around a vertical axis located generally near the second set of wheels.
9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus is adapted to pivot around a vertical axis located in a region generally bounded by the first set of wheels and the third set of wheels.
10. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising a connector connecting the child carrier accessory to the cart basket.
11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the seat is oriented toward the cart.
12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the seat is oriented toward sides of the cart.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the third set of wheels comprising one or more wheels.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the connector comprises connector bars extending between the child carrier accessory and the cart basket, the connector bars comprises an extension of one of the cart basket or the child carrier accessory.
15. An apparatus comprising a combination of a cart basket and a child carrier seat with a platform adapted to assist in ingress and egress to the child carrier seat, the apparatus comprising two front swivel caster wheels supporting a front portion of the cart basket, at least one swivel caster child carrier wheel supporting the child carrier seat and two intermediate non-swivel wheels supporting the apparatus near a location where the child carrier seat is rigidly connected to the cart basket, such that the apparatus can pivot around a vertical axis located between the two intermediate non-swivel wheels.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 comprising connector bars extending between the child carrier seat and the cart, the connector bars comprising an extension of one of the cart basket or the child carrier seat.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the child carrier seat is oriented toward the cart.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the child carrier seat is oriented toward sides of the cart.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the apparatus is adapted to pivot around a vertical axis located generally near the intermediate non-swivel wheels.
20. An apparatus comprising a cart basket and a child carrier accessory having at least one seat and a platform adapted to assist in ingress and egress to the seat, the apparatus being supported by a first set of swivel caster wheels located near a front portion of the cart basket, a second set of non-swivel wheels supporting the apparatus near a location where the child carrier accessory is rigidly connected to the cart basket and a third set of swivel caster wheels supporting the child carrier seat, such that the apparatus is adapted to pivot around a vertical axis located between the second set of non-swivel wheels.
This is a continuation of application of prior application Ser. No. 09/268,007, filed Mar. 15, 1999 (allowed) now U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,031, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 09/084,683, filed on May 26, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,021, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 08/732,963, filed on Oct. 30, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,548, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/250,550 filed May 27, 1994 (abandoned).
The child seats on shopping or luggage carts only have room for one child. Also, once a child reaches approximately 35 pounds, or is more than approximately 54″ tall, the child seat on these carts starts to be too small and uncomfortable for the child. Additionally, children older than approximately 3 years find these seats confining and often attempt to climb out. Consequently, it is very common to see children riding in the basket portion of the shopping cart or standing on the front edge of the lower frame while gripping onto the basket portion, or standing on the luggage portion of a luggage cart.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the preferred child carrier accessory 10 attached to an exemplary luggage cart 110 as viewed from the front of the child carrier 10. The cart 110 has a carrying location 112 for carrying luggage (not shown). The cart 110 has a child seat 60′ near a cart handle 68′ sufficient to carry one child. However, the luggage cart 110 tends to be lightweight so that it is extremely top-heavy if a child is placed in the seat 60′ and the cart 110 is not loaded down with luggage.
The carrier 10 is attached to the cart 110 using connector bars 70 and universal mounting bracket 72. The platform 14, mounting system 70, 72, and swivel caster wheels 16 (18 not shown) are all located below the child seat 60′. Since these components constitute a fair portion of the weight of the carrier 10, the combined carrier 10 and cart 110 has a lower center of gravity than the cart 110 alone.
When the carts 12, 110 are empty, placing a child in the child seat 60, 60′ significantly raises the center of gravity of the carts 12, 110. Since it is not uncommon for parents to place a child weighing 30 pounds or more in the child seat 60, 60′, the risk of tipping over the cart 12, 100 is substantial. The seat portion 22 of the child carrier accessory 10 is preferably closer to the ground than the child seat 60, 60′ in the carts 12, 110. Consequently, the combination child carrier accessory 10 and cart 12, 110 has a lower center of gravity than the carts along.
When the carts 12, 100 is full of merchandise or luggage, they are difficult to maneuver because of the limited leverage provided by the cart handle 68, 68′. In particular, a loaded down cart has a high moment of inertia which is difficult to overcome from the cart handles 68, 68′.
The combination child carrier accessory 10 and cart 12, 110 has a center of gravity close to the rear wheels of the carts 12, 110. The combined unit tends to pivot on the rear wheels, making it easy to maneuver even in close quarters. Also, since the carrier handle 38 on the child carrier accessory 10 is located behind the cart handle 68, 68′ by a distance “d”, the user has greater leverage for maneuvering the combination cart 12, 110 and child carrier accessory 10. The distance “d” is approximately 20 inches in the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the child carrier accessory 10 illustrating the location of the swivel caster wheels 16, 18 relative to the connector bars 70. In the preferred embodiment, the distance “w” between the wheels 16, 18 is slightly less than the distance between the rear wheels 54 of the shopping cart 12. This spacing enhances the pivoting of the combined unit 10, 12 on the rear wheels 54. However, it will be understood that in some circumstances, the distance “w” between the wheels 16, 18 may be greater than the distance between the wheels 54 on the shopping cart 12.
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