Retail facility shopping cart and integrated stool and method of enhancing customers' shopping experiences

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018370553-A1
Application number	US-201816012528-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 19, 2018
Priority date	Jun 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some embodiments, shopping cart apparatuses are provided herein useful to enable a consumer to reach commercial products positioned above the consumer. In some embodiments, a cart frame having cart wheels coupled to the cart frame is provided. A slide mechanism is slidably cooperated with the cart frame. A weight-bearing platform is secured with the slide mechanism and sliding between stowed and deployed positions such that the weight-bearing platform is moved away from a rear portion of the cart frame when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position. A restricting element is positioned near a front cart wheel and restricts the rotation thereof when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position. A support element is affixed to the weight-bearing platform. An elevating element is secured to the slide mechanism and configured to elevate the cart frame when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A shopping cart apparatus to enable a consumer to reach commercial products positioned above the consumer, the shopping cart apparatus comprising:
a cart frame having a plurality of cart wheels coupled to the cart frame; a slide mechanism slidably cooperated with the cart frame; a weight-bearing platform secured with the slide mechanism proximate a first end of the slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism slides between a stowed position and a deployed position such that a weight-bearing platform is moved away from a rear portion of the cart frame when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position; a restricting element positioned proximate to a front cart wheel included in the plurality of cart wheels and restricting a rotational movement of the front cart wheel when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position; a support element affixed to the weight-bearing platform; and an elevating element secured to a second end of the slide mechanism and configured to rotably engage a connecting member of the slide mechanism when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position such that when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position the support element is configured to be positioned proximate to the rear-portion of the cart frame in contact with a surface upon which the cart frame is supported such that elevating element utilizes the support element as a contact point with which to lift the rear portion of the cart frame such that a rear wheel of the plurality of cart wheels are lifted off the surface when a threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

2 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motor mechanically coupled to the slide mechanism; a sensor configured to monitor pressure applied upon the weight-bearing platform; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to:
ascertain, using sensor data, when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform; and
activate the motor and thereby cause the elevating element to lift the rear portion of the cart frame such that the back wheels are lifted off the surface when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

3 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elevating element further comprises a mechanical arrangement configured to facilitate a decrease of a height of a portion of the weight-bearing platform to a first height and elevates the rear portion of the cart frame to a second height when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

4 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elevating element comprises a cammed portion configured to engage a cam slot of the slide mechanism when the rear portion of the cart frame is lifted such that when the cammed portion engages the cam slot a motion of the elevating element is restricted.

5 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the weight-bearing platform further comprises two or more segments each hinge secured to one or more other segments via a hinge, and the weight-bearing platform is configured to unfold about each hinge distal to the cart frame when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position.

6 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
a sensor secured to the weight-bearing platform and configured to monitor pressure applied upon the weight-bearing platform; a motor mechanically coupled to the slide mechanism; and a control circuit secured to the weight-bearing platform, communicatively coupled to the motor and the sensor, and configured to:
ascertain, via sensor data from the sensor, when a second threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform; and
activate the motor to cause the slide mechanism to slide from the stowed position to the deployed position when the second threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

7 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the weight-bearing platform comprises a plurality of sequentially nested platform segments and is configured to transition between a collapsed position and an extended position such that the plurality of sequentially nested platform segments expand away from the rear portion of the cart frame when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position.

8 . The shopping cart apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor secured to the weight-bearing platform and configured to monitor pressure applied upon the weight-bearing platform; a motor mechanically coupled to the restricting element; and a control circuit secured to the weight-bearing platform, communicatively coupled to the motor and the sensor, and configured to:
ascertain, via sensor data from the sensor, when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform; and
activate the motor to cause the restricting element to restrict a rotational movement of the front cart wheel when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

9 . A shopping cart extension apparatus comprising:
a coupling element configured to selectively secured the shopping cart extension apparatus to a rear portion of a cart frame, the cart frame having a plurality of cart wheels coupled to the cart frame; a slide mechanism slidably cooperated with the coupling element; a weight-bearing platform secured with the slide mechanism proximate a first end of the slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism slides between a stowed position and a deployed position such that the weight-bearing platform is moved away from the rear portion of the cart frame when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position; a restricting element positioned proximate to a front cart wheel included in the plurality of cart wheels and restricting a rotational movement of the front cart wheel when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position; a support element affixed to the weight-bearing platform; and an elevating element secured to a second end of the slide mechanism and configured to rotably engage a connecting member of the slide mechanism when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position such that when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position the support element is configured to be positioned proximate to the rear-portion of the cart frame in contact with a surface upon which the cart is supported such that the elevating element utilizes the support element as a contact point with which to lift the rear portion of the cart frame such that a rear wheel of the plurality of cart wheels are lifted off the surface when a threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

10 . The shopping cart extension apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:
a motor mechanically coupled to the elevating element; a sensor configured to monitor pressure applied upon the weight-bearing platform; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to:
ascertain, using sensor data, when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform; and
activate the motor and thereby cause the elevating element to lift the rear portion of the cart frame such that the back wheels are lifted off the surface when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

11 . The shopping cart extension apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the elevating element further comprises a mechanical arrangement configured to facilitate a decrease of a height of a portion of the weight-bearing platform to a first height and elevates the rear portion of

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Matthew A
• Jones Nicholaus A

Classifications

• B62B3/1496

  Assembling of baskets to the wheeled support · CPC title

• A47C12/00

  Step-stools · CPC title

• B62B3/1412 Primary

  mounted on the frame · CPC title

• B62B5/06

  Hand moving equipment, e.g. handle bars (for cycles B62K11/14, B62K21/12) · CPC title

• B62B5/087 Primary

  Platforms to stand upon · CPC title