GB2467440A

GB2467440A - A supermarket trolley having a two-part handle cap with an ID tag located within

Info

Publication number: GB2467440A
Application number: GB1001622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rainer Eckert; Bernd Kraus
Original assignee: Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Wanzl GmbH and Co Holding KG
Priority date: 2009-02-02
Filing date: 2010-01-27
Publication date: 2010-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-27
Also published as: NL2004174A; NL2004174C2; DE102009007135B4; GB2467440B; DE102009007135A1; GB201001622D0

Abstract

A stackable supermarket trolley comprises an undercarriage carrying a basket with a rear flap, the basket being provided with a pushing device comprising two handle caps 1, 2 arranged opposite each, wherein a tag 3 is located in at least one of the handle caps and is completely surrounded by it. The handle cap preferably comprises two parts; a casing 1, 2 and an insert portion 4. The tag may be provided in a cavity / recess 4.1 on the insert, or be moulded within the insert so as to be encased. The handle casing / cover 1, 2 and the insert 4 may engage each other in a positive locking manner, securing the basket wire-frame between the two. Both handle cover and insert may be provided with a hole 2.4, 4.2, which align when assembled to receive a push bar and a bolt / fastener. The tag is preferably a RFID serving to identify the trolley, owner or supermarket.

Description

The invention relates to a stackable trolley according to the preamble of the First Claim of the application.

A stackable trolley with handle caps is described for example in the European Patent Specification EP 0 591 006 Bi. The trolley has a pushing device in the form of a rigid tube. Two handle caps arranged opposite each other are provided on the wire or tube portions of the handle carrier arm of the basket. The said handle caps have an opening for arranging each handle cap on the wire or tube portions and a further opening for receiving the tube. In addition, a securing means is provided which effects a fastening of the pushing device in the form of a tube on the handle carrier arms of the basket.

In addition, a handle cap is known from the European Patent Application EP 0 351 232 A2. This is constructed in two parts. It has a casing and an inner part which is pushed into the casing. The special feature of this handle cap lies in the fact that the inner part has a receiving means for the handle carrier arm which is formed from wire, and the casing is pushed over it in a simple manner.

Further types of one-piece handle caps are known from the German Patent Applica- tions DE 195 41 257 Al and DE 38 40 280 Al. In addition, the German Patent Specifi-cation DE 29 05 845 C2 describes a handle cap of this type.

The German Patent Specification DE 10 2007 061 680 B3 describes a trolley with two handles arranged opposite each other. The two handles have a receiving means for a handle bar. At least one of the handles has an insertion part into which it is possible to introduce a second part on which an RFID tag is arranged. The handles are attached to the handle carrier arm of the basket and are used for positioning the handle bar on the handle carrier arm. Handle caps are not necessary when handles of this type are used.

In fact, the use of handles of this type is not suitable for every type of trolley. In addi-tion, the costs incurred with the use of bandies of this type are not always acceptable.

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a tag on a handle cap as well.

The object is attained according to the invention with the features in the Main Claim.

The tag is not visible from the outside, and so it is protected from harmful environ-mental effects, such as damp andlor UV radiation. In addition, it is possible for wanton destruction to be prevented.

The production costs are considerably lower since use is not made of two handles, as

are known from the prior art.

In addition, an easy replacement of a tag or a complete receiving part, in which a tag is inserted, is possible.

The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to an embodiment. In the drawing Fig. 1 shows a handle cap, a tag and a receiving part in an exploded-view drawing; Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional illustration of the handle cap, and Fig. 3 is a further three-dimensional illustration of the handle cap.

The invention relates to a stackable trolley with an undercarriage which carries a basket, the rear end of which is capable of being closed by a flap. The basket is provided with a pushing device. Casters are arranged on the undercarriage. The basket has handle carrier arms on which two handle caps 1, which hold the pushing device, are arranged opposite each other.

A tag 3 is provided in at least one of the two handle caps 1. It is preferable for an RFID tag or an RFID UHF tag to be used. It would also be possible, however, for a diffe-rent type of tag to be used. The tag 3 is inserted into the handle cap 1 and is completely surrounded by the latter.

The handle cap I has a casing 2 and a receiving part 4. The receiving part 4 and the tag 3 are inserted into the casing 2. A handle cap 1 of this type is illustrated in Fig. 1.

