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

• US 9,675,188 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starlite Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Starlite Media LLC
• Inventors: Lueken, Harold W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Syed A
• Application Number:
  US14/843,771
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 4060603, 4060613, 4060614, 4064201, 40612, 40624, 211 17, 211 22, 256 25, 24822511
• 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 having a second length, wherein the first member and second member are substantially parallel and the first length is not equal to the second length; and

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

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.

2. The corral of claim 1, 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.

3. The corral of claim 1, wherein the corral further comprises a bar member coupled to the first member and the second member near the opening, the bar member being 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.

4. 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.

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 1, further comprising at least one advertisement panel that is configured to display one or more advertisements.

7. The corral of claim 1, further comprising an interactive advertisement with which a user may interact to receive a discount or coupon.

8. The corral of claim 1, further comprising:

a first advertisement panel configured to display a first advertisement; and

a second advertisement panel configured to display a second advertisement;

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

9. The corral of claim 8, wherein a 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.

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

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

the first side has a first length;

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the front bottom portion of the first side is configured to contact a surface at a first position and the front bottom portion of the second side is configured to contact the surface at a second position, and the second position is located further away from the third side relative to the first position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the corral further comprises a bar coupled to the first side and the second side near the opening, the bar being coupled to the first side and the second side such that the bar is situated at an angle that is not parallel with respect to the third side.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the bar is situated at an angle that is not substantially perpendicular with respect to the first side and second side.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the corral further comprises:

a first advertisement coupled to the first side; and

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

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising at least one advertisement panel that is configured to display one or more advertisements.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising an interactive advertisement with which a user may interact to receive a discount or coupon.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

a first advertisement panel configured to display a first advertisement; and

a second advertisement panel configured to display a second advertisement;

wherein a bar extends through the first panel and the second panel so as to affix the first and second advertisements panels on the first and second sides, respectively.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a 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.