Transport trolley and system

Abstract

A push handle (3) of a shopping trolley (1), wherein a means for energy uptake from an external electrical energy source is integrated into the push handle (3) and / or the push handle has a handle projection and two handle end caps (9), the means being integrated into the handle projection (4) and / or into a handle end cap (9).

Description

[0001] Transport trolley and system

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a push handle of a shopping cart, a shopping cart or transport cart with a battery and a push handle and a system comprising a shopping cart or transport cart.

[0004] Shopping carts comprising electronic components and powered by a rechargeable battery are known in the prior art. EP 3252913 B1 describes a system for electrically charging shopping carts equipped with electrical devices. In particular, the document describes electrical contacts on the shopping cart that can be brought into contact with an external power rail in such a way that the shopping cart's battery can be charged via them. To charge the battery, the two contacts of the shopping cart are arranged on opposite sides of the push handle. EP 3252913 therefore shows an electrical parallel connection of several batteries. In contrast, document EP 3922505 A1 describes a series connection of shopping carts, wherein connecting elements are arranged on the shopping carts to ensure a closed electrical circuit.

[0005] Powering the electrical components of a shopping cart is becoming increasingly important. For this reason, a battery in the shopping cart must be regularly charged from an external source. However, the power transmission should be designed in such a way that existing shopping carts can be retrofitted. Furthermore, the power supply should be integrated into the shopping cart, if possible, to protect it from weather and mechanical damage.

[0006] One object is therefore to provide a shopping cart and a push handle of a shopping cart which can be integrated, in particular retrofitted, into an existing shopping cart, whereby the power supply is largely protected against weather influences and mechanical damage by components of the already existing shopping cart.

[0007] As a first aspect of the invention, a push handle of a shopping cart is provided, wherein a means for absorbing energy from an external electrical energy source is integrated into the push handle and / or wherein the push handle comprises a handle horn and two handle caps, wherein the means is integrated in the handle horn and / or in a handle cap.

[0008] As a second aspect of the invention, a shopping cart or trolley with a battery and a push handle according to one of claims 1 to 6 is provided.

[0009] As a third aspect of the invention, a system is provided comprising a shopping cart or transport cart according to claim 6 and a guide rail which guides the shopping cart in a parking box or a storage area, wherein the means for absorbing energy is supplied with electrical energy via the guide rail.

[0010] Exemplary embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a push handle is provided, wherein the means comprises a first contact and a second contact, wherein the first contact is brought into contact with a first bus bar of the power source and the second contact is brought into contact with a second bus bar to enable a power supply.

[0012] By connecting in parallel, the power consumption of a battery of a first shopping cart is not affected by a defective power supply of a second shopping cart. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a push handle is provided, wherein the means comprises a first contact and a second contact, wherein the first contact is brought into contact with a first power rail of an adjacent shopping cart and the second contact is brought into contact with a second power rail of the adjacent shopping cart to enable a power supply.

[0013] By using the shopping carts as conductive parts of an electrical circuit, no additional circuit needs to be installed, allowing for easy retrofitting of a parking bay or storage area for shopping carts.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a push handle is provided, wherein the means comprises two contacts and / or wherein the contacts are arranged one above the other and / or wherein the contacts are arranged on opposite handle caps and / or wherein the contacts are protruding, retractable and spring-loaded individually or together.

[0015] The arrangement of the tools in the handle caps allows for easy retrofitting, as the handle caps can be simply removed and the tools inserted.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a push handle is provided, wherein the means comprises a coil for inductive energy absorption and / or wherein the push handle has a handle horn, wherein the coil is integrated in the handle horn.

[0017] Contactless energy transfer through inductively connected coils allows for complete encapsulation of the energy transfer elements, so that they are protected from weather influences and mechanical damage and do not hinder shopping due to individual protruding parts.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, a system for

[0019] provided, wherein in the guide rail there are two current-carrying paths for contact with contacts and / or wherein in the > supply rail there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or any number of coils for energy transmission.

[0020] One idea of ​​the invention can be considered to achieve charging of a battery arranged on a shopping cart through inductive coupling or through handle caps with rails. In a particular embodiment, contacts are arranged adjacent to one another, so that only one busbar with two parallel current paths is required to ensure power supply to the shopping cart's battery. In a further alternative embodiment, a push handle of a shopping cart is presented, which has a handle cap such that electrical contact with a stacked shopping cart behind it is enabled. This enables power supply from an external voltage source through existing components of the shopping cart.

[0021] The individual features can of course also be combined with each other, which can sometimes result in beneficial effects that go beyond the sum of the individual effects.

