Land vehicles – Wheeled – Nesting vehicles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-05-15
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Nesting vehicles
C224S411000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231058
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mounted beverage container receptacle and more particularly relates to a receptacle for bottles, cans, or cups having a positioning element so as to be mounted on any type of conventional shopping cart or other structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known in the art, a conventional shopping cart generally includes a large basket, an undercarriage with a number of wheels, a push handle, and a child seat. The shopping carts generally nest together so as to minimize storage space and to permit a number of shopping carts to be moved together. Various types of add-on devices have been used with conventional types of shopping carts. These add-on devices include various types of advertisements, child safety seats, and even computer touch screens. Another known type of add-on device is a beverage receptacle. These beverage receptacles allow a shopper to place a bottle, can, or cup within the receptacle while shopping. For example, a known receptacle is shown in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 2,763,413, entitled “Bottle Holder for Grocery Carts.” This patent is incorporated herein by reference. This reference shows a device with a number of steel rods forming a bottle receptacle and having a hook-like element that may be crimped to a structural member of a grocery cart.
The problem with such known beverage receptacles are several fold. First, the positioning of the beverage receptacle on the shopping cart may prevent the shopping carts from nesting properly. For example, if the beverage receptacle is mounted on the sides, on either end, on the push handle, or on certain interior locations of the shopping cart, the shopping carts may not be able to nest together completely. This means that the carts cannot be stored properly or maneuvered as a group. Such a result is clearly disfavored by the supermarket operator. Another problem with known beverage receptacles is the lack of compatibility with various types of conventional shopping carts. Shopping carts typically come in various shapes and sizes with various elements having different angles and configurations. A bottle receptacle that is adequate in one model of shopping cart very well may not be adaptable to another model.
What is needed, therefore, is a receptacle for bottles, cans, and cups that can be used with a conventional shopping cart. The receptacle must adequately support a beverage container while also allowing multiple shopping carts to nest properly. Further, the beverage receptacle should be adaptable to various types and models of shopping carts. These goals should be accomplished with a beverage receptacle that is relatively practical, inexpensive, and easy to clean.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention thus provides a container caddy for use with a shopping cart. The container caddy includes a container receptacle and an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket includes a positioning element and a locking element. The attachment bracket can be positioned on the shopping cart and the container receptacle can be maneuvered by the positioning element until locked into place by the locking element.
Specific embodiments of the present invention include the use of a thermoplastic material for the container caddy. The positioning element may include a hinge, specifically, a living hinge. The container receptacle may have a base and a recess. The base may have a substantially circular-shaped portion. The base may be a unitary element or the base may have a first surface, a second surface, and a number of support elements connecting the first surface and the second surface. The base may have one or more drain openings. The base may have advertising indicia thereon. The base also may have an attachment means positioned therein, such as a number of attachment recesses for coordination with the locking element.
The hinge may have a number of attachment arms connected thereto. The attachment arms may have a distance therebetween so as to accommodate attachment to the shopping cart. The attachment arms may have attachment holes therein such that the attachment arms may be secured to the shopping cart. The attachment arms each may have a support wing extending therefrom. The support wings may have a number of positioning means, such as a number of positioning recesses. The positioning recesses of attachment arms may align with the attachment recesses of the base. The recesses are then connected by a connector so as to lock the container receptacle into place. The hinge may have a range of motion of about zero (0) degrees to about twenty-five (25) degrees or more. The attachment bracket also may have advertising indicia thereon.
The container caddy may have a depth dimension extending within the recess and a length dimension extending perpendicular to the recess. The depth dimension may be about two and a half (2.5) inches to about eight (8) inches and the length dimension may be about four (4) inches to less than about eleven (11) inches.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a shopping cart. The shopping cart includes a child seat with a back support element connected to an inclined seat support element. The shopping cart also includes a container caddy positioned on the back support element. The container caddy includes a container receptacle and an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket may have a positioning element and a locking element. The attachment bracket can be positioned on the back support element and the container receptacle can be maneuvered by the positioning element about the back support element until the container receptacle is substantially horizontal. The container receptacle is then locked into place by the locking element. A beverage container then can be positioned within the container caddy.
The positioning element may be a living hinge. The inclined seat support element may have an angle from the vertical of about zero (0) degrees to about twenty-five (25) degrees. The living hinge also may have a range of motion of about zero (0) degrees to about twenty-five (25) degrees or more.
A number of the shopping carts can nest together fully, with each of the shopping carts having the container caddy positioned thereon. The shopping carts can nest together without the container caddys positioned thereon interlocking with each other or with the shopping carts. Any number of container caddys can be used on the shopping cart.
The method of the present invention provides for supplying a container caddy for a shopping cart. The container caddy has a container receptacle and an attachment bracket. The shopping cart has a back support element attached to an inclined seat support element. The method includes the steps of attaching the attachment bracket of the container caddy to the back support element of the shopping cart, maneuvering the container receptacle by the attachment bracket about the back support element and the inclined seat support element until the container receptacle is substantially horizontal, and locking the container receptacle in the substantially horizontal position. The method may further include the step of fixedly attaching the attachment bracket to the back support element of the shopping cart and the step of inserting a beverage container within the container receptacle.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
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Fording Jay K.
Kimbrough Laurel M.
Montague, III Edgar B.
Nash Benjamin J.
Savas Keith G.
Bottorff Christopher
Sutherland & Asbill & Brennan LLP
Swann J. J.
The Coca-Cola Company
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