WO1984002315A1

WO1984002315A1 - Method and devices for exposing and protecting advertising show-cards on shopping caddies

Info

Publication number: WO1984002315A1
Application number: PCT/FR1983/000245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry Joseph Guiot-Bourg; Batide Alanore Dominique La; Jose Vieira; Edouard Bourreau
Original assignee: Guiot Bourg Henry Joseph
Priority date: 1982-12-08
Filing date: 1983-12-07
Publication date: 1984-06-21
Also published as: FR2537528A1; EP0143784A1

Abstract

Means for exposing and protecting advertising show-cards (70) on shopping caddies (1). The invention comprises essentially: - doubling at least one (10) of the side walls (10, 11, 12) of the wire-netted basket (2) by means of a counter wall (38), - spreading apart the counter wall (38) from the wall (10) by a distance (1) which is very little longer than the thickness of the show-card (70), - firmly securing, particularly by welding (60), the counter wall (38) on the wall (10) of the basket (2) by letting free one of the side edges of the counter wall (38) so as to provide an insertion slot, - finally sliding the show-card (70) inside the insertion slot (65). Preferably, the counter wall (38) is wire-netted and has a grid pitch corresponding to that of the wall (10). The essential advantages of the invention are: - enabling both faces of the double face (73, 75) advertising show-card (70) to be viewed, - and yet be protected from both the outer and inner shocks of the basket (2).

Description

"METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE EXPOSURE AND PROTECTION OF ADVERTISING SIGNS ON PURCHASES"

The present invention relates to an improvement to the methods and devices intended to ensure the exposure and protection of advertising signs on shopping carts of the type of those commonly used in stores.

Various methods are currently known for ensuring the visual provision of information on the side walls of shopping carts. These shopping carts generally consist of a wire mesh basket, resting on a cradle provided at its base with rollers and comprising, at its upper part, a transverse bar to ensure the movement of the carriage on generally flat surfaces.

Such a method is described in US Patent No. 3,402,497 in the name of Robert E. SWAIN. This is intended to provide baskets for shopping carts with indestructible identifications so as to prevent theft of these carts. The method consists in making the different patterns constituting the identifications using wires (in particular of metal), in juxtaposing these different patterns on the side wall of the metal baskets and in establishing a resistant contact between each pattern and several of the metallic wires constituting the basket, so that it is impossible to remove the patterns from the basket without destroying the basket.

This solution is effective for the identification of carts and the fight against theft due to the inseparability between the reasons for identification and the cart basket. On the other hand, it is completely inadequate for the presentation of advertising information because it requires the possibility of regularly and frequently modifying the exposed message.

A second method is described in US Patent No. 3,276,786 in the name of Ward OLANDER. It is proposed, in this document, to produce shopping carts by the combination of a hand truck and a flexible bag inside which purchases are introduced.

The aim is to reduce the cost price of the fleet of shopping carts in a department store.

But it appears that this formula is also unsuitable for use for advertising purposes, indeed

- either, as proposed in the document, the bags are linked to the cart and replaced only when they are torn and, in this case, it is impossible to use them for advertising purposes for the same reasons as above,

- either, as one might imagine, they are taken away by the customer on leaving the store; but, in this case they must be made of a very thick material to withstand handling efforts. This makes the formula unacceptable in the field of advertising which requires numerous but inexpensive supports. A third, more specific method of advertising display on shopping carts with a wire basket is described in US patent application No. 3,782,747 in the name of OTIS Hamilton. It consists first of all in producing a plate provided on its periphery with tongues and provided, on a first of its faces, with adhesive surfaces. The tabs are distributed over the horizontal edges of the plate and spaced from one another so as to be introduced into the spaces provided between the vertical bars constituting the frame of one of the walls of the wire basket. When the plate is put in place, the tabs are folded around horizontal bars reinforcing the frame of the wire basket. Their ends are glued against the adhesive surfaces of the plate so that the first so-called rear face of the plate is fixed against the mesh wall. Thus, an advertising message carried by the second face of the plate can be brought to the view of buyers, but essentially to that of buyers pushing the cart.