[0022] Further details and advantages of the invention will become clear from the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0023] Fig. 1 a shopping cart 1 with two contacts 2 arranged one above the other on the same side of the push handle of the shopping cart,

[0024] Fig. 2 the shopping cart with the contacts 2 arranged in only one handle cap 9,

[0025] Fig. 3 shows the shopping cart in a front view with the protruding contacts 2, which can ensure a power supply, for example of the display 5, by contact with only one current rail, which comprises two parallel current paths with different polarity, Fig. 4 shows the shopping cart in a plan view with contacts 2,

[0026] Fig. 5 a sliding handle with the contacts 2,

[0027] Fig. 6 the push handle 3 with the contacts 2, which are designed to be spring-loaded so that contact and thus energy supply is possible despite a slight inclination of the shopping cart,

[0028] Fig. 7 shows the same sliding handle 3 with the handle 4 and the contacts 2,

[0029] Fig. 8 a push handle 3 with a contact 6, which enables a serial connection of shopping trolleys to the power supply,

[0030] Fig. 9 the same sliding handle 3 with the handle cap 9, in which a contact 6 is arranged, wherein a contact 6 is formed on both handle caps 9,

[0031] Fig. 10 the same push handle 3 with contacts 6 and

[0032] Fig. 11 a shopping cart 1 with a coil 8 in a handle horn 4, so that an energy transfer can take place through an external coil 7,

[0033] Fig. 12a a parking station for shopping trolleys with an alternative push handle with rocker and a guide in perspective view,

[0034] Fig. 12b a parking station for shopping trolleys with an alternative push handle and a guide in plan view,

[0035] Fig. 13 Guide and rocker in detailed view,

[0036] Fig. 14 the rocker in plan view,

[0037] Fig. 15 in rocker inside, as well as

[0038] Fig. 16 the arrangement of the rocker on a rotation axis.

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a shopping cart 1 with a display 5 and a push handle unit 3 having handles 4 at its ends. A handle cap 9 is arranged at one end of the push handle unit 3. On the handle cap 9 are two contacts 2 which protrude laterally from the shopping cart 1 in such a way that they can be brought into electrical contact with a power rail. The power rail can be arranged in particular in the parking bay or in the storage area so that the shopping carts automatically come into electrical contact with the power rail when parked by customers and are thereby charged. In an alternative embodiment, two separate power rails can be arranged in parallel, which supply an upper contact 2 and a lower contact 2 with power. These two power paths can be aligned horizontally and one above the other in order to supply the two contacts 2 of the shopping cart with a positive and negative voltage.In a special embodiment, the contacts 2 are designed to rotate in the handle cap 9, so that the contacts 2 ensure contact with the current path(s) even when the shopping cart 1 is slightly tilted in the parking box or the storage area.

[0040] In particular, the contacts are individually spring-loaded so that they can align independently of one another. The contacts 2 are connected, for example, by cabling to the battery to be charged. In a further particular embodiment, a finger wiper is arranged in such a way that jamming of a finger between the contacts 2 or jamming between the contacts 2 and a power rail can be prevented. In a further alternative embodiment, a finger wiper can be arranged on the power rail. Advantageously, the cabling of the power supply is arranged within the push handle 3 and no additional holder or protection for the cabling is required. Since the individual batteries of the shopping carts 1 are connected in parallel in this way, the batteries are charged even if charging is not possible for an individual shopping cart 1.

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the shopping cart 1 with the display 5, the handle horn 4, and the handle cap 9. The contacts 2 are arranged one above the other.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows the shopping cart 1 according to the invention from the front, with the contacts 2 arranged one above the other, each of which can establish electrical contact with a power rail. Fig. 4 shows the shopping cart 1 in a top view with the display 5, which must be powered by a battery, the battery being integrated into the shopping cart 1. Contacts 2 are arranged on the shopping cart 1 for connecting the battery to an external power source.

[0043] Fig. 5 shows the contacts 2, which are arranged in a handle cap 9.

[0044] Fig. 6 shows the push handle 3 of a shopping cart 1 with a handle horn 4 and a handle cap with contacts 2.

[0045] Fig. 7 shows the sliding handle 3 with the handle horn 4 and contacts 2.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, contacts are arranged on the push handle 3 of a shopping cart 1 such that the pushed-together shopping carts 1 are electrically connected to one another, resulting in an electrical series connection. If the pushed-together shopping carts 1, which are electrically connected, are in the parking bay or storage area, power can be supplied to the shopping carts 1 from the parking bay or storage area. In a particular embodiment, the contacts are arranged, in particular, in the handle cap such that an electrical connection is established from handle cap to handle cap.

