CN111216779A

CN111216779A - Shopping cart

Info

Publication number: CN111216779A
Application number: CN201811425676.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 施盛杰; 朱纪荣; 查仙梅
Original assignee: Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Wanzl GmbH and Co Holding KG
Priority date: 2018-11-27
Filing date: 2018-11-27
Publication date: 2020-06-02
Also published as: AU2019226117A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a shopping cart (1) comprising: a chassis (2); a basket (4); a connection structure (5) for connecting the basket (4) to the base frame (2); and a stop mechanism for limiting the deepest nesting position in which a trailing shopping cart (1) can be nested into a leading shopping cart (1); wherein the connecting structure (5) comprises at least one basket tray (51) and the catch mechanism comprises at least one catch structure (52) provided on the basket tray (51). According to the invention, the stop structure (52) can reliably prevent nested shopping trolleys (1) from jamming together.

Description

Shopping cart

Technical Field

The invention relates to a shopping cart.

Background

Shopping carts, also known as shopping carts or miscellaneous carts, have been widely used in supermarkets and the like for many years. Shopping carts are typically pushed by a user to transport items for purchase, for example.

Shopping carts are typically configured in the form of a metal frame and are configured to be nestable such that the shopping carts can be nested within each other as needed to save storage space.

However, it has been found that the shopping cart may get stuck after nesting. If this happens, it is difficult to pull out a stuck shopping cart, which will further lead to damage of the associated shopping cart.

Therefore, there is a need to improve existing shopping carts to at least avoid such problems.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the problems in the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shopping cart.

To achieve this object, there is provided a shopping cart comprising: a chassis; a basket; a connecting structure for connecting the basket to the bottom frame; and a stop mechanism for limiting the deepest nesting position in which a trailing shopping cart can be nested into a leading shopping cart; wherein the connecting structure comprises at least one basket tray and the catch mechanism comprises at least one catch structure provided on the basket tray.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the base frame includes a frame body and a support frame fixed on the top of the frame body for supporting the bottom of the basket.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the shopping cart comprises two basket carriers which are each fixed to the support frame at a respective longitudinal side of the shopping cart.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the stop structure of the trailing shopping cart is in contact with the lower edge of the rear longitudinal end of the basket of the leading shopping cart in the nested state.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the basket tray has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the stop structure is disposed adjacent the second end.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the stop structure is configured as a projection extending downwardly from the lower edge of the basket tray.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the projection is configured in a flat shape such that it is at least coplanar with the portion of the basket tray from which the stop structure extends.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the projection comprises a stop portion which is curved along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the basket tray, said stop portion forming a stop face.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the protrusion is configured as a curved structure that curves along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the basket tray.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the stop structure and the basket receptacle are formed from a plate by a stamping and/or bending process; and/or the stopper structure is configured not to protrude from the outside surface of the basket tray.

According to the invention, the stop structure can reliably prevent the shopping trolley from being jammed together after being nested.

Drawings

The invention and its advantages will be further understood by reading the following detailed description of some preferred exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shopping cart according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a shopping cart according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention along its longitudinal centre axis.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of three shopping carts in a nested state.

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a basket tray and a combination of stopper structures provided on the basket tray according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the combination from the side opposite to fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a partially enlarged view of the contact state of the stop structure of the trailing shopping cart with the corresponding part of the leading shopping cart in the nested state.

Fig. 7 and 8 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a stop structure in a manner similar to fig. 4 and 5.

Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a stop structure in a manner similar to fig. 4 and 5.

Detailed Description

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to better understand the basic idea of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a shopping cart 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the shopping cart 1 mainly comprises: a base frame 2 carrying a plurality of, preferably four rotatable wheels 3, a basket 4 for receiving goods, a connecting structure 5 for connecting the basket 4 to the base frame 2, and a handle 6, wherein the basket 4 comprises an openable flap 7 at a longitudinal end adjacent to the handle 6, i.e. at a rear end thereof, which may allow the shopping cart 1 to be nested into other shopping carts as required.

Preferably, as can be further seen in fig. 1, the handle 6 is connected with the basket 4 above the openable flap 7, and the shopping cart 1 may further comprise a foldable seat 8 provided on the openable flap 7.

