Collapsible shopping cart device

• US 8,408,581 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nancy E. Hunter
• Original Assignee: Nancy E. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Nancy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/170,100
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 280/38, 280/43, 280/33.992, 280/33.993, 280/33.997, 280/640, 280/639, 280/641, 280/651, 280/652, 280/659
• US Class Current: 280/651
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2206/06 adjustable in height
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/027 collapsible shopping trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/144 Adaptations for transporting children; Mounting of toys for the children
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/067 Stowable or retractable handle bars

Abstract

The collapsible shopping cart device provides a shopping cart with pivoting telescopic legs. Two spaced apart front legs mount to a pair of spaced apart leg pivots proximal to the basket bottom front. The pivoted legs provide for total collapse to the basket bottom or extension to positions that allow the basket to be selectively varied in height above a given surface such as a store floor. The basket may be provided with hinges between the basket sides and front and back and the basket bottom such that sides, front, and back may collapse for even greater collapsibility for either transport or storage. The sides, front and back are selectively locked in place when expanded. The seat bottom and back may be removable. The handle may be removable. The entire basket and its upwardly disposed components may therefore provide extreme compactability.

Claims

1. A collapsible shopping cart device comprising, in combination:

a collapsible open mesh basket having a top spaced apart from a bottom, a front spaced apart from a rear, and a first side spaced apart from a second side;

a leg receipt panel disposed uppermost in the basket rear;

a removable handle disposed rearwardly on the leg receipt panel via a pair of spaced apart supports, each support further comprising;

an upwardly disposed hook tab spaced apart from a downwardly disposed tab, the hook tab and tab removably engaging the leg receipt panel;

a seat having a seat bottom affixed to a seat back by a pivot, the seat bottom disposed forwardly and perpendicularly from the leg receipt panel, the seat back disposed upwardly and forwardly from the seat bottom, the seat back about parallel to the leg receipt panel;

a pair of spaced apart leg pivots affixed downwardly on the basket bottom proximal to the front;

a pair of front telescopic legs, one of each of the front telescopic legs affixed to one of each of the leg pivots;

a front cross brace connecting the front telescopic legs;

a pair of spaced apart angled telescopic legs affixed to the leg pivots;

an angle leg brace connecting the angled telescopic legs;

a caster disposed downwardly on each leg;

a pair of spaced apart casters disposed downwardly on the basket bottom adjacent to the front.

2. A collapsible shopping cart device comprising, in combination:

a collapsible open mesh basket having a top spaced apart from a bottom, a front spaced apart from a rear, and a first side spaced apart from a second side;

a leg receipt panel disposed uppermost in the basket rear;

a slot disposed vertically and upwardly within each basket side, each slot proximal to the rear;

a removable handle disposed rearwardly on the leg receipt panel via a pair of spaced apart supports, each support further comprising;

an upwardly disposed hook tab spaced apart from a downwardly disposed tab, the hook tab and tab removably engaging the leg receipt panel;

a removable seat having a seat bottom affixed to a seat back by a pivot, the seat bottom disposed forwardly and perpendicularly from the leg receipt panel, the seat back disposed upwardly and forwardly from the seat bottom, the seat back about parallel to the leg receipt panel;

a support tab disposed upwardly on an each side of the seat back, each support tab slideably and removably fitted within a one each of the side slots;

a pair of spaced apart leg pivots affixed downwardly on the basket bottom proximal to the front;

a pair of front telescopic legs, one of each of the front telescopic legs affixed to one of each of the leg pivots;

a front cross brace connecting the front telescopic legs;

a pair of spaced apart angled telescopic legs affixed to the leg pivots;

an angle leg brace connecting the angled telescopic legs;

a caster disposed downwardly on each leg;

a pair of spaced apart casters disposed downwardly on the basket bottom adjacent to the front;

an inwardly bending locking arm connected downwardly to the basket bottom at an arm pivot disposed rearwardly on the bottom, the locking arm further connected downwardly to one of the angled telescopic legs.

3. A collapsible shopping cart device comprising, in combination:

a collapsible open mesh basket having a top spaced apart from a lipped bottom, a front spaced apart from a rear, and a first side spaced apart from a second side;

a leg receipt panel disposed uppermost in the basket rear;

a slot disposed vertically and upwardly within each basket side, each slot proximal to the rear;

a hinge fastening each of the sides, the front, and the rear to the basket bottom;

a plurality of lock pins, one lock pin disposed upwardly within each side adjacent to the front, one lock pin disposed upwardly within each side adjacent to the rear;

a pair of pin receptacles disposed upwardly in each of the basket front and rear, each pin receptacle in removable receipt of a lock pin;

a removable handle disposed rearwardly on the leg receipt panel via a pair of spaced apart supports, each support further comprising;

an upwardly disposed hook tab spaced apart from a downwardly disposed tab, the hook tab and tab removably engaging the leg receipt panel;

a removable seat having a seat bottom affixed to a seat back by a pivot, the seat bottom disposed forwardly and perpendicularly from the leg receipt panel, the seat back selectively disposed upwardly and forwardly from the seat bottom, the seat back about parallel to the leg receipt panel;

a support tab disposed upwardly on an each side of the seat back, each support tab slideably and removably fitted within a one each of the side slots;

a pair of spaced apart leg pivots affixed downwardly on the basket bottom proximal to the front;

a pair of front telescopic legs, one of each of the front telescopic legs affixed to one of each of the leg pivots;

a front cross brace connecting the front telescopic legs;

a pair of spaced apart angled telescopic legs affixed to the leg pivots;

an angle leg brace connecting the angled telescopic legs;

a caster disposed downwardly on each leg;

a pair of spaced apart casters disposed downwardly on the basket bottom adjacent to the front;

an inwardly bending locking arm connected downwardly to the basket bottom at an arm pivot disposed rearwardly on the bottom, the locking arm further connected downwardly to one of the angled telescopic legs.