FR2641440A3 - Device for calculating and annotating the purchases made by consumers using handling trolleys - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for managing purchases, for consumers using handling trolleys. The invention relates to a device for managing purchases using a trolley comprising a control bar 11 and/or a coin/token deposit unit 12. The device is noteworthy in that it includes at least one specific pocket calculator 4 and at least one pocket-calculator support 1 comprising, on the one hand, means 5/3 for removable connection between the pocket calculator and the support, and, on the other hand, attachment means 13 between the pocket-calculator support between trolley control bar 11 and/or coin/token deposit unit 12. A principal application of the invention is in improving purchasing procedures in shops (stores).

Description

 The invention relates to a device for managing purchases made by Jet consumers in stores and mainly in supermarkets.

 Before addressing the main provisions of the invention, it is necessary to recall the difficulties encountered in the follow-up of purchases by consumers, in particular for a succession of purchases in the same commercial area. The current means consist, for some consumers to use the "traditional" calculators, a "card" of paper and a pencil (or pen) to annotate the purchases to be made and delete them at the time of acquisition.

But this technique results in:
- to make these purchases S two people: one that calculates and
fork, the other filling a handling truck.

- to perform these three operations by one person,
mazes this translates into a systematic setting and research
of these "traditional" means in the pockets or the tote. What
results in a waste of time and is considered a
constraint and inconvenience in the performance of the act of purchase.

In fact, the latter requests from the consumer, a
form is conce: .tration and vigilance that turns out to be incompatible
with the aforementioned constraints.

 Other consumers, who do not use these traditional means, try to memorize their purchases, expressing their disappointment after the checkout for the difference between the planned amount and the actual amount of the cost of purchases effeotuès.

 The invention therefore has several purposes. First, group these tools on a support that arises on the truck, either on the driving bar of the trolley, or on the coin mechanism arranged on the trolley (which allows its "locat # on"). Second, to provide consumers with a calculator whose characteristics allow a greater number of consumers to use it, both in terms of presentation of information, calculation and use logic and Thirdly, to propose to consumers three different types of configuration: one that allows the support to be placed with only the special napkin held on this support, this assembly is fixed on the carriage; the second which allows to arrange on the carriage the suppport (2) with a block of paper fixed on it and a pen; and the third most complete one which makes it possible to arrange on the charity the assembly of the supports (1 + 2> on which are held the special calculator, the pen and the block of paper.

 The objectives of this invention are to enable a greater number of consumers to access the management of their purchases by building a special calculator, and to make this management less burdensome by making them available to them. a support grouping the tools of. purchasing management that leaves the "hands free".

 According to the invention, these tools are characterized in a first embodiment, by a support (1) injected plastic which provides the functions of holding on the bar or on the coin mechanism of the transport carriage and support of the calculator; and by the special calculator itself.

 In a second embodiment, the invention consists of a support t2) plastic which ensures the fixing of a block of paper and the holding of a pen, all held on the caddy.

 Finally, the third embodiment of this invention is characterized by the assembly of the two previous supports to constitute a global and comprehensive tool for managing purchases in supermarkets: support (1) + support (2) + special calculator + block of paper + pen = set which is held firmly on the carriage and which constitutes the whole of the invention.

 This invention makes it possible to offer consumers purchasing management tools of a different level of development, but with a strong complementarity.

 The first level consists of a follow-up, purchase by purchase, of the evolution of the sums involved = support (S) + calculator.

 the second level consists of a "manual" follow-up of the purchases in order to avoid oversights compared to the planned shopping list = support (2) + pad of paper + pen.

 the third level is to combine the first two to provide a complete tool.

 This development of the invention in three different modes of execution, allows consumers to acquire these tools according to their degree of management requirement of their purchases in supermarkets and their financial possibilities.

 The invention has many advantages, including: ease of availability of these tools, quick attachment to the cart, ease of use of the calculator by its ergonomic design, easy to own a complete tool.

 These tools allow greater freedom for consumers in relation to their purchases, greater mental availability in the choice of products, in terms of quality-price ratio, while controlling overall management.

 One of the interesting technical characteristics is that the support (1) and (2) are identical, and in any case allow easy fixing on the carriage.

