Abstract: A handle for a shopping cart includes a frame defining a unitary member in a substantially continuous loop. At least one connection portion extends from the frame for securing the frame to a basket of a shopping cart and is configured to position the loop of the frame to be generally parallel to and spaced from an upper portion of a basket of the shopping cart.

Abstract: A short-nosed wheeled walking aid has (a) a substantially horizontal base member having a front perimeter, a rear perimeter, a right perimeter and a left perimeter; (b) a front wheel assembly mounted to and supporting the base member adjacent the front perimeter, (c) a rear wheel assembly mounted to and supporting the base member adjacent the rear perimeter, (d) at least three upright right panels mounted on the base member, (e) a hand grip spaced behind and substantially parallel to the upright rear panel having a ground height (height off the ground, measured from the plane on which the wheels rest) of from about thirty to about forty inches, and (f) a seat assembly mounted to the exterior side of the rear panel, the seat assembly including a seat member translatable from a substantially vertical posture substantially parallel to the rear panel to a substantially horizontal posture substantially normal to the rear panel. A method of assisting the ambulation of a person employs the wheeled walking aid.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a shopping cart includes a gate pivotally mounted to a rear portion of the shopping cart and a seat member made from a plastic material. The seat member is mounted to the gate of the shopping cart via a pivot mechanism to extend in a position to support a child within the shopping cart. The seat member includes a generally curved concave portion having an apex adjacent the gate and a generally straight portion on a side of the seat member opposite the apex of the generally curved concave portion.

Abstract: A dolly apparatus for moving or retaining objects comprising: at least one dolly, the dolly comprising a chassis, a plurality of rollers, at least two axles, and an elongate member. The chassis comprises a first side and a second side, an anterior end and a posterior end, at least four axle retaining members, at least two walls defining a gondola channel for the elongate member. The first side comprises a gondola channel which is defined by a first wall and a second wall. The gondola channel has a front end and a rear end. The front end of the gondola channel abuts with the first wall and the rear end abuts with the second wall.

Abstract: A brake assembly for a shopping cart includes an elongated shaft and a pair of pivots for pivotally attaching the elongated shaft to each rear leg of the shopping cart. A pair of L-shaped members is secured to the elongated shaft and movable for frictionally engaging a respective rear wheel of the shopping cart. An actuating lever is attached to one end of the elongated shaft and is manually operable for moving the L-shaped members. A detent and guide member is secured to the shopping cart in proximity to its rearwardly disposed handle bar for guiding movement of the actuating lever. A ring couples the actuating lever to the detent and guide member.

Abstract: A basket for a shopping cart comprising a single unitary member molded from a plastic material. The basket includes a frame including a plurality of generally vertical upright frame members spaced apart from each other, with each frame member including a generally smooth outer surface without holes. A front panel extends generally vertically and laterally across the front portion of the single unitary member between two of the generally vertical upright frame members. A pair of side panels extends generally vertically, being generally parallel to each other and spaced from each other. Each side panel extends from a front portion to a rear portion of the basket between two of the generally vertical upright frame members. The front panel and each side panel comprise a generally flat portion defining a plurality of holes and have a substantially uniform thickness at least about two times less than a thickness of the generally vertical upright frame members.

Abstract: A shopping cart liner is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the shopping cart liner includes a flexible, plastic liner body having a bottom panel and a rear portion, a pair of side portions and a front portion extending from the bottom panel. In some embodiments, at least one liner partition extends from the bottom panel. A method of preventing contaminants on a shopping cart from contacting items placed in the shopping cart is also disclosed.

Abstract: A braking system designed to be an integral part of a shopping cart. The braking system consists of a hand-operated brake that is gravity actuated and normally engaged. The user disengages the braking system to move the shopping cart, preferably by pushing a primary handle of the cart. The braking system is also disengaged when the shopping cart is nested with other shopping carts to allow multiple carts to be moved without the brakes being engaged. The mechanical link from the handle to the brake is enclosed within the frame to reduce potential damage to the mechanism. The mechanical link consists of a hand-activated handle that is pushed down to disengage the brake, and when the handle is not depressed, the handle raises by gravity and applies the brake.

Abstract: A motorized cart collector for pulling two rows of carts in a forward direction over a surface includes a mobile body having a frame and a cart connector assembly. The cart connector assembly is pivotally connected to a rear end of the frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis that is approximately perpendicular to the surface. The cart connector assembly includes first and second cart connectors that respectively configured to simultaneously attach to first and second lead carts. Also disclosed is a method of pulling two rows of carts using the cart collector.

Abstract: A shopping cart has a wheeled base, a rear frame projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base with a handle at its upper end, a basket having a rear end secured to the frame and projecting forwardly from the frame at spacing above the base, and a fixed child seat secured to the rear frame. The basket is closed by a pivoted rear gate at its rear end. Two or more carts can be nested together by pushing the front wall of the basket of a first cart through the rear frame beneath the fixed child seat of a second cart, simultaneously pivoting the rear gate upwardly to allow the basket of the first cart to enter the basket of the second cart. The side walls are inclined upwardly from the child seat to the front end of the basket.

Abstract: A new shopping cart includes a wheeled base having forward and rear portions, a pedestal formed on the base for supporting a container or basket thereon, where the pedestal is secured to the base at a location between the forward and rearward ends of the base, and the container is supported on the pedestal so that the rear of the container is disposed forwardly of the rear of the base, and the cart as a whole exhibits a lowered center of gravity. The cart also includes an upwardly extensive handle member, and the pedestal includes a surface for supporting the rear of the basket forwardly of the rear of the base. The basket is hung from the handle member at a location disposed a substantial distance from the upper part of the handle member. A pair of connecting rods attaches the handle member to the rear of the pedestal to support the latter against excessive longitudinal forces.

Abstract: There is provided a transportation device with outer and inner frames coupled to a receptacle so as to allow the receptacle to move vertically in response to loading and unloading of the device.

Abstract: A trolley includes a front wheel assemblie (12) and a rear wheel assembly both assemblies mounted on a trolley frame. The front wheel assembly (12) includes a fixed wheel assembly (24) to aid control of the trolley. In one form the front wheel assembly (12) includes a pair of swivel castors (18) and a fixed wheel assembly (24) disposed between the castors (18). The front wheel assembly (12) is designed so that when the castors (18) swivel from their orientation for forward travel, the fixed wheel assembly (24) is caused to be lifted off the ground. The trolley also includes a camming device which is operative to lift the front wheel assembly (12) off the ground when the trolley is moved into a nested configuration with a like trolley.

Abstract: A handle shield (22, 50) is provided for placement about the handle (20) of a conventional shopping cart. The handle shield is formed of sheet material that forms a sleeve (26) that surrounds the handle to shield the hands of the user of the cart from contacting the handle, and a hang tag (28, 54) is suspended from the handle that bears advertisements, coupons, and/or bar codes for displaying to the shopper the different goods available in the store and for redeeming at the checkout counter of the store.

Abstract: A shopping cart has a wire basket, which comprises generally horizontal and generally vertical wires defining two side walls, defining a front wall, and defining multiple apertures in each of the side and front walls, and in which the front wall meets each of the side walls along a generally vertical front corner. A bumper, which is installed on the wire basket, along the front corner, has an elongate body, which wraps around the front corner and which has two lateral edges. Along a lower portion of each lateral edge, the bumper has a wing projecting into at least one of the apertures of the side and front walls. The wing has a recess, which accommodates a given one of the horizontal wires of the wire basket, and portions of the wing project into apertures above and below the given one of the horizontal wires.

Abstract: A wheeled cart, such as a shopping cart, has ski elements on the wheels thereof. The ski elements can be moved between stored and use positions.

Abstract: A tractor-trailer coupling mechanism for a powered tow vehicle and unpowered trailer vehicle which eliminates jack-knifing. The coupling includes at least one extension or more on the trailer vehicle which is constructed to slide into a receptor channel or recesses in the powered vehicle. A locking or latching arrangement is attached at the front of the tractor vehicle. The result is that the tractor vehicle and the trailer vehicle are fixedly connected to each other as a single chassis vehicle, making the powered tractor vehicle and the trailer vehicle operate as one unit. An alternative arrangement would provide the channel on the trailer and the extension protruding from the powered tractor vehicle.

Abstract: A shopping cart includes a molded basket, a molded basket support that is connected to and is configured to support the molded basket, and a molded lower tray frame that is connected to and is configured to support the molded basket support. The molded basket, molded basket support and lower tray frame may be molded together during a molding process.

Abstract: A household and shopping laundry cart has a cart basket (1) with a first-side wheel (7) and a second-side wheel (8) that are positioned on sides aft of a linear center. A tow handle (10) is pivotal vertically on a tow hitch (11) on a front-end wall (4). A stair-climber incline (14) is extended slantingly downward and rearward from near a front of a bottom (6) of the cart basket to the wheels. A front support (15) proximate a front-bottom edge holds the cart basket level when stopped on a horizontal surface and aids in stair climbing. A basket cover (13) is extendable from a first top side (53) to a second top side (56). Side walls of the basket are tapered inwardly from-top-to-bottom for telescopic storage of a plurality of the household and shopping laundry carts.

Abstract: A shopping cart or transport container includes a combined hydrophobic or superhydrophobic and/or ion-releasing surface. The shopping cart or transport container therefore does not provide an environment that permits the survival of pathogens.

Abstract: The utility cart has a first pair of corner posts, a second pair of corners posts, a shelf, a front support bar, a pair of parallel side support bars, and a back support bar, which is particularly suited for supporting a drawstring garment bag for receiving garments being dispatched from a conveyor dryer. For added support and rigidity, the utility cart is also provided with a pair of parallel side support bars, each side support bar extending from a first corner post to a second corner post. For added ease of movement, the utility cart can also be provided with swivel-wheel caster assemblies on each of the four posts. The utility cart and drawstring garment bag can be provided as a kit along with a wedge member and a set of size separators.

Abstract: A vertically swingable rear gate assembly for closing an open rear side of a shopping cart basket. The gate assembly includes a monolithic one-piece plate-like molded plastic gate member sized to substantially close off the rear side of the basket. A rigid one-piece connecting frame is disposed primarily adjacent a rear side of the gate member and includes a pair of generally transversely aligned top hinge parts for vertical hinged connection to the shopping cart. The connecting frame, adjacent an upper edge, has a downwardly-opening, transverse channel structure which engages over and confines an upper edge portion of the gate member. The lower part of the connecting frame is fixedly joined to the gate member at a location adjacent the bottom edge thereof.

Abstract: A cart includes a frame and a rigid base section horizontally registered above a ground level and oriented parallel thereto. Casters are mated to opposed corners of the base section. An upper section is pivotally conjoined to opposed corners of the base section and is offset along a vertical plane. The upper section is spaced from the casters. A collection bin is centrally housed within the upper section and seated on the base section. The bin is arranged so that the upper section abuts proximal and distal top ends of the bin. Clamping arms are anchored to a distal end of the base section and spaced from the upper section respectively. The upper section and the clamping arms are simultaneously and independently articulated during operating conditions.

Abstract: A child's wagon is provided with a mobile base portion and a body portion that define a large inner cavity for storing various articles. Head, neck and tail assemblies may be provided so that the wagon resembles a desired animal. A frame assembly provides the head and neck with realistic movement when the wagon is moved. A cover for the wagon's inner chamber may be shaped like a saddle to support one or more children. Additional accessories such as saddlebags, bottle holsters, and a coiled cord pacifier may be provided. The tongue may be pulled manually or disassembled into a tow bar to be pulled by other motive devices.

Abstract: In a shopping cart, which is nestable with similar carts, a transverse extending member bridges two longitudinally extending members, each mounting a cam-engaging member. Two cams are mounted to the transversely extending members. When engaged by the cam-engaging members of a following cart being nested into the shopping cart, the cams lift a back end of the shopping cart, so as to lift rear casters of the shopping cart.

