CART BRAKING CONTROL DURING MECHANIZED CART RETRIEVAL

• US 20080319625A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jesse M. James, Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah
• Original Assignee: Jesse M. James, Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah
• Inventors: Hannah, Stephen E., Carter, Scott J., James, Jesse M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/14 characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys collapsible shopping trolleys B62B3/027
• 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 3/1412 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1492 Wheel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0423 braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0438 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/048 Hub brakes; drum brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 : Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 : Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 : EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 : structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.

Claims

1. A system for retrieving shopping carts, the system comprising:

a plurality of shopping carts, each of which includes radio frequency (RF) communication circuitry coupled to a braking mechanism, said RF communication circuitry being capable of receiving RF transmissions of commands; and

a mechanized cart retrieval unit that pushes or pulls a group of nested carts to facilitate retrieval, the mechanized cart retrieval unit configured to communicate with the RF communication circuitry of the nested carts to cause the braking mechanisms of the nested carts to remain unlocked during mechanized cart retrieval.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the shopping carts are ordinarily responsive to detection of a VLF (very low frequency) signal by locking their respective braking mechanisms, and wherein the mechanized cart retrieval unit is capable, via communication with the RF communication circuitry of the nested carts, of causing the nested carts to disregard the VLF signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanized cart retrieval unit includes a directional antenna positioned so as to focus RF transmissions of commands on the nest of carts.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanized cart retrieval unit is a mechanized cart pusher, and is configured to command at least one shopping cart at the front of the nest to apply partial braking during mechanized cart retrieval so that the group of carts does not become un-nested.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF communication circuitry includes an RF transceiver.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the RF transceiver is fully contained within a wheel of the respective shopping cart.

7. A system for facilitating retrieval of shopping carts, the system comprising:

a shopping cart wheel assembly configured for attachment to a shopping cart, said shopping cart wheel assembly including communication circuitry coupled to a braking mechanism, said communication circuitry capable of receiving wireless transmissions of commands, and capable of controlling the braking mechanism in response to said commands; and

a communication device adapted to be mounted on and electrically connected to a mechanized cart retrieval unit that pushes or pulls a group of nested carts, said communication device configured to transmit a command to said shopping cart wheel assembly to cause the braking mechanism to remain in a deactivated state during cart retrieval.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication device is capable of causing the shopping cart wheel assembly to disregard a VLF (very low frequency) signal that ordinarily causes the wheel assembly to activate the braking mechanism.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the braking mechanism is capable of inhibiting shopping cart movement without placing a shopping cart wheel in a locked state.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry is housed within a shopping cart wheel of said wheel assembly.

11. A method of facilitating mechanized cart retrieval, comprising:

during mechanized cart retrieval of a nest of shopping carts with a mechanized cart retrieval unit, transmitting at least one command from the mechanized cart retrieval unit to the shopping carts via wireless communications, said shopping carts comprising braking mechanisms that are capable of being activated to inhibit shopping cart motion, and comprising electronic circuitry that controls the braking mechanisms; and

at the shopping carts, responding to the at least one command by causing the braking mechanisms to remain in a deactivated state during said mechanized cart retrieval.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic circuitry responds to the at least one command by ignoring a condition that ordinarily causes the electronic circuitry to activate the braking mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the condition is detection of a VLF (very low frequency) signal.

14. A mechanized cart retrieval unit configured to push or pull a nest of shopping carts, the mechanized cart retrieval unit comprising a communication device that is configured to wirelessly communicate with shopping carts in said nest during mechanized cart retrieval to cause the shopping carts to maintain braking mechanisms thereof in an unlocked state during mechanized cart retrieval.