U.S. patent application number 11/412086 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for electronic shopping cart handle.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPRN Licensing SRL. Invention is credited to Mark Edey, Russell Harper, Robin Harrison, Jeremy List, R. Sylvain Perrier.
Application Number | 20060254861 11/412086 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37307621 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Perrier; R. Sylvain ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Electronic shopping cart handle
Abstract
A shopping cart handle includes a housing having a display,
electronic circuitry in the housing for generating images on the
display, and first and second grip portions each having a flared
proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end. The display
optionally includes a electronic interface that may be covered by a
selectively releasable cover to protect the interface.
Inventors: |
Perrier; R. Sylvain;
(Newmarket, CA) ; Harper; Russell; (Toronto,
CA) ; Harrison; Robin; (East Mount Albert, CA)
; List; Jeremy; (Newmarket, CA) ; Edey; Mark;
(Ottawa, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
SPRN Licensing SRL
St. Michael
BB
|
Family ID: |
37307621 |
Appl. No.: |
11/412086 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60675849 |
Apr 29, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
186/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/4536 20130101;
B62B 3/1428 20130101; B62B 5/06 20130101; B62B 3/1424 20130101;
G07F 7/0627 20130101; B62B 3/1416 20130101; B62B 3/1404
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
186/026 |
International
Class: |
B61D 15/00 20060101
B61D015/00 |
Claims
1. A shopping cart handle comprising: a housing having a display;
electronic circuitry in said housing for generating images on said
display; first and second grip portions each having a flared
proximal end connected to said housing and a distal end.
2. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 wherein said grip portion
has a first periphery having a first length at a point between said
proximal end and said distal end and said grip portion at said
proximal end has a second periphery having a second length greater
than said first length.
3. The shopping cart handle of claim 2 wherein a projection of said
first periphery passes entirely within said second periphery.
4. The shopping cart handle of claim 2 wherein said flared proximal
end comprises a plurality of wall members.
5. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 wherein said first and
second grip portions are integrally formed with said housing.
6. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 including a battery
compartment in said housing.
7. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 including a battery mounted
entirely within said housing.
8. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 wherein said housing is
pivotably mounted with respect to said first and second grip
portions, whereby a position of the display relative to the grip
portions can be varied.
9. The shopping cart handle of claim 8 including first and second
ratchet mechanisms between said first and second grip portions and
said housing.
10. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 wherein said housing
includes a first housing portion formed integrally with said first
and second grip portions and a second housing portion connected to
said first housing portion.
11. The shopping cart handle of claim 1 wherein said electronic
circuitry includes a processor and including an electrical
connector on the housing for connecting an external memory to the
processor.
12. The shopping cart handle of claim 11 wherein said electrical
connector comprises a USB connector.
13. The shopping cart handle of claim 11 including a selectively
unlockable cover over said electrical connector.
14. A shopping cart handle comprising: a housing having a first
portion and second portion connected to the first portion and
having a display; electronic circuitry in said housing for
generating images on said display; first and second grip portions
each having a proximal end connected to said housing first portion
and a distal end; a battery mounted in said housing and outside
said first and second grip portions.
15. The shopping cart handle of claim 14 wherein said electronic
circuitry includes a processor; said first and second grip portions
each include a flared proximal end connected to said housing; and
said housing includes an electrical connector for connecting an
external memory device to said processor and a selectively
unlockable cover for protecting said electrical connector.
16. A shopping cart handle comprising: a housing having a first
portion and second portion connected to the first portion and
having a display; electronic circuitry in said housing including a
processor for generating images on said display; said housing
including an electrical connector operably connected to said
processor for connecting an external memory device to said
processor; and at least one grip member connected to said housing
and to a shopping cart.
17. The shopping cart handle of claim 16 including a battery
compartment in said housing.
18. The shopping cart handle of claim 16 wherein said first and
second grip portions each include a flared proximal end connected
to said housing.
19. The shopping cart handle of claim 16 including a selectively
unlockable cover protecting said electronic connector.
20. The shopping cart handle of claim 19 including a release for
unlocking the selectively unlockable cover.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/675,849 filed Apr. 29, 2005,
the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to an electronic handle
for a wheeled cart, and more specifically, toward a shopping cart
handle including an electronic module and display for providing a
user with information while shopping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Shopping carts have remained essentially unchanged in form
for many years. Recently, however, with the availability of
inexpensive, compact computing power, attempts have been made to
add small computers to shopping carts to assist users with
shopping. For example, it is known to attach bar code readers to
shopping carts to allow users to perform price checks and/or to
perform a self-check out. One example of such a system is disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,871 to Gupta, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference. However, the Gupta device appears
likely to interfere with proper cart nesting and requires an
electrical contact depending from the bottom of the cart for
recharging which would likely be damaged in moving the cart through
store aisles and/or over curbs in a store parking lot. It is not
believed that systems such as the one disclosed in Gupta have been
widely adopted.
