Shopping cart with a self-charging system
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorLuis Eduardo Bravo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shopping cart is equipped with an electrical/electronic component(s), such as a shopping assistant, that is electrically powered by a rechargeable power supply. A system is provided for continuously recharging the power supply as the shopping cart is propelled by the customer. In one embodiment, the wheels of the shopping cart are linked to a potential energy storage component, such as a coil spring. The spring is wound with each movement of the shopping cart, regardless of the distance that the cart travels. When the coil spring has been wound to a pre-determined torque, the spring is released to drive an input to an electrical generator. Once the potential energy in the spring has been dissipated the winding cycle begins again.
Claims10
A wheeled shopping cart having an electrically powered component mounted thereon, the component having a rechargeable electrical power supply, the wheeled shopping cart comprising:
- an electrical generator coupled to the power supply to provide electrical energy to recharge the supply;
- a potential energy storage component coupled between at least one wheel of the shopping cart and the electrical generator, the storage component configured to store potential energy by rotation of the at least one wheel and further configured to drive the generator by converting the stored potential energy to kinetic energy, wherein the potential energy storage component comprises a coil spring;
- and
- an input mechanism coupled between the coil spring and the at least one wheel of the shopping cart, wherein (i) the input mechanism is configured to wind the coil spring as the at least one wheel rotates, and (ii) the input mechanism includes a one-way clutch to transmit rotation in only one direction between the coil spring and the at least one wheel.
A wheeled shopping cart having an electrically powered component mounted thereon, the component having a rechargeable electrical power supply, the wheeled shopping cart comprising:
- an electrical generator coupled to the power supply to provide electrical energy to recharge the supply;
- a potential energy storage component coupled between at least one wheel of the shopping cart and the electrical generator, the storage component configured to store potential energy by rotation of the at least one wheel and further configured to drive the generator by converting the stored potential energy to kinetic energy, wherein the potential energy storage component comprises a coil spring;
- and
- an output mechanism coupled between the coil spring and the electrical generator, wherein (i) the output mechanism is configured to drive the generator as the coil spring unwinds, (ii) the output mechanism includes a rotatable shaft coupled between the coil spring and the generator, and (iii) the output mechanism includes a one-way clutch integrated into the rotatable shaft to transmit rotation to the generator in only one direction.
A shopping cart having an electrically powered component mounted thereon, the component having a rechargeable electrical power supply, the shopping cart comprising:
- an electrical generator coupled to the power supply to provide electrical energy to recharge the supply;
- a potential energy storage component mounted within the shopping cart and operably coupled to drive the electrical generator, the storage component configured to store potential energy and to drive the generator by converting the stored potential energy to kinetic energy, wherein the potential energy storage component comprises a coil spring;
- an input mechanism coupled between the coil spring and the at least one wheel of the shopping cart, wherein (i) the input mechanism configured to wind the coil spring as the at least one wheel rotates, and (ii) the input mechanism includes a one-way clutch to transmit rotation in only one direction between the coil spring and the at least one wheel;
- and
- an output mechanism coupled between the coil spring and the electrical generator, wherein (i) the output mechanism is configured to drive the generator as the coil spring unwinds, (ii) the output mechanism includes a rotatable shaft coupled between the coil spring and the generator, and (iii) the output mechanism includes a one-way clutch integrated into the rotatable shaft to transmit rotation to the generator in only one direction.
A method for recharging a rechargeable power supply for an electrical/electronic component mounted on a wheeled shopping cart comprising:
- providing an electrical generator mounted on the shopping cart and coupled to the power supply to recharge the power supply;
- periodically connecting a first one-way clutch to convert the kinetic energy of the rotation of at least one wheel of the shopping cart to potential energy;
- storing the potential energy in at least one spring carried by the shopping cart;
- and
- periodically connecting a second one-way clutch to convert the potential energy to kinetic energy to drive the electrical generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.