US20050206104A1 - Disposable shopping cart handle sanitary cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A cart grip sanitary cover is provided having multiple layers each with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween. The bottom face of each layer has adhesive formed thereon for adhering to a top face of an adjacent layer therebeneath. The layers are stacked with a bottommost layer being attachable to a grip of a cart. In use, a topmost layer of the sanitary cover is removable for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface to be gripped by a user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to shopping carts, and more particularly to shopping cart handle sanitary covers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Most of the public buys groceries at supermarkets. Probably just about everyone has grabbed one of the shopping carts at a supermarket and pushed it around while buying groceries and other items. The handle or grip of the shopping cart is tubular in shape and is normally made from a tubular metal or plastic product. Everyone else that has previously used the shopping cart grabs the grip at the same place while pushing the shopping cart.
• Because the shopping carts will be used for years and because the shopping carts are either never cleaned or not cleaned in a sanitary manner, germs can be passed from one shopper to the next. In other words, a person using the shopping cart previously may have had a communicable disease. Shoppers using that same cart thereafter will be grabbing the same shopping cart grip in the same manner as the person who had the communicable disease.
• Young children and infants are especially at risk as they are placed in the seat of the shopping cart where they inevitably put their mouths on the grip or put their hands in their mouths after having them on the grip. As medical science tells us, many diseases are susceptible to being transmitted by hand contact, such as staff and strep bacteria and numerous flu viruses.
• In the past, the only feasible thing a shopper could do is to bring something to wipe off the grip of the shopping cart prior to use.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
• A cart grip sanitary cover is provided having multiple layers each with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween. The bottom face of each layer has adhesive formed thereon for adhering to a top face of an adjacent layer therebeneath. The layers are stacked with a bottommost layer being attachable to a grip of a cart. In use, a topmost layer of the sanitary cover is removable for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface to be gripped by a user.
• In one embodiment, the layers may each be flexible and formed of an elastomeric material (i.e. plastic, rubber, etc.). As an option, the layers of the sanitary cover may be stacked so that the peripheries thereof are in alignment.
• In another embodiment, the layers of the sanitary cover may each have a rectangular configuration. Further, the layers of the sanitary cover may each have an area substantially similar to an area of the grip of the cart. Still yet, the layers of the sanitary cover may each have a substantially similar shape and size.
• In still another embodiment, a non-adhesive covering may be positioned on the bottom face of the bottommost layer of the sanitary cover for protecting the adhesive of the bottommost layer. Such non-adhesive covering may be removable for attachment of the adhesive of the bottommost layer of the sanitary cover to the grip of the cart.
• In still yet another embodiment, a dispensing container may be provided for storing a plurality of the sanitary covers. Such dispensing container may include an opening for dispensing the sanitary covers therefrom.
• As an option, the cart may include a shopping cart, or any other cart-like device with a grip.
• A method is also provided for affording a sanitary surface on a grip of a cart. Initially, a sanitary cover similar to that described hereinabove is attached to a grip of a cart. Next, a topmost layer of the sanitary cover is removed for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface for being gripped by a user.
• In another embodiment, a cart grip sanitary cover formed of a single layer is provided with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween. The bottom face of the sanitary cover has adhesive formed thereon. Further, a non-adhesive covering is positioned on the bottom face of the sanitary cover for protecting the adhesive. Such non-adhesive covering is adapted for being removed for attachment of the adhesive to a grip of a cart. For providing an optimal sanitary surface, the sanitary cover has an area substantially similar to an area of the grip of the cart.
• These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and studying the various figures of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The foregoing and other aspects and advantages are better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shopping cart equipped with a sanitary cart grip cover, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the sanitary cart grip cover ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sanitary cart grip cover ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cart grip sanitary cover taken along line4-4 ofFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up side view of the sanitary cover prior to being attached to the grip of the cart, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment sanitary cover including a single layer.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an optional dispensing container that may be used to dispense any of the embodiments set forth hereinabove.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a method for affording a sanitary surface on a grip of a cart, in accordance with one embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 1 illustrates ashopping cart100 including abasket portion102 having abottom104 and a plurality ofsides106 coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. Thebasket portion102 thus defines aninterior space108 for storing articles therein. Also included is a plurality of wheels coupled to thebottom104 of theshopping cart100 for transporting purposes.
• Theshopping cart100 further includes ahandle assembly110 having a pair of substantiallyvertical posts112 with inboard ends coupled to thesides106 of theshopping cart100 and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. Associated therewith is a substantiallyhorizontal handle114 coupled to outboard ends of theposts112.Such handle114 further includes agrip116 for being handled by a user to maneuver theshopping cart100.
• In one embodiment, thegrip116 includes a substantially tubular configuration and is constructed from a plastic material. In various other embodiments, thegrip116 may be constructed from a separate or integral metallic or elastomeric piece, or any other material with any desired type of configuration that is capable of being gripped by a user.
• While ashopping cart100 is specifically described, it should be noted that the principles set forth herein may be applied in the context of any cart-like device. For example, an airport luggage cart, any cart used by multiple users, or any other cart-like device may be considered within the scope of the present invention.
• As shown inFIG. 1 and more particularly inFIGS. 2 and 3, also included is a cart gripsanitary cover118 havingmultiple layers120 each with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween. Thelayers120 are stacked one on top of another with abottommost layer121 being attached to thegrip116 of thecart100. In use, atopmost layer122 of thesanitary cover118 is removable for exposing anotherlayer120 therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface for being gripped by a user. Thus, each user of thecart100 is provided with a new sanitary surface to grip116 during use.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cart gripsanitary cover118 taken along line4-4 ofFIG. 3. As shown, thelayers120 of thesanitary cover118 may be stacked so that the peripheries thereof are in alignment. Further, thelayers120 of thesanitary cover118 may each have a substantially similar shape and size. Of course, the sizes and shapes may be altered per the desires of the user.
• In one embodiment, eachlayer120 may have a thickness of less than 1/16^thof an inch or, even more preferably, less than 1/32^ndor 1/64^thof an inch. By this design, any large number oflayers120 may be included without substantially augmenting the diameter of thegrip116.
• Still yet, thelayers120 of thesanitary cover118 may each have an outer surface area and length substantially similar to an area and length of thegrip116 of thecart100, respectively, for providing optimal sanitary protection. In one embodiment, this similarity may range between 50%-150% of the area and length of thegrip116 of thecart100. Of course, this design may be varied per the desires of the user.
• As an option, antibacterial agents or other types of sanitizing substances may be used to lace thelayers120 of thesanitary cover118. This feature may be used to further enhance the sanitary function of thesanitary cover118.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of thesanitary cover118 prior to being attached to thegrip116 of thecart100, in accordance with one embodiment. As shown inFIG. 5, each of thelayers120 is equipped with a smooth planar top face, a smooth planar bottom face, and a rectangular periphery formed therebetween. The bottom face of eachlayer120 has adhesive500 formed on an entire surface thereof for adhering to a top face of anadjacent layer120.
• Abottommost layer121 has anon-adhesive covering502 on the bottom face thereof for protecting the adhesive of thebottommost layer121. As an option, the non-adhesive covering may have an area and a length substantially similar to an area and length of the remaininglayers120 set forth hereinabove. Moreover, the non-adhesive covering may be constructed of waxed paper or any other suitable material.
• In use, atopmost layer122 of thesanitary cover118 is removable for exposing anotherlayer120 therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface for being gripped by a user.
• FIG. 6 illustrates analternate embodiment600 including asingle layer602. A bottom face of suchsingle layer602 has adhesive606 formed thereon. Further, a non-adhesive covering608 similar to the one ofFIG. 5 is positioned on the bottom face of the present embodiment for protecting the adhesive606. Such non-adhesive covering608 is adapted for being removable for attachment of the adhesive606 of the present embodiment to agrip116 of thecart100.
• The present embodiment is thus adapted for being applied to agrip116 of thecart100 one by one, and disposed after use. In the alternative, the present embodiment may be applied one after another, leaving previous layers on thegrip116 of thecart100.
• FIG. 7 illustrates anoptional dispensing container700 that may be used to dispense any of the embodiments set forth hereinabove. As shown, such dispensing container is equipped with a substantially rectangular configuration including abottom face702, atop face704, and a plurality of side faces706 formed therebetween. An interior space is thus defined for storing thesanitary covers118 and/or600. Further, thetop face704 of the dispensingcontainer700 includes anopening708 for dispensing thesanitary covers118 and/or600 therefrom.
• As such, thesanitary covers118 and/or600 are each dispensable from the dispensingcontainer700 and the associated non-adhesive covering is removable for attachment of the associated adhesive to thegrip116 of thecart100.
• FIG. 8 illustrates amethod800 for affording a sanitary surface on agrip116 of thecart100, in accordance with one embodiment. Initially, inoperation802, asanitary cover118 similar to that described hereinabove is removed from a dispenser like that shown inFIG. 7 or any other type of dispenser. Next, inoperation804, the non-adhesive covering is removed for exposing an adhesive layer on a bottommost one of thelayers120 or, in the embodiment of a single layer, exposing an adhesive layer on the single layer.
• Next, inoperation806, thesanitary cover118 is attached to thegrip116 of thecart100. This may be accomplished by wrapping thesanitary cover118 around thegrip116 of thecart100, and adhering it thereto.
• Then, in the embodiment ofFIG. 5 includingmultiple layers120, a top layer may be removed at any time for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface to be gripped by a user. Seeoperation808. As an option, a corner, side or edge of eachlayer120 may be equipped with a tab or some other non-adhesive member that may be gripped by a user to facilitate the removal process. This operation may be continued until abottommost layer121 is exposed, after which a newsanitary cover118 may be dispensed and applied to thegrip116 of thecart100.
• As will be understood from the above, the present invention provides a simple and effective means for covering or shielding the grips ofcarts100 and the like to prevent contamination of the user ofsuch carts100 with disease or infectious residues left from previous users of thecart100. Various improvements and alternative arrangements for the basic arrangement of such cover to be attached or placed over the cart grip are disclosed.
• While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (25)

