Method and apparatus for holding containers open

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994245-B2
Application number	US-201715603981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2017
Priority date	Apr 24, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein that are useful for holding containers open. For example, in some forms a cart accessory and cart are disclosed herein with an apparatus for holding open a receptacle or container. In one form, the apparatus is an accessory including an elongated body having a cart attachment mechanism for securing the cart accessory to at least a portion of a cart, a receptacle securing mechanism connected to the elongated body via a tether, the receptacle securing mechanism being movable between a retracted position wherein the securing mechanism is positioned proximate the elongated body and an extended position wherein the securing mechanism is spaced apart from the elongated body closer to at least a portion of a receptacle to assist in holding open the receptacle when connected thereto. In another form a cart is disclosed having such a container holding apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cart comprising:
a cart body having at least two side walls defining a cavity for receiving articles and having a plurality of wheels coupled to the cart body to mobilize the cart body; and
first and second receptacle securing mechanisms coupled to the cart body via tethers and extendible between retracted positions wherein the securing mechanisms are positioned proximate respective portions of the cart and extended positions wherein the securing mechanisms are spaced apart from the respective portions of the cart and extended toward one another into the cavity defined by the cart body in order to assist in holding open at least one receptacle when connected thereto.

2. The cart of claim 1 wherein the first and second receptacle securing mechanisms each comprise a plurality of receptacle securing mechanisms, with the cart further defining a plurality of recesses for receiving respective receptacle securing mechanisms when in the retracted position.

3. A method of retaining at least one receptacle in a cart in an open state comprising:
providing a cart in accordance with claim 1 ;
moving the first and second receptacle securing mechanisms from retracted positions wherein the securing mechanisms are positioned proximate respective portions of the cart to extended positions wherein the securing mechanisms are spaced apart from the respective portions of the cart and extended toward one another in the cavity defined by the cart body; and
securing the first and second receptacle securing mechanisms to the at least one receptacle in the cart to hold the at least one receptacle in an open state for receiving articles.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each receptacle securing mechanism comprises a plurality of hooks or clasps, with the cart further defining a plurality of recesses for receiving respective hooks or clasps of the receptacle securing mechanisms when in the retracted position, and moving the receptacle securing mechanisms comprises moving the hooks or clasps between a retracted position wherein the hooks or clasps are positioned within respective recesses of the cart and an extended position wherein the hooks or clasps are spaced apart from the respective recesses.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of recesses are sockets corresponding in shape to the hooks or clasps, and the tether comprises a plurality of tethers each having a respective hook or clasp from the plurality of receptacle securing mechanisms, the tethers being made of elastic or expandable material that is resilient in nature, and moving the hooks and clasps comprises moving the hooks or clasps from a normally biased retracted position due to the resilient nature of the elastic or expandable material wherein the hooks or clasps are secured within the sockets to hinder inadvertent removal of the hooks or clasps from the sockets and the extended position wherein the hooks and clasps are spaced apart from the respective sockets.

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc
• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Hendrick Christopher J
• Caution Stephen

Classifications

• B62B3/1464 Primary

  Bags or containers specially adapted to the baskets · CPC title