Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR LOCKING SHOPPING CARTS
TOGETHER AND METHOD OF UTILIZATION THEREOF
Brief Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for locking
shopping carts together and to a method of utilization of
such apparatus, the apparatus involving improvements over
the apparatus shown in the following U.S. Patents of
myself and John T. Hood, each entitled Coin-Controlled
Apparatus for Locking Shopping Carts Together, these
patents being incorporated herein by reference:
Patent Number Issue Date
5,040,656 August 20, 1991
5,131,517 July 21, 1992
5,220,987 June 22, 1993
5,540,316 July 30, 1996
U.S. Patent No. 5,540,316 is directed, in part, to
an improved construction for the apparatus shown in the
other three patents listed above enabling it to be made
in a substantially smaller size so as to take up less
room and to have a better appearance on the handle of a
shopping cart and to enable savings in material and
easier assembly of parts for economy of production. This
invention is directed to improvement of the construction
shown in said U.S. Patent No. 5,540,316 with the object
of enabling it to be made even further smaller so as to
take up even less room on the handle of the shopping cart
and to enable further savings in material. The invention
is further directed to improved constructions with the
object of reducing the number of parts, and one of which
enables constructions for mounting the apparatus either
in a position extending lengthwise of the handle of the
shopping cart i.e., with the slide of the apparatus
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extending longitudinally of the handle, or transversely
of the handle, i.e. with the slide extending crosswise of
the handle (generally at right angles to the handle). A
further phase of the invention involves a construction
for apparatus for locking shopping carts together
utilizing certain principles of either the apparatus
shown in the above patents or the present invention and
modified to provide for utilization of the apparatus in a
method such as to encourage return of a cart to a cart
corral, e.g. a corral on the parking lot of a supermarket
or the like establishment, and lock-up of the cart by a
customer, after the customer has wheeled the cart to the
customer's car and taken purchased items out of the cart
and placed them in the car.
In general, a first phase of the invention involves
an apparatus for locking shopping carts together in
nested series comprising check-controlled mechanism which
is mounted on a cart and which is adapted for receiving
and releasably locking therein a bar on a tether attached
to the next cart in the series, the term "check" being
used here in a generic context as applicable to a coin,
token or an equivalent thereof. This mechanism comprises
an elongate body having a top, bottom, sides and rearward
and forward ends, with an elongate slideway for a slide
extending therein from the rearward end thereof toward
the forward end, said body being adapted for being
mounted in a generally horizontal position on a shopping
cart and being of two-part construction comprising a
lower part having an elongate bottom wall, upwardly
extending side walls, and a forward end wall, and an
upper part having an elongate top, downwardly extending
side walls extending on the side walls of the lower part
and a forward end wall on the forward end wall of the
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lower part. A slide having a forward and a rearward
portion is slidable in the slideway between an outer
rearward position and a forward position, means being
provided for limiting rearward movement of the slide and
determining its rearward position. The rearward portion
of the slide has a relatively deep narrow recess for
holding a check e.g. a coin or token on edge therein with
the check projecting up out of said check-holding recess,
the latter being located outwardly of the rearward end of
the body when the slide is in its rearward position for
deposit of a check therein and for retrieval of a check
therefrom and being located within the body when the
slide is pushed inward and forward, spring means being
provided biasing the slide outwardly to its said rearward
position. The body has a hole at one side for insertion
of a bar, means being provided for latching the slide in
its said forward position and latching the inserted bar
in said body, the slide being released from said forward
position for return to its said rearward position by the
bar upon insertion of the bar in said body. The
apparatus is characterized in that the slideway has sides
defined by the upwardly extending walls of the lower part
and the downwardly extending walls of the upper part and
a bottom in the lower part, the latter being formed with
a groove in the bottom of the slideway extending
lengthwise of the slideway having a rearward end adjacent
the rearward end of the body and a forward end spaced
from the forward end of the body, the slide having a lug
extending down into said groove slidable in the groove
lengthwise of the groove, and so located along the length
of the slideway as to be adjacent the rearward end of the
groove when the slide is in its rearward position, the
slide-biasing spring means comprising a coil compression
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spring pocketed in the groove between the lug and the
forward end of the groove and reacting from the forward
end of the groove against the lug to bias the slide
outwardly to its rearward position.
