Shopping cart maintenance signal flag

A maintenance signal flag adapted for use with a shopping cart, the maintenance signal flag comprising a flag member and signal panel hingedly connected to a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly secures the maintenance signal flag to the shopping cart, and flag member pivots between raised and lowered positions to raise the signal panel above the shopping cart. The signal panel displays a maintenance message when raised, indicating the shopping cart is faulty. A user, upon discovering a defect, raises the flag member to create a visual alert which warns other users to avoid the faulty shopping cart and notifies maintenance personnel to service the shopping cart. The maintenance message identifies the specific defect to facilitate efficient inspection. The maintenance signal flag may be retrofitted to existing shopping carts and does not interfere with the ability of the shopping cart to be stacked with other shopping carts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a safety and maintenance device for a shopping cart. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a maintenance signal flag operable by a shopping cart user which visually notifies maintenance personnel that the shopping cart is faulty and requires maintenance.

BACKGROUND

Shopping carts supplied by retail stores for transporting shopping goods are indispensable for shoppers who would otherwise be unable to carry the volume and weight of goods typically purchased during a typical shopping trip. However, shopping carts are often poorly maintained because the carts are constantly in use, leading to rapid wear and tear on the components of the shopping cart. Furthermore, shopping carts are constantly in demand, and maintenance personnel responsible for their repair and upkeep are unable to perform inspections to identify which shopping carts must be taken out of service and set aside for repairs or maintenance. Poorly maintained or faulty shopping carts are frequently un-usable and may even be unsafe. Faulty wheels and casters prevent the shopping cart from moving or turning properly, but defective seatbelts or broken metal basket bars constitute safety hazards which may lead to serious injury.

Presently, current practice requires the shopper to bring the faulty shopping cart to the attention of the store staff. However, most shoppers would rather set aside faulty shopping carts and attempt to find a functional shopping cart than go through the delay and inconvenience of reporting the faulty cart. As a result, faulty shopping carts remain intermingled with the pool of functional carts, and often go undetected by the store's maintenance personnel until they are totally nonfunctional and have open and obvious defects.

Examples of flags and pennants for emergency signaling or for improving visibility abound within the prior art. However, these devices are intended for use with motorized vehicles or are intended for other applications which make them ill-suited for installation onto a shopping cart. The prior art further contains electronic diagnostic devices for detecting shopping cart defects. However, these references do not address the particular problem of efficiently discovering and marking faulty shopping carts with minimal disruptions in a busy shopping environment. A need exists for a device which is inexpensive, is non-intrusive and can be retrofitted to existing shopping carts, is simple enough for any user to operate, and which provides a visual alert to shoppers as well as maintenance personnel which identifies particular faults or defects with great specificity.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a device which a user of a shopping cart may employ to visually notify other users and maintenance personnel that the shopping cart is faulty and in need of maintenance. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a maintenance signal flag which is attached to the shopping cart and has a flag member and signal panel adapted to be raised and lowered by the user. When raised, the signal panel is elevated above the shopping cart by the flag member, and displays a maintenance message which warns other users to avoid using the shopping cart and alerts the maintenance personnel that the shopping cart is faulty and in need of maintenance.

It is another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a device which visually informs maintenance personnel of the nature of the maintenance issue to reduce inspection times and increase efficiency. Accordingly, the maintenance message identifies the component of the shopping cart in need of maintenance, and the maintenance signal flag has one or more detachable signal panels displaying alternate maintenance messages which attach to the signal panel to replace the original maintenance message. The maintenance signal flag may also have a second flag member to display additional maintenance messages when multiple maintenance issues are present.

It is yet another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a device which is positioned within the user's reach and does not interfere with the placement of shopping goods within the shopping cart or the ability of the shopping cart to be stacked with other shopping carts. Accordingly, the maintenance signal flag is externally secured to the side of the shopping cart basket towards the basket opening and the basket rear.

