Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shopping trolley management system of the kind that would typically be used in connection with a supermarket shopping complex.

Background to the Invention

Shopping trolleys are now used extensively in small and large shopping centres to facilitate the transportation of purchased goods by shoppers to their vehicles, which are typically parked in an adjacent parking area. However, there are a number of problems associated with the use of shopping trolleys, not the least of which is that of finding an effective trolley management system for supermarket operators. Abandoned trolleys are a nuisance in public spaces and a danger in vehicle parking areas. Abandoned trolleys left strewn in neighbouring streets are difficult to retrieve and often vandalised or damaged due to misuse. Repair and replacement costs of shopping trolleys add significantly to supermarket operating costs. Unreturned shopping trolleys left in vehicle parking areas are a hazard as they can roll uncontrolled and collide with vehicles and people.

In order to minimise the problems caused by abandoned shopping trolleys, and to decrease repair and replacement costs, supermarket operators employ contract labour to retrieve their trolleys and return them to the store. Contractors employ junior staff to regularly survey supermarket car parks, general public areas and surrounding streets, collect abandoned trolleys and return them to their appropriate storage areas. Due to the commercial limitations in staff numbers available to perform the trolley collection function, a considerable time period may elapse between when the trolley was abandoned and when it is finally collected and returned. It is during this time that the trolleys become a nuisance, cause damage, or are vandalised and damaged due to misuse.

These problems could be substantially eliminated, if every supermarket patron could be induced to return their trolley to an appropriate storage bay

after use. Such discipline would in the long run be reflected in cost savings to customers, since the sizable cost of trolley retrieval and replacement would be discounted from the supermarket operating costs currently amortised in the price of goods. Shoppers need to be given an incentive to return their trolleys after use. However, developing an effective shopping trolley management system to provide shoppers with the required incentive has proven to be quite a challenge.

A number of prior art shopping trolley management systems have been developed in the USA and Europe based on various design concepts. For example, some companies offer a "trolley braking" system that locks one of the four trolley wheels if an attempt is made to remove the trolley from the car park area. This technique does not address the problem of abandoned trolleys left within the car park boundary. US 5,540,316 (DiPaolo et al.) and US 6,085,887 (Bohringer) both describe systems in which trolleys are chained together in a trolley bay, necessitating the insertion of a coin(s) into a coupling mechanism, typically mounted on the trolley handle, to release a coupling member thus freeing a trolley from the chain and allowing it to be removed from the trolley bay. The coin is recovered when the trolley is returned to the trolley bay and the coupling member of an adjacent trolley is reattached to the coupling mechanism. Although reasonably effective, this system can be awkward to use and disadvantages elderly patrons who may have difficulty forcing a trolley into a nested position with another trolley and in manipulating the coupling mechanism. In addition, another major disadvantage of each of the prior art systems described above is that they require expensive modifications to be made to each and every trolley, and do not easily accommodate trolleys of different shapes and sizes.

The present invention was developed with a view to providing a shopping trolley management system that gives shoppers an incentive to return their trolleys to designated storage areas and that can readily accommodate trolleys of different shapes and sizes.

References to prior art documents in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a shopping trolley management system comprising:

a plurality of shopping trolleys, each trolley being fitted with a trolley locking means;

a shopping trolley storage facility from which shopping trolleys may be removed by shoppers on payment of a designated monetary value, and to which trolleys may be returned to obtain a refund of the monetary value, the storage facility comprising: .

an elongate storage bay in which a plurality of shopping trolleys may be stored in a nested series;

an elongate trolley security rail extending substantially the full length of said storage bay, and wherein said trolley locking means is adapted to engage with said trolley security rail when the trolley is returned to the storage bay to prevent unauthorised removal of the trolley from the storage facility; and,

an electronically released latching mechanism for controlling the entry and exit of trolleys from said storage bay, said latching mechanism interacting with said locking means on a trolley to prevent removal of the trolley unless payment of said designated monetary value is made.

In one embodiment, payment of said designated monetary value may be made by way of a coin. In another embodiment, payment of said designated monetary value may be made by way of a value card such as a magnetic swipe card or a smart card.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a shopping trolley for a shopping trolley management system having a storage bay for storing returned trolleys, the trolley comprising:

a rectangular shaped shopping basket for carrying shopping items, the basket being mounted on a wheeled trolley frame; and,

trolley locking means adapted to engage with a trolley securing rail, provided in the storage bay, when the trolley is returned to the storage bay to prevent unauthorised removal of the trolley from the storage bay.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a shopping trolley storage facility for a shopping trolley management system, the storage facility comprising:

an elongate storage bay in which a plurality of shopping trolleys may be stored in a nested series;

an elongate trolley security rail extending substantially the full length of said storage bay, and wherein said trolley security rail is adapted to engage with a trolley locking means provided on a trolley when the trolley is returned to the storage bay to prevent unauthorised removal of the trolley from the storage facility; and,

an electronically released latching mechanism for controlling the entry and exit of trolleys from said storage bay, said latching mechanism interacting with said locking means on a trolley to prevent removal of the trolley unless payment of said designated monetary value is made,

and wherein shopping trolleys may be removed from the storage facility by payment of said designated monetary value, and trolleys may be returned to the storage facility to obtain a refund of the designated monetary value.

Preferably said storage bay is one of a plurality of elongate storage bays in the shopping trolley storage facility.

Preferably said trolley locking means is the form of a locking member fixed to a wheel of the shopping trolley. Preferably said locking member is L-shaped and is fixed to the outside of the trolley wheel. In one embodiment said locking member is provided by a travelator foot fixed to the trolley wheel.

Preferably said security rail is shaped to accommodate the L-shaped locking member in a loose sliding fit, so that the trolleys can be easily pushed into or

pulled out of the storage bay without jamming. Additional guide rails are preferably provided on each side of the storage bay to guide the trolleys into a nested series and to aid in preventing unauthorised removal of the trolleys from the trolley storage facility.

Preferably said latching mechanism comprises a pivotably mounted wheel locking mechanism, having a wheel retaining pin mounted on a pivot arm designed to engage with a trolley wheel in a locked position. Preferably said wheel locking mechanism further comprises a lock releasing means for releasing the pivot arm so that it is free to pivot and allow the trolley wheel to slide into or out of the security rail. In one embodiment said lock releasing means comprises a solenoid activated lock release device having a cam latch which is movable between a latch position, in which it inhibits free pivoting movement of the pivot arm, and a release position in which the pivot arm is free to pivot. When the lock release device is activated, said cam latch is moved to a release position, allowing the free pivoting movement of the pivot arm and permitting the trolley wheel to slide into or out of the security rail. Preferably said latching means also comprises a trolley entry sensor for sensing the presence of a trolley in the latching mechanism.

In another embodiment said trolley locking means is in the form of a locking tongue fixed to the side of the shopping trolley. Preferably said locking tongue is L-shaped and is fixed to the side of the shopping basket of the trolley. In one embodiment said locking tongue is provided with an internal magnet in the tip of the tongue.

Preferably said security rail is hollow and shaped to accommodate the L- shaped locking tongue in a loose sliding fit, so that the trolleys can be easily pushed into or pulled out of the storage bay without jamming. Additional guide rails are preferably provided on each side of the storage bay to guide the trolleys into a nested series and to aid in preventing unauthorised removal of the trolleys from the trolley storage facility.

Preferably said latching mechanism comprises a rotatably mounted cam latch, having a plurality of arms designed to engage with the locking tongue of the trolley. Preferably said latching mechanism further comprises a lock

releasing means for releasing the cam latch so that it is free to rotate and allow the locking tongue to slide into or out of the security rail. In one embodiment said lock releasing means comprises a solenoid activated lock release device having a locking pin which is normally in a locked position, in which it inhibits free rotation of the cam latch. When the lock release device is activated, said locking pin is retracted to a release position, allowing the free rotation of the cam latch and permitting the locking tongue to slide into or out of the security rail. Preferably said latching means also comprises a trolley entry sensor for sensing the presence of a locking tongue in the latching mechanism.

Preferably the trolleys are also fitted with a trolley identification means for identifying the trolley as an authorised trolley, when the trolley is returned to a storage bay of the system. In one embodiment said trolley identification means comprises a small verification magnet provided in a housing fixed onto the side of the basket of the shopping trolley. In another embodiment said trolley identification means comprises a RFID tag discretely located on the trolley.

The trolley storage facility preferably further comprises a coin management unit for receiving a coin when a shopper wants to remove a trolley from the trolley storage bay, and for dispensing a coin when an authorised trolley is returned to the trolley storage bay. Alternatively the trolley storage facility may further comprise a value card management unit for receiving payment of a designated monetary value from a value card when a shopper wants to remove a trolley from the trolley storage bay, and for crediting said designated monetary value to the value card when an authorised trolley is returned to the trolley storage bay.

The trolley storage facility preferably also comprises a trolley verification sensor for sensing the presence of said trolley identification means on an authorised trolley. The trolley verification sensor is typically mounted proximate the entry way of the trolley storage bay, at a similar height to the height of the trolley identification means on the trolley.

The shopping trolley management system preferably further comprises a system controller for controlling the electrical components of the shopping trolley management system. Preferably said coin or value card management unit, said lock releasing means of the latching mechanism, said trolley verification sensor and said trolley entry sensor are all operatively connected to the system controller.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a second embodiment of the shopping trolley management system, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a storage bay in a preferred embodiment of a trolley storage facility in the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a shopping trolley employed in the shopping trolley management system of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a trolley locking tongue fitted to the shopping trolley of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a verification magnet fitted to the shopping trolley of Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows a partial cut-away view of the trolley locking tongue of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a latching mechanism employed in the trolley storage facility of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a plan view of part of the latching mechanism illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates schematically a preferred embodiment of the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a top perspective view of a storage bay in a second embodiment of a trolley storage facility of the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention;

Figure 10 is a rear view of a second embodiment of a shopping trolley employed in the shopping trolley management system of the present invention;

Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a trolley wheel with locking member fitted to the shopping trolley of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a side view of a trolley wheel fitted to the shopping trolley of Figure 10;

Figure 13 shows a partial cut-away view of one embodiment of a wheel locking mechanism employed in the shopping trolley management system of the present invention, shown in a latch position;

Figure 14 shows a partial cut-away view of the wheel locking mechanism of Figure 13, shown in a release position;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of a trolley wheel with locking member fitted similar to that shown in Figure 11 ; and,

Figure 16 illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A first embodiment of the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, comprises a plurality of shopping trolleys 10, each trolley being fitted with a trolley locking means 12. The shopping trolleys 10 are of conventional design comprising a shopping basket 14 mounted on a wheeled trolley frame 16 as shown in Figure 2. The shopping basket 14 of the trolleys 10 has a rear wall that is hinged at the top, and that is designed to swing inwards in a conventional manner when pushed from the rear, so as to facilitate the storage of a plurality of trolleys as a nested series in a storage bay. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 3, the trolley locking means 12 of this embodiment preferably comprises a simple L- shaped locking tongue 12 fastened to the side of the shopping basket 14. The locking tongue 12 is welded to a small mounting plate 18 which may be bolted or welded onto the side of the basket 14, preferably adjacent a rear, top edge of the basket.

The simple design of the locking tongue 12, and its manner of affixing to the shopping trolley 10 means that modifications required to be made to conventional trolleys, to make them compatible with the system of the present invention, are minimal and inexpensive to implement. Furthermore, shopping trolleys of all shapes and sizes can be easily modified to suit the system of the invention. The trolleys 10 are also preferably fitted with an identification means 20 for identifying the trolley as an authorised trolley, when the trolley is returned to a storage bay of the system, as will be further described below. The identification means 20 of this embodiment as shown in Figure 4, is a small verification magnet 20 housed in a cylindrical housing welded at a mounting plate 22, similar to the mounting plate 18 of the locking tongue 12. Mounting plate 22 may likewise be bolted or welded onto the side of the basket 14 of the trolley, preferably adjacent a rear, bottom edge of the basket as shown in Figure 2. A variety of other identification means may be employed to enable the system to verify that the trolley is an authorised trolley, for example, an RFID tag. One advantage of using RFID tags is that each trolley can be given a unique registration number which is recognised by the system, to further facilitate trolley inventory management.

