DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements.

[0027] Moreover, it is worth mentioning that although the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated consists of a shopping cart having substantially triangular-shaped plates welded onto its base frame, it should be understood that, in the context of the present invention, expressions such as “triangular” and “welded” and any other equivalents and/or variants thereof, should not be taken in a restrictive sense to limit the scope of the invention since other embodiments for the plates of the shopping cart could be used with the invention, as will be described hereinafter and as apparent to a person skilled in the art. The same should be understood for expressions such as “children”.

[0028] In addition, in the context of the present description, the expressions “wheel assembly” and “caster” may be used interchangeably, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0029] Broadly described, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shopping cart 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as it is illustrated with accompanying drawings comprises a basket 3 and a basket support frame 13 on which is mounted the basket 3 . The basket support frame 13 comprises a base frame 15 mounted on a pair of rear wheel assemblies 17 and a pair of front wheel assemblies 19 . The base frame 15 comprises a front framing member 21 defining the front end 23 of the base frame 15 and two side framing members 25 , the front framing member 21 forming a corner 27 with each side framing member 25 . The basket, support frame 13 further comprises a mounting plate 31 , which is preferably a substantially triangular-shaped support plate, associated with each front wheel assembly 19 to securely mount the same onto a respective corner 27 of the base frame 15 . Each mounting plate 31 has one side 33 secured to the front framing member 21 of the base frame 15 and another side 35 secured to the corresponding side framing member 25 .

[0030] The front end 23 of the base frame 15 preferably extends forwardly at or beyond the front wall 7 of the basket 3 such that the front wheel assemblies 19 are positioned longitudinally at or beyond the front wall 7 of the basket 3 . Thanks to the front wheel assemblies 19 positioned in this manner, such shopping cart 1 is inherently more stable and designed so as to substantially decrease the risk of tip overs. It is thus safer than what is known in prior art.

