Abstract:
A device and method for temporarily maintaining and securing valuables in a shopping cart is disclosed. The device is manufactured to fit in the upper basket area of standard shopping carts. The device can be modified to fit in alternative shopping cart designs and sizes. The device is generally manufactured from a flat panel which forms a lid enclosure over the small basket of a shopping cart. The device is secured to the back side of a shopping cart basket and can flip up so that valuables may be stored inside the small basket. The device is then flipped down and is secured in the front of the small basket of the cart nearest to the shopper.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/992,004 filed Dec. 3, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to a device which improves the security and functionality of grocery and retail store shopping carts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device designed to completely enclose the top basket of a shopping cart and prevent the theft of purses or other valuable items stored temporarily by a customer using the cart. Additionally this device can be constructed to hold coupons, cell phone, car keys or miscellaneous items for customer convenience and may be imprinted with the store or third-party ancillary advertising. When not in use, the device stores neatly away so that a consumer may use the top basket for other purposes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditional shopping carts are designed with a standard top basket equipped to hold grocery items and customers&#39; purse or other valuables. Unfortunately, these retail carts do not offer any security for the valuables or purses stored in the top basket. Consumers who divert their eyes from their cart or turn around to select an item from the shelf risk having their valuables snatched in a split second. Currently there is no device to adequately secure shoppers&#39; purses or other valuable items so they are forced to carry their belongings in a cumbersome manner. The necessity for keeping one&#39;s eyes and hands on their valuables at all times decreases shopping efficiency and distracts from the chore at hand. There is a need to resolve this problem by employing a method and designing a device which provides security for shoppers&#39; valuables during the time they are in the store so their hands (and attention) are free to shop. This device alleviates concerns that shoppers&#39; valuables are in jeopardy when their attention is diverted or focused elsewhere. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention involves a device and method for securing valuables in a shopping cart. The device is manufactured to fit in the upper basket area of standard shopping carts. The device can be modified to fit in alternative shopping cart designs and sizes. The device is generally manufactured from a flat panel which forms a lid enclosure over the small basket of a shopping cart. The device is secured to the back side of a shopping cart basket and can flip up so that valuables may be stored inside the small basket. The device is then flipped down and is secured in the front of the small basket of the cart nearest to the shopper. This device can be easily installed and removed from shopping carts so that the store or manufacturer of the shopping cart may replace, remove, or exchange the device. This device may be flipped over the back of the top cart when not in use so that shoppers have access to the basket for storage of groceries or other uses (seating of children, etc.). Upon completion of the consumer&#39;s shopping trip, the cart is returned to the store and stacked in a bay with other shopping carts. When not in use, the device lays flat against the back of the basket, thereby allowing for carts to nest one on top of the other. This device may be retrofitted to existing carts or manufactured on new carts at the time of construction. 
         [0005]    In alternative embodiments the device can further be equipped with various cut-outs that provide storage space on top while securing items below, e.g., cell phone holder, coupon holders, key storage, etc. Either the store or other product manufacturers may place advertising media on the security device for viewing by the customers. As determined by the cart manufacturer&#39;s specifications, the device may be attached to the backside of the shopping carts&#39; top basket by means of free-moving brackets and latches. The attachment means can be via nylon webbing with plastic closures or alternative materials which are flexible and unbreakable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages, and principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the back half of a shopping cart with an embodiment of the shopping cart security device installed; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the shopping cart security device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a view looking from the back of a shopping cart with a shopping cart security device installed; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an alternative embodiment of the device configured to hold coupons, a cell phone, keys, and to display advertising. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, all the various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of an example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth below. 
         [0012]    With reference to  FIG. 1  an embodiment of the shopping cart security device  100  is seen installed in a standard shopping cart  50 . The security device  100  works to create an enclosure in the top basket of shopping carts so that valuables can be stored inside this area. Shoppers utilizing device  100  are able to turn briefly their backs to the cart without having to worry their valuables will be stolen. 
