The present invention relates to a shopping basket storage system.

Shopping baskets of the type carried by hand are often provided in retail outlets. A stack of baskets is

positioned by an entrance to the shop. Once a customer has finished with their basket, it is typically left in a stack by the checkout. The stack is then periodically returned to the entrance. It may be carried, or moved on a wheeled holder .

The present invention provides a shopping basket storage system comprising a stand including an electronic flat panel display and a docking portion, and a moveable shopping basket holder arranged to carry a stack of shopping baskets and be selectively dockable at the docking portion to position the stack of baskets beneath the display.

With this configuration, a stack of baskets may be stored in a convenient and highly visible location. The electronic flat panel display may be used to provide eye catching information at a location that customers do not just walk past, but need to approach, and pause briefly to pick up a basket. Also, they will do this on entry to the store. This optimises the impact of the message conveyed by the electronic flat panel display and hence is of

significant benefit to the retailer or a brand owner

advertising on the screen. Optionally, the stand comprises an upright portion and a base unit, the base unit comprising at least one front support to define the docking portion. Optionally, the base unit comprises a single front support at a central portion of the base unit.

Alternatively, the base unit comprises a front support projecting forwardly at each side.

Preferably, the base unit is detachable from the upright portion. This enables one of a number of

interchangeable base units to be selected and attached to the upright portion to suit a given installation.

Optionally, the rear of the base unit is tapered away from the upright portion. This configuration combines particularly well with a base unit having a single front support at a central portion of the base unit to allow the stand to be placed neatly in a corner.

Preferably, a magnetic coupling is provided between the stand and the basket holder. With this arrangement, the basket holder can be magnetically retained in the docking portion of the stand.

Preferably the basket holder includes a protrusion on a first side and a corresponding recess on a second, opposite, side, for the interlocking connection of a plurality of basket holders. The present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shopping basket storage system in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the shopping basket storage system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front view of the stand of the shopping basket storage system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view of the stand of Figure 3 ;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a shopping basket holder of the shopping basket storage system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a front view of the shopping basket holder of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of the shopping basket holder of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a plan view, similar to Figure 2, of a shopping basket storage system having an alternative base unit .

The shopping basket storage system 10 is shown in Figure 1, and comprises a stand 100 and a moveable shopping basket holder 200. The basket holder 200 is configured to be received against the stand 100. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the stand 100 includes a base unit 105 to which an upright portion 110 is removably fixed .

The upright portion 110 comprises a frame 115 which includes a display recess 120 in which an electronic flat panel display 125 is mounted. Suitable displays include, but are not limited to, an LED screen, a plasma screen, or an LCD screen. The frame 115 also includes a media player recess, or hole, 135 in which a media player (not shown) is disposed and is accessible to a user. The media player could be any device capable of providing input information to the display 125 as an electrical signal. For example, the media player may be a CPU, a CD player, a USB device, a DVD player, or a receiver for a remote signal.

The stand 100 further includes front and rear face panels 140, 145 which are removably mounted onto the frame 115. The face panels 140, 145 may be formed from any suitable material, for example melamine coated MDF . Edge panels 150 are mounted on the sides and top of the frame 115 and include vent ports (not shown) to aid cooling of the electronic flat panel display 125 when it is in use. In this example, the edge panels 150 are made from mild steel which is powder coated.

The dimensions of the stand 100 should preferably be selected to enable the display 125 to be seen by customers even when a basket holder 200 with a stack of baskets is docked against the stand 100. In this example, the total height of the stand 100 is approximately 2 metres and the upright is approximately 600mm wide and 150mm deep, such that the display 125 may be housed inside the stand 100. The baskets can be stacked above the bottom of the display 125. However, the display should be positioned such that it is visible when a reasonable stack of baskets for normal use are placed on the basket holder. Alternatively, an

obstruction may be provided on the stand 100 to prevent the stacking of baskets above the bottom of the display 125. The stand 100 further includes a support post 165 onto which the upright portion 110 is slotted and which is connected to the base unit 105, for example by conventional screws, to removably fix the upright portion 110 and the base unit 105 together. In this example, the support post 165 is made from mild steel tubing. By using a hollow tube, a power cable (not shown) can be routed through a cable hole 170 in the base unit 105 to the display unit 125 and the media player via the support post 165. In this example, the rearmost part 175 of the base unit

