The invention relates to the field of transport trolleys. It is in particular applicable to retail outlets such as supermarkets. More specifically, it relates to the integration of measurement devices into trolleys in order to weigh the items selected by the user and placed in the trolley.
Supermarkets are known to provide self-service checkout devices, known as self-checkouts, which allow shoppers to calculate the cost of and pay for their groceries once they have all been placed in the trolley. This comprises a step of scanning each item using an optical scanner, and then a step of weighing each selected item. This weighing step in particular ensures that each item placed by the user in the trolley has been scanned and thus included in the sum to be paid. These self-checkouts as described are often made available to users firstly in order to limit long and tedious queues at the checkout and secondly to increase the number of checkout operations per unit of time and thus increase the productivity of the supermarkets.
In order to completely eliminate these long and tedious queues, trolleys currently exist which are themselves designed to weigh the items selected by the user.
However, these trolleys are often not user-friendly. More specifically, these trolleys are not easy to handle.
Moreover, these trolleys often suffer from frequent malfunctions and often lack precision. As a result, discrepancies are indicated between the items placed in the trolley and those accounted for after the scanning step. This makes it impossible to effectively identify attempted fraud. On the other hand, this situation is also delicate in that it can be uncomfortable for honest users. Another drawback of this type of trolley is that they are often bulky, which makes them difficult to store.
There is thus a need to propose a solution to reduce or even eliminate at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks.
The present invention aims to meet this need.
Other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will appear upon reading the following description and the accompanying drawings. It is understood that other advantages can be incorporated therein.
According to one aspect, the invention relates to a trolley, for example for a supermarket, comprising:
Preferably, the trolley comprises at least one container in which at least one product is intended to be placed.
Preferably, the trolley comprises a suspension structure supported by the load-bearing structure and configured to suspend at least one container in which at least one product is intended to be placed. The trolley is configured such that the at least one container is fully suspended from the suspension structure, for example by receiving areas.
Preferably, the trolley comprises at least one measurement device at least partially carried by the suspension structure and intended to measure at least one parameter relating to the weight of the at least one container when the container is suspended from the suspension structure.
Optionally, but advantageously, the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of said trolley are shaped so as to cooperate with a suspension structure, advantageously a frame, at least one container and a chassis of another trolley so as to allow at least a part of said other trolley to be at least partially nested in at least a part of said trolley by cooperation between the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of said other trolley, and the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of said trolley.
Optionally, but advantageously, the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of said trolley are shaped so as to cooperate with the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of another trolley so as to allow at least a part of said trolley to be at least partially nested in at least a part of said other trolley by cooperation between the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of said trolley, and the suspension structure, advantageously the frame, the at least one container and the chassis of said other trolley.
Thus, a part of a first trolley penetrates a second trolley and another part of the second trolley simultaneously penetrates the first trolley.
Optionally, but advantageously, the suspension structure of said trolley is shaped to cooperate with the suspension structure of another trolley so as to allow said trolley to be at least partially nested in said other trolley by cooperation between the suspension structure of said trolley and the suspension structure of said other trolley. According to one embodiment, preferably, the suspension structure of said trolley is shaped to cooperate with the suspension structure of another trolley so as to allow the load-bearing structure of said trolley to be at least partially nested in a load-bearing structure of said other trolley.
Thus, the present invention provides the user with a trolley that allows the at least one container and the at least one product that the user wishes to purchase to be weighed, while allowing the user to store the trolley easily and in a space-saving manner. These two functions are in particular made possible by the presence of the suspension structure.
Moreover, the present invention allows supermarkets both to combat existing fraud using known self-checkout systems and to save a considerable amount of space when storing the trolley when not in use.
The present invention integrates very few mechanical, moving or displacing parts. This increases the robustness and reliability of the present invention.
More specifically, trolleys are regularly mistreated by users, so robust trolleys are of great interest. The present invention, in addition to the multiple innovations in design and use that it affords, provide for a robust trolley.
The physical features (size, container, etc.) of the present invention are also optimised. These features also allow for the integration of containers in the form of bags or in other forms.
According to another aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a trolley according to the invention and at least one container, preferably a plurality of containers, each container being configured to cooperate with the suspension structure such that the container is fully suspended by the suspension structure.
The aims, purposes, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description of one embodiment thereof, which is illustrated by means of the following accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. They constitute diagrammatic views intended to ease the understanding of the invention and are not necessarily to the scale of practical applications.
Before giving a detailed review of embodiments of the invention, optional features are set out below, which can be used in combination with or in replacement of one another:
This mechanically isolates the measurement device from the frame.
This allows the user to choose the configuration of the trolley according to the use he/she wishes to make thereof.
According to one example, the trolley comprises a cylinder configured to hold the suspension structure in the storage configuration at least when the suspension structure is not suspending any containers.
This makes it easier to nest the trolley with another trolley having a suspension structure that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley. This results in a compact nesting system.
This makes it easier to position the at least one container on the suspension structure.
This makes it easier to nest the trolley in another trolley having a suspension structure that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley. This results in a compact nesting system.
This allows the length dimension L2 to be adapted to the user's needs. Generally speaking, the lengths are measured in a direction parallel to the preferred direction of forward travel of the trolley.