The defects of this solution are linked

- on the one hand, at the cost of manufacturing the supports, increased appreciably by the need for the tabs and the adhesive zones, - - on the other hand, at the increase in the set-up time caused by the coming into contact successively different tabs, with the back side of the plate

- but, above all, the fragility of the support which is often either torn off by consumers, or destroyed by impact with purchases inside the basket.

A third method consists in making a removable stiffening support intended to support the sign and fixing it to the wall of the basket.

WIPO_ According to a first variant of this method described in US Pat. No. 3,024,554 in the name of Robert M. KEMPHER, the support consists of a frame produced using a U-shaped angle iron folded back on itself in the form of 'a flat rectangle, then folded in half like a sheet. The frame is then slid vertically astride and undressed on the wall of the cart basket.

On either side of the wall, the angle iron constituting the frame provides a vertical groove inside which two advertising signs can be inserted. A second variant of this method, more elaborate, is described in US Patent 3,677,570 in the name of Jon HEDU.

The support proposed in this document is of the previous type but it also includes:

- a system of springs arranged vertically and connected to the front wall of the cart, allowing it to be raised relative to the basket when the cart is pushed by a buyer into the aisles of the store,

- A system of lateral ramps coming into action when the trolley which supports the support is fitted inside another trolley, after use, to gain storage space. The third variant of this method, of a rather different design, is described in US Patent 3,609,893 in the name of William S. ROUTZAHN. The support offered by this document essentially includes:

- a support panel,

- two fingers, arranged vertically on the rear surface of the panel, linked to the latter at their upper end, by a system of springs pressing their second end against the panel,

- two cylindrical ridges grooved vertically on either side of the panel

- And finally, a transparent sheet fitted into the grooves of the ridges on the front face of the panel, providing between itself and the panel an insertion slot inside which are inserted the advertising signs. Finally, an older variant of this method, but quite close to the previous variant, is described in US Patent 2,723,474 in the name of JR MINTER.

This document proposes an advertising medium for a single sign, consisting of a U-shaped angle folded back on itself so as to produce a rectangular frame.

This frame is attached to the front inner wall of the cart basket using a plurality of deformable metal tabs distributed around the periphery of the frame. The upper side of the frame is also incised so as to provide an insertion slot horizontally extending the lateral grooves of the frame. An advertising sign, possibly double-sided, is inserted into the insertion slot so as to be placed in the center of the frame. One of the faces of this sign thus appears, from the outside, through the mesh wall, the other face is free inside the carriage. These systems are interesting for use as advertising space because they allow a rapid installation and exchange of signs.

However, they have two major drawbacks: first and for one of the essential reasons which limit their success, the frames are easily torn off from the wall of the basket or in any case they have a structure such that they are very often unavailable due to deterioration by careless buyers of the equipment.

Furthermore and above all, the posters they support are poorly protected from shocks or contact with the outside.

Thus the advertising signs carried by the supports described in the KEMPHER and HEDU patents are in no way protected from destructive aggressions such as:

- impacts between carriages or with a display, with regard to the signs located on the external side of the wall of the baskets,

- or contact with dirty or aggressive products, as far as the signs located inside the baskets are concerned.

So that after a few hours or at most a few days, the advertising signs are largely destroyed and are, therefore, unattractive to the eyes of consumers.

The ROUTZAHN device certainly tries to solve this problem by placing its single sign between a support panel and a transparent film. However, this solution has three flaws:

- It only allows a single-sided display for each support, which leads to both doubling the number of supports and their cost to ensure a display on either side of the walls of the baskets. This also requires two sign placement operations, thus inducing a loss of time;

- transparent plastic films are generally very fragile because they scratch on contact with hard and abrasive materials and quickly become opaque, so that ROUTZAHN devices require frequent and costly maintenance during which their transparent films must be changed;

- finally, in the ROUTZAHN device, the advertising sign is placed in a vertical, almost hermetic closed slot, except for its upper part. However, experience shows that these devices, used in stores with large surfaces including in particular supply shelves, are very often in deplorable hygienic conditions due to the flow of products inside their slot. and on the sign.

