WO1990014260A1 - Cart - Google Patents

Abstract

A cart (10) comprising a frame (12) and a collapsible container (14). A subframe member (30) is pivotally attached to a pair of side members (16) of the frame (12) and is pivotable between a first operational position and a second resting position. The container (14) attached to a cross member (32) and the subframe member (30). In the first operational position the container (14) is able to receive items therein whilst in the second resting position the container (14) is collapsed. In the second resting position a cart (10) may be serially nested with another cart (10).

Description

TITLE CART DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a cart, particularly to a shopping cart for use in a supermarket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION It will be understood that "supermarket" includes that manner of vending products in which the products are arranged so as to invite customers¹ selection. Grocery items are typically sold by such method, and in grocery stores which may be large, offering hundreds of items from a large array of vending units, such as refrigerators, stands, racks and the like. Such a method of vending, being common in the grocery trade, is also found in businesses such as hardware, cosmetics, and health care products in chemist shops, and in liquor stores. It is common practise in places where such a vending method is employed to provide shopping carts , which traditionally consist of a wire mesh basket attached to a frame, normally provided with four castor wheels. The vendor walks about the store selecting items for purchase, loading them into the shopping cart and proceeding to a sales point where the selected items are paid for.

Particularly with the larger grocery stores, a large number of such carts must be provided by the proprietors. It is desirable that such carts be strong to sustain full loading, yet be lightweight to facilitate handling. They are usually nestable, or stackable, to permit close packing when not in use, thus saving space which is normally at a premium in such establishments.

They should be highly visible, and readily identifiable as the property of the particular store owner.

Desirably also, the shopping cart should be of durable construction to withstand the stress of use without requiring regular maintenance or repairs. This stress includes being laden with grocery items, impact against stationary objects in the vending place, and against moving objects such as other carts. Throughout, the cart must safely contain the purchases selected by the purchaser, and despite the load, retain easy manoeuvrability and steering control.

Desirably, the operation of such a cart should be as quiet as possible, given the confined space and the number operating at peak times.

Further, a cart is desirably constructed in a way that is "environmentally" safe. That is, it should have wheels which can move freely across a variety of floor coverings without damaging them, should be of non-toxic materials suited for contact with foodstuffs and human (particularly babies') skin, and should have no sharp projections or rough edges capable of puncturing skin or clothing. Typical examples of shopping carts available today may not meet all of these criteria. The force required to nest, or stack, them together may cause damage to carts. The wire mesh construction commonly used is noisy, particularly on stacking or transporting several carts. They are often made with, or wear such that sharp edges result, with a risk of snagging skin or clothes .

Further, such carts are relatively expensive to purchase and maintain, prone to rust, and are not readily provided with visual identification means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shopping cart which overcomes at least some of the above- mentioned difficulties, or at least provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cart characterised in that it comprises a frame, wheel means to provide mobility and collapsible container means attached to said frame, said frame having a subframe member pivotally attached thereto such that said subframe member is pivotable between a first operational position in which items are receivable into said container means and a second resting position in which said container means is collapsed.

More particularly, the invention relates to a cart in which the container means is a collapsible bag, provided with resilient stiffeners in the exterior margins, suspended from a folding subframe member articulated to a wheeled frame.

When the subframe member is in the first position, the bag is disposed in an open manner to receive and contain shopping items. When in the second position the bag collapses.

More particularly, the subframe member is adapted to fold to allow close nesting of like carts. Further, the subframe member is able to fold on contact with a like cart and nest therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cart in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a number of carts as shown in Figure 1 serially nested together; Figure 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the bag of the cart shown in Figure 1; Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are, respectively, plan, side and front views of the cart shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an upper perspective view of a base of another embodiment of a bag for the cart shown in Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1, 4A, 4B and 4C, there is shown a cart 10 comprising a frame 12 and a collapsible bag 14 of generally rectangular shape.

The frame 12 comprises a pair of side members 16. The side members 16 extend in an inclined and substantially parallel manner from the rear to the front of the cart 10.

A joining member 18 extends between the side members 16 at the rear of the cart 10. The joining member 18 serves as a handle for a user of the cart 10. A bracing member 20 also extends between the side members 16 in the mid region thereof.

The frame 12 further comprises a pair of rearward facing legs 22 fixed-to the side members 16 and the bracing member 20. The legs 22 taper inwardly and downwardly toward the rear of the cart 10. The legs 22 form a yoke with a cross member 24 to which the legs 22 are joined. Wheels 26 are mounted on stub axles (not visible) on the ends of the legs 22 and castor wheels 28 are swivelably mounted on the ends of the side members 16. The frame 12 further comprises a substantially U shaped subframe member 30 and a cross member 32. The subframe member 30 is pivotally connected to the side members 16. The bag 14 is supported on the cart 10 by the subframe member 30 and the cross member 32. The bag 14 may be provided with an interior partition 34, dividing the bag 14 into two sections.

Figure 3 shows the construction of the bag 14 shown in the cart 10 of Figures 1, 4A, 4B and 4C. The bag 14 has a rear retaining sleeve 36 into which fits the cross member 32. In addition, a front sleeve 38 is provided to fit around the front of the subframe member 30. The bag 14 is thus suspended from the subframe member 30 and the cross member 32 by means of the sleeves 38 and 36, respectively. The upper side edges 40 and 42 of the bag 14 are folded to form sleeves to fit restraining cords (not visible) fastened between the subframe member 30 and the cross member 32. The partition 34 has a sleeve 43 through which a resilient rod 45 passes as an edge-brace. The rod 45 may be made of nylon.

