Store specific shopping system and method including a map/shopping list

• US 6,000,610 A
• Filed: 02/26/1993
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alex F. Talbottt, Theresa G. Talbott
• Original Assignee: Alex F. Talbottt, Theresa G. Talbott
• Inventors: Talbott, Theresa G., Talbottt, Alex F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/023,955
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 40/308, 40/904, 40/299, 186/52, 186/35, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A personalized shopping system and method is disclosed including a portable map bearing written identifications of articles arranged in a pictorial representation corresponding to their display locations in a store. The portable map includes a written index adjacent to the pictorial representation as a cross-reference for locating articles in the store. The portable map is useable as both a shopping list for selecting articles for purchase and as an in-store directory for locating the selected articles. Also provided is a portable clipboard adapted for use with the portable map. The portable clipboard includes mounts for removably mounting the clipboard to the grocery cart, wherein the means for removably mounting is operable between a stored position for supporting the clipboard stable against a working surface and an extended position for supporting the clipboard stable on a grocery cart.

Claims

1. A system for aiding shoppers in the selection and location of articles displayed for sale at various aisle locations in a store having a plurality of aisles therein, said store including numerous discrete articles displayed at various display locations along said plurality of aisles, comprising:

a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of said plurality of aisles;

said store specific indicia comprising first written identifications sufficiently detailed in descriptiveness to correspond to said discrete articles, said identifications showing said discrete articles arranged at locations in said pictorial representation corresponding to the display locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles; and

wherein said portable map is usable as a shopping list for selecting discrete articles for purchase from said store and as an in-store map for locating said selected discrete articles in said store.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said store specific indicia further includes outlines of said display locations arranged in said pictorial representation to define said plurality of aisles; and

said first written identifications are arranged in said outlines corresponding to said display locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said portable map is constructed of paper; and

said store specific indicia is printed on said portable map.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said store specific indicia is printed in a light colored ink.

5. The system of claim 4, and further comprising:

a written index of said first written identifications displayed on said display surface adjacent to said pictorial representation;

said written index including said first written identifications arranged in alphabetical order and associated with second written identifications of said display locations along said plurality of aisles.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

said portable map includes at least one fold line in said pictorial representation; and

said portable map is foldable along said fold line to define first and second sides and display a minor portion of said pictorial representation on one of said first or said second sides.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said light colored ink is colored in a shade of red.

8. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a written index of said first written identifications displayed on said display surface adjacent to said pictorial representation;

said written index including said first written identifications arranged in alphabetical order and associated with second written identifications of said display locations along said plurality of aisles.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

said written index includes third written identifications of articles not included in said pictorial representation;

said written index including said third written identifications arranged in alphabetical order and associated with fourth written identifications of display locations of said articles not included in said pictorial representation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said portable map includes at least one fold line in said pictorial representation; and

said portable map is foldable along said fold line to define first and second sides and display a minor portion of said pictorial representation on one of said first or said second sides.

11. A system for aiding shoppers in the selection and location of articles displayed for sale at various aisle locations in a store having a plurality of aisles therein, said store including numerous discrete articles displayed at various display locations along said plurality of aisles, comprising:

a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of said plurality of aisles;

said store specific indicia comprising first written identifications of said articles arranged at locations in said pictorial representation corresponding to the display locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles; and

wherein said portable map is usable as a shopping list for selecting articles for purchase from said store and as an in-store map for locating said selected articles in said store;

a portable board for receiving and supporting said portable map thereon;

said portable board including means for removably mounting to rails of a grocery cart, said means for removably mounting being operable between a stored position for supporting said board stable against a working surface and an extended position for supporting said clipboard stable mounted on said grocery cart;

a planar member having a first surface for supporting said portable map and a second surface;

a transverse bracket attached to said second surface, said transverse bracket including a groove for receiving a transverse rail of said grocery cart therein;

a swing arm pivotably attached to said second surface, said swing arm including a clamp at an end thereof for clamping to a vertical rail of said grocery cart and being movable between a first position adjacent said second surface and a second position clamped to said vertical rail; and

a resiliently flexible clip attached to said second surface, said resiliently flexible clip clipping to a longitudinal rail of said grocery cart.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said portable board includes means, attached to said second surface, for hanging said clipboard.

13. A system for aiding shoppers in the selection and location of articles displayed for sale at various aisle locations in a store having a plurality of aisles therein, said store including numerous discrete articles displayed at various display locations along said plurality of aisles, comprising:

a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of said plurality of aisles;

said store specific indicia comprising first written identifications of said articles arranged at locations in said pictorial representation corresponding to the display locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles; and

wherein said portable map is usable as a shopping list for selecting articles for purchase from said store and as an in-store map for locating said selected articles in said store;

a portable board for receiving and supporting said portable map thereon;

said portable board including means for removably mounting to rails of a grocery cart, said means for removably mounting being operable between a stored position for supporting said board stable against a working surface and an extended position for supporting said clipboard stable mounted on said grocery cart;

a planar member having a first surface for supporting said portable map and a second surface;

a pivotable clip attached to said second surface, said pivotable clip clipping to a handle of said grocery cart and being movable between a first position adjacent said second surface and a second position clipped to said handle;

a pivotable swing arm slidably attached to said back surface between first and second positions, said pivotable swing arm including a groove for receiving a transverse rail of said grocery cart therein and being movable between a stored position adjacent to said second surface and an extended position receiving said transverse rail.

14. A method for aiding shoppers in the selection and location of discrete articles displayed for sale at various aisle locations in a store, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of aisles in the store, said store specific indicia including written identifications of said discrete articles sufficiently detailed in descriptiveness to correspond to said discrete articles arranged at locations in said pictorial representation corresponding to display locations of said discrete articles along said plurality of aisles;

marking at least one selected written identification on said portable map corresponding to discrete articles selected for purchase from said store; and

following said pictorial representation along said aisles to locate the selected discrete articles from the location of the marked written identification on said pictorial representation.

15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising the steps of:

providing a clipboard mounted to a grocery cart; and

mounting said portable map on said clipboard.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising the step of mounting said clipboard against a working surface in said stored position.

17. A system for aiding shoppers, comprising:

a store having a plurality of aisles therein, said store including numerous discrete articles displayed at various display locations along said plurality of aisles;

a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of said plurality of aisles;

said store specific indicia comprising first written identifications sufficiently detailed in descriptiveness to correspond to said discrete articles, said identifications showing said discrete articles arranged at locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles; and

wherein said portable map is usable as a shopping list for selecting discrete articles for purchase from said store and as an in-store map for locating said selected discrete articles in said store.

18. A system for aiding shoppers, comprising:

a store having a plurality of aisles therein, said store including numerous articles displayed at various display locations along said plurality of aisles;

a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of said plurality of aisles;

said store specific indicia comprising first written identifications of said articles arranged at locations in said pictorial representation corresponding to the display locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles; and

wherein said portable map is usable as a shopping list for selecting articles for purchase from said store and as an in-store map for locating said selected articles in said store;

a portable board for receiving and supporting said portable map thereon;

said portable board including means for removably mounting to rails of a grocery cart, said means for removably mounting being operable between a stored position for supporting said board stable against a working surface and an extended position for supporting said clipboard stable mounted on said grocery cart;

a planar member having a first surface for supporting said portable map and a second surface;

a transverse bracket attached to said second surface, said transverse bracket including a groove for receiving a transverse rail of said grocery cart therein;

a swing arm pivotably attached to said second surface, said swing arm including a clamp at an end thereof for clamping to a vertical rail of said grocery cart and being movable between a first position adjacent said second surface and a second position clamped to said vertical rail; and

a resiliently flexible clip attached to said second surface, said resiliently flexible clip clipping to a longitudinal rail of said grocery cart.

19. A system for aiding shoppers, comprising:

a store having a plurality of aisles therein, said store including numerous articles displayed at various display locations along said plurality of aisles;

a portable map including a display surface bearing store specific indicia arranged in a pictorial representation of said plurality of aisles;

said store specific indicia comprising first written identifications of said articles arranged at locations in said pictorial representation corresponding to the display locations of said articles along said plurality of aisles; and

wherein said portable map is usable as a shopping list for selecting articles for purchase from said store and as an in-store map for locating said selected articles in said store;

a portable board for receiving and supporting said portable map thereon;

said portable board including means for removably mounting to rails of a grocery cart, said means for removably mounting being operable between a stored position for supporting said board stable against a working surface and an extended position for supporting said clipboard stable mounted on said grocery cart;

a planar member having a first surface for supporting said portable map and a second surface;

a pivotable clip attached to said second surface, said pivotable clip clipping to a handle of said grocery cart and being movable between a first position adjacent said second surface and a second position clipped to said handle;

a pivotable swing arm slidably attached to said back surface between first and second positions, said pivotable swing arm including a groove for receiving a transverse rail of said grocery cart therein and being movable between a stored position adjacent to said second surface and an extended position receiving said transverse rail.