The casing 2 and the receiving part 4 engage one in the other in a positively locking manner.

The casing 2 and the receiving part 4 have a bore 2.4, 4.2. The said bores 2.4, 4.2 are situated opposite each other and are used for receiving a securing means (not shown in detail) which positions the pushing device on the handle carrier arms. The securing means may be in the form of a screw or a dowel for example. As an alternative, it would be possible for the tag 3 also to have a bore (not shown in detail).

The receiving part 4 has a stepped portion towards the bore 4.2. The latter is necessary on account of the bore 2.4 provided in the casing 2.

In the example illustrated, a cavity 2.5 is provided into which the tag 3 is pushed. The said cavity 2.5 is, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, provided between the casing 2 and the receiving part 4. Conventional tags 3 have a thickness of approximately 2 mm, a length of approximately 80 mm and a height of 30 mm. The cavity 2.5 is designed accordingly in order to receive the tag 3.

In addition, it would be possible for the receiving part 4 to have a recess 4.1. The tag 3 is embedded in the said recess 4.1. In its size and shape the recess 4.1 corresponds to the size and shape of the tag 3.

The receiving part 4 additionally has a closure part 4.3. The said closure part 4.3 closes the lower opening 2.1 of the casing 2, in particular in the region in which the tag 3 is arranged. A possible shape of the closure part 4.3 is illustrated in Fig. 1. Other shapes are possible and correspond to the form of the casing 2.

It is possible for a tag 3 to be replaced in a simple manner. It is not necessary for the handle cap 1 to be removed from the handle carrier arm of the trolley. As a result of the securing means being released, the receiving part 4 and the tag 3 can be taken out. A new tag 3 can be inserted. The receiving part 4 and the new tag 3 are pushed into the casing 2 and are fastened again by means of the securing means.

Each casing 2 of the handle cap I has a lateral opening 2.2; the tube of the pushing device being arranged for example in the said opening 2.2 and being secured with the securing means (not shown in detail).

In addition, each casing 2 provides a slot 2.3; the handle carrier arms (not shown in detail) are introduced in each case into the said slot 2.3.

In a variant which is developed further, the tag 3 itself has a material injected around it, a plastics material being suitable for this purpose, so that the said tag 3 can be pushed into the casing 2 in a positively locking manner and is completely received by the latter. A receiving part 4 is then no longer necessary. In the event of replacement, the complete receiving part 4 would then be replaced.

List of References 1 handle cap 2 casing 2.1 lower opening 2.2 lateral opening 2.3 slot 2.4 bore 2.5 cavity 3 tag 4 receiving part 4.1 recess 4.2 bore 4.3 closure part

Claims

Claims: 1. A stackable trolley with an undercarriage which carries a basket, the rear end of which is capable of being closed by a flap, wherein the basket is provided with a pushing device, wherein casters are arranged on the undercarriage, and wherein two handle caps (1) are additionally arranged opposite each other on the handle carrier arm of the basket and hold the pushing device, characterized in that a tag (3) is provided in at least one of the handle caps (1), wherein the tag (3) is inserted into at least one of the handle caps (1) and is completely surrounded by the handle cap (1).
2. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claim 1, characterized in that the handle cap (1) has a casing (2), and a receiving part (4) and the tag (3) are inserted into the casing (2).
3. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the casing (2) and the receiving part (4) have a bore (2.4, 4.2) in each case, which bores (2.4, 4.2) are arranged opposite each other and are used for receiving a securing means in order to position the handle cap (1) on the handle carrier arm.
4. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claims ito 3, characterized in that the receiving part (4) has a receiving means (4.1) into which the tag (3) is embedded.
5. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the receiving part (4) has a closure part (4.3) which closes the lower opening (2.1) of the casing (2).
6. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the casing (2) and the receiving part (4) engage in each other in a positively locking manner.
7. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claim 1, characterized in that a cavity (2.5) is formed between the casing (2) and the receiving part (4), wherein the tag (3) is situated in the cavity (2.5).
8. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tag (3) has a material injected around it and is inserted into the casing (2) in a posi-tively locking manner.
9. A stackable trolley with handle caps according to Claim 1, characterized in that the handle cap (1) is produced in such a way that the tag (3) is inserted in the manufac-turing process.