A second phase of the invention involves a locking
mechanism comprising a body having a top, bottom, sides
and rearward and forward ends, with an elongate slideway
for a slide extending therein from the rearward end
thereof toward the forward end, said body being of two-
part construction comprising a lower part having an
elongate bottom wall, upwardly extending side walls, and
a forward end wall, and an upper part having an elongate
top, downwardly extending side walls extending on the
side walls of the lower part and a forward end wall on
the forward end wall of the lower part; a slide having a
forward and a rearward portion slidable in the slideway
between an outer rearward position and a forward
position; means for limiting rearward movement of the
slide and determining its rearward position; the rearward
portion of the slide having a relatively deep narrow
recess for holding a check on edge therein with the check
projecting up out of said recess, the latter being
located outwardly of the rearward end of the body when
the slide is in its rearward position for deposit of a
check therein and for retrieval of a check therefrom and
being located within the body when the slide is pushed
inward and forward; said mechanism characterized in that
each of said upper and lower parts of the body is molded
of plastic and said lower part is molded with a groove in
the bottom thereof extending from the rearward end to the
forward end thereof for receiving the handle of a cart on
which the apparatus is to be mounted in position
extending lengthwise of the handle, and wherein said
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lower part is also molded with a groove in the bottom
thereof extending from one side to the other side thereof
for receiving the handle of a cart on which the apparatus
is to be mounted in position extending crosswise of the
5 handle.
A third phase of the invention involves a locking
mechanism comprising a housing for attachment to a cart;
a holder having a recess therein for holding either a
check for check-controlled operation of the mechanism or
an item serving as a reward for a customer returning the
cart to a cart corral and locking the cart so returned to
the next cart in the series; said holder being carried by
the housing for movement inward and outward relative to
the housing between a first position wherein the recess
is accessible outside the housing and a second position
wherein the recess is within the housing and
inaccessible; a detent mounted in the housing for
movement between a position for limiting the inward
movement of said holder and a retracted position allowing
inward movement of the holder to its said second
position; spring means biasing the holder outward to its
said first position; the housing having an opening for
insertion of a bar; means for latching the holder in its
said second position and latching the inserted bar in
said housing, the holder being released from its said
second position for return to its said first position by
the bar upon insertion of the bar in said housing; and a
detent actuator removably associated with the holder for
moving the detent to its retracted position allowing
inward movement of the holder to its said second position
for operation of the apparatus in a mode wherein an item
serving as a reward is placed in the recess and the
holder moved inward as permitted by movement of the
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detent to its said retracted position, said detent
actuator being removable for operation of the mechanism
in alternative mode of operation wherein a check is
placed in the recess for moving the detent to its
retracted position to permit inward movement of the
holder to its said second position.
A fourth phase of the invention, relating to the
handling of shopping carts by an establishment which
provides shopping carts for use by its customers,
involves the method of encouraging the return of the
carts by customers to a cart corral after completion of
shopping comprising providing carts for customer use
equipped with a mechanism for locking carts together in a
nested series with the carts unlocked for being wheeled
away for shopping by customers, the locking mechanism on
each cart being adapted to receive a bar on a tether
attached to the next cart in the series and comprising a
housing for attachment to a cart, said housing having an
opening for insertion of a bar, a holder having a recess
therein adapted to hold an item serving as a reward for a
customer returning the cart to a cart corral and locking
the cart so returned to the next cart in the series, said
holder being carried by the housing for movement inward
and outward relative to the housing between a first
position wherein the recess is accessible outside the
housing and a second position wherein the recess is
within the housing and inaccessible, means for biasing
the holder outwardly to its said first position, and
means for latching the holder in its said second position
and latching the inserted bar in said housing, the holder
being released from its said second position for return
to its said first position by the bar upon insertion of
the bar in said housing; maintaining a supply of carts
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with the locking mechanism of each cart in said supply
having its said holder latched in its said second
position within said housing, one or more of the carts in
said supply having an item in the recess in the holder of
the locking mechanism thereof serving as a reward for the
customer using the cart, the holder being released for
movement to its said first position presenting the reward
to the customer upon return of the cart by the customer
to a cart corral and locking of the cart to the next cart
