Method and apparatus for deterring theft of manually operated wheeled vehicles
US5576691A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60B2200/432
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for deterring theft of manually operated wheeled vehicles, reducing unauthorized use and removal of steel or steel and plastic constructed swivel-wheel shopping carts by preventing the free movement of one or more of the installed wheels. Attached to the frame of the shopping cart, a braking device in accordance with the present invention, when activated, measures the distance traveled beyond an activating point by counting the number of wheel rotations made by the cart and compares this to a preprogrammed stored attribute that defines the allowable distance the cart is allowed to travel once outside the shopping facility. Depending on the direction the cart is travelling, the counter is "armed" or "disarmed" when the cart passes over low-frequency magnetic arrays placed at the entry or exit of the shopping facility.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.