WO2004078557A1

WO2004078557A1 - Shopping cart

Info

Publication number: WO2004078557A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/000276
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mi Siw NORDANSJÖ
Original assignee: Nordansjoe Mi Siw
Priority date: 2003-03-04
Filing date: 2004-03-02
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: SE0300558D0; SE0300558L; SE524998C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shopping cart that comprises a frame (1, 3), a number of wheels (4A, 4B, 13A, 13B) that are intended to support the frame (1, 3) relative to a base, and a handle (11) for advancing the shopping cart, an upper part of the frame (1, 3) being located at a distance from the base that is at least 1 m. It is significant of the shopping cart according to the present invention that in the area of the upper part of the frame (1, 3) a number of rods (10) are provided, said rods (10) being next to each other and being substantially parallel to each other.

Description

SHOPPING CART

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shopping cart that comprises a frame, a number of wheels that are intended to support the frame vis-a-vis a base, and a handle to advance the shopping cart, an upper portion of the frame being located at a distance from the base being at least 1 m.

Prior Art

From DE 298 20 906 ϋl a shopping cart is previously known, said shopping cart comprising a chassis that is equipped with wheels and a supporting structure on top of the chassis. The shopping cart is provided with a handle to steer the shopping cart and a basket for goods in connection with the handle. The chassis is provided with a net to create a carrying surface. The supporting structure comprises a number of telescopic tubes that extend in the intended normal advancing direction of the cart, the length of said tubes being adjustable in accordance with the needs of the customer. Hangers may be hung on the telescopic tubes, said hangers in their turn carrying garments.

From EP 0 864 479 Al a shopping cart is previously known, said cart having a frame that is supported by four wheels. In connection with a number of embodiments of this shopping cart transverse rods are provided on the frame, said rods may be equipped with hooks in the area of their ends. Generally, these transverse rods are arranged at the level that is below the handle that the user holds when advancing the shopping cart. Thus, the rods are not intended for hanging of long garments, e.g. coats and frocks.

From US-A-5, 203, 579 a shopping cart is previously known, said cart also comprising a chassis equipped with wheels and a supporting structure on top of the chassis, said supporting structure generally being in the shape of a T. Adjacent to the chassis the shopping cart is equipped with a basket for goods. The shopping cart also has a vertical handle for steering of the shopping cart. On the ^'"arms" of the T hangers may be hung, said hangers in their turn carrying garments. Objects and Features of the Invention

A primary object of the present invention is to present a shopping cart of the type defined above, said shopping cart enabling the hanging of garments in a user-friendly way. A further object of the present invention is to easily admit the hanging of garments of different lengths.

Still an object of the present invention is that the shopping cart should have a compact design that is not space demanding and that the shopping cart is suited to be advanced in shops where there often is a substantial crush of people.

Still a further object of the present invention is that the shopping cart should have a simple structural design that brings about low manufacturing costs.

At least the primary object of the present invention is realised by means of a shopping cart that has been given the features of the appending independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below an embodiment of the invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from below of a shopping cart according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective side view of the shopping cart according to figure 1, however said shopping cart being complemented by a smaller wire basket; Figure 3 shows the shopping cart according to figure 2 in an operative position, i.e. the shopping cart carries a number of garments and a carrier bag; and

Figure 4 shows how the shopping cart according to figure 3 is advanced by a user.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

The shopping cart according to the present invention, shown in figures 1 and 2, comprises a frame that in the shown embodiment constitutes a closed tube coil 1 and a generally U- shaped tube 3. The closed tube coil 1 comprises a first transverse rod 5 and two from the first transverse rod 5 emanating first branches 7A and 7B respectively. The first transverse rod 5 is generally straight while both the first branches 7A, 7B generally have a curved shape, the branches 7A, 7B still having essentially straight portions that are connected to curved portions. In the area of the transition between the first transverse rod 5 and the respective first branch 7A, 7B first and second castor wheels 4A and 4B are mounted. In the area of their upper ends each one of the first branches 7A, 7B has an essentially straight portion 9A and 9B respectively, the portions 9A and 9B being mutually connected at their ends by a second transverse rod 6 that generally is straight. The portions 9A and 9B are also mutually connected by means of a number of rods 10 that generally extend transverse to the straight portions 9A, 9B, said rods also being parallel. The shopping cart according to the shown embodiment comprises five rods 10, the second transverse rod 6, the rods 10 and the straight portions 9A, 9B together forming a ladder-type portion where the straight portions 9A, 9B constitute the side portions of the "ladder". According to the invention the ladder-type portion, said portion constituting an upper portion of the frame, is located at a distance of at least 1 m from the base that the shopping cart rests upon. Preferably, the distance is about 1,4 m.

The U-shaped tube 3 has its bottom portion 11 upwards, two second branches 12A and 12B respectively emanating from the bottom portion 11 and extending downwards. The second branches 12A, 12B generally have curved shape and they are curved along their entire length. In the area of the lower free ends of the second branches 12A, 12B third and fourth castor wheels 13A and 13B respectively are mounted. All castor wheels 4A, 4B, 13A, 13B support the shopping cart according to the present invention relative to a base, normally a floor.