of a series in the corral.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent
and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Brief Description of the Drawing's
Fig. 1 is a generally perspective view showing a
series of nested shopping carts locked together by
apparatus of this invention, the cart wheels being
omitted;
Fig. 2 is vertical longitudinal section of a check-
controlled mechanism of the apparatus, generally on line
2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the slide of the mechanism in a
rearward position (its outer or retracted position) with
respect to the body of the mechanism in which it is
slidable, with a check shown in phantom in the slide;
Fig. 2A is a vertical transverse section generally
on line 2A--2A of Fig. 2 on a larger scale than Fig. 2;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the coin
slide in an intermediate position;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing
the slide in its forward (inner) position;
Fig. 5A is a horizontal longitudinal section
generally on line 5A--5A of Fig. 4 showing the latch bar
of an apparatus in position extending across the slideway
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in the body of the mechanism just before it is pushed out
by the slide latch of the apparatus, the slide latch
being shown in its retracted position;
Fig. 5B is a view similar to Fig. 5A showing the
slide latch in its extended position, after having pushed
out the latch bar;
Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of one side of the
upper part of the body of the mechanism, with parts
broken away and shown in section;
Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the upper part;
Fig. 7A is a top plan of the upper part;
Fig. 8 is a view of the upper part from its left
end;
Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the other side of
the upper part, partly broken away and shown in section;
Fig. 10 is a top plan of the lower part of the body;
Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of one side of the
lower part, with parts broken away and shown in section;
Fig. 11A is a bottom plan of the lower part of the
body;
Fig. 12 is a view of the lower part from its left
end, showing in phantom a clamp for clamping the
mechanism on the handle of a cart;
Fig. 13 is a view in elevation of the other side of
the lower part, partly broken away and shown in section;
Fig. 14 is a top plan of the slide per se;
Fig. 15 is a view in elevation of one side of the
slide;
Fig. 16 is a top plan of a detent of the mechanism;
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the detent partly
broken away and shown in section;
Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a
modification of the apparatus of Figs. 1-17 for being
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mounted on the handle of a cart either longitudinally or
transversely of the handle, and showing the apparatus on
each cart extending transversely of the handle;
Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective showing the lower
part of the dual-mounting apparatus shown in Fig. 18 as
viewed from the top thereof, and showing a clamp used
therewith extending longitudinally thereof;
Fig. 20 is a perspective of the Fig. 18 part as
viewed from the bottom thereof;
Fig. 21 is a vertical longitudinal section of the
modification of Figs. 18-20 showing the clamp as applied
for transverse mounting;
Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a
modification of the apparatus for use in the
aforementioned method for encouraging cart return;
Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another
modification of the apparatus for use in the
aforementioned method for encouraging cart return; and
Figs. 24 and 25 are a plan and side elevation,
respectively, of the slide of the Fig. 23 modification.
Corresponding reference characters indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views of the
drawings.
Detailed Description
Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is
shown a series of shopping carts disposed in nested
relation as at a cart parking station (a "corral") in the
parking lot of a supermarket. Three such carts are
shown, designated C1, C2 and C3, Cl being the end cart of
the series nested in C2, and C2 being nested in C3. The
handle of each cart is designated H; the cart wheels are
omitted. At 1 is generally indicated apparatus of this
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invention for locking the carts together in the nested
series, this apparatus comprising~improved check-
controlled mechanism designated in its entirety by the
reference numeral 3 mounted on each cart, more
5 particularly on the handle of the cart, each mechanism
being adapted for receiving and releasably locking
therein (under control of a check) a latch bar 5 on a
tether 7, preferably a chain, which is attached to the
next cart (more particularly attached to the mechanism 3
10 on the next cart in the series). As illustrated in Fig.
1, similar to Fig. 1 of our aforesaid U.S. patents, cart
C1 is locked to cart C2 by the latch bar 5 on the chain 7
extending from the mechanism 3 on cart C2 and cart C2 is
locked to cart C3 by the latch bar 5 on the chain 7
extending from the mechanism 3 on cart C3. The chain 7
which is secured to the mechanism 3 on cart C1 is shown
as hanging loose, awaiting insertion of the latch bar 5
on that chain in the mechanism 3 on the next cart which
is wheeled up to be nested in cart C1. The size and
appearance of the improved coin mechanism 3 of this
invention as shown in Fig. 1 herein are to be contrasted
with the size and appearance of the coin mechanism 3 of
our aforesaid prior patents and particularly U.S. Patent
No. 5,540,316 as shown in Fig. 1 of each of the latter.
