shopping cart

Abstract

We provide a shopping cart that leverages the advantages of a shopping cart while improving user experience. [Solution] The upper cargo platform device is equipped with a pivot axis relative to the main frame, and is configured to rotate around the pivot axis so that the tip of the rotating side achieves a lifting motion, and the floating body on the lower cargo platform device floats up due to the lifting motion of the upper cargo platform device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a shopping cart.

Background Art

[0002] In a supermarket, shoppers often use a shopping cart. Many shopping carts of the handcart type have an upper loading platform and a lower loading platform for placing shopping baskets on each of the upper and lower parts.

[0003] Shoppers usually place relatively heavy items on the lower loading platform. When the shopper pushes the shopping cart and goes to the aisle with a cash register, the shopping basket placed on the upper loading platform is transferred to the table of the cash register. Since the prices of the items in the shopping basket are described by, for example, barcodes, the cashier reads the prices of the items with a scanner and tells the shopper.

[0004] Furthermore, the shopper also lifts the shopping basket or items (for example, a box containing half a dozen PET bottles, or a box containing a dozen canned juices, etc.) placed on the lower loading platform and transfers them to the table of the cash register.

[0005] However, this work is a great burden for the shopper. Especially for pregnant women and the elderly, the work of transferring the items placed on the lower loading platform to the table of the cash register is particularly severe.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

[0007] Currently, a wide variety of shopping carts have been developed, each achieving slimmer and lighter designs.

[0008] Therefore, in this example of the embodiment, the objective is to provide a shopping cart that leverages the advantages of a shopping cart while improving user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one embodiment, a first main skeletal rod and a second main skeletal rod are rod-shaped, standing upright on the left and right sides, each having an upper portion and a lower portion. An upper cargo platform device having a trapezoidal shape with a longer side at the rear and a shorter side at the front when viewed from above, and also having depth, A rotation mechanism is formed between the upper rear portion of the upper cargo platform device and the upper portions of the first main frame rod and the second main frame rod, and the rotation mechanism allows the front portion of the upper cargo platform device to rotate upward, even though the upper cargo platform device is positioned to extend forward. The lower portion of the first main frame rod and the second main frame rod is positioned below the upper cargo bed device, and its rear end is fixed to the lower portion of the first main frame rod and the second main frame rod, and the lower cargo bed device is trapezoidal in shape with a longer side at the rear and a shorter side at the front, A floating body positioned above the lower cargo platform device, The lower ends of the lifting rods are connected to the left and right sides of the floating body, and the upper ends of each rod are detachably connected to the lower front portions on the left and right sides of the upper loading platform, A shopping cart equipped with [this feature] is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a shopping cart according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a lifting mechanism of a shopping cart according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a shopping cart lifting mechanism according to one embodiment in a state where the lower floating platform is lifted. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration in which multiple shopping carts according to one embodiment are arranged in a row. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B is an explanatory diagram showing the stacked shopping carts from Figure 4A. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a shopping cart 100 according to one embodiment. In Figure 1, arrows X and Y are shown for convenience of explanation, with X1 representing the front, X2 the rear, Y1 the top, and Y2 the bottom. In Figure 1, the shopping cart 100 has two main structural rods 110 and 120 that stand upright, spaced apart from each other when viewed from the front. When standing, the main structural rod 110 has an upper portion 111 and a lower portion 112, with an inwardly extending grip portion 114 at the tip of the upper portion 111. A wheel structure 113 is attached to the extension of the lower portion 112. The other main structural rod 120 is positioned symmetrically to the main structural rod 110. Therefore, when standing, the main structural rod 120 also has an upper portion 121 and a lower portion 122, with an inwardly extending grip portion 124 at the tip of the upper portion 121. A wheel structure 123 is attached to the extension of the lower portion 122.

[0012] Next, the upper cargo platform device 140 is positioned on the upper portions 111 and 121 of the main structural rods 110 and 120.

[0013] The loading platform device 140 has an upper frame 141 that is substantially trapezoidal in plan view and a lower frame 142 that is also substantially trapezoidal in plan view. The long side of the trapezoid is on the rear side, the short side is on the front side, and the inclined sides are oriented in the front-rear direction.

[0014] The upper frame 141 and the lower frame 142 are connected at their respective corners by spacers 143a, 143b, 143c, and 143d, forming a substantially box-shaped body. That is, the spacers 143a to 143d constitute the thickness (depth) of the upper loading platform device 140. Therefore, the upper loading platform device 140 is trapezoidal in plan view with a long side at the rear and a short side at the front and has a depth.

[0015] Here, bearings 150 that maintain a left-right interval are attached to the upper portions 111 and 121 of the main skeleton bars 110 and 120. The left and right parts (rotation shafts) at the rear of the previous upper frame 141 are inserted into these bearings 150 from the left and right and are being supported. This part serves as the rotation shaft of the upper loading platform device 140. The bearing 150 is made of metal and is welded to the main skeleton bars 110 and 120 at both ends so as to set the interval between the main skeleton bars 110 and 120, and also serves as a bearing. However, the bearing 150 is not limited to this type, and bearings may be provided independently on the main skeleton bars 110 and 120.

[0016] Also, a plurality of crossbars (not shown) are provided inside the previous lower frame 142, and it is possible to accommodate a shopping basket in the frame from above. Also, the rear part of the lower frame 142 abuts against the main skeleton bars 110 and 120, preventing the front of the upper loading platform device 140 from rotating downward.

[0017] In the upper portions 111 and 121 of the main skeleton bars 110 and 120 described above, stoppers 144a and 144b protrude inward from a part of the opposing portions of each other. The functions of these stoppers 144a and 144b will be described later. Furthermore, in the above-described upper frame 141, guide rods 146a and 146b are integrally provided on the upper frame 141 at intervals below the left and right rod portions. The guide rods 146a and 146b respectively form guide grooves between themselves and the inclined side portions of the upper frame 141. And the front portions of the guide rods 146a and 146b are formed with step portions S, and this step portion S widens the distance from the upper frame 141. The functions of the guide rods 146a and 146b and the step portion S will be described later.

[0018] The above-described upper loading platform device 140 can rotate upward on the front side around the bearing 150. Regarding the relationship between the shaft and the bearing described above, there may be a bearing in the upper loading platform device 140 and a shaft on the side of the main skeleton rods 110 and 120.

[0019] Therefore, here, there may be a rotation mechanism formed between the upper part at the rear of the upper loading platform device 140 and the upper parts of the first main skeleton rod and the second main skeleton rod, which allows the front of the upper loading platform device 140, which is usually arranged to extend forward, to rotate upward.

[0020] In FIG. 1 above, a net is actually attached inside the lower frame 142, and a shopping basket can be placed here. Also, the portion indicated by the dotted line is the lifting mechanism 300, which will be described using the drawings hereinafter.

[0021] Next, the lower loading platform device 170 arranged at the lower parts 112 and 122 of the main skeleton rods 110 and 120 will be described.

[0022] The lower cargo bed device 170 has left and right connecting rods 171 that set the distance between the lower parts 112 and 122 of the main frame rods 110 and 120. Furthermore, it has a roughly trapezoidal floor frame 172, the rear end of which is fixed near the wheel structure of the lower parts 112 and 122. Further, a floor rod 173 is positioned in the center of the floor frame 172. This floor rod 173 is also formed in a roughly trapezoidal shape when viewed from above, and its two base ends are fixed to the left and right connecting rods 171. Since the height of the left and right connecting rods 171 and the height of the floor frame 172 are different, the floor rod 173 first extends downward from the left and right connecting rods 171, and then bends forward to form the floor surface. It then rises up near the front tip of the floor frame 172, forming a stopper. Also, 174a and 174b are side rods. The front end of the side bar 174a is bent downward and welded to the floor frame 172, and its rear end is welded to the lower portion 112 of the main structural bar 110. The front end of the side bar 174b is bent downward and welded to the floor frame 172, and its rear end is welded to the lower portion 122 of the main structural bar 120.

[0023] Next, a front wheel assembly 180 is attached to the lower part of the trapezoidal short side of the floor frame 172. Wheel structures 181 and 182 are attached to the left and right of the lower part of this front wheel assembly 180.

