Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2004-03-30
Kemper, M. (Department: 3622)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C705S014270, C040S308000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06714837
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to incentive-based treatment systems for washing and disinfecting carts, and more particularly to automated or manual continuous or batch systems and methods for cleaning and disinfection treatment of grocery-type carts and preparing the carts for consumer service, including applying advertising attachments following the cleaning operation. The system includes a method and apparatus for applying one or more “cents-off” type of coupons to the handle of a grocery cart so that customers, upon entering the store, will receive special deal coupons at the moment of entering the store which they can redeem during their subsequent shopping as an incentive to stores to clean the carts. The cleaning system may be fixed or mobile, with the use preferably being on site at stores. The coupon apparatus may be used independently of the cleaning system.
BACKGROUND ART
Grocery-type carts are widely used, not only in groceries but also in a wide variety of retail stores, ranging from computer super stores to hardware stores. Indeed, such “purchase item” carts are so ubiquitous that they are typically the first item the consumer encounters, even before entering the particular store. As such, they are not only functional, but they are also an ambassador of the image and good will of the store.
Such carts are routinely abused by customers. Many have provision for toddlers or infant seats, and kids often ride in the lower shelf, hang off the sides, or sit or even stand in the basket. The customers and their children often have food which they spill, or they leave soiled diapers or other trash in or on the carts. Many are abandoned some distance from the stores and accumulate dirt and dust, gum, tar, and urine. Many of the children who ride in the carts are sick. As a result, many of these carts become increasingly filthy, and, in short, are disgusting for the consumer, as well as being a health hazard.
Current practice is for stores to occasionally hose them off. How well and often this is done is up to the store policy as carried out by its managers and staff assigned to that task. In some areas, such as the Northern States where the carts are also subject to winter salt, snow and grime, the carts may be more carefully tended. One proposal for a mobile cart washing system is shown in Poitevin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,319. However, this system has apparently not been commercially adopted, due it is thought by the fact that washing is a bottom-line pure cost item with no cost sharing or incentive to the grocery store to adopt.
Carts, of course, have become increasingly expensive. They generally fall into two categories, stainless steel, and plastic. While the stainless steel tend to be more expensive, they are projected to have a longer duty life.
In addition, carts are often used as a medium for in-store advertising by attaching promotional material to the cart. An effective cleaning operation will tend to remove paper or other disposable advertising materials from the cart. It is possible to use permanent advertising materials mounted to carts. However, popular “Cents-off” and other types of special deal coupons are in wide use in the grocery trade, and these prior-art coupons are not adapted to be permanently mounted to carts, are typically produced as disposable paper items and frequently reference time-limited or frequently changing promotional offers.
These coupons are normally delivered in a variety of ways, including packs of coupons which are mailed to occupants, or in magazines or newspaper run of press, or which may be on-pack or in-pack type coupons, or which may be printed on the backside of a cash register tape. The consumer must either clip out or otherwise separate the coupons, or they must sort and store coupons, and take them to the store. In the case of the register tape coupons, most are cross-sell deals, that is, coupons of merchants other than the vending merchant. They are received at the exit end of the shopping activity and are expected to be used on a subsequent visit. In turn, this requires the consumer to cut apart, sort and store coupons for future use. In some instances, there may be stacks of coupon-containing flyers or special coupon books available at the stores for use by consumers upon entering the stores. These are not handy and may be missed because of their special location, or too much effort is required by the consumer to obtain the coupon books. It is advantageous to provide such coupons to consumers mounted the cart used by the consumer within the store, since this presents the coupons to the consumer's view immediately upon entry to the store, and serves to hold the coupons in readiness as the consumer shops.
There is a need in the art for an effective and economical method and automated system for preparing carts for consumer use, including cleaning, disinfecting and drying of the carts, to present a hygienic and pleasing cart to the consumer and which provides a cost incentive to the store to adopt the cleaning system. There is also a need for a system and special type of coupon that will ensure a very high percentage, on the order of 80-90%, of all consumers entering a grocery store will receive the coupons, and which are easy to manage and can be used during the shopping trip. There is also a need for a system that permits rapid change of coupons, shorter lead time for planning, and special occasion coupons.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
SUMMARY, OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
It is an object and advantage of this invention to provide apparatus and methods (herein “systems”) for cleaning and treating grocery-type “purchase item” carts via a modular unit that can be installed at the store, and which functions either manually or automatically in a continuous or batch mode. It is another object and advantage of this invention to provide a system for cleaning and disinfecting grocery carts on an as-needed or scheduled basis, as often as after every use, so that the cart is presented to the consumer in a treated, clean condition, and which includes store-adoption incentive system, namely consumer coupons.
It is another object and advantage of this invention to provide a system and apparatus for providing customers entering a grocery store a special type of “hot”, rapid change, short lead time, special occasion type coupons that can be used during the same shopping trip, and that are readily accessible and easy to manage by the consumer. It is another object and advantage of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying a strip containing at least one promotional coupon to the handle of a grocery cart so that the consumer, upon entering the grocery store will have ready access to the coupon.
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for automatically applying strips of coupons to grocery cart handles for easy availability by the consumer upon obtaining a grocery cart. It is another object and advantage of the invention to provide a special type of grocery coupon on a strip attached to a grocery cart handle which permits the coupon to be visible and easily accessible. It is another object and advantage to provide an improved coupon system in which multiple coupons are applied as part of a strip to a grocery cart handle, with successive coupons being separable from the strip by transverse perforations or score lines in the strip. Still other objects and advantages will be evident from the description, drawings and claims of this application.
The invention comprises both apparatus and methods for continuous and/or batch treatment of purchase item carts, commonly known as grocery type carts, whether they are used in grocery stores or other types of retail establishments. The system comprises a generally tunnel-like housing within which at least one, but preferably a plurality of treatment stations are disposed, and preferably includes either an automatic, motorized pull-through or pusher type of cart movement apparatus, or provision for guided manual push-through of carts.
The treatment system of the i
Brackmann Rogers F.
Dulin Jacques M.
Dulin, Esq. Jacques M.
Innovation Law Group, Ltd.
Kemper M.
LandOfFree
Coupon applicator and methods of applying coupon strips to... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Coupon applicator and methods of applying coupon strips to..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Coupon applicator and methods of applying coupon strips to... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3244587