This makes it easier to nest the trolley in another trolley having a suspension structure that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley. This results in a compact nesting system.
This makes it easier to nest the trolley in another trolley having a suspension structure that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley. This results in a compact nesting system.
Generally speaking, the widths are measured in a direction perpendicular to the preferred direction of forward travel of the trolley.
This allows heavy products to be deposited and weighed.
This makes it easier to nest the trolley in another trolley having a suspension structure that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley. This results in a compact nesting system.
This allows heavy and bulky products to be deposited and weighed.
This makes it easier to nest the trolley in another trolley having a recipient that is identical to the recipient of said trolley. This results in a compact nesting system.
This allows the user to lean on the gripping device to move the trolley without interfering with the measurement of a parameter relating to the weight of the at least one container and of the at least one product contained therein.
This allows the frame to prevent the user from accessing the suspension structure to lean thereon. The user can thus lean on the trolley, in particular on the frame, without interfering with the measurement of a parameter relating to the weight of the at least one container and of the at least one product contained therein.
This allows the user to monitor the price of the at least one product intended to be contained in the at least one container.
It should be noted that, within the scope of the present invention, the term “identical” used as in “a first element that is identical to a second element” is understood to mean that these two elements have structurally and/or functionally similar features.
In all of the embodiments described hereinbelow, the terms trays, containers, boxes or recipients are considered equivalent and can be substituted for one another.
The invention will now be described in its many embodiments with reference to
The present invention relates to a trolley 1, for example for a supermarket as described hereinbelow. The trolley 1 is a transport trolley, thus enabling loads to be transported. In one non-limiting example, these loads are grocery items placed in a container.
The trolley 1 could also be used in all industrial fields requiring the transport of loads, such as the food industry or in airports for transporting luggage.
According to one embodiment, the container can be a suspended tray 40 as shown in
The measurement device 50 can comprise at least one force sensor 51, which can also be referred to as a force sensor, shown in
According to one example, the force sensor 51 comprises a strain gauge or extensometer. The force sensor 51 can be a so-called S-shaped “single-point” sensor. This enables a parameter relating to the weight of the at least one container (40, 90) and of the at least one product contained therein to be measured. In a preferred case where the at least one container (40, 90) has a negligible weight, the measurement device 50 mainly measures a parameter relating to the weight of the at least one product. In an alternative case where the at least one container (40, 90) has a non-negligible weight, the present invention provides a trolley 1 capable of subtracting the weight of the at least one container (40, 90) from the total weight measured in order to obtain only the measurement of the weight of the at least one product.
The trolley 1 comprises at least one chassis 10. The term “chassis” is understood to mean a rigid framework intended to support other elements of the trolley 1. The chassis 10 is supported by at least three bearing members 20 configured to isostatically support the trolley 1 on a ground. At least two of the at least three bearing members 20 each comprise at least one rolling device, preferably the at least three bearing members 20 comprise at least one rolling device. The rolling device preferably comprises at least one wheel. According to one example, the rolling device is a wheel. Alternatively, the rolling device is a sphere reducing the point of contact between the rolling device and the ground to increase the manoeuvrability of the trolley. According to another example, the rolling device is a track. The at least three bearing members 20 are present in all embodiments described by the invention. Moreover, the trolley 1 comprises a load-bearing structure 200 supported by the chassis 10. The term “load-bearing structure” is understood to mean any element or set of elements that performs a supporting function. For example, the load-bearing structure 200 can take on the form of a frame, vertical beams or columns.
The load-bearing structure 200 supports a suspension structure 30. The term “suspension structure” is understood to mean any element or set of elements that performs a suspension function. As a non-limiting example, the suspension structure 30 can be a bar, a platform, a hook, a handle, or a part of a frame. The suspension structure 30 has receiving areas 31. The receiving areas 31 are configured to suspend the at least one container (40, 90) in which the at least one product is intended to be placed.
Preferably, the measurement device 50 is carried by the suspension structure 30. Thus, when the at least one container (40, 90) contains the at least one product and is suspended by the suspension structure 30, the user can know the weight of the at least one container (40, 90) and of the at least one product through the measurement carried out by the measurement device 50. Preferably, the measurement device 50 carried by the suspension structure 30 can measure weights comprised between 1 g and 30 kg per sensor.
As a non-limiting example, the suspension structure 30 has a length dimension L2 configured to suspend at least one, preferably at least two and advantageously at least three containers 90.
The suspension structure 30 is thus long enough to allow the user to suspend all of the containers 90. Advantageously, it has a width dimension 12.
Moreover, the trolley 1 comprises a gripping device 60 as shown in
In order to communicate the measured weight to the user, the trolley 1 can comprise at least one display device 70. The display device 70 is configured to display information of the type of at least one from among: instructions for the user, check the validation of the at least one product, list of validated products, miscellaneous information about the at least one product, price of the at least one product, or photos representing the at least one product.
Moreover, the trolley 1 comprises at least one optical scanner 71. This allows the user to read the information stored in the form of bar codes for each product before inserting it into the at least one container (40, 90) and/or placing it in the trolley 1.
