Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Display element
The invention relates to a display element for attaching
advertisements to the handle of a shopping cart or the like,
comprising a base body having a cutout for inserting an
advertising medium such that it is flat, a transparent,
removable cover for the cutout, and fixing elements for fixing
the display element to the handlebar of a shopping cart.
Such a display element is known from WO 03/057543 Al.
The display element described therein is very well suited to
being retrofitted on a handlebar of a shopping cart.
The handlebar of a shopping cart is a preferred place for
attaching advertisements since the customers using the
shopping cart necessarily notice the advertisement when they
take hold of the shopping cart. In addition, the display
element shows the advertising message over a large area.
If a further functional element, for example a deposit lock,
is already fitted on the handlebar, the remaining free area on
the handlebar is, however, reduced in an unfavorable manner
once a display element has been fitted.
If a display element and functional elements are fitted
together on the handlebar, there is now only a reduced area
for holding and pushing the shopping cart - in particular in
the case of relatively small shopping carts.
The user is restricted in terms of space when finding
a comfortable position on the handlebar for his hand.
The free area of the handlebar which still remains may, in
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terms of the overall perception, have a disadvantageous "cut-
up" effect, which in turn leaves behind a negative impression
of the overall design of the shopping cart.
It is also not easily possible to place further noticeable
advertising messages or company logos on such a "cut-up" area
of the handlebar.
One preferred form of the present invention provides a
display element which allows for the display element and one
or more further functional elements to be fitted at the same
time and in the process achieves a free area on the handlebar
which is as large as possible.
In a preferred form, the invention provides a display element
for attaching advertisements to the handlebar of a shopping
cart comprising a base body having flat regions for
presenting advertisements and fixing elements for fixing the
display element to the handlebar of a shopping cart, wherein
the display element has a cutout for partially or completely
accommodating a functional element fitted to the handlebar,
and to enable users to easily hold the handlebar, the base
body and the fixing elements are connected with the handlebar
to partially cover the same leaving both ends of the handle-
bar free, and the functional element is located partially
within the cutout and partially beneath the handlebar.
The considerations leading to the present invention were
based on the fact that there is an area available in the
housing of the large-area display element which has until now
not been used.
This area can be used in an inventive manner for partially or
even completely accommodating a further functional element
fixed to the handlebar.
The display element in this case covers the functional
element to the degree which is necessary and/or possible in
the individual case.
The display element is also suitable for retrofitting.
It may be necessary, for this purpose, to position a
functional element, which is already provided on the
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handle, differently in order for it to then be completely or
partially covered by the display element.
One exemplary embodiment of the display element according to the
invention will be explained in more detail and described below
with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
figure 1 shows the perspective view of the display element
according to the invention, and
figure 2 shows the display element fitted together with a
functional part on a handlebar.
Figure 1 shows the display element 1. At its upper side 2, the
display element 1 is provided with a large-area cutout 3 for
accommodating an advertising medium which is not illustrated
here. The cutout 3 is covered flush by a transparent cover,
which is likewise not illustrated. Fixing elements 4 are
provided on the underside of the display element 1.
A cutout 5 provides the free area which is required for covering
a further functional element, such as a deposit lock, at least
partially with the display element.
The fixing elements 4 are matched to the shape of the handlebar.
The fixing elements 4 hold the display element 1 on the
handlebar firmly and such that it is secure against rotation.
In figure 2, the display element 1 is fitted together with a
further functional element 6 on a handlebar 7. The handlebar 7
is fixed to a shopping cart (not illustrated here) via so-called
handle caps 8. The functional element 6, in the example illus-
trated a deposit lock, is located partially within the cutout 5,
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and partially beneath the handlebar 7.
It is likewise possible in accordance with the invention to
provide a larger cutout in the display element, in which, cutout
there is then space available even for those functional elements
which, in the majority., are arranged above the handlebar.
it is therefore advantageously possible,- presupposing
correspondingly matched display elements 1, to retrofit existing
handlebars 7, on which functional elements 6 of any desired
shape have already been fitted, with a display element 6 having
an advertising effect and therefore to redesign the entire
handlebar as an advertising medium.
The display element 1 with the advertising message directed at
the customers is located centrally in the center of the
handlebar 7 and therefore achieves the desired degree of
noticeability. To the side of the display element 1 up to the
handle caps 8, the handlebar 7 remains free. This makes it
possible for the customer to find a comfortable holding position
for his hands when pushing the shopping cart.
The functional element, 6 which is less important during
shopping - in this case a deposit lock - is fitted in an
optically subordinate position but remains easily accessible
ergonomically.`
When fitting the display element 1, initially the display
element 1 is positioned on the upper side of the handlebar 7,
then the fixing elements 4 are placed around the handlebar 7
from below and then connected to the display element 1.
If a functional element 6 is already provided on the
handlebar 1, the display element 1 is fitted such that
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the functional element 6 which is already provided is
within the cutout 5.
It may be necessary in such a case for the already
provided functional element 6 to be displaced slightly
along the handlebar 7 in order for all of the parts to
be positioned symmetrically on the handlebar 7.
It is also possible for the fixing elements 4 to be
fitted integrally with the display element 1. In this
case, the display element 1 is fitted on the handlebar
7 by the display element 1 being pushed onto the
handlebar 7 from the side. In this embodiment, it is
necessary to first detach the handlebar 7 from the
shopping cart in order to make it possible for the
display element to be pushed on laterally.
In this case, the functional part 6 then needs to be
positioned within the cutout 5 as early as when the
display element 1 is pushed on in order in this case to
be pushed onto the handlebar together with the display
element 1.