[0004] Related shopper-assisting devices that clip or otherwise
detachably mount to a shopping cart handle are also known. However,
these must be taken from a rack or other storage location by a user
and attached to a cart handle before use. When a shopper reaches
the check-out line, store personnel must detach the unit from the
car and return the unit to a storage and/or charging station or
rely on the customer to perform these actions. It is believed that
these inconveniences have kept such devices from being widely
adopted.
[0005] It would therefore be desirable to provide an electronic
shopper assisting device that is easy to use and maintain and that
does not suffer from the aforementioned drawbacks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Various aspects and features of embodiments of the present
invention will be better understood after a reading of the
following detailed description together with the accompanying
drawings wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cart handle
including an electronic module according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cart handle of FIG.
1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cart handle of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a first activation
device for use with an electronic handle according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a second activation
device for use with an electronic handle according to an embodiment
of the present invention that includes a key for unlocking a slot
in an electronic module;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the activation device of FIG. 5
with its cap removed;
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a slot for receiving the activation
device and key of FIG. 5;
[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates the activation device of FIG. 5 being
received in the slot of FIG. 7;
[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates an electronic handle according to an
embodiment of the present invention used with a cart wheel locking
device wherein the wheel locking device is controlled by an
electronic cart handle;
[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates the wheel locking device of FIG. 9
locking a cart wheel when an activation device is disconnected from
the electronic cart handle;
[0017] FIG. 11 illustrates the wheel locking device of FIG. 9
unlocking a cart wheel when an activation device is inserted into a
slot in the electronic cart handle;
[0018] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the nesting of several
shopping carts which carts include the electronic cart handles of
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of several nested carts that
include the electronic cart handles of FIG. 1 wherein the cart
handles are electrically interconnected for battery recharging;
[0020] FIG. 14 illustrates a plurality of nested carts including a
second embodiment of an electronic cart handle according to the
present invention having batteries being recharged by a corral
having charging rails;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one end of the electronic
cart handle of FIG. 14;
[0022] FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the end of the electronic
cart handle of FIG. 15;
[0023] FIG. 17 schematically illustrates an electronic cart handle
between two charging rails of the corral of FIG. 14;
[0024] FIG. 18 illustrates a third embodiment of an electronic cart
handle in which electrical connectors are integrated with a locking
device for securing adjacent carts to one another;
[0025] FIG. 19 illustrates one of the electrical connectors of FIG.
18 in a housing on an adjacent cart;
[0026] FIG. 20 is a plan view of the connector end of FIG. 19;
[0027] FIG. 21 illustrates a charging rail and guide channel
arrangement for charging the battery of an electronic cart
handle;
[0028] FIG. 22 is a sectional view of an end of the electronic cart
handle and charging rail of FIG. 21;
[0029] FIG. 23 illustrates a first cart handle grip cross
section;
[0030] FIG. 24 illustrates a second cart handle grip cross
section;
[0031] FIG. 25 illustrates a third cart handle grip cross section;
and
[0032] FIG. 26 illustrates an alternate version of the cart handle
and module of FIGS. 1-3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for
purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention
only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIG. 1 illustrates
a cart handle 10 comprising first and second grips 12 extending
from a central housing 14. Central housing 14 includes a display
16, preferably a touch screen display, and a hollow interior for
containing an electronic module or modules, a battery 15,
illustrated in FIG. 17, a circuit board, a bar code reader 17, and
other functional elements discussed herein. Housing 14 includes a
first or front portion 18 formed integrally with grips 12 and a
rear portion 20 mounted to front portion 18 either removably using
fasteners such as screws or via a snap fit, or permanently using
suitable adhesives, for example. When rear portion 20 is removably
mounted, a suitable gasket is provided to ensure an watertight seal
that will at the same time allow the unit to breathe and minimize
condensation build up in the hollow interior of housing 14.
[0034] Grips 12 include gripping portions 21 and join housing 14 at
reinforced portions 22 to increase the strength of handle 10 and to
reduce the likelihood of damage where the grips 12 join housing 14
when the handle is pushed or pulled or when downward pressure is
placed on the housing 14. The gripping portions 21 have a
circumference (or periphery if the grip portion does not have a
circular cross section) of about 3 inches or 8 centimeters over
most of their length to make them comfortable to grip for a user.
