Cart coupler assembly for cart collection machines
US7549651B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62B5/0006
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is an improved cart coupler assembly for use on a shopping cart retriever vehicle. The cart coupler assembly provides a means for connecting shopping carts to the cart retriever vehicle. The cart coupler assembly may employ an actuator to move yokes into position to enable the yokes to engage shopping cart members. The cart coupler assembly may employ the upwardly facing concave surfaces of U-shaped yokes to engage the rear wheels of a shopping cart. In the place of yokes, the cart coupler assembly may utilize a shopping cart emulator that emulates one or more portions or features of a shopping cart in order to facilitate the engagement of the coupler assembly to a shopping cart.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.