Each check-controlled mechanism 3 of this invention
comprises an elongate housing or body generally
designated 9 having a top 11, bottom 13, sides 15 and 17
and ends 19 and 21, end 19 being referred to as the
rearward end and end 21 being referred to as the forward
end. The body is made to have an elongate opening 23
therein extending from its rearward end 19, where it is
open, toward but terminating short of its forward end 21,
where it is closed. This opening 23 constitutes a
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slideway for a slide 25 which extends slidably therein
from the rearward end 19 of the body toward the forward
end 21. The body 9 is adapted for being mounted in a
generally horizontal position on a shopping cart, more
particularly in such position above the handle H of the
cart extending lengthwise of the handle by having
mounting means such as generally indicated at 27 on the
bottom thereof to be more particularly described.
The elongate body 9 is of two-part construction
comprising a lower part 29 (see Figs. 10-13) generally of
channel shape in cross section having an elongate bottom
wall or web 31 (the bottom of which is the bottom 13 of
the body), upwardly extending side walls 33 and 35 and a
forward end wall 37, and an upper part 39 (see Figs. 6-9)
generally of inverted channel shape in cross section
having an elongate top 41, downwardly extending side
walls 43 and 45 and a forward end wall 47. The side and
end walls have a height one-half the full body height.
The two parts are assembled with the downwardly extending
side walls of the upper part extending on the upwardly
extending side walls of the lower part, and with the
forward end wall of the upper part mating with the
forward end wall of the lower part, the two parts being
secured together as by screws as indicated at 49 in Fig.
5A threaded up in tapped holes 50 in the parts. Each of
parts 29 and 39 is preferably molded of plastic.
The aforesaid mounting means 27 for mounting the
body 9 in generally horizontal position above the handle
H of a cart extending lengthwise of the handle, i.e. with
the slide 25 extending lengthwise of the handle, is shown
as involving the molding of the plastic lower part 29 of
the body with its bottom wall or web 31 wider than the
distance between the outside surfaces of the side walls
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33, 35, and with a groove 30 in the bottom 31 extending
from the rearward end to the forward end of said lower
part for receiving the handle H of a cart on which the
apparatus is to be mounted in position extending
lengthwise of the handle on top of the handle and a clamp
32 (see Fig. 12) which extends lengthwise of the handle
on the bottom of the handle fastened to said lower part.
The groove has a top formation comprising surfaces
indicated at 34 angled outward and downward from a
central peak 36 for fitting on a cart handle (cart
handles generally being of elongate cylindrical form),
with the surfaces 34 longitudinally and tangentially
engaging the handle. The clamp 32 is preferably formed
from a sheet metal blank as a handle-receiving channel 38
of part-circular cross section with flanges 40 extending
laterally outwardly from the side edges of the channel
(the upper edges of the channel as applied to the handle
on the bottom of the handle). The flanges have holes
adjacent their ends receiving clamp screws 44 threaded in
tapped holes 46 extending upward in the lower part of the
body on opposite sides of the downwardly opening groove
in the lower part for clamping the apparatus in
selected position on the handle with the apparatus
extending lengthwise of the handle as shown in Figs. 1
25 and 12.
The latch bar 5 is an elongate bar which may have
the cross section illustrated in Fig. 16 in the aforesaid
U.S. Patent No. 5,540,316 and having a rectangular hole
51 therein (see Fig. 1) adjacent one end thereof, which
30 may be referred to as its inner end, extending through
the bar from one broad side thereof to the other. The
body 9 is formed in its side 15 (constituted by walls 33
and 43 of parts 29 and 39), which is the side of the body
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which faces forward relative to the cart as the mechanism
3 is mounted on the handle of the cart, with a hole 53
for insertion of the latch bar. This hole is formed by a
slot 55 in the upwardly extending side wall 33 of the
lower part 29 of the body and an aligned slot 57 in the
downwardly extending side wall 43 of the upper part 39 of
the body, each slot forming half the hole. The body is
also formed with a latch housing generally designated 59
on the side opposite the hole 53 extending laterally
outwardly therefrom with a recess 61 in this housing and
a second hole 63 generally transversely aligned with the
hole 53 extending between the slideway 23 and the recess
61 in said latch housing 59. The latter comprises a
lower part 65 on the outside of the lower part 29 of the
body and an upper part 67 on the outside of the upper
part 39 of the body. The lower part 65 has a bottom 69,
and upwardly extending side walls 71 and 73 and an end
wall 75, and the upper part 67 has a top 77, downwardly
extending side walls 79 and 81 and an end wall 83, these
walls all having a height one-half the body height and
registering to form the housing 59 with the recess 61
therein. The hole 63 is narrower than the recess 61 and
is located somewhat off center at the end of the recess
toward the slideway 23, defining a shoulder 85 at the end
of the recess toward the slideway 23. It is formed by a
slot 87 in the upwardly extending side wall 35 of the
lower part 29 of the body 9 and an aligned slot 89 in the
downwardly extending side wall 45 of the upper part 39 of
the body. End walls 75 and 83 meet to form a closed
outer end for the housing 59. Provision is made for
attaching the chain 7 to the body 9 alongside latch
housing 59 as indicated at 60.