The shopping trolley management system according to the present invention preferably further comprises a shopping trolley storage facility 26 from which shopping trolleys 10 may be removed by shoppers by inserting a coin, and to which authorised trolleys 10 may be returned to obtain a refund of the coin. The storage facility 26 typically comprises an elongate storage bay 28 in which a plurality of shopping trolleys 10 may be stored in a nested series as illustrated in Figure 2. Preferably storage bay 28 is one of a plurality of elongate storage bays 28 in the shopping trolley storage facility 26. The storage facility 26 further comprises an elongate trolley security rail 30 which extends substantially the full length of the storage bay 28. The trolley locking tongue 12 on a trolley 10 is adapted to engage with the trolley security rail 30 when the trolley is returned to the storage bay to prevent unauthorised removal of the trolley from the storage facility 26. The trolley security rail 30 is preferably hollow and shaped to accommodate the L-shaped locking tongue 12 in a loose sliding fit so that the trolleys 10 dan be easily pushed into or pulled out of the storage bay 28 without jamming. However, the security rail 30 is designed to engage with the locking tongues 12 so that trolleys 10 cannot be withdrawn from, or lifted out of, the storage bay 28, even when considerable force is applied. Additional guide rails 32 are preferably provided on each side of the storage bay 28 to guide the trolleys 10 into a nested series and to aid in preventing unauthorised removal of the trolleys from the storage facility 26.

The storage facility 26 further comprises a coin released latching mechanism 34 (see Figure 6) for controlling the entry and exit of trolleys from the storage bay 28. The latching mechanism 34 is designed to interact with the locking tongue 12 on a trolley to prevent removal of the trolley unless a correct coin is inserted. The latching mechanism 34 is preferably mounted on the securing rail 30 proximate to the point of entry of trolleys into the storage bay 28. As illustrated in Figure 5, the locking tongue 12 is preferably provided with an internal magnet 36 housed within the tip of the tongue 12. The latching mechanism 34 typically has a Hall effect magnetic sensor 38 for detecting the presence of the internal magnet 36 of the locking tongue 12, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 6.

The latching mechanism 34 typically further comprises a rotatably mounted cam latch 40, having four arms designed to engage with the locking tongue 12 of the trolley 10. A lock releasing means, in this embodiment comprising a solenoid activated lock release device 42 is also provided in the latching mechanism 34. The lock release device 42 has a locking pin 44 which is normally in a locked position as shown in Figures 6 and 7, in which it inhibits free rotation of the cam latch 40. When the lock release device 42 is activated, locking pin 44 is retracted to a release position (not shown), allowing the free rotation of cam latch 40 and permitting the locking tongue 12 to slide into or out of the security rail 30.

The trolley storage facility 26 preferably further comprises a coin management unit 50 for receiving a coin when a shopper wants to remove a trolley 10 from the trolley storage bay 28, and for dispensing a coin when an authorised trolley is returned to the trolley storage bay 28. For this purpose the coin management unit 50 has a secure, tamper-proof housing with a coin insert slot 52, and a coin dispenser 54. The coin management unit 50 and latching mechanism 34 are both operatively coupled to a system controller 60, as shown in Figure 8, for controlling the electrical components of the shopping trolley management system. The system controller 60 is typically a microprocessor-based electronic controller, which can be programmed to provide a variety of control functions as required.

The trolley storage facility 26 preferably also comprises a trolley verification sensor 58 for sensing the presence of a verification magnet 20 on an authorised trolley 10. The trolley verification sensor 58 is typically mounted proximate the entry way of the trolley storage bay 28, at a similar height to the height of the verification magnet 20 on the trolley, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 1. The trolley verification sensor 58 typically comprises a Hall Effect sensor, or alternatively may comprise an RFID tag reader. The trolley verification sensor 58 is also operatively coupled to the system controller 60 as shown in Figure 8. Advantageously, the shopping trolley management system may be solar powered by means of a suitable solar panel 66, with a back-up battery 68, as illustrated in Figure 8. Alternatively, the solar panel 66

and back-up battery 68 may be used to supply power to the system in the event of an AC mains power failure.

Access to the trolley bay for the purpose of adding to or removing trolleys from the trolley bay by the trolley manager is facilitated by a key operated switch 70. When the key switch 70 is activated the locking mechanism 34 disengages, and the coin management unit 50 is disabled, thus giving free access to the trolley bay. This function allows the trolley manager to maintain a balanced number of trolleys in each trolley storage facility in the shopping complex without having to insert and or withdraw coins for each trolley being removed or entering the trolley bay. On the removal of the key, the locking mechanism 34 re-engages and the coin management unit 50 is enabled. Where the installation demands, the above operation can be performed using a "keyless" remote control function as an adjunct to the key switch 70.

