Abstract: A method of assembling shopping carts includes providing a basket defining including rear upright frame members. Each rear upright frame member defines includes a lower connecting portion. The method further includes providing a first base and providing a second base. The first base includes a pair of first base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of the lower connecting portions. The second base includes a pair of second base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of lower connecting portions, and the second base is shaped differently than the first base. The method includes selecting one of the first base and the second base having a desired base size and shape, and removably securing the basket to the selected one of the first base and the second base including coupling each lower connecting portion with one of the first base supports and second base supports.

Abstract: A method of assembling shopping carts includes providing a basket defining including rear upright frame members. Each rear upright frame member defines includes a lower connecting portion. The method further includes providing a first base and providing a second base. The first base includes a pair of first base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of the lower connecting portions. The second base includes a pair of second base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of lower connecting portions, and the second base is shaped differently than the first base. The method includes selecting one of the first base and the second base having a desired base size and shape, and removably securing the basket to the selected one of the first base and the second base including coupling each lower connecting portion with one of the first base supports and second base supports.

Abstract: A method of assembling shopping carts includes providing a basket defining including rear upright frame members. Each rear upright frame member defines includes a lower connecting portion. The method further includes providing a first base and providing a second base. The first base includes a pair of first base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of the lower connecting portions. The second base includes a pair of second base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of lower connecting portions, and the second base is shaped differently than the first base. The method includes selecting one of the first base and the second base having a desired base size and shape, and removably securing the basket to the selected one of the first base and the second base including coupling each lower connecting portion with one of the first base supports and second base supports.

Abstract: A method of molding a shopping cart component includes providing a first subcomponent and then overmolding the shopping cart component as a second subcomponent about the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent acts as an obstacle to a plastic injection stream and to a gas injection stream during the overmolding of the second component to assist in defining a first hollow section of the shopping cart component adjacent the first subcomponent.

Abstract: A gate-and-seat assembly for a shopping cart includes a gate, a backrest, and a seat. The gate has a first end pivotally mountable to a rear portion of a shopping cart. The backrest includes a back support and a pair of legs with the back support defining a slot. The pair of legs extends from the back support and is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the gate to enable pivotal movement of the backrest relative to the gate. The seat is pivotally mounted to the gate via at least one pivot mechanism and slidably extends through the slot of the back support. The seat includes a pair of ears extending laterally outward from the seat in opposite directions with each respective ear being releasably engageable relative to a rear surface of the back support of the backrest. The entire gate-and-seat assembly is made entirely from a plastic material.

Abstract: A method of assembling shopping carts includes providing a basket defining including rear upright frame members. Each rear upright frame member defines includes a lower connecting portion. The method further includes providing a first base and providing a second base. The first base includes a pair of first base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of the lower connecting portions. The second base includes a pair of second base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of lower connecting portions, and the second base is shaped differently than the first base. The method includes selecting one of the first base and the second base having a desired base size and shape, and removably securing the basket to the selected one of the first base and the second base including coupling each lower connecting portion with one of the first base supports and second base supports.

Abstract: A shopping cart includes a base, a pair of masts, and a basket. The base extends generally horizontally between a front portion and a rear portion of the cart and including a plurality of wheels. The pair of masts extends generally vertically upward from the base in a generally singular plane extending laterally across the rear portion of the cart. Each mast includes a rear portion facing the rear portion of the cart and defining a generally straight surface, and a front portion facing in a direction generally opposite the rear portion of the respective mast and defining a generally concave curved portion. The basket includes a front portion and a rear portion with the rear portion of the basket connected to the base via the pair of masts to support the front portion of the basket in a vertically spaced relationship over the base adjacent the front portion of the cart.

Abstract: A shopping cart includes a base, a pair of masts, and a basket. The base extends generally horizontally between a front portion and a rear portion of the cart and including a plurality of wheels. The pair of masts extends generally vertically upward from the base in a generally singular plane extending laterally across the rear portion of the cart. Each mast includes a rear portion facing the rear portion of the cart and defining a generally straight surface, and a front portion facing in a direction generally opposite the rear portion of the respective mast and defining a generally concave curved portion. The basket includes a front portion and a rear portion with the rear portion of the basket connected to the base via the pair of masts to support the front portion of the basket in a vertically spaced relationship over the base adjacent the front portion of the cart.

Abstract: A cupholder, which is mountable to a wall of a basket of a shopping cart, comprises a continuous wire having two lowermost portions, between and to which the outer mounting plate is mounted, two intermediate portions, which define a cup-supporting level and on which a cup-supporting plate is seated, and an uppermost portion, which is shaped to embrace a cup being held by the cupholder. The continuous wire has two lower connecting portions, each of which connects one of the lowermost portions to one of the intermediate portions, and two upper connecting portions, each of which connects one of the intermediate portions to the uppermost portion.

Abstract: A shopping cart includes a base, a pair of masts, and a basket. The base extends generally horizontally between a front portion and a rear portion of the cart and including a plurality of wheels. The pair of masts extends generally vertically upward from the base in a generally singular plane extending laterally across the rear portion of the cart. Each mast includes a rear portion facing the rear portion of the cart and defining a generally straight surface, and a front portion facing in a direction generally opposite the rear portion of the respective mast and defining a generally concave curved portion. The basket includes a front portion and a rear portion with the rear portion of the basket connected to the base via the pair of masts to support the front portion of the basket in a vertically spaced relationship over the base adjacent the front portion of the cart.

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 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 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 method of molding a shopping cart component includes providing a first subcomponent and then overmolding the shopping cart component as a second subcomponent about the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent acts as an obstacle to a plastic injection stream and to a gas injection stream during the overmolding of the second component to assist in defining a first hollow section of the shopping cart component adjacent the first subcomponent.

Abstract: A gate-and-seat assembly for a shopping cart includes a gate, a backrest, and a seat. The gate has a first end pivotally mountable to a rear portion of a shopping cart. The backrest includes a back support and a pair of legs with the back support defining a slot. The pair of legs extends from the back support and is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the gate to enable pivotal movement of the backrest relative to the gate. The seat is pivotally mounted to the gate via at least one pivot mechanism and slidably extends through the slot of the back support. The seat includes a pair of ears extending laterally outward from the seat in opposite directions with each respective ear being releasably engageable relative to a rear surface of the back support of the backrest. The entire gate-and-seat assembly is made entirely from a plastic material.