Furthermore, preferably two components 9, such as bars or rods, respectively, extend downwards from the handle 6 at the longitudinal sides of the shopping cart 1 and are connected to corresponding components, such as basket 4, to further strengthen the combined structure of basket 4 and handle 6.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connection structure 5 may include two basket brackets 51 to be connected with the basket 4. The basket brackets 51 are preferably fastened, for example welded, to the base frame 2 on the respective longitudinal side of the shopping cart 1.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the shopping cart 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention along its longitudinal centre axis. As shown in fig. 2, the base frame 2 includes a frame body 21 and a support frame 22 fixed, for example, welded, on the top of the frame body 21, wherein the support frame 22 serves to support the bottom of the basket 4. Specifically, a part of the bottom of the basket 4 may be directly placed on the support frame 22.

The basket 4 may be reliably fixed and supported on the base frame 2 by the combination of the basket tray 51 and the support frame 22.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1, the basket tray 51 is fixed, preferably welded, to a portion of the support frame 22.

The basket bracket 51 is preferably vertically welded to the base frame 2. More details of the basket tray 51 will be further described below.

The support frame 22 preferably includes a first frame portion 221 and a second frame portion 222 connected to the first frame portion 221. For example, the first frame portion 221 may be configured in a C-shape with a notch. The second frame portion 222 is connected to the first frame portion 221 across the gap so as to close the gap so that the support frame 22 can be in a closed form. Fig. 2 shows only a part of the support frame 22, but a person skilled in the art will understand this configuration from fig. 2, in particular for a symmetrical design.

The support frame 22 may be formed of a wire. For example, the first frame portion 221 is formed by bending a wire, and the second frame portion 222 is formed by a length of wire.

The support frame 22 is arranged such that the second frame portion 222 is positioned transversely at the bottom of basket 4 between two opposite longitudinal ends of basket 4.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of three shopping carts 1 in a nested state, wherein the three shopping carts 1 in fig. 3 are referred to as first, second and third shopping carts from left to right in order for convenience of description only.

As shown in fig. 3, the second shopping cart 1 is completely nested in the first shopping cart 1, but the third shopping cart 1 is not completely, i.e. only partially, nested in the second shopping cart 1.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that it is necessary to prevent shopping carts 1 from nesting too deep into each other, since a nesting too deep may cause problems, such as for example, nested shopping carts 1 getting stuck together, parts of nested shopping carts 1 being damaged, etc.

Therefore, a stop mechanism is required to prevent shopping carts 1 from nesting too deeply into each other. That is, the stop mechanism may limit the deepest nested position of any two adjacent shopping carts 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the catch mechanism includes at least a catch structure 52 provided on at least one basket tray 51.

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a combination of a basket tray 51 and a stopper structure 52 provided on the basket tray 51 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 4, the basket tray 51 has a first end 511 and a second end 512 opposite to the first end 511. As shown in fig. 1, first end 511 may be provided with an engagement hook 513 to engage with lower edge 10 of basket 4 adjacent to the rear end of handle 6, and second end 512 may be connected with a corresponding portion, e.g., a side, of basket 4 by a clamp 11. In this way, basket 4 is securely connected to chassis 2.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower edge 10 may be a crossbar.

Preferably, the basket tray 51 may be configured in a plate-like shape. Further preferably, the basket bracket 51 is formed of a plate, for example, by a punching process and/or a bending process.

The stopper structure 52 is configured as a protrusion extending downward from a lower edge of the basket tray 51.

Preferably, the stopper structure 52 is integrally formed with the basket bracket 51. More preferably, the stopper structure 52 and the basket tray 51 are formed from a single piece of material, such as a single plate.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the protrusion is configured in a flat shape such that it is coplanar with at least a portion of the basket tray 51 from which the stopper structure 52 extends, which is simple and easy to manufacture.

When the second shopping cart 1 is fully nested in the first shopping cart 1, as shown in fig. 2, the stop structure 52 of the second shopping cart 1 will come into contact with a corresponding portion, preferably the lower edge 10, of the first shopping cart 1.

