Shopping Cart Handle With Anti-Rotation Stop for Safe Stacking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stackable shopping carts with foldable rear side walls and child seats lack effective mechanisms to prevent user's hands from getting trapped or the rear side wall from tipping over during stacking, compromising safety.

Innovation Solution

A handle with an anti-rotation device, featuring a handle section, hand guard, and an over-rotation protection projection, limits the rotation of the rear side panel and child seat to a specific angle, preventing tipping and providing user protection without requiring complex modifications to the shopping cart.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rear side wall is made foldable for stacking, then the stacking functionality is improved, but the safety of users is worsened due to risk of hand trapping and tipping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking functionalityVSAvoiduser safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating an over-rotation protection projection that prevents the rear side wall from rotating beyond a safe angle. This projection actively counteracts the potential harmful motion (over-rotation that could trap hands or cause tipping) before it can occur, while still allowing the foldable functionality to work within safe limits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The over-rotation protection projection acts as an intermediary element between the rear side wall and the handle assembly. It mediates the rotation movement by providing a physical stop that limits the angle of rotation, thus protecting users while maintaining the foldable stacking capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an anti-rotation device is added to prevent tipping and hand trapping, then user safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser safetyVSAvoidhandle structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the anti-rotation function with the existing handle assembly by integrating the over-rotation protection projection into the handle structure. This combination approach adds safety functionality without requiring a separate, complex anti-rotation mechanism, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The over-rotation protection projection is designed to automatically engage and limit rotation without requiring external control systems or complex mechanisms. The structure itself provides the protective function through its geometric design, making the safety feature self-regulating and simple in implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the over-rotation protection projection is positioned to effectively limit rotation, then safety is improved, but the handle design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation restriction effectivenessVSAvoidhandle design
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by positioning the over-rotation protection projection at a specific location on the handle assembly where it can most effectively limit rotation. The projection is placed locally at the rear side wall connection point, providing targeted protection exactly where the rotation control is most critical, rather than requiring complex overall handle redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4703236A1Stackable shopping cart with Anti-rotation protection as well as a handle piece for such a stackable shopping cart
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 WANZL GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP4703236A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4703236A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4703236A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a handle (18) for a stackable shopping cart (10) with a basket (12) having a foldable rear side panel (14), in particular with a child seat (16), wherein the handle (18) has a grip section (20), a hand guard (22), a recess for mounting on a counterpart on the shopping cart (10), and an anti-rotation projection (26), wherein the anti-rotation projection (26) is arranged adjacent to the recess (24) and, in the mounted state of the handle (18), is directed inwards towards the cart and at least projects beyond the imaginary extended outer edge (K) of the basket (12). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a stackable shopping cart (10) with a basket (12) having a foldable rear side panel (14), in particular with a child seat (16), with at least one such handle (18).