WO2003043867A1

WO2003043867A1 - Motorized and computerized supermarket trolley

Info

Publication number: WO2003043867A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/004038
Authority: WO
Inventors: Landry Gaston Nivor
Original assignee: Landry Gaston Nivor
Priority date: 2001-11-23
Filing date: 2002-11-23
Publication date: 2003-05-30
Also published as: AU2002365962A1; FR2832681A1; FR2832681B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a supermarket trolley with devices for being motorized and computerized and customized. It consists of different parts shown in Figure 1: a housing device showing its human-oriented design which constitutes the multipurpose console of the trolley (1); a mechanical device of the trolley in (6), the rear wheels whereon the motor (4) acts directly; in (5) the adjustable hydraulic shock-absorbers are mounted in the frame of the rear wheels; in (7) the wheels are for steering; a device for closing the trolley rear door (2); a hook-actuated locking and unlocking system in (3) mounted on the hinge of the doors actuated from the console; optional displacement device for invalids or old people; in (8) a stool mounted on rollers, attached to the trolley in (9) through a removable arm; a first displacement option for invalids seated on the trolley; in (10) a standby fixing device on the trolley platform for automatically fastening or unfastening from the console in (11) a mixed or single isothermal box designed for said trolley; an optional baby carriage (12), a step device in (13) which consists in a reinforced board mounted on rigid rollers close to the ground linked by removable arms fixed at the rear of the trolley structure; a second option for invalids, enabling the user to move along in a standing position with his trolley.

Description

Motorization and computerization of the supermarket trolley.

The present invention relates to the motorization and the computerization as well as the adaptability to the customers of the trolleys of large surfaces and other places, these commands: both electric than electronic and computerized will allow the users to make easier movements in any satisfaction and security. Traditionally these trolleys require more or less significant physical effort for its users as long as they are empty or loaded and depending on their state of maintenance. It is as much risk that they take to load them inside the store by having trouble pushing, pulling, and directing or even overturning them on the generally deformed parking lot; the devices according to the invention make it possible to remedy these drawbacks. Indeed, according to the characteristics, several parts of the carriage are reviewed. Starting with the fact of installing a motor on it, to eliminate the efforts of the user; then all advanced techniques to guide all movements and displacements of the trolley with a directional lever to move forward or backward by accelerating or decelerating; Turn left or right and a zero point to stop the carriage. Two other independent superimposed joysticks each on the main bar of the cart; one on the right by pushing and blocking starts the truck, the other on the left by pressing brakes and stops the truck in an emergency. The main bar is linked to the extension of a console. The multifunction console is in fact the box on which we find the steering handle, a lock to allow using its key to unlock the engine if the battery is dead or other mechanical hazards.

There is also a button to activate the shock absorbers on the rear wheels of the truck; allowing the trolley to be adjusted to the right level for boarding in the classic vehicle or 4x4 car. This multifunction console has an entry for a personal and confidential magnetic card, characteristic of a bank card, sold commercially; personalized with the purchase because it will total the reductions and other information as well as statistics. This subscriber card will have an annual cost (x). Another entry is planned for the coins: "lOf or coins of Euros"; linked to a parking meter system timer with 30 minutes free and the others paying for a flat rate or otherwise. Ex: (Of course / hour the cost of the package at the option of the sales department) sum which will be automatically added to the invoicing or exit ticket to be paid at the cash desk "rental service section".

On the console there is a button to unlock the INSULATED CONTAINER for the trolleys provided for this. This console is equipped with an alphanumeric keyboard linked to a screen; a keyboard to type the names of the articles sought or families of articles, the responses and information will appear on the screen. Linked to this screen, an optical eye to read the bar codes and will allow you to see the prices in francs and euros as well as the previous total of the races slipped into the cart.

Thus by the infrared system we can transfer all the information to the main cashier with the help of a hostess who checks before all what is in the cart and with a simple button the main cashier will issue a receipt or total invoice to pay ; amount which is supposed to be identical to that of the carriage screen.

