SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING USAGE OF SHOPPING CARTS OR OTHER HUMAN-PROPELLED VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area which comprises:
- a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to inhibit movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;
a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;
a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and
a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism for receiving the first and second signals and selectively activating the braking mechanism in response thereto.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for tracking and controlling shopping carts or other types of human-propelled vehicles. In one embodiment, the system includes a wheel or wheel assembly with a braking mechanism that is activated in response to signals received by multiple receivers. The receivers may, for example, include a VLF (Very Low Frequency) receiver for detecting a VLF signal transmitted by a buried cable, and an RF transceiver for communicating over a wireless network. The receivers may, but need not, be included in the wheel. The multiple receivers may be used in combination to control a shopping cart; for example, a command received by a shopping cart'"'"'s RF transceiver may cause the cart to ignore (not activate the brake in response to) a detected VLF signal.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area which comprises:
-
a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to inhibit movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated; a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal; a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism for receiving the first and second signals and selectively activating the braking mechanism in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A wheel assembly for use on a shopping cart, the wheel assembly comprising:
-
a caster that supports a wheel, said caster adapted to be attached to the shopping cart; a braking mechanism coupled to the wheel and capable of being activated to inhibit movement of the shopping cart; a first receiver for receiving a first signal; a second receiver for receiving a second signal; and a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response to signals received by the first receiver and the second receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area which comprises:
-
a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to prevent movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated; a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal; a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and a controller respectively connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism for receiving the first and second signals and selectively activating the locking mechanism in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A caster for use on a shopping cart which comprises:
-
a swivel frame attached to the cart for rotation thereof about a first axis; a wheel for moving the cart, wherein the wheel is mounted on the frame for rotation about a second axis, and wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis; a brake means mounted on the frame for stopping a rotation of the wheel to disable the cart and prevent further movement thereof; a first receiver mounted on the frame for receiving a first signal; a second receiver mounted on the frame for receiving a second signal; and a controller respectively connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the brake means for receiving the first and second signals and selectively activating the brake means in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
-
25. A method for manufacturing a caster for use on a shopping cart which comprises the steps of:
-
attaching a swivel frame to the cart for rotation of the frame about a first axis; mounting a wheel on the frame for moving the cart, the wheel being mounted for rotation about a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
locating brake means on the frame to stop a rotation of the wheel and disable the cart to prevent further movement of the cart;affixing a first receiver to the frame for receiving a first signal and a second receiver to the frame for receiving a second signal; positioning a controller on the frame; and connecting the controller to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the brake means for receiving the first and second signals and selectively activating the brake means in response thereto.
-
Specification