A shopping cart features a frame forming a chassis portion and a handle portion. A number of casters are attached to the chassis portion while a basket attached to the handle portion. A pair of basket supports are positioned on opposite sides of the basket. The pair of basket supports include a pair of base portions connected to the chassis portion, a pair of forward tilting lower portions attached to the base portions, and a pair of rearward tilting upper portions attached to the pair of forward tilting lower portions.

Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.

A power generation system for wheeled objects comprises a generator mechanically coupled to one or more of the object's wheels to convert wheel rotational energy into electrical energy. The power generation system may comprise an electrical storage device configured to store the electrical power produced by the generator. Power from the generator and/or the electrical storage device can be used to provide power to other electrical systems in or on the object. In certain embodiments, the electrical storage device comprises a bank of high-capacity capacitors connected in series. Some embodiments use a control circuit, for example, to regulate the charging and discharging of the capacitor bank and to provide suitable voltages for other systems. The power generation system may be disposed within an object's wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

According to an embodiment, a cart gate for storage of carts that have a power reception device includes a pair of guides spaced from each other in a cart-width direction. The guides extend along a forward cart direction. A power transmission device is mounted on a portion of one of the guides. The power transmission device is configured to provide power, in a non-contact manner, to a power reception device on a cart that is between the pair of guides and at a predetermined cart storage position along the forward cart direction. The minimum distance between the guides in the cart-width direction is greater than a width of the cart, but the difference between the minimum distance and the width of the cart is less than or equal to a power transmitting range of the power transmission device.

A shopping cart in one embodiment comprises a uniframe, a mat basket, and a slim-fit cart frame and basket combination, as well as in multiple embodiments, providing individual structural differences and advantages over pre-existing forms of shopping carts.

A manually movable transporting apparatus that is nestable with like transporting apparatuses has a chassis equipped with longitudinal members, which carries a loading device which is mounted on the chassis so as to be movable about respective horizontal axes and rests on at least one support. A supporting element is provided at the front end of the loading device and at least one inclined deflector surface is arranged in the rear region of the apparatus, which drops obliquely towards the rear and being designed to receive the supporting element of a further identical transporting apparatus driven onto the surface. At least one clearance is formed next to each support, and wherein each deflector surface is located in a clearance. When two transporting apparatuses are nested, each deflector surface of one transporting apparatus takes up the clearance assigned to the deflector surface of the other transporting apparatus.

Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.

A lightweight four-wheeled trolley chassis system for use in transport of daily mail and packages. Four rectangular blocks are placed on top of four wheel mounting plates to attach wheels from under to trolley chassis. Rectangular blocks help prevent breakages within wheels by absorbing daily shocks that occur as trolley travels onto different surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, brick, carpet, and tile. Trolley securely holds onto United States Postal Service (USPS) daily mail containers on top with no risk of sliding or falling during travel. Trolley handle rotates to a vertical position during operating condition and folds horizontally onto chassis for storage in non operating condition. A wooden support bar is attached on one end of chassis that spins and locks to allow vertical storage of trolley in small spaces. The trolley chassis uses no complex machined parts allowing workers to replace or tighten screws using standard tools.

A cargo device, cargo management system and method of managing cargo are provided. A cargo device includes a platform having a top side configured to support cargo thereon; a cassette attached to the platform, the cassette configured to engage with at least one corresponding rail in a surface, and electrically communicate with the at least one corresponding rail to receive power and/or data related to the cargo from a controller to actuate the wheels, the cassette, or both; and wheels attached to the platform, the cassette, or both, the wheels being configured to move the platform along the surface. One or both of the cassette and the wheels are retractable based on the data such that the cassettes are moved between an engaged position with the corresponding rail and a disengaged position with the corresponding rail.

A wheeled, pushable cart for transporting cargo that when not in use can be stacked or nested in telescoping fashion, and which can be used with carts having a base frame to which the wheels are attached, and various components, which can include one or more baskets, that are attached to the base frame. The manner in which the wheels are attached and arranged, and the orientation of the base frame, provide for increased storage and ease of access to the base frame and bottom shelf from the rear of the cart, and easy nesting (also referred to as stacking) of multiple carts in telescoping fashion when the carts are not in use.