The base of the bag 14 is provided with a set of resilient rods contained in basal sleeves to maintain the generally rectangular shape of the bag 14. These resilient rods comprise longitudinal rods 44 and transverse rods 46. The longitudinal rods 44 are positioned at the side edges of the base of the bag 14. The transverse rods 46 are positioned at the transverse edges of the base of the bag 14 and intermediate these transverse edges.

Preferably, the frame 12 is made of welded steel tubing finished in bright zinc plating which provides a durable finish.

Alternatively, the frame 12 may be made of aluminium tubing joined together by plastic connectors.

Preferably, the bag 14 is made of vinyl coated nylon mesh available in a wide range of colours to thereby incorporate colour schemes and other visual identification associated with the vendor. Preferably, the wheels 26 are 150 millimetre rubber tyred wheels which are strong and silent in operation. It is to be understood that other types of material and not only those discussed may be utilised in the present invention. For example, the frame 12 may be constructed from aluminium and the base of the bag 14 from moulded plastic.

Although the bag 14 has been described as having a single partition 34, multiple partitions may, alternatively, be provided. Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment to the rods 44 and 46 for maintaining the rectangular shape of the bag 14. Here, the base of the bag 14 is provided with two boards 48 and 50 pivotally connected by a hinge 52 adjacent transverse edges of the boards 48 and 50. Adjacent the periphery of the boards 48 and 50 are a plurality of elongate apertures 54. The lower portions of the bag 14 are provided with tabs 56 that pass through the apertures 54 to secure the bag 14 to the boards 48 and 50. The manner of use of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. In use, the cart 10 is configured as shown in Figure 1, with the subframe member 30 in its first operational position. The restraining cords, between the subframe member 30 and the side members 16, limit the pivotal motion of the subframe member 30 such that it remains in the first operational position.

A user pushes the cart 10 in front of him/her self using the joining member 18 as a handle. The user places desired items into the bag 14.

When the cart 10 is not in use, the subframe member 30 may be pivoted to its second position, i.e. its resting position, so that the cart 10 may be nested with other carts 10. To effect such nesting, the subframe member 30 is pivoted upwardly and to the rear of the cart 10 (in the direction shown by the arrow X in Figure 1) until it lies adjacent the cross member 32 and side members 16. Since the bag 14 is made of collapsible, non-rigid materials it is able to fold and follow the motion of the subframe member 30 without restraining the subframe member 30. Once the cross member 32 of a cart 10 has been positioned as abovedescribed, it may be pushed into the rear of another cart 10. This is shown in Figure 2 in which carts 10a, 10b, 10c and lOd are serially nested together. The castor wheels 28 of each succeeding cart 10 slide on either side of the rear wheels 26 of the preceeding cart 10 until the carts are closely nested together, as shown in Figure 2. Due to the structure of the frame 12, the rear wheels 26 are spaced within the track of the front castor wheels 28 to enable nesting to be effected as above described. The arrangement of the longitudinal rods 44 and transverse rods 46 permits the bag 14 to fold across the middle as a cart 10 is nested with another cart 10.

In the embodiment of the bag 14, shown in Figure 5, the hinge 52 permits the bag 14 to fold across the middle as a cart 10 is nested with another cart 10. Alternatively, a first cart 10 having its subframe member 30 in its first operational position, as shown in Figure 1, may be pushed against the rear of a second cart 10. This pushing action will cause the subframe member 30 of the first cart 10 to pivot from its first operational position to its second resting position as the first cart 10 is pushed against the rear of the second cart 10. In this way, a number of carts 10 may be serially nested as shown in Figure 2.

Whilst the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is not to be construed as limited thereto, and in addition, where specific features have been referred to and known equivalents exist therefore, such equivalents are included herein as specifically set forth. Accordingly, there is provided by this invention robust, colourful, safe and space efficient cart, and one which is quiet in operation.

Similarly, although the cart has been described in relation to supermarket vending it should be appreciated that it has wider applications, including by way of example, domestic and industrial. Domestic applications may include use as a laundry cart and industrial applications may include use in spare parts departments.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A cart characterised in that it comprises a frame, wheel means to provide mobility, and collapsible container means attached to said frame, said frame having a subframe member pivotally attached thereto such that said subframe member is pivotable between a first operational position in which items are receivable into said container means and a second resting position in which said container means is collapsed.

2. A cart according to Claim 1, characterised in that in said first operational position the distal portion of said subframe member is located substantially at the forward end of said cart and substantially at the rear end thereof in said second resting position.

3. A cart according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said frame comprises a pair of substantially parallel inclined side members having a cross member extending therebetween and said container means is attached to said cross member and said subframe member wherein in said second resting position said subframe member lies adjacent said cross member and said side members.

4. A cart according to Claim 3, characterised in that said subframe member is substantially U shaped and is attached at its ends to respective said side members and restraining cord means extend between said subframe member and said cross member or respective said side members to retain said container means in said first operational position.

5. A cart according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a pair of legs extends to the rear of said cart in an inwardly tapering manner.

6. A cart according to Claim 5, characterised in that said wheel means comprises wheels at the lower ends of said side members and said legs and the track of the wheels of said legs lies within the track of the wheels of said side members such that at least two carts may be nested together by pushing a first cart into the rear of a second cart such that the side members of successive carts lie adjacent one another and wherein the subframe member of at least said second cart is in said second resting position.

7. A cart according to Claim 6, characterised in that at least the wheels of said side members are castor wheels.

8. A cart according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that resilient rods are provided in the base of said container means to maintain the shape thereof.

9. A cart according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the base of said container means comprises a pair of hinged boards.

10. A cart according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said container means comprises a bag.