Portable information terminal mountable on shopping cart and removable memory device usable with same

• US 8,152,062 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercatus Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mercatus Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Perrier, R. Sylvain, List, Jeremy, Edey, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, RAFFERTY D
• Application Number:
  US11/411,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 361/684, 361/686, 361/679.57, 361/679.58, 361/679.31, 361/679.39, 361/759, 439/752, 439/731, 235/383, 353/83
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1416 mounted on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1428 Adaptations for calculators, memory aids or reading aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/06 Hand moving equipment, e.g. handle bars for cycles B62K11/14, B62K21/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0627 in which the trolleys or carts are kept fixed or linked onto a rail or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0663 Constructional details of the housing of the coin or token activated lock, or of mounting of the coin-lock on the trolley or cart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4536 Inwardly pivoting shutter

Abstract

A system made up of a portable information terminal mountable on a shopping cart for providing product and advertising information while the cart is moved inside a store and an external memory device connectable to the portable information terminal, the external memory device including a memory housing, a non-volatile memory storing data in the memory housing, and a first electrical connector projecting from the housing for allowing a processor to access the stored data; the portable terminal including a terminal housing including a display, a processor in the terminal housing for causing the display to display product information and advertisements, and a second electrical connector inside the housing complementary to the first electrical connector for connecting an external memory device to the processor, the terminal housing including a passage providing access to the second electrical connector from outside the terminal housing and at least one door recessed in the passage shiftable from a first position blocking the passage to a second position by inserting the external memory device into the passage.

Claims

1. A system comprising a portable information terminal mountable on a shopping cart for providing product and advertising information while the cart is moved inside a store and an external memory device connectable to the portable information terminal,

the external memory device comprising:

a memory housing;

a non-volatile memory storing data in the memory housing;

a first electrical connector projecting from the housing for allowing a processor to access the stored data; and

a key member projecting into the memory housing farther than the first electrical connector for actuating a release mechanism of at least one door of the portable terminal;

the portable terminal comprising;

a terminal housing including a display;

a processor in the terminal housing for causing the display to display product information and advertisements;

a second electrical connector inside the housing complementary to the first electrical connector for connecting an external memory device to the processor;

the terminal housing including a passage providing access to the second electrical connector from outside the terminal housing, and said at least one door recessed in said passage shiftable from a first position blocking said passage to a second position by inserting the external memory device into the passage; and

a latch, slidably mounted on and laterally slidable using said release mechanism with respect to said at least one door and shiftable between a latched position preventing said at least one door from shifting from said first position to said second position and an unlatched position allowing said at least one door to be shifted from said first position to said second position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said memory housing has a cross sectional shape and said passage has a shape complementary to said cross sectional shape for slidably receiving said memory housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said latch includes an actuating portion projecting into said channel.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said memory housing includes a portion for engaging said actuating portion.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said actuating portion is positioned to be actuated by said first electrical connector when said memory device is inserted into said passage.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said latch includes an actuating portion on said at least one door.

7. The system of claim 1 including at least two latches each shiftable between a latched position preventing said at least one door from shifting from said first position to said second position and an unlatched position allowing said at least one door to be shifted from said first position to said second position.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one door is spring biased toward said first position.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said memory housing includes a projection adjacent to said first electrical connector for shifting said latch to said unlatched position.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one door comprises first and second doors.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch, positioned on a first side of said door, when in the latched position, prevents the door from opening when a force is applied on a second side of said door.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch is slidably engagable with a separate catch member.

14. The portable information terminal of claim 12 wherein said at least one door comprises at least one door hingedly connected to the housing.

13. A portable information terminal mountable on a shopping cart for providing product and advertising information while the cart is moved inside a store comprising:

a housing including a display;

a processor in the housing for causing the display to display product information and advertisements;

a second electrical connector inside the housing for connecting an external memory device to the processor,

wherein the second electrical connector is complementary to a first electrical connector projecting from the external memory device, and

wherein the external memory device comprises a key member projecting farther than the first electrical connector;

the housing including a passage providing access to the second electrical connector from outside the housing, at least one door recessed in said passage and shiftable between a first position blocking said passage and a second position by inserting the external memory device into the passage, and a release mechanism of said at least one door, wherein said release mechanism is actuated by the key member of the external memory device; and

a latch, slidably mounted on and laterally slidable using said release mechanism with respect to said at least one door and shiftable between a latched position preventing said at least one door from shifting from said first position to said second position and an unlatched position allowing said at least one door to be shifted from said first position to said second position.

15. The portable information terminal of claim 13 wherein said latch includes an actuating portion projecting into said channel.

16. The portable information terminal of claim 13 wherein said latch includes an actuating portion on said at least one door.