Collection, storage and dispensing system and vertical lift for shopping carts

US5529163A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mel Decker · US

Inventors

• Mel Decker · Sarasota, US
• Peter W. Mansfield · Urbanna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 7, 1995
• Grant date: Jun 25, 1996
• Expiry date: Feb 7, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S209/939
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A collection, storage and dispensing system (10 or 30) for shopping carts (E) including an elongated tubular conduit sized to allow a shopping cart (E) to rollably pass therethrough. The conduit includes a novel upright or a sloped first end section (38 or 14) defining an entrance opening (16 or 36) through which shopping carts (E) enter the system (10 or 30), a generally horizontal mid section (12, 32 or 52), and a sloping or an upright second end section (18 or 38) which defines an exit opening (20 or 40) through which shopping carts (E) exit the system (10 or 30). The mid section (12 or 32) is preferably buried below grade, but may also be elevated above a parking lot surface of a store for vehicles to drive beneath. A floor (62) is provided within the conduit (52) atop which shopping carts (E) roll. An elongated slender guide engaging probe (112 or 112' ) is connected to each shopping cart (E) which both laterally guides the carts by slidably engagement into a guide channel (130) longitudinally in the floor (62) and is pullably engaged onto a chain-type conveyor (78) adjacent one end section which is upright. The entrance opening (16 or 36) is positioned at grade level of a sto…