Reinforced portions 22 are flared and have a larger circumference
or periphery which increases from the periphery of the gripping
portion 21 to the sidewall of housing 14. As will be appreciated
from FIGS. 1 and 2, the flared reinforced portion 22 surrounds the
gripping portions 21 of grips 12 on all sides so that a cross
section of the gripping portion 21 projected toward housing 14 will
pass through without intersecting the largest circumference or
periphery of reinforced portions 22.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 26, housing 14 may optionally include
a ratchet mechanism 29 to allow the angle of housing 14 and thus of
screen 16 to be changed. Preferably, the ratchet mechanism 29
allows housing 14 to be pivoted until screen 16 faces a child seat
in the cart so that, for example, videos could be displayed on
screen 16 to entertain children while shopping. The ratchet
mechanism could be provided at any point along the length of
gripping portions 21 of grips 12 or, with a somewhat modified
housing 14, not shown, at the interface of grips 12 and housing 14
or inside housing 14.
[0036] Grip portions 12 are formed to have the greatest length
required for a standard shopping cart and can be cut to shorter
lengths for smaller carts. The gripping portions 21 of grips 12 can
have various cross sections such as the round cross section
illustrated in FIG. 23, the generally ovate cross section of FIG.
24 and the kidney shaped cross section of FIG. 25. While gripping
portions 21 are described herein as being integrally formed with
front portion 18 of housing 14, they can alternately be formed
separately from housing 14 and connected thereto in a suitable
manner. Alternately, for existing carts having handles that are not
readily removable, housing 14 can be provided with suitable clamps
or other fasteners to connect housing 14 and the electronic modules
contained therein to an existing shopping cart handle in a
permanent or semi-permanent manner.
[0037] The housing and internal components are adapted to operate
over a wide range of temperatures, -45.degree. C. to 70.degree. C.,
for example, so that the device can, for example, be stored
outdoors in both extreme winter conditions and in direct sunlight
in summer, and be resistant to both moisture and the impacts that
are likely to be suffered by a shopping cart handle. The grips and
housing are preferably formed from a suitable thermoplastic
material.
[0038] Battery 15 is rechargeable and should be capable of
operating the electronic modules for approximately 16 hours before
recharging.
[0039] Housing 14 includes an opening 24 for receiving a modular
bar code reader 17 and an opening 28 providing access to an
internal I/O port 30, illustrated in FIG. 8, for example, which in
the presently preferred embodiment comprises a USB port. Hardware
contained within housing 14 will perform various functions and
provide various displays on screen 16 which functions and displays
do not comprise a part of the present disclosure.
[0040] The hardware in housing 14 may be activated by inserting an
activation device into port 30. In the present embodiment, the
activation device comprises a solid state storage device 32 having
a USB interface compatible with port 30. Alternately, the
electronic module could be activated using bar code reader 17 to
scan a bar code carried by an authorized user--on a customer
loyalty card, for example. When storage device 32 is used,
information about a user on device 32 can optionally be made
available to a processor in housing 14 and/or transmitted to a
central server in wireless communication with electronic cart
handle 10.
[0041] Storage device 32 can be used to receive and store
information from electronic cart handle 10 or a server in
communication with the handle which information a user may later
access using, for example, a home computer. Where privacy is an
issue, device 32 may merely contain a serial number to identify the
device 32 to a secure server in communication with the electronic
module. In such cases, no personal information would be stored on
device 32. This would substantially prevent the disclosure of
private information if a device 32 is lost. For purposes of the
present disclosure, it is merely necessary to know that an
authorized user can be identified to a processor in housing 14 with
either device 32 or a bar code on a customer loyalty card, and that
a processor in the electronic module, which may for example be in
wireless communication with a server and/or the internet, can
provide information to the user of the electronic cart handle 10
based on previously stored preferences.
[0042] Memory device 32 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and includes a
body portion 34 in which a suitable compact flash or other
solid-state memory is contained, a USB connector 36 insertable into
drive 30, a cap 38 and a ring 40 or similar arrangement to allow
device 32 to be connected to a key ring.
[0043] An alternate memory device 42 is illustrated in FIG. 5.
Memory device 42, in addition to a body portion 44 holding solid
state memory, a USB connector 46, a cap 48 and a ring 50, includes
a key member 52 having a predetermined shape, which is a cross in
the present embodiment. The shape of key member 52 matches the
shape of a key opening 54, illustrated in FIG. 7, in a housing
adjacent port 30. Key member 52 fits into key opening 54 when
memory device 42 is used. Key member 52 projects further from body
44 than connector 46 and thus enters key opening 54 and actuates a
release mechanism 56 which unlocks doors 58 over port 30. This
arrangement makes it less likely that foreign objects will be
inserted into drive 30 and makes it more difficult for a user to
use an unauthorized device in USB port 30. Key 52 may be
retractable, with a thumb slide 53, for example, to make USB drive
30 usable with standard USB ports, such as the ports found on a
user's home computer.