Abstract: An improved shopping cart, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets attached to the side of the cart. One of the brackets is positioned towards a front of the cart, while the other is positioned towards a rear. Each bracket comprises a rigid straight inner attachment slab attached to the basket, and an L-shaped slab. The L-shaped slab has a horizontal portion, a horizontal portion and a vertical portion having a free upper end. A non-curved or boxy U-shaped portion of the bracket is formed by an intersection of the horizontal portion, a lower part of the vertical portion and a second middle portion of the straight inner attachment slab. The brackets are spaced apart sufficiently to allow a long object to rest securely on the U-shaped portion of each bracket. Present invention also includes the removable accessory variant of the same improvement.

Abstract: A shopping cart having a lowered center of gravity and including a wheeled base having forward and rear portions, a pedestal formed on the base between the forward and rearward portions for supporting a container or basket thereon, so that the rear of the container is disposed forwardly of the rear of the base. The cart includes an upwardly extensive handle member, and the basket is hung from the handle member at a substantial distance from the upper part of the handle member. The pedestal is supported against excessive longitudinal forces by connecting rods attaching the rear of the pedestal to the handle member. Two horizontal hinge rods are mounted to the handle member, one above the other, with the lower hinge rod pivotably securing the rear pivoting gate of the basket. A child seat on the pivoting gate is disposed in the rear of the basket substantially below the upper end of the handle member.

Abstract: A cart with auxiliary wheels has a body having a bottom and two ends, a handle, at least one front swiveling wheel, a set of rear swiveling wheels and a set of auxiliary wheels. The handle is formed on the body. The front swiveling wheels and the rear swiveling wheels are mounted rotatably and respectively on the bottom of the body. The swiveling wheels are omni-directional and allow the cart to be moved in all directions. The auxiliary wheels are mounted centrally between the front swiveling wheels and the rear swiveling wheels. The auxiliary wheels are non-swiveling and are mounted parallel with the front-rear direction of the cart to provide straight-line stability to the cart.

Abstract: A collapsible cart for transporting multiple items having a horizontal platform with wheels for maneuvering, and a plurality of detachable baskets mounted on basket supporting assemblies. The basket supporting assemblies are pivotally mounted so as to be capable of independent deployment and stowing to facilitate loading and unloading in turn.

Abstract: A shopping cart has a wheeled base, a rear frame projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base with a handle at its upper end, a basket having a rear end secured to the frame and projecting forwardly from the frame at a spacing above the base, and a fixed child seat secured to the rear frame. The basket is closed by a pivoted rear gate at its rear end. Two or more carts can be nested together by pushing the front wall of the basket of a first cart through the rear frame beneath the fixed child seat of a second cart, simultaneously pivoting the rear gate upwardly to allow the basket of the first cart to enter the basket of the second cart. The side walls are inclined upwardly from the child seat to the front end of the basket.

Abstract: In shopping cart comprising a chassis, a handle, and a basket, the chassis comprises a frame defining two shoulders. The handle comprises an upper portion extending generally horizontally, two lateral portions extending downwardly and frontwardly from the upper portion, and two lower portions extending rearwardly from the lateral portions, along the shoulders, to which the lower portions are welded. The basket comprises two lateral walls, each welded to one of the lateral portions of the handle, near its upper portion, and a lower member extending across the shopping cart, at a lower, rear edge of the basket, and welded to the lower portions of the handle. A brace extending between the shoulders of the frame, beneath the basket, supports the basket. Preferably, the basket is welded to the handle before the handle, to which the basket is welded, is welded to the chassis. Thereupon, the shopping cart may be powder-coated.

Abstract: A steering assembly for use with a trolley including a carriage and at least one castor wheel (3) swivel-mounted about a vertical axis, the steering assembly including: co-operating wheel blocking members (131, 23) mounted respectively to the carriage and the castor wheel; and actuation means (150, 152) for causing the selective engagement of the co-operating wheel blocking members (131, 23) so as to prevent swivelling of the castor wheel (3).

Abstract: A shopping cart has a wheeled base, a rear frame projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base with a handle at its upper end, a basket having a rear end secured to the frame and projecting forwardly from the frame at spacing above the base, and a fixed child seat secured to the rear frame. The basket is closed by a pivoted rear gate at its rear end. Two or more carts can be nested together by pushing the front wall of the basket of a first cart through the rear frame beneath the fixed child seat of a second cart, simultaneously pivoting the rear gate upwardly to allow the basket of the first cart to enter the basket of the second cart. The side walls are inclined upwardly from the child seat to the front end of the basket.

