Patent US6199137B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0077690A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0077690A1
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EP
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Improvements in control systems for hand propelled vehicles
Assignee: Bydale Engineering Ltd
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Filing: 1982-10-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A trolley control system for use in supermarkets and the like which includes an outlet (10) having normally retracted stops (30) closable on the approach of a trolley (28), a sensor (32) to sense a trolley (28) approach to prevent passage thereof, and retractable to open the outlet (10) and allow passage of the trolley on payment of a deposit. At the other end of the system is an inlet (18) to a reception area (20) for returned trolleys having a detector which initiates a refund of a deposit. Identification devices may be provided on the trolleys to effect validation of a trolley before a refund is made. A card system (in place of tokens or money) may be used and the cards may be so called charge-cards by which the deposit may be charged and then credited to a customers account. The outlet sensor may be optical so as to be responsive to a reflective device on a trolley and unresponsive to a person. Trolleys may be counted in and out.
Inventors
- 👤 Don Lionel Sandford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:31
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/06; G07F7/0618; G07F7/0636; A; A47; A47F; A47F10/00; A47F10/02; A47F10/04; G07F7/0627; G07F7/0672; G07F7/0681
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A control system for trolleys which comprises:- a) an outlet having normally retracted stops closable when the approach of a trolley is sensed in order to prevent passage thereof and retractable to open the outlet in order to permit passage of the trolley on payment of a deposit by presentation to a sensor at said outlet of a coin, token or card; and b) an inlet to a reception area for returned trolleys, said inlet having a trolley detector which initiates refund of said deposit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A control system for trolleys which comprises:- a) an outlet having normally retracted stops closable when the approach of a trolley is sensed in order to prevent passage thereof and retractable to open the outlet in order to permit passage of the trolley on payment of a deposit by presentation to a sensor at said outlet of a coin, token or card; and b) an inlet to a reception area for returned trolleys, said inlet having a trolley detector which initiates refund of said deposit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1 which further includes one or more identification-devices on the trolleys which, in conjunction with an identification device sensor at the inlet, effect validation of a returned trolley before the refund is initiated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stops are retracted upon the withdrawal of a trolley from the outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control system as claimed in claim 2 in which a trolley detector or sensing device is provided at the outlet in order to establish trolley validation when a trolley passes therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a gap is left between the retractable stops in their closed position, which gap is insufficient to prevent the passage of a trolley but is sufficient to permit a person to walk through without a trolley.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the sensing device at the outlet for sensing the approach of a trolley is an optical detector using a retro-reflective mirror surface on the trolley to which a light beam is uniquely responsive so that persons or items other than trolleys are not sensed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control system as claimed in claim 6 in which two separate validation checks are carried out before payment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which means is provided to prevent withdrawal of a trolley after operation of the detector and additionally or alternatively the inlet is equipped with non-return flaps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the sensors at the trolley outlet and the trolley inlet feed counters for checking the number of returned trolleys against those passing through the exit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein cards are employed which are all the same and are issued to a store user and the system includes a card receptor to receive cards in place of tokens or coins (or cards are employed in the form of credit cards unique to a shopper, having an identifying number or code marked thereon and the card receptor includes a reader for reading a card on presentation at the said outlet, and means is provide to make a deposit charge on the customer's account which charge on representation of the card at the said inlet when a validated trolley is returned, will be cancelled.
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