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The top 41 of the upper part of the body 9 has a top
formation 91, constituting a detent housing, having an
elongate detent-receiving recess 93 therein. This recess
is narrower than the distance D (see Fig. 7) between the
inside faces of the side walls 43 and 45 of the upper
part 39 of the body 9 and extends forward lengthwise of
the body from adjacent the rearward end 19 of the body,
being centered with respect to the side walls 43 and 45
of the upper~part 39 of the body 9 and opening downward
as indicated at 95 in Fig. 6 to the space 97 between the
side walls 43 and 45 of the upper part 39. With the
recess 93 narrower than the distance D and centered
between the inside faces of the side walls 43 and 45, the
upper part 39 of the body 9 has downwardly facing
shoulders 99 on the inside of and at the top of the side
walls 43 and 45 thereof. These shoulders have downwardly
opening pin-receiving recesses 101 adjacent the holes 53
and 63.
The detent housing 91 is preferably configured to
have a rearward horizontal top portion 91a extending from
the rearward end of the body 9 for about one-fourth the
length of the body and a forward inclined portion 91b
slanting down toward the forward end of the body.
Shoulders 99 extend generally the full length of the
body.
The slideway 23 has sides each designated 100
defined by the upwardly extending walls 33, 35 of the
lower part 29 of the body 9 and the downwardly extending
walls 43, 45 of the upper part 39 of the body, and a
bottom 102 in the lower part. The lower part is formed
with a groove 104 in the bottom 102 of the slideway
extending lengthwise of the slideway having a rearward
end 106 adjacent the rearward end of the body and a
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forward end 108 spaced from the forward end of the body.
The slide 25 has a lug 110 extending down in the groove
104 slidable in the groove lengthwise of the groove and
so located along the length of the slide as to be
5 adjacent the rearward end of the groove when the slide is
in its rearward position (see Fig. 2). The slide, which
has a forward (inner) portion indicated at 25a and a
rearward (outer) portion 25b ("forward" being in
reference to the direction in which the slide is pushed
10 in, and "rearward" being the reverse) is slidable in the
guideway between the outer rearward position in which it
is shown in Fig. 2 and the inner forward position in
which it is shown in Fig. 4. It is biased to slide
rearward (outwardly) to its rearward position by a coil
15 compression spring 112 pocketed in the groove 104 between
the lug 110 and the forward end 108 of the groove
reacting from the forward end of the groove against the
lug, the latter having a rearwardly directed centering
pin 114 thereon for centering the spring. The rearward
and forward portions 25a and 25b of the slide are each
generally rectangular in transverse cross section with
the rearward portion of reduced width relative to the
forward portion thereby forming rearwardly facing
shoulders 107 at opposite sides of the slide. These
shoulders act in conjunction with flanges such as
indicated at 109 extending laterally inwardly at the
rearward ends of the side walls of the lower part 29 and
flanges such as indicated at 111 extending laterally
inwardly at the rearward end of the upper part as means
for limiting the rearward movement of the slide and
determining its stated rearward position. Also, the rear
face 110a of the lug, which is coplanar with shoulders
107, is engageable with the rearward end 106 of the
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groove for this purpose (see Fig. 2). The rearward
portion 25b of the slide 25 has a relatively deep narrow
recess or pocket 113 for holding a check C, which may be
a U.S. quarter, a token having a generally the same
diameter and thickness as a quarter, or the like, on edge
therein with the check projecting up out of the recess as
appears in Figs. 2-4. The recess 113 is located
outwardly of the rearward end of the body 9 when the
slide is in its rearward position of Fig. 2 for deposit
or insertion of a check in the recess and for retrieval
of a check from the recess, and is located within the
body when the slide is pushed inward and forward to the
forward position in which it is shown in Figs. 4, 5A and
5B.