[0024] In other words, the lower cargo bed device 170 is the lower portion 112, 122 of the main frame rod 110 and the main frame rod 120, and is positioned below the upper cargo bed device 140. The lower cargo bed device 170 is fixed at the rear to the lower portion 112, 122 of the first main frame rod 110 and the main frame rod 120, and in plan view, it has a trapezoidal shape with a longer side at the rear and a shorter side at the front.

[0025] Figure 2 shows the lifting mechanism 300 separately. 310 is a trapezoidal levitation body with the rear being the longer side and the front being the shorter side. The levitation body 310 has rotating shafts 319a, 319b, 320a, and 320b on its inclined sides 301 and 202, respectively. One end of the short pieces 317a and 317b that constitute the balancer are rotatably attached to the rotating shafts 319a and 319b. The other ends of the short pieces 317a and 317b are rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 315 together with one end of the first lifting rod 311.

[0026] The other end of the lifting rod 311 extends upward and is integrally joined to one end of the locking rod 313. The lifting rod 311 has a cushion section 321 in the middle. This cushion section 321 elastically pushes the upper part of the lifting rod 311 upward, and for example, a rebound spring is arranged inside the cylinder. The upper end of the lifting rod 311 is joined to one end of the locking rod 313, which extends to the left and right.

[0027] The lifting rod 312 has the same configuration as the lifting rod 311, and includes short pieces 318a, 318b and a rotating shaft portion 316 that constitute the bunlancer. The lifting rod 312 also has a cushion portion 322, similar to the lifting rod 311, and is joined to the other end of the locking rod 313.

[0028] Furthermore, if the lifting rods 311 and 312 are made of an elastic material, such as synthetic resin, the cushion portion 322 may not be necessary. The role of the cushion portion 322 is to absorb the change in distance from the locking rod 313 to the rotating shaft portions 315 and 316 when the locking rod 313 slides backward through the guide groove, as will be explained later (Figures 4A and 4B). Therefore, if the lifting rods 311 and 312 are made of an elastic material, it is possible to absorb this change in distance. Also, the structure using the short pieces 317a, 317b, 318a, 318b, rotating shafts 319a, 319b, 320a, 320b, rotating shafts 315, 316, etc. is not limited to that shown in the figures. For example, a U-shaped frame may be erected on the upper part of each of the inclined sides 301 and 202, with the legs of each frame fixed to the inclined sides 301 and 202, and the middle of the upper part of each frame may be connected to the lifting rods 315 and 316 by axes 315 and 316. By appropriately selecting the length of the legs of the frame, the load on the floating body 310 can be smoothly transferred from between the legs of the frame to the checkout counter. In addition, although the struts of the floating body 310 are arranged between the inclined sides 301 and 202 in the figure, struts acting as "rollers" may be provided between the long and short sides of the floating body 310. This allows the load on the floating body to roll smoothly in the direction between the legs of the frame and move to the checkout counter.

[0029] Figure 3 shows the upper loading platform 140 in a state where its front is lifted around its axis of rotation (the part of the bearing 150) (changing from the position of the loading platform 140 at the solid line position to the position of the loading platform 140 at the dotted line position). When the loading platform 140 is rotated in this way, the lifting rods 311 and 312 of the lifting mechanism 300 lift the lower floating body 310. In this state, shoppers can easily move the goods or shopping baskets on the floating body 310 onto the counter at the checkout.

[0030] After the shopper moves the goods or shopping basket from the levitation body 310 onto the checkout counter, the loading platform device 140 at the dotted line position returns to its original position as the loading platform device 140 at the solid line position, and the levitation body 310 also returns to the lower loading platform device 170. The levitation body 310 may be basket-shaped.

[0031] Specifically, the lower ends of the lifting rods 311 and 312 are connected to the left and right sides of the floating body 310, respectively, and their upper ends are connected to the left and right front stepped portions S of the upper loading platform device 140 in a manner that allows them to engage and disengage. This engagement and disengagement mechanism may be configured to be operated manually.

[0032] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the structure (mechanism) by which multiple shopping carts according to this embodiment can be arranged in a compressed state when placed in a vertical line.