According to one embodiment, the optical scanner 71 records the listed price/kg of the at least one product and the display device 70 can display the price to be paid by the user for this product based on the weight measured by the measurement device 50.
The use of an optical scanner 71 allows a price to be associated with each selected product, whether or not it is based on the weight of the product. Moreover, it prevents fraud when shopping in supermarkets. More specifically, many people are known to voluntarily not scan all selected products in order to pay less for their groceries. This weighing step in particular ensures that each product placed by the user in the trolley 1 has been scanned and thus included in the sum to be paid. More specifically, if the weight measured by the measurement device 50 of a product is different from the weight of the product read by the optical scanner by means of a bar code for example, it is thus easy to determine that different or additional products have been inserted into the trolley 1, including those not scanned beforehand by the optical scanner 71.
In a particularly advantageous manner, and in order to compensate for a time drift error of the measurement device 50, the measurement device 50 can comprise a so-called “virtual tare” performed between each insertion of the at least one product into the trolley 1. This prevents the error margin from being multiplied on each product, because once a product has been validated, the reference weight is updated and becomes the weight weighed at validation.
Although the weight of the at least one product is not displayed by the display device 70, the invention comprises a validation step, which comprises algorithms using the weight data of the at least one product. This improves the detection of fraud or the performance of statistical analyses. Furthermore, the absence of any display of the weight of the at least one product 90 on the display device 70 prevents the user from being able to easily substitute the at least one product with another product by being able to view the weight parameter on the display device 70.
The optical scanner 71 can be capable of being removed from the trolley 1 or can be fixed thereto. Advantageously, the display device 70 is carried by the gripping structure 60. This allows the user to always know the cost of his/her groceries while browsing the different shelves. The user can thus adapt his/her groceries to suit a budget as he/she goes.
A further aspect of the invention concerns the suspension structure 30, which is shaped to cooperate with the suspension structure 30 of another trolley 1 so as to allow the load-bearing structure 200 to be at least partially nested in a load-bearing structure 200 of another trolley 1. Thus, the present invention describes, through its numerous embodiments, a trolley 1 that allows a weighing step weighing the at least one container (40, 90) and the at least one product to be carried out, and that at the same time procures a very compact nesting of the trolley 1 in another trolley 1 having an identical suspension structure.
Nesting refers to the ability to insert at least part of a trolley, typically at least 10% and preferably at least 20% and preferably at least 30% of the length of a trolley into another trolley.
As a non-limiting example, the nesting distance, i.e. the length of a trolley that can be inserted into another trolley, is 300 mm. Considering trolleys with standard dimensions with an order of magnitude of 1300 mm×650 mm, 36 trolleys can be nested in 3 separate nesting rows, i.e. 12 trolleys per row within the standard dimensions of a parking space.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described.
Advantageously, the trolley 1 has a front part and a rear part. The rear part corresponds to the part of the trolley 1 comprising the gripping device 60, the front part being opposite the rear part. According to a preferred embodiment and as shown in
As a non-limiting example, the suspension structure 30 is mounted such that it can rotate freely on the load-bearing structure 200. The trolley 1 has bevels, preferably with rollers, on the front part of the suspension structure 30 and on the rear part of the suspension structure 30 such that the suspension structure 30b of a second trolley 1b is configured to lift the first suspension structure 30 of the first trolley 1a to allow nesting.
As indicated hereinabove, and in a preferred manner, the suspension structure 30 is shaped so as to have a serrated top surface 32 forming said receiving areas 31 as shown in
Advantageously, the suspension bar 34 has a length dimension configured to suspend at least one, preferably at least two and advantageously at least three containers 90.
The hinge 17 is advantageously located on the front part of the trolley 1. In order to allow nesting,
Preferably, the at least one container 90 is removed from said trolley 1 via the front part of the trolley 1. More specifically, sliding the at least one container 90 from the receiving areas 31 towards the free end of the suspension bar 34 is sufficient to remove the at least one container 90. The user thus does not need to lift the at least one container 90 from its height to remove it from the trolley 1.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention that is compatible with the preceding embodiment and as shown in
Moreover, the suspended tray 40 can comprise at least one opening 44 configured to receive at least the suspension bar 34 of at least one other trolley having an identical suspension bar and when the trolley 1 and the other trolley are nested with one another. This allows the trolley 1 to be nested in another trolley without the suspension bar 34 and the suspended tray 40 interfering with the nesting.
Advantageously, and as shown in
The suspension bar 34 is optionally articulated such that it rotates on the trolley 1 via a hinge. According to a non-limiting example, the suspended tray 40 can be capable of being removed from the trolley 1. This facilitates nesting in the event that the suspended tray 40 does not comprise the at least one opening 44. More specifically, the user only needs to remove the suspended tray 40 to nest the trolley 1 with another trolley.
This embodiment allows for a particularly high nesting rate, i.e. the nesting distance is long. This embodiment thus increases compactness when storing a plurality of trolleys 1.
