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EP-4740190-A1 - DEPOSIT LOCK DEVICE FOR A SHOPPING CART AND SYSTEM REALIZED WITH THE INCLUSION OF SAID SHOPPING CART

EP4740190A1EP 4740190 A1EP4740190 A1EP 4740190A1EP-4740190-A1

Abstract

The invention is directed to a deposit lock device for a shopping cart, said deposit lock device being able to be unlocked by means of an interaction with a smartphone provided by a user so that a shopping cart initially secured by the deposit lock assembly can be released. The deposit lock device according to the invention comprises a blocking device designed such that the blocking device can be electromechanically brought into a release state, a control device for controlling the blocking device, and an interface device for bringing about an interaction between the control device and a smartphone kept at hand in the region of the shopping cart by a using person. The control device comprises an electronic computing device and a memory device. The computