EP0770014A4 - Construction de chariot et systeme d'identification - Google Patents

Construction de chariot et systeme d'identification

Info

Publication number
EP0770014A4
EP0770014A4 EP95926335A EP95926335A EP0770014A4 EP 0770014 A4 EP0770014 A4 EP 0770014A4 EP 95926335 A EP95926335 A EP 95926335A EP 95926335 A EP95926335 A EP 95926335A EP 0770014 A4 EP0770014 A4 EP 0770014A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
trolley
basket
identification
trolley according
interlocking means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95926335A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0770014A1 (fr
Inventor
Leon Keith Ernst
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tec-Carte International Ptylimited
TEC CARTE INTERNATIONAL Pty LI
Original Assignee
Tec-Carte International Ptylimited
TEC CARTE INTERNATIONAL Pty LI
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AUPM7155A external-priority patent/AUPM715594A0/en
Priority claimed from AUPM8645A external-priority patent/AUPM864594A0/en
Application filed by Tec-Carte International Ptylimited, TEC CARTE INTERNATIONAL Pty LI filed Critical Tec-Carte International Ptylimited
Publication of EP0770014A1 publication Critical patent/EP0770014A1/fr
Publication of EP0770014A4 publication Critical patent/EP0770014A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
    • B62B5/04—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
    • B62B5/0404—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement automatic
    • B62B5/0423—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement automatic braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
    • B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
    • B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
    • B62B3/1408—Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
    • G07F7/0618—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by carts
    • G07F7/0663—Constructional details of the housing of the coin or token activated lock, or of mounting of the coin-lock on the trolley or cart
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B2501/00—Manufacturing; Constructional features
    • B62B2501/06—Materials used
    • B62B2501/065—Plastics