A typical operating sequence of the first embodiment of the shopping trolley management system will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In order to remove a shopping trolley 10 from the trolley storage bay 28, a shopper simply inserts an appropriate coin, say a $1 coin, into the coin insert slot 52 of the coin management unit 50. The coin management unit 50 verifies that a correct coin has been inserted, and then signals the system controller 60 to release a trolley from the storage bay. System controller 60 then activates the solenoid in the lock release device 42 to lift the locking pin 44 to the release position. The cam latch 40 is now free to rotate, and the locking tongue 12 of one of the trolleys 10 in the storage bay 28 is therefore free to pass through the latch mechanism 34. As the locking pin 44 passes under the Hall Effect magnetic sensor 38, a signal is sent to the system controller 60 which then immediately deactivates the solenoid in the lock release device 42 so that the locking pin 44 returns to the locked position. Hence only one trolley can be removed from the storage bay at a time. Another trolley can only be removed by inserting another coin.

When a trolley 10 is returned to the trolley storage facility 26, as the trolley is pushed into the storage bay 28, the locking tongue 12 on the trolley enters the end of the security rail 30 and engages with the cam latch 40 of the

latching mechanism 34. At the same time, the trolley entry sensor 38 senses the presence of the internal magnet 36 in the tip of the locking tongue and sends a signal to the system controller 60. The trolley verification sensor 58 more-or-less simultaneously detects the presence of the verification magnet 20 on the trolley 10 and also generates a signal for the system controller 60. Having thus verified that an authorised trolley is being returned to the storage facility, the system controller 60 then activates the solenoid in the lock release device 42 to lift the locking pin 44 to the release position. The cam latch 40 is now free to rotate, and the locking tongue 12 of the trolley 10 is therefore free to pass through the latch mechanism 34 into the security rail 30. Once the trolley 10 is pushed into the storage bay 28, trolley entry sensor 38 senses that the internal magnet 36 in the locking tongue 12 is no longer present and signals to the system controller 60 that the trolley has been returned. System controller 60 then deactivates the solenoid in the lock release device 42 so that the locking pin 44 returns to the locked position, and activates the coin management unit 50 to refund a coin via the coin dispenser 54. It is not necessary for the trolley to be returned to the same trolley storage facility from which it was removed in order to obtain a refund.

A second embodiment of the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention will now be described, with reference to Figures 9 to

16. As with the previous embodiment, the shopping trolley management system comprises a plurality of shopping trolleys 10, each trolley being fitted with a trolley locking means 70. The shopping trolleys 10 are of conventional design comprising a shopping basket 14 mounted on a wheeled trolley frame 16. As can be seen more clearly in Figures 11 and 12, the trolley locking means 70 of this embodiment preferably comprises an L-shaped locking member 72 fastened to the outside of one of the trolley wheels 74. The locking member 72 is bolted to the rotatable wheel mount of the trolley wheel

74, preferably one of the rear wheels of the trolley. Advantageously, the locking member 72 may be in the form of a travelator foot 72 which is fitted to both rear wheels of the shopping trolley 10 to enable the trolley to be safely taken onto a travelator.

The simple design of the locking member 72, and its manner of affixing to the shopping trolley 10, means that modifications required to be made to conventional trolleys, to make them compatible with the system of the present invention, are minimal and inexpensive to implement. Indeed no modifications are required at all to trolleys already fitted with travelator feet. Furthermore, shopping trolleys of all shapes and sizes can be easily modified to suit the system of the invention. The trolleys 10 are also preferably fitted with an identification means 76 for identifying the trolley as an authorised trolley, when the trolley is returned to a storage bay of the system. The identification means 76 of this embodiment is an RFID tag preferably discretely located on the trolley, such as in the handle of the trolley. One advantage of using RFID tags is that each trolley can be given a unique registration number which is recognised by the system, to further facilitate trolley inventory management.

