Patent ID: 7104552

Claim:
An improved plastic basket shopping cart comprising: a cart base frame having an upwardly extending rear frame section having handle means mounted thereon; at least three wheels rotatably mounted on said cart base frame; a plastic basket mounted on said cart base frame, said plastic basket including; a base wall, left and right side walls mounted on and extending upwards from said base wall and a front wall mounted on and extending upwards from said base wall and extending between and connecting forward portions of said left and right side walls; each of said left and right side walls and said front wall having a plurality of generally rectangular wall openings extending through said left and right side walls and said front wall, said wall openings generally having a height greater than their width; at least some of said wall openings on said left and right side walls and said front wall adjacent said base wall being generally square in shape with approximately equal heights and widths for improved structural strength; each of said left and right side walls of said plastic basket including generally cross-sectionally arcuate rear flange sections mounted on and extending outwards and rearwards therefrom, said rear flange sections each at least partially covering an adjacent portion of said rear frame section to substantially cover and close the gap between each of said left and right side walls and said adjacent portion of said rear frame section thereby substantially preventing items in said plastic basket from falling out of said plastic basket through a gap between said left and right side walls and said rear frame section; and a basket rim support wire extending circumferentially around and passing through upper portions of said left and right side walls and said front wall, the ends of said basket rim support wire connected to and mounted on said rear frame section adjacent an upper portion thereof for increasing the structural strength of said plastic basket on said rear frame section of said cart base frame.