Goods & Services

Wireless network systems using electronic devices programmed to interact with each other to prevent and deter shopping cart and handbasket theft from retail stores, and to collect and report events within the store; electronic devices using wireless systems for preventing shopping cart and basket theft from retail stores; wireless anti-theft systems for retail stores comprised of electronic sensors attachable to shopping carts and/or baskets and a radio frequency network for communicating with the electronic sensors; wireless anti-theft systems for retail stores comprised of remote electronic sensors communicating with one or more networked computers for monitoring and reporting the status of the electronic sensors and reporting and analyzing data transmitted from the electronic sensors; theft alarms; anti-theft sensors for carts and handbaskets; anti-theft alarms for carts and handbaskets; anti-theft sensors and alarms for loss prevention of store merchandise; electronic security system comprising computer hardware, computer software, transmitters, receivers, and circuitry, for tracking, managing, or preventing theft of carts, shopping carts, mobile storage carts, and handbaskets; anti-theft sensors for wheels on carts, shopping carts, and mobile storage carts; remote controls for use with carts, shopping carts, and mobile storage carts; wireless controllers for use with carts, shopping carts, and mobile storage carts; electronic monitors for monitoring carts, shopping carts, mobile storage carts and handbaskets; electronic motion-sensitive switches for carts and shopping carts; electronic location-sensitive switches for carts and shopping carts; electronic security system comprising computer hardware and computer software for loss prevention of store merchandise; electronic and mechanical braking apparatus comprised of wireless transmitters; electronic and mechanical braking apparatus comprised of wireless receivers; electronic security system comprising transmitters, receivers, alarms, sensors and videos, for tracking, managing, or preventing theft of handbaskets, shopping carts, and retail store inventory.

Abstract

A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.

IPC Classes  ?

• B62B 5/04 - Braking mechanismsLocking devices against movement
• B60B 33/00 - Castors in general
• F16D 63/00 - Brakes not otherwise provided forBrakes combining more than one of the types of groups
• F16D 65/02 - Braking membersMounting thereof
• F16D 121/24 - Electric or magnetic using motors
• F16D 125/40 - Screw-and-nut

Abstract

A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.

IPC Classes  ?

• B62B 5/04 - Braking mechanismsLocking devices against movement
• F16D 63/00 - Brakes not otherwise provided forBrakes combining more than one of the types of groups
• B60B 33/00 - Castors in general
• F16D 65/02 - Braking membersMounting thereof
• F16D 121/24 - Electric or magnetic using motors
• F16D 125/40 - Screw-and-nut

Abstract

A system and method encourage shopper compliance with a monitoring schedule is provided. When signing up for a customer loyalty card, a shopper is invited to participate in an incentive program. The incentive program provides more valuable benefits to the shopper compared to customers who do not opt-in to the incentive program. More valuable benefits are awarded in exchange for the shopper agreeing to an enhanced level of monitoring as part of the monitoring schedule used while the shopper is in the store. Detectors communicate shopper and cart information to a controller and a computer when the shopper retrieves a cart from a cart corral. Upon completion of the monitoring schedule, the system provides the shopper with various benefits under the incentive program as long as the shopper has opted-in to the incentive program.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/00 - Commerce

Abstract

A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.

IPC Classes  ?

• B60B 33/04 - Castors in general adjustable
• B60B 33/00 - Castors in general
• F16D 65/22 - Actuating mechanisms for brakesMeans for initiating operation at a predetermined position arranged in or on the brake adapted for pressing members apart
• F16C 33/32 - Balls

Abstract

A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.

IPC Classes  ?

• B62B 5/04 - Braking mechanismsLocking devices against movement

Goods & Services

Wireless network systems using electronic devices programmed to interact with each other to prevent and deter shopping cart [ and handbasket ] theft from retail stores, and to collect and report events within the store; electronic devices using wireless systems for preventing shopping cart and basket theft from retail stores; wireless anti-theft systems for retail stores comprised of electronic sensors attachable to shopping carts and/or baskets and a radio frequency network for communicating with the electronic sensors; wireless anti-theft systems for retail stores comprised of remote electronic sensors communicating over a radio frequency network with one or more networked computers for monitoring and reporting the status of the electronic sensors and reporting and analyzing data transmitted from the electronic sensors; theft alarms Installation, maintenance and/or repair of anti-theft devices and systems Remote monitoring of the functioning and use of retail anti-theft devices and systems

Abstract

A braking member for rotatable mounting on a wheel axle of a hand-driven wheeled vehicle such as a shopping cart has a first part having an opening for mounting on a wheel axle, and a second part releasably secured to the first part and having a braking surface adapted to engage the ground when the braking member is in an operative position. When the braking member becomes worn, the entire member does not have to be removed from the wheel or caster, but instead the second part is released from the first part while the first part remains on the wheel. The second part can only be released using a special tool which is provided to store personnel.

IPC Classes  ?