[0047] Fig. 8 shows a push handle 3 with a handle horn 4 and a handle cap 9, wherein a contact 6 is arranged in the handle cap 9 in such a way that an electrical contact of the contact 6 with a contact of a shopping cart is enabled, which has been pushed into the previous shopping cart.

[0048] Fig. 9 shows the push handle with the downward-facing contact 6, which allows stacked shopping carts to be connected in series. In a particular embodiment, contacts 6 are located on both sides of the push handle, allowing a positive charge to be provided to the shopping cart on one side and a negative charge to the other. Fig. 10 shows the handle cap 9 according to the invention with the contact 6.

[0049] In this particular embodiment, a charging station is arranged at the end of a series connection of shopping trolleys. Advantageously, the electrical circuit is created in particular by the handle caps, so that existing elements of the shopping trolley can be used for the power supply. A contact is arranged on each side of the shopping trolley to achieve a closed electrical circuit. The contact 6 according to the invention is arranged in the rear region of the handle cap 9 and is spring-loaded. When the shopping trolley is stacked, it presses onto a power strip attached to the front shopping trolley, which extends the length of the shopping trolley. Advantageously, this particular embodiment does not have any protruding contacts, which could cause the shopping trolley to get caught on shelves, for example when driving through a supermarket.In addition, this design is characterized by the integration of the wiring into the push handle, which prevents external cable routing that can be damaged.

[0050] Fig. 11 shows a shopping cart 1 with a handle 4 in which a coil 8 for inductive energy absorption is arranged. This coil 8 can be inductively supplied with electrical energy by a coil 7, wherein the coil 7 for energy output can be arranged in a parking area or a parking bay. In particular, any number of coils 7 can be arranged so that shopping carts stacked one behind the other can be supplied with electrical energy.

[0051] Advantageously, with this energy transfer, a coil for absorbing energy can be arranged on the handle horn or on another existing component of the push handle. A coil for supplying energy is arranged, in particular, on a parking stall or a parking area. If a guide rail is provided for stacked shopping carts, one or any number of coils for energy transfer can be provided in the guide rail. Advantageously, the coils for energy transfer can be encapsulated, and there are no exposed electrical contacts intended for contact, thus eliminating the risk of corrosion or deterioration of the contacts due to weather influences or atmospheric conditions.

[0052] Furthermore, Figures 12 ff. show a supplementary variant. In this variant, only one electrical contact 2' is provided. This is preferably located centrally on the rocker-like structure. This rocker 10 can be located on both sides or just one side of the handle 9. In the present case, a rocker 10 is provided on the right and left sides of the handle 9. The rocker 10 is mounted for movement around a vertical axis, a rotational axis 10.1.

[0053] An angle setting of 40-50°, preferably 45°, offers the best possibility to enable optimal current collection.

[0054] As can be seen from Figures 12 or 13, for example, the guide 11 has a larger area 11.1 at the top than 11.2 at the bottom.

[0055] The upper area 11.1 of the guide 11 offers protection with a soft material, e.g. made of PVC, PU or another elastomer.

[0056] An elastomer is also used in the lower section 11.2. This can be somewhat harder. The function of the lower section 11.2 is to guide the EKW in the rail. Therefore, a higher rigidity of the lower section 11.2 is necessary to guide the carriage in the rail.

[0057] In the rear section of the guide 11, an extruded aluminum profile is preferably used as support 11.3. The two sections 11.1 and 11.2 are inserted into this support 11.3 of the guide 11.

[0058] A central part 11.4 is also used. This is an insulator 11.4 and is preferably designed as an extruded profile. A height of approximately 28 to 30 mm for the insulator 11.4 has proven advantageous. A conductor 11.5, such as a copper profile, is embedded in this insulator, which is made of plastic, for example. A major advantage of this design is that it can compensate for damage or unevenness caused by wear and tear on the carriage. Furthermore, this advantageous, technically practical design allows for easy replacement.

[0059] As can be seen in Fig. 12b, the guide 11 is provided on the right and left sides. Both are designed symmetrically to each other.

[0060] Currently, four trolleys per unit are feasible, meaning they can be equipped with one power supply. A different number is being pursued and is conceivable. This uses a 24 V safety extra-low voltage with a current of 3 A. A current of between 5 and 6 A is conceivable.

[0061] As can be seen from Fig. 13, a vertical wall 11.6 is provided; another wall, e.g., in an inclined design, in this case inclined to the vertical axis, is conceivable. Shape changes on or in the wall are also possible and conceivable.