Incorporated on the keyboard a converter of francs in euros and screw towards its; or francs in dollars and other currencies preprogrammed, and updated by the management of the center. On this multifunction console there is a diagram of the super market; building store or other. For the scheme of the super market: will indicate the different departments Ex: dairy; interviews; drinks ; etc .... On this console there is a button with color or number variator there we find the letters of the alphabet the latter adjustable using a screwdriver according to the will of the direction of trade. Each color; number; alphabetical letter or combinations indicate on the parking lot a driveway, therefore serves as a point of reference from where you took the trolley and be sense park; this principle prevents you from getting lost when going out and wasting time. There is a button on the console to unlock the rear door of the trolley, which opens laterally. It has a socket to allow the battery to be recharged and pass all the information necessary to the console data (new prices, promotions etc ...); this socket connects to that of the preceding trolley or to the basic socket and releases your subscriber card or your piece, for example (lOf or euro) and so on to the main connection base; update possible also by infrared system.

By inserting the subscriber card or a coin eg: (lOf or euro) the trolley disconnects from the other or from the base and becomes free to allow you to put it into service in this case the rear side door closes , automatically and hangs. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention: Figure N ° 1

Represents the general condition of the motorized and computerized cart as well as all of its functional characteristics and options: the multifunction console in (1); the rear side door (2); the self-locking hooks of the rear door (3); the motor and its mechanism (4); the rear wheel shock absorbers (5); the shock absorbers on which the rear wheels (6) are mounted; the front wheels steerable from the multifunction console (7); first option adjustable swivel stool on hydraulic shock absorber (8); removable fixing arm (9); hooks self-locking on the bed of the carriage (10); insulated container designed and adaptable to this carriage (11); baby bassinet option (12) and second option a footboard mounted on rigid casters (13).

Figure 2

Represents the aesthetic and ergonomic profile of the multifunction console. Figure N ° 3

Represents the multi-function console of the trolley describing all its characteristics: an opening in (A) for coins; hole (B) for inserting a magnetic chip card; optical eye (C) for barcode; screen (D) to communicate with the client; button (E) for unlocking the insulated tank; button (F) to activate the shock absorber; rear door release button (G); lever (H) left side; alphanumeric keyboard (I); lock (J) for unlocking key; steering handle (K); right side lever (L); space (M) reserved for the diagram of the center; a variator (N): of colors; numbers; or alphabetical.

Figure N ° 4

Represents the rear door of the trolley in (2) with automatic lateral opening to allow its storage and the hooks in (3) mounted on the door hinge; on which the lock and unlock button acts from the console.

Figure 5

Represent the rear wheels of the carriage in (6) on which the hydraulic shock absorbers in (5) act on command from the console and the location of the engine in (4); on which the engine will act to move the carriage, as well as the front wheels in (7) directed by the steering lever located on the console. These trolleys have the particularity of being able to adapt according to their user.

Figure N ° 6

Represents a swivel stool in (8) mounted on an adjustable hydraulic shock absorber placed on castors on the ground all this fixed to the carriage by a removable arm (9) at three points.

Figure 7

Represents a step market in (13) on casters which is fixed to the trolley by removable arms to meet the needs of the disabled or the elderly.

These chair and step kits will allow invalids and others to move simultaneously with the cart and this will give them a little more autonomy. Figure N ° 8

Represents two hooks in (10) controlled by a button from the console on the bed of the trolley in order to block or unblock the UNIQUE or MIXED ISOTHERMAL BAC with electronic cooling from electric power and solar energy. Figure 9

Represents an insulated container in (11) itself new, designed for this trolley and an optional baby basket (12) as in the old one, on these new motorized and multifunctional trolleys.

Claims

1) The large motorized, computerized and adaptable trolley for customer services is characterized in that, in its main structure, these different parts include a multifunction console (1) for operating the trolley; a rear door opening laterally (2) with its self-locking hooks (3) to close the carriage, a motor with its mechanism (4) for driving all movement of the carriage from the console; a shock absorber set (5) mounted on the rear wheels (6) of the carriage to allow its adaptability to vehicles; the steerable front wheels (7) will facilitate the movement of the trolley and in essential options: an adjustable stool (8) fixed to the trolley by a removable bar (9) to allow installation of the customer; hooks (10) waiting on the bed of the trolley; an insulated tank (11) adaptable to the bed of the trolley by the hooks provided for in waiting; an optional baby basket (12); a step (13) fixed to the carriage.

2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a multifunction console (1) which itself is composed of fourteen characteristic parts as follows: first characteristic an orifice (A) allowing the commissioning of the carriage first solution by sliding a coin (Ex: Euros) unlocks the latter to activate it.

