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A shopping vehicle includes a wheeled chassis supporting a main cart and a utility portion. The main cart includes a front portion and a rear portion with the utility portion extending rearward from the rear portion of the main cart. The utility portion includes a generally horizontal platform and a

A shopping vehicle includes a wheeled chassis supporting a main cart and a utility portion. The main cart includes a front portion and a rear portion with the utility portion extending rearward from the rear portion of the main cart. The utility portion includes a generally horizontal platform and a generally vertical support structure. The support structure extends generally upward and generally perpendicular relative to the generally horizontal platform. The platform and the support structure of the utility portion, in combination with the rear portion of the main cart define a first cargo zone behind the main cart.

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What is claimed is: 1. A shopping vehicle comprising: a wheeled chassis supporting: a main cart including a front portion, a rear portion, a basket, and a tray, the tray vertically spaced from and positioned below the basket; and a utility portion extending rearward from the rear portion of the mai

What is claimed is: 1. A shopping vehicle comprising: a wheeled chassis supporting: a main cart including a front portion, a rear portion, a basket, and a tray, the tray vertically spaced from and positioned below the basket; and a utility portion extending rearward from the rear portion of the main cart and including: a generally horizontal platform extending in generally the same plane as the tray of the main cart and adjacent to the tray of the main cart to define a substantially continuous loading surface extending on both the tray of the main cart and the generally horizontal platform of the utility portion; a support structure spaced from the rear portion of the main cart and extending generally vertically upward from and generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal platform, wherein the generally horizontal platform and the support structure of the utility portion in combination with the rear portion of the main cart together define a first cargo zone; and a panel pivotally mounted to the support structure for pivotal movement between a first position in which the panel is in a generally vertical position and generally parallel to the support structure to further define the first cargo zone and a second position in which the panel is in a generally horizontal position spaced vertically above the platform and generally perpendicular to the support structure to facilitate nesting of other carts relative to the utility portion of the shopping vehicle, the panel comprising a seat assembly including: a backrest pivotally mounted to the support structure via a first pivot mechanism; and a seat portion pivotally mounted to the backrest via a second pivot mechanism, the seat portion being pivotally movable between a generally horizontal seating position and a generally vertical storage position in which the seat portion is releasably lockable via the second pivot mechanism into the storage position. 2. The shopping vehicle of claim 1 wherein a second cargo zone is defined by the substantially continuous loading surface with the second cargo zone extending substantially continuously through the main cart between the basket and the tray, and through the utility portion between the support structure and the generally horizontal platform. 3. The shopping vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second pivot mechanism comprises at least one flange on the seat portion and a slot mechanism on the backrest for slidably receiving the at least one flange of the seat portion to releasably lock the seat portion into the storage position. 4. The shopping vehicle of claim 3 wherein the second pivot mechanism comprises: a rod; at least one first sleeve positioned on the seat portion and adjacent to the at least one flange of the seat portion, the at least one first sleeve defining a hole having an elongate cross-sectional shape; and at least one second sleeve positioned on the backrest and adjacent to the slot mechanism of the backrest, wherein the at least one first sleeve is interleaved relative to the at least one second sleeve with the rod extending through the at least one first sleeve and the at least one second sleeve. 5. The shopping vehicle of claim 1 wherein the utility portion comprises a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, the support structure comprising a pair of vertical side portions spaced apart from each other on the opposite respective sides of the utility portion with each vertical side portion extending upward from and generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal platform. 6. The shopping vehicle of claim 5 wherein the support structure comprises: a first transverse bar extending transversely across the utility portion between the vertical side portions of the support structure and positioned to vertically support the seat portion of the seat assembly in the seating position; and a second transverse bar extending transversely across the utility portion between the vertical side portions of the support structure at a location rearward of the first transverse bar and positioned vertically higher than the first transverse bar to limit rearward pivotal movement of the backrest of the seat assembly. 7. The shopping vehicle of claim 6 wherein the support structure comprises a first opening between the vertical side portions and below the second transverse bar, and the main cart comprises a second opening between the basket and the tray of the main cart adjacent the rear portion of the main cart, wherein the first opening and the second opening form an unobstructed passageway that defines a second cargo zone. 8. The shopping vehicle of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a handle including an items holder. 