[0044] In addition to activating electronic modules in housing 14,
the insertion of memory device 32 or 42 can perform a security
function as well. As illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, the cart 59 to
which electronic handle 10 is attached may include a wheel locking
arrangement for securing the wheels 60 of shopping carts. These
wheel locking devices may comprise a solenoid 62 for selectively
driving a rod 64 into an opening in wheel 60 to substantially
prevent wheel 60 from turning. Solenoid 62 is controlled by signals
from the processor in housing 14 and only unlocks wheels 60 when an
authorized memory device 32, 42 is inserted into port 30.
[0045] FIG. 12 illustrates a plurality of nested shopping carts 70
equipped with electronic handles 10. The size and position of
housing 14 substantially prevents the handles 10 from interfering
with cart nesting when mounted on a variety of standard carts. In
addition, electronic cart handle 10 is preferably mounted so that
display 16 makes an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the
horizontal to improve visibility and minimize glare, while not
interfering with the use of a child seat in the cart or with cart
nesting.
[0046] FIG. 13 illustrates a daisy chain arrangement for recharging
batteries 15 contained within housing 14 of a plurality of nested
carts 80, 82, 84. As will be apparent from these figures, each
housing 14 includes a power cord 86, a power outlet 88 and a power
LED 90 which lights when power is being supplied to the cart on
which LED 90 is mounted. The power cord 86 on first cart 80 is
attached to a suitable DC power source 92 (such as a transformer
connected to an AC power source), the power cord 86 of second cart
82 plugs into power outlet 88 of the first cart 80, and the power
cord 86 of third cart 84 plugs into power outlet 88 of second cart
82. LED's 90 on each cart turn on when that cart is connected to a
source of electric power. In this manner, it can readily be
determined whether all carts in a nested series are being
recharged. This arrangement is best suited for a last-in first-out
arrangement of carts and therefore is primarily intended for
situations wherein groups of carts are connected and fully charged,
overnight, for example, before being used by purchasers. In an
alternate arrangement, each of the plurality of nested carts could
be plugged individually into a power source until fully charged.
This would allow for the carts that have been charging the longest
to be removed from a series of carts first, over the course of a
business day.
[0047] FIG. 14 illustrates a cart corral 100 having first and
second rails 102 each of which is provided with an electrically
conductive charging rail 104, best seen in FIG. 17, connected to a
power source 103. Corral 100 includes first and second angled guide
members 106 for guiding a cart into the corral. Electrical contacts
108 on the ends of grip portions 12 make electrical contact with
these charging rails to recharge a battery 15 inside housing 14.
The contacts 108 may alternately be formed in separate end caps 107
which can be attached to the grip portions 12 after grip portions
12 are cut to a proper length. Either contacts 108 or charging
rails 104 may be flexible or displaceable to ensure a good
electrical connection between contacts 108 and charging rail 104
even when the separation between rails 102 and or the separation
between the ends of handle 10 is not constant. Alternately, end
caps 107 can be telescopically mounted within handle grip portions
12 and spring biased away from one another to accommodate
variations in the separation between the charging rails. Corral 100
may further includes hinged flaps 112 or similar structures to
ensure that carts pass through the corral in a single direction and
that the cart that has been charging for the longest period time is
removed first to provide for first in first out recharging.
[0048] FIG. 18 illustrates a charging system integrated into a
daisy chain cart security system. In such a security system, nested
carts are secured by inserting a member 114 chained to one cart
into a slot 116 on an adjacent cart. The member 114 may be released
by inserting a coin or token to release a single cart. The coin or
token is returned when the cart is returned to the nested line of
carts after use. An example of such a daisy chain locking system
(which does not include the electrical charging system of the
present invention) is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,282 to
Lenader, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0049] As illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, member 114 includes a
hasp 115 that connects to a locking mechanism in slot 116 and
electrical contacts 118 that engage electrical contacts 120 in slot
116 to electrically connect two carts. Electrical contacts 120 in
slot 116 are in turn connected by wire 121 to the electrical
contacts 118 of a member chained to that cart which can be inserted
into a slot 116 of an adjacent cart in a similar manner to
electrically connect and mutually secure a plurality of nested
carts in series.
[0050] FIG. 21 illustrates a recharging system that comprises a
single rail 130, mounted, for example on a wall 132. Rail 130
includes a channel 133 in which a pair of spaced electrical
contacts 134 are mounted, one above the other for making electrical
contact with a pair of vertically projecting electrical contacts
136 on the end of a cart handle 138. A guide channel 140 is
provided on the ground adjacent rail 130 to help guide the cart
wheels and properly position cart handle 138 with respect to rail
130. This arrangement is space-efficient and allows for the
recharging of a battery through a single end of a cart handle.
[0051] The present invention has been described herein in terms of
several preferred embodiments. Obvious additions and modifications
will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts upon a
reading of the foregoing description. It is intended that all such
obvious modifications and additions be included within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *