Stackable carts with electronic apparatus and spacer for stackable carts

1. A cart, comprising:

a base unit with a wheel position at each of four corners and including a first frame portion and a second frame portion, the first frame portion connecting a pair of wheel positions on a first side, the second frame portion connecting a pair of wheel positions on a second side opposite the first side, the first and second frame portions coupled to each other by a frontend part;

a basket unit above the base unit;

a handle unit connecting the first frame portion to the second frame portion at a backside of the base unit and connecting the base unit to the basket unit;

an inner frame portion between the first and second frame portions and extending to the frontend part of the base unit, the inner frame portion including a front contact portion and a stopper portion at a position closer to the backside of the base unit than the front contact portion;

a spacer portion attached to the inner frame portion at a position closer to the backside of the base unit than the stopper portion, a back end of the spacer portion being positioned to contact a front contact portion of another cart when carts are nested together front-to-back; and

a coupling portion on the spacer portion and extending towards the backside of the base unit, the coupling portion being positioned to be between the inner frame portion and a frontend part of another cart when carts are nested together front-to-back.

2. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer portion is detachable from the inner frame portion.

3. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is integrally formed with the spacer portion.

4. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is attached to the spacer portion with screws.

5. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is a thin plate member.

6. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer portion comprises an upper thin plate, a thick plate, and a lower thin plate.

7. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is attached to the lower thin plate.

8. The cart according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a support pole attached to the handle unit; and

an electronic apparatus attached to the support pole.

9. The cart according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a battery housing, wherein

the electronic apparatus is electrically connected to a battery inside the battery housing.

10. The cart according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a contactless power receiving unit attached to the base unit, wherein

the contactless power receiving unit is electrically connected to the battery.

11. The cart according to claim 10 , wherein the contactless power receiving unit is integrated with the spacer portion.

12. The cart according to claim 8 , wherein the electronic apparatus is a merchandise registration device.

13. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the basket unit comprises a fixture permitting a hand-carriable basket to be attached.

14. A shopping cart for retail stores, the shopping cart comprising:

a base unit with a wheel position at each of four corners and including a first frame portion and a second frame portion, the first frame portion connecting a pair of wheel positions on a first side, the second frame portion connecting a pair of wheel positions on a second side opposite the first side, the first and second frame portions coupled to each other by a frontend part;

a basket unit above the base unit;

a handle unit connecting the first frame portion to the second frame portion at a backside of the base unit and connecting the base unit to the basket unit;

an inner frame portion between the first and second frame portions and extending to the frontend part of the base unit, the inner frame portion including a front contact portion and a stopper portion at a position closer to the backside of the base unit than the front contact portion;

a spacer portion attached to the inner frame portion at a position closer to the backside of the base unit than the stopper portion, a back end of the spacer portion being positioned to contact a front contact portion of another cart when carts are nested together front-to-back;

a coupling portion on the spacer portion and extending towards the backside of the base unit, the coupling portion being positioned to be between the inner frame portion and a frontend part of another cart when carts are nested together front-to-back;

a support pole attached to the handle unit;

an electronic apparatus attached to the support pole;

a battery housing; and

a contactless power receiving unit attached to the base unit, wherein

the electronic apparatus is electrically connected to a battery inside the battery housing, and

the contactless power receiving unit is electrically connected to the battery.

15. The shopping cart according to claim 14 , wherein the spacer portion is detachable from the inner frame portion.

16. The shopping cart according to claim 14 , wherein

the spacer portion comprises an upper thin plate, a thick plate, and a lower thin plate, and

the coupling portion is attached to the lower thin plate.

17. The shopping cart according to claim 14 , wherein the electronic apparatus is a merchandise registration device.

18. The shopping cart according to claim 14 , wherein the contactless power receiving unit is integrated with the spacer portion.