A further embodiment of the present invention compatible with the previous embodiments will now be described with reference to
According to this embodiment, the suspension structure 30 has a height dimension H that decreases along a direction corresponding to the direction of nesting 500 of the second trolley 1b in the first trolley 1a so as to allow the suspension structure 30b of the second trolley 1b to at least partially fit inside the suspension structure 30a of the first trolley 1a. In this way, the second trolley 2b can be at least partially nested in the first trolley 1a.
In a preferred case, the suspension structure 30 comprises at least a first arm 11 and a second arm 12 extending respectively in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being concurrent, and on either side of said trolley 1. One of either the first arm 11 or the second arm 12 thus advantageously comprises the measurement device 50.
Advantageously, the first arm 11 and the second arm 12 are shaped such that they each have at least two horizontal portions 13 and at least one vertical portion 14 separating the two horizontal portions 13, so as to form a stepped structure, for example, and thus allow said trolley 1 to be at least partially nested with at least one other trolley having an identical suspension structure by fitting the suspension structure 30a of said first trolley 1a with the suspension structure 30b of said at least one second trolley 1b, preferably by fitting the first arm 11a and the second arm 12a of said trolley 1a with the first arm 11b and the second arm 12b respectively of said at least one other trolley 2b. Preferably, the vertical portions 14 are intended to at least partially support the at least one container 90 and the at least one product. The at least one measurement device 50 is thus carried by at least one horizontal portion 13.
According to this embodiment, the nesting distance corresponds to the length of the shortest horizontal portion 13 of the first arm 11 and second arm 12 together.
Thus, the user can easily fit the trolley 1 inside another trolley 1. This nesting method allows nesting distances of around 23% of the length of a trolley 1 to be achieved. This means that at least 23% of the length of one trolley is inserted into another trolley. As a non-limiting example, the interlocking distance is of the order of 300 mm. This saves a considerable amount of space for storing trolleys when they are not in use. This thus increases the number of trolleys that can be nested in a defined space. Thus, the trolley 1 as described by the invention is not bulky. As a result, the presence of the suspension structure 30 does not interfere with the ability of said trolley 1 to be nested.
According to one embodiment shown in
The trolley 1 is configured such that when a force applied by a user to the frame 100 has a vertical component, this vertical component is transmitted from the frame 100 to the chassis 10 and then to the ground without being transmitted to the load-bearing structure 200 and to the suspension structure 30. This ensures that no external element interferes with the measurement carried out by the measurement device 50 for measuring the parameter relating to the weight of the at least one container 90 and of the at least one product. The term “external element” is understood to mean, for example, the pressing force applied by a person leaning on the suspension structure 30 of the trolley 1.
Thus, the presence of the frame 100 allows the user or another person to lean on said frame 100 without interfering with the measurement carried out by the measurement device 50.
In a highly advantageous manner, the frame 100 is configured to define an envelope enclosing an internal volume. Preferably, the receiving areas 31 of the suspension structure 30 are located inside said internal volume. Thus, the suspension structure 30 is advantageously not accessible for a person to lean on. This prevents any risk of interference with the measurement of the weight parameter. The measurement system is thus highly accurate and reliable.
The load-bearing structure 200 is also located inside the internal volume. To this end, the load-bearing structure 200 is not easily accessible for the user or another person to lean on.
According to an alternative example not shown in the figures, the first arm 11 and the second arm 12 are curved so as to allow the first and second arms 11b, 12b of a second trolley 1b to fit into the first and second arms 11a, 12a of the first trolley 1a.
Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
In this embodiment, the suspension structure 30 has at least one side face 32 such that the receiving areas 31 of the suspension structure 30 are located on the at least one side face 32. The receiving areas 31 can be handles, preferably half-moon shaped, or any abutment surface that allows the user to hang for example handles or grips of the at least one container 90. Alternatively, the receiving areas 31 are hooks, directly attached to the suspension structure 30. The force sensor 51 can be a button-type sensor directly integrated onto the receiving areas 31.
This prevents the suspension structure 30 from being weighed and allows the at least one container 90 and the at least one product to be weighed directly.
According to one embodiment not shown, the suspension bar 34 can optionally have a telescopic portion 16.
Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
Advantageously, the width 12 of the suspension structure 30 is shaped such that it decreases along a direction corresponding to the direction 500 in which said trolley 1 is nested in another trolley so as to allow the trolley 1 to at least partially fit into another trolley having an identical suspension structure.
According to one preferred embodiment, the first arm 11 and the second arm 12 of the suspension structure 30 are held to the load-bearing structure 200 at the rear part of the trolley 1. Moreover, the first arm 11 and the second arm 12 are rigidly connected to one another by means of at least one telescopic connecting portion 15. The first 11 and second 12 arms are advantageously rigidly connected to one another at the free ends thereof, which are located at the front of the trolley 1. The telescopic connecting portion 15 is configured to have an extended configuration and a retracted configuration.
Furthermore, there can be an infinite number of intermediate positions between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration of the telescopic connecting portion 15.
According to another embodiment and as shown in
In a more than advantageous manner and as shown in
According to one embodiment shown in
Thus, as described hereinabove, the presence of the frame 100 allows the user or another person to lean on said frame 100 without interfering with the measurement carried out by the measurement device 50.
According to another embodiment shown in
According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, the rolling device 20 can comprise a device for measuring at least one parameter relating to the weight of the at least one container. This allows the entire trolley to be weighed directly, as well as the containers. Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described as it is shown in
All of the features and all of the technical effects described in the preceding embodiments can be combined with the following embodiment, which is shown in
Advantageously, at least two containers forming adjacent trays or boxes are at least partially nestable. The containers are suspended. They can thus be considered to be configured such that they are telescopic or such that they slide into one another like Russian dolls.
Thus, in a retracted configuration, the containers are at least partially nested in pairs. At least a portion of a first container is thus housed inside a second container adjacent thereto. Preferably, the second container is located closer to the rear of the trolley than the first container. As shown in the example in
Advantageously, the nesting of a first trolley in a second trolley causes the containers 300 of the second trolley to move and nest with one another at least in pairs. Preferably, this movement is a sliding motion. The sliding direction 4 and the normal direction of forward travel 3 of the trolley lie in the same plane. The normal direction of forward travel 3 of the trolley extends the direction of forward travel when the user pushes the trolley forward without making a turn. This direction 3 is shown in
More generally, at least one of the containers is mounted such that it can slide in the trolley and relative to at least one other container.
Each container 300 is formed by a bottom wall 303 and at least two side walls 304. The bottom wall 303 has a length dimension Lpf, which corresponds to the distance between the two side walls 304 of each container 300. The dimensions Lpf1-Lpf3 of each container are shown in
The term “wall” is understood to mean a face lying within a single plane. Each container 300 remains open and has at least one open surface, perpendicular to the side walls 304. The side walls 304 have edges 3040. For example, three of the edges 3040, form a U-shape and delimit the at least one open surface. Preferably, each container 300 has at least two open surfaces, opposite one another so that each container 300 is U-shaped. According to a highly advantageous example, the rear container 300a, i.e. the one positioned the furthest to the rear of the trolley 1, has a bottom. This back defines a third side wall 305 connecting the other two side walls 304 and thus leaving the rear container 300a with a single open surface. According to an alternative example, each container 300 has a third side wall 305.
As will be explained hereinbelow, the rail 306 is rigidly connected to or cooperates with at least one measurement device 50 such that the weight of the containers and of the items placed in the containers is transferred to the rail 306 and is detected by the measurement device 50.
Preferably, the suspension structure 30 comprises at least two rails 306, the rails 3 being disposed in parallel and carried by each side of the trolley.
The three containers 300 are advantageously disposed as follows: they are aligned in the direction 4 of the nesting 500 of the trolley 1. The rear container 300a has the largest open surface, i.e. the bottom wall 303a of the rear container 300a has the largest length dimension Lpfa. The front container 300c, i.e. that positioned the furthest towards the front of the trolley 1 has the smallest open surface, i.e. the bottom wall 303c of the front container 300c has the smallest length dimension Lpfc. Finally, the intermediate container 300b, i.e. that positioned between the front container 300c and the rear container 300a, has an open surface comprised between the open surface of the front container 300c and the open surface of the rear container 300a, i.e. the bottom wall 303b of the intermediate container 300b has a length dimension Lpfb comprised between Lpfa and Lpfc. This allows the intermediate container 300b to be nested in the rear container 300a, and the front container 300c to be nested in the intermediate container 300b as shown in
In a particularly advantageous manner, the direction 4 in which the containers slide is inclined relative to the horizontal. Thus, the direction 4 in which the containers slide and the horizontal, i.e. the direction of forward travel 3 of the trolley on a flat ground, jointly define an angle alpha. This angle is shown in
The end of the rail 306 nearest the front of the trolley is closer to the ground than the end of the rail nearest the rear of the trolley. This inclination, together with the load-bearing structure 30, are configured such that the containers 300 slide forward on the trolley under the effect of gravity. Thus, when the containers are empty or are supporting items, the weight thereof pulls them towards the front of the trolley and causes them to extend, i.e. to move away from one another. Each side wall 304, 305 and bottom wall 303 of each container 300 has an inner surface and an outer surface. According to a more than advantageous embodiment, there is a gap between the outer surface of the side walls 304 of the nesting container and the inner surface of the side walls 304 of the nested container. This gap can be comprised between 0 and 50 mm. Similarly, there is a gap between the outer surface of the bottom wall 303 of the nesting container and the inner surface of the bottom wall 303 of the nested container. This gap can be comprised between 0 and 50 mm.
Furthermore,
Furthermore, according to an optional, but preferred embodiment, it should be noted that at least one container and preferably the intermediate container 300b and the rear container 300a each have at least one guide rail 302, preferably two rails. Each rail 302 is intended to facilitate the guiding of the nesting container into the nested container. It also acts to stabilise the configuration of the containers 300. The rails are preferably disposed on the inner surface of the side walls 304 of the containers 300, preferably halfway along the height of the containers 300. More generally, it is the nested container that has the rail 302. The rail 302 is directed in the direction 4 of the nesting 500 of the containers 300. Another advantage of the rail 302 is that it allows for better weight distribution. More specifically, as a non-limiting example, the rail 302 carried by the intermediate container 300b moves in translation on the rail 302 carried by the rear container 300a. Thus, the rail 302 carried by the intermediate container 300b bears on the rail 302 carried by the rear container 300a. The rail 302 carried by the rear container 300a thus supports at least part of the weight supported by the intermediate container 300b. The weight is thus better distributed between the intermediate container 300b and the rear container 300a. This makes it easier for the user to handle the trolley 1 when shopping.