It is a further aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a device which can be used to upgrade shopping carts already in service. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a maintenance signal flag having a mounting assembly which is selectively attachable and is adapted to be secured to any type of shopping cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a maintenance signal flag10attached to a shopping cart60, which allows a user, upon encountering defective or faulty components within the shopping cart60, to signal to other users and/or maintenance personnel that the shopping cart60requires maintenance. The other users will be warned to avoid using the faulty shopping cart60, and the maintenance personnel will be alerted to inspect and service the shopping cart60. Referring toFIG. 2while continuing to refer toFIG. 1, the maintenance signal flag10comprises a movable flag member14having a signal panel12, and a mounting assembly30which is adapted to secure the maintenance signal flag10to the shopping cart60. The maintenance signal flag10further comprises a hinge15which movably connects the flag member14with the mounting assembly30, and allows the flag member14to pivot between a raised position45as shown inFIG. 2, and a lowered position46, as shown inFIG. 3. When the flag member14is in the raised position, the signal panel12is elevated above the shopping cart60, placing the signal panel12in view of the other users and maintenance personnel. Furthermore, workers gathering unused shopping carts left throughout a store or parking lot will notice the raised signal panel12and will not place the faulty shopping carts back into circulation. The maintenance signal flag10may be secured to the shopping cart60at the time of the shopping cart's manufacture, or may be provided independently for installation to a shopping cart already in service.

Continuing to refer toFIGS. 1-3, the shopping cart60is representative of a typical cart or trolley used by shoppers to convey goods, and has components comprising a basket64, a plurality of wheels63and casters63B positioned beneath the basket64, and a handle76. The components of the shopping cart60may further include a seat74and seatbelt76positioned at the rear68adapted to receive and secure a seated child. The basket is adapted to receive and hold the goods and has a frame62with a front66, sides67, a rear68, and a basket opening65which opens upwardly. The frame62may be made of any material such as plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. The maintenance signal flag10is mounted to one of the sides67of the frame62, preferably within arms' reach of the user as the user stands proximate to the rear68of the basket, allowing the user to raise and lower the flag member14by hand. In the example depicted, the frame62of the exemplary shopping cart60is formed from a plurality of welded metal bars70. In a preferred embodiment, the maintenance signal flag10may be mounted to a horizontal bar72along the side67of the basket64, positioned proximate to the basket opening65and closer to the rear68than the front66of the basket64. The maintenance signal flag10is not mounted within the basket opening65itself, and is instead positioned on an exterior portion of the frame62, such that the maintenance signal flag10does not interfere with the placement of goods within the basket64. This location also places the maintenance signal flag10within the user's reach as the user stands at the rear68of the shopping cart60, and allows the signal panel12to be visible to other users when in the raised position. Furthermore, the positioning of the maintenance signal flag10on the exterior of the frame62towards the rear68of the basket64does not interfere with the ability of the shopping cart60to be stacked with other shopping carts, whereby the rear68of the basket is adapted to hingedly open to allow the front66of another shopping cart to be inserted therethrough.

Turning now toFIG. 4while continuing to refer toFIGS. 1-3, the hinge15, which connects the flag member14to the mounting assembly30, comprises a first hinge component16attached to the flag member14, and a second hinge component40attached to the mounting assembly30. The flag member14may be a rod, beam, bar or other narrow and elongated shape having a first end14A and a second end14B. The flag member14may have a length which is sufficient to elevate the signal panel12above the shopping cart60and all of its components. The first hinge component16and the signal panel12are positioned at the first end14A and the second end14B respectively. Referring toFIGS. 5A-Bwhile continuing to refer toFIGS. 1 and 4, the first hinge component16may have a cylinder18disposed perpendicularly to the flag member14, while the second hinge component40may have a hinge opening42adapted to receive the cylinder18so that it may rotate therein and allow the flag member14to pivot between the raised and the lowered positions45,46. The hinge15may further be adapted to allow the flag member14to lock into the raised and lowered positions. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge opening42has a hinge opening inner surface42B which is adapted to surround the cylinder18and has a first notch44A and a second notch44B. The first and second notches44A,44B are arranged parallel with and opposite to each other. The cylinder18has a locking projection20which is designed to selectively align with and engage either the first or the second notch44A,44B when the cylinder18is inserted into the hinge opening42. Rotating the cylinder18within the hinge opening42causes the locking projection20to disengage from either the first or the second notch44A,44B, and then engage with the opposite notch as appropriate. While the locking projection20is engaged with either the first or the second notch44A,44B, the engagement creates a resistive force which prevents the cylinder18from rotating, until the user applies sufficient force to overcome the resistive force. In a preferred embodiment, the flag member14is in the raised position45when the locking projection20is engaged with the first notch44A, and is in the lowered position46when engaged with the second notch44B. Once the flag member14is fully lowered and the locking projection20engages with the second notch44B, the flag member is adjacent to and substantially coplanar with the mounting plate32, minimizing the thickness of the maintenance signal flag10and further preventing it from interfering with the normal usage of the shopping cart60.