Definitions

  • This invention relates to trolleys and carts, for example shopping trolleys of the kind provided for use in supermarkets.
  • An object of the invention is the provision of such a trolley or the like which can be manufactured principally from plastics material and which can be shipped in a knocked down state and assembled with simple tools.
  • the trolley In its preferred form the trolley cannot be disassembled without damage once it has been assembled.
  • the trolley or the like includes a number of components (which are not necessarily all of the components of the trolley) which are provided with interlocking means such that upon the assembly of the last component with the preceding components none of the preceding components may be disassembled. These components may be designed so that they must be assembled in a given order.
  • the last component referred to is permanently fixed to another component so that the assembly of these components cannot be disassembled.
  • the invention resides in a trolley including a basket, the basket being assembled from generally planar units comprising a bottom, sides and a front panel each of which is formed by moulding in plastics material.
  • the base is provided with interlocking means and the sides are provided on their lower edges with complementary interlocking means.
  • the sides are provided with interlocking means on their forward edges and the front panel is provided with complementary interlocking means on its sides for engagement with the ends of the basket sides.
  • the front panel is provided with interlocking means engagable with complementary interlocking means on the basket bottom.
  • interlocking means are such that the basket cannot be disassembled other than in the reverse order to that of its assembly.
  • the base of the trolley preferably includes a pair of side rails and a joining plate, each being substantially planar and moulded of plastics material, the rails and the plate being provided with complementary interlocking means for the assembly of the base.
  • the trolley incorporates identification means, for example, a scannable device, and the supermarket or other location of its use is equipped at salient locations with identification responsive apparatus, for example interrogating devices, responsive to the presence of a trolley, for various purposes as will be described below.
  • identification responsive apparatus for example interrogating devices
  • the invention also resides in identification apparatus associated with a space in which trolleys of this kind are deployed, responding to the identification of a trolley in a chosen area within said space to cause the conduct of a financial transaction in relation to the identified trolley.
  • Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trolley
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of the trolley
  • Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the trolley;
  • Fig. 4 is a plan view of the basket base;
  • Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the basket base
  • Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the basket base
  • Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a basket side
  • Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 ?
  • Fig. 8a is a partly sectioned plan view of the basket side;
  • Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the basket end panel;
  • Fig. 10 is a plan view of the basket end panel
  • Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the end panel
  • Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a rear panel and child's seat unit
  • Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of the rear panel unit
  • Fig. 14 is a plan view of the rear panel unit
  • Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a side rail
  • Fig. 16 is a plan view of the side rail
  • Fig. 17 is a plan view of a front plate
  • Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the front plate
  • Fig. 19 is a plan view and end elevation of a handle
  • Fig. 20 is an end and side elevation of a typical wheel
  • Fig. 21 is a schematic supermarket layout.
  • the illustrated trolley includes a basket assembled from 6 major components: a basket base 30, a pair of basket sides 31, a front panel 32, and a hinged rear panel with integral child's seat 33, and a handle 34.
  • the basket is mounted on a base unit which consists of a pair of side rails 35, a front plate 36, front wheels 37 and rear wheels 38.
  • the basket and the base unit are tapered in all relevant planes to enable the trolley to nest with other similar trolleys in the manner well known in the prior art.
  • the base unit is assembled by joining the side rails 35 at the front of the trolley by means of the front plate 36.
  • the side rails 35 include forward blade portions 39 provided with downwardly directed barbed detents 40, and the sides of the front plate 36 are provided with slots 41 dimensioned to receive the blade portions 39.
  • the base of the slots 41 is penetrated by apertures 42 dimensioned to receive the detents 40, the barbs of which snap into engagement with the underneath surface 43 of the front plate.
  • Moulded into the front plate are bosses 44 for the reception of the upper bearing assemblies 44 of the front wheels 37.
  • Bosses 45 are provided at the rear of the side rails for the reception of the upper bearing assemblies of the identical rear wheels 38.
  • the base unit is completed by fixing to it the basket base 30, which will therefore now be described.
  • the basket base consists of a bottom 45 with a pattern of apertures 46 extending over most of its area, and a raised wall 47 around the sides and front. From the rear part of the underneath side of the bottom on each side thereof extends a pair of downwardly directed walls 48. Between these pairs of walls extends a lateral reinforcing rib 49. The lower free edges of the walls 48 are provided with opposed inwardly directed flanges 50, and are joined by bridging walls 51 and 52.
  • the basket bottom 45 has a through slot 53 in register with the space between each pair of walls 48.
  • FIG. 15 and 16 will show the corresponding elements of the side rails 39, which comprise an upright wall 54 the width of which corresponds to the spacing of the walls 48, slotted at 55 and 56 to receive the bridging walls 51 and 52.
  • a slot 57 dimensioned to receive the flanges 50.
  • One face of the wall 54 is relieved at 58 for a distance and in a pattern which respectively correspond to the thickness and shape of a wedge 59 which has a flange 60 extending from its upper edge.
  • the wall 54 in the relieved portion 58 is provided with blind holes 61 in a pattern corresponding to barbs 62 provided on the inner surface of the wedge 59.
  • the basket base is thus assembled with each side rail 35 by forcing the wall 48 down over the wall 54 with the walls 51 and 52 located in the slots 55 and 56, until the flanges 50 snap into the slot 57.
  • the wedge 59 is then driven down from the upper side of the base through the slot 53. As it is driven home, the barbs 62 locate in the holes 61 locking the wedge in position, and thus concealing the manner in which the components have been fixed.
  • the side walls 46 of the basket base 30 are provided with a series of slots 63 of inverted L configuration, providing an entry region 64 and a lip 65.
  • the basket sides 30 consist of panels 66 provided with a pattern of apertures 67 and thin wall sections 68 surrounded by a decorative flanged border section 69. At the upper rear corner there is provided a handle-mounting formation 70. Along the bottom edge of the basket sides is a series of locking feet 71, each having a toe portion 72 directed towards the rear of the trolley. Similar locking feet 73 are provided on the front edge of the basket sides, with toe portions 74 in this case directed upwardly.
  • the feet 72 are dimensioned to fit the slots 63, and each side is assembled with its respective side rail by locating the feet within the slots, and driving the side rearwardly to force the toe portions underneath the lips 65 thereby locking the side in place on the rail.
  • the front panel 32 is similarly provided with side walls 75 and slots 76 similarly shaped to provide an entry portion 77 and lip 78, so the front panel can be assembled with the two sides in the same manner as the sides were attached to the side rails.
  • the lower edge of the front panel 32 is provided with a downwardly directed bead 79, and the front portion of the wall 46 of the basket base 30 is provided with an upwardly facing groove 80 the part-cylindrical cross-section of which is complementary to that of the bead 79.
  • the bead 79 is driven into the groove 80.
  • the groove 80 is provided with a quantity of adhesive, so the bead 79 is immovably held in the groove 80 after assembly of the trolley. This will prevent disengagement of the feet 72 from the slots 63, and in turn prevent the removal of the sides 31, since they must be moved forward to enable the disengagement of the feet 71 from the slots 63. Simply by permanently fixing at one location, therefore, disassembly of the basket has been prevented.
  • the assembly of the basket is completed by the attachment of the handle 34 and the rear panel and child's seat unit 33.
  • the latter is moulded in one piece and provides a contoured seat 81 which provides a degree of comfort superior to that obtained by prior art designs.
  • the upper edge of the unit is formed with hand grips 82 and a moulded support bar 83 which extends to form support axles 84 having enlarged ends.
  • the rear panel and seat unit 33 is mounted by passing the support axles 84 into keyhole-shaped slots 85 provided in the handle mounting formations 70, and allowing the axles to rest at the foot of these slots.
  • the handle 34 may then be mounted.
  • each end of the handle has a cylindrical portion 86 backed by a flange 87, the diameter and depth of the portion 86 corresponding to those of a recess 88 in the mounting formation 70.
  • End caps 89 similarly include a cylindrical portion 90 and flange 91, the portion 90 mating with a recess 92 in the outer face of the formation 70.
  • the handle is fixed in place by fastening devices (not shown) fixing the end caps 89 to the handle through the wall 93 which separates the recesses 88 and 92.
  • the rear panel and seat unit 33 is free to pivot about the axles 84 so that the unit can swing upwardly and forwardly to accommodate the basket of a nesting trolley driven in from the rear.
  • the entire trolley can thus be assembled by an unskilled person using only a spanner for mounting the wheels on the base and a mallet for the assembly of the major components.
  • Trolleys according to the invention can thus be shipped and stored in their unassembled state, enabling a significant reduction in shipping and storage costs. Once assembled, however, the trolley cannot be knocked down, for example by a would-be thief, without destroying it. All the parts other than the wheel bearings can be manufactured by injection moulding in plastics. Apart from the manufacturing advantages which flow from this, the absence of metal enables other advances.
  • the trolley can be provided with a transponder 95 embedded, for example, in the panel 94 in the front panel of the basket.
  • the transponder 95 either of the active or passive interrogated type, is encoded with a unique code identifying the trolley, and preferably also identifying the owner.
  • transponder can enable the efficient automation of billing and refund of trolley usage fees, for example by debiting the customer's transaction at the checkout and enabling a refund to be obtained and recorded against the trolley at a remote point without the need for troublesome mechanical trolley-handling refund devices.
  • staff can obtain information as to the shopping habits of customers to assist in the planning of the supermarket layout, the location of promotional material, and in other marketing , decisions.
  • Fig. 21 shows a schematic layout of a supermarket incorporating this aspect of the invention.
  • the supermarket includes customer and trolley entry points 100 and 101, aisles 102, peripheral cabinets 103, fresh food stands 104, and checkout points 105.
  • Trolleys of the kind already described are equipped with identification chips 95, and interrogating devices 106 are located as shown at salient points in the supermarket, including the entry and exit points, and the ends of the aisles. Interrogating devices are also positioned at the entry and exit to the building in which the supermarket is located, and the areas of access to the car park.
  • a trolley return area is provided, with a trolley fee refund machine also equipped with an interrogator, ensuring that refunds are made on the return only of trolleys in respect of which a charge has been made at one of the checkout points 105, or alternatively only in respect of a trolley identified as belonging to the supermarket in question. Because the trolley is identified once it is in the proximity of the return station, there is no need for mechanical return equipment.
  • the interrogators 106 are connected with a data collection system (not shown) incorporating software for analysis of the recordals of passing of a given trolley to provide management information of the kind already described.
  • point of sale promotions may be made by audio or video equipment triggered by the presence of a trolley detected by interrogators 106.
  • An interrogator 106 is located at a sales point for a manned specialty products counter 109, enabling purchases of goods there to be recorded against the customer's trolley for subsequent processing at the checkout.
  • the invention is not limited to use in supermarket trolleys, but will also find application in other areas such as airport luggage trolleys and in industrial applications.

Abstract

Un chariot, utilisé par exemple dans un magasin, est construit avec des éléments plastiques moulés pratiquement plats, ce qui permet de le ranger de le transporter à l'état démonté. Le volume utile est constitué de panneaux latéraux (31), d'un panneau inférieur (30), d'un panneau avant (32) et d'un panneau arrière (33) qui comprend un siège d'enfant moulé intégré, ainsi que d'une poignée, alors que la base de ce chariot est formée de pouterelles latérales (35) et d'une plaque de liaison avant (36). Le chariot est assemblé par enchevêtrement de façon qu'une fois chaque élément monté, on ne peut le démonter tant que le dernier élément n'est pas lui-même démonté. Ce chariot peut comporter un dispositif d'identification scannable, et un système réagissant à l'identification du chariot fournit des informations sur le déplacement de ce dernier et autorise une transaction financière.
EP95926335A 1994-07-29 1995-07-28 Construction de chariot et systeme d'identification Withdrawn EP0770014A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPM7155/94 1994-07-29
AUPM7155A AUPM715594A0 (en) 1994-07-29 1994-07-29 A trolley or the like
AUPM8645/94 1994-10-06
AUPM8645A AUPM864594A0 (en) 1994-10-06 1994-10-06 Shopping trolley with identification system
PCT/AU1995/000463 WO1996004161A1 (fr) 1994-07-29 1995-07-28 Construction de chariot et systeme d'identification