• B60T 1/14 - Arrangements of braking elements, i.e. of those parts where braking effect occurs acting otherwise than by retarding wheels, e.g. jet- action directly on road

Abstract

A system and method encourage a shopper to return a shopping cart to a corral at a store. In the system, detectors recognize the shopper and the cart selected by the shopper at the cart corral. Further, the system includes a scanner at the point-of-sale that recognizes the shopper and records the goods purchased by the shopper. During operation of the system, a controller monitors the goods purchased by the shopper and determines suggested goods for subsequent purchase by the shopper. If the shopper returns the cart to the cart corral, the controller provides the shopper with coupons for the suggested goods. In order to provide the shopper with the coupons for purchase of the suggested goods, the system may include a coupon dispenser mounted on the cart or on the cart corral.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/00 - Commerce

Abstract

A system and method for preventing push-out theft includes a network of electronic devices that are collectively operable in either a 'safe restart' mode' or in an 'operational' mode. The network is installed in a shopping area and prevents shopping cart removal from the area when in the 'operational' mode. It does this by initially issuing egress permits to every shopping cart. The network then selectively removes egress permits when a shopping cart enters a selected section of the shopping area. Another egress permit is issued when the shopping cart successfully passes a cashier location. Otherwise, a sentry beacon will disable a shopping cart with no egress permit, before it can leave the shopping area. The network defaults to a permit issuing mode whenever a component of the system becomes inoperable.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 20/00 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols

Goods & Services

Vehicle locating, tracking and security system comprised of an antenna and radio transmitter to be placed in a vehicle, electric or electronic sensors for sensing the location of shopping carts, radio-frequency controlled locks, electronic locks, electronically operated high security lock cylinders, building security systems comprising software and hardware for providing picture, video, alarm status, building plans, and other information to a remote station, access control and alarm monitoring systems, alarm installations and alarms, computer hardware and software system for tracking objects using GPS data on a device on the tracked objects, computer hardware and computer software for retail inventory management, sold as a unit, computer hardware and software system for remotely controlling devices within a building, facility, grounds, or designated spatial area, electric and electronic video surveillance installations, electric fences, electrical and electronic burglar alarms, electronic positioning apparatus and instruments, facilities management software, namely, software to control building security systems, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, radio frequency identification tag readers, radio receivers and transmitters, vehicle locator and recovery device programmed to use global positioning systems (GPS) and cellular telecommunications, wireless transceivers with collection and display technology for the status and tracking of retail goods from the backdoor to the shelf, wireless transceivers with collection and display technology for the status and tracking of all vehicle types in local environments.

Goods & Services

Business research services, namely, providing retail data on specific business locations, business consulting and information services, business advisory services, consultancy and information, business consultation in the field of loss prevention, business consulting services relating to product distribution, operations management services, logistics, reverse logistics, supply chain, and production systems and distribution solutions, providing business information via the Internet, business information in the field of loss prevention, providing an online computer database for the reporting and tracking of retail goods for business purposes, monitoring services for business purposes, management and operation assistance to commercial businesses, computerized and central file management and business file management, compilation of statistics for commercial purposes, commercial information agencies, commercial assistance in business management, providing business marketing information, providing commercial information via the global computer network, providing statistical information for business or commercial purposes, providing information in the field of marketing via the Internet, advice in the field of business management and marketing, advisory service for organizational issues and business administration, with and the help of electronic data bases, advisory services relating to business management and business operations, assistance in management of business activities, assistance to industrial or commercial enterprises in the running of their business, business records management, information, advisory and consultancy services relating to business and management of business administration, including such services provided via the Internet.

Abstract

A locking system for stopping a shopping cart (22) includes a caster that can be selectively disabled when the cart encounters an electronic barrier. The caster includes a brake that is mounted on the frame of the caster. Also mounted on the frame are two receivers for separately receiving different signals from an electronic barrier. Respective decoders on the frame decipher lock commands in the signals, and a controller (44) selectively activates the brake to prevent further movement of the cart (22) in response to the lock commands. The electronic barrier can include an underground loop antenna (18) and an above-ground RF beacon (20).

IPC Classes  ?

• B60R 25/10 - Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device
• G08B 13/14 - Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• G08B 1/00 - Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal
• G08G 1/01 - Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
• G08C 19/00 - Electric signal transmission systems
• B60B 33/00 - Castors in general

Abstract

A locking system for stopping a shopping cart includes a caster that can be selectively disabled when the cart encounters an electronic barrier. The caster includes a brake that is mounted on the frame of the caster. Also mounted on the frame are two receivers for separately receiving different signals from an electronic barrier. Respective decoders on the frame decipher lock commands in the signals, and a controller selectively activates the brake to prevent further movement of the cart in response to the lock commands. The electronic barrier can include an underground loop antenna and an above-ground RF beacon.

IPC Classes  ?

• B60R 25/10 - Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device

Goods & Services

Vehicle locating, tracking and security system comprised of an antenna and radio transmitter to be placed in a vehicle, electric or electronic sensors for sensing the location of shopping carts, radio-frequency controlled locks, electronic locks, electronically operated high security lock cylinders; radio frequency identification (RFID) tags; radio frequency identification tag readers, radio receivers and transmitters; vehicle locator and recovery device programmed to use global positioning systems (GPS) and cellular telecommunications

Goods & Services

Anti-theft protective systems for shopping carts.