Patent ID: 6910828

Claim:
In a parking lot, a self-guiding shopping cart collection, storage, and retrieval system, comprising: at least one array of a plurality of demarcated parking spaces arranged as a row having a length, wherein each of said parking spaces has demarcation lines on either side defining a plurality of aisle ways between said plurality of parking spaces; a collection channel adjacent and parallel to said row formed as an inset trough configured to allow rolling translation of a shopping cart along the length of the row to a collection end, said collection channel having a generally planar floor and at least one inclined side bank wherein said floor is downwardly linearly inclined toward said collection end; and a plurality of lateral feed channels intersecting with said collection channel and aligned with said aisle ways, said plurality of lateral feed channels having said each having opposing side banks and configured to allow rolling translation of a shopping cart from the parking lot into said collection channel, said lateral feed channels having a linearly inclined floor with an upper end contiguous to said parking lot and a lower end contiguous to said floor of said central channel whereby shopping carts from the parking lot are introduced into said lateral feed channels and guided therethrough by said opposing side banks into said collection channel.