Pledge lock for a shopping trolley

• US 5,589,677 A
• Filed: 03/28/1996
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vendoret Holding S.A
• Original Assignee: Vendoret Holding S.A
• Inventors: Merchel, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wigmore, Steven
• Application Number:
  US08/623,983
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/383, 235/385, 235/375, 235/380, 70/278
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/002 for flexible keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/007 the key being a card, e.g. perforated, or the like E05B47/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0681 in which a card, pay-card or card-like object is used as the special token required to get permission or activate the lock to use the trolley or cart
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 194/905 Shopping cart return
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/41 Coin-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7757 Push or pull key operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7859 Flat rigid

Abstract

The invention relates to a pledge lock for a shopping trolley, having an information carrier which can be temporarily applied in or on the pledge lock which can thus be unlocked and operatively connected to a shop computer, items of information can be read from the information carrier and transmitted to the shop computer and/or items of information which can be transmitted by the shop computer can be stored on the information carrier.

Claims

1. An information system for a store, comprising

a plurality of interlockable shopping trolleys, each of said trolleys being provided with a respective pledge lock securing a locked position of the trolley;

detaching means on each of the trolleys cooperating with the pledge lock for removably enabling release of the respective trolley;

means on each of the locks forming a respective opening;

an information carrier forming a pledge and carrying shopper information for a customer and removably inserted in the respective opening to unlock the pledge lock, said information carrier being retained in the unlocked pledge lock;

central information database means for storing information derived from and applicable to the respective carrier; and

means separate from the pledge lock in the store and forming part of the central information database means for scanning the respective carrier while it is retained in the pledge lock for communication of information between the central information database means and the respective information carrier.

2. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the information carrier is a plug-in member, a key, a card, or a parallelpipedic block.

3. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the information carrier is provided with a magnetic layer for storage of the relevant information.

4. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the pledge lock is provided with an antenna operatively connected with the means for scanning.

5. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for scanning includes a contact member juxtaposed with the information carrier upon insertion thereof in the opening for transmitting items of personal information to the carrier.

6. The information system defined in claim 5 wherein the contact member is portable and connected with the pledge lock.

7. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein said means for scanning comprises optical means including for deflecting a light beam to the information carrier.

8. The information defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier is formed with contacts engaging respective contacts formed on the pledge lock in the opening.

9. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the pledge lock is provided with a junction point provided with respective contacts and engaging the means for scanning.

10. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the pledge lock has a window is covered by a layer of radiation-permeable material.

11. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for scanning includes a fixed apparatus operatively connected with the central information database means and operated by the customer.

12. The information system defined in claim 1 wherein the information carrier is formed with an outer portion projecting over the pledge lock upon insertion of the carrier into the opening.