The slide 25 has an elongate slot 115 extending
lengthwise thereof and extending therethrough from one
side to the other in the forward (inner) portion 25a
thereof, and an elongate slot 117 in the top thereof
extending lengthwise from a point forward of and adjacent
the rearward end of the forward portion 25a to a point
adjacent the forward end of said forward portion. A
detent 119 acts in conjunction with the slot 117 as means
for limiting the inward movement of the slide in the
absence of a check in the check-holding recess but allows
inward movement of the slide to the stated forward
position as long as a check is placed in the recess 113.
This detent 119 has at one end thereof constituting its
forward end pin means generally designated 121, the
.detent preferably being molded of plastic with the pin
means formed integrally therewith as pins 123 extending
laterally outwardly of the detent at its forward end.
The pins 123 are seated in the pin-receiving recesses 101
in the shoulders 99 of the upper part 39 of the body 9,
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the detent 119 thereby being pivotally mounted for
swinging movement in a generally vertical plane about the
axis of the pins between the lowered position in which it
appears in Fig. 2 and the raised position in which it
appears in Fig. 4. The detent is slightly narrower than
the width of the detent recess 93 and is swingable up and
down in this recess. It is biased to swing downwardly to
its lowered position by a spring 125 interposed between
the top portion of the detent housing 91 and the top of
the detent, its lowered position being determined by the
engagement of the detent adjacent its rearward end with
the top of the slide, as appears in Fig. 2. The pins 123
are retained (held up) in the recesses 101 by the slide
25. The detent 119 is made with a rearwardly facing step
127 on its bottom between its rearward and forward ends
constituting a stop extending down into the slot 117 in
the top of the slide when the detent is in its lowered
position for engagement with the rearward end 117a of
this slot when the slide is pushed in without a check in
the check-receiving recess 113 to limit the inward
movement of the slide, preventing it from being pushed
all the way in to its Fig. 4 forward position. Thus, the
rearward end 117a of the slot 117 constitutes stop-
engaging means engageable by the stop 127.
At 129 is indicated a latch for latching the slide
25 in its said forward position to hold a check, e.g. a
coin, in the recess against retrieval as will appear.
This latch is slidable in the recess 61 in the latch
housing 59 (the side housing on the body 9) and in the
hole 53, being of such shape in plan as to have a stem
131 slidable in the hole 63 and a head 133 slidable in
the recess 61, between a laterally retracted position
clear of the slideway 23 wherein the stem 131 is back in
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the hole 63 (see Fig. 5A) and a slide-latching position
wherein the stem 131 extends into and across the slideway
23 (see Fig. 5B). The stem 131 has a reduced width inner
end 131a corresponding to the chamfer 131a of the latch
shown in our aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 5,540,316. It is
biased by a coil compression spring 134 accommodated in
the recess 61 between the outer end of the recess and the
head 133 toward its slide-latching position. A tongue
135 for entry in the hole 51 in the latch bar 5 for
locking the latch bar in the body 9 extends rearward from
the forward end of the slot 115 in the slide 25 toward
but terminating short of the rearward end of the slot 115
to provide a space indicated at 137 in Fig. 4 for passage
of the latch bar therethrough. The tongue 135 has a tip
139 of reduced width at its rearward end defining a
recess 141 at said rearward end (see Figs. 14 and 15).
Each mechanism 3 has the respective latch bar chain
7 suitably attached securely at the other end of the
chain from the latch bar 5 to the lateral housing 59 of
the mechanism at 60. The mechanism is mounted on the
handle of the cart with the housing 59 extending rearward
with respect to the cart; thus as to the cart C1 as shown
in Fig. 1, the chain 7 with the latch bar 5 thereon hangs
down at the rear end of the cart in position where it is
readily accessible to the user. Also as shown in Fig. 1,
the slides 25 of the mechanisms on each of the three
carts are in their rearward (outer) positions wherein the
recesses 113 therein are accessible for dropping in a
check, e.g. a coin. The latch bar 5 on the chain 7
attached to cart C2 is locked in the mechanism on cart
C1, and the latch bar 5 on the chain 7 attached to cart
C3 is locked in the mechanism on cart C2 as results from
the tongues 135 of the coin slides 25 of these mechanisms
CA 02305921 2000-04-17
19
extending through the holes 51 in the latch bars 5,
thereby pinning the latch bars in the bodies 9 of the
respective mechanisms.
