AU2013304945B2

AU2013304945B2 - Handle for a shopping trolley

Info

Publication number: AU2013304945B2
Application number: AU2013304945A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer; Franz Wieth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-22
Filing date: 2013-08-22
Publication date: 2016-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-08-22
Also published as: ES2639771T3; CA2882685A1; IL237316B; EP2888148A1; KR101748383B1; PL2888148T3; CN104822579A; KR20150041076A; EP2888148B1; WO2014029844A1; CN109987129A; CA2882685C; DE102012107754A1; IL237316A0; AU2013304945A1

Abstract

Handle for a shopping trolley, wherein a deposit lock (6) is secured to the handle (1), said deposit lock (6) having an opening (7) for inputting the deposit, and wherein the handle (1) comprises a receptacle (9) for a mobile telecommunications terminal (8), wherein the receptacle (9) for the mobile telecommunications terminal (8) is arranged on the side of the handle (1) facing away from the shopping trolley, in front of the deposit lock (6).

Description

HANDLE FOR A SHOPPING TROLLEY

The invention relates to a handle for a shopping trolley, wherein a deposit lock is secured to the handle, said deposit lock having an opening for inputting the deposit, and wherein the handle comprises a receptacle for a telecommunications terminal. The invention furthermore relates to an arrangement for covering an opening for inputting a deposit.

Manually movable shopping trolleys are commonly used in a store, thus in a public space and are provided there at collection points. They are used by constantly changing persons, who utilize them so as to be able to transport the goods selected in the store. After shopping and reloading the purchased goods into transport bags or into the motor vehicle, which is used to drive, they no longer need the shopping trolley and could simply leave it behind thoughtlessly.

To prevent that the shopping trolleys are not returned to one of the collection points after shopping or are even used for transporting the purchased goods home, the handles of the shopping trolleys are provided with a deposit lock. In the case of a handle, which is equipped in this manner, the customer must insert a deposit into the deposit lock. Only then can the key, which is secured in the deposit lock, be removed and the shopping trolley can be removed from the collection point. The customer gets his deposit back only if he returns the shopping trolley back into the collection point after finishing his shopping and connects the deposit lock to one of the chained keys again. The customers have accepted this procedure and have become used to it.

In the meantime, many people almost always carry a modern mobile telecommunications terminal, a so-called smartphone.

Many functions, which are available via the smartphone, are also useful for shopping. In addition to the desire for always being able to be reached, various applications, which run on said smartphones, can support the customer when shopping. Apps are available, which replace shopping lists, compare prices, list ingredients of certain products or even support the payment process. The selected goods can thereby be scanned very easily via barcode by means of the camera of the smartphone.

It goes without saying that the customer also always wants his smartphone within reach or operate it, respectively, while shopping. At the same time, however, he needs both hands for taking goods, which are of interest to him, from the shelf or for being able to place them into the shopping trolley, respectively. In addition, he must also steer and move the shopping trolley again and again while shopping.

To make it easier for the customer to operate his smartphone while shopping, handles are known, to which a holder for the smartphone is fastened. The customer thus has his hands free and can at the same time always reach his smartphone, which is located in the holder. However, this solution, which is good per se, however, has a disadvantage, because the customer is constantly subject to being distracted by the actions required by him while shopping and while loading the goods.

It is not unusual that a customer forgets goods in the shopping trolley or leaves his key on the roof of the car during loading. It also does happen that, when returning the shopping trolley, the customer forgets to remove his smartphone, which is located in the holder. In addition to the loss of the device, which is still quite expensive, one thus also suffers the loss of the personal data stored on the smartphone.

It is the task of the instant invention to propose a handle for a shopping trolley, which provides a person using the shopping trolley with an additional incentive to remove his smartphone, which is secured to the handle, after shopping again .

