TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to shopping ih large stores such as a supermarket. More particularly, the invention provides a support for a shopping list and in most embodiments also means for the release of a chained shopping cart.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Consumers buying food and other items at a supermarket are offered a 4- wheel Pushcart; the large size thereof encouraging shoppers to buy more then they had Intended When all required items have been placed in the cart, the customer pays at The check out counter and typically wheels the trolley into the car parking area for Transfer of the goods to a motor vehicle. A person responsible for the purpose then collects all the carts from the parking area for reuse. [0003] By experience supermarket managers have found that not all the carts are returned. Some carts may be "borrowed" from the car park, and customers who live in the area Close to the supermarket may decide to wheel the cart to their homes, forgetting that Such carts are the property of the supermarket .Some shopping carts have been seen in the hands of homeless people who use them to carry their possessions.

[0004] To avoid the need and considerable expense of ordering replacement shopping carts, Supermarkets have developed systems wherein the customer must place a coin in a Slot made for this purpose before receiving the cart. After use of the cart and on its Return the deposited coin is automatically returned. Although the value of the cart is many times higher then the value of the coin, experience with these systems has Shown that nearly all the borrowed carts are returned to their rightful place. [0005] A typical cart security of this type is described in US Patent No. 6,250,451 by Thirkill. In said patent a special key is required to regain the deposited coin, such key Being on a short chain and being available only in a designated area or on another cart. The device causes no extra work for the supermarket, and customers have become Used to inserting a coin in return for release of a cart, which now retains a coin which Cannot be removed by the tool because the short tool chain prevents use thereof for this cart [0006] Those buying food and other items usually prepare a shopping list to insure that no needed items is forgotten, the list further helping to restrain the urge to buy more than needed or necessary. The shopping list is reviewed during the course of shopping and may require amendments. In order to ease the task of writing on said list, flat surface for supporting and writing on said list have been developed. The flat surface is removably engaged with some part of the cart. Some devices include a calculator, a writing instrument and / or a stack of note paper, as described in the following US patent Numbers: 4,858,353, 5,004,252, 5,086,960, 5,154,330, 6,029,380, 6,250,006 and 6,453,588. The patent documents make references to yet further forms of the device.

[0007] However no references was found relating to a device which could release a cart for use, and provide a convenient support holder for the shopping list and release of the cart.

BRIEF SUMMARY [0008] It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to obviate the limitations of prior art shopping list holders and to provide a support for a shopping list, said support being suitable for freeing a chained shopping cart. [0009] The present invention achieves the above object by providing an accessory for a supeπnarket cart of the type wherein said cart can be connected by a short chain to a second, similar cart or to some fixed object, a housing being rigidly attached to the said cart, said housing having a first slot for the insertion of the coin, and a second slot for insertion of a coin release tool, wherein insertion of said coin releases said cart to the user, said accessory comprising a hard and substantially flat surface having an upper face and lower face, said upper face being configured to support a shopping list, said lower face being rigidly attached to an extension which can be removably engaged with said housing, insertion of said extension providing support for said substantially flat surface at an angle to said cart convenient for the user to view and write on said shopping list. [0010] In preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an accessory wherein said extension is configured to enter said second slot, thereby to push out a coin previously held in said first coin receiving slot and to free said cart for use. [0011] In the further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an accessory wherein said substantially flat surface is provided with means to grip and removably retain said shopping list.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an accessory being manufacture out of sheet metal.

[0013] In future preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an accessory being press produce as an integral component.

[0014] In future preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an accessory further provided with clip means for removably gripping a writing instrument.

[0015] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an accessory being plastic molding.

[0016] It will thus be realized that the novel device of the present invention serves to enable a user to free any shopping chart matching the accessory in position of the user, may not presently possess the particular coin required. And as in prior art devices the shopping lit is retained in convenient poison of the cart.

[0017] The invention also specifies various methods of production for the device.

Selecting the best method is primarily dependant on the quantity to be produced and the facilities available to the manufacture. [0018] The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent by example preferred embodiments of the invention. Structural details are shown only as far as necessary for a fundamental understanding thereof. The described examples, together with the drawings, will make apparent to those skilled in the art how further forms of the invention may be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections throughout.

[0020] With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

[0021] FIG. 1 is side view of a preferred embodiment of the accessory according to the invention, seen as attached to a shopping cart, inserted in the coin of the security device;

[0022] FIG 2 is side view of a preferred embodiment of the accessory shown inserted in the coin release slot of the security device;

[0023] FIG 3 is side view of a preferred embodiment further provided with list retention means;

[0024] FIG 4 is a perspective underside view of a preferred embodiment which is press - formed from a single metal sheet of strip; [0025] FIG 5 is side view of embodiment carrying a writing instrument;

[0026] FIG 6 is side view of a preferred embodiment wherein also the writing instrument clip is included in the one - piece pressing; and

[0027] FIG 7 is a view of a preferred embodiment made of a tough plastic;

[0028] The drawings together with the description make apparent to those skilled in the art how the invention may be embodied in practice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] There is seen in FIG 1 an accessory 10 for a user of a supermarket cart 12, the rear top portion thereof is seen in the diagram. The cart 12 is of the type which can be connected by a short chain to a second, similar cart or to some fixed object, such as a rail along which the cart can move.

