Adjustable Standing Platform for Shopping Cart Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shopping carts are designed for small children, and as they grow, they no longer fit, leading to safety issues and the need for a device that allows older children to be transported safely and comfortably while shopping without having to sit or walk for long periods.
Innovation Solution
A releasably attachable, adjustable platform with casters and a latching component that fits various shopping cart sizes, allowing children to stand and be pushed or pulled by a parent, providing a safe and fun shopping experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a child sits in the shopping cart seat, then the child can be transported while shopping, but the cart may be flipped over when a grown child sits on it
Solution Approach 1:
The shopping cart is transformed from a static seat design to a dynamic standing platform configuration. The platform allows children to stand rather than sit, changing the weight distribution and center of gravity to prevent cart tipping while accommodating growing children who no longer fit in traditional seats.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to child accommodation by transitioning from sitting (lower height) to standing (higher height) on the platform. This dimensional change allows older, taller children to be transported safely while maintaining cart stability through proper platform positioning and attachment.
2Ease of operation
If a child walks for long periods while shopping, then the child can participate in shopping, but the child gets bored and may grab items off shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The standing platform enables children to actively participate in shopping by standing and watching their parents shop, rather than passively sitting or being carried. This self-standing position keeps children engaged and occupied, reducing boredom-induced misbehavior while maintaining safety.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a standing platform is added to the shopping cart, then older children can be transported safely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The standing platform is designed with universal attachment features that can be configured to fit various shopping cart types and sizes. The adjustable positioning system allows the same platform to accommodate different child sizes and cart models, reducing the need for multiple specialized designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform attachment system is divided into modular components including adjustable positioning mechanisms and configurable attachment points. This segmentation allows for easy installation, adjustment, and removal while maintaining structural integrity across different cart configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a releasably attached standing or level platform device for attachment to a wheeled shopping cart. The device has a generally level surface or trolley extension that releasably hooks onto a bottom of a shopping cart using a pair of hooks. The hooks are positioned at terminal ends of a rectangular U-shape arm that is attached to a telescoping arm. The U-shape arm is configured to be adjustable in width and the telescoping arm adjusts the height of the standing or level platform device. In use, a child stands on a top surface, and the wheels of the device track the movements of the wheels of the shopping cart thereby enabling the child to ride along with the wheeled cart without walking or without sitting in the wheeled shopping cart.