The shopping trolley management system according to the present invention preferably further comprises a shopping trolley storage facility 80 from which shopping trolleys 10 may be removed by shoppers on payment of a designated monetary value, and to which trolleys may be returned to obtain a refund of the monetary value. The storage facility 80 illustrated in Figure 9 is similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 , and includes a plurality of elongate storage bays 82. However in this embodiment the elongate trolley security rail, which extends substantially the full length of the storage bay 82, is in the form of a wheel locking rail 84. The trolley locking member 72 on a trolley 10 is adapted to engage with the wheel locking rail 84 when the trolley is returned to the storage bay, to prevent unauthorised removal of the trolley from the storage facility 80. The wheel locking rail 84 is shaped to accommodate a trolley wheel 74 and the L-shaped locking member 72 in a loose sliding fit so that the trolleys 10 can be easily pushed into or pulled out of the storage bay 82 without jamming. However, the security rail 84 is designed to engage with the locking members 72 so that trolleys 10 cannot be withdrawn from, or lifted out of, the storage bay 82, even when considerable force is applied. Additional guide rails 86 are preferably provided on each side of the storage bay 82 to guide the trolleys 10 into a nested

series and to aid in preventing unauthorised removal of the trolleys from the storage facility 80.

The storage facility 80 further comprises an electronically released latching mechanism 90 (see Figures 13, 14 and 15) for controlling the entry and exit of trolleys from the storage bay 82. The latching mechanism 90 is designed to interact with the trolley wheel 74 on a trolley to prevent removal of the trolley unless payment of a designated monetary value is made. The latching mechanism 90 is preferably mounted on the wheel locking rail 84 proximate to the point of entry of trolleys into the storage bay 82.

The latching mechanism 90 of this embodiment comprises a pivotably mounted wheel locking mechanism, having a wheel retaining pin 92 mounted on a pivot arm 94 designed to engage with a trolley wheel 74 in a locked position. Preferably the wheel locking mechanism 90 further comprises a lock releasing means 96 for releasing the pivot arm 94 so that it is free to pivot and allow the trolley wheel 74 to slide into or out of the security rail 84. In this embodiment the lock releasing means 96 comprises a solenoid activated lock release device 98 having a cam latch 100 which is movable between a latch position, as shown in Figure 13, in which it inhibits free pivoting movement of the pivot arm 94, and a release position, as shown in Figure 14, in which the pivot arm 94 is free to pivot. When the lock release device 98 is activated, the cam latch 100 is moved to a release position, allowing the free pivoting movement of the pivot arm 94 and permitting the trolley wheel to slide into or out of the security rail.

The lock release device 98 has a locking pin 102 that engages with the cam latch in the latch position as shown in Figure 13, in which it inhibits free rotation of pivot arm 94 and wheel retaining pin 92. When the lock release device 98 is activated, it causes the rotation of cam latch 100, thus releasing locking pin 102. The locking pin 102 will in turn track the cam action of the cam latch 100, lifting the locking pin 102 and permitting the pivot arm 94 and wheel retaining pin 92 to move to a position below the height of the axle of the trolley wheel 74. When the lock release device 98 is activated, the pivot arm

94 is released and raised by the cam and is then free to rotate, allowing the

trolley wheel to further lower the retaining pin 92 by the rolling action of the wheel whilst the trolley is being pulled out of the trolley bay. The retaining pin 92 will continue to pivot downward to the base of the trolley security rail 84, ultimately allowing the trolley wheel to ride over the retaining pin and free of the trolley bay. The pivot arm 94 is preferably biased to the locked position, shown in Figures 13 and 15, by means of a return spring 104. Return spring 104 also applies the necessary force to ensure that locking pin 102 follows the contour of the cam latch 100.

The trolley storage facility 80 preferably further comprises a card management unit 108 for receiving payment of a designated monetary value from a value card when a shopper wants to remove a trolley 10 from the trolley storage bay 82, and for crediting the designated monetary value to the value card when an authorised trolley is returned to the trolley storage bay.

The value card may be a magnetic swipe card, such as a credit or debit card with magnetic strip, or a smart card in which a monetary value may be stored electronically and credit and debit transactions performed by wireless communication with a card reader. For this purpose the card management unit 108 is fitted with a suitable card reader for performing monetary transactions electronically. Swiping or using a value card in connection with card reader allows a shopper to remove a single trolley from the storage bay

82.