Second characteristic an orifice (B) second commissioning solution by inserting a magnetic card with a personalized chip activates the trolley. These two characteristics, (A) and (B) are linked to a system of the parking meter and a beep signaling the elapsed time that remaining and the amount payable for rental, this information is entered on the screen of the console.

Third characteristic an optical eye (C) for reading the bar codes in order to indicate the price of an item; total the amount of products put in the cart and circulate information by infrared to the checkout as well as updates using this optical eye.

Fourth characteristic: a screen (D) for all communications between the user of the cart and the shopping center to scroll through information and answer any questions.

Fifth feature a button (E) to unlock the Insulated Container on the trolley provided for this purpose.

Sixth characteristic a button (F) to activate the shock absorbers of the trolley up or down in order to adjust it either to your size or to the level of the trunk of the vehicle. Seventh feature a button (G) to unlock the rear door of the cart opening laterally so as to be able to unload the cart and at the same time store it in the other carts after use; once connected to another trolley or to the base, the recharging of the batteries for the engine begins as well as the data updates. Eighth characteristic a left horizontal lateral safety lever (H); pressing the latter brakes and stops the truck urgently.

Ninth characteristic an alphanumeric keyboard (I) incorporated into this keyboard a calculator with in addition a currency converter function: from francs to euros; from francs to dollars etc ... all of this is linked to the console screen, which allows us to answer all of the customer's questions about the location of the products; the prices ; promotions ... tenth feature a lock (J) to allow with its key all troubleshooting in case of dead battery or other electrical or mechanical problem and unlocked the carriage to pass to the manual system.

Eleventh characteristic the steering joystick (K) acting on the front and rear wheels is handled like a game mat, the arrows indicating the directions: one in front to move forward; one behind to move back as well as one to the right to turn to the right and one to the left to turn to the left by releasing the joystick it returns to its initial position at zero point.

Twelfth lever feature (L) horizontal right side by pushing and blocking the latter starts the cart so you can move at your own pace. Thirteenth characteristic a space (M) reserve in the right angle at the bottom on the multifunction console will allow to indicate by a diagram the interior organization of the shopping center; shop ; building to facilitate access to the different departments or locations.

Fourteenth characteristic a variator (N) of: colors; numbers; alphabetical or combinations of the direction of the center, these options will allow you to choose the initial for one: which will represent the aisles in the parking lot therefore serves as a benchmark from where you took your cart and be supposed to be parked.

3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a rear door in (2) this rear door of the carriage opens and closes laterally when it is put into operation comes to be blocked by the hooks in (3) for form the frame of the carriage. These functions are controlled from the multifunction console.

4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a motor and its mechanism in (4) to allow all movement of the carriage by acting on the rear wheels in (6) and the front wheels in (7) for steering . These functions are controlled from the multifunction console. 5) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises dampers in (5) to allow to adjust the trolley to the right level of the vehicle trunks or to the size of the user; the engine with its mechanism is necessary for its operation. These functions are controlled from the multifunction console. 6) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it can comprise a stool in (8) with pivoting, adjustable and removable plate mounted on a cylindrical pipe in which there is an adjustable hydraulic damper, all of this mounted on castors on the ground, fixed to the center of the main base of the trolley by a removable horizontal arm at three points in (9) to allow and facilitate all movements of the entire trolley, also on each side of the trolley there are hooks for storing any crutches if necessary ; finally the entire arm folds down and returns to its initial position against the carriage after use; this first option applicable to all types of carts for the disabled.

7) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it can comprises a step in (13) reinforced plate thick enough on mounted several rigid casters; allow the user to take a seat behind his cart when moving this removable plate is securely attached to the supports of the rear wheels of the cart flush with the ground; the latter lifts and returns to its initial position against the carriage after use; on the sides of the trolley are hooks for storing any crutches if necessary; this second option which if necessary applies to all types of carts for the disabled. 8) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises hooks on the bed of the trolley in (10) these fastening hooks on the bed of the trolley ready to receive one of the ISOTHERMIC BAC. A button on the console exists to lock or unlock the fixing hooks for whatever the SINGLE ISOTHERMIC CONTAINER or MIXED INSULATED CONTAINER chosen. This function is controlled from the multifunction console. 9) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it may comprise a single or mixed insulated container (11) container itself designed for this type of trolley.

10) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it may include a baby basket in (12) as formerly provided; this trolley is designed to receive these options to adapt to customer requirements.