Also advantageously, these rails 302 or slides have an abutment 3021 at at least one of the ends thereof. This abutment is, for example, formed by the end of a groove or slot that defines the rail 302 and is formed in the inside face of the container. When a slider of the container that cooperates with the container carrying the rail 302 reaches the abutment 3021, the slider is stopped and the container is blocked. This makes it particularly easy to guide the translation of the containers together and control the length of travel thereof.
Thus, under the effect of gravity, the containers tend to move in translation towards the front of the trolley. The translation thereof is interrupted when one container abuts against the container adjacent thereto. One of the containers thus continues its journey while the translation of the other container is stopped. This allows the containers to be extended under the effect of gravity. The advantage of this embodiment is that no user action or actuator is required to extend the containers. The trolley in this embodiment is thus particularly easy to use, reliable and robust. As will be described in detail hereinbelow, in order to retract the containers, i.e. to at least partially nest them in one another, the user must merely at least partially nest a first trolley in a second trolley. An abutment carried by the second trolley comes into contact with the container of the first trolley located the closest to the front thereof and thus causes this front container to slide along the rail 306 (i.e. in the sliding direction 4) towards the rear of the first trolley. This front container moves until it comes into contact with the container adjacent thereto and in turn causes the latter to slide towards the rear of the first trolley. The containers can thus be retracted in a telescopic manner. As will be seen hereinbelow, this abutment carried by the second trolley can be a back wall of the container of the second trolley located the closest to the rear thereof. Alternatively, this abutment can be carried by another element of the second trolley. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the container disposed the closest to the rear is configured to move towards the rear of the trolley when a force is applied thereto, typically when the trolley is nested in another trolley. When the force is no longer applied to this container, this container returns to the rest position thereof under gravity alone. This backward movement has a length of travel preferably comprised between 5 and 30 centimetres. It further improves the extent to which two trolleys can be nested in one another.
The embodiment described in
The extended configuration is the configuration that will be preferred by the user when shopping. More specifically, this is the configuration that provides a large volume in which all of the additional containers 90, such as a bag or sachet, can be disposed. The at least one additional container 90 can be suspended from the receiving areas 31 located on the inner surface of the side walls 304 of the containers 300. However, another possible option for the user is to directly place the at least one additional container 90 or directly place the product on the back wall 305 i.e. the back wall of the rear container 300a of the first trolley 1a. In order to dispose the at least one additional container 90 in the containers 300, the invention has the advantage of providing an opening in the front container 300c, which opening corresponds to the open surface described hereinabove. This allows the user to pass the at least one additional container 90 or the product directly through this opening without having to lift the at least one additional container 90 or the product from a height equal to the height of the suspension structure 30. The user thus does not need to lift the at least one additional container 90 from its height to remove it from the trolley 1 or place it in the trolley 1. In this way, the user is spared the need to exert too much physical effort which could cause fatigue or even injury. In this configuration, it is the containers 300 that form the recipient 80 described hereinabove and shown in
Optionally, the front container 300c has a front abutment 301 as shown in
Advantageously, when nesting a first trolley in a second trolley, the front abutment 301 of the first trolley, or the edge thereof if no abutment 301 is present, comes into contact with the back wall 305 of the second trolley. This back wall 305 acts as an abutment to stop the movement of the abutment 301 and of the container 300c. As the first trolley continues to nest in the second trolley, this abutment causes the containers of the first trolley to slide relative to one another and to nest telescopically or in a “Russian doll”-like manner inside one another. This is shown in
This embodiment of retracting or nesting the trolleys is particularly simple since it takes place automatically when the user nests one trolley in another. Furthermore, this embodiment does not require any actuator. It is thus particularly easy to use and robust.
According to a non-limiting example, the front abutment 301 is parallel to the third side wall 305 of the rear container 300a. According to a non-limiting example, it extends perpendicularly to the two side walls 304 of the front container 300c and connects the two side walls 304 of the front container 300c. The abutment 301 has a height dimension that is less than half the height dimension of the front container 300c.
The retracted configuration is the configuration that will be preferred by the user to store the trolley 1. More specifically, as shown in
Furthermore,
As mentioned hereinabove, the trolley is intended to be configured such that the container located to closest to the rear of the trolley can slide along the rail 306 when a force is applied thereto, typically when the trolley is nested in another trolley. This further reduces the volume occupied by a plurality of nested trolleys.
