Patent US6486768B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6486768B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cart return loyalty credit system
Assignee: Carttronics LLC
•
Filing: 1998-09-16
•
Granted: 2002-11-26
•
Expires: 2018-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for providing an incentive to a cutomer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location. The cart return location, such as a cart corral, has a plurality of detection loops at an entrance to the corral. The system detects a change in inductance of the loops when a cart is returned to the cart corral and generates a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, in response to the change of inductance. The system determines wheather a cart is being removed from or returned to the cart corral by use of the multiple detection loops. Visual and/or audible feedback indicative of an action may be provided to the customer.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. French
- 👤 Philip Witham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/06; G07F7/0618; G07F7/0636; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0222; G06Q30/0225; G06Q30/0226; G06Q30/0236; G07F7/0672; G07F7/0681; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S194/00; Y10S194/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A cart return system for use by a store utilizing a computer, the system comprising: a detection loop arranged at the entrance to a cart return location; a loop oscillator circuit connected to the detection loop, wherein a frequency is influenced by moving a cart proximate to the detection loop; and a processing circuit, connected to the loop oscillator circuit, being capable of detecting a change in inductance of the loop and identifying a cart return condition in response to the loop oscillator circuit, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to provide a customer identification code to the computer, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer and which is input to the system by the customer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A cart return system for use by a store utilizing a computer, the system comprising: a detection loop arranged at the entrance to a cart return location; a loop oscillator circuit connected to the detection loop, wherein a frequency is influenced by moving a cart proximate to the detection loop; and a processing circuit, connected to the loop oscillator circuit, being capable of detecting a change in inductance of the loop and identifying a cart return condition in response to the loop oscillator circuit, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to provide a customer identification code to the computer, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer and which is input to the system by the customer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cart return system defined in claim 1 , additionally comprising another detection loop and another loop oscillator circuit so as to detect a direction of a cart in the entrance to the cart return location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cart return system defined in claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit includes a control circuit detecting a change in inductance of the loop so as to specify a cart detected condition in response to the loop oscillator circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cart return system defined in claim 3 , wherein the processing circuit includes a processor identifying the cart return condition in response to the control circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cart return system defined in claim 4 , wherein the control circuit comprises a first microcontroller and the processor comprises a second microcontroller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cart return system defined in claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit includes a customer identification device that provides the customer identification code responsive to the cart return condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cart return system defined in claim 6 , wherein the customer identification device is a card reader.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cart return system defined in claim 7 , wherein a customer identification card may be swiped in the card reader.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cart return system defined in claim 1 , wherein the customer identification code corresponds to a customer who returns a shopping cart to the cart return location.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop when a cart is moved proximate to the detection loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; inputting a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer; and sending the customer identification code to a computer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop when a cart is moved proximate to the detection loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; inputting a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer; and sending the customer identification code to a computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 10 , wherein the customer identification code is obtained from a customer identification card.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 10 , additionally comprising generating a signal indicative of a cart return status.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 12 , additionally comprising activating an indicator responsive to the signal indicative of the cart return status.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 10 , additionally comprising generating a signal indicative of an acknowledgment by the computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 14 , additionally comprising activating an indicator responsive to the signal indicative of the acknowledgment by the computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 10 , additionally comprising updating a customer loyalty database indexed by the customer identification code with a prespecified number of points associated with a cart return.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 10 , wherein the sending comprises wireless signaling between the cart return location and the computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 10 , wherein the sending comprises wired signaling between the cart return location and the computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cart return system, comprising: a detection loop arranged at the entrance to a cart return location; a loop oscillator circuit connected to the detection loop, wherein a frequency is influenced by moving a cart proximate to the detection loop; and a processing circuit, being capable of detecting a change in inductance of the loop and identifying a cart return condition in response to the loop oscillator circuit, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to provide a customer identification code, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer and which is input to the system by the customer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cart return system, comprising: a detection loop arranged at the entrance to a cart return location; a loop oscillator circuit connected to the detection loop, wherein a frequency is influenced by moving a cart proximate to the detection loop; and a processing circuit, being capable of detecting a change in inductance of the loop and identifying a cart return condition in response to the loop oscillator circuit, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to provide a customer identification code, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer and which is input to the system by the customer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cart return system defined in claim 19 , additionally comprising another detection loop and another loop oscillator circuit so as to detect a direction of a cart in the entrance to the cart return location.