US2831599A

US2831599A - Protective mat for shopping baskets

Info

Publication number: US2831599A
Application number: US505265A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joe V Graffeo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-05-02
Filing date: 1955-05-02
Publication date: 1958-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-22

Description

April 22, 1958 J. v. GRAFFEO PROTECTIVE MAT FOR SHOPPING BASKETS File d May 2, 1955 1N VENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,831,599 PROTECTIVE MAT FOR SHOPPING BASKETS Joe V. Grafieo, Dallas, Tex.

Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,265

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-19) This invention relates to grocery shopping baskets usually used in conjunction with carriages in grocery stores and it has particular reference to protective mats adapted to cover the bottoms of such baskets.

Baskets of the type referred to herein are usually fabricated from heavy gauge wire and are inseparably joined to the framework of the wheeled carriage which carries two of such baskets, one above the other, the baskets being so designed and constructed that the carriages may be nested, that is, the baskets are telescoped one within the other to conserve space when not in use. It frequently happens that during shopping, merchandise such as liquids or finely divided materials is spilled and readily falls betwen the wires of the baskets and collects on the running gear of the carriages, causing them to take on an unsightly appearance, which necessitates frequent and costly cleaning. It is desirable that the running gear of these shopping carriages be protected against materials falling thereon through the baskets of the carriages to the extent that the running gear be kept clean for longer.

periods of time, thus improving the appearance of the carriages and baskets as well as reducing the expense of maintaining the carriages in proper operating condition.

It is therefore the principal object of the invention to provide a protective mat adapted to conform to and lie on the bottom of shopping baskets to intercept materials which would otherwise fall through the baskets and collect on the running gear of the carriages thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mat having longitudinal, relatively parallel ribs for support ing solid objects above liquids which may be caught in and drained off through the spaces between the ribs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mat of rubber or other plastic material which is cut or molded to the shape of the bottom of a shopping basket and provided with a smooth surface from which finely divided materials or liquids can be readily removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective mat for shopping baskets whose edges are serrated or notched to receive the vertical wires forming the basket, thus to hold the mat against displacement from its proper position in the basket.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a protective mat of the character set forth in which at least two sides and the forward end of the mat are turned upwardly to form retaining walls for any substances which may be released from packages, cartons or bottles and collect on the mat.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2, and

2,831,599 Patented Apr. 22, 1958 ice Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is made to Figures 1 to 3 wherein numeral 10 denotes generally the mat forming the subject matter of the invention, and which is made to conform to the bottom of a conventional shopping basket, generally indicated by reference numeral 11 in Figure 1.

The basket 11 is fabricated from wire, there being vertical strands 12 forming the sides and forward end of the basket and horizontal reinforcing strands 13 spaced vertically above the basket bottom and extending along each side and the forward end of the basket. Since the particular basket shown constitutes one of the type used on telescoping carriages of conventional and well known manufacture, a rear end gate 14 is shown as being hinged for rotation about a horizontal rod 15 extending from side to side of the basket at its rear end, the gate being pushed upwardly by the front end of another basket thrust thereagainst in nesting the baskets.

Extending around the sides and front end of the basket adjacent its bottom and parallel with the reinforcing wires 12 is still another reinforcing wire 15. This wire serves a definite function in the performance of the invention in the form thereof shown in Figures 1 to 3 in that the width and length of the mat 10 is slightly greater than the length and width of the bottom of the basket so that the edges of the mat will curve upwardly at 16 and will lie against the wires 15 and will thus be held in such upwardly turned positions to define a retaining wall to prevent the flowing or falling off of any substances spilled on the mat except at the rear end 17 thereof which extends past the rear end of the basket bottom and, being without support, turns downwardly in the manner shown and is slitted at transversely spaced intervals at a to accommodate the horizontally parallel wires 17a (Figure 2) in the bottom of the basket.

In order that the mat 10 will remain in proper position in the basket, a series of longitudinally spaced notches 18 are provided in the edges of the mat and are defined as -by cutting or molding, depending on the manner in which the mat is produced. These notches 18 receive the vertical wires 12 of the basket 11 which prevents longitudinal and lateral movement of the mat in the basket while the horizontal wire 15 supports in upturned position the edges 16 of the mat for the purpose specified.

It is preferred that the top surface of the mat 10 be smooth which facilitates brushing or wiping the same free of substance spilled thereon and which may be swept oh the unobstructed rear end 17 of the mat.

In Figure 4 is shown a slightly modified form of the invention. The mat is generally indicated by reference numeral 19 and is produced in a mold to define the permanently upwardly curved side edges 20 and end 21. The rear edge 22 is turned downwardly so that it will present no obstruction which may interfere with free sliding movement of the front ends of baskets into the rear ends of other baskets in nesting carriages, as eX- plained previously.

The edges 23 and 21 of the mat are serrated at 23 and 24, respectively, and these serrations engage indiscriminateiy the vertical wires of a basket, hence the mat is held against longitudinal or lateral displacement in the is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is: a

1. As a new article cf manufacture, the combination with a shopping basket having an end, side walls and bottom fabricated from vertically and horizontally disposed wires, a protective mat of resilient material adapted to lie flat on the bottom of said basket having two sides and an end supported in upwardly curved position by horizontal wires on the sides and end of said basket, said mat having its edges along said two sides and end notched to receive the vertical wires of said basket to hold said mat against horizontal and lateral displacement with respect to said basket bottom.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the combination with a basket having side, bottom and amend formed with vertical and horizontal wires of a protective mat conforming to the contour of said basket bottom and whose sides and an end are sustained in raised positions by horizontal wires in said basket to define retaining walls for substances released in said basket, said raised sides and end of said mat being serrated to engage the vertical wires of said basket sides and end to prohibit longitudinal and lateral displacement of said mat.

3. As a new article of manufacture, the combination with a shopping basket having a bottom, sides and an end formed of vertical and horizontal wires, a protective mat for said basket said mat being in the shape of but of greater length and width than said bottom whereby its sides and an end will be held in raised position by the horizontal wires of said basket to define a receptacle for substances spilled in said basket, the sides and an end of said mat being serrated to receive the vertical wires of said basket to preclude longitudinal and lateral movement of said mat on said bottom.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 743,057 Brown et al. Nov. 3, 1903 1,941,922 Worth Jan. 2, 1934 1,979,578 Simmons Nov. 6, 1934 2,606,683 Rudd Aug. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,460 Great Britain July 10, 1914