DE29600872U1 - Shopping venture - Google Patents

Description

ALBU-OIgDE

18 January 1996

-1-

DESCRIPTION Shopping Cart

TECHNICAL AREA 05

The present invention relates to a shopping cart with a container for goods.

Such mk 10 shopping carts, which are usually arranged on wheels, are used in large numbers in grocery stores, for example. At the start of the shopping trip, the customer takes a shopping cart from the cart park. He drives through the store with it and fills the container with the desired goods. At the checkout, the goods in the container are placed on the checkout counter and the total price is then calculated. The customer then puts the purchased goods in separate packaging containers and returns the shopping cart to the cart park.

0 STATE OF THE ART

^^ Shopping carts with a container for goods are known, ^" in which the container is fixed to the shopping cart

is.
25

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the technical problem or the task, starting from the 0 mentioned prior art, of providing an improved shopping cart which enables economical use, in particular brings advantages for the customer and the retailer, which enables savings in packaging material and which has a simple and robust structure so that cost-effective production is possible.

January 10, 1996 ♦" ··' '.." .&iacgr;, ,.**..·

-2-

The shopping cart according to the invention is given by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are given by the features of the dependent claims.

The shopping cart according to the invention of the type mentioned at the beginning is characterized in that the container can be detachably attached to the shopping cart. Because the container can be detached from the shopping cart, the consumer can take the container filled with goods home from the market without needing additional packaging material for the goods purchased. Conversely, he takes his container to the market to shop.

A structurally particularly simple design of the shopping cart according to the invention is characterized by a substantially U-shaped, horizontally arranged support device, which is supported by cantilever arms on the chassis of the shopping cart and on which the container can be stored.

A particularly preferred design of the shopping cart according to the invention in terms of handling is characterized in that the width of the container is slightly smaller than the clear internal distance between the two free legs of the U-shaped carrying device and the container has protruding support strips on the side walls which rest on the free legs of the carrying device when the container is inserted.

A further development, which ensures secure position locking using the simplest means, is characterized by the fact that the support strips each have a projection unit on the underside and the free legs each have a recess on the top or vice versa, whereby when the container is inserted the projection unit and the recess engage in a form-fitting manner.

ALBU-OIgDE j *..! ,Ill, *..&idigr; J

January 18, 1996 ··· ··" "·.* ·!. ..*·

-3 -

In order to save space when transporting the empty container, it is advantageous that, according to a further development of the shopping cart according to the invention, the container is designed to be collapsible.

According to a preferred embodiment, the container is designed as a wire basket, which on the one hand enables cost-effective production and on the other hand guarantees a certain robustness.

A particularly preferred development of the shopping cart according to the invention is characterized in that the container has compartments that are accessible from the outside at least in some areas, into each of which at least one corresponding additional container can be inserted. The container and the additional containers are preferably made of plastic, whereby according to a development the additional containers can be secured against falling out when inserted. Such an embodiment ensures a high saving in packaging materials, since the consumer can put fresh goods such as sausage, cheese, vegetables and the like into the additional containers. The additional containers can be used as often as desired without additional packaging material being required for the fresh goods. In addition, the consumer can use such a container in the household as a storage container without having to sort the purchased goods again at home.

An advantageous embodiment of the shopping cart according to the invention is characterized in that the height of the carrying device is adjustable, which makes it possible for the height of the underside of the container to be adjusted in the inserted state so that it essentially corresponds to the height of the conveyor belt of a checkout counter, so that no great forces have to be applied when removing the container from the shopping cart in the checkout area.

ALBU-OIgDE ; ..j . I t I ,·..»:·· 18 January 1996 *··* .!. .,*·..

A particularly advantageous design of the shopping cart according to the invention with regard to increased storage capacity is characterized in that an additional container is provided which can be detachably attached to the container, which is preferably made of plastic and has compartments which are accessible from the outside and into which at least one further container can be inserted.

The shopping cart according to the invention enables a completely new shopping cart system, which, among other things, brings the following benefits:

- The processing times at the checkout are reduced because the conveyor belt of the checkout counter no longer has to be loaded with goods, as the shopping basket is placed directly on the belt and after the price is entered, the corresponding goods either remain in the container or are transferred to a second container available at the checkout.

- By reducing processing times, the need for cash registers is reduced.

- There is less congestion in the checkout area, which results in happier customers and better quality.

- The extension of the system to plastic containers, for example for fresh products, meets hygienic requirements.

- The consumer sorts the goods in his container (shopping basket) as he needs them at home. He saves time

when loading his vehicle, he saves time when unloading 5 and storing.