Said frame 100 can also be present in the embodiment shown in
In this example, the suspension structure 30 forms a rail 306 that extends beneath a profile of the frame 100. Preferably, this profile of the frame 100 forms an inverted or inclined “U” shape or “L” shape and is open towards the inside of the trolley. Preferably, and as shown in the figures, this profile of the frame 100 forms a tube whose cross-section defines a closed contour 101 except for an opening 102, which extends longitudinally and which is configured to provide a mechanical connection between the containers and the guide rail. Typically, this opening 102 forms a slot which extends along all or part of the length of the profile of the frame 100 and which allows at least one flange 41, 42 for each container to pass. The contour 101 and the opening 102 are shown in
This allows a volume inside the profile to be delimited, which volume is not accessible or not easily accessible from outside the trolley. Preferably, the rail 306 of the suspension structure 30 extends along this volume. This rail 306 is thus protected. At the very least, a user cannot lean on this suspension structure 30. This prevents the weight of the items contained in the trolley from being measured incorrectly. This thus overcomes the problem of improving the reliability and accuracy of the measurement measuring the weight of the items contained in the trolley. Moreover, this improves the safety of the trolley by preventing a user from interfering with the sliders on the rail 306, for example by trapping their fingers therein. Thus, all of the embodiments describe a suspension structure configured to allow the trolley to be nested in another trolley having an identical suspension structure.
In the examples described hereinabove with reference to
In all of the examples shown hereinabove, the containers or containers are rigid. They cannot be manually deformed. According to another embodiment, not shown, the plurality of containers or containers is replaced by a single deformable container or container. According to one example embodiment, this deformable container is made at least partially of fabric, and preferably entirely of fabric. It is configured to be compressed to selectively move from an extended configuration into a retracted configuration. In the extended configuration, it provides a first volume for receiving items deposited by the user. In the retracted configuration, it does not allow items to be deposited therein or has a smaller receiving volume than in the extended configuration.
The switch from the extended configuration into the retracted configuration is carried out by nesting the trolley in another trolley. This can be achieved by bringing a front part of the fabric container into contact with the other trolley and deforming the container. For this purpose, the fabric container can be provided with preferred areas of deformation. These preferred areas of deformation can, for example, comprise preformed areas configured to facilitate deformation.
These can be, for example, fabric, elastomer or rubber gussets.
The switch from the retracted configuration into the extended configuration preferably takes place under gravity. For this purpose, the deformable container can have flanges provided with rings or eyelets which cooperate with a guide element such as a guide rail, rod or cable, such as the rail 306 shown in
Thus, as in the embodiment shown in
According to one particularly advantageous embodiment, a trolley having the same frame 100 and the same suspension structure 30 can accommodate different types of containers. Thus, one or more fixed rigid containers, one or more sliding and telescopic rigid containers, or one or more deformable containers can be selectively mounted on the same trolley.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
According to the embodiment shown in
According to this embodiment, the front part 103 of the container 40 has a width dimension 103a greater than the width dimension 104a of the rear part 104 of the container 40.
According to this embodiment, the front part 105 of the chassis 10 has a width dimension 105a smaller than the width dimension 106a of the rear part 106 of the chassis 10.
More specifically, according to a preferred embodiment and as shown in
More specifically, according to this embodiment, the front part 103 of the container 40 is wider in order to be able to pass either side of the rear part 104 of the container 40 of another trolley 1b in the storage configuration. Also preferably, the front part 105 of the chassis 10 is narrower in order to be able to enter the rear part 106 of the chassis 10 of another trolley 1b in the storage configuration. Thus, it is the container 40 of the front trolley 1 b that enters the container 40 of the rear trolley 1a. As will be seen hereinbelow, for the same rear trolley 1a and front trolley 1b, when they are respectively nested, i.e. in the storage configuration, it is the chassis 10 of the rear trolley 1a that enters the chassis 10 of the front trolley 1b.
According to one embodiment, for these rear 1a and front 1b trolleys, when they are respectively nested, it is the frame 100 of the rear trolley 1a that enters the frame 100 of the front trolley 1b. Advantageously, the trolley 1a of the present invention is configured to have a part that nests in a part of another trolley 1b and to have another part that surrounds another part of another trolley 1b.
According to one embodiment, the suspension structure 30 comprises at least one suspension bar 34, at least one measurement device 50 comprising at least one force sensor 51, and at least one attachment 56 for attaching the measurement device 50 to the frame 100, and preferably the frame 100.
According to one embodiment, the suspension structure 30 has a height dimension H which decreases along a direction corresponding to the direction in which said trolley 1 is nested in another trolley 1b so as to allow the trolley 1 to be at least partially nested in another trolley 1b having a suspension structure 30 that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley 30.
According to one embodiment, the frame 100 has a height dimension which decreases along a direction corresponding to the direction in which said trolley 1 is nested in another trolley 1b so as to allow the trolley 1 to be at least partially nested in another trolley 1b having a suspension structure that is identical to the suspension structure of said trolley 1.
According to one preferred embodiment, the measurement device 50 is inserted into the frame 100, and is preferably disposed between two parts of the frame 100. Advantageously, the frame 100 can comprise a plurality of parts 101, 102. Preferably, one or more measurement devices 50 can be disposed between different parts of the plurality of parts of the frame 100.
According to one preferred embodiment and as shown in
Also in
Thus, according to the example shown in
These measurement devices 50 will be described in more detail hereinafter.