1. A shopping cart grip sanitary cover system, comprising:

a shopping cart including a basket portion having a bottom and a plurality of sides coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an interior space for storing articles therein, a plurality of wheels coupled to the bottom of the shopping cart for transporting the shopping cart, and a handle assembly including a pair of substantially vertical posts with inboard ends coupled to the sides of the shopping cart and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a substantially horizontal handle coupled to outboard ends of the posts, wherein the handle includes a grip for being handled by a user to maneuver the shopping cart;

a plurality of sanitary covers each including multiple flexible elastomeric layers of a similar size and shape and each having a rectangular configuration with a smooth top face, a smooth bottom face, and a rectangular periphery formed therebetween, the bottom face of each layer having adhesive formed thereon for adhering to a top face of an adjacent layer, the layers being stacked with a bottommost layer having a non-adhesive covering on the bottom face thereof for protecting the adhesive of the bottommost layer; and

a dispensing container with a substantially rectangular configuration including a bottom face, a top face, and a plurality of side faces formed therebetween for defining an interior space for storing the sanitary covers, the top face of the dispensing container including an opening for dispensing the sanitary covers therefrom;

whereby the sanitary covers are each dispensable from the dispensing container and the non-adhesive covering is removable for attachment of the adhesive of the bottommost layer to the grip of the shopping cart, a topmost layer of each sanitary cover being removable for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface for being gripped by the user.

2. A cart grip sanitary cover, comprising:

a sanitary cover including multiple layers each with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, the bottom face of each layer having adhesive formed thereon for adhering to a top face of an adjacent layer, the layers being stacked with a bottommost layer being attachable to a grip of a cart;

wherein a topmost layer of the sanitary cover is removable for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface for being gripped by a user.

3. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, wherein the layers are each flexible.

4. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, wherein the layers are each formed of an elastomeric material.

5. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, wherein the layers each have a rectangular configuration.

6. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, wherein the layers each have an area substantially similar to an area of the grip of the cart.

7. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, wherein the layers each have a substantially similar shape and size.

8. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, wherein the layers are stacked so that the peripheries thereof are in alignment.

9. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 2, and further comprising a non-adhesive covering positioned on the bottom face of the bottommost layer of the sanitary cover for protecting the adhesive of the bottommost layer, the non-adhesive covering being removable for attachment of the adhesive of the bottommost layer of the sanitary cover to the grip of the cart.

10. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 9, and further comprising a dispensing container for storing a plurality of the sanitary covers.

11. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 10, wherein the dispensing container includes an opening for dispensing the sanitary covers therefrom.

12. The cart grip sanitary cover as recited inclaim 10, wherein the cart includes a shopping cart.

13. A method of providing a sanitary surface on a grip of a cart, comprising:

attaching a sanitary cover to a grip of a cart, the sanitary cover including multiple layers each with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, the bottom face of each layer having adhesive formed thereon for adhering to a top face of an adjacent layer; and

removing a topmost layer of the sanitary cover for exposing another layer therebeneath for providing a sanitary surface for being gripped by a user.

14. The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the layers are each flexible.

15 The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the layers are each formed of an elastomeric material.

16. The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the layers each have a rectangular configuration.

17. The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the layers each have an area substantially similar to an area of the grip of the cart.

18. The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the layers each have a substantially similar shape and size.

19. The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the layers are stacked so that the peripheries thereof are in alignment.

20. The method as recited inclaim 13, and further comprising removing a non-adhesive covering on the bottom face of the bottommost layer of the sanitary cover, the non-adhesive covering being removable for attachment of the adhesive of the bottommost layer of the sanitary cover to the grip of the cart.

21. The method as recited inclaim 20, and further comprising removing the sanitary cover from a dispensing container.

22. The method as recited inclaim 21, wherein the dispensing container includes an opening for dispensing the sanitary covers therefrom.

23. The method as recited inclaim 13, wherein the cart includes a shopping cart.

24. A cart grip sanitary cover, comprising:

a sanitary cover with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, the bottom face of the sanitary cover having adhesive formed thereon; and

a non-adhesive covering positioned on the bottom face of the sanitary cover for protecting the adhesive, the non-adhesive covering being removable for attachment of the adhesive of the sanitary cover to a grip of a cart;

wherein the sanitary cover has an area substantially similar to an area of the grip of the cart.

25. A method of providing a sanitary surface on a grip of a cart, comprising:

attaching a sanitary cover to a grip of a cart, the sanitary cover including a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, the bottom face of the sanitary cover having adhesive formed thereon, the sanitary cover including a non-adhesive covering positioned on the bottom face of the sanitary cover for protecting the adhesive; and

removing the non-adhesive covering for attachment of the adhesive of the sanitary cover to a grip of a cart.

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