[0033] In Figure 4A, the shopping carts lined up in front are shown as 100F, and the shopping carts lined up behind them are shown as 100R. The state in Figure 4A shows the stage before the front of the shopping cart 100R lined up behind enters the rear gap of the loading platform 140 of the shopping cart 100F in front.

[0034] Furthermore, the locking rod 313 of the 100R lifting rod 311R moves away from the stepped portion S of the guide rod 146aR, allowing it to move in the gap between the guide rod 146aR and the upper frame 141. This is because the lifting rod 311R is equipped with a cushion portion 321R that constantly pushes it upward. Also, when the lifting rod 311R rotates around the shaft 315R, the locking rod 313 is pressed against the upper frame 141, but the cushion portion 321R absorbs the stroke.

[0035] Figure 4B shows the rear shopping cart 100R moving forward and entering the gap behind the loading platform 140 of the front shopping cart 100F.

[0036] When this entry begins, the stopper 144a of the front shopping cart 100F engages with the lifting rod 311R of the rear shopping cart 100F. As a result, the more the rear shopping cart 100R moves forward, the more the locking rod 313 of the lifting rod 311R moves behind the guide rod 146aR. The rear shopping cart 100R and the front shopping cart 100F become overlapped and compressed in the front-to-back direction.

[0037] The above operation can achieve a so-called tandem compression state. Furthermore, when the compression state is achieved as described above, measures are taken to avoid collision between the front levitation unit 310F and the rear levitation unit 310R as follows.

[0038] Specifically, the front edges AF and AR of the levitation bodies 310F and 310R are curved upwards. Also, the rear edges BF and BR of the levitation bodies 310F and 310R are curved downwards. Because of this, when the rear shopping cart 100R and the front shopping cart 100F overlap in the front-to-back direction, the front edge of the rear levitation body 310R can smoothly ride up onto the rear edge of the front levitation body 310F.

[0039] In the above configuration, guide rods 146a and 146b are provided, but these guide rods 146a and 146b may be omitted. Furthermore, the stepped portion S may be formed in the upper frame 141.

[0040] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, even if each component of a claim is expressed by dividing it, by combining multiple components, or by combining them, it remains within the scope of the present invention. Multiple embodiments may also be combined, and embodiments composed of such combinations also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0041] Furthermore, in order to clarify the explanation, the drawings may schematically represent the width, thickness, shape, etc., of each part compared to the actual embodiment. Also, the names and terms used are not limited; other expressions are included in the present invention if they are substantially the same in content and intent. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 110, 120... Main frame rods, 111, 121... Upper section, 112, 122... Lower section, 140... Loading platform device, 141... Upper frame, 142... Lower frame, 143a, 143b, 143c, 143d... Spacing elements, 144a, 144b... Stoppers, 146a, 146b... Guide rods, 170... Loading platform device, 171... Left and right connecting rods 172...Floor frame, 173...Floor rod, 174a, 174b...Side rod, 310...Floating body, 311...Lifting rod, 313...Locking rod, 321, 322...Cushion section.

Claims

1. Standing upright on the left and right, each having an upper and lower section, are the first and second main structural rods, which are rod-shaped. An upper cargo platform device having a trapezoidal shape with a longer side at the rear and a shorter side at the front when viewed from above, and also having depth, A rotation mechanism is formed between the upper rear portion of the upper cargo platform device and the upper portions of the first main frame rod and the second main frame rod, and the rotation mechanism allows the front of the upper cargo platform device to rotate upward, even though the upper cargo platform device is positioned to extend forward. The lower portion of the first main frame rod and the second main frame rod is positioned below the upper cargo bed device, and its rear end is fixed to the lower portion of the first main frame rod and the second main frame rod, and the lower cargo bed device is trapezoidal in shape with a longer side at the rear and a shorter side at the front, A floating body positioned above the lower cargo platform device, The lower ends of the lifting rods are connected to the left and right sides of the floating body, and the upper ends of each rod are detachably connected to the lower front portions on the left and right sides of the upper cargo platform device. A shopping cart equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The shopping cart according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the upper part of the lifting rod is capable of engaging with or disengaging from locking portions formed on the left and right sides of the upper loading platform device, respectively.

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