Rehrig International, Inc.

Scottlan R Henry

Alan R Kern

Christopher M Johnson

John A LaFleur

Terrill M Porter

Chris Johnson

Brad R Schwichtenberg

Bradley Dean Miller

A modular, universal, molded plastic flatbed type cart for carrying and supporting products includes variable product supporting metallic handles located at opposed ends of the cart. The handles include vertically extending posts that define at least one central channel completely open in an upward direction above the bed section of the cart and preferably another upwardly opening side channel located above the cart bed; continuous U-shaped handles, handles with a collapsible tray, and connector rails spanning the handles from one end of the cart to the other. The product handles are usable for manipulating the cart and are integrated into metal cart bed reinforcing elements.

Modular universal flat bed cart with variable support and maneuvering handles

A molded plastic basket for a shopping cart includes side and front walls formed of a molded gridwork of ribs extending at an angle relative to the upright direction of the basket when it is assembled to a shopping cart chassis. The front and side walls intersect each other along convex arcuate curved corner sections with the gridwork ribs continuously flowing around the corner sections up to a mold parting line provided midway around the curved sections. The ribs of the side walls extend parallel to each other to permit molding of the side walls by a transversely moveable mold section that moves towards and away from the side wall area during molding and the ribs of the front wall likewise all extend parallel to each other in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the side wall ribs to enable molding of the ribs of the front wall by another moveable section of a mold that moves in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of motion of the mold section forming the side walls. The gridwork ribs come together along the mold part lines to provide an attractive appearance.

Molded plastic basket and rear panel for shopping cart

A molded bearing assembly for a molded wheel includes a synthetic resin outer bearing race element embedded in the hub of the molded wheel and having a cylindrical inner sliding, journal type bearing surface. An inner bearing assembly includes two molded synthetic resin bearing halves having continuous cylindrical outer bearing surfaces disposed within the outer bearing race in sliding engagement with the inner bearing surface of the outer race. The bearing halves of the inner bearing assembly abut each other at their inner ends and may include interlocking structural features at their inner ends that enable securing of the bearing halves together at their inner ends while presenting a continuous outer cylindrical bearing sliding surface that cooperates with the adjacent surface of the outer race. A wheel axle extends through the inner bearing assembly and supports the wheel and bearing assembly for rotation relative to a wheel support. The molded wheel and bearing assembly is adapted for use with a shopping cart.

Molded wheel and bearing assembly

Combined molded plastic shopping cart basket and rear panel

A shopping cart includes a basket made of plastic which is, at least partially, attached to a frame of the cart by a pair of basket supporting members. In a preferred embodiment each of the basket supporting members is a rod that includes a first end portion extending within an opening for supporting members. The opening is formed in an upper section of a respective side panel of the basket. A second end portion of the supporting member extends through a hole formed in a respective tubular post and downward within the tubular post. The second end portion of each of the basket supporting members may be retained within the tubular posts at a position spaced below the hole therein. By other embodiments the second end portion may be inserted into a tube member mounted on each tubular post, or may be wrapped around the tubular posts and then anchored on a cross member. An assembly process is described.

Support assembly for a plastic basket of a shopping cart

A transport and display cart is formed of light weight plastic and metal components including a base unit formed from an open framework in which is disposed and fastened a molded plastic tray. Wheels preferably including casters are provided on the underside of the base unit and opposed ladder units having horizontal bars or rungs are removably connected to opposed ends of the base unit by fitting within post supports rigidly connected to the base unit. Upper shelves include plastic trays that are constructed identical to the tray connected to the base unit and reinforcing rods having downwardly open jaws or hooks at their opposed ends for engaging the horizontal rungs or bars of the opposed ladder units. The upper shelves can be selectively disposed in horizontal or tilted positions simply by hooking the ends of the reinforcing rods over different rungs of the ladder units.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, VA, United States of America

Scottlan R Henry