This defect is increased by the difficulties of cleaning the interior of the slot, requiring complete disassembly of the transparent sheet. The MINTER patent also attempts to solve the problem of protecting the external face of its sign by pressing it internally against the mesh wall of the carriage.

However, according to this solution, the internal face of the sign remains exposed to the most frequent destruction by the products contained inside the basket. Finally, the advertising method currently the most used consists simply in placing, on the wall of the baskets of the carts, plastic sleeves inside which the placards are inserted. This solution is certainly extremely economical, but its development is hampered by the fact that the plastic bags are very often torn from the carriages either by impact or by the users themselves.

The invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks overall. _

WIPO The first object of the invention is to propose an improvement to the display systems for advertising signs on the walls of a shopping cart basket which allows this display system to be able to be destroyed by the users. A second object of the invention is to propose such a display system for advertising signs which nevertheless allows rapid insertion of advertising signs.

A third object of the invention is to allow the display of double-sided advertising signs, that is to say presenting a message both inside and towards the outside of the basket, while ensuring effective protection. on both sides of these signs against external aggressions.

The fourth object of the invention is to propose such a display system for advertising signs which, on the one hand, can be fixed industrially during the manufacture of the trolleys or directly at the place of use

- and, on the other hand, requires no maintenance.

Finally, a final object of the invention is to allow extremely rapid and effective cleaning of the display system of the signs using a simple jet of water.

To this end, the invention first of all proposes a method of exposing and protecting thin advertising signs on the perforated side walls of the shopping cart basket. This method commonly consists of doubling, at least in part, the side wall of the cart basket with a protective counter-wall placed parallel to this wall.

There are known shopping carts having a double mesh wall. Such a carriage is described in British Patent No. 1,456,249 in the name of the Société Anonyme known as LES ATELIERS REUNIS.

This double wall is produced using an auxiliary grid welded parallel to the front wall and inside the basket. The grid is spaced from the front wall so as to provide a compartment separate from the useful part of the basket. However, we will see that:

- On the one hand, this carriage further comprises a rectangular rectangular grid with two positions, one unfolded according to which

CMPI it is located horizontally at the front of the basket and constitutes a sort of shelf, the other folded according to which it is introduced into the compartment formed at the front of the basket, - on the other hand, this front compartment is blocked at its upper part by intermediate parts which allow both the articulation of the tray as well as its retention to prevent it from being detached from the carriage by the users. It will therefore be readily understood that this system is completely unsuitable for the presentation of advertising signs, because it is impossible to put up signs on the auxiliary tray, these would be torn off during the folding position of the tray .

In addition, it will be noted that the auxiliary wall of this carriage is fairly widely spaced from the front wall so as not to hinder the folding of the plate which has a width much less than that of the compartment.

On the contrary, the method according to the invention is remarkable in that, on the one hand, the counter-wall of the basket wall is moved apart by a distance little greater than that of the advertising sign to be put in place. . On the other hand, according to the invention, the counter-wall is securely fixed, in particular by welding, to the wall of the basket, taking care to leave free one of the lateral edges of the counter-wall, so as to spare a free insertion slot between the basket wall and the counter-wall. Finally, a sign is slipped inside the insertion slot, thus formed.

Note that the two faces of the sign are protected from both external and internal shocks to the basket by the action of the assembly (juxtaposed wall and counter-wall). According to an advantageous variant of such a method, the mesh wall of the basket is doubled by a counter-wall also with mesh.

This variant allows the use of double-sided signs as well as the protection of the two faces of these signs.

In addition, it facilitates a fast and solid fixing of the counter-wall to the wall, this fixing being able in particular to be carried out by welding if the wall and the counter-wall are made with materials of the same kind and in particular if the wefts of the wall and the counter-wall are similarly not. Last but not least, this variant allows. easy cleaning of the insertion slot of the sign using a simple jet of pressurized fluid, the dirt then escaping through the openings of the two walls. The invention also relates to a modification to be made to shopping carts so that they are suitable for the implementation of a method as described above.

