Battery charging station for shopping cart mounted portable data collection devices

A method for electrically charging a battery carried by a shopping cart equipped with a portable data collection device, the method comprising steps of:

• providing an attachment element fixedly attached to the shopping cart and having an electrical contact electrically coupled to the shopping cart battery and being at a fixed position with respect to the shopping cart;
• providing a charging station including a guide rail configured for releasably engaging the shopping cart attachment element, the guide rail having an electrically conductive portion positioned to make electrical contact with the electrical contact of the attachment element when the attachment element is engaged with the guide rail;
• positioning a shopping cart with respect to the charging station such that the attachment element engages the guide rail and the electrically conductive portion of the guide rail electrically contacts the electrical contact of the attachment element;
• and
• conducting current from a source of electricity through said electrically conductive portion of the guide rail and the electrical contact of the attachment element to charge the battery of the shopping cart.

Method for electrically charging a battery carried by a shopping cart equipped with an electronically powered device, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a charging station including a guide rail configured for engaging a plurality of shopping carts each of which is provided with a battery and at least one electronically powered device, the guide rail having at least one first conductive portion positioned to make electrical contact with a second conductive portion located on each of the plurality of shopping carts, the guide rail having a reduced size opening leading to an enlarged interior configured to slidably receive attachment elements carried by the plurality of shopping carts, the plurality of shopping carts being locked to the track while charging;
• positioning each of the shopping carts at the charging station with the first conductive portion of the guide rail in electrical contact with the second conductive portion located on each of the shopping carts;
• and
• conduction current from a source of electricity through said first conductive portion and each of the second conductive portions to simultaneously charge the batteries of each of the shopping carts.