US 10,300,157 B2 · Retail store fixture and method of sterilizing a retail store fixture

Abstract

Described is a retail store fixture that includes an electric charge circuit. The electric charge circuit generates a positive electric charge, or voltage, in response to the motion of a moveable portion of the retail store fixture. The retail store fixture can be a shopping cart or other fixture with a moveable portion. The positive electric charge is deposited on a part of the retail store fixture that it is desired to sterilize. The positive electric charge repels bacteria, sterilizing the portion of the retail store fixture that receives the positive charge. A shopping cart, for example, equipped with the electric charge circuit can be sterilized without requiring chemicals or power to be supplied to the cart. Rotation of the shopping cart wheels can be used to generate the voltage. The voltage can be used to sterilize a shopping cart handle, and/or other parts of the shopping cart.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A shopping cart comprising a handle, a wheel and an electric charge circuit, wherein the electric charge circuit electrically biases the handle of the shopping cart with a positive electric charge, wherein the electric charge circuit comprises:

a charge generator in the wheel of the shopping cart;
a capacitor embedded in the handle;
a voltage regulator embedded in the handle;
and
a switch, wherein the switch connects and disconnects the charge generator from the capacitor, wherein the charge generator is electrically coupled to the capacitor through the voltage regulator, and wherein the charge generator is electrically disconnected in response to lack of rotation of the wheel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Retail store fixture and method of sterilizing a retail store fixture

Life of this patent

Retail store fixture and method of sterilizing a retail store fixture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13