Abstract: A shopping cart chassis is provided with at least one tubular frame member. At least a first part of the length of the frame member has a wall with a hollow cylindrical configuration defining an annular transverse cross-section. At least a second part of the length of frame member has a wall with a hollow configuration defining an elongate transverse cross-section having a longer dimension and a shorter dimension. A second part of the frame member is oriented so that the longer dimension of the elongate transverse cross-section is generally parallel to the direction of the force of gravity when the shopping cart is in its normal use orientation.

Abstract: The various aspects of the present invention are directed to moving carts and moving cart assemblies. One embodiment comprises a moving cart assembly with a plurality of interlocking, vertically stackable, storage modules. The modules of this embodiment comprise a frame, preferably having at least four sides, e.g., a top, a back, a right side and a left side. Each module also comprises something to enclose the interior space, such as a pair of doors or a drawer which is selectively slidable into the frame. The needs of a particular office can be readily accommodated by using greater or fewer numbers of drawer modules and/or cabinet-type modules.

Abstract: An improved plastic basket shopping cart includes a cart base having an upwardly extending rear frame section with a handle and at least three wheels rotatably mounted on the cart base. A generally rectangular box shaped plastic basket is mounted on the cart base, and includes a base wall, left and right side walls and a front wall, the side walls and the front wall having a plurality of generally rectangular wall openings having a height greater than their width, excepting those wall openings adjacent the base wall being generally square in shape for improved structural strength. Rear flange sections extend outwards and rearwards from the side walls to substantially cover the gaps between the side walls and the rear frame section. Finally, a basket rim support wire extends circumferentially around and through upper portions of the side walls and front wall and connects to the rear frame section.

Abstract: A dolly and a tray and dolly assembly are provided. The dolly has a floor with upper and lower surfaces and with one or more features such that when the tray floor is received on the dolly floor, the feature interlocks the tray with the dolly. One feature is a plurality of protruding members extending upwardly from the dolly floor upper surface into openings in the tray floor to interlock the tray with the dolly. Another features is the presence of dolly side wall locking portions configured to abut and mate with corresponding tray side wall bottom locking portions on the tray to interlock the dolly with the tray.

Abstract: The present invention is a shopping cart collection device adapted to engage to first and second shopping carts and capable of pulling a first train of shopping carts extending from the first shopping cart and pushing a second train of shopping carts extending from the second shopping cart. The device comprises a motorized unit comprising a drive wheel, a first hitch and a second hitch. The first hitch is proximate a first side of the motorized unit and is adapted to engage the first shopping cart. The second hitch is proximate a second side of the motorized unit opposite the first side and is adapted to engage the second shopping cart.

Abstract: A vertically swingable rear gate assembly for closing an open rear side of a shopping cart basket. The gate assembly includes a monolithic one-piece plate-like molded plastic gate member sized to substantially close off the rear side of the basket. A rigid one-piece connecting frame is disposed primarily adjacent a rear side of the gate member and includes a pair of generally transversely aligned top hinge parts for vertical hinged connection to the shopping cart. The connecting frame, adjacent an upper edge, has a downwardly-opening, transverse channel structure which engages over and confines an upper edge portion of the gate member. The lower part of the connecting frame is fixedly joined to the gate member at a location adjacent the bottom edge thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a seating/storage add-on section for use with a shopping cart, having a non-rigid connector for engaging the rear wheels of a shopping cart. In addition, the connector allows relative movement between the add-on section and an attached shopping cart. The shopping cart can be quickly attached to and detached from the add-on section without requiring tools.

Abstract: A shopping cart chassis is provided with at least one tubular frame member. At least a first part of the length of the frame member has a wall with a hollow cylindrical configuration defining an annular transverse cross-section. At least a second part of the length of frame member has a wall with a hollow configuration defining an elongate transverse cross-section having a longer dimension and a shorter dimension. A second part of the frame member is oriented so that the longer dimension of the elongate transverse cross-section is generally parallel to the direction of the force of gravity when the shopping cart is in its normal use orientation.