[0030] A two-part housing 14, 16 is rigidly attached to the push bar 18 of the cart 12.

An upper portion 14 of the housing has a first substantially horizontal slot 20 intended for the insertion of a coin 22, seen in FIG 2. Connected to the first slot 20 is a second slot 24 intended for the insertion of the coin retrieval tool 26 seen in US patent number 6,250,451. said tool is attached to a short chain, which when inserted tethers the entire cart 12 to another object, preventing usage of the cart.

[0031] The accessory 10 has a hard and substantially flat surface as an upper face 28, and has a lower face 30. the upper face 28 is seen supporting a shopping list 32. [0032] The lower face 30 is rigidly attached to an extension 34 which can be removably engaged with the upper portion 14 of the housing 14. In the present embodiment, the extension 34 is inserted into the first slot 20. The accessory 10 is further supported by the upper face of portion 14. [0033] The extension 34 now provides support for the upper face 28 horizontally as shown, or at another angle to the cart convenient for the user to view and write on the shopping list 32.

[0034] The list 32 is removably retained to the upper face 28 by an area of pressure- sensitive adhesive 36 previously applied to the lower face of the 32. If no adhesive 36 has been applies the list 32 can be lightly retained by folding two of its edges under lower face 30.

[0035] In the present embodiment the accessory 10 is supported by the first slot 20, insertion therein causing release of the chained cart 12. Thus this embodiment is suitable for a cart 12 wherein no coin has been inserted. [0036] The embodiment seen in the figure is manufactured out of sheet metal, suitable stainless steel. The extension 34 is attached by spot welding. The following figures will describe a solution for support of the list 32 if the slot 20 is Blocked by a coin. With reference to the rest of the figures, similar reference have been used to identify similar parts. [0037] Referring now to FIG.2 there is seen an embodiment of the accessory 38 wherein the extention 40 is configured to enter the second slot 24. Thus accessory 38, when inserted into said second slot will push out a coin previously held in the first coin receiving slot 20 and thus free the cart 12 for use. [0038] FIG.3 illustrate an embodiment of the accessory 42 wherein the substantially flat surface 28 is provided with means to grip and removably retain the shopping list 32.Two spaced apart in-line flexible metal clips 44 hold the list 32 to the surface 28. As viewed from the lower face the clips 44 are seen again in FIG. 4. The pressure- sensitive adhesive 36 adhesive area shown in FIG. 1 is thus not required. [0039] In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the list 32 carries two holes punched by means of a standard paper punch and a pair of corresponding posts are provided in place of the clips 44.

[0040] Seen from underneath in FIG. 4 is an embodiment 46 of the accessory which has been press produced in a multi-stage process as an integral component. The extremity 48 of the extension 50 is sized and shaped to enter the slot 20 seen in FIG. 1.

[0041] As almost always the list 32 prepared before entering the supermarket, the void 54 is unlikely to cause difficulties. [0042] Referring now to FIG.5, there is depicted an embodiment 56 further provided with clip means for removably gripping a writing instrument 58. The clip 60 is inverse U-shaped and when empty the 2 arms 62, 64 of the U are closer together at the open side of the U than near its base.

[0043] As seen FIG. 6, the writing instrument clip 66 is formed as an integral item, for production by press dies. Welding is not needed because all parts are formed from a single metal sheet 68.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows the accessory 70 manufactured as a one-piece plastic molding. A hard yet break-resistant polymer is best, for example ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene- styrene). Polypropylene, though less hard, could possibly be used achieve lower costs. [0045] The scope of the described invention is intended to include all embodiments coming within the meaning of the following claims. The foregoing examples illustrate useful forms of the invention, but are not to be considered as limiting its scope, as those skilled in the art will be aware that additional variants and modifications of the invention can ready be formulated without departing from the meaning of the following claims.

[0046] In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. [0047] Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. [0048] Reference in the specification to "some embodiments", "an embodiment", "one embodiment" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. [0049] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is ot to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. [0050] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. [0051] It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention. [0052] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

[0053] It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. [0054] If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. [0055] It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

[0056] It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, ■feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. [0057] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described. [0058] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. [0059] The term "method" may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

[0060] The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only. [0061] Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

[0062] The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

[0063] Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirely into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

[0064] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.