This task is solved by means of a handle according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the handle are cited in the subclaims. Claim 10 provides an arrangement of handle according to the invention and mobile telecommunications terminal. A significant basic idea of the invention is to use the returning of the shopping trolley to the collection point for removing the deposit, which the customer has meanwhile gotten used to and has internalized, so as to encourage the customer to remove his smartphone from the receptacle on the handle. For this purpose, the receptacle for the mobile telecommunications terminal is positioned on the handle in such a manner that said receptacle is arranged on the side of the handle facing away from the shopping trolley, in front of the deposit lock. On the side of the handle facing away from the shopping trolley, the deposit lock has the opening for the deposit, so that the receptacle for the mobile telecommunications terminal is arranged in front of the opening, from the perspective of the customer using the handle to push the shopping trolley. From the perspective of the customer taking hold of the handle, a mobile telecommunications terminal secured in the receptacle is thus positioned between deposit lock and customer. It thus covers the opening of the deposit lock. In this position, the mobile telecommunications terminal prevents or at least obstructs access to the deposit. By means of the arrangement according to the invention of the receptacle in front of the deposit lock, the customer is encouraged to remove his mobile telecommunications terminal, which is located in the receptacle, so as to also be able to remove the deposit. The removal of the deposit, which the customer is used to, is thus linked to the removal of the smartphone from the holder on the handle.

It is advantageous, if the receptacle for the mobile telecommunications terminal is embodied by means of a depression formed in the handle. The depression can already be embodied in response to the shaping of the handle. The walls, which form the receptacle, are thus an elementary part of the handle. A subsequent assembly of the receptacle on the handle, which would otherwise be required, can thus be forgone.

On the side facing away from the shopping trolley, the depression has an indented recess in a preferred embodiment. The indented recess provides for the operation of the buttons, which are arranged in the lower area of the control panel of the smartphone. When the smartphone is inserted into the depression, it would not be possible to access this part of the control panel.

It is particularly advantageous, when the indented recess is arranged centrically in the wall of the depression. In this case, the smartphone is secured reliably in the depression, but the indent provides for the operation of the button, which is arranged on the bottom and centrally in the case of most smartphones.

It is advantageous, when the two longitudinal walls of the receptacle are arranged at an angle to the vertical, so that a mobile telecommunications terminal, which is secured in the receptacle, is tilted towards the user of the shopping trolley, who stands in front of the handle. A smartphone, which is oriented in this manner, can be operated and read particularly easily.

Preferably, the receptacle is arranged at a horizontal distance of between 1 and 2 cm to the deposit lock. In the case of this small distance between receptacle and deposit lock, a removal of the deposit is only possible, if the customer first removes the mobile telecommunications terminal. However, the proposed distance is be dimensioned so as to be sufficient for being able to form the wall of the receptacle on the deposit lock so as to be stable, which also takes the durability of the handle into account.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the receptacle and the deposit lock are integrated into a formation, which is provided on the handle for at least one functional element, in particular an advertising display. In addition to the actual grip, many handles have separate areas, which are embodied specifically for receiving functional elements. These areas can already be formed in response to the production of the handle or can be fastened thereto subsequently. Advertising displays are flat functional elements, which are readily provided on handles, so as to be able to present the customer with new or particularly attractive offers. The arrangement according to the invention of deposit lock and receptacle can be integrated into such a formation without further effort.

Preferably, the receptacle comprises a displaceably supported limiting element, which is arranged laterally in the receptacle. The displaceably supported limiting element provides for the secure lateral securing of smartphones of varying widths in the receptacle. The receptacle, which is embodied in this manner, is thus not only suitable for a certain model of a smartphone, but can accommodate and secure models of varying sizes.

It is advantageous, if the displaceably supported limiting element is a spring-loaded slide. Such a slide pushes the smartphone, which is inserted into the receptacle, against the opposite lateral wall of the receptacle and because the smartphone rests against the lateral wall of the receptacle, said slide provides the reliable securing of said smartphone even in response to impacts directed laterally against the slide.

