초록

A wheeled cart, such as a shopping cart, has ski elements on the wheels thereof. The ski elements can be moved between stored and use positions.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A shopping cart wheel system comprising: A) a carriage for a shopping cart, the carriage including two rear wheel supporting brackets and two front wheel-supporting brackets; B) a wheel-supporting axle rotatably mounted on each wheel-supporting bracket; C) a wheel rotatably m

What is claimed is: 1. A shopping cart wheel system comprising: A) a carriage for a shopping cart, the carriage including two rear wheel supporting brackets and two front wheel-supporting brackets; B) a wheel-supporting axle rotatably mounted on each wheel-supporting bracket; C) a wheel rotatably mounted on each wheel-supporting bracket; D) a ski element rotatably mounted on each wheel-supporting bracket, the ski elements including (1) two rear ski elements, each rear ski element including (a) a pivot bracket rotatably attached to the axle associated with the rear ski element, (b) an elongate body fixed to the pivot bracket, the body having (i) a first end which is a front end when the rear ski element is in use, (ii) a second end which is a rear end when the rear ski element is in use, (iii) a side wall connecting the first end of the body of the rear ski element to the second end of the body of the rear ski element, (iv) an edge which is a top edge when the rear ski element is in use, the edge extending along the first end of the body of the rear ski element and along the side wall of the body of the rear ski element, (v) a bottom wall, the bottom wall having an opening defined therethrough through which a rear wheel of the cart extends when the rear ski element is in use, (vi) a cavity defined in the body, the cavity accommodating a rear wheel of the cart when the rear ski element is in use, and (vii) a planar plate on the second end of the body, the planar plate extending from the second end of the body toward the first end of the body and is co-planar with the edge of the body of the rear ski element, (viii) the ski element on each rear wheel being movable between a first position with the cavity opening downwardly and a second position with the cavity opening upwardly, the bottom of the body of the ski element on each rear wheel being located adjacent to the ground on which the associated rear wheel is located when the ski element is in the second position, and (2) two front ski elements, each front ski element including (a) a pivot bracket rotatably attached to the axle associated with the front ski element, (b) an elongate body fixed to the pivot bracket, the body having (i) a first end which is a front end when the front ski element is in use, (ii) a second end which is a rear end when the front ski element is in use, (iii) a side wall connecting the first end of the body of the front ski element of the second end of the body of the front ski element, (iv) an edge which is a top edge when the front ski element is in use, the edge of the front ski element extending along the first end of the body of the front ski element and along the side wall of the body of the front ski element, (v) a bottom wall, the bottom wall of the front ski element having an opening defined therethrough through which a front wheel of the cart extends when the front ski element is in use, (vi) a cavity defined in the body of the front ski element, the cavity of the front ski element accommodating a front wheel of the cart when the front ski element is in use, (vii) a planar plate on the first end of the body of the front ski element, the planar plate extending from the first end of the body of the front ski element toward the second end of the body of the front ski element and is co-planar with the edge of the body of the front ski element, and (vii) a second planar plate on the second end of the body of the front ski element, the second planar plate extending from the second end of the body of the front ski element toward the first end of the body of the front ski element and is co-planar with the edge of the body of the front ski element. 2. The shopping cart wheel system defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second planar plates on the front ski elements are one-piece with each other and extend adjacent to the side walls of the front ski elements. 3. A shopping cart wheel system comprising: A) a carriage for a shopping cart, the carriage including two rear wheel supporting brackets and two front wheel supporting brackets; B) a wheel rotatably mounted on each wheel-supporting bracket; D) a ski element rotatably mounted on each wheel-supporting bracket, the ski elements including (1) two rear ski elements, each rear ski element including (a) an elongate body having (i) a first end which is a front end when the rear ski element is in use, (ii) a second end which is a rear end when the rear ski element is in use, (iii) a side wall connecting the first end of the body of the rear ski element of the second end of the body of the rear ski element, (iv) a bottom wall, the bottom wall having an opening defined therethrough through which a rear wheel of the cart extends when the rear ski element is in use, (v) a cavity defined in the body, the cavity accommodating a rear wheel of the cart when the rear ski element is in use, and (vi) a plate on the second end of the body, (vii) the ski element on each rear wheel being movable between a first position with the cavity opening downwardly and a second position with the cavity opening upwardly, the bottom of the body of the ski element on each rear wheel being located adjacent to the ground on which the associated rear wheel is located when the ski element is in the second position, and (2) two front ski elements, each front ski element including (a) an elongate body, the body having (i) a first end which is a front end when the front ski element is in use, (ii) a second end which is a rear end when the front ski element is in use, (iii) a side wall connecting the first end of the body of the front ski element of the second end of the body of the front ski element, (iv) a bottom wall, the bottom wall of the front ski element having an opening defined therethrough through which a front wheel of the cart extends when the front ski element is in use, (v) a cavity defined in the body of the front ski element, the cavity of the front ski element accommodating a front wheel of the cart when the front ski element is in use, and (vi) a plate on the body of the front ski element.