AN ADDITIONAL DEVICE FOR A SHOPPING TROLLEY

Abstract: An additional device (22) is adapted to be mounted on a lateral, substantially horizontal and cylindrical handle (16) of a shopping trolley (10). In a mounted position the additional device is inended to be used for advertising and information purposes for the shop's own customers while they are shopping. The additional device (22) comprises a plate-like body (24', 24'') the upper surface (24') thereof forming a favourable angle in relation to the customer pushing the shopping trolley (10). The additional device (22) is attachable to the shopping trolley handle (16) and will, thus, encapsulate the same more or less, limiting the efficient length thereof. In order to remedy this disadvantage, the additional device (22) is formed with a handle (38) substantially parallel to the handle (16) of the shopping trolley (10), the additional device's (22) handle (38) being shaped and designed in order to replace the shoppings trolley's handle (16) and serve as the shopping trolley's (10) handle when the additional device (22) is mounted on the trolley (10).

Description: AN ADDITIONAL DEVICE FOR A SHOPPING TROLLEY This invention relates to an additional device adapted to be mounted on a standard shopping trolley comprising a wheeled carcase carrying an overlying basket equipped with a lateral, substantially horizontal and cylindrical handle, said additional device on the shopping trolley is intended used for advertising purposes, i.a. as an information source for bargains, terms for selling bargains, etc. To this end, the additional device comprises a plate-like body, the preferably somewhat sloping, upwardly directed upper surface thereof facing towards the customer pushing the shopping trolly forwardly, on which plate-like body said advertising, etc. is intended to be applied, and wherein the additional device is attachable to the handle of the shopping trolley. U.S. patent specifications Nos. 4,848,117, 4,988,025 and 5, 301,443 disclose additional devices for advertising, etc., ountable on the shopping trolley's lateral, substantially horizontal and cylindrical handle. These known additional devices comprise plate-like bodies the upper outer surface thereof which carries the advertising, can be placed in an inclined upwardly directed position, facing the one pushing the shopping trolley forwardly. The plate bodies of these known additional devices may have the largest extent laterally of the longitudinal direction of the shopping trolley. The additional devices are attachable to the lateral handle of the shopping trolley by means of clips, clamps, dogs, cramps, fasteners or cramp irons. A central upwardly facing portion of the plate may, in accordance with prior art technique, comprise a transparent cover material hingedly attached and tiltable in an upward direction - U.S. patent specification No. 5 301 443 - in order to insert therebelow loose advertising messages, etc., on paper, plastic or foil-like material, whereafter the cover material is put back in place and attached by clips above the advertising message on top of the plate surface. A similar device as the one disclosed in U.S. patent specification No. 5 301 443, is disclosed in GB patent application No. 2 164 916, the device according to the latter publication, however, not really being constructed for use on a shopping trolley, but wherein is found a transparent cover material hingedly attached and capable of being pulled out along grooves, for inserting readable advertising messages, etc., on paper or similar sheet/web material, whereafter the cover material is pushed back in place, in order to keep the advertising message firmly against the plate-like body. The additional device according to the three above-mentioned U.S. patent specifications are all attached to the respective shopping trolley's lateral, horizontal handle and restricts, thus, the usable length of the handle, simultaneously as it is desirable that the additional device should have the largest possible extent in the lateral direction of the shopping trolley, in order to have as much space as possible for advertising leaflets, etc. within a field of view with a restricted extent in the longitudinal direction of the shopping trolley. Therefore, two wishes are sharply opposed to each other, namely (i) to maintain as much as possible of the length of the shopping trolly's handle free for the user and (ii) to be able to use the broadest possible plate-like body in the additional device for advertising purposes. According to prior art technique, this problem has not been solved. Therefore, the object of the invention has been to provide an additional device of the kind defined in the introduction, where the additional device may comprise a very broad plate-like body as a carrier for advertising material, etc., and where covered shopping trolley handle does not offer any problems. The object is realized by means of a shopping trolley's additional device distinguishing itself by the features as defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. In accordance with the invention, the plate-like body of the additional device has, along one width edge, a handle replacing the parallel handle of the shopping trolley, the trolley handle serving as an anchoring part for the attachment of the additional device. The additional device's handle may be allotted an extent in the lateral direction of the shopping trolley which only in an insignificant degree is smaller than the extent of the shopping trolley's handle, measured in the same direction. A plate-like body as broad as possible included as the main part of the additional device which is desirable as previously explained, allows simultaneously the making of a handle as long as possible, and