In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle encompasses a fastening element on its longitudinal side, by means of which a mobile telecommunications terminal, which is inserted into the receptacle, is secured. The fastening element acting on the longitudinal side, makes it possible to adapt the receptacle to smartphones of varying size or height, respectively. It is advantageous, if the fastening element can be locked in its closed position, for example via a latching mechanism. Preferably, a lockable fastening element has a button for unlocking the element and thus for enabling the smartphone.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fastening element is an eccentrically supported roller. Such a roller, which protrudes on the longitudinal side of the receptacle, is set into rotation in response to inserting the smartphone into the receptacle. Its eccentric support has the result that the roller is displaced into the receptacle by means of the rotation. The smartphone is thereby pushed against the longitudinal side of the receptacle opposite the roller and is secured reliably in this manner. It is advantageous, if the rotation of the roller takes place against a spring force. The spring force then supports the enabling of the smartphone in response to removing it from the receptacle.

The arrangement according to the invention for covering an opening for inputting a deposit comprises a mobile telecommunications terminal, which is secured in the receptacle of a handle according to one of the described embodiments . A preferred embodiment of the handle according to the invention and an arrangement with this handle and a smartphone will be explained in more detail by means of the following figures.

In the figures:

Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of the handle before the smartphone is inserted into the receptacle thereof,

Figure 2 shows a perspective schematic illustration of the handle with smartphone, which is inserted into the receptacle, and

Figure 3 shows a partial section through the

arrangement according to Figure 2 along line A

Figure 1 shows a handle 1 comprising two grip sections 2, which are in each case arranged laterally on the outside. A formation 3, in which functional elements, which are assigned to the handle 1, are accommodated, is located between the two grip sections 2. The recess 3 is formed in such a manner that, when mounted on the shopping trolley, it has a surface, which is tilted towards the user of the shopping trolley. An advertising display 4, which, due to the tilted surface, can be read well by the user, is arranged centrally in the formation and integrated into the external form thereof. A coin deposit lock 6 is fastened to the formation 3 in an area between a lateral edge 5 of the advertising display 4 and the lateral limitation of the formation 3. On the side facing the user, the coin deposit lock 6 has an opening for inputting a deposit, a so-called coin slot 7. Accordingly, the coin slot 7 is arranged on the side of the coin deposit lock 6 facing away from the shopping trolley. The coin deposit lock 6 is partially integrated in the formation 3, the coin slot 7, however, is freely accessible.

From the perspective of the user, a receptacle 7 for a smartphone 8 is located upstream of the coin deposit lock 6. The receptacle 9 is embodied in the formation 3 as a depression, which is formed rectangular as a whole. Due to the tilted surface of the formation 3, the upstream receptacle 9 is thus not only arranged in front of the coin deposit lock 6, but also below the coin slot 7. The wall 10 of the depression 9 facing away from the coin deposit lock 6 has an indented recess 11.

An arrow P shows the movement, with which the smartphone 8 is inserted into the receptacle 9.

Figure 2 shows the smartphone 8, which is inserted into the receptacle 9. The smartphone 8 covers the coin slot 7, the removal of a deposit is not possible without removing the smartphone 8 from the receptacle 9. The indented recess 11, which is arranged centrically in the longitudinal wall 10 of the receptacle 7 facing away from the coin deposit lock 6 provides the access to the central operating switch 12 of the smartphone 8, which would otherwise be covered by the receptacle 7.

