EDSGN 100: Introduction to Engineering Design

Foldable Shopping Cart Project

Section 07 Team # 6

Submitted by: Ghadah Alamer, Joseph Weston, Nolan Smith,

Maryam Felemban
Submitted to: Xinli Wu
Date of submission: 10/26/2016

Abstract
The purpose of this project was to design an easy to use, compact,
foldable shopping cart for college students who have difficulty bringing
groceries to their apartments. We decided on a simple V style folding
design that would be low in cost and easy to manufacture. Our goal was to
keep the cost of manufacturing under $50. Our final design consisted of a
stair climbing, dolly-like cart.

ii

Table of Contents
Cover Page

Ghadah Alamer

Abstract

iii

Joseph Weston

Table of Contents

iii

Ghadah Alamer

Introduction

Maryam Felemban

Design Task
Description

Joseph Weston

Design Approach

Ghadah Alamer
Joseph Weston
Nolan Smith
Maryam Felemban

Final Design and

Prototype

12

Ghadah Alamer
Joseph Weston
Nolan Smith
Maryam Felemban

Engineering Analysis

17

Ghadah Alamer
Joseph Weston
Nolan Smith
Maryam Felemban

Conclusion

19

Maryam Felemban

Acknowledgement

19

Maryam Felemban

References

20

Maryam Felemban

iii

Introduction
This report represents the project created to solve the issue of people
needing a compact, foldable shopping cart for the Engineering Design
class at Pennsylvania State University. The aim of this project is to design a
folding shopping cart that helps people who need to carry groceries for long
distance and for people without cars. This report includes the steps to
approach our final design of the shopping cart. Moreover, the report covers
a description of the design along with an analysis of the cost, size and
other features.

Design Task Description

Problem Statement
Students in State College have difficulty getting their groceries up
and down the steps because of the number of floors in the dorm
buildings.

Mission Statement
To build and design a folding shopping cart that can be. We
also want to make this a multi-functional cart that can serve as a
laundry basket as well since laundry rooms are on alternating floors
in most dorm rooms.

Design Specifications
The design will include stair climbing wheels, it will be
manufactured for under $50, it will be able to hold 100 pounds worth
of groceries, and it will be compact enough to be easy to store for
college students.

Design Approach
Project management - Gantt chart
10/10/1 10/17/1
9/12/16 9/19/16 9/26/16 10/3/16
6
6 10/24/16
IDENTIFY NEEDS
Target Specifications
Information Gathering
CONCEPT GENERATION
AND SELECTION
Brainstorming
Design Matrix
Design Drawings
PROTOTYPE
Construction
Design Evaluation and
Testing
PRESENT
Project Report
Oral Presentation

 Customer Needs Assessment:

Most students claimed to have difficulty getting their groceries
up the stairs.
All the students claimed that the product must be cheap
because a high cost would not be worth the convenience.
Some students said that they could make use of the product as
a laundry carrying device. One student said it could be helpful
for moving in and out of dorms.
A few students said they had elevators in their building.
Some of the students claimed to have to go somewhere else to
do laundry.
Most students stressed that they did not have much storage in
their dorms.
Most students did not know how much their groceries weighed.
However, the average approximation was between 50 and 75
pounds.

Concept Generation:
4

 FIG. 1. Image of Idea #1

FIG. 2. Image of Idea #2:

65

 FIG. 4. Image of Idea #4:

 FIG. 5. Image of Idea #5:

 Design Selection Matrices

Table 1. Design Matrix

Selection Criteria

Idea
#1

Idea
#2

Idea
#3

Referen
ce
Design

Idea
#4

Idea
#5

Ease of use

Ease of handling

Foldability

Ease of
manufacture

Cost

Durability

Sum +

Sum 0

Sum -

Net Score

-2

-1

Rank

Yes

No

Yes

Combine

No

Combin
e

Continue?

