Stack comprising a number of identical shopping carts pushed one inside the other

• US 8,544,858 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin Eberlein
• Original Assignee: Martin Eberlein
• Inventors: Eberlein, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US13/634,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 280/33.992, 280/33.991, 280/33.997, 280/651, 280/47.34, 280/47.35, 280/DIG.4, 280/400
• US Class Current: 280/33.991
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0009 Stops for moving parts, e.g. rubber elements to eliminate stop noise

Abstract

A stack comprising a number of identical shopping carts pushed one inside the other, which stack can be transported with the aid of transportation means such as trucks, containers, and the like and is kept ready for removal and for use of the individual shopping carts after being transported to a collection point, which is constructed by self-service shops, wherein the shopping carts are pushed one inside the other by means of the chassis and the baskets thereof both during transport and at the collection point in such a way that a stack distance is formed between each shopping cart, wherein a stack distance is greater than a stack distance and the length of the stack having the stack distances is greater than the length of the same stack having the stack distances, and wherein the stack having the length is intended for transport and the stack having the length is intended to be provided at a collection point.

Claims

1. A stack comprising a number of identical shopping carts pushed one inside the other, which stack are transportable with the aid of transport means and, after having been transported to a collection point which is set up by self-service stores, is kept available for the removal and for the use of the individual shopping carts, the shopping carts which are equipped with a chassis and with a basket which is connected to the chassis being pushed one inside the other with their chassis and with their baskets both during transport and at the collection point, in such a way that a stack spacing is formed between each shopping cart, wherein

either spacer elements are attached to the shopping carts of the stack which is intended subsequently for the collection point, in that a stack spacing b is formed in each case by the spacer elements between the shopping carts, in that the stack spacing b is greater than the stack spacing a which is formed between the shopping carts of the stack which is intended for transport, and in that the length B of the stack which is provided for the collection point is greater than the length A of the stack which is intended for transport,

or in that movably arranged spacer elements are attached to the shopping carts, in that the spacer elements are transferable from a first position into a second position in which they are in a use position, in that a stack spacing a is formed between each shopping cart in the first position and a stack spacing b is formed between each shopping cart in the second position, in that the stack spacing b is greater than the stack spacing a, in that the length B of the stack having the stack spacings b is greater than the length A of the same stack having the stack spacings a, and in that the stack having the length A is intended for transport and the stack having the length B is intended for being kept available at a collection point,

wherein the movable spacer elements of the shopping carts of the stack which is intended for transport are arranged on the shopping carts in such a way that, or assume a position such that, the spacer elements of each shopping cart either assume their use position automatically or are manually transferable into their use position, in which the spacer elements remain, after said shopping cart has been removed from the stack.

3. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one spacer element is provided on each shopping cart, and in that the at least one spacer element is arranged either on the basket or on the chassis or on supporting devices which connect the basket to the chassis.

4. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer element is arranged in front of or behind the stack space region which results when two shopping carts which are intended for transport are pushed one inside the other.

5. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein, as viewed in a side view of the shopping carts, each spacer element is arranged in a region between the front side and the rear side of the respective basket.

6. The stack as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spacer element or elements is or are arranged on a transverse connection which connects the longitudinal sides of each chassis, or transverse connection sections, or on the underside of the basket floor or on the side walls of the basket or on the lower rear edge of each basket.

7. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the shopping carts are pushed one inside the other, the at least one spacer element of a shopping cart to be pushed in butts either against the chassis or against the rear lower edge of the basket or against the rear boundary of the side walls of the basket of a shopping cart located in front of it, or in that, during the same operation, the chassis or the transverse connection of the transverse connection sections or a shopping cart to be pushed in comes or come into contact with the at least one spacer element of a shopping cart located in front of it, which spacer element projects beyond the lower edge of the basket in a rearward or downward manner.

8. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the stacked state of the shopping carts which are provided in a stack intended for transport, the at least one movable spacer element of the shopping carts is accommodated in each case in a space which is situated between the basket floor of a shopping cart and the basket floor of the shopping cart located in each case in front of it.

9. The stack as claimed in claim 7, wherein the movable spacer elements of the shopping carts which are located in the stack are locked releasably in their non-use position or remain automatically in their non-use position on account of the position of their centroid.

10. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer holder is additionally supported on at least one supporting part when a stack spacing b is formed in each case between the shopping carts.

11. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basket of each shopping cart is additionally supported on the chassis with the aid of the at least one spacer element.

12. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer elements of the shopping carts are formed either

by a transverse strut which is insertable into the lower chassis frame,

or by a rear wall which is insertable into the basket,

or by a dividing wall which is insertable into the front region of the basket,

or by a handle which is able to be placed onto the basket or onto the chassis in a latching manner,

or by a handle which is transferable from a first position to a second position.

15. The stack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the movable spacer elements of the shopping carts of the stack which is intended for transport are arranged on the shopping carts in such a way that, or assume a position such that, the spacer elements of each shopping cart assume their use position automatically after said shopping cart has been removed from the stack.

2. A stack comprising a number of identical chassis pushed one inside the other or a number of identical baskets fitted one inside the other, it being possible for both stacks to be transported with the aid of transport means and, after having been transported, to be joined together to form utilizable shopping carts, with the result that the stack which is produced as a result and is formed from identical shopping carts are kept available for the removal and for the use of the shopping carts at a collection point which is set up by self-service stores, wherein spacer elements are attached to the chassis and/or or to the baskets of the shopping carts of the stack which is intended for the collection point, in that a stack spacing b is formed in each case by the spacer elements between the chassis or between the baskets, which stack spacing b is greater than the stack spacing a which is formed between the chassis or the baskets which are intended for transport, and in that the length B of the stack comprising the assembled shopping carts and having the stack spacings b is greater than the length A of the stack which is formed from the same number of chassis or baskets and has the stack spacings a.

13. The stack as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one spacer element is provided on each shopping cart, and in that the at least one spacer element is arranged either on the basket or on the chassis or on supporting devices which connect the basket to the chassis.

14. The stack as claimed in claim 2, wherein, as viewed in a side view of the shopping carts, each spacer element is arranged in a region between the front side and the rear side of the respective basket.

16. A stack comprising a number of identical chassis pushed one inside the other and a number of identical baskets fitted one inside the other, it being possible for both stacks to be transported with the aid of transport means and, after having been transported, to be joined together to form utilizable shopping carts, with the result that the stack which is produced as a result and is formed from identical shopping carts are kept available for the removal and for the use of the shopping carts at a collection point which is set up by self-service stores, wherein spacer elements are attached to the chassis or to the baskets of the shopping carts of the stack which is intended for the collection point, in that a stack spacing b is formed in each case by the spacer elements between the chassis and between the baskets, which stack spacing b is greater than the stack spacing a which is formed between the chassis and the baskets which are intended for transport, and in that the length B of the stack comprising the assembled shopping carts and having the stack spacings b is greater than the length A of the stack which is formed from the same number of chassis and baskets and has the stack spacings a.

17. The stack as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one spacer element is provided on each shopping cart, and in that the at least one spacer element is arranged either on the basket or on the chassis or on supporting devices which connect the basket to the chassis.

18. The stack as claimed in claim 16, wherein, as viewed in a side view of the shopping carts, each spacer element is arranged in a region between the front side and the rear side of the respective basket.