Fig. 6 shows this contact state in a partially enlarged view. As can be seen clearly in fig. 6, the stop structure 52 of the second shopping cart 1 abuts against the lower edge 10 of the first shopping cart 1, so that the second shopping cart 1 cannot be pushed further into the first shopping cart 1.

The basket tray 51 is relatively rigidly fixed to the base frame 2 so that the basket tray 51 and thus the stopper structure 52 are not easily deformed. In this case, the stop structure 52 of the second shopping cart 1 can reliably prevent the lower edge 10 of the first shopping cart 1 from passing over the stop structure 52 of the second shopping cart 1, so that nested shopping carts 1 will not become jammed together.

Fig. 7 and 8 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of stop structure 52 in a manner similar to fig. 4 and 5. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the stopper structure 52 includes a stopper portion 521 bent along an axis transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the basket tray 51. In this case, the stopper portion 521 is not coplanar with, and preferably perpendicular to, the portion of the basket tray 51 from which the stopper structure 52 extends. The stopper portion 521 forms a stopper surface facing the second end 512 of the basket tray 51.

Preferably, the stop portion 521 is configured as a flat portion. Furthermore, the stop portion 521 is preferably directed inwards in the mounted state.

Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of stop structure 52 in a manner similar to fig. 4 and 5. As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the stopper structure 52 is configured as a protrusion bent along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the basket tray 51. Preferably, stop structure 52 is configured as a C-shaped or S-shaped structure, which may enable a stronger stop function.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the stop structure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but may be implemented in any suitable manner, as long as it can reliably abut against a corresponding portion of a preceding shopping cart in the nested state, so that a following shopping cart cannot be moved further into the preceding shopping cart. Of course, it is advantageous if a stop structure is provided on each of the two basket receptacles.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the catch mechanism may include any additional catch structure in addition to the catch structure provided on the basket tray. For example, the second frame part 222 shown in fig. 2 can be configured as an additional stop structure which, in the nested state, will come into contact with a corresponding part, preferably the flap bumper 12, provided on the lower edge 10 of the preceding shopping cart. Fig. 1 to 3 show a damper buffer 12 for buffering a closing operation of the openable damper 7.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover all such modifications, alterations, and changes as fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A shopping cart (1) comprising:

a chassis (2);

a basket (4);

a connection structure (5) for connecting the basket (4) to the base frame (2); and

a stop mechanism for limiting the deepest nesting position in which a trailing shopping cart (1) can be nested into a leading shopping cart (1);

wherein the connecting structure (5) comprises at least one basket tray (51) and the catch mechanism comprises at least one catch structure (52) provided on the basket tray (51).

2. The shopping cart (1) according to claim 1,

the base frame (2) includes a frame body (21) and a support frame (22) fixed on the top of the frame body (21), the support frame (22) being for supporting the bottom of the basket (4).

3. The shopping cart (1) according to claim 2,

the shopping trolley (1) comprises two basket carriers (51) which are each fastened to a support frame (22) on a respective longitudinal side of the shopping trolley (1).

4. The shopping cart (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the nested state, the stop structure (52) of the trailing shopping trolley (1) comes into contact with the lower edge (10) of the rear longitudinal end of the basket (4) of the leading shopping trolley (1).

5. The shopping cart (1) according to claim 4,

the basket tray (51) has a first end (511) and a second end (512) opposite the first end (511), and the stop structure (52) is disposed adjacent the second end (512).

6. The shopping cart (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, 5,

the stopper structure (52) is configured as a protrusion extending downward from a lower edge of the basket tray (51).

7. The shopping cart (1) according to claim 6,

the projection is configured in a flat shape such that it is coplanar with at least a portion of the basket tray (51) from which the stopper structure (52) extends.

8. The shopping cart (1) according to claim 6,

the projection comprises a stop portion (521) which is curved along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the basket tray (51), the stop portion (521) forming a stop face.

9. The shopping cart (1) according to claim 6,

the protrusion is configured in a curved configuration that curves along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the basket tray (51).

10. The shopping cart (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, 5, 7-9,

the stop structure (52) and the basket bracket (51) are formed from a plate by a stamping and/or bending process; and/or

The stopper structure (52) is configured not to protrude from the outer side surface of the basket tray (51).