Note that the disposition of the cylinder18and the hinge opening42, along with the first and second notches44A,44B and the locking projection20, may be reversed so that the cylinder18projects from the second hinge component40of the mounting assembly30, and the hinge opening42is positioned within the first hinge component16of the flag member14. In certain embodiments, the hinge15may further have a spring mechanism which compresses and locks when the flag member14is placed in the lowered position, but is also adapted to automatically push the flag member14to the raised position once the spring is released. A person of ordinary skill in the art in the field of the invention will appreciate that the hinge15may alternatively be implemented using any alternative structure or means commonly employed to provide hinged or pivoting motion.

Continuing to refer toFIGS. 1-4andFIGS. 5A-B, in a preferred embodiment, the flag member14is raised and lowered along a path47which is perpendicular to the side67of the basket64. Note that the path47is not intended to be limiting, and the hinge15may alternatively be adapted to raise and lower the flag member14between the raised and lowered positions along a path which is coplanar to the side67, or which is otherwise irregular, depending on the nature of the hinge15.

The signal panel12has a signal panel face12F which is adapted to display a maintenance message12M which alerts the maintenance personnel that the shopping cart requires maintenance. The maintenance message12M may be a general statement such as “Please Fix”, or a more specific statement which indicates which component of the shopping cart requires maintenance, such as “Broken Wheel”. The signal panel12may also have a reverse signal panel face12FA disposed opposite the signal panel face12F, which allows the maintenance message12M to be visible from two separate directions and fulfills the same purpose as the signal panel face12F. In certain embodiments, the maintenance signal flag10may have a movable or detachable signal panel13displaying an alternate maintenance message12MB, which is adapted to be selectively attached and detached to the signal panel face12F and/or the reverse signal panel face12FA via magnets, clips, adhesive, or other fastening means. The alternate maintenance message12MB may be used to indicate that a different component of the shopping cart60, other than the component described in the maintenance message12M, is in need of maintenance. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the flag member14, the signal panel face12F, and/or the detachable message panel13may be covered in a reflective layer to increase the visibility of the maintenance signal flag when exposed to light. The maintenance message12M may be printed or otherwise overlaid directly on top of the reflective layer.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 4, and 5A-B, the mounting assembly30has a mounting plate32which is connected to the second hinge component40. The mounting plate32is substantially flat and is adapted to be attached to the frame62of the basket64. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting assembly30further has a locking hook34which is substantially “U” shaped and has a first hook end35A and a second hook end35B. The mounting plate32has two locking holes36which allow the first and second hook ends35A,35B to pass therethrough. In order to attach the mounting plate to the side67of the frame62, the locking hook34is removed from the locking holes36and is positioned such that the horizontal bar72is contained between the first and second hook ends35A,35B. The mounting plate32is then positioned to bring the first and second hook ends35A,35B in alignment with the locking holes36, until the first and second hook ends35A,35B pass through the locking holes36and horizontal bar72is securely locked in place between the locking hook34and the mounting plate32. The first and second hook ends35A,35B may be secured to the mounting plate32using nuts or other fastening means. Furthermore, the mounting plate32is positioned parallel with the side67of the basket64, and the hinge15is adapted to provide the flag member14with one hundred and eighty degrees of motion between the raised and the lowered positions45,46. Note that in an alternative embodiment, the mounting plate32and the locking hook34may be adapted to be secured to any bar within the frame62, such as a vertically oriented bar. In another embodiment where the side67of the basket64is substantially solid and flat, the mounting plate32may simply be directly attached to the side67of the basket64via fastening means such as adhesives or screws. In an embodiment where the maintenance signal flag10is preinstalled on the shopping cart60at the time of its manufacture, the mounting plate32may be permanently attached to the basket64using welding, permanent adhesives, and the like.