Table 2. Weighted Design Matrix

1
0

Selection
Criteria

Weight

Reference

Design 1

Design 3

Rating

Weighted score Rating Weighted Rating Weighted

score
score

Ease of Use

10%

0.3

0.2

0.4

Ease of
Handling

30%

0.9

1.5

1.2

Foldability

20%

0.6

0.6

0.4

Ease of
Manufactur
e

5%

0.15

0.25

0.2

Cost

20%

0.6

0.6

0.4

Durability

15%

0.45

0.45

0.45

Total Score

3.6

3.05

Rank

Continue?

No

Develop

No

1
1

Final Design and Prototype

Drawings
FIG. 6. Pictorial Drawing of the Project

 FIG. 7. Drawing of the frame

 FIG.
8.

Drawing of the basket

 FIG.
9.

Drawing of the triple wheel

1
4

 Prototype (Scale: 1:6 )

FIG. 10. Image (1) of Prototype

FIG. 11.
Image
(2) of
Prototype

1
5

 Design Features
1.
2.
3.
4.

Foldability
Stair climbing wheels
Lower compartment (below main basket)
Upper pouch for either keys/purse or for delicate groceries

Operation Instructions
The product is easily folded into a V shape by simply pushing
the handle towards the back side of the cart while holding the back in
place. To open the cart, simply pull the handle from the parallel bar.

Engineering Analysis
Working mechanism
The working mechanism of the shopping cart is a rather unique
design that allows for maximum foldability, ease of use, and easy
handling. To close the cart, you must lift the latch on each side of the
cart and push the two sets of wheels together. The whole cart,
including the bag, collapses flat for easy storage. To open you just
pull the wheels apart and replace the latches onto their respective
pins. This design is the simplest and most effective working
mechanism for the functionality of the cart that we desired.

 Cost Analysis
Table 3. Cost Analysis
No
.

Part
Name

Quanti
ty

Cost

Website Link

Wheels
(main)

2 (sets)

$1
each

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/100mm-stairclimbing-rubber-wheel-with_60369548562.html?
spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.wUcuIm&s=p

Wheel
(front
wheel)

2$

$4.20
each

Metal
Frame
Pieces
(0.75)

10m

5m
for
$11.0
0

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-hollow
tubing/=14fskge

Fabric
Contain
er

5m

$3.50

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/sun-shadefabric-100-polyester-silver_60464904906.html

Bolts
1/420x2

25

100
for
$5.28

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-capscrews/=14fsghb

Nuts
1/4-20

25

100
for
$2.10

http://www.mcmaster.com/#hex-nuts/=14fsi12

Plastic
Washers
1/4

50

100
for
$6.63

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-washers/=14fsjm

Total:

$40.
87

Conclusion
The foldable shopping cart that we designed coasts $40.87, can hold
more than 100lbs, fold and store easily. The three wheels that we used in

our design make our cart favorable for people, because it helps in climbing
stairs as well as in pushing the cart on a flat area.
Xinli Wu suggested to decrease the space between the shopping cart
bag and the floor due to the added benefits of material cost. The design
would be modified to be shorter to save in manufacturing cost, or the space
would be used for an alternate storage place for large bulky items.

Acknowledgement
We would like to thank our professor Xinli Wu for his great
effort in guiding us through this project. We would also like to
thank our TA Jerod Barone for helping us during the design
process and the prototype session.

1
9

References
McMaster-Carr. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 23, 2016, from
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-hollow
tubing/=14fskge
McMaster-Carr. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 23, 2016, from
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-cap-screws/=14fsghb
McMaster-Carr. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 23, 2016, from
http://www.mcmaster.com/#hex-nuts/=14fsi12
McMaster-Carr. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 23, 2016, from
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-washers/=14fsjmj
Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters - Alibaba.com. (n.d.).
Retrieved Oct 23, 2016, from
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/100mm-

stair-

climbing-rubber
Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters - Alibaba.com. (n.d.).
Retrieved Oct 23, 2016, from
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/sun-shade- fabric100-polyester-silver