Checking system

Claim 1

A CHECK-OUT SYSTEM OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A CHECKING COUNTER AND PORTABLE CART; SAID COUNTER HAVING A FLAT TABLE SURFACE FOR RECEIVING, CHECKING AND PACKAGING OF ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE TRANSPORTED THERETO BY A CUSTOMER AND MANUALLY UNLOADED THEREON BY AN ATTENDANT FROM SAID PORTABLE CART; SAID CART INCLUDING A WHEELED FRAME STRUCTURE AND A BASKET SUPPORTED THEREBY FOR CARRYING THE MERCHANDISE; SAID BASKET HAVING SIDE WALL MEANS, A BOTTOM WALL AND AN OPEN TOP; SAID BOTTOM WALL BEING SUPPORTED TO PERMIT RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME STRUCTURE IN A DIRECTION BRINGING THE BOTTOM WALL TOWARDS OR AWAY FROM THE OPEN TOP; DRIVE MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BOTTOM WALL FOR MOVING SAME VERTICALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME STRUCTURE; MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CART FOR PROPERLY POSITIONING SAME WITH RESPECT TO SAID COUNTER TO FACILITATE AN ATTENDANT''S CHECKING AND MANUAL UNLOADING OF THE MERCHANDISE ONTO THE COUNTER WHILE THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE BASKET IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS; AND MEANS CONTROLLABLE BY THE ATTENDANT FOR OPERATING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO BRING THE BOTTOM WALL OF SAID BASKET TOWARDS OR AWAY FROM THE OPEN TOP.