         [0013]    The security device  100  fits into the top small basket  70  of shopping cart  50 . The device  100  is made of plastic or other durable substance. Device  100  is generally rectangular and includes a panel  110  having a top surface  102 , a bottom surface  104 , and two thin sides  106   a,    106   b.  Thin side  106   a  is proximate to front end  100   a  and thin side  106   b  is proximate to back end  100   b.  Device  100  is economical to manufacture and as a result of this benefit can be easily custom manufactured for a particular store or product producer to incorporate specific advertising. In one embodiment, device  100  contains one or more pockets  80  on top surface  102  to hold coupons, cell phones, car keys, and/or a shopping list. In another embodiment the device  100  can be manufactured to display advertising (numeral  170  in  FIG. 4 .) In an alternative embodiment the device  100  can have cutout holders, storage, and advertising on top surface  102 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1  the device  100  covers the entire small basket  70  and has flaps  105  extending downward at an angle on each side to enclose the small basket  70  so that thieves&#39; hands cannot reach items enclosed by the device  100 . In a preferred embodiment, flaps  105  extend continuously from and are part of device  100 , such that flaps  105  include top surface  102 , bottom surface  104 . The extensions  105  are flat, longer pieces of the hard substance which flare out at an angle and sit proximate to the sides of the shopping basket so that there is not enough space for somebody to reach inside the small basket  70  and grab the valuables inside. In some embodiments, extensions  105  sit within centimeters of the sides of the shopping basket. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment the device  100  is retrofitted to the shopping cart  50  via one or more brackets or straps  125 . In  FIG. 1  there are three attachment openings or holes  120  shown to the back of the small basket  70 . In this embodiment the attachments are made by webbing  125  such as nylon webbing, which feed through holes  120  in the device  100  and around the top wire  140  of the basket  70 . In a preferred embodiment, webbing  125  forms a loop through attachment holes  120 . The ends of the webbing  125  are secured under the device  100  within the small basket  70  with a fastener such as a clamp  127 . While a clamp  127  is shown, it should be understood that any other fastening means may be used to secure webbing  125  to small basket  70 . In a preferred embodiment, the clamp  127  cannot be reached when the device  100  is closed so that it cannot be freely opened by a thief. The front end  100   a  of device  100  has one or more holes  130  through which another piece of webbing or other type of non-breakable rope, cord, chain or cable  125  is fed. The webbing  125  is fed through the hole  130  and around the top bar  52  of the shopping cart  50 . On either end of the cord, cable or webbing  125  there is clamp  127 . The clamp  127  can be manufactured from plastic, metal or other hard substance and allows the two ends of the webbing  125  or other cord or rope to be secured together. In order to assure that a potential thief does not unclamp the clamp, the user can slide the webbing  125  so that the clamp  127  is underneath the device  100  within the small basket  70  and is not easily or quickly accessible to open or release. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of an embodiment of the shopping cart security device  100  is displayed. In viewing the device  100 , the flaps  105  can be seen extending downward at an angle and being continuous with the device  100  at either end. In an alternate embodiment, the device  100  can be manufactured without flaps  105 . In the embodiment without flaps  105 , the edges of the device  100  cover the entire opening of the small basket  70 . In the embodiment displayed in  FIG. 2  there are three holes  120  for attachment to the back of the small basket  70  of the shopping cart  50 . The nylon webbing or other cord  125  is fed through these holes  120 . There is a buckle  127  at one end of the cord  125  so that the webbing can be wrapped around the bars of the shopping cart and then attached to itself underneath the device  100 . At the front end  100   a  of device  100  there is one or more holes  130  through which the webbing or cord  125  passes. In a preferred embodiment, there is a detachable clip  127  with either end of the clip  127  attached to each end of the cord  125 . In order to fasten the device closed the user will snap the ends of the cord or webbing  125  together at the clip  127  and then can slide the cord  125  so that the connected clamp  127  is facing downward underneath the device  100 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the device  100  is seen from looking at the back of the shopping cart  50 . In  FIG. 3 , the device  100  is securely fastened shut and the clamp  127  at the front end  100   a  of the device  100  is seen underneath the device  100  within the small cart  70 . The attachment to the front end  100   a  of the shopping cart  50  with the nylon cording  125  can be seen at this angle. 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 4  an embodiment of the device configured to hold coupons, a cell phone, keys, cups and present advertisements is shown. A cup holder  140  allows the user to place their coffee or other drink in the shopping cart  50  while shopping. A cell phone holder  150  allows a user to place their cell phone on top surface  102  of the device  100  so they do not have to unlock the device  100  to reach into their purse to get their cell phone if it started ringing during their shopping expedition. A coupon holder  160  placed on top surface  102  of the device  100  allows a user to place their coupon file/holder, car keys, or miscellaneous items in accessible place while they are shopping. Framed advertisements or embedded advertisements  170  on the device  100  allow either the store or the manufacturer of products to advertise their products directly to the consumer. In some embodiments, the advertiser may either purchase advertising space from the grocery store or directly from the manufacturer of the device. 
         [0019]    The above description of disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art; the generic principals defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principals and novel features disclosed herein.