WO2004016530A2

WO2004016530A2 - Supermarket cart with advertising media through luminous self-rechargeable sign system

Info

Publication number: WO2004016530A2
Application number: PCT/BR2003/000115
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcelo Machado Coelho
Original assignee: Marcelo Machado Coelho
Priority date: 2002-08-16
Filing date: 2003-08-14
Publication date: 2004-02-26
Also published as: WO2004016530A3; AU2003250628A1; BR8202275U; AU2003250628A8

Abstract

A supermarket cart (01) with advertising media through luminous self-rechargeable sign system involves a luminous advertising sign (14) on supermarket carts. The luminous advertising is designed and structured such that it will be protected from possible impact. The advertising sign includes a light, a battery (04), and printed circuit plate (05) that electrically controls the lighting system as well as the battery recharging function. The carts is designed so as to automatically self-recharge when out of use and appropriately parked, fitted into each other, through electrical transmitting plate (07) and receiving plate (06). The cart also has luminous sockets (22) (of the cigarette lightening Kind) to provide 12 volts electrical recharge for cell phones and rechargeable pads or other electronic equipment that fed on this voltage.

Description

Descriptive Report on the invention's patent "SUPERMARKET CART WITH ADVERTISING MEDIA THROUGH LUMINOUS SELF-RECHARGEABLE SIGN SYSTEM"

The present invention refers to the setting up - of luminous advertising sign media (publicity) on supermarket carts. The set will include its own energy supply system for the signs by means of a 12-volt battery. It will also include a device that will allow battery recharge from one cart to the next when they are fitted into each other, i.e., parked.

Several media possibilities are already - known in and outside the supermarket's, including luminous signs attached to the shelves, on the walls, on the gondolas, etc. Nevertheless the carts that keep on circulating with the customers during the entire span of the shopping contain free space that could be used for media and are neglected.

However, advertising on supermarket carts - (specially with lamps) was never explored due to several technical difficulties, among which, for instance, we emphasize: Since the cart is mobile, the possibility of connecting its lamps to electrical outlets through wiring is excluded. Or again, due to the possibility of collisions, impacts or bumps of the cart against other carts or even against the gondolas or the shelves, thus determining an impediment for - the setting up of luminous media, inasmuch as these would be subjected to great deterioration and damage due endured to fortuitous impacts.

In view of these events and difficulties, and with the firm purpose to solve them, we developed the present invention in which one is able to set up luminous devices on the carts which are already in use, - providing thus the due space for publicity (advertising). The luminous sign uses fluorescent lamps that will be fed by a 12-volt battery. It will also include electronics devices by means of a printed circuit plate which will control the battery's recharge, as well as turning on and off the electric supply to the luminous sign and to the plug (cigarette lightening type). It will also control that for the other -carts that happen to be parked and fitted into each other, accomplishing thus the process of self-recharging of the batteries of all further carts. Enclosed drawings show the setting up of the devices on the supermarket cart, the subject of the present petition, as follows:

Figure 1 shows the supermarket cart's frontal and lateral perspectives as well as cross sections that allow visualization of - the whole setting up proposed.

Figure 2 shows the body of the supermarket's cart without the chassis in frontal e lateral perspectives and with the advertising's luminous sign set up.

Figure 3 shows the supermarket cart's - chassis from the top perspective including the devices that allow the sign's lightning, the battery's recharge as well as the recharging of the other carts that are parked and connected with each other.

Figure 4 represents one supermarket cart in perspective, with the luminous sign already set up including the sketch of a cell - phone plugged to the supermarket's cart. This will be achieved through a cell phone's recharging cable (automobile type) connected to the electric sign in such a way as to allow the cell phone battery's recharge while the customer does his shopping.

Figure 5 represents a row of several parked - carts dully fitted into each other exactly as it's done nowadays in all supermarkets, but with the luminous sign set up in all of them.

According to what is illustrated in the figures above, we have that: On the cart's front body (01 ), a luminous sign (14) is set up of a size proportional to the free space in the cart. The luminous sign (14) is - supplied with a plastic structure, or with one that happens to become available with further technological development, or even with any other one that facilitates the setting up of that structure. This structure also serves as an external protector (15). The external protector is designed in such a way as to provide a protuberance on the front part of the luminous sign (14), especially at the top and - lateral parts. We also have that on the chassis (02) of the cart it is fastened a holding box (13) made of insulating plastic material, in such a way as to function as a receptacle for the battery (04) and a printed circuit plate (05). We also have the plastic support (17) that holds the transmitting plate (07) and the spring (18). In addition we have the receiving plates (06) that are fastened with insulating plastic supports (11 ), as well as the transmission wiring made up of the transmission wire - (12) that electrically feeds both the luminous sign (14) and the plug (22) and of the transmission wire (10) that feeds both the transmission plate (07) and the printed circuit plate (05), which controls the charging of the battery (04).