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cart return system defined in claim 19 , wherein the processing circuit includes a control circuit detecting a change in inductance of the loop so as to specify a cart detected condition in response to the loop oscillator circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cart return system defined in claim 21 , wherein the processing circuit includes a processor identifying the cart return condition in response to the control circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cart return system defined in claim 22 , wherein the control circuit comprises a first microcontroller and the processor comprises a second microcontroller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cart return system defined in claim 19 , wherein the processing circuit includes a customer identification device that provides the customer identification code responsive to the cart return condition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cart return system defined in claim 24 , wherein the customer identification device is a card reader.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cart return system defined in claim 25 , wherein a customer identification card may be swiped in the card reader.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cart return system defined in claim 19 , wherein the customer identification code corresponds to a customer who returns a shopping cart to the cart return location.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cart return system defined in claim 19 , wherein the processing circuit is connected to a computer affiliated with a store and provides the customer identification code via the connection.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cart return system defined in claim 19 , wherein the customer identification code is stored in a memory connected to the processing circuit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cart return system defined in claim 29 , wherein the memory is integrated into the processing circuit.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop when a cart is moved proximate to the detection loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; inputting a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer; and storing the customer identification code in a memory.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop when a cart is moved proximate to the detection loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; inputting a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer; and storing the customer identification code in a memory.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 31 , wherein the customer identification code is obtained from a customer identification card.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 31 , additionally comprising generating a signal indicative of a cart return status.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 33 , additionally comprising activating an indicator responsive to the signal indicative of the cart return status.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 31 , additionally comprising updating a customer loyalty database indexed by the customer identification code with a prespecified number of points associated with a cart return.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 31 , additionally comprising storing the customer identification code in a computer affiliated with the store.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 36 , additionally comprising generating a signal indicative of an acknowledgment by the computer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 37 , additionally comprising activating an indicator responsive to the signal indicative of the acknowledgment by the computer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 36 , wherein storing the customer identification code in the computer comprises wireless signaling between the cart return location and the computer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 36 , wherein storing the customer identification code in the computer comprises wired signaling between the cart return location and the computer.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
110 words
A system of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the system comprising: means for detecting a change in inductance of the loop when a cart is moved proximate to the detection loop; means for generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; means for inputting a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer; and means for storing the customer identification code.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
110 words
A system of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the system comprising: means for detecting a change in inductance of the loop when a cart is moved proximate to the detection loop; means for generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; means for inputting a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal, wherein the customer identification code is unique to each customer; and means for storing the customer identification code.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; obtaining a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal; sending the customer identification code to a computer; and updating a customer loyalty database indexed by the customer identification code with a prespecified number of points associated with a cart return.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; obtaining a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal; sending the customer identification code to a computer; and updating a customer loyalty database indexed by the customer identification code with a prespecified number of points associated with a cart return.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; obtaining a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal; storing the customer identification code in a memory; and updating a customer loyalty database indexed by the customer identification code with a prespecified number of points associated with a cart return.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing an incentive for a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location having a detection loop at the entrance to the cart return location, the method comprising: detecting a change in inductance of the loop; generating a cart return signal, which is indicative of a returned cart, responsive to the change of inductance; obtaining a customer identification code proximal in time to the cart return signal; storing the customer identification code in a memory; and updating a customer loyalty database indexed by the customer identification code with a prespecified number of points associated with a cart return.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3882982A
Cited
US3938638A
Cited
US3897863A
Cited
EP0025754B1
Cited
EP0025754A1
Cited
DE3002798A1
Cited
US4424893A
Cited
DE3130543A1
Cited
US4470495A
Cited
GB2122792A
Cited
US4549182A
Cited
US4623877A
Cited
WO1985000961A1
Cited
US4572347A
Cited
US5592560A
Cited
US5687322A
Cited
US5119087A
Cited
US5056019A
Cited
US5708782A
Cited
US5360094A
Cited
US5485006A
Cited
US5526916A
Cited
US6024203A
Cited
WO1997011441A1
Cited
WO1998051197A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-25 | 2006-05-27 | 2006-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-05-27 | 2010-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-25 | 2014-05-27 | 2014-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |