Display system for shopping cart

• US 5,158,310 A
• Filed: 07/11/1990
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John B. Tannehill, John M. Tannehill, Steven L. Kramer
• Original Assignee: John B. Tannehill, John M. Tannehill, Steven L. Kramer
• Inventors: Kramer, Steven L., Tannehill, John B., Tannehill, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/549,291
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 280/33.992, 280/33.991, 40/308, 40/448, 40/590, 40/482, 340/825.32, 186/61, 186/62
• US Class Current: 280/33.992
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1408 Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/142 mounted on the basket
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/02 the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/23 the advertising or display material forming part of rotating members, e.g. in the form of perforations, prints, or transparencies on a drum or disc
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/06 the advertising matter being combined with articles for restaurants, shops or offices on paper articles G09F23/10

Abstract

A display system (299) includes a visual display unit (300) mounted on a shopping cart (12d). In one preferred embodiment, a low-intensity ultrasonic signal is emitted by a transmitter (308) positioned at a desired location within a store for reception by a transducer (306) mounted on the shopping cart. The signal from the transducer (306) is transmitted to a switching circuit (316) to activate visual indicators in the form of directional lights (320, 322) thereby to direct the shoppers attention to a particular item located adjacent the transmitter (308).

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

(a) a shopping cart;

(b) a first signal generator located remote from the shopping cart;

(c) a first signal receiver mounted on the shopping cart for receiving signals from the first signal generator;

(d) a visual output signal mounted on the shopping cart;

(e) a first control circuit to activate the visual output device upon reception of an appropriate signal from the first signal generator by the first signal receiver;

(f) a second signal generator mounted on the shopping cart;

(g) a display located remote from the shopping cart;

(h) a second signal receiver associated with the remote display to receive signals from the second signal generator; and

,

(i) a second control circuit to activate the remote display upon reception of an appropriate signal by the second signal receiver from the second signal generator.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the second signal receiver includes means for receiving the second signal when the shopping cart is within a certain proximity of the remote display.

3. A display system comprising:

(a) a shopping cart;

(b) a first audio signal generator located remote from the shopping cart;

(c) a first audio signal receiver mounted on the the shopping cart for receiving signals from the first audio signal generator;

(d) a visual output device mounted on the shopping cart;

(e) a first control circuit to activate the visual output device upon reception of an appropriate signal from the first signal generator by the first signal receiver;

(f) a second audio signal generator mounted on the shopping cart;

(g) a display located remote from the shopping cart;

(h) a second signal receiver associated with the remote display to receive signals from the second signal generator; and

,

(i) a second control circuit to activate the remote display upon reception of an appropriate signal by the second signal receiver from the second signal generator.

4. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the second signal receiver includes means for receiving the second signal when the shopping cart is within a certain proximity of the remote display.