In the introduction regarding the supermarket cart, we have that, as one places the luminous sign (14) on the supermarket cart, - he sets up the electrical wiring for the activation of the lamps through the transmitting wire (12), which is fed directly by the printed circuit plate (05). In turn, the printed circuit plate is feed by plate (06) by means of the transmission wire (10), thus controlling the recharging current to the battery (04). The plate (06) is also responsible for receiving the electricity, either from the fixed recharging - support for the first cart, or else through the transmitting plate (07), which is fastened to a plastic support (17). The plastic support has a spring (18) designed to apply the necessary pressure so that, when the carts are parked, the plates (06) will be bellow the pales (07) triggering the springs (18) that will apply pressure on the plates (06) and (07) against each other in such a way that, even if the carts are - badly parked (ill fitted) the plates will still be receiving and transmitting electricity.

According to the present design, it is manifest that both the electricity receiving plates (06) and the electricity transmitting plates (07) are set up so as to be insulated from the metallic parts of the cart, so there wont be any electrical leakage, even though the wiring around - the cart used to light up the sign and charge and recharge the battery (04) will be only the one of the battery and of low amperage, so as no to cause any electrical shock on the customers.

The design of the luminous sign (14) is done so as to ensure that its external structure is shaped and functions as a protecting - device (15). Its assembly and design will ensure that, in case the cart bumps against something, for instance, shelves, gondolas or even against other carts, such a bumps will not reach directly the sign with the advertising, protecting it from possible breaking and damage. On this structure (15) one or more sockets (22) are set up (of the cigarette lightening kind) that are design so as to receive a plug for the supply of 12-volt electric current to any electronic device equipped with - these adaptors, such as cell phones and recharging pads. The socket (22) will be powered by the battery (04) by means of the transmitting wire (12), which will power both the luminous sign (14) as well as the socket (22).

In the figure 5, one can see a row of carts that represents how the supermarket carts are parked and stored. In the present - proposal, when the first cart is parked at the appropriate place it will be fit into a exactly similar arrangement, but the fixed recharging support will be receiving a 220-volt electrical current that will be converted into 12-volts and fed on to the first cart which, in its turns, will pass it on to the second, which will pass it on to the third, and so on. Consequently, whenever a cart is connected, either to the fixed - recharging support or to another cart, it will be receiving electricity for its battery's (04) recharge. And once it is out of use and in recharging position (parked), the controlling plate (05) will cut the electricity for the luminous sign (14) and the socket (22) as soon as it receives electricity for the battery's recharge, thus automatically shutting it off, when fitted into another cart or connected to the fixed - recharging support, and automatically turning it on, when disassembled.

Of course this proposal for advertising media set up on supermarket carts, which will attach this devices either to electric equipment or to advertising constructions, may take several different forms such as advertising trihedra, illuminated acrylic plates, neon or even any other form of - luminous advertising. Besides, the socket (22) can provide electrical charge to electronic equipment that employ the required voltage, such as cell phones and recharging pads., radios, tv sets, laptops, notebooks, etc.

Claims

1) "SUPERMARKET CART WITH ADVERTISING MEDIA THROUGH LUMINOUS SELF-RECHARGEABLE SIGN SYSTEM" characterized by the setting up of a luminous sign (14) on the very - structure of the cart and the usage of the cart's chassis for the fastening devices such as a box (03) to store the battery (04) and a printed circuit plate (05) that will control the input electrical current used to recharge the battery (04) and the output electrical current used for the luminous sign's (14) lightning.

2) "SUPERMARKET CART WITH - ADVERTISING MEDIA THROUGH LUMINOUS SELF-RECHARGEABLE SIGN

SYSTEM" besides what is claimed by claim 1 , characterized by the setting up on the cart's own chassis, of the receiving (06) and transmitting plates (07) mounted on insulated plastic supports (17) and (11 ) constituting the cart's recharging system. - 3) "SUPERMARKET CART WITH

ADVERTISING MEDIA THROUGH LUMINOUS SELF-RECHARGEABLE SIGN SYSTEM" besides whatever is claimed by claim 1 and 2, characterized by also by offering through the luminous sign (14) a socket (22) for recharging other electronic equipment.