105 is substantially flat and the upright portion 110 is mounted parallel to the rear surface 180 of the rearmost part 175. With this arrangement, the stand 100 can be placed with its rear against a flat wall. However, the rear surface need not be flat to be placed against the wall and other arrangements are also contemplated. For example, a number of rear supports may be provided. The base unit 105 also includes two front supports 185 to provide stability to the stand 100 and which are spaced apart such that they define a docking area 190 into which the basket holder 200 may be received. In this example, the supports 185 are spaced apart by approximately 530mm, although the final dimensions will depend on the width of the basket holder 200. The base unit 105 can be made of any suitable

material. In this example, the base unit 105 is formed from melamine faced MDF, with PVC edgings.

The colours of the front, rear and edge panels of the upright portion 110 and the base unit 105 may be selected according to the brand colours of the store in which the system will be used.

As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the basket holder 200 includes a substantially rectangular platform 205 having castors 210 underneath each corner. On the upper surface of the platform 205 is a rectangular basket recess 215 for receiving a stack of shopping baskets. The recess 215 should be deep enough to restrict the movement of a stack of baskets on the holder 200 so that the stack does not become dislodged during the conveyance of the holder 200.

Preferably, the recess is 25mm deep.

The platform also includes a protrusion 220 on one side and a corresponding recess 225 on the opposite side to enable the interlocking connection of a row of basket holders. The platform may be formed from any suitable material. In this example, the platform is formed from powder coated MDF.

The basket holder 200 further includes a handle 230 for movement of the holder 200 by a user and an outer frame 235 fixed to the upper surface of the platform 205 and extending around the sides and rear of the platform 205. This frame protects the stack of baskets from toppling sideward or rearwards .

In use, baskets are stacked on the basket holder 200, which may be wheeled on the castors 210 to collect baskets from one location, or various locations, before being returned to the stand 100 where the platform 205 is received in the docking area 180 with the handle 230 facing the upright portion 110, in the position shown in Figure 1.

Optionally, at least one magnet is provided on either the holder 200 or the stand 100, or both, to magnetically retain the holder 200 against the stand 100.

When a customer arrives at the system 10 to collect a basket from the holder 200, the screen 125 on the front face of the upright portion 110 presents information to the customer. The screen may be constantly presenting

information. The system 10 may also have a motion sensor, or similar means, to detect a customer, the display 125 presenting changing information when the presence of a customer is detected. The motion sensor may be used to count the number of customers approaching the system 10. Optionally, a camera is provided on the stand 100 to gather information concerning the type of customers using the system 10.

The system 10 may be configured to present visual information only. Alternatively, the system 10 also emits sound to accompany the visual information. It is envisaged that the system 10 supports a variety of file formats for providing information to the display 125. For example, the system 10 is compatible with AVI, MPEG, MOV, WMV, AAC, WMA, JPEG, PNG, GIF, HTML, MHTML and SWF file types, along with other suitable formats.

As the upright portion 110 and the base unit 105 are removably connected, the base unit 105 is interchangeable. Thus, an alternatively configured base unit may also be provided to suit a given installation.

Such an alternative base unit 105' is shown in Figure 8 and comprises a rearmost part 175' which has two rear surfaces 180' which are approximately perpendicular to each other, rather than a single flat surface. As a result, the rearmost part 175' is substantially triangular. Further, the base unit 105' has a single front support

185' extending from the centre of the base unit 105', rather than two front supports at each side. The front support 185' should be dimensioned such that it fits underneath the basket holder 200 and between the castors 210 when it is placed against the stand 100'. In this example, the height of the front support 185' is approximately 60mm.

The upright portion 110 is mounted on the alternative base unit 105' at an angle to the rear surfaces 180'. The stand 100 may then be fitted neatly in a corner formed by two walls, while facing away from the corner, by placing the two rear surfaces 180' against the two walls with the apex of the triangle in the corner. The apex of the rearmost part 175' may be in line with the central axis of the stand 100, as shown in Figure 8. With this arrangement, the upright portion 110 will be angled at 45 degrees to each of the walls which form the corner. Alternatively, the apex may be offset such that the rear surfaces 180' are of different length, enabling the stand 100 to be placed against the walls at an alternative angle. Although the rearmost portion 175' is described as triangular, other shapes which taper inwardly are also contemplated. For example, the rear of the base unit 105' may be trapezoidal, or semi-circular.