To free cart C1 for being wheeled into the
supermarket (or other establishment), the user drops a
check, e.g. a coin (a U.S. quarter) into the recess 113
in the rearward (outer) portion 25a of the slide 25 of
the mechanism 3 on cart C1 and pushes the slide in all
the way to its stated forward position, i.e. the position
in which it is shown in Figs. 4 and 5A. This is enabled
by reason of the upper portion of the check engaging the
detent 119 adjacent its rearward end, which is beveled as
indicated at 119a, and camming the detent upward so that
the stop 127 clears the rearward end 117a of the slot 117
in the top of the slide. When the slide is pushed in to
its forward position, the tongue 135 is withdrawn from
the hole 51 in the latch bar 5 on chain 7 which extends
from cart C2 thereby unlocking the latch bar and freeing
it for removal from the body of the mechanism on cart C1.
Under the bias of spring 133, the slide latch 129 pushes
the latch bar 5 in the direction for removal from the
body 9 and moves into the space 137 rearward of the
rearward end of the tongue 135, thereby assuming a slide-
locking position wherein it is engaged by the tip of the
tongue to lock the slide 25 in its said forward (inner)
position and thereby hold the check which is in the
recess 113 inaccessible within the body. The user is
enabled to obtain return of the check (the coin),
however, by returning the cart to the parking station
where it was obtained, (or another parking station) and
inserting the latch bar 5 on the chain extending from the
end cart of the series at the station into the hole 53
and pushing it in against the slide latch 129 and through
CA 02305921 2000-04-17
the space 137, thereby retracting the slide latch 129 to
enable the slide 25 to be pushed forward by the spring
112, and the tongue 135 to pass through the hole 51 in
the latch bar 5 to lock the returned cart to the series
5 of carts.
The detent housing 91 has side walls indicated at
143 and 145 and a rearward end wall indicated at 147.
The latter extends down to the level of the shoulders 99
having a vertical slot 149 extending up from its lower
10 edge for passage of the upper part of the check seated in
the recess 113. The slide 25 has an upwardly extending
knob formation 151 at its rearward end which slides into
the slot 149 when the slide is pushed all the way in,
access to the interior of the body thereby being blocked
15 to avoid picking the lock when the slide is in its
forward position with a check in the body. The slide is
provided with a drain hole 155 to avoid collection of
rainwater in the recess 113. The bar 5 is inserted
through an opening in an insert such as indicated at 163
20 in Fig. 19 of the aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 5,540,316.
With the spring 112 pocketed in the groove 104
acting against the lug 110 which extends down from the
slide 25 substantial reduction in overall length of the
apparatus is made possible. Thus, where in the prior
construction shown in the aforesaid U.S. Patent No.
5,540,316 the length of the body is a factor of the
length of the slide plus the length of the spring as
compressed (see Fig. 4 of said patent), with the present
construction the length of the body is a factor of the
length of the slide only.
Figs. 18-21 illustrate a modification la of the
above-described apparatus wherein the lower part of the
body 9, designated 29a to distinguish it from lower part
CA 02305921 2000-04-17
21
29, is molded not only with groove 30a corresponding to
groove 30 referred to above for mounting the apparatus on
the handle of a cart with the apparatus extending
lengthwise or longitudinally of the handle (i.e. with the
slide of the apparatus extending lengthwise or
longitudinally of the handle), but also with a groove 30b
for mounting the apparatus on the handle of a cart with
the apparatus extending transversely of the handle (i.e.