In
The trolley 1 thus comprises at least one container 40 suspended from the frame 100 through four measurement devices 50. According to one embodiment, as mentioned hereinabove, this container 40 comprises two parts, a front part 103 and a rear part 104. The front part 103 comprises a width dimension 103a greater than the width dimension 104a of the rear part 104. The front part 103 of the container 40 comprises the flap 400 described hereinabove. The rear part 104 of the container 40 comprises at least one rear wall 403. The front part 103 of the container 40 is suspended from the frame 100 through two measurement devices 50. More specifically, the front part 103 of the container 40 is suspended from the first arm 11 of the trolley 1 by a measurement device 50 through a suspension bar 34, and from the second arm 12 of the trolley 1 by another measurement device 50 through another suspension bar 34. The same applies for the rear part 104 of the container 40.
Finally,
According to one embodiment, the coaxiality tab 53 can be replaced or can comprise an additional measurement device 53. This additional measurement device 53 is intended to at least partially support the container 40 and the contents thereof, and preferably to measure the weight of the container 40 and the contents thereof.
Similarly, in this figure, the front part 103 of the container 40 can be seen to be wider than the rear part 104 of the container 40 so as to allow said trolley 1 to nest around at least a part of another trolley 1b, preferably so as to allow the front part 103 of the container 40 of the trolley 1 to nest around the rear part 104 of the container 40 of the other trolley 1b.
According to one embodiment, the frame 100 comprises the connecting bars 55.
Advantageously, the frame 100 comprises at least one opening 107, which can take the form of a through-opening, a recess or a groove. The measurement device 50 is disposed, preferably fully housed, inside the opening 107 of the frame 100.
In particular, and in a clever way, the rear part 104 of the container 40 of the other trolley 1b thus fits inside the front part 103 of the container 40 of the trolley 1a. When the two trolleys 1a and 1b are nested, the flap 400 of the trolley 1a is switched into the folded down configuration thereof by the rear part 104 of the container 40 of the other trolley 1b. It should also be noted that the rear part 104 of the container of a trolley 1 comprises a rear wall 403.
The present invention thus enables two trolleys, each equipped with at least one device for measuring the weight of a container and of the contents thereof, to be nested in a simple, efficient and reliable manner.
In all of the above embodiments, the terms containers, trays, boxes or recipients are considered to be equivalent and can be interchanged.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the non-limiting examples hereinabove, but extends to incorporate all embodiments within the scope of the claims.
1 Trolley
1
a First trolley
1
b Second trolley
1
c Third trolley
3 Direction of forward travel of the trolley
4 Sliding directions
10 Chassis
10
a Chassis of the first trolley
10
b Chassis of the second trolley
10
c Chassis of the third trolley
11 First arm
12 Second arm
13 Horizontal portion
14 Vertical portion
15 Telescopic connecting portion
15
a Telescopic connecting portion of the first trolley
15
b Telescopic connecting portion of the second trolley
16 Telescopic portion
16
a Telescopic portion of the first trolley
16
b Telescopic portion of the second trolley
17 Hinge
18 Cylinder
19 Abutment
20 Bearing member
30 Suspension structure
30
a Suspension structure of the first trolley
30
b Suspension structure of the second trolley
31 Receiving areas
32 Top face
33 Side face
34 Suspension bar
35 Cover
40 Suspended tray, container
41 First flange
42 Second flange
43 Additional measurement device
44 Opening
50 Measurement device
51 Force sensor
52 Coaxiality tab
53 Additional force sensor
54 Electric battery
55 Connecting bar
56 Force sensor attachment
60 Gripping device
70 Display device
71 Optical scanner
80 Recipient
80
a First recipient
80
b Second recipient
81 First side wall
81
a First side wall of the first recipient
81
b First side wall of the second recipient
82 Second side wall
82
a Second side wall of the recipient of the first trolley
82
b Second side wall of the recipient of the second trolley
83 Rotational axis
90 Container
91 First handle
92 Second handle
100 Frame
101 First part of the frame
102 Second part of the frame
103 Front part of the container
103
a Width dimension of the front part of the container
104 Rear part of the container
104
a Width dimension of the rear part of the container
105 Front part of the chassis
105
a Width dimension of the front part of the chassis
106 Rear part of the chassis
106
a Width dimension of the rear part of the chassis
107 Opening
200 Load-bearing structure
200
a Load-bearing structure of the first trolley
200
b Load-bearing structure of the second trolley
300 Tray
300
a Rear tray
300
b Intermediate tray
300
c Front tray
301 Front abutment
302 Rail
303 Bottom wall
303
a Bottom wall of the rear tray
303
b Bottom wall of the intermediate tray
303
c Bottom wall of the front tray
304 Side wall
305 Third side wall
306 Rail
400 Flap
401 Front wall
402 Hinge element
403 Rear wall
500 Nesting direction
3040 Edges
L1 Length of the trolley
I1 Width of the trolley
L2 Length of the suspension structure
I2 Width of the suspension structure
H Height of the suspension structure
Lpfa Length of the bottom wall of the rear tray
Lpfb Length of the bottom wall of the intermediate tray
Lpfc Length of the bottom wall of the front tray
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1903591 | Apr 2019 | FR | national |
1906492 | Jun 2019 | FR | national |
1913820 | Dec 2019 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2020/059311 | 4/1/2020 | WO | 00 |