US 10,308,269 B2Granted

Shopping cart with sensor system

AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC

InventorsYurgis Mauro Bacallao, Joshua David Osmon

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A shopping cart with sensor system is used by customers of a retail store to collect and scan items to be purchased. The shopping cart with sensor system includes a shopping cart and a shopping cart sensor system. Items to be purchased are placed in the shopping cart, where they are automatically scanned by the sensor system. The shopping cart sensor system includes a frame and a sensor coupled to the frame. The frame rotates with respect to the shopping cart so that the sensor can collect product information from items in the shopping cart. A first and a second light bar and a microcomputer are also coupled to the frame. The product information is used to ring up the items a customer wishes to purchase, so the customer does not have to visit a checkout station to have their items rung up.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A shopping cart sensor system comprising:

a frame, wherein the frame is a first elongate member comprising two bends, wherein the two bends divide the frame into three sections, wherein the three sections comprise:
a frame middle section, wherein the frame middle section comprises a frame middle section first end and a frame middle section second end opposing the frame middle section first end;
a frame first side section, wherein the frame first side section comprises a frame first side section first end and a frame first side section second end, wherein the frame first side section second end is coupled to the frame middle section first end;
and
a frame second side section, wherein the frame second side section comprises a frame second side section first end and a frame second side section second end, wherein the frame second side section second end is coupled to the frame middle section second end;
a sensor mechanically coupled to the frame;
a microcomputer enclosed in a microcomputer case, wherein the microcomputer case is mechanically coupled to the frame, and wherein the microcomputer is electrically coupled to the sensor;
and
a battery pack mechanically coupled to the frame and electrically coupled to the microcomputer;
a first and a second light bar coupled to the frame;
wherein the sensor obtains product information from a product and sends the product information to the microcomputer.

8 more elements

A shopping cart with a shopping cart sensor system comprising:

a shopping cart comprising:
a shopping basket comprising a bottom panel, four side panels, an open top, and a top rail that encircles the open top;
and
a set of wheels coupled to the shopping basket for transporting the shopping cart;
and
a shopping cart sensor system comprising:
a frame, wherein the frame is a first elongate member comprising:
a frame first end rotatably coupled to the top rail;
and
a frame second end opposing the frame first end and rotatably coupled to the top rail;
wherein the frame rotates from a first position to a second position, and wherein the frame is parallel to a plane of the top rail in the first position, and wherein the frame extends perpendicular to the plane of the top rail in the second position;
a sensor mechanically coupled to the frame;
a microcomputer enclosed in a microcomputer case, wherein the microcomputer case encloses the microcomputer and is mechanically coupled to the frame, and wherein the microcomputer is electrically coupled to the sensor;
and
a battery pack mechanically coupled to the frame and electrically coupled to the microcomputer;
wherein the sensor obtains product information from a product in the shopping basket and sends the product information to the microcomputer.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/969,891Filed 3 May 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Jun 2017
Published: US 2018/0354540 A113 Dec 2018
Granted: 4 Jun 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B62B 5/0096
Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts: identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency…
B62B 3/002
Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor: characterised by a rectangular…
B62B 3/02
Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor: involving parts being adjustable,…
B62B 3/1472
Characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys: supports for specific articles

Family

Application62/517,012Us provisional application · filed 8 Jun 2017
US 2018/0354540 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Dec 2018
US 10,308,269 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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