Shopping cart rental system

• US 6,250,451 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andreʼ Thirkill
• Original Assignee: Andreʼ Thirkill
• Inventors: Thirkill, Andreʼ
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/528,269
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 194/343, 194/351, 194/905, 194/205, 194/212, 280/33.992, 280/33.994
• US Class Current: 194/205
• 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: Y10S 194/905 Shopping cart return

Abstract

A shopping cart rental system for renting shopping carts and encouraging returning of shopping carts to designated areas. The shopping cart rental system includes a plurality of rental assemblies. Each of the rental assemblies comprises a housing. The housing comprises an upper portion. A lower portion is couplable to the upper portion. A plurality of coin slots are located on a front face of the upper portion. A key slot is formed through a rear face of said upper portion. A key is for inserting into the key slot. The key is coupled to the upper portion of the housing. A key retaining assembly is for retaining the key in the key slot. A coin operated assembly for actuating the key retaining assembly. The coin operated assembly is operationally coupled between the coin slot and the key slot.

Claims

1. A shopping cart rental system for attaching to handles of shopping carts so as to provide a receptacle for coins received for rental of the cart, the cart rental system comprising:

a plurality of rental assemblies, each of said rental assemblies comprising;

a housing for attaching to the handle of the shopping cart, said housing having an upper portion adapted for orientating above the handle of the shopping cart;

a lower portion being couplable to said upper portion for orientating below the handle of the shopping cart;

a plurality of coin slots being located on said upper portion, said coin slots being adapted for receiving coins for renting the shopping cart;

a key slot being formed in said upper portion;

a key being for inserting into said key slot, said key being coupled to said upper portion;

a key retaining means for retaining said key in said key slot; and

a coin operated means for actuating said key retaining means, said coin operated means being operationally coupled between said coin slot and said key retaining means;

wherein said key from a first rental assembly is insertable in said key slot of a second rental assembly such that said first rental assembly is locked to said second assembly, said coin operated means of said second rental assembly being adapted to actuate said key retaining means of said second rental assembly to release said key of said first rental assembly, said key retaining means of said second rental means being adapted to actuate said coin operated means of said second rental assembly upon insertion of said key of said first rental assembly into said key slot of said second rental assembly;

wherein said upper portion has a bottom with an arcuate channel adapted for receiving a portion of the handle of a shopping cart; and

wherein said arcuate channel of said upper portion has an elastomeric layer for resisting rotation of said upper portion around the handle of the shopping cart.

2. The cart rental system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower portion has a top with an arcuate channel adapted for receiving a portion of the handle of a shopping cart.

3. The cart rental system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said arcuate channel of said lower portion has an elastomeric layer for resisting rotation of said lower portion around the handle of the shopping cart.

4. The cart rental system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said coin slots has an elastomeric liner for preventing unassisted removal of the coins from said coins slots.

5. The cart rental system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said key is coupled to said front face of said upper portion by a chain, said chain having a length for preventing said key of one of said rental assemblies from being inserted into said key slot of same said rental assembly.

6. A shopping cart rental system for attaching to handles of shopping carts so as to provide a receptacle for coins received for rental of the cart, the cart rental system comprising:

a plurality of rental assemblies, each of said rental assemblies comprising;

a housing for attaching to the handle of the shopping cart, said housing having an upper portion adapted for orientating above the handle of the shopping cart, said upper portion having a bottom face, said bottom face having an arcuate channel adapted for receiving a portion of the handle of the shopping cart;

wherein said arcuate channel of said upper portion has an elastomeric layer for resisting rotation of said upper portion around the handle of the shopping cart;

a lower portion being couplable to said upper portion for orientating below the handle of the shopping cart, said lower portion has a top face, said top face having an arcuate channel adapted for receiving a portion of the handle of a shopping cart;

wherein said arcuate channel of said lower portion has an elastomeric layer for resisting rotation of said lower portion around the handle of the shopping cart;

a plurality of coin slots being located on a front face of said upper portion, said coin slots being adapted for receiving coins for renting the shopping cart, each of said coin slots having an elastomeric liner for preventing unauthorized removal of the coins from said coins slots;

a key slot being formed through a rear face of said upper portion;

a key being for inserting into said key slot, said key being coupled to said upper portion;

wherein said key is coupled to said front face of said upper portion by a chain, said chain having a length for preventing said key of one of said rental assemblies from being inserted into said key slot of same said rental assembly;

a key retaining means for retaining said key in said key slot; and

a coin operated means for actuating said key retaining means, said coin operated means being operationally coupled between said coin slot and said key retaining means;

wherein said key from a first rental assembly is insertable in said key slot of a second rental assembly such that said first rental assembly is locked to said second assembly, said coin operated means of said second rental assembly being adapted to actuate said key retaining means of said second rental assembly to release said key of said first rental assembly, said key retaining means of said second rental means being adapted to actuate said coin operated means of said second rental assembly upon insertion of said key of said first rental assembly into said key slot of said second rental assembly.

7. A shopping cart rental system for attaching to handles of shopping carts so as to provide a receptacle for coins received for rental of the cart, the cart rental system comprising:

a plurality of rental assemblies, each of said rental assemblies comprising;

a housing for attaching to the handle of the shopping cart, said housing having an upper portion adapted for orientating above the handle of the shopping cart;

a lower portion being couplable to said upper portion for orientating below the handle of the shopping cart;

a plurality of coin slots being located on said upper portion, said coin slots being adapted for receiving coins for renting the shopping cart;

a key slot being formed in said upper portion;

a key being for inserting into said key slot, said key being coupled to said upper portion;

a key retaining means for retaining said key in said key slot; and

a coin operated means for actuating said key retaining means, said coin operated means being operationally coupled between said coin slot and said key retaining means;

wherein said key from a first rental assembly is insertable in said key slot of a second rental assembly such that said first rental assembly is locked to said second assembly, said coin operated means of said second rental assembly being adapted to actuate said key retaining means of said second rental assembly to release said key of said first rental assembly, said key retaining means of said second rental means being adapted to actuate said coin operated means of said second rental assembly upon insertion of said key of said first rental assembly into said key slot of said second rental assembly;

wherein said lower portion has a top with an arcuate channel adapted for receiving a portion of the handle of a shopping cart; and

wherein said arcuate channel of said lower portion has an elastomeric layer for resisting rotation of said lower portion around the handle of the shopping cart.

8. The cart rental system as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said coin slots has an elastomeric liner for preventing unassisted removal of the coins from said coins slots.

9. The cart rental system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said key is coupled to said upper portion by a chain, said chain having a length for preventing said key of one of said rental assemblies from being inserted into said key slot of same said rental assembly.