Shopping cart corrals with at least two advertisement panels arranged in a staggered fashion and method of providing same

• US 9,301,627 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2015
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starlite Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Starlite Media LLC
• Inventors: Lueken, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Syed A
• Application Number:
  US14/601,030
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 406/060.3, 406/061.3, 406/061.4, 406/420.2, 211/17, 211/22, 256/25, 248/225.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials A47F5/0006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0043 connected to a receptacle of public utility, e.g. a waste receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/06 the advertising matter being combined with articles for restaurants, shops or offices on paper articles G09F23/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/002 weather-proof panels or boards G09F7/02 - G09F7/14, G09F7/18 - G09F7/22 take precedence

Abstract

Certain embodiments disclose a corral and enclosure defined by three members having an opening configured to hold one or more shopping carts and display one or more advertisements, with two substantially parallel walls of different lengths and advertisement panels affixed on the walls, such that they are staggered. The staggered arrangement of the at least two advertisement panels facilitates better visibility and allows the simultaneous viewing of at least two advertisement panels. The longer member also further protects vehicles parked on its side from colliding with shopping carts.

Claims

1. A corral configured to hold one or more shopping carts, the corral comprising:

an enclosure defined by three members and having an opening for receiving the one or more shopping carts;

a first member having a first length;

a second member that is substantially parallel to the first member and having a second length that is different from the first length;

a third member coupled to the first member and the second member; and

a bar member coupled to the first member and the second member near the opening, wherein the bar member is coupled to the first member and the second member such that the bar member is situated at an angle that is not parallel with respect to the third member.

2. The corral of claim 1, wherein the bar member is situated at an angle that is not substantially perpendicular with respect to the first member and second member.

3. The corral of claim 1, wherein each one of the first and second members is coupled to a leg having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion configured to rest on a surface and at least partially support the corral.

4. The corral of claim 3, wherein the bar member provides structural support to the corral, and wherein the bar member and legs of the first and second members form an integral part of a railing that couples the first member to the second member near the opening.

5. The corral of claim 1, wherein the corral further comprises:

a first advertisement coupled to the first member; and

a second advertisement coupled to the second member, wherein the first and second advertisements are provided in a staggered arrangement.

6. The corral of claim 5, further comprising:

a first panel configured to display the first advertisement; and

a second panel configured to display the second advertisement;

wherein the bar member extends through the first panel and the second panel so as to affix the first and second panels on the first and second members, respectively.

7. The corral of claim 6, wherein the staggered arrangement of the first panel and the second panel permits simultaneous viewing, from a profile view of the corral, of a third advertisement located on an interior surface of the first panel facing the enclosure and the second advertisement located on an exterior surface of the second panel facing away from the enclosure.

8. The corral of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel are configured to display electronic advertisements.

9. The corral of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel are configured to display an interactive advertisement with which a user may interact to receive a discount or coupon.

10. The corral of claim 6, wherein the first panel and the second panel are configured to display advertisements on both an interior surface facing the enclosure and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface.

11. A corral configured to hold one or more shopping carts, the corral comprising:

an enclosure defined by three members and having an opening for receiving the one or more shopping carts;

a first member that is a unitary structure having a first length that is non-extendible;

a second member that is also a unitary structure having a second length that is non-extendible, wherein the first member and second member are substantially parallel to one another and the first length is different from the second length; and

a third member coupled to the first member and the second member opposite the opening, wherein the first and second members extend outwardly from the third member and the second member extends further relative to the first member;

wherein each one of the first member and the second member includes a front bottom portion and rear bottom portion that extend downwardly such that the rear bottom portions of the first and second members are aligned across from one another and the front bottom portions of the first and second members are not aligned across from one another.

21. The corral of claim 11, wherein the front bottom portion of the first member is configured to contact a surface at a first position and the front bottom portion of the second member is configured to contact the surface at a second position, and the second position is located further away from the third member relative to the first position.

12. A method for providing a corral configured to hold one or more shopping carts, the method comprising:

providing an enclosure defined by a first member, a second member and a third member, the enclosure having an opening configured to receive the one or more shopping carts, wherein;

the first member has a first length;

the second member is substantially parallel to the first member and has a second length that is different from the first length;

a third member is coupled to the first member and the second member; and

a bar member is coupled to the first member and the second member near the opening, wherein the bar member is coupled to the first member and the second member such that the bar member is situated at an angle that is not parallel with respect to the third member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bar member is situated at an angle that is not substantially perpendicular with respect to the first member and second member.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a leg coupled to each one of the first and second members and having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion configured to rest on a surface and at least partially support the corral.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the bar member provides structural support to the corral, and wherein the bar member and legs of the first and second members form an integral part of a railing that couples the first member to the second member near the opening.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a first advertisement panel coupled to the first member and being configured to display at least one advertisement;

providing a second advertisement panel coupled to the second member and being configured to display at least one advertisement, wherein the first advertisement panel and second advertisement panel are in a staggered arrangement; and

wherein the bar member extends through the first advertisement panel and the second advertisement panel so as to affix the first and second advertisement panels on the first and second members, respectively.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the staggered arrangement of the first advertisement panel and the second advertisement panel permits simultaneous viewing, from a profile view of the corral, of a first advertisement located on an interior surface of the first advertisement panel facing the enclosure and a second advertisement located on an exterior surface of the second advertisement panel facing away from the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first advertisement panel and the second advertisement panel are configured to display electronic advertisements.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first advertisement panel and the second advertisement panel are configured to display an interactive advertisement with which a user may interact to receive a discount or coupon.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first advertisement panel and the second advertisement panel are configured to display advertisements on both an interior surface facing the enclosure and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface.