Articulated power-driven shopping cart
AssigneeOrthokinetics, Inc.
InventorRichard A. Keller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulated shopping cart-tractor unit with a seat is provided for the handicapped. The tractor unit is connected to a conventional shopping cart by a bracket and coupling.
Claims5
The combination of a shopping cart having a frame with handle portions and front and rear wheel casters for supporting the cart above an operating surface and a tractor unit having a frame;
- wheels supporting said tractor frame above an operating surface;
- power means for driving at least one of said tractor wheels to propel said tractor unit along the operating surface;
- coupling means for coupling said power unit to said shopping cart frame, the coupling means comprising a ball joint male member connected to the shopping cart frame proximate the rear wheel casters and a ball socket female member mounted to the tractor unit frame in coupled engagement with the shopping cart ball joint male member
- to thereby provide unhindered yaw, pitch and roll movements between said coupled cart and tractor unit;
- said coupling means defining a pivot axis;
- and
- said tractor wheels defining a power axis;
- and
- wherein the distance between the pivot axis and the power axis is dimensioned to afford a turning radius adequate to make a continuous U-turn from one aisle to an adjacent aisle in a supermarket.
The combination of a shopping cart having a basket and having a frame with handle portions and front wheel casters for supporting the shopping cart above an operating surface, said frame including horizontal runs for supporting casters and upwardly extending frame runs supporting said basket and a tractor unit having a frame;
- wheels supporting said tractor unit frame above an operating surface;
- power means for driving at least one of said wheels to propel said tractor unit along the operating surface;
- coupling means for coupling said power unit to said shopping cart frame to provide yaw, pitch and roll movements of said coupled cart and tractor unit;
- said coupling means defining a pivot axis and said coupling means including a generally U-shaped bracket with leg portions which fit within said shopping cart frame and clamping members fixed to said leg portions, said clamping portions being clamped by U-bolts to said horizontal and upwardly extending frame runs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.