Shopping Cart with Folding Legs
First Claim
1. An improved shopping cart comprisinga cargo basket havinga floor panel having side edges disposed parallel to and on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis and extending between transverse front and rear edges;
- basket walls disposed atop said floor panel and extending upward therefrom to surround and define an interior cargo space; and
a transverse leg axle coupled to said floor panel adjacent said rear edge;
two collapsible legs coupled to said leg axle and adapted to articulate between a folded position alongside said basket walls and an extended position disposed below said floor panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A four-wheel shopping cart includes a substantially rectangular base surrounded by vertical side, front and rear walls to form an open-topped, cargo basket. The front wall opens fully to provide access to the cargo area, while the rear wall is shorter than the others to allow easy access from behind while shopping. A transverse axle mounted below the rear wall supports hinged legs that fold upwards alongside the side walls so the cart can be placed conveniently into a vehicle for transportation. The legs unfold and lock to support the cart on castors for shopping, and may include height adjustment means for lowering the basket to a comfortable level for usage and for raising it to place it into the shopper'"'"'s vehicle. A pair of small, adjustable wheels mounted on opposite front corners of the base pivot partially to facilitate maneuvering the cart within the vehicle.
19 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An improved shopping cart comprising
a cargo basket having a floor panel having side edges disposed parallel to and on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis and extending between transverse front and rear edges; -
basket walls disposed atop said floor panel and extending upward therefrom to surround and define an interior cargo space; and a transverse leg axle coupled to said floor panel adjacent said rear edge; two collapsible legs coupled to said leg axle and adapted to articulate between a folded position alongside said basket walls and an extended position disposed below said floor panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved shopping cart comprising
a cargo basket having a floor panel having side edges disposed parallel to and on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis and extending between transverse front and rear edges; -
basket walls disposed atop said floor panel and extending upward therefrom to surround and define an interior cargo space; a transverse leg axle coupled to said floor panel adjacent said rear edge; maneuvering wheels coupled to said floor panel; and an adjustable prop disposed on said floor panel adjacent said rear edge and adapted to articulate between a retracted position adjacent said basket walls and a propping position extending below said floor panel; and two collapsible legs coupled to said leg axle and adapted to articulate between a folded position and an extended position, each of said collapsible legs having a mast coupled by its proximate end to one end of said leg axle and having a mast extension coupled between said mast and said leg axle; a motor coupled between said mast extension said mast, said motor adapted to retract and extend said mast extension telescopically into and out of said mast; and a footer coupled to a mast end distal said leg axle, said footer having castors disposed on opposite ends of said footer; a latch disposed between said footer and said mast, said latch having; a latch lever coupled to said latch and adapted to release said latch; and a keeper disposed on an end of said latch lever distal said latch and adapted alternately to release said latch lever and to retain said latch lever in a locked position.
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18. An improved method of transporting a collection of small objects from a first storage site having a plurality of small object storage locations to a second storage site, the improved method comprising
providing a shopping cart having cargo basket having a floor panel having longitudinal side edges extending between transverse front and rear edges; -
basket walls extending upward from said floor panel to surround and define an interior cargo space; and a transverse leg axle coupled to said floor panel adjacent said rear edge; two collapsible legs coupled to said cargo basket and adapted to articulate between a folded position and an extended position, each of said collapsible legs having a mast coupled by a proximate mast end to said floor panel, said mast further having a mast extension coupled between said mast and said floor panel; and a motor coupled to said mast extension and adapted to retract and extend said mast extension telescopically into and out of said mast; and a footer coupled to a mast end distal said floor panel; providing a vehicle having a cargo compartment having a cargo compartment floor and a cargo compartment opening;
thenselecting said collection of small objects from said plurality of small object storage locations and placing said small objects into said interior cargo space;
thenpositioning said shopping cart at said vehicle adjacent said cargo compartment;
thenurging said cargo basket through said cargo compartment opening at least partially into said cargo compartment and supported by said cargo compartment floor with said masts abutting said cargo compartment opening;
thencollapsing said collapsible legs into said folded position;
thenmoving said cargo basket fully into said cargo compartment;
thentransporting said vehicle to a parking location adjacent said second storage site;
thenextracting said cargo basket through said cargo compartment opening until said collapsible legs can be extended;
thenarticulating said collapsible legs into said extended position;
thenwheeling said shopping cart from said vehicle to said second storage site;
thenunloading said small objects from said cargo basket into said second storage site. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification