Shopping Cart with Folding Legs

An improved shopping cart comprising

• a cargo basket having
• a floor panel having side edges disposed parallel to and on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis and extending between transverse front and rear edges;
• basket walls disposed atop said floor panel and extending upward therefrom to surround and define an interior cargo space;
• a transverse leg axle coupled to said floor panel adjacent said rear edge;
• maneuvering wheels coupled to said floor panel;
• and
• an adjustable prop disposed on said floor panel adjacent said rear edge and adapted to articulate between a retracted position adjacent said basket walls and a propping position extending below said floor panel;
• and
• two collapsible legs coupled to said leg axle and adapted to articulate between a folded position and an extended position, each of said collapsible legs having
• a mast coupled by its proximate end to one end of said leg axle and having
• a mast extension coupled between said mast and said leg axle;
• a motor coupled between said mast extension said mast, said motor adapted to retract and extend said mast extension telescopically into and out of said mast;
• and
• a footer coupled to a mast end distal said leg axle, said footer having castors disposed on opposite ends of said footer;
• a latch disposed between said footer and said mast, said latch having;
• a latch lever coupled to said latch and adapted to release said latch;
• and
• a keeper disposed on an end of said latch lever distal said latch and adapted alternately to release said latch lever and to retain said latch lever in a locked position.

An improved method of transporting a collection of small objects from a first storage site having a plurality of small object storage locations to a second storage site, the improved method comprising

• providing a shopping cart having
• cargo basket having
• a floor panel having longitudinal side edges extending between transverse front and rear edges;
• basket walls extending upward from said floor panel to surround and define an interior cargo space;
• and
• a transverse leg axle coupled to said floor panel adjacent said rear edge;
• two collapsible legs coupled to said cargo basket and adapted to articulate between a folded position and an extended position, each of said collapsible legs having
• a mast coupled by a proximate mast end to said floor panel, said mast further having
• a mast extension coupled between said mast and said floor panel;
• and
• a motor coupled to said mast extension and adapted to retract and extend said mast extension telescopically into and out of said mast;
• and
• a footer coupled to a mast end distal said floor panel;
• providing a vehicle having a cargo compartment having a cargo compartment floor and a cargo compartment opening;
• then
• selecting said collection of small objects from said plurality of small object storage locations and placing said small objects into said interior cargo space;
• then
• positioning said shopping cart at said vehicle adjacent said cargo compartment;
• then
• urging said cargo basket through said cargo compartment opening at least partially into said cargo compartment and supported by said cargo compartment floor with said masts abutting said cargo compartment opening;
• then
• collapsing said collapsible legs into said folded position;
• then
• moving said cargo basket fully into said cargo compartment;
• then
• transporting said vehicle to a parking location adjacent said second storage site;
• then
• extracting said cargo basket through said cargo compartment opening until said collapsible legs can be extended;
• then
• articulating said collapsible legs into said extended position;
• then
• wheeling said shopping cart from said vehicle to said second storage site;
• then
• unloading said small objects from said cargo basket into said second storage site.