this is likewise desirable. A non-restricting example of a preferred embodiment for a shopping trolley's additional device according to the invention is further explained in the following, reference being made to accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows in a perspective view a shopping trolley on which is mounted an additional device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows in perspective partial view, on a larger scale, a transparent material sheet shown in partly outwardly pulled condition, said sheet also being inwardly pushable and intended to cover loose advertising messages, etc. , written/printed on paper or similar material placed on top of a plate-like body of the additional device, in the pushed-in position of the sheet; Figure 3 shows the plate-like body of the additional device, seen from below; Figure 4 shows a partial side elevational view of the additional device where only the handle shown in cross-section represents the shopping trolley; Figure 5 shows an enlarged side elevational partial view of the additional device according to the invention in the area of its attachment to the handle of the shopping trolley. Figure 1 shows in perspective a standard shopping trolley 10 comprising a wheeled carcase 12 which carries a basket 14 in which the goods are kept during shopping. At the rear, upper end edge thereof, the basket 14 is provided with a horizontally lateral, substantially cylindrically shaped handle 16 carried in end pieces 18 at the top of bracing hoops 20 at the rear, internal corner portions of the basket 14. An additional device to be used for advertising purposes is generally denoted at reference numeral 22 and comprises mainly a plate-shaped body having an upper and a lower surface 24', 24". Above the upper surface 24' of the plate-shaped body 24', 24" , a displaceable cover plate 26 of transparent material has been disposed. Along opposite side edges, said cover plate 26 has rectilinear guide portions 26' engaging displaceably into complementary grooves 28 formed in thickened side edge elements 30 of the plate-shaped body 24 '24", figure 2. The cover plate 26 is intended to be pulled out upon the placement of advertising, etc., e.g. on sheets of paper or similar thin sheet/foil material on top of the plate-like body's 24 ',24" upper surface 24', whereafter the cover plate 26 is pushed back into position again, maintaining the intermediate sheet (s) firmly against the additional device 22. The cover plate 26 has a central handle 32. On its lower face, the plate-like body of the additional device is formed with a groove 34, see figure 5, extending in the width direction of the plate body 24 ',24". In the examplary embodiment, said groove 34 has a semi-circular cross-section. The plate-like body 24', 24" is placed such on the shopping trolley's 10 lateral handle 16 that the latter engages into the groove 34 in the underside 24" of the plate body 24* ,24". To the groove-defining face is attached two fastening clamps 36 which are brought to surround the handle 16 of the shopping trolley 10, whereafter the clamp ends are brought together and locked to each other by means of a screw/nut-connection, through a corresponding snap action, or in an other suitable way. In order to prevent that the additional device 22 turns around the handle 16 of the shopping trolley 10, the handle 16 might be provided with holes 28 and corresponding, registering holes (not shown) in the plate-like body 24 ',24" serving to accommodate a screw bolt 40 carrying a nut 42; the latter countersunk in the plate body 24*, 24". Parallel to the attachment groove 34 on the underside 24" of the plate-like body 24', 24", a handle 38 has been disposed at the rearwardmost width edge of the plate body. The handle 38 of the additional device 22 has substantially the same shape, design and extent as the original handle 16 of the shopping trolley 10. The latter handle 16 is practically encapsulated within the additional device's plate-like body 24 ',24", because of the wish for the broadest possible additional device. Reference numeral 40 denotes a conventional locking means usually attached to the shopping trolley. The locking means 40 is adapted to be inserted into a complementary locking means on another shopping trolley positioned in front of the first mentioned shopping trolley to interlock the trolleys in a horizontal row of stackable, interlockable trolleys.

Claims: C l a i s 1. An additional device (22) adapted to be mounted on a shopping trolley (10) equipped with a lateral handle (16) , said additional device (22) in mounted position on the shopping trolley (10) is intended to be used for advertising and information purposes, and wherein the additional device (22) comprises a plate-like body (24 ',24") attachable to the shopping trolley handle (16), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the additional device (22) is formed with a handle (38) substantially parallel to the shopping trolley handle (16) , the additional device's handle (38) being designed and adapted to replace the shopping trolley handle (16) and serve as the shopping trolley's (10) handle (16). 2. An additional device (22) as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the handle (38) of the additional device is situated rearwardly of the rear end wall of the shopping trolley basket (14), constituting the rear edge of the additional device (22) as well as being defined in a forward direction by an aperture parallel thereto and extending nearly across the whole width extent of the additional device (22) .

Inventors: BYBERG HENNING, BYBERG, HENNING
Applicants: BYBERG HENNING, BYBERG, HENNING
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G09F23
IPC codes: B62B3, B62B5, G09F21, G09F23