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: 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: The present invention provides an improved shopping cart wheel which includes a wheel hub supporting a wheel thereon and having a central axial opening. Mounted within the central axial opening adjacent one end thereof is a first precision bearing unit having a rotating cylindrical central hub, an outer toroidal bearing jacket surrounding the central hub and a plurality of ball bearings rotatably mounted within the outer toroidal bearing jacket and rotatably supporting the rotating central hub therebetween, and mounted within the central axial opening adjacent the opposite end thereof is a second precision bearing unit which is substantially identical to the first precision bearing unit. The central hubs of the first and second precision bearing units generally contact one another in coaxial alignment within the central axial opening such that the improved shopping cart wheel will withstand greater side load forces and have increased weight-carrying capacity.