9. The shopping vehicle of claim 1 wherein the wheeled chassis comprises a single, unitary frame member that supports and defines both the main cart and the utility portion of the shopping vehicle. 10. The shopping vehicle of claim 1 wherein the utility portion is a separate unit from the main cart and is removably attachable to the rear portion of the main cart to form the shopping vehicle. 11. A conversion unit for a shopping cart, the conversion unit comprising: a frame including a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion of the frame being removably attachable to a rear portion of a shopping cart, the frame supporting a generally horizontal platform and a support structure, the generally horizontal platform extending between the front portion and the rear portion of the frame, and the support structure extending generally vertically upward from the rear portion of the frame to be generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal platform, wherein the generally horizontal platform defines a first cargo zone; and a panel pivotally mounted to the support structure for pivotal movement between a first position in which the panel is in a generally vertical position and generally parallel to the support structure to further define the first cargo zone and a second position in which the panel is in a generally horizontal nesting position that is generally perpendicular to the support structure to facilitate nesting of a second cart relative to the rear portion of the frame of the conversion unit, the panel comprising a seat assembly including a backrest and a seat portion, the backrest having a top portion and a bottom portion and being pivotally mounted to the support structure at the top portion of the backrest via a first pivot mechanism for pivotal movement of the seat assembly between the first position and the second position, wherein the seat portion of the seat assembly includes an outer end and an inner end that is pivotally mounted to the backrest of the seat assembly via a second pivot mechanism, the seat portion being pivotally movable relative to the backrest between a first position in which the seat portion is releasably locked into a generally vertical position with the seat portion extending generally vertically relative to the backrest and a second position in which the outer end of the seat portion is free hanging and the seat portion extends generally horizontally relative to the backrest for seating passengers. 12. The conversion unit of claim 11, comprising a system including the conversion unit and further comprising a shopping cart including a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion of the conversion unit being removably attached to the rear portion of the shopping cart. 13. The conversion unit of claim 12 wherein the shopping cart comprises a basket and a tray vertically spaced below the basket, wherein the tray of the shopping cart and the generally horizontal platform of the conversion unit define a substantially continuous and unobstructed passageway, the passageway defining a second cargo zone that extends from the front portion of the shopping cart between the basket and the tray of the shopping cart and over the generally horizontal platform of the conversion unit through the support structure adjacent the rear portion of the conversion unit. 14. A method of using a shopping vehicle comprising: arranging a shopping vehicle to include a main cart and a utility portion extending rearward from the main cart; arranging the utility portion to include a platform extending in generally a same plane as a tray of the main cart, a support structure extending generally vertically upward from the platform, and a seat assembly pivotally supported on the support structure above the platform; and unlocking the seat assembly and converting the utility portion between a cargo mode and a passenger mode via hand operation of a releasable locking mechanism of the seat assembly including a backrest and a seat portion having an outer end and an inner end pivotally attached to the backrest at a pivot mechanism including a slot and a flange releasably locked in the slot, wherein unlocking the seat assembly includes pulling the seat portion generally vertically away from the backrest to slidably remove the flange from the slot, the cargo mode comprising positioning of the seat assembly in a closed position to facilitate placement of items on the platform in a first cargo zone between the main cart and the seat assembly of the utility portion, and the passenger mode comprising positioning the seat assembly in an open position for supporting a passenger on the platform and the seat assembly. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein arranging the shopping vehicle comprises: arranging the main cart with a basket vertically spaced above the tray and arranging the platform adjacent to the tray of the main cart; and operating the shopping vehicle in the cargo mode including placement of items in a second cargo zone, the second cargo zone of the shopping vehicle extending between the basket and the tray of the main cart and over the platform of the utility portion below the seat assembly of the utility portion. 16. The method of claim 14 and further comprising: releasably nesting a second shopping cart relative to the shopping vehicle by the second shopping cart forcing pivotal movement of the seat assembly upward into a generally horizontal nesting position that is generally parallel to the platform of the utility portion of the shopping vehicle. 