Turning now toFIGS. 6A-Bwhile also referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, the detachable signal panel13is movably attached to the signal panel12. The detachable signal panel13may, in certain embodiments, be hingedly attached to a signal panel top edge12FT by means of a top hinge24which allows the detachable signal panel13to be flipped to selectively contact either the signal panel face12F or the reverse signal panel face12FA. The user may selectively flip the detachable signal panel13to display either the maintenance message12M or the alternate maintenance message12MB in order to inform the maintenance personnel of the specific component of the shopping cart60in need of maintenance. For example, the maintenance message12M displayed on the signal panel face12F may read “Broken Wheel”, indicating that one of the wheels63is faulty. On the other hand, the alternate maintenance message12MB displayed on the detachable signal panel13may read “Broken Frame”, indicating that the frame62of the basket64is faulty. The top hinge24may be adapted to support multiple detachable signal panels13each bearing a different alternate maintenance message12MB.

Referring now toFIG. 7while also referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, the maintenance signal flag may, in an alternate embodiment, further comprise a second flag member26which is substantially similar to the flag member14and has a second signal panel28and second signal panel face28F. The second flag member26may be connected to the hinge15and the mounting assembly30via a second hinge15B in a coaxial arrangement, where the second hinge15B is disposed opposite the hinge15with the mounting assembly30positioned therebetween. The alternate maintenance message12MB may be displayed on the second signal panel face28F, allowing the user to selectively display either the maintenance message12M or the alternate maintenance message12MB by placing either the flag member14or the second flag member26in the raised position as appropriate. The remaining unused flag member (either the flag member14or the second flag member26) may be placed in the lowered position. In certain cases where the shopping cart60has multiple faulty components, all appropriate maintenance messages12M and/or alternate maintenance messages12MB may be raised as necessary. Note that as an alternative to the second flag member26, one or more additional maintenance signal flags may be installed upon the shopping cart60proximate to the first maintenance signal flag10.

The maintenance signal flag10may be adapted to display as many unique maintenance messages12M or alternate maintenance messages12MB as required to address the maintenance needs of the particular shopping cart60. In a preferred embodiment, the quantity of maintenance messages12M and alternative maintenance messages12MB which can be attached or otherwise displayed from the signal panel face12F and the second signal panel face28F, are sufficient to allow the user to notify the maintenance personnel regarding the occurrence of any maintenance issue in a list of common maintenance issues. Accurate notification via the maintenance signal flag10reduces the time required for an inspection of the shopping cart and allows the maintenance personnel to more efficiently identify and remedy the relevant maintenance issues. For example, the list of common maintenance issues may comprise faulty wheels63or casters63B, faulty seats74or seatbelts78, faulty basket64, or the presence of garbage or filth. The list of common maintenance issues may be expanded or reduced as necessary in accordance with the number of components of the shopping cart. For example, some shopping carts do not include baby seats, while others may have additional components such as a coin operated lock.

Referring now toFIG. 1,FIGS. 6A-B, andFIG. 7simultaneously, a single flag member14provided with three additional detachable signal panels13is sufficient to display each of the four maintenance issues in the list supplied above. However, at least one detachable signal panel13may, in alternate embodiments, be attached to either the signal panel12or the second signal panel28, to greatly increase the number of maintenance messages that can be displayed. A person of ordinary skill in the art in the field of the invention will appreciate that these elements may be employed individually or in combination in furtherance of the principles of the present disclosure.

The maintenance signal flag10may alternatively be installed to another position upon the shopping cart60. For example, referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, the mounting plate32may be attached to a part of the shopping cart which connects the handle76to the basket64.

In conclusion, herein is presented a shopping cart maintenance signal flag. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.