WO2006024821A1

WO2006024821A1 - Trolleys

Info

Publication number: WO2006024821A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003239
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Josiah Collier
Original assignee: John Josiah Collier
Priority date: 2004-08-28
Filing date: 2005-08-19
Publication date: 2006-03-09
Also published as: GB0419229D0

Abstract

A supermarket trolley (60) provided with a display arrangement (10) mounted on a handle (12, 68). The display arrangement may be in the form of a body (16) which can receive printed material. Alternatively, the display arrangement may be in the form of a screen (62).

Description

Trolleys

This invention relates to trolleys, and particularly but not exclusively supermarket trolleys.

Supermarket trolleys are usable by customers to contain and carry purchases in a store such as a supermarket. Such trolleys are generally referred to in North America as "carts", and the term trolley in this specification is to be understood as encompassing carts as would be used in North

America.

Advertisers are continuously looking for new and unique locations to advertise products or services etc. Such locations should ideally be encountered on a regular basis by the potential audience for the advertising. Supermarkets wish to engage more fully with their customers to increase loyalty, promote their own products and services, and improve the service received by customers.

According to the present invention there is provided a trolley, the trolley including display means viewable by a person pushing the trolley.

The display means may include a display arrangement having a body which is configured to locate printed material therein such that the printed material can be viewed through the body.

The display arrangement may be configured such that the body and hence any material located therein, can be rotated relative to the trolley.

The body may be arranged such that it can be selectively opened to permit the printed material therein to be changed. The body may be substantially cylindrical.

The body may have transparent side walls. The side walls may be removably mountable on respective end members to close the body.

The body may be arranged to be substantially coaxial with the supermarket trolley handle.

Tamper proof fastening means may be provided to retain the body side walls on the end members.

The display means may include an electronic screen, which may be an LCD, and/or may permit video images to be viewed.

Batteries, solar panels, and/or electricity producing means powered by movement of the trolley, may be provided on the trolley.

A card reader for customers' cards may be provided. The card reader may connect to a control unit which causes messages to be displayed on the screen. The messages may welcome a customer, and/or provide details of advertising and promotional items.

The control unit may, cause unlocking and locking of a trolley's wheels upon insertion and removal of a card in the card reader.

The control unit could enable payment to be made automatically for items placed into the trolley.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a display arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective end view of the arrangement of Fig. 1 ;

Figs. 3 - 5 are perspective views of components of the arrangement of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic end view of two components of the arrangement of Fig 1 ;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic rear perspective view of a trolley according to a second aspect of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a more detailed diagrammatic rear perspective view of part of the trolley of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the trolley of Fig. 7.

Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings show a display arrangement 10 mountable on the handle 12 of a supermarket trolley or the like. The arrangement 10 comprises mounting means 14 mountable on the handle 12, and a body 16 rotatably located on the mounting means 14.

The mounting means 14 comprises two pairs of clamp members 18. Each pair of clamp members 18 is engageable in an annular configuration around the handle 12. Each clamp member 18 is substantially semi-circular, and has a radially extending mounting flange 20 with a through hole (not shown) alignable with a corresponding through hole in the flange 20 on an adjacent clamp member 18. Screws 22 are provided engageable in the holes in the respective flanges 20 to urge the clamp member 18 onto a handle 12. The clamp members 18 define a circumferential groove 22.

The body 16 comprises a transparent cylindrical member 24 and two end caps 26. Each end cap 26 comprises two semi-circular parts 28, which parts 28 are engageable together in an annular manner around the clamp members 18. A respective hole 30 and projection 32 with a threaded boss 34 are provided on each of the parts 28 such that screws 36 can engage through a respective hole 30 in one part 28 into the boss 34 on the other part 28 and vice versa, to retain the parts 28 together around the clamp members 18.

The parts 28 together define a radial flange 38 which locates in the groove 22 to permit the end caps 26 to rotate relative to the clamp members 18. Two inwardly extending circumferential flanges 40, 42 are provided which define a channel 44 therebetween.

Radially outwards of the outermost flange 42 is an inwardly extending circumferential rim 46 defining a further channel 48 between the rim 46 and the channel 44. The rim 46 is contoured with a plurality of shallow indents 50 to aid manipulation thereof.

The cylindrical member 24 is formed from two semi-circular section parts 50 which are provided with overlapping and engageable respective flanges 52 to connect the parts 50 together and to provide a seal therebetween.

In use the arrangement 10 is configured as follows. The clamp members 18 are located around the handle 12 at required positions and clamped together to lock onto the handle 12. A one of the end caps 26 is located on a one of the clamp members 18, with the flange 38 locating in the groove 22 to permit relative rotation therebetween. Screws 36 are employed to retain the two parts 28 together. The screws 36 are tamper proof with a non standard driving recess, which as shown in Fig. 2 is triangular.

The two parts 50 of the cylindrical member 24 are joined together and located on the end cap 26 already mounted on a one of the clamp members

18. The ends of the cylindrical member 24 locate in the channel 48. Printed advertising material or the like is then located in the cylindrical member 24, and may be located such that the end thereof locates in the channel 44. The other end cap 26 is then located on the respective clamp member 18 so as to close the. body 16. The body 16 can readily be rotated or spun relative to the mounting means 14 and the handle 12, to permit all parts of the advertising to be read and/or for novelty purposes.

There is thus described a display arrangement which permits advertising to be placed on the handle of supermarket trolleys and the like to provide advertising readily visible by shoppers, with the novelty that the advertising can be spun which could be used to create particular effects and/or to allow a larger message to be read. The advertising material in the arrangement can readily be changed on a regular basis. The arrangement is of relative straightforward construction and can thus be robustly manufactured for long term use.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the arrangement may take a different shape or form. In some instances it may not be required for the arrangement to be rotatable.

Figs. 7 to 9 show a trolley 60 according to a second aspect of the invention. The trolley has four wheels 72, one towards each corner. The trolley 60 includes an electronic screen 62, card reader 64, and connected to both of these a control unit 66 located principally beneath the screen 62. The screen 62 is mounted on the trolley handle 68, so as to be visible by a person pushing the trolley. Also provided on the trolley 60 are batteries (not visible), solar power units 70 for powering the screen 62 and units 64, 66.

The trolley 60 is arranged such that when an appropriate card is entered in the reader 64 the screen 62 will be visible. This can provide a welcome to the person pushing the trolley, which could be personalised if appropriate details are provided on the card. Details of advertising, special offers and other promotional material can be provided on the screen.

A dynamo 74 is provided on a one of the rear wheels 70 and is connected to the screen 62 and units 64, 66 by a cable 76. As the trolley 60 is moved this causes power to be generated by the dynamo 74. A wheel locking arrangement 78 is provided on a diagonally opposite front and rear wheel 72. The arrangement 78 automatically locks the respective wheels 72 in the absence of an appropriate card in the reader 64. Insertion of an appropriate card into the reader 64 will cause unlocking of the arrangement 78.

There is thus described a trolley which provides an improved experience for a person shopping at a supermarket, and also enables the supermarket to provide information to the shopper.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, it may be that one or more of the above described features will not be required in particular situations. It may be that the trolley could be arranged to automatically arrange for payment of items put thereinto, and particularly if all items in the supermarket are electronically tagged.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A trolley, the trolley including display means viewable by a person pushing the trolley.

2. A trolley according to claim 1 , in which the display means includes a display arrangement having a body which is configured to locate printed material therein such that the printed material can be viewed through the body.

3. A trolley according to claim 2, in which the display arrangement is configured such that the body and hence any material located therein, can be rotated relative to the trolley.

4. A trolley according to claims 2 or 3, in which the body is arranged such that it can be selectively opened to permit the printed material therein to be changed.

5. A trolley according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the body is substantially cylindrical.

6. A trolley according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the body has transparent side walls.

7. A trolley according to claim 6, in which the side walls are removably mountable on respective end members to close the body.

8. A trolley according to claims 6 or 7, in which tamper proof fastening means are provided to retain the body side walls on the end members.

9. A trolley according to any of claims 2 to 8, in which the body is arranged to be substantially coaxial with the supermarket trolley handle.

10. A trolley according to any of the preceding claims, in which the display means includes an electronic screen.

11. A trolley according to claim 10, in which the display means is an LCD.

12. A trolley according to claims 10 or 11 , in which the display means permits video images to be viewed.

13. A trolley according to any of claims 10 to 12, in which a card reader for customers' cards is provided.

14. A trolley according o claim 13, in which the card reader may connect to a control unit which causes messages to be displayed on the screen.

15. A trolley according to claim 14, in which the messages welcome a customer, and/or provide details of advertising and promotional items.

16. A trolley according to claims 14 or 15, in which the control unit causes unlocking and locking of a trolley's wheels upon insertion and removal of a card in the card reader.

17. A trolley according to any of claims 14 to 16, in which the control unit enables payment to be made automatically for items placed into the trolley.

18. A trolley according to any of the preceding claims, in which batteries, solar panels, and/or electricity producing means powered by movement of the trolley, are provided on the trolley.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.