As is evident from figures 1 and 2 the frame of the shopping cart according to the present invention is created by having the tube coil 1 and the U-shaped tube 3 oriented relative to each other in such a way that four points of intersection 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B are created between the tube coil 1 and the U-shaped tube 3. The tube coil 1 and the U- shaped tube 3 are mutually connected in these points of intersection 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, e.g. by means of welding. In the area of the points of intersection 15A and 15B a third transverse rod 8 is provided, said the rod 8 extending between the first branches 7A and 7B of the tube coil 1. In figure 2 it is shown that the third transverse rod 8 may be equipped with a hanger hook 17 on its lower side. In figure 2 a smaller wire basket 16 is provided on top of the third transverse rod 8, i.e. the wire basket 16 being supported by the third transverse rod 8.

In the area of the lower part of the shopping cart a carrying surface 18 is provided, said surface 18 being in the shape of grid. The carrying surface 18 generally has an extension along the base that is intended to support the shopping cart, however the carrying surface 18 has an upwards oblique portion at one end. At this end the carrying surface 18 is equipped with a fourth transverse rod 19, whose ends cooperate with the second branches 12A and 12B of the U-shaped tube 3. Thereby, a support of the carrying surface 18 is provided in the area of the end where the fourth transverse rod 19 is located.

In figure 3 the shopping cart according to the present invention is shown in operative position, i.e. a number of garments and a carrier bag are hung on the shopping cart. As is evident from figure 3 the rods 10 serve as suspension means for hangers G that in their turn carry garments K, e.g. in the shape of coats, jackets, blouses, sweaters etc. Also the second transverse rod 6 may function as suspension means for a hanger G. A carrier bag B is hung on the hanger hook 17.

In figure 4 it is schematically shown how a customer may use a shopping cart according to the present invention. In connection therewith the customer normally uses the bottom portion 11 of the U-shaped tube 3 as handle, i.e. the customer grips with both hands around the handle 11. The wire basket 16 may be used as storage space for smaller items, e.g. caps, gloves, umbrellas. The shopping cart may easily be advanced and steered by the customer due to the existence of the four castor wheels 4A, 4B, 13A, 13B.

The shopping cart is suitably located at the entrance of a shop for clothes, and the customer is able to make use of a shopping cart when she/he enters the shop. In connection therewith the customer may place a possible bag on the carrying surface 18 and the wire basket 16 may be used for caps, gloves and the like.

During the strolling through the shop the customer may place hangers G with garments on the rods 10 or on the second transverse rod 6, said garments being the ones that the customer wants to try on. In this connection an extremely important feature of the shopping cart according to the present invention should be pointed out, namely the ladder- type portion that the rods 10 create. By a ladder-type portion it should in this connection be understood a portion that in principle has a design that corresponds to a part of a ladder. If it is the question of hanging an extremely long garment on the shopping cart, e.g. an evening gown, the ladder-type portion has an important function. In connection therewith the rod 10 is used that is located furthest away from the second transverse rod 6, i.e. the hook of the hanger is placed around this rod, and the portion of the garment being closest to the hanger is put on top of the ladder-type portion while the rest of the garment is allowed to hang down freely from the second transverse rod 6.

When the customer is furnished with a suitable number of garments K the customer preferably advances the shopping cart to a fitting room where the garments K hanging on the rods 10 of the shopping cart may be tried on by the customer. In connection therewith the customer may bring one or more garments into the fitting room while the rest of the garments are hanging on the rods 10 of the shopping cart.

When the customer is finished with the trying on of the garments K hanging on the shopping cart it could be suitable that the customer during the continued advancing of the shopping cart through the shop returns the garments that not qualify for buying to their original locations. The garments that are in the question for buying may stay hanging on the rods 10 of the shopping cart, which preferably is advanced to the cash desk.

The shopping cart according to the present invention is generally designed in such a way that projecting pins or rods are avoided. This is extremely important since the shopping cart according to the present invention is advanced in shops where there is a substantial crush of people.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention In the embodiment described above the rods 10, provided in the upper part of the frame 1, 3, extend essentially transverse to the normal advancing direction of the shopping cart. However, within the scope of the present invention it is also feasible that the corresponding rods have an extension along the normal advancing direction of the shopping cart.

In the embodiment described above the frame constitutes a closed tube coil 1 and a U-shaped tube 3. Of course the frame may generally have a different structure as long as it functions in a satisfying way, e.g. as regards the attachment of the wheels. It is also important that the frame has a ladder-type portion in its upper part.

Claims

1. Shopping cart that comprises a frame (1, 3), a number of wheels (4A, 4B, 13A, 13B) that are intended to support the frame (1, 3) relative to a base, and a handle (11) for advancing the shopping cart, an upper part of the frame (1, 3) being located at a distance from the base that is at least l m, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the area of the upper part of the frame (1, 3) a number of rods (10) are provided, said rods (10) being next to each other and being substantially parallel to each other, and that the respective ends of the rods (10) are connected to portions (9A, 9B) of the frame (1) that extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rods (10) .

2. Shopping cart according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rods (10) generally are located in a common plane.

3. Shopping cart according to claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rods (10), together with a part of the frame (1, 6), define a ladder-type portion.

4. Shopping cart according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the number of rods (10) is at least three.

5. Shopping cart according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is equipped with a carrying surface (18) adjacent to the wheels (4A, 4B, 13A, 13B) .

6. Shopping cart according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is equipped with a wire basket (16) adjacent to the handle (11) .

7. Shopping cart according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the handle (11) is essentially parallel to the rods (10) , and that the handle (11) and the rods (10) extend transverse to the normal advancing direction of the shopping cart.

8. Shopping cart according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it has a tube frame (1, 3]