[0031] Now, in more details and referring always to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shopping cart 1 comprises a top basket 3 a and a bottom basket 3 b and a handle structure 29 operatively connected to the base frame 15 for displacing the shopping cart 1 on the front and rear wheel assemblies 19 , 17 . Each basket 3 preferably has one bottom wall 5 , one front wall 7 , one rear wall 9 , and two side walls 11 . As can be easily understood, the number and the nature of the baskets 3 and wheel assemblies 17 , 19 used may be varied depending on the particular applications for which the shopping cart 1 is intended, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0032] As better shown in FIG. 1 , the two front wheel assemblies 19 are preferably positioned completely at the front end 23 of the base frame 15 , preferably directly under the front wall 7 of the bottom basket 3 b , and securely mounted onto the base frame 15 by means of the substantially triangular-shaped support plates 31 which will be explained in greater detail in reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 . The front wheel assemblies 19 positioned in a such manner preferably help reduce the risk of the shopping cart 1 tipping over as a result of people, particularly children, stepping on the front framing member 21 of the base frame 15 , as apparent to a person skilled in the art. It is worth noting that the front framing member 21 of the base frame 15 could extend beyond the front wall 7 of the bottom basket 3 b . This would further reduce the risk of the shopping cart 1 tipping over as a result of people stepping on the front framing member 21 of the base frame 15 , as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0033] As also better shown in FIG. 1 , the two rear wheel assemblies 17 are preferably positioned completely at the rear end 37 of the base frame 15 , preferably directly under the handle structure 29 . The rear wheel assemblies 17 positioned in a such manner help reduce the risk of the shopping cart 1 tipping over as a result of people, particularly children, pulling downward on the handle structure 29 , among many other causes, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. It is worth noting that the rear wheel assemblies 17 could be mounted at the rear end of a base frame 15 extending beyond the handle structure 29 . This would further reduce the risk of the shopping cart 1 tipping over, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0034] Preferably, the top basket 3 a of the shopping cart 1 has a grain capacity of 5 442 cu/in and a payload capacity of 7 498 cu/in. Preferably also, the bottom basket 3 b of the shopping cart 1 has a grain capacity of 5 725 cu/in and a payload capacity of 7 915 cu/in. The resulting payload capacity of the shopping cart 1 is thus preferably 15 413 cu/in and the shopping cart 1 has preferably a cart weight of 55 lbs and a cart nesting of 10 ⅞ in. The dimensions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are in inches and are preferential. It is worth noting that the above-mentioned dimensions and characteristics as well as the number and the nature of the components used in the shopping cart 1 may be changed to accommodate particular needs, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 3 , the base frame 15 is preferably formed of a hollow tubular member 41 having an oval-shaped cross-section. Preferably also, the tubular member 41 is 1 ½ in along the length of its cross-section and ⅞ in along the width, as also better shown in FIG. 3 . Similarly, it can be easily understood that other shapes and sizes for the tubular member 41 may be used depending on the particular applications of the shopping cart 1 , as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6 and as aforementioned, the front wheel assemblies 19 are securely mounted at the front end corners 27 of the base frame 15 by means of the mounting plates 31 . More particularly, one mounting plate 31 is preferably associated with each front wheel assembly 19 to securely mount the same onto a respective corner 27 of the base frame 15 , each mounting plate 31 having one side 33 secured to the front framing member 21 of the base frame 15 and another side 35 secured to the corresponding side framing member 25 , as better shown in FIG. 4 . As mentioned before, the mounting plate 31 preferably has a generally triangular shape. However, it should be understood, that it may take other forms such as a rectangular shape, a square shape, rounded shape, elliptical shape, etc., as long as it is mounted at the front end corner 27 with one side 33 secured to the front framing member 21 and the other side 35 secured to the side framing member 25 . As better shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , each front wheel assembly 19 preferably comprises a bushing 43 , a bumper 45 , a nut 47 , a caster wheel 49 , a caster swivel 51 , and a king pin 53 . Preferably, the king pin 53 of each front wheel assembly 19 is securely mounted onto the corresponding triangular-shaped support plate 31 associated thereto. It is worth noting that the front wheel assemblies 19 may consist of other suitable components, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0037] As better shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 , the base frame 15 comprises a front framing member 21 defining the front end 23 of the base frame 15 and two side framing members 25 . The front and side framing members 23 , 25 are preferably made integral to one another, that is, are preferably made of one single piece, i.e. a single tubular member 41 bent in a substantially U-shaped form. The front framing member 21 preferably forms a substantially L-shaped corner 27 with each side framing member 25 , as better shown in FIG. 4 . One front wheel assembly 19 is mounted at each corner 27 of the base frame 15 by means of one substantially triangular-shaped support plate 31 .

[0038] As also better shown in FIG. 4 , each substantially triangular-shaped support plate 31 has one side 33 welded onto the front framing member 21 and another side 35 welded onto the corresponding side framing member 25 . Preferably also, each triangular-shaped plate 31 is made of metal. It is worth mentioning that other suitable materials, such as reinforced composites for example, and other suitable shapes, such as rectangular form for example, may be used for the support plates 31 , as apparent to a person skilled in the art. It is also worth mentioning that the sides 33 , 35 of each substantially triangular-shaped support plate 31 may be rigidly affixed to the corresponding front and side framing members 21 , 25 by other suitable means, such as by being formed integrally thereto through molding for example, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art. Moreover, the thickness of the support plates 31 is chosen accordingly, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art. The substantially triangular-shaped support plates 31 are preferably small and inexpensive, thus making mounting of the front wheel assemblies 19 onto the base frame 15 in the above-described manner very functional and cost effective. The base frame 15 of the shopping cart 1 may also comprise a lower support rack 55 formed of thin rods 57 for example, as it is well known in the art.

[0039] As may now be appreciated, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the shopping carts known in the art. Firstly, the shopping cart 1 according to the present invention is advantageous in that it has wheel assemblies 19 which can easily, inexpensively, and securely be mounted onto its base frame by means of mounting plates 31 , as explained hereinabove. Moreover, another substantial improvement of the present invention over the shopping carts known in the art is that the wheeled base frame 15 , as also explained hereinabove, is inherently more stable and designed so as to substantially decrease the risk of tip overs, thereby providing a shopping cart which is safer than the ones known in the art.

[0040] Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described embodiments without departing the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.