# US 5,702,114 A · Shopping cart having an integrated dual child seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,114 A - Document ID: US5702114A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/790,515 - Filed: 1997-01-29 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-20 - Assignees: Downing Investment, L.L.C. - Inventors: Beth M. Downing; Jamie D. Downing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702114A ## CPC - B62B 3/144: {Adaptations for transporting children; Mounting of toys for the children} - B62B 7/008: {for two or more children} - Y10S 280/04: Grocery store cart - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A shopping cart (12) comprising a frame assembly (28) having a pair of longitudinal frame rails (132, 134) extending between a pair of transverse frame rails (136, 138), a pair of upwardly extending axle tabs (63) for receiving an axle (156) onto which a pair of front wheel assemblies (30) are rotatably attached such that the axis of rotation of the front wheel assemblies (30) is above transverse frame rail (138) and a pair of rear wheel assemblies (30) which are rotatably mounted on fully rotatable casters (152, 154) such that the axis of rotation of the rear wheel assemblies (30) is below the transverse frame rail (136) and above the transverse frame rail (138). The shopping cart (12) further comprises a first child seat (76) and a second child seat (88) adjacent to the first child seat (76) such that a child disposed in the first child seat (76) and a child disposed in the second child seat (88) sit side-by-side facing the driver of the shopping cart (12), the first child seat (76) and the second child seat (88) each comprising a front panel (62), having a right leg opening (80,92) and a left leg opening (78,94), a backrest (94) rotatably coupled to the front panel (62) and a child support panel (72,90) extending between the backrest (94) and the front panel (62), the first child seat (76) and the second child seat (88) having a divider (100) therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shopping cart of the type having a basket with a bottom surface, a front wall, a pair of side walls and a gate pivotally mounted to serve as a rear wall movable between an operating position and a nesting position, the basket positioned above and securably attached to a frame assembly for supporting the basket the frame assembly comprising: a pair of longitudinal frame rails having front ends generally disposed beneath the front wall of the basket and rear ends generally disposed beneath the rear wall of the basket; a pair of transverse frame rails respectively extending between the front ends of the longitudinal frame rails and the rear ends of the longitudinal frame rails; a pair of upwardly extending axle tabs securably disposed upon the pair of longitudinal frame rails such that one of the pair of axle tabs is proximate the front end of each of the longitudinal frame rails; an axle extending generally between the axle tabs and above the front end of the longitudinal frame rails; a pair of front wheels rotatably disposed on opposite ends of the axle such that the axis of rotation of the front wheels is above the front end of the longitudinal frame rails; a pair of fully rotatable casters downwardly extending from and securably disposed beneath the pair of longitudinal frame rails such that one of the pair of fully rotatable casters is proximate the rear end of each of the longitudinal frame rails; and a pair of rear wheels each rotatably mounted within one of the fully rotatable casters such that the axis of rotation of the rear wheels is below the rear end of the longitudinal frame rails and above the front end of the longitudinal frame rails; whereby the weight of the frame assembly is generally below the axes of rotation of the front wheels and the rear wheels thereby providing a low center of gravity for the shopping cart and increasing the roll resistance of the shopping cart. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shopping cart as recited in claim 1 wherein said front wheels are disposed outside the longitudinal frame rails thereby widening the wheel base of the front wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shopping cart as recited in claim 2 further comprising a pair of wheel guards securably attached to the longitudinal frame rails and disposed about the front wheels to protect the front wheels from contact with foreign objects. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shopping cart as recited in claim 1 wherein said front wheels are disposed inside the longitudinal frame rails. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shopping cart as recited in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal frame rails further comprise an upper member, a lower member and an adaptor member having first and second ends, the upper member and the lower member are generally parallel with one another, the upper member extending from the rear end of the longitudinal frame rail to the first end of the adaptor member, the lower member extending from the front end of the longitudinal frame rail to the second end of the adaptor member such that the rear wheels are below the upper member and the axis of rotation of the front wheels is above the lower member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shopping cart as recited in claim 1 wherein the transverse frame rail extending between the front ends of the longitudinal frame rails is narrower than the transverse frame rail extending between rear ends of the longitudinal frame rails, thereby facilitating nesting the similarly designed shopping carts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shopping cart as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first child seat and a second child seat adjacent to the first child seat such that a child disposed in the first child seat and a child disposed in the second child seat sit side-by-side facing the driver of the shopping cart. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shopping cart as recited in claim 1 wherein said first child seat is wider than said second child seat. ### Claim 9 A shopping cart comprising: a basket; a gate pivotally coupled with said main basket, said gate having a front panel and a back panel, said back panel pivotally coupled with said front panel, said gate having an open position; a first child support panel extending between said front panel and said back panel such that when said gate is in said open position said first child support panel, said front panel and said back panel form a first child seat; a second child support panel extending between said front panel and said back panel such that when said gate is in said open position said second child support panel, said front panel and said back panel form a second child seat; and a frame assembly disposed generally below said basket for supporting said basket, the frame assembly comprising: a pair of longitudinal frame rails having front ends generally disposed beneath the front wall of the basket and rear ends generally disposed beneath the rear wall of the basket; a pair of transverse frame rails respectively extending between the front ends of the longitudinal frame rails and the rear ends of the longitudinal frame rails; a pair of upwardly extending axle tabs securably disposed upon the pair of longitudinal frame rails such that one of the pair of axle tab is proximate the front end of each of the longitudinal frame rails; an axle extending generally between the axle tabs and above the front end of the longitudinal frame rails; a pair of front wheels rotatably disposed on opposite ends of the axle such that the axis of rotation of the front wheels is above the front end of the longitudinal frame rails; a pair of fully rotatable casters downwardly extending from and securably disposed beneath the pair of longitudinal frame rails such that one of the pair of fully rotatable casters is proximate the rear end of each of the longitudinal frame rails; and a pair of rear wheels each rotatably mounted within one of the fully rotatable casters such that the axis of rotation of the rear wheels is below the rear end of the longitudinal frame rails and above the front end of the longitudinal frame rails; whereby the weight of the frame assembly is generally below the axes of rotation of the front wheels and the rear wheels thereby providing a low center of gravity for the shopping cart and increasing the roll resistance of the shopping cart. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein said front wheels are disposed outside the longitudinal frame rails thereby widening the wheel base of the front wheel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shopping cart as recited in claim 10 further comprising a pair of wheel guards securably attached to the longitudinal frame rails and disposed about the front wheels to protect the front wheels from contact with foreign objects. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein said front wheels are disposed inside the longitudinal frame rails. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein the longitudinal frame rails further comprise an upper member, a lower member and an adaptor member having first and second ends, the upper member and the lower member are generally parallel with one another, the upper member extending from the rear end of the longitudinal frame rail to the first end of the adaptor member, the lower member extending from the front end of the longitudinal frame rail to the second end of the adaptor member such that the rear wheels are below the upper member and the axis of rotation of the front wheels is above the lower member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein the transverse frame rail extending between the front ends of the longitudinal frame rails is narrower than the transverse frame rail extending between rear ends of the longitudinal frame rails, thereby facilitating nesting the similarly designed shopping carts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein said first child seat is wider than said second child seat. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein said gate further has a closed position wherein said first child seat and said second child seat collapse as said back panel is pivoted toward said front panel, thereby expanding the useable area in said shopping cart. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein said gate further has a nesting position wherein said first child seat and said second child seat collapse as said back panel is pivoted toward said front panel and wherein said gate is upward pivoted to allow nesting of similarly sized shopping carts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 further comprising a lower storage basket disposed below said basket for isolated selected merchandise. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 further comprising at least one brake proximate at least one wheel for immobilizing the shopping cart. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The shopping cart as recited in claim 9 wherein said first child seat and said second child seat each further comprising a child restraint device for securing a child within said seats.