A shopping trolley equipped according to the invention comprises a protective counter wall parallel parallel to the wall of the basket while being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the signs to be exposed. The counter-wall is fixed to the wall by its lateral edges.

Such a shopping trolley is remarkable in that one of the lateral edges of the counter-wall is left free, so as to provide between the wall and the counter-wall an insertion slot for the signs.

Finally, the invention relates to the combination of such a cart and an advertising sign inserted into its insertion slot, the sign being covered on one of its faces by the wall of the cart basket and, on the other side, by the counter-wall. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge in the description which follows with reference to the appended drawing, which description and drawing are given only by way of nonlimiting example.

This drawing partially shows a perspective view of the basket ^* of the conventional shopping trolley equipped according to the invention. In this figure, a conventional shopping cart (1) can be recognized.

This is essentially constituted by a wire mesh basket (2), placed on a lower cradle (4) (partially shown) and resting on the ground on articulated rollers (5). A horizontal bar (7) transversely surmounts the basket (2) in its rear part (8), in order to allow a buyer to effortlessly push the trolley (1) on the ground.

> The basket (2) has an almost parallelepiped configuration. It is delimited by:

- two fixed vertical side walls respectively right (10) and left (11),

- a fixed front wall (12), also vertical,

- a fixed bottom (14)

CWPI - And a movable rear wall (not shown in the figure) hinged forward, inside the basket (2), around a transverse axis (x-x ') surmounting it. The mesh basket (2) is produced by the interconnection of a network of metallic wires.

The side walls (10 and 11), as well as the bottom (14) are constituted by the juxtaposition side by side of vertical metal wires (18) bent in U and regularly spaced along the longitudinal axis (y-y ') of the basket (2). Similarly, the front wall (12) is formed by placing side by side vertical metal wires (25, 26). An extension (27) of each of these wires (25, 26) is folded in L below the bottom (14) of the basket (2), to cooperate with the horizontal parts (29) of U-section, connecting the metal wires vertical (18) constituting the side walls (10 and 11).

Furthermore, almost horizontal metallic wires (30) in a U encircle the weft of vertical metallic wires (18, 25, 26) of the side walls (10, 11) and front (12) to produce a mesh grid (35) of substantially rectangular shape elongated upwards. The vertical metal wires (18, 25, 26) are welded (as appears in 37) at each of their intersections with the horizontal wires (30) so as to strengthen the basket (2) and make it perfectly rigid. . The same is true of the portions of wires (27 and 29) constituting the bottom (14). It appears that the right side wall (10) provided externally with an external counter-wall (38). Likewise, the front wall (12) is equipped with an inner counter-wall (39).

Each of these counter walls (38) was produced using:

- a first series of vertical parallel metal wires (40-40 ') spaced from each other

- And a second series of horizontal parallel metallic wires (45) arranged perpendicularly on the frame formed by the wires (40-40 ') and welded at (46) at each of the intersections with the wires (40). In this way, each of the counterwalls (38, 39) is constituted in the form of an independent module of the basket (2). The lower part (50) of each of the wires (40) has one end (51) weakly bent at right angles to the same length (1). Similarly, the upper part (55, 56) of the two end wires (40-40 ') of the first series of wires constituting the counter-wall (38), has ends (57, 58), also folded in the same direction, of the same length (1), as the lower parts (50).

The establishment of each of the counterwalls (38) is thus particularly easy.

It is carried out independently of the manufacture of the basket (2) and while it is fully equipped. It suffices, in fact, to weld at (60) the ends (51, 57, 58) of each of the curved end portions (50, 55, 56) on one of the metal wires constituting the weft of the side walls (10, 11, 12) of the basket (2).

It will be readily understood that this welding operation (in particular of the ends (51) of the lower portions (50) is all the easier when the pitch of the frame constituting the counter-wall (38) corresponds to that of the wall (10 , 11, 12) (on which the counter wall (38) must be fixed) This is the case in particular if the pitch of the counter wall (38) is a submultiple of that of the wall (10).