[0062] The rocker 10 has a stationary electrical contact 2', which is preferably designed as a sliding contact. Furthermore, the rocker 10 is mounted on a vertical pivot 10.1. The rocker 10 has two independent directions of movement. These are necessary to achieve the largest possible contact surface of the sliding contact on the current-carrying guide 11. For the greatest possible current transmission in the shortest time, it is necessary to ensure the largest possible contact surface between the guide 11 and, in particular, the conductor 11.5. For this purpose, the two directions of movement of the rocker 10 are important so that the sliding contact can nestle against the busbar, in particular, the conductor 11.5. This is possible through the interaction of the pivot 10.1 and a spring 10.2. The spring 10.2 reduces the degrees of freedom of the rocker 10 to a minimum, thereby achieving the greatest possible contact between the sliding contact and the conductor 11.5.

[0063] This allows for a first direction of movement along the vertical axis 10.1. This compensates for the horizontal tolerance of a shopping cart and also reduces the risk of a user being trapped.

[0064] In a second direction of movement, the arrangement of the rocker 10 on the axis

[0065] 10.1 is designed to allow for tilting movement around axis 10.1. This compensates for the vertical tolerance of a shopping cart. Furthermore, the largest possible contact area is achieved.

[0066] Preferably, a double-leg spring is used. Other types of springs are conceivable. Fig. 14 shows a rocker 10 equipped with an electrical contact 2'.

[0067] Fig. 15 shows the rocker 10 with the spring 10.2. The spring 10.2 rests against the inside of the rocker 10.2 with its two inner legs.

[0068] Fig. 14 shows an oval opening for supporting axle 10.1. This can also be seen in Fig. 16. See D1. This is replaced by a circular opening D2 in the center of the rocker O. This creates another oval opening D3. This design of the openings D1, D2, and D3 compensates for unevenness and / or contour tolerances. The two openings D1 and D3 can be the same size and oval.

[0069] This independent movement of the right and left rocker 10 enables optimal alignment and guidance, which at the same time enables the best possible current collection.

[0070] Furthermore, the rocker 10 has a safety device 12, which is ensured by the interaction with the handle cap on the side of the edge and at the bottom up to the vertical axis 10.1.

[0071] It has proven advantageous to manufacture the rocker 10 as a plastic part. Other materials are conceivable.

[0072] It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude further elements or process steps, just as the terms “a” and “an” do not exclude multiple elements and steps.

[0073] The reference numerals used are for convenience only and should not be considered limiting in any way. The scope of the invention is reflected in the claims. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0074] 1 shopping cart

[0075] 2 , 2' Electrical contacts

[0076] 3 Push handle

[0077] 4 finger horn

[0078] 5 Display

[0079] 6 Electrical contact

[0080] 7 Coil for current output

[0081] 8 Coil for current consumption

[0082] 9 Handle cap, handle

[0083] 10 Seesaw

[0084] 10.1 Rotation axis, axis, vertical axis

[0085] 10.2 Spring

[0086] 11 Guide

[0087] 11.1 upper guide

[0088] 11.2 lower guide

[0089] 11.3 Carrier

[0090] 11.4 Insulator

[0091] 11.5 Ladder

[0092] 11.6 Wall

[0093] 12 Security

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Push handle (3) of a shopping cart (1), wherein a means for absorbing energy from an external electrical energy source is integrated into the push handle (3) and / or wherein the push handle comprises a handle horn and two handle caps (9), wherein the means is integrated in the handle horn (4) and / or in a handle cap (9).

2. Push handle (3) according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises a first contact and a second contact, wherein the first contact is brought into contact with a first bus bar of the power source and the second contact is brought into contact with a second bus bar to enable a power supply.

3. Push handle (3) according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises a first contact and a second contact, wherein the first contact is brought into contact with a first power rail of an adjacent shopping cart and the second contact is brought into contact with a second power rail of the adjacent shopping cart to enable a power supply.

4. Push handle (3) according to claim 2, wherein the means comprises two contacts (2) and / or wherein the contacts are arranged one above the other and / or wherein the contacts (2) are arranged on opposite handle caps (9) and / or wherein the contacts (2) are protruding, retractable and individually spring-loaded.

5. Push handle according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises a coil for inductive energy absorption and / or wherein the push handle has a handle horn, wherein the coil is integrated in the handle horn.

6. Shopping cart (1) or transport cart with a battery and a push handle (3) according to one of the preceding claims.

7. System comprising a shopping cart (1) 01 ran sports car according to claim 6 and a guide rail which guides the shopping cart in a parking box or a storage area, wherein the means for energy absorption is supplied with electrical energy via the guide rail.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein two current-carrying paths for contact with contacts (2) and / or wherein 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or any number of coils (7) for energy transmission are arranged in the guide rail.

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