US 7,000,737 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for securing a shopping cart

AssigneeRonald Scheffer

InventorRonald Scheffer

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A method and apparatus for securing a wheeled device such as a shopping cart is disclosed. In one embodiment, the securing structure comprises a depression formed in a support surface, such as a concrete or asphalt parking lot. The depression is configured to accept one or more wheels of a wheeled cart therein for restraining the cart. An advertising platform is located in the depression. The advertising platform bears advertising or other information. Another embodiment of the invention is an advertising platform for use with a cart securing structure which is mounted to a support surface. The platform may span the space between two securing structures, the platform having a top surface configured to bear advertising or other information.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A cart dock for displaying advertising and capable of securing pairs of wheels of two or more carts comprising:

a first cart securing structure, said first cart securing structure having a first raised stop and a second raised stop, said first raised stop and second raised stop of said first card securing structure spaced from one another by a trough, said trough having a width between said first raised stop and second raised stop of said first cart securing structure, said trough having a length exceeding its width, whereby said trough is configured to simultaneously accept a pair of spaced-apart wheels of a cart, said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure having a front face;
a second cart securing structure, said second cart securing structure including a first raised stop and a second raised stop, said first raised stop and second raised stop of said second cart securing structure spaced from one another by a trough, said trough of said second cart securing structure having a width between said first raised stop and second raised stop of said second cart securing structure, said trough of said second cart securing structure having a length exceedin its width, whereby said trough of said second cart securing structure is configured to simultaneously accept a pair of spaced-apart wheels of a cart, said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure having a front face;
said first and second cart securing structures spaced from one another and oriented such that the front face of said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure faces generally in an opposing direction from said front face of said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure;
and
an advertising platform positioned between and engaging said first and second cart securing structures, whereby when a cart is engaged with said first cart securing structure said cart is moved in a first direction towards said advertising platform into engagement with said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure, over said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure and into said trough of said first cart securing structure, and whereby when a cart is engaged with said second cart securing structure said cart is moved in a second direction towards said advertising platform, said second direction being generally opposite said first direction, and into engagement with said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure, over said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure and into said trough of said second cart securing structure.

2 more elements

A cart dock for displaying advertising and capable of securing pairs of wheels of two or more carts comprising:

an advertising platform having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends located generally opposite one another;
a first cart securing structure located at said first end of said advertising platform, said first cart securing structure including a first raised stop and cooperating with said platform to define a second raised stop and wherein a trough is defined between said first raised stop and said second raised stop of said first cart securing platform;
and
a second cart securing structure located at said second end of said advertising platform, said second cart securing structure including a first raised stop and cooperating with said platform to define a second raised stop and wherein a trough is defined between said first raised stop and said second raised stop of said second cart securing platform.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/851,457Filed 21 May 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 15 Sep 1999
Published: US 2004/0216965 A14 Nov 2004
Granted: 21 Feb 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60T 3/00
Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles
B62B 5/049
Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement: locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall
B60T
Vehicle brake control systems or parts thereof
B62B
Hand-propelled vehicles

Family

Application09/396,658Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Sep 1999
Application09/809,119Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Mar 2001
Application10/133,209Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Apr 2002
Application10/699,580Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Oct 2003
US 2004/0216965 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Nov 2004
US 6,648,103 B2Parent of this continuation
Application10/699,580Parent of this continuation
US 6,386,331 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application10/133,209Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2001/0040072 A1Published application
US 2002/0166735 A1Published application
US 2005/0051389 A1Published application
US 7,070,024 B2Related patent
US 7,000,737 B2This patent

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

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Abstract

A cart dock for displaying advertising and capable of securing pairs of wheels of two or more carts comprising:

a first cart securing structure, said first cart securing structure having a first raised stop and a second raised stop, said first raised stop and second raised stop of said first card securing structure spaced from one another by a trough, said trough having a width between said first raised stop and second raised stop of said first cart securing structure, said trough having a length exceeding its width, whereby said trough is configured to simultaneously accept a pair of spaced-apart wheels of a cart, said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure having a front face;
a second cart securing structure, said second cart securing structure including a first raised stop and a second raised stop, said first raised stop and second raised stop of said second cart securing structure spaced from one another by a trough, said trough of said second cart securing structure having a width between said first raised stop and second raised stop of said second cart securing structure, said trough of said second cart securing structure having a length exceedin its width, whereby said trough of said second cart securing structure is configured to simultaneously accept a pair of spaced-apart wheels of a cart, said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure having a front face;
said first and second cart securing structures spaced from one another and oriented such that the front face of said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure faces generally in an opposing direction from said front face of said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure;
and
an advertising platform positioned between and engaging said first and second cart securing structures, whereby when a cart is engaged with said first cart securing structure said cart is moved in a first direction towards said advertising platform into engagement with said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure, over said first raised stop of said first cart securing structure and into said trough of said first cart securing structure, and whereby when a cart is engaged with said second cart securing structure said cart is moved in a second direction towards said advertising platform, said second direction being generally opposite said first direction, and into engagement with said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure, over said first raised stop of said second cart securing structure and into said trough of said second cart securing structure.

2 more elements

Facts

Application

10/851,457Filed 21 May 2004 · continuation in part

Priority

15 Sep 1999

Published

US 2004/0216965 A14 Nov 2004

Granted

21 Feb 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60T 3/00
Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles
B62B 5/049
Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement: locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall
B60T
Vehicle brake control systems or parts thereof
B62B
Hand-propelled vehicles

Family

Application09/396,658Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Sep 1999

Application09/809,119Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Mar 2001

Application10/133,209Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Apr 2002

Application10/699,580Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Oct 2003

US 2004/0216965 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Nov 2004

US 6,648,103 B2Parent of this continuation

Application10/699,580Parent of this continuation

US 6,386,331 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part

Application10/133,209Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2001/0040072 A1Published application

US 2002/0166735 A1Published application

US 2005/0051389 A1Published application

US 7,070,024 B2Related patent

US 7,000,737 B2This patent

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