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0770014A1 EP0770014A1 (fr) 1997-05-02
EP0770014A4 true EP0770014A4 (fr) 1999-12-01

Family

ID=25644726

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95926335A Withdrawn EP0770014A4 (fr) 1994-07-29 1995-07-28 Construction de chariot et systeme d'identification

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0770014A4 (fr)
CA (1) CA2195754A1 (fr)
NZ (1) NZ290091A (fr)
WO (1) WO1996004161A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109131515A (zh) * 2018-09-06 2019-01-04 杭州纳戒科技有限公司 购物车及购物车管理系统

Families Citing this family (12)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19718368A1 (de) * 1996-05-05 1997-11-06 Linde & Wiemann Gmbh Kg Einkaufswagen aus Faserverbundwerkstoff
ES1035998U (es) * 1996-12-23 1997-07-01 Policad Ind S L Carro de supermercados
EP1078338A1 (fr) * 1998-05-09 2001-02-28 Tagga Ltd. Surveillance de marchandises et de clients dans un magasin de vente au detail
WO2002006107A1 (fr) * 2000-07-14 2002-01-24 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Gmbh Caddie superposable
CA2366158C (fr) 2001-12-21 2008-01-29 Les Industries Rondi Inc. Chariot d'approvisionnement modulaire en plastique
DE202005001770U1 (de) * 2005-02-03 2006-06-14 Sonnendorfer, Horst Einkaufswagen
EP1693809A1 (fr) * 2005-02-17 2006-08-23 All4Retail SA Chariot de supermarché et système de suivi pour un chariot de supermarché
USD530478S1 (en) 2005-09-19 2006-10-17 Target Brands, Inc. Shopping cart
DE202006002938U1 (de) * 2006-02-22 2007-07-05 Sonnendorfer, Horst Einkaufswagen mit Transponder
DE102006043523B3 (de) * 2006-09-12 2008-01-24 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Gmbh Einkaufswagen
DE102006043522B3 (de) * 2006-09-12 2008-01-24 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Gmbh Transportwagen
DE102018111423C5 (de) * 2018-05-14 2023-04-27 Carl Freudenberg Kg Reinigungssystem

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US3614133A (en) * 1970-02-13 1971-10-19 Edward Ganci Shopping cart
US4097056A (en) * 1977-01-03 1978-06-27 Paul Eugene Castellano Modular part cart
US4338587A (en) * 1979-02-23 1982-07-06 Chiappetti Arthur B Toll collection system
US5196846A (en) * 1980-02-13 1993-03-23 Brockelsby William K Moving vehicle identification system
DE3501033A1 (de) * 1985-01-15 1986-07-17 ANT Nachrichtentechnik GmbH, 7150 Backnang Fahrzeugverkehrsmessung
AU8198387A (en) * 1986-12-01 1988-06-02 William Gregory Convine Foldable shopping trolley
US5044634A (en) * 1988-03-21 1991-09-03 Yardmark, Inc. Golf information system
DE3932550C2 (de) * 1989-09-29 1996-03-28 Loos Heinz Ruediger Leitsystem zur drahtlosen Übermittlung von individuellen Informationen
JPH04920A (ja) * 1990-04-18 1992-01-06 Toshiba Corp 車両検知装置
FR2684346A1 (fr) * 1991-12-02 1993-06-04 Paly Jean Luc Procede de fabrication d'un chariot en matiere synthetique.
US5255930A (en) * 1992-03-10 1993-10-26 Unr Industries, Inc. Shopping cart having plastic basket
FR2711001B1 (fr) * 1993-10-08 1995-12-29 Louis Pacchiani Procédé et dispositif d'identification et de localisation de mobiles se déplaçant dans un lieu donné en vue d'analyse statistique.

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
No further relevant documents disclosed *
See also references of WO9604161A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109131515A (zh) * 2018-09-06 2019-01-04 杭州纳戒科技有限公司 购物车及购物车管理系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2195754A1 (fr) 1996-02-15
NZ290091A (en) 1998-09-24
EP0770014A1 (fr) 1997-05-02
WO1996004161A1 (fr) 1996-02-15

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