with the slide 25 of the apparatus extending transversely
of the handle). In this modification, the groove 30a
(like groove 30) has a top formation comprising surfaces
indicated at 34 angled downward and outward from a
central peak 36, and groove 30b similarly has a top
formation comprising surfaces indicated at 34 angled
downward and outward from a central peak 36. The grooves
30a and 30b intersect centrally of the lower part. For
mounting the apparatus la on the handle H of a cart with
the apparatus extending lengthwise or longitudinally of
the handle, the apparatus is placed on the handle with
the handle received in the longitudinal groove 30a, and
clamped in place by a clamp 32a similar to clamp 32 in
having a handle-receiving channel 38a of part-circular
cross section and flanges 40a extending laterally
outwardly from the upper edges of the channel, the
flanges having holes 42a adjacent their ends receiving
clamp screws 44a threaded in tapped holes 46a extending
upward in the lower part 29a of the body on opposite
sides of the downwardly opening longitudinal groove 30a
for clamping the apparatus in selected position on the
handle with the apparatus extending lengthwise of the
handle as shown in Figs. 1 and 19. For mounting the
apparatus on the handle of a cart with the apparatus
extending transversely of the handle, the apparatus is
CA 02305921 2000-04-17
22
placed on the handle with the handle received in the
transverse groove 30b, and clamped in place by clamp
screws 44a threaded in tapped holes 46b in the lower part
29a. The clamp 32a is modified in respect to clamp 32 in
having lips on the flanges such as indicated at 161 bent
to extend at right angles to the flanges, these lips
being provided with tongues 164 having a width
corresponding to the width of each groove 30a, 30b and
having an upper edge formation indicated at 165 matching
the top formation of the grooves. The lips are received
in recesses such as indicated at 167 in the lower part
29a. When the apparatus is mounted in position extending
longitudinally of the handle with the handle received in
the longitudinal groove, the tongues 164 fit in and close
off the transverse groove, and when the apparatus is
mounted in position extending transversely of the handle
with the handle received in the transverse groove, the
tongues fit in and close off the longitudinal groove (see
Fig. 21).
Figs. 22 and 23-25 illustrate modifications of the
above-described apparatus providing for utilization of
the apparatus in a method for encouraging return of a
cart by a customer to a cart corral, e.g. a corral on the
parking lot of a supermarket or like establishment after
the customer has wheeled the cart to the customer's car
and taken purchased items out of the cart and placed them
in the car, thereby reducing the scattering of the carts
on the parking lot and rendering the handling of the
carts by the establishment less labor-intensive.
As to the modification shown in Fig. 22, the
apparatus as shown in Figs. 2-17 is modified by omitting
the detent 119 and the spring 125 therefor. As to the
modification shown in Figs. 23-25, the apparatus as shown
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23
in Figs. 2-17 or in Figs. 18-21 is retained as is,
including the detent and the spring 125 therefor, and is
provided with a removable detent actuator 171 adjacent
the forward end of the recess 113 in the slide, more
particularly a pin removably threaded in a tapped hole
173 in extending generally vertically in the slide
adjacent the forward end of the recess and generally in
the vertical plane of the recess.
The hole 173 extends completely through the slide
from top to bottom of the slide and the pin is threaded
in the hole to the point where its lower end 174 is
within the hole above the bottom of the hole and its
upper end 175 projects above the top of the slide for
engagement with the detent, the pin having a kerf 177 at
its lower end for turning the pin with a tool inserted in
the hole from the lower end of the hole.
With the detent omitted in the Fig. 22 modification,
a check may be inserted in the recess 113 and the slide
pushed in to its inner position and locked up in that
20 position. Similarly, with the pin 171 in place in the
Figs. 23-25 modification, a reward may be inserted in the
recess 113, and the slide pushed in to its inner position
and locked up in that position. With the pin 171
removed, the apparatus may be utilized in the prior
25 manner, requiring insertion of a check (e.g. a coin) in
the recess 113 by a customer and pushing in of the slide
to its inner position for unlocking the cart.
The Fig. 22 modification as shown and the Figs.
23-25 modification with the detent actuating pin 171 in
place are useful in a method of this invention of
encouraging the return of carts by customers to a cart
corral after completion of shopping, the method involving
maintaining in the supermarket or other establishment a
CA 02305921 2000-04-17
24
supply of carts for customer use with the locking
mechanism of each cart in said supply having its slide
(holder) 25 latched in its forward inner position within
the body or housing. These carts may be of the Fig. 22
no-detent locking mechanism or the Figs. 23-25 detented
locking mechanism type with the detent-actuating pin 171
in place. One or more of these carts has an item in the
recess in the slide serving as a reward for the customer
using the cart, the slide being released for movement to
its said rearward position presenting the reward to the
customer upon return of the cart by the customer to a
cart corral and locking of the cart to the next cart of a
series in the corral. The reward may be, for example, a
color-coded token (the color indicating the token's
value), or a token labelled with a bar code which the
establishment may scan to identify the reward.
It will be understood that the above described dual-
groove and customer-reward modifications are also
applicable to the mechanisms of the prior patents listed
in the first paragraph of this specification.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the
several objects of the invention are achieved and other
advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above
constructions and method without departing from the scope
of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