The partial section of Figure 2 along line A shown by Figure 3 shows that the receptacle 7 is formed such that the smartphone secured therein is not secured vertically, but at an angle to the vertical. The angle lines up the smartphone, so that it can be operated or read better, respectively. Provision is made on the bottom of the receptacle 9 for an opening 13, through which liquids can flow out of the receptacle 9. A cup holder can also be provided as a functional element on a handle, in particular on a handle, which is embodied according to the invention. Such a cup holder has a mostly circular opening, in which only a certain size of cups can typically be held securely. To eliminate this disadvantage, an adjusting element is inserted into the opening in a known manner. The adjusting element makes it possible to flexibly adapt the radius of the cup holder opening across a certain area to the diameter of the cup, which is inserted into the cup holder. The adjusting element is secured on a location of the wall of the cup opening. It is spring-mounted and pushes the cup, which is inserted into the cup holder, against the wall of the opening opposite the adjusting element. The inserted cup is secured reliably in the opening in this manner. A back and forth pivoting in an opening, which is actually too large for the cup, and the danger associated therewith that the liquid contained in the cup spills out is prevented. A cup holder on a handle of a shopping trolley is located in a public area and is also entrained, because it is fastened to the handle, when the user of the shopping trolley does not have a beverage when shopping. The mechanism of the adjusting element is freely accessible in the non-used cup holder and invites the user to play, for example while waiting at the cash register. It can happen thereby that the spring is not only spread apart or compressed again and again by means of a back and forth movement of the adjusting element, but is also overstretched by pushing the adjusting element down too strongly. It can even happen thereby that the adjusting element is pushed all the way to the bottom of the cup holder and that the spring breaks. This thoughtless behavior of the shopping trolley user is nothing out of the ordinary, when people handle objects, which are not owned by them.

An overstretched or even broken spring, however, can no longer fulfill its task, the shopping trolley needs to be separated out extensively and the spring or, if applicable, the entire adjusting element, needs to be replaced. To solve this problem it is proposed to equip the adjusting element with an overstretch protection for the spring. A pin-shaped appendage, which is guided in a groove in the cup wall, is suitable for this purpose on the adjusting element. The pin is arranged on the side of the adjusting element, which faces away from the cup. In response to inserting the adjusting element into the cup opening, said pin is threaded into the groove, which is open on the top on the cup edge and which is oriented in the direction of the cup bottom. In response to a movement of the adjusting element, the pin now slides through the groove. A head, the width or diameter, respectively, of which exceeds the width of the groove, is located on an end of the pin, which faces away from the adjusting element. The length of the pin is dimensioned sufficiently, so as to provide for the permitted movement of the adjusting element. Only in response to the danger of an overstretching of the spring, the pin prevents a further movement of the adjusting element in that the head strikes against the side walls of the groove. The spring can thus not be overstretched any longer.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. A handle for a shopping trolley, wherein a deposit lock is secured to the handle, said deposit lock having an opening for inputting the deposit, and wherein the handle comprises a receptacle for a telecommunications terminal, characterized in that the receptacle for the mobile telecommunications terminal is arranged on the side of the handle facing away from the shopping trolley, in front of the deposit lock, and further characterized in that the receptacle for the mobile telecommunications terminal is embodied by means of a depression formed in the handle.

2. The handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the side facing away from the shopping trolley, the receptacle comprises an indented recess, which is in particular arranged centrically.

3. The handle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the longitudinal walls of the receptacle are arranged at an angle to the vertical, so that a mobile telecommunications terminal, which is secured in the receptacle, is tilted towards the user of the shopping trolley, who stands in front of the handle.

4. The handle according to claim 3, characterized in that the receptacle and the deposit lock are integrated into a formation, which is provided on the handle for a functional element, in particular an advertising display .

5. The handle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle comprises a displaceably supported limiting element, which is arranged laterally in the receptacle .

6. The handle according to claim 5, characterized in that the displaceably supported limiting element is a spring-loaded slide.

7 . The handle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on one of its longitudinal walls, the receptacle comprises a fastening element, by means of which a mobile telecommunications terminal, which is located in the receptacle, is secured.

8. The handle according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening element is an eccentrically supported roller.

9. An arrangement for covering an opening for inputting a deposit, comprising a mobile telecommunications terminal, which is secured in the receptacle of a handle according to any one of claims 1 to 8.