Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6676139?dq=6,977,809&ei=-AObT5vAOoSgiQL_5qznDg
Timestamp: 2017-09-23 17:21:20
Document Index: 80732643

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n6', 'art.\n12', 'art.\n15', 'art.\n17', 'art.\n21', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10']

Patent US6676139 - Shopping cart - Google Patents
An improved shopping cart with a floating basket. The basket is moveable in response to downward and/or lateral forces applied against the basket. The ability of the basket to move in response to such forces reduces the tendency for the shopping cart to tip over. In one embodiment, at least a portion...http://www.google.com/patents/US6676139?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6676139 - Shopping cart
Publication number US6676139 B1
Application number US 09/247,419
Also published as US6533297, US20020135145
Publication number 09247419, 247419, US 6676139 B1, US 6676139B1, US-B1-6676139, US6676139 B1, US6676139B1
Patent Citations (40), Referenced by (17), Classifications (10), Legal Events (5)
US 6676139 B1
An improved shopping cart with a floating basket. The basket is moveable in response to downward and/or lateral forces applied against the basket. The ability of the basket to move in response to such forces reduces the tendency for the shopping cart to tip over. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the shopping cart basket moves downward as the basket is loaded. In another embodiment, the shopping cart basket pivots upon application of a lateral force to the basket. A further embodiment combines both the vertical movement and pivoting movement of the basket.
a basket mounted on the frame; and
biasing means for allowing the entire basket to move in relation to the frame when a load is placed in the basket.
2. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the basket moves to multiple vertical positions in relation to the frame proportional to the amount of the load placed in the basket.
3. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein an uppermost portion of the basket is vertically above an uppermost portion of the frame when the load is not placed in the basket, and the uppermost portion of the basket is vertically below the uppermost portion of the frame when the load is placed in the basket.
4. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the basket pivots in relation to the frame when a force is applied to the basket.
5. The shopping cart of claim 4, wherein the basket pivots around an axis substantially parallel with a travel direction of the shopping cart.
6. The shopping cart of claim 4, wherein the basket is pivotable to multiple angular positions proportional to the amount of force applied to the basket.
7. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the basket moves vertically in relation to the frame when the load is placed in the basket, and moves laterally in relation to the frame when a lateral force is applied to the basket.
8. The shopping cart of claim 7, wherein the basket moves to multiple vertical positions in relation to the frame proportional to the amount of the load placed in the basket.
9. The shopping cart of claim 7, wherein an uppermost portion of the basket is vertically above an uppermost portion of the frame when the load is not placed in the basket, and the uppermost portion of the basket is vertically below the uppermost portion of the frame when the load in placed in the basket.
10. The shopping cart of claim 7, wherein the basket pivots when the lateral force is applied to the basket.
11. The shopping cart of claim 10, wherein the basket pivots around an axis substantially parallel with a travel direction of the shopping cart.
12. The shopping cart of claim 10, wherein the basket is pivotable to multiple angular positions proportional to the amount of force applied to the basket.
13. The shopping cart of claim 1, further comprising wheels mounted on the frame which extend horizontally beyond the basket.
14. The shopping cart of claim 13, wherein the wheels extend horizontally beyond the basket in a direction perpendicular to a travel direction of the shopping cart.
15. The shopping cart of claim 13, wherein the wheels extend horizontally beyond the basket in a direction parallel with a travel direction of the shopping cart.
17. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the shopping cart further comprises a child seat.
18. The shopping cart of claim 17, wherein the child seat comprises a flexible hammock.
19. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the shopping cart further comprises a brake.
20. The shopping cart of claim 19, wherein the brake is automatically engaged unless the operator of the cart grasps a handle of the shopping cart.
21. The shopping cart of claim 19, wherein the brake comprises means for disengaging the brake when another cart is nested inside the shopping cart, whereby a handle of the brake is contacted by a basket or a frame of the other cart to thereby push the handle of the brake toward a handle of the shopping cart to disengage the brake.
22. A shopping cart comprising:
biasing means for allowing at least a portion of the basket to pivot in relation to the frame around an axis substantially parallel with a travel direction of the shopping cart when a force is applied to the basket.
23. The shopping cart of claim 22, wherein the entire basket moves in relation to the frame when the force is applied to the basket.
A need exists for a shopping cart which resists tipping and which provides increased safety for a child riding in the cart. The present invention has been developed in view of the foregoing, and to address other deficiencies of the prior art.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a shopping cart 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The shopping cart 10 includes a frame 12 supported on four wheels 14. The frame 12 includes vertical support members 16. A basket 20 is mounted on the vertical support members 16 of the frame 12 by couplings 22. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, each of the couplings 22 may be protected a cover 23. Preferably, the wheels 14 are spaced widely apart and extend horizontally beyond the basket 20 in order to provide increased stability.
The shopping cart shown in FIGS. 1-6 operates as follows. The basket 20 floats or moves vertically with respect to the frame 12 through the action of the slide members 44 which move in a generally vertical direction with respect to the vertical support members 16. As used herein, the term “moves vertically” includes movement in a direction normal to the ground and any other non-normal direction having a vertical component. In an unloaded position as shown in FIG. 2, the basket 20 is at its uppermost position with respect to the frame 12. Upon loading of the basket 20 with a child, groceries or the like, the basket 20 moves downward with respect to the frame 12, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As the load in the basket 20 is increased, the basket 20 lowers a proportional amount against the bias of the springs 60 inside the vertical support members 16. This lowering action serves to lower the center of gravity of the shopping cart 10 as it is loaded, thereby reducing the tendency of the shopping cart to tip over as it becomes top-heavy. As shown in FIG. 3, when the basket 20 is in the lowered position, the frame 12 and cart handle 24 extend above the basket 20. The frame 12 and cart handle 24 may thus serve as a roll bar in case the cart tips over with a child riding in the child seat.
In addition to the generally vertical motion of the basket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the basket 20 may also pivot or move laterally with respect to the frame 12. The couplings 22 permit such pivoting or lateral movement through the relative movement of the brackets 42 with respect to the slide member, 44. The bolt 48 secured to the brackets 42 is free to slide along the arcuate path defined by the slot 46 in the slide member 44. In the position shown in FIG. 5, the bolt 48 is positioned at the approximate midpoint of the slot 46. However, upon the application of a lateral or rotational force against the basket 20, the bolt 48 may move upward or downward within the slot 46 against the force of the springs 52. For example, if the upper portion of the basket 20 shown in FIG. 5 is pushed in a rightward direction, the bolt 48 rotates clockwise downward in the slot 46 against the bias of the springs 52. In contrast, if the upper portion of the basket 20 shown in FIG. 5 is moved toward the left, the bolt 48 travels upward in a counterclockwise direction in the slot 46. This action of the couplings 22 permits the basket 20 to pivot along an axis that is substantially parallel with the travel direction of the shopping cart 10. In this manner, when a lateral force such as a child leaning to the left or right side of the cart 10 is applied against the basket 20, that force is counteracted by the action of the couplings 22. Thus, the basket 20 will initially pivot upon application of such a lateral force, and will then attempt to level itself through the action of the couplings 22. This is an important safety feature, particularly when a child is riding in the basket 20. If the child attempts to lean sideways out of the basket, the basket first pivots in response to the initial lateral force. This pivoting action absorbs at least some of the lateral force, thereby reducing or eliminating tipping of the entire cart. Second, the resilient couplings 22 bias the basket back toward a level position, thereby forcing the leaning child back into the basket.
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U.S. Classification 280/33.991, 280/33.995
Cooperative Classification B62B2501/065, B62B3/14, B62B5/0404, B62B2203/13, B62B2203/04