 Other features of the invention will be further highlighted in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings and drawings, which descriptions and drawings are, of course, given primarily for purposes of illustration.

 Figure 1 shows in perspective, schematically, the essential elements of the race management tool known as current consumption in so-called large-area stores.

 Figure 2 also shows, in perspective, the two different modes of attachment to the carriage of the support and the calculator: either on the bar or on the device or a coin is introduced to dispose of the carriage.

FIG. 3 shows, in perspective, the same modes of fixation but with regard to the support (2) and its manual annotation elements
Figure 4 shows, in perspective, the two levels of elaboration. assembled, brackets <1) and (2) together and held by the piece (7) + calculator + pad of paper + pen, and its fastening system on the coin mechanism.

 Figure 5 shows, in perspective, the same elements together and their fixatio mode on the bar of the carriage.

 Therefore, a consumer who wants to control these purchase costs in the barns surfaces will make the acquisition. a support base (1) and a special calculator (4).

 Fixing this calculator on the base is done by a system sold under the trade mark "Velcro". Indeed, bands of this type of assembly (3/5) will be glued on these two elements (4/1) which will be offered for sale in this form.

 These two elements (4/1) have been dissociated in order to allow the consumers to acquire only the element to be changed: for example, the base support (1) in case of wear, breakage or loading of coiners, bars or design leads trolleys; or the calculator in case of breakage.

 Another consumer, whose requirement is to be sure only to keep items in mind, will be able to acquire a support base (2) equipped with the clip (6) for holding the paper (8) and holding the pen ( 10).

 These two solutions will include in their sales packaging, the part that will allow to assemble them in order to obtain the most complete solution.

 Thus, the consumer wishing to make the purchase of the complete system, will only have to assemble the two identical supports (1/2) through the special part (7), which will be similar to a pin (7). ) fluted in this case, to arrange the special calculator on the support (1) having the contact fastening strips, to pinch the paper block (8> and put the pen (10) in the receptacle (9) provided For this purpose, the operator can arrange this assembly on the carriage bar (11) or on the "coin mechanism" (12), since the invention is designed in such a way that this assembly is maintained and arranged symmetrically regardless of its mode of positioning on the carriage.

The invention consists of:
- a support (l) injected plastic on which strips
snap hooks (3) are glued.

- a special calculator (4) whose characteristics are
detailed below, which has on its underside
fastening strips by contact (5) which allow its maintenance
on the support base (1).

a support (2) made of injected plastic (identical to 1) without the
contact snap strips
- a plastic clip (6) (type drawing clip) which
fulfills the functions of maintaining paper slips (8) and
pen (10) (which will be provided at the time of purchase).

a piece (7) for positioning and assembling the two supports
(1) & RTI ID = 4.3 HE = 5 WI = 5 LX = 788 LY = 1326 <(2)
the mechanical characteristics of the supports and their assembly are studied for the wear and the risks of breakage.

 aesthetic aspect or design will also be particularly neat. Thus, the silouette proposed in the various diagrams in the annexes can be significantly modfied. The fact remains that the stated principles will be preserved and that only the external aspect can be modified.

 This invention is intended for the largest possible number of consumers making purchases in supermarkets or stores that make available to their customers trolleys known as caddies for their shopping.

It addresses as many people as possible because:
- the design of the calculator makes management operations
"accountant" of the act of purchase easier to achieve (as well as
is explained later).

- the possibility between three different levels of management assistance
purchases of consumer goods are proposed.

- the provision on the shopping cart of these systems allows
freedoms that will make the management of the purchase act more
nice that will implement some interactivity in
this task is often considered a "chore".

The special curette can advantageously be carried out as follows:
Characteristics relating to numerical values are given for indication and may be subject to mcd # fications.

 The dimensions of the calculator (4) are, for example 75 mm wide, 110 mm long and 13 mm at its greatest height.

 The layout of the keys of the numerical keyboard can be realized, either in the form of telephone type keyboard, or in the form of traditional type calculator.

 The function keys and numeric keypad are the same size: 8 mm by 15 ma. The longitudinal distance between the centers of 2 keys is 22 mm, the latitudinal distance between the centers of 2 keys is 13 mm.

The special calculator, besides the keys on the numeric keypad, has the following function keys: a "comma" key (28); a touch "correction"
(26); a reminder key (16) of the last item purchased; and a key (15) for returning the total; the calculation keys are reduced and three in number: a "plus" key (29); a "minus" key (31); and an "equal" key (30).

 It is obvious that it includes a button "stop and walk" in itself known. The punctures and the use of these keys are described below.

 The mentions on the keys and on the calculator are of a very clear color your white in order to obtain a relative relative contrast this 1 between the inscription and the support of this inscription.

 Advantageously, the function, calculation, and digital keys are of different colors. These colors will be matt to avoid reflections that can be annoying to reading.

 The keys are organized in such a way that some pressure is needed, as well as a "release" of the key after the predetermined force has been reached. This is to provide additional information of a tactile nature to the user that the order made is indeed taken into consideration by the calculator.

 At the level of the information provided by liquid crystals on the small screen, the size of the indications (digits + signs) is of a height of 10 mm (which allows an error-free reading for a normal view at a distance that can reach 2 m The width of the indications is 6 mm, which places the height-width ratio in the maximum tolerates of 5/3 by the ergonomic standards.The other ergonomic criteria concerning the ratios between the distances between 2 figures, between the height and the width of the line will be respected.

 On this small screen will be shown the indications of the calculation functions in progress.

 The small screen of the calculator is tilted slightly towards the user in order to improve the reading of the displayed indications.

 The small screen will allow purchases up to an amount of 9999.99 FF.

Thus it requires "6 blocks" of liquid crystal for the display of the numbers and 1 reserved for the display of the calculation modes.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown, for which we can provide other variants without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

 Proposals for use scenarios that include all the possibilities of the calculator.

1. Yise on the move:
- slide button on the '% arche' position.

2. Addition:
- price entry:
1
2
o
5
- entering the calculation mode taddition):
+
- seizure of the following price:
1
7
- entering the calculation mode (addition):
+
- seizure of the following price:
3
4
9
8
- correction of the previous entry:
"Corre-tion"
- correct price entry:
3
4
o

3. Soustraction:
Après une série d'additions selon le mode précédemment décrit, l'utilisateur après avoir saisi le prix d'un article, revient sur sa décision et refuse l'article choisi: - saisie du mode de calcul ( + ou = ) - saisie du mode de calcul ( - ) - saisie du prix du produit a soustraire:
1
2
5 - saisie du résultat:
+ si les achats continuent.a - entering the total amount:

3. Subtraction:
After a series of additions according to the mode previously described, the user after having entered the price of an article, reconsiders his decision and refuses the selected article: - entering the method of calculation (+ or =) - entering the method of calculation (-) - entry of the price of the product to subtract:
1
2
5 - seizure of the result:
+ if purchases continue.

= if it is the final amount.

4. Use of callback functions:
In case of loss of storage of the consumer, (this price has been entered) it is proposed to him by pressing the key "reminder of the last article" to know the amount of the last item chosen. Thus the user will have a way to reposition his management in relation to his act of purchase.

 After using this function, the user will press the "Total Report" key which will indicate the total amount and allow him to continue his management operations.

5. Resetting the calculator to zero is done by pressing the "stop" button. This solution avoids complicating the logic. Compared to traditional calculators that offer this reset to several correction keys at several levels of correction many people are unaware of the intended operation.

Claims (3)

 1) Purchasing management device for consumers improving the quality of purchasing acts, especially in stores making available to their customers, industrial trucks, of the type comprising a driving bar (11) and / or a locker (12). This device is characterized in that it consists of at least one specific calculator (4) and at least one calculator support (1) comprising, on the one hand, removable connection means (5 / 3) between the calculator (4) and the support (1), and secondly, fixing means (13) between the calculator support and component parts of the carriage, such as driving bar (ii) and / or consigner (12).  2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises comb #, a calculator support (1) and a writing medium (2) to list purchases to be made. The said supports (1/2) being separable to constitute an evolutionary unit.  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the calculator (4) allows the display of the amount of the last purchased item. For memorization the function keys are dimensioned to allow people with large defect and / or imperfect view to use it without difficulty.