Mobile dispensing display, method for conversion of shopping cart into dispensing display and method of advertising and dispensing products

• US 6,944,981 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Sunflower Group (Dennis Garberg and Associates Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Sunflower Group (Dennis Garberg and Associates Incorporated)
• Inventors: Walker, Jon, Kucharski, Steve, Garberg, Dennis D., Hunter, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoge, Gary C.
• Application Number:
  US10/424,434
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 403/08, 406/060.3, 406/420.2, 406/060.2, 280/33.991, 280/33.992, 186/27, 224/411
• US Class Current: 40/308
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/137 having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/02 comprising a heating unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/04 comprising a cooling unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/06 comprising insulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/02 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• 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: B62B 3/1468 Additional trays
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1472 Supports for specific articles B62B3/1468 takes precedence
• 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 mobile dispensing display, method for conversion of shopping cart into dispensing display and a method of advertising and dispensing products involves the use of a conventional shopping cart. The shopping cart is provided from a store where the promotional activity is to be conducted and converted into a mobile dispensing display by mounting an advertising display onto the basket and mounting a product sample support panel on the shopping cart over the child seat. The mobile display may be moved intermittently to advantageous locations throughout the store where shoppers congregate. Product to be sold and/or sampled, as well as coupons or other promotional materials may be placed in the cart, whereby the cart becomes a mobile promotional and sales display as the user functions as a shoppers assistant providing information, samples or coupons. The user is not restricted to a single location, and may maintain personal and promotional items under direct supervision.

Claims

1. A method of converting a shopping cart into a mobile display, wherein the shopping cart includes a basket and a child seat supported on a plurality of wheels, said child seat including a generally upright backrest, said shopping cart conversion method comprising the steps of:

(a) mounting to the basket an advertising display bearing product indicia, step (a) including the step of orienting the advertising display on the basket so that the product indicia is oriented away from the interior of the basket; and

(b) supporting on the shopping cart a product support panel in a substantially covering relationship to the child seat, said product support panel including a substantially planar member having a surrounding margin and an opening positioned interiorly of the surrounding margin and sized complementally to the backrest of the child seat, step (b) including positioning the planar member in a substantially horizontal orientation on the cart such that at least a portion of the backrest extends through the opening to thereby inhibit side-to-side or front and rearward movement of the panel.

2. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 1, further including the step (c) of placing product within the basket which corresponds with the product indicia on the advertising display.

3. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 2, step (c) including the steps of placing an insulating carrier within the basket, and storing the product within the insulating carrier.

4. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 3, step (c) including the step of placing a phase change material within the insulating carrier.

5. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 1, step (a) including the step of removably attaching the advertising display to the basket.

6. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 5, step (a) including the step of fastening the advertising display to the basket with at least one coupling member.

7. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 6, said at least one coupling member being selected from the group consisting of string, a threaded fastener, a cable tie, a wire twist tie, and combinations thereof.

8. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 1, step (b) including the step of removably mounting the panel on the shopping cart.

9. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 1, step (b) including the step of resting the panel on an upper rim of the basket.

10. The shopping cart conversion method as claimed in claim 9, step (b) including the step of fastening the panel to the shopping cart with at least one coupling member.

11. A mobile dispensing display comprising:

a shopping cart including a basket, a child seat having a generally upright backrest, a plurality of wheel assemblies, and a handle;

an advertising display having an outer surface with indicia thereon providing product promotion information;

at least one coupling member which removably couples the advertising display to the shopping cart; and

a product sample support panel removably mounted on the shopping cart and positioned in a substantially covering relationship to the child seat, said product support panel including a substantially planar member having a surrounding margin and an opening positioned interiorly of the surrounding margin and sized complementally to the backrest of the child seat, such that the planar member is positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation on the cart such that at least a portion of the backrest extends through the opening to thereby inhibit side-to-side or front and rearward movement of the panel.

12. A mobile dispensing display as set forth in claim 11, including at least one product received in the basket corresponding to the indicia on the advertising display.

13. A mobile dispensing display as set forth in claim 11, including an insulating carrier received within the basket.

14. A mobile dispensing display as set forth in claim 13, including phase change material received in the insulating carrier.

15. A mobile dispensing display as set forth in claim 11, wherein the basket includes a front wall, a back wall, and first and second opposed side walls, and wherein the advertising display extends around the basket in substantially covering relationship to the first and second side walls and the front wall.

16. A mobile dispensing display comprising:

a shopping cart including a basket, a child seat, a plurality of wheel assemblies, and a handle;

an advertising display having an outer surface with indicia thereon providing product promotion information;

at least one coupling member which removably couples the advertising display to the shopping cart;

a product sample support panel removably mounted on the shopping cart; and

a skirt and at least one attachment member removably mounting the skirt to the cart in hanging relationship below the advertising display.