Trolleys are returned by pushing the trolley into the trolley locking mechanism 90 and swiping or using the same value card to release the wheel locking mechanism, thus allowing the trolley to enter the bay. The system then resets to indicate that the card no longer has a trolley assigned to it. Shoppers are encouraged to return the trolley since the system will not allow them access to another trolley on the same card until they return the previous trolley. Vagrant trolleys may also be returned "anonymously", that is, without swiping a card. A special button is available to allow a trolley to be returned without the use of a card, however the original card used to remove the trolley will not be credited when the trolley is returned by this means. The addition of an RFID tag 76 to the trolley allows a trolley ID to be associated with a card ID. The subsequent return of that trolley would allow the "trolley out" state of the

card to be cleared, even without the original card. This feature permits anyone to return a trolley and still allows the original card to be freed up.

The card management unit 108 and wheel locking mechanism 90 are both operatively coupled to a bay controller 114, as shown in Figure 16, for controlling the electrical components of the shopping trolley management system. The bay controller 114 is typically a microprocessor-based electronic controller, which can be programmed to provide a variety of control functions as required.

The trolley storage facility 80 preferably also comprises a trolley verification sensor 112 for sensing the presence of a RFID tag 76 on an authorised trolley

10. The trolley verification sensor 112 is typically mounted proximate the entry way of the trolley storage bay 82, at a similar height to the height of handle on the trolley, as shown in Figure 16. The trolley verification sensor 112 typically comprises a RFID tag reader. The trolley verification sensor 112 is also operatively coupled to the bay controller 114 as shown in Figure 16. Since trolleys will not necessarily be returned to the same trolley bays from which they were removed, an RFID trolley database must register the return of a trolley to any bay in any station. The current plan is for multiple stations to be interconnected via a hardwired system. The problems of managing a shared communications cable (bus) for all the modules are solved with the use of a

CAN module. Alternatively, multiple stations may be networked with the system controller 110 using a wireless network.

Each shopping trolley storage facility or station 80 comprises one or more storage bays 82. As shown in Figure 16, each bay 82 has a trolley bay controller module 114, which controls the wheel locking mechanism 90, a trolley entry sensor 118a and a trolley exit sensor 118b to determine trolley movement out from or into the trolley bay, a card reader unit 116, a manual return button, a buzzer, and visual feedback LEDs. Each bay module 114 can communicate with a station PIC microcontroller (not shown), which reports to the central system controller 110. The communications between the station PIC and each trolley bay controller 114 is typically via a synchronous serial data bus. A "Paid Trolley Return Mode" is used in the module that allows

cards to be cleared. A physical jumper is used to select this mode. When a card is swiped, the system will wait a few seconds for the button to be pressed to confirm clearing the card; while waiting the buzzer will sound. When confirmed, the module will send a message to the Central system controller to clear the state of the card.

A "Card Reset" module will incorporate a bay controller and a station controller in the one unit. A hardware jumper setting will tell the bay controller to act in "Card Reset" mode. Since the Card Reset module is likely to be securely located inside the shopping center, it is also the logical place for the card database (and trolley database) to be located. The Card Reset module could be manually operated, or it could incorporate a coin machine for a fully automated system.

The card database is a module on the CAN bus. As it's on the bus, it may be physically located at any convenient point on the bus. Its purpose is to record which cards have removed a trolley from a bay. When a card is used to remove a trolley, it is added to the database. When a card is used to return a trolley, it is removed from the database. It is also removed from the database when told to by the "Card Reset" module. The card database also maintains a list of "service" IDs. When such an ID is received, the bay is unlocked for a much longer period of time (eg, until the card is swiped again, or 30-60 seconds have elapsed since the last trolley was detected) to allow for mass removal or return of trolleys by approved trolley handlers.

The trolley database is an optional module on the CAN bus. As it's on the bus, it may be physically located at any convenient point on the bus. Its purpose is to record the comings and goings of trolleys, for statistical and maintenance purposes. It is likely that it may not even be a database itself, but a communications buffer between the bays/stations and a PC - the PC would be the database. Initially, the bays/stations will be programmed just for card management. Eventually, trolleys will be tracked as well. It is planned that no reprogramming will be needed, just the addition of an extra plug-in board to each bay to read the trolley RFID tag. Since there can be only one trolley database module, the trolley database module can be assigned a

special ID. When each station controller is first switched on, it can check for the existence of a trolley database. If it finds one, it will know to pass on trolley information. Bays will always pass on trolley information. If there is no RFID module installed, the trolley ID will be read as zeroes, which the station controller will not pass on.