Abstract: A shopping cart carrier attachment for carrying at least one child, the child carrier having a main body with an entrance and a support platform or seat to support the child, the main body being removably attachable to the basket of the cart and to the lower frame of the cart such that the main body extends forward from and is suspended from the front of the cart. Most preferably, the child carrier is configured as a real world object, such as a vehicle.

Abstract: A shopping trolley, which includes a holder for holding articles of shopping, and a wheeled undercarriage connected to the holder. The undercarriage is operable between an erected condition, in which the undercarriage supports the holder at a working height above the ground on wheels, and a collapsed compact condition, for loading of the trolley into a boot of a passenger sedan so that the holder provides a boot organizer. In one embodiment of the invention, the undercarriage comprises a pair of telescopically extendable curved legs, which have wheels mounted thereon. A vehicle, which has a securing arrangement in its boot specifically for securing the collapsible shopping trolley in a stable condition in the boot, when the undercarriage of the trolley is collapsed.

Abstract: A shopping trolley (10) has a basket (11), handle (12) and front and rear wheels (13, 14). The basket (11), tapered in plan view, has side walls (15, 16) interconnected by a front wall (17). The rear wall (19) is hingedly connected to the side walls (15, 16) and engages the rearward end of the floor (22), which is hingedly connected to the side walls (15, 16) or front wall (17). The floor (22) is downwardly inclined from the rearward end to the forward end. When the trolley (10) is nested with a similar trolley, the rear wall (19) is swung inwardly and upwardly, causing the floor (22) to be swung upwardly to be behind the front wall (17). Alternative the floor (22) may be folded e.g. in a concertina-like fashion, to be behind the front wall (17).

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a material handling cart includes a wheel hub having first and second openings in first and second hub faces, each concentric with and extending along a central axis of the wheel hub. First and second ball bearings are located in the openings. Inner rings of the bearings are wider than the outer rings, and the inner rings contact one another. The outer rings are separated by, and are in contact with, a hub member. First and second bearing sleeves in the first and second openings contact and retain the bearings, and form first and second journal bearings. The sleeves contact journal surfaces on a portion of each inner ring that extends parallel to the central axis from an outer face of each outer ring away from a medial plane of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A shopping cart chassis is provided with at least one tubular frame member. At least a first part of the length of the frame member has a wall with a hollow cylindrical configuration defining an annular transverse cross-section. At least a second part of the length of frame member has a wall with a hollow configuration defining an elongate transverse cross-section having a longer dimension and a shorter dimension. A second part of the frame member is oriented so that the longer dimension of the elongate transverse cross-section is generally parallel to the direction of the force of gravity when the shopping cart is in its normal use orientation.

Abstract: A supermarket trolley comprising a base with wheels and a basket both made of a moulded plastic material. The basket is connected posteriorly to a pair of uprights of the base by means of respective substantially comb like formations mutually complementary and meshing with each other, whereto are associated mutually engaged tongue and groove elements.

Abstract: A molded plastic basket associated with a wheeled shopping cart, which plastic basket has a generally U-shaped support rod engaged within an elongate channel extending along upper edges of the side and front walls of the basket. The support rod has constructional features to provide for desirable supportive engagement and reinforcement of the upper edge of the basket while at the same time permitting coupling of the support rod and basket to the rear frame uprights to facilitate assembly while providing desirable load transmission from the basket to the upright frame elements.

Abstract: A system can include a rigid or semi-rigid container, a caddy and a cart. A connector can be provided which is operable to provide for a first connection between the cart and the container and a second connection between the container and the caddy. At least one of the first connection and the second connection is a releasable connection. The container is also releasably attachable to said cart. Also provided is a method of using the components of the system. The system and method are well suited for application in shopping environments.

Abstract: In a shopping cart comprising a rear gate, which has two leg openings, and a child seat, which comprises a seat base, a seat back, and a seat panel, the seat base includes a cupholder, which is covered when the seat panel is pivoted to a position wherein the seat panel covers the seat base but not when the seat panel is pivoted to a position wherein the seat panel rests against the rear gate and covers the leg openings.