A cup holder for a shopping cart includes a container ring and a securing mechanism. The container ring is configured to removably hold a beverage container while the securing mechanism is configured for removably securing the container ring relative to a shopping cart. The securing mechanism includ
A cup holder for a shopping cart includes a container ring and a securing mechanism. The container ring is configured to removably hold a beverage container while the securing mechanism is configured for removably securing the container ring relative to a shopping cart. The securing mechanism includes a first portion configured for slidable mounting in a first direction onto a top edge of a wall of a basket of the shopping cart. A second portion of the securing mechanism is configured for slidable insertion, in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, into a hole in the basket of the shopping cart.
대표청구항▼
1. A cup holder and a shopping cart in combination, comprising: a shopping cart including a basket, the basket having at least one wall with a hole therein;a container ring configured to removably hold a beverage container; anda securing mechanism for removably securing the container ring relative t
1. A cup holder and a shopping cart in combination, comprising: a shopping cart including a basket, the basket having at least one wall with a hole therein;a container ring configured to removably hold a beverage container; anda securing mechanism for removably securing the container ring relative to the shopping cart, the securing mechanism including: a first portion configured for slidable mounting, in a first direction, onto a top edge of the wall of the basket of the shopping cart; anda second portion configured for slidable insertion, in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, into the hole in the wall of the basket of the shopping cart, wherein the hole is disposed vertically below the top edge of the wall of the basket of the shopping cart, wherein the second portion comprises a protrusion extending in the second direction that is sized and shaped corresponding to the hole such that the protrusion is closely surrounded by an interior surface of the hole and an outer periphery of the protrusion directly contacts and frictionally engages the interior surface of the hole such that the protrusion contributes to vertical and lateral stability of the cup holder by restricting vertical and lateral movement of the cup holder relative to the at least one wall of the shopping cart, and wherein a through hole longitudinally extends through a center of the protrusion. 2. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 1 and further comprising: a spacer interposed between the container ring and the securing mechanism to maintain the container ring laterally spaced apart from the securing mechanism in the first direction, the spacer having a width substantially greater than a width of the first portion of the securing mechanism. 3. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 2 wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of walls extending between the container ring and the securing mechanism, the walls being generally parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other in a third direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. 4. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 2 wherein the container ring comprises a generally circular portion and a generally non-circular portion. 5. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 4 wherein the generally non-circular portion comprises at least one of: (1) a generally convex shape protruding inward toward a center of the generally circular portion; and (2) an array of protrusions. 6. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the securing mechanism comprises a clasp including a base and a spring arm extending from the base in the second direction. 7. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 6 wherein the second portion of the securing mechanism comprises a support arm including a first end and a second end with a body extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end of the support arm is connected to the base of the clasp and the body and the second end of the support arm extend from the first end of the support arm in the second direction to position the body of the support arm to be spaced apart from and opposite the spring arm of the clasp, andwherein the second end of the support arm includes the protrusion extending toward the spring arm of the clasp with the protrusion spaced apart from the spring arm. 8. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 7 wherein at least one portion of the protrusion has a width substantially equal to a gap between the spring arm of the clasp and the body of the support arm. 9. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 7 wherein the protrusion comprises a generally ring shaped rib extending upward from a body of the support arm. 10. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 7 wherein the protrusion comprises a rib extending upward from the body of the support arm and defining at least one of a generally diamond shaped member, a hexagonally shaped member, and a rectangular shaped member, depending on the shape of the hole. 11. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 7 wherein the support arm has a length extending in a second direction that is substantially greater than a length of the spring arm of the clasp extending in the second direction, and wherein the length of the spring arm is less than a thickness of the container ring. 12. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 7 wherein the spacer extends generally parallel to the first direction in generally same plane as the container ring, the first direction being generally parallel to a diameter of the container ring. 13. A method of carrying a cup holder on a shopping cart, the method comprising: providing a cup holder and a shopping cart, the cup holder including a container ring configured to slidably receive a beverage container and a securing mechanism configured to removably secure the cup holder relative to a basket of the shopping cart, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a first portion attachable to a top edge of a wall of the shopping cart basket and a second portion including a protrusion;slidably advancing, in a first direction, the first portion of the securing mechanism of the cup holder onto the top edge of the wall of the basket of the shopping cart; andslidably inserting, in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the protrusion of the second portion of the securing mechanism of the cup holder into a hole in the wall of the basket of the shopping cart, wherein the hole is disposed vertically below the top edge of the wall of the basket of the shopping cart,wherein the protrusion extends in the second direction and is sized and shaped corresponding to the hole such that the protrusion is closely surrounded by an interior surface of the hole and an outer periphery of the protrusion directly contacts and frictionally engages the interior surface of the hole such that the protrusion contributes to vertical and lateral stability of the cup holder by restricting vertical and lateral movement of the cup holder relative to the at least one wall of the shopping cart, and wherein a through hole longitudinally extends through a center of the protrusion. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein providing the cup holder comprises: arranging the first portion of the securing mechanism to be spaced apart from the second portion of the securing mechanism in the first direction. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein providing the cup holder comprises: arranging the first portion of the securing mechanism to be generally opposed to, and spaced apart from, the second portion of the securing mechanism in the second direction. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the cup holder comprises: interposing a spacer between the securing mechanism and the container ring. 17. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism further comprises an apron entirely surrounding the protrusion, the apron limiting an insertion depth of the protrusion in the hole and anchoring the second portion relative to the wall of the basket of the shopping cart. 18. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 2, wherein the spacer is divided into two side-by-side sections separated by a planar wall, each section including a planar back wall substantially perpendicular the planar wall. 19. The cup holder and shopping cart of claim 18, wherein each of the spacer sections comprises a side wall aligned and extending with a portion of an exterior of the container ring.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (42)
Kimbrough Laurel M. ; Fording Jay K. ; Savas Keith G. ; Nash Benjamin J. ; Montague ; III Edgar B., Adjustable container caddy.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.