Check-actuated control mechanisms – Control mechanism actuated by check – other than coin – which...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-06-26
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Control mechanism actuated by check, other than coin , which...
C194S343000, C194S351000, C194S905000, C280S033992
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250451
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to locking devices for shopping carts and more particularly pertains to a new shopping cart rental system for renting shopping carts and encouraging returning of shopping carts to designated areas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of locking devices for shopping carts is known in the prior art. More specifically, locking devices for shopping carts heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,863; U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,893; U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,325; U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,816; U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,507; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,989.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new shopping cart rental system. The inventive device includes a plurality of rental assemblies. Each of the rental assemblies comprises a housing for attaching to the handle of the shopping cart. The housing comprises an upper portion adapted for orientating above the handle of the shopping cart. A lower portion is couplable to the upper portion for orientating below the handle of the shopping cart. A plurality of coin slots are located on a front face of the upper portion. The coin slots are adapted for receiving coins for renting the shopping cart. A key slot is formed through a rear face of said upper portion. A key is for inserting into the key slot. The key is coupled to the upper portion of the housing. A key retaining means is for retaining the key in the key slot. A coin operated means for actuating the key retaining means. The coin operated means is operationally coupled between the coin slot and the key slot. The key from a first rental assembly is insertable in the key slot of a second rental assembly such that the first rental assembly is locked to the second assembly. The coin operated means of the second rental assembly is adapted to actuate the key retaining means of the second rental assembly to release the key of the first rental assembly. The key retaining means of the second rental means is adapted to actuate the coin operated means of the second rental assembly upon insertion of the key of the first rental assembly into the key slot of the second rental assembly.
In these respects, the shopping cart rental system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of renting shopping carts and encouraging returning of shopping carts to designated areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of locking devices for shopping carts now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new shopping cart rental system construction wherein the same can be utilized for renting shopping carts and encouraging returning of shopping carts to designated areas.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new shopping cart rental system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the locking devices for shopping carts mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new shopping cart rental system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art locking devices for shopping carts, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of rental assemblies. Each of the rental assemblies comprises a housing for attaching to the handle of the shopping cart. The housing comprises an upper portion adapted for orientating above the handle of the shopping cart. A lower portion is couplable to the upper portion for orientating below the handle of the shopping cart. A plurality of coin slots are located on a front face of the upper portion. The coin slots are adapted for receiving coins for renting the shopping cart. A key slot is formed through a rear face of said upper portion. A key is for inserting into the key slot. The key is coupled to the upper portion of the housing. A key retaining means is for retaining the key in the key slot. A coin operated means for actuating the key retaining means. The coin operated means is operationally coupled between the coin slot and the key slot. The key from a first rental assembly is insertable in the key slot of a second rental assembly such that the first rental assembly is locked to the second assembly. The coin operated means of the second rental assembly is adapted to actuate the key retaining means of the second rental assembly to release the key of the first rental assembly. The key retaining means of the second rental means is adapted to actuate the coin operated means of the second rental assembly upon insertion of the key of the first rental assembly into the key slot of the second rental assembly .
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new shopping cart rental system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the locking devices for shopping carts mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new shopping cart rental system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art locking devices for shopping carts, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new shopping cart rental system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new shopping cart rental system which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new shopping cart rental system which is susceptible of a
Jaketic Bryan
Olszewski Robert P.
LandOfFree
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