18 January 1996 ··· ··* *«

-5-

- The containers with compartments and other containers can be sorted and immediately placed in the refrigerator or in the area where fresh produce is stored.

- The container is stackable and can also be used for other purposes.

- The shopping carts that are used comply more closely with hygiene regulations, as they are initially provided at the distribution point without a container, so that there is a lower level of contamination.

- The container can be subsidized by branded goods companies and retailers by attaching advertising media and can thus be sold to consumers at a reasonable price.

- Due to the attached advertising media, there is a permanent advertising effect, so that the container can be considered an ideal advertising medium for all consumer goods and retailers.

- A high level of packaging savings is achieved when using plastic containers with additional compartments for fresh products.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention result from the features further listed in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments given below. 0 The features of the claims can be combined with one another in any way, provided they do not obviously exclude one another.

ALBU-OIgDE j *··;·· &Idigr; I . *,.; ;*\

January 18, 1996 ··· ··* *··* ·!. ..*·..'

-6-SHORT
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention and advantageous embodiments and further developments of the same are described and explained in more detail below using the examples shown in the drawing. The features shown in the description and the drawing can be used individually or in groups in any combination according to the invention. They show:

10

Fig. 1 Schematic perspective of a shopping cart according to the invention with a container shown separately,

Fig. 2 Schematic side view of a shopping cart with two containers,

Fig. 3 Schematic detailed perspective of the situation at a cash register,

20

Fig. 4 Schematic detailed perspective when loading the container into a car,

Fig. 5 Schematic representation of a plastic container with additional compartments that can be filled with additional containers and

Fig. 6 Schematic perspective view of a container with an attachable additional container, which has 0 compartments into which additional containers can be inserted.

35

ALBU-OIgDE

18 January 1996

-7-

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

A shopping cart 10 has a substantially rectangular chassis 18 that is surrounded by a frame 19, with the frame interface being formed by a wire mesh 21. A castor 23 is provided on the underside in each corner area of the chassis 18. Cantilever arms 16 are formed on the chassis 18 on both long sides, each of which is slightly inclined to the vertical to the rear, i.e. to the left in Figure 1, and which support a substantially horizontally arranged, U-shaped support device 14.

The support device 14 is arranged in such a way that its two free legs 20 point forward. In the rear area, a handle unit 15 is formed onto the U-shaped support device 14. The two legs 20 have a recess 24 open from above in their front end area.

A container 12 designed as a wire basket has a cuboid-shaped contour. It is open from above. A handle unit 3 4 is present on each of the two front sides of the container 12. A support strip 22 is attached to each of the side walls of the container 12, which has a projection unit 26 on the underside.

The width B of the container 12 is slightly smaller than the clear internal distance A between the two legs 20 of the support device 14. This allows the container 12 to be inserted into the support device 14, whereby in the inserted state the support strips 22 rest on the legs 20 and the projection units 26 engage in the corresponding recesses 24 of the support device 14 for locking purposes.

The shopping cart 10 and the container 12 are designed in such a way that the height level H of the underside

ALBU-OIgDS . \.l , II ;

January 18, 1996 ··· ··* *··* *&Igr;

*&Igr;·

-8th-

of the container 12 in the inserted state essentially corresponds to the height of a checkout counter 28, so that the container can be easily removed from the shopping cart and placed on the checkout counter 28. Furthermore, the frame 19 of the chassis 18 together with the wire mesh 21 is designed in such a way that a further container 13 can be stored on the wire mesh 21.

Fig. 5 shows a variant of a container 30 which is made of plastic and is particularly suitable for purchasing fresh produce such as cheese, sausage, vegetables or the like. The container 30 has essentially the same external dimensions as the container 10 already described. In addition, the same support strips 22 are present there. The container 30 has compartments 50 on one end which are accessible from the outside and into which further containers 40 can be inserted. The fresh produce is located in these further containers 40. The buyer brings the container 10 filled with empty further containers 40 with him to the shop. The empty further containers 40 are passed over the counter, filled with fresh produce and then inserted back into the compartments. In a preferred design with regard to increased hygiene, exchange containers are used as additional containers. These exchange containers are cleaned in the store and given to the customer in exchange.

Another variant is shown schematically in Fig. 6. In this variant, an additional container 32 is attached to the container 12 via hanging tabs to expand the capacity of the container 12. The additional container 12 is made of plastic and has compartments 50 accessible from the front, into which additional containers 40, which are also made of plastic, can be inserted.

ALBu-oigDE J ·.,:.; : : . ·..; ···,

January 18, 1996 "· ··" *#.* .J, ..*·..·

-9-

The other containers 40 are secured against falling out when inserted by means not shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6.

In detail, the use of the shopping cart with container works as follows:

The consumer buys the container, which can be designed as a collapsible wire basket or a plastic container with compartments. This container can be offered at a low price because it can be used by branded goods manufacturers or retailers as an advertising medium. The basket is transported to the supermarket in the vehicle, removed and placed in the designated shopping cart. After filling the container with goods, the customer goes to the checkout, with the shopping cart adjusted to the height of the checkout conveyor. The container is pulled down and placed on this conveyor belt. The goods are removed by the cashier, scanned or typed in and packed into the counterpart. The buyer of the goods hangs the container in the shopping cart and drives to the car with the filled shopping cart. The container is then placed in the trunk of the car.

The shopping cart shown provides the following advantages for the distribution point:

1. Using the plastic container with compartments and other containers saves packaging material.

2. Reduction of costs in the checkout areas; reduction of this direct expenditure.

3. Avoiding investments in cash register buildings.

4. Tests have shown that an 18% faster checkout throughput can be achieved. _&Lgr;&eegr;

ALBU-OIgDE j *..: , : · J

18 January 1996 ··· ··* *..· ,5.

-10-

5. This fast throughput can be converted into quality or into cash reduction.

6. If plastic containers are included, this means savings in packaging materials for cheese, sausages and vegetables.

7 . High benefit.

The following advantages arise for the consumer: 1. Fast processing.

2 . Affordable purchase of the shopping basket

15

3 . Ensuring transport.

4. Storage system tailored to the refrigerator and household needs.

20

5. Saving on other purchasing resources.

a 6. Safe transport of goods in the car through security. 7. High benefit.

30

35

Claims (1)

-1-CLAIMS 01) Shopping cart (10) with a container {12; 30) for goods, characterized in that the container (12; 30) can be detachably attached to the shopping trolley (10). 02) Shopping cart according to claim 1,
characterized by a substantially U-shaped, horizontally arranged support device (14) which is supported on the chassis (18) of the shopping trolley (10) via cantilever arms (16) and on which the container (12) can be stored. 03) Shopping cart according to claim 2, characterized in that 0 the width of the container (12) is slightly smaller than the clear internal distance between the two free legs (20) of the U-shaped support unit (14) and the container (12) has opposing, protruding support strips (22) along its side walls, which rest on the free legs (20) of the support device (14) when the container (12) is inserted. 04) Shopping cart according to claim 3, characterized in that the support strips (22) are each present in the region of the upper half of the height of the container (12). 05) Shopping trolley according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the support strips (22) each have a projection unit on the underside (26) and the free legs (2 0) -2- January 18, 1996 _# ; _# ,.· ·..· ,:. .. .. -2- each have a recess (24) on the upper side or vice versa, wherein when the container (12) is inserted into the carrying device (14), the projection units (26) and the recesses (24) are each in positive engagement. 06) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that IQ the container is designed to be collapsible. 07) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that ]_5 the container (12) is designed as a wire basket. 08) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the container (30) has compartments (50) which are accessible from the outside at least in some areas and into each of which at least one further container (40) can be inserted. 09) Shopping cart according to claim 8, characterized in that the container (30) consists of plastic. 10) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height level of the support device is adjustable. 11) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container surfaces,..especially.external surfaces, __,_ ALBU-OIgDE 18 January 1996 -3- with attached information or advertising media. 12) Shopping carts according to one or more of the above Q 5 the claims, characterized by an additional container (32) which can be detachably attached to the container (12) and which has compartments (50) which are accessible from the outside or from above and into which at least 3_0 a further container (40) can be inserted, whereby the additional container (32) can be fastened to the inside of the container or to the outside of the container (12). 2_5 13) Shopping trolley according to claim 8 or 11, characterized in that the additional container is secured against falling out when inserted. 14) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height level (H) of the inserted container (12) is selected such that its underside is essentially at the same height level as that of a checkout counter (28), in particular with a conveyor belt. 15) Shopping cart according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further container (13) can be arranged under the container (12) on the chassis (18) of the shopping trolley (10). ALBU-OIgDE \ i _## ; . _: ; ; . ·..;:« 18 January 1996 · · ·„* .:, -A- 16) Shopping cart according to claim 12, characterized in that the additional container is made of plastic. 17) Shopping trolley according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container has a surface with an increased coefficient of friction at least in some areas on the underside 3_0 has. 18) Shopping trolley according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container has a handle unit (34) on each of the front sides.