CA2499800A1 - The portable wheeled shopping bin system - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheeled portable shopping bin system, equipped with a telescopic retractable handle assembly, which can be put into extended and retracted positions.
~ Includes a bin (A) made of plastics material, which comes from a. one-piece cast. This bin utilizes denominations of a common portable shopping bin, also known as shopping basket, carried by hand. The bin defines the main compartment formed from a bottom panel, two side panels and a front and a back panels, all topped with an elongated brim.
~ Includes wheel housing (B1) constituting a rear part of the bottom panel.
The wheel housings are shaped to provide axles support.
~ Includes the wheels (B) with axles that are attached to the wheel housings (B1).
~ Includes front legs (G) supporting the bin when it is in a rest position.
~ Optionally may also include additional rear legs (B2) to disconnect the wheels from the supporting plane, in order to improve support when the bin is in the rest position.
~ Includes a flexible expandable net (E) to secure the cargo placed inside the bin. The net is tied to a brim of the back panel and can be stretched over the top of the bin, and looped under the hooks (G) placed under the brim.
~ Includes highlighted reflecting safety strips (F) placed on the contour of the bin to visually alert about its presence.

Description

THE METHOD:
To move the wheeled portable shopping bin from its rest position to the rolling motion the handle should be expanded and the bin must be swivelled to the rear to detach the legs from the supporting plain in order to stay with the support provided by the wheels only, then it can be pulled or pushed by hand. This four points support system consisting of steady front legs and a pair of wheels, contrary to the heavy load shopping carts wandering over parking lots, prevents the bin from wandering or tipping over, when it is left loose on an inclined plane. This system improves safety resulting from better stability of the loaded bin when it is transported inside a car.
THE USAGE:
The bin system was designed to support transportation of a low to medium shopping cargo. The system provides the following conveniences:
It is useful for neighbourhood shoppers, who do not use a car, since it is convenient and safe to pull it over a few blocks away. The highlighted and reflecting strips placed on the bin enhance its visibility and increase safety while on the way.
When transported by car, with the retracted handle, the owner is able to place it in the even small car cargo space. The support system prevents the bin from wandering within a car cargo space or tipping over while driving.
r The transparency of cargo in the wheeled portable shopping bin conforms to the stores security requirements. It is clearly visible while on the way into and out of the store since it utilizes denominations of a common portable shopping bin, also applied by shopping baskets carned by hand.
The bin owners will not wreck shopping baskets and carts owned by stores.
file://n:\ec\patent\archive\2005\mar\20050318\burgoyne 18318524.HTM 2005-03-21 The system will comfort shoppers who are environment friendly.
~~ Stores will give away less plastic shopping bags, spend less on replacing the wrecked shopping baskets and carts and therefore diminishing operating costs.

The portable wheeled shopping bin system FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to improve the typical shopping scenarios when the shopper uses store owned cargo equipment (hand baskets or buggies) when, the shopper owned shopping bin that is convenient and acceptable for both shopper and store, can replace it.
The invented wheeled shopping bin system is owned by an individual and accompanies the shopper over the complete shopping and transporting cargo home process.
The wheeled shopping bin system is portable, easily manoeuvrable, saves packing time, saves on disposable plastic bags, saves on carrying and lifting efforts, rolling the cargo through a store and then directly to a car or home. The optional rear wheels disengaging feature when the bin is in rest position, adds even more stability to the loaded basket increasing safety when it is rested from motion on an inclined plane or transported in a car.
Author and inventor: Jan Bobrowski W. Page 4 of 4 Patent application Page 3 of 9 DISCLOSURES
The portable wheeled shopping bin system.
Field of the invention The present invention relates to and replaces the typical shopping scenarios when the shopper uses store owned cargo equipment such as hand carried baskets or heavy duty wheeled buggies and plastic disposable bags. The invented shoppers owned wheeled shopping bin system is simpler, saves on physical effort and time, increases safety while in use, comforts the environmentally conscious shoppers, and saves on stores operating costs.
Background of the invention The invented wheeled shopping bin system is owned by an individual and accompanies the shopper over the complete shopping and transporting cargo home process. Since the invented system is based on the typical shopping basket commonly accepted by stores, it brings convenience, increases safety and savings without any need to change the existing customer service procedures practiced in stores.
The wheeled shopping bin system is portable, easily manoeuvrable, saves packing time, saves on disposable plastic bags, saves on carrying and lifting efforts, enables rolling the cargo through a store and then directly to a car or home. The optional rear wheels disengaging feature when the bin is in rest position, adds even more stability to the loaded bin increasing safety when it is rested from motion on an inclined plane or fully loaded and transported in a car. The elastic net secures the cargo and prevents the packed goods from dropping off or scattering and damage while in motion or transported in a car.
file://n:\ec\patent\archive\2005\mar\20050318\burgoyne 18318524.HTM 2005-03-21

Claims (8)

1. A bin (A) that utilizes denominations of commonly used in stores, shopping baskets.

2. A back wheel system comprising of:
a. A pair of wheel housings (B1) attached to or being an integral part moulded within the rear part of the bottom panel of the bin.
b. A pair of supported back wheels (B) attached to the housing (B1) c. An optional pair of rear supporting legs (B2), constituting an integral part of the wheel housing.

3. A pair of front supporting legs (C) levelling the bin when it is in a rest position.

4. The legs and wheels being located on the bottom panel possibly closest to its corners.

5. A tubular telescoping handle assembly (D) comprising a telescoping four piece tubular assembly supported by each of the mainframe tubular members. The upper ends of the four piece tubular assemblies are joined by a grip. The tubular members of the four piece tubular assemblies are provided with locking dents that lock the handle assembly in its extended position. The handle assembly may carry a single release bar switch able between a normal retracted position and a depressed, unlatching position. When the bar is shifted from its normal position to its unlatching position by the bin operator's hand or foot, the telescoping handle assembly can not be shifted from its retracted to its extended to position.

6. An elastic net (E) tied to the rear brim of the bin that may be expanded and looped to the hooks (G) to secure the cargo placed in the bin (A).

7. Highlighting and reflecting safety strips (F) marked on the brim

8. Hooks (G) attached under the brim on the front and the side panels that secure the net when it is expanded over the bin opening and looped.