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PORTABLE SHOPPING CART PORT-A-CART

  • US 20080303248A1
  • Filed: 06/10/2007
  • Published: 12/11/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2007
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. This shopping cart has been designed to be carried in the back of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) or a Mini-van, the more used types of vehicles by house wives and super-market shoppers in the US.The design permits the cart to be loaded to the USV or the Mini van just by pushing it into the back compartment. The front legs 1 of the shopping cart will bend to the back to permit the cart to slide inside the vehicle. The rear legs 2 of the cart are designed to be pulled up by a simple handle 3 so the rest of the cart can go inside the vehicle completely. In the front of the cart there are two wheels 4 that help easy access to the back of the vehicle by letting the front weigh of the cart rest in the bumper and the back of the vehicle. When the shopper pushes the cart inside the vehicle the front legs of the shopping cart will bend and let the cart slide inside of the vehicle.1—

  • CONVENIENCE. The main purpose of this design is to make grocery shopping a much easier experience by avoiding four times the process of loading and unloading the shopping cart. This way you reduce not only work for the customer at the supermarket, but also the need for so many employees helping pack and load the carts, and then loading the customer'"'"'s vehicle with groceries. With this portable cart the customer will be able to take the products from the store shelves, load them in to the portable cart, and then taking them directly to the refrigerator or the pantry at home. Shopper will only have to unload the portable cart from his or hers mini van or SUV, go inside the supermarket, load the products in the cart, drive them inside the cart through the scanner system, bring them to the SUV or Mini van and load the cart with the products inside the vehicle.Then the shopper will simply unload the cart with groceries into the residence and conduct it to the kitchen, refrigerator or pantry for unload. The reduction of work, effort and time are substantial.Note;

    the real reduction in work will happen when supermarkets introduce the new Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID) tags, which consist of silicon chips and an antenna that can transmit data to a wireless receiver. These soon will replace the old bar code system to track everything from soda cans, to cereal boxes.With this new system in place, shoppers will just push their shopping carts through the cash register station and the total amount of the purchase will be shown at the register without unloading or checking each product at a time.Other option to optimize this process would be to require all vendors and Manufacturers to place the bar codes in he top part of the products, this way by placing the products upward in the cart will permit the laser scanner to check all items in the cart.2—

    SAVINGS. AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES. With the use of this portable shopping cart there is no need for plastic or paper bags, which results not only in a very considerable economy, but also in a huge reduction in pollution. If just 1% one percent of grocery shoppers in America use this cart instead of the traditional one, the reduction in use of shopping bags will be close to 360 million units per year, taking a population of 100 million house holds, consuming about 15 bags twenty four times per year.SUPER MARKET SAVINGS. With generalized use of these carts the supermarkets swill save millions of dollars in manufacture and maintenance of shopping carts. These savings should be transferred to customers in grocery prices.3—

    OTHER FEATURES. Because of the design of special thermal 5 compartments in the portable cart, it will be easy to keep perishable and frozen goods for A longer time in your car, making it possible for shoppers to do other things after shopping. Fragile products like eggs, bread, bottles will be protected form crashing or smashing under the weight of other heavier items.The compartments are removable, so you can put them in your freezer, pantry or any other place in your home. These are also washable so you can maintain proper hygiene.4—

    MATERIALS—

    It is recommended to use high resistant plastic for the basket and the interior compartments, and stainless steel and aluminum for the support, legs and wheels.5—

    The cart will also be equipped with a convenient compartment to hold a grocery list, and a lock to protect a purse or hand bag.6—

    One option could be to have a refrigerated cart with an electrical connection to the SUV or Mini Van 12 volt outlet. This, off course, would be a more expensive version.7—

    There are many other advantages for the use of this cart that can be assessed by experts in supermarket operators, but mainly by the users;

    house wives, household heads, and everyone who shops at a store or supermarket.PRICE;

    In order to make this cart easy to purchase the sell price should not be higher than $150 per unit. The cost of massive production should not be over $75 Per unit.Being this a personal property cart it is possible to load it with many other features.

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