A typical operating sequence of the embodiment of the shopping trolley management system illustrated in Figures 9 to 16 will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to remove a shopping trolley 10 from the trolley storage bay 82, a shopper simply swipes an appropriate value card, using the card reader116. Alternatively, the shopper inserts a coin of the designated monetary value in the coin management unit 50. The card reader unit 116 or coin management unit 50 verifies that a correct monetary value has been paid, and then signals the bay controller 114 to release a trolley from the storage bay. Bay controller 116 then activates the solenoid in the lock release device 98 to move the cam latch 100 to the release position. The pivot arm 94 is now free to pivot, and the trolley wheel 74 of the trolley 10 in the wheel locking rail 84 is therefore free to roll over the wheel retaining pin 92. As the trolley passes trolley verification sensors 112, a signal is sent to the bay controller 116 which then immediately deactivates the solenoid in the lock release device 98 so that the cam latch 100 returns to the latched position. Hence only one trolley can be removed from the storage bay at a time. Another trolley can only be removed by inserting another coin or swiping a card.

When a trolley 10 is returned to the trolley storage facility 80, as the trolley is pushed into a storage bay 82, the front trolley wheel engages with the wheel retaining pin 92 of the wheel locking mechanism 90. At the same time, the trolley entry sensor 118a senses the presence of the trolley and sends a signal to the bay controller 114. The trolley verification sensor 112 more-or- less simultaneously detects the presence of the RFID tag in the handle of the trolley 10 and also generates a signal for the bay controller 114. Having thus verified that an authorised trolley is being returned to the storage facility, the bay controller 114 then activates the solenoid in the lock release device 98 to move the cam latch 100 to the release position. The pivot arm 94 is once

again free to pivot, and the trolley wheel 74 is therefore free to pass through the latching mechanism 90 into the security rail 84. Once the trolley 10 is pushed into the storage bay 82, trolley entry sensor 118a senses that the trolley is no longer present and signals to the bay controller 114 that the trolley has been returned. Bay controller 114 then deactivates the solenoid in the lock release device 98 so that the wheel retaining pin returns to the locked position.

The shopper places a "smart" card in proximity to the card reader unit 116, to "cancel" the card number "debit" from the card database. The unique card number stored in the system microprocessor must be cancelled by the return of a trolley and the placing of a "smart" card in proximity of the card reader. Unless the card number "debited" by the removal of a trolley from the trolley bay is cancelled, trolleys can no longer be removed from the trolley bay by that particular card. The bay controller then activates the coin management unit 50 or the card reader unit 116 to refund the designated monetary value.

Now that preferred embodiments of the shopping trolley management system according to the present invention have been described in detail, it will be apparent that it has a number of advantages over prior art systems, including the following:

(i) It is simple to use by supermarket patrons who are already familiar with, and accustomed to removing trolleys from, trolley storage bays not too dissimilar from that preferably employed in the present invention.

(ii) Conventional shopping trolleys of all shapes and sizes can be employed, and the modifications required to make them compatible with the system of the invention are minimal and inexpensive to implement.

(iii) The shopping trolley management system preferably refunds a monetary value equal to that paid when removing the trolley, thus incurring no cost to the user and providing an incentive to return the trolley to obtain the refund. In the event that a patron is prepared to forfeit the refund by abandoning the trolley, there is still an incentive for a third party to return the abandoned trolley and be rewarded with the refund.

(iv) The system can be readily linked electronically to, and/or integrated into, a central computer system of the supermarket to provide continuous monitoring of the movement of trolleys into and out of each of the trolley storage facilities and real time management of trolley inventories.

(v) The system can be easily expanded and/or tailor made to suit any sized shopping complex. Any number of trolley storage facilities can be operated independently in the same shopping complex, (for example, by different supermarket stores) or as an integrated network.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, an optical sensor rather than a Hall Effect sensor could be employed, in connection with the latching mechanism, to detect the presence of the trolley at the entrance to the trolley storage bay. Furthermore, whilst the L-shaped locking member on the trolleys is the presently preferred embodiment of the locking means in view of its simplicity of design, it will be appreciated that the locking means may take any of a variety of other forms which will perform the same or a similar function. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described and is to be determined from the appended claims.