It will also be understood that, given the ease of positioning each counter-wall (38) on the corresponding wall (10) of the basket, this operation can be carried out:

- either in the factory for new trolleys,

- Either directly at their place of use, in particular for used carts to be newly fitted with counterwalls. It can be seen that the installation of a counter-wall (38, 39) with respect to a wall (10, 12) of the basket (2) provides an insertion slot (65, 66) between the wall and counter wall.

According to the invention, a cardboard sign (70, 71) is introduced into the insertion slots (65, 66) formed between the counterwalls (38, 39) and the side walls (10) and front (12).

Each of the signs (70 and 71) can have on its two external (73, 74) or internal (75, 76) faces all types of messages. According to a variant recommended by the invention, these faces (73, 74, 75, 76) are covered with an advertising slogan (not appearing in the figure).

Depending on the configuration of the basket (2), the sign (70), sandwiched between the external counter-wall (38) and the wall (10) corresponding to its advertising messages (carried by each of its faces (73, 75) visible both from the inside and from the outside of the basket (2), respectively through the meshes (36) of the counterwall (38) and meshes (35) of the wall (10). Nevertheless, we realize that the sign (70) has its external face (73) protected by the counter-wall (38) from external shocks of all kinds. vis-à-vis other carriages (1) or store displays. Similarly, the inner face (75) of the sign (70) is protected from shocks or scratches (caused by objects placed in the basket (2 ), by the wires (18, 30) constituting the wall (10).

However, we realize that the sign (70) has its outer face (73) protected by the counter-wall (38) of external shocks of all kinds vis-à-vis other carriages (1) or displays of shop. Similarly, the inner face (75) of the sign (70) is protected from shocks or scratches (caused by objects placed in the basket (2), by the wires (18, 30) constituting the wall (10).

It will be readily understood that the situation is reversed for the sign (71) which is seen and protected from the outside through the wall (12) and, similarly, seen and protected from the inside through the counter - wall (39).

It is common in department stores to store the carts (1) by inserting their baskets into each other. This is done by lifting the rear wall of the baskets. This is the reason why: - the baskets (2) are generally of slightly conical shape along their longitudinal axis (y-y ') - and the rear wall is articulated around (x-x'). In order not to limit this possibility, it will be noted that the length (1) of the ends (51, 57, 58) of the metal wires (40) (ensuring the spacing between walls and counter-walls) is very slightly greater than l thickness of each of the placards (70, 71). Thus, the bulk resulting from the presence of the counter walls (38, 39) is completely negligible.

The use for advertising purposes of a trolley (1) produced according to the teachings of FIG. 1 is easy. Indeed, periodically, the signs (70, 71) can be interchanged with new signs, in order to vary the advertising messages brought to the view of the users of the carts. Incidentally, we will see that the shape given to the signs can be very variable. It can be regular (and in particular rectangular) like the sign (71) or, on the contrary, elaborate, like the sign (70). It suffices that the shape of the counterwalls (38) is adapted to the shape of the signs (70) slipped inside the corresponding insertion slot (65).

The differentiation of signs (70, 71) has two essential advantages:

- allowing the employees responsible for setting up the signs (70, 71) to easily differentiate them from the baskets of the various carriages of the same store

- And also ensure control of the signs (70, 71) engaged in the insertion slots (65, 66).

Finally, it will be noted that the maintenance, in particular the cleaning of the insertion slots (65), is particularly easy. It can be carried out using a simple water jet directed towards the walls, the dirt being able to escape by the meshes (35, 36) of the walls (10, 12) and against-walls (38, 39 ).

Of course, the scope of the invention is in no way limited to the variant of implementation which has been described above.

It will be understood, in fact, that it is possible to replace the mesh inner counter-wall (39) with a simple metal plate, the only defect being, then, that only one (74) of the faces of the sign (71) is visible and usable as advertising space. It will also be understood that the counterwalls (38, 39) can be fixed with respect to the basket (2) using any system known to those skilled in the art, and in particular thanks to a system of 'screwed stirrups.

It is nevertheless preferable to use means of securing which are difficult for the public to dismantle. The invention having now been described and its interest revealed in a detailed example, the applicants reserve exclusivity for the entire duration of the patent without limitation other than that of the terms of the claims below.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Method of exposing and protecting a thin advertising sign (70,71) by a shopping cart (1) comprising: - a basket (2) delimited laterally by walls (10, 11,12) openwork and in particular wire mesh,

- the basket (2) being mounted on casters (5), this process ^• consisting first of all in doubling at least part of the side wall (10,12) of the basket (2) of the carriage (1) by a protective counter-wall (38,39) placed parallel to the wall

(10,12), said method being characterized in that in addition:

on the one hand, the counter-wall (38.39) is separated from the wall (10.12), by a distance (1) slightly greater than the thickness of the sign (70.71),

- on the other hand, said counter-wall (38, 39) is securely fixed, in particular by welding (60), to the wall (10, 12) of the basket (2), leaving one of its lateral edges free , so as to provide an insertion slot (65,66) between the wall (10,12) of the basket (2) and the counter-wall (38,39),

- Finally, we slide said sign (70,71) inside the insertion slot (65,66), so that the two faces (73,75) (74,76) of the sign (70 , 71) are protected both from impacts outside the basket (2), in particular from impacts between carriages (1) and, on the other hand, from objects placed inside the basket (2).

2. As new use of a known means, method according to claim 1 of exposure and protection of a sign (70, 71) of ads by a shopping cart (1) basket (2 ) delimited by a screen wall (10,11,12), said method typically consisting in lining the screen wall (10,12) of the basket (2) with a counter-wall (38,39) also screened:

- on the one hand, to allow exposure and protection of the two faces (73.75) (74.76) of the sign (70.71), - on the other hand, to facilitate a solid fixing of the counter wall

(38.39) on the wall (10,12), in particular by welding (60),

- last but not least, to allow easy cleaning of the fine insertion slot (65,66) using a simple jet of fluid

EΓ £ ÎΏ

O PI under pressure.

3. As a new industrial product, shopping cart (1) comprising:

- a basket (2) delimited laterally by mesh walls (10, 11, 12, 14), said basket (2) being mounted on casters

(5),

- a protective counter-wall (38, 39) doubling in parallel the wall (10, 12) of the basket (2) being spaced from this wall and fixed to the wall by its lateral edges, said carriage being characterized in that the one of the lateral edges of the counter-wall is left free so as to provide an insertion slot (65, 66) between the wall (10, 12) and the counter-wall (38, 39).

4. Shopping trolley (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that its counter-wall (38, 39) is screened, constituted by a weft of metal wires (40, 45), said counter-wall (38 ) being fixed to the screen wall (10) of the basket (2) by welding (60) the ends (51, 57, 58) of some of said wires to the screen wall (10) of the carriage

(1).

5. Shopping trolley (1) according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that its said meshed counter-wall (39) is located inside the basket (2) of the trolley (1).

6. Shopping trolley (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that an advertising sign (70, .71) is inserted into its insertion slot (65, 66) and covered :

- on one of its faces (74, 75), through the wall of the cart basket

- And, on the other face (73, 76), by the counter-wall (38, 39).

7. Metal grid intended to be welded and to serve as a counter-wall (38, 39) on one of the side walls (10, 12) of a shopping trolley (1) with a wire basket (2), to form a shopping trolley according to one of claims 4 and 5, said grid being characterized in that:

- on the one hand, it is constituted by the interconnection of two networks of metallic wires (40, 45) almost perpendicular

- And, on the other hand, some (51,57, 58) of the ends of the wires (40, 45) of one of the networks are folded at right angles.

OMFI

8. Metal grid (38, 39) according to claim 7, characterized in that the pitch of at least one of the networks of metallic wires (40, 40 ') corresponds to that of one of the pitches of the basket frame. (2) mesh on which the grid (38, 39) must be adapted.