17. The method of claim 14 wherein arranging the shopping vehicle comprises removably attaching the utility portion to the main cart. 18. A shopping vehicle comprising: a wheeled chassis supporting: a main cart including a front portion, a rear portion, a basket, and a tray, the tray vertically spaced from and positioned below the basket; and a utility portion extending rearward from the rear portion of the main cart and including: a generally horizontal platform extending in generally the same plane as the tray of the main cart and adjacent to the tray of the main cart to define a substantially continuous loading surface extending on both the tray of the main cart and the generally horizontal platform of the utility portion; a support structure spaced from the rear portion of the main cart and extending generally vertically upward from and generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal platform, wherein the generally horizontal platform and the support structure of the utility portion in combination with the rear portion of the main cart together define a first cargo zone; and a panel pivotally mounted to the support structure for pivotal movement between a first position in which the panel is in a generally vertical position and generally parallel to the support structure to further define the first cargo zone and a second position in which the panel is in a generally horizontal position spaced vertically above the platform and generally perpendicular to the support structure to facilitate nesting of other carts relative to the utility portion of the shopping vehicle, the panel comprising a seat assembly including: a backrest pivotally mounted to the support structure via a first pivot mechanism; and a seat portion pivotally mounted to the backrest via a second pivot mechanism, the seat portion being pivotally movable between a generally horizontal seating position and a generally vertical storage position in which the seat portion is releasably lockable via the second pivot mechanism into the storage position, the second pivot mechanism comprising: at least one flange on the seat portion; a slot mechanism on the backrest for slidably receiving the at least one flange of the seat portion to releasably lock the seat portion into the storage position; a rod; at least one first sleeve positioned on the seat portion and adjacent to the at least one flange of the seat portion, the at least one first sleeve defining a hole having an elongate cross-sectional shape; and at least one second sleeve positioned on the backrest and adjacent to the slot mechanism of the backrest, wherein the at least one first sleeve is interleaved relative to the at least one second sleeve with the rod extending through the at least one first sleeve and the at least one second sleeve. 19. A shopping vehicle comprising: a wheeled chassis supporting: a main cart including a front portion, a rear portion, a basket, and a tray, the tray vertically spaced from and positioned below the basket; and a utility portion extending rearward from the rear portion of the main cart and including: a first side; a second side opposite from the first side; a generally horizontal platform extending in generally the same plane as the tray of the main cart and adjacent to the tray of the main cart to define a substantially continuous loading surface extending on both the tray of the main cart and the generally horizontal platform of the utility portion; a support structure spaced from the rear portion of the main cart and extending generally vertically upward from and generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal platform, wherein the generally horizontal platform and the support structure of the utility portion in combination with the rear portion of the main cart together define a first cargo zone, the support structure comprising a pair of vertical side portions spaced apart from each other on the opposite respective sides of the utility portion with each vertical side portion extending upward from and generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal platform; and a panel pivotally mounted to the support structure for pivotal movement between a first position in which the panel is in a generally vertical position and generally parallel to the support structure to further define the first cargo zone and a second position in which the panel is in a generally horizontal position spaced vertically above the platform and generally perpendicular to the support structure to facilitate nesting of other carts relative to the utility portion of the shopping vehicle, the panel comprising a seat assembly including: a backrest pivotally mounted to the support structure via a first pivot mechanism; and a seat portion pivotally mounted to the backrest via a second pivot mechanism, the seat portion being pivotally movable between a generally horizontal seating position and a generally vertical storage position in which the seat portion is releasably lockable via the second pivot mechanism into the storage position; wherein the support structure further comprises: a first transverse bar extending transversely across the utility portion between the vertical side portions of the support structure and positioned to vertically support the seat portion of the seat assembly in the seating position; and a second transverse bar extending transversely across the utility portion between the vertical side portions of the support structure at a location rearward of the first transverse bar and positioned vertically higher than the first transverse bar to limit rearward pivotal movement of the backrest of the seat assembly. 20. The shopping vehicle of claim 19 wherein the support structure comprises a first opening between the vertical side portions and below the second transverse bar, and the main cart comprises a second opening between the basket and the tray of the main cart adjacent the rear portion of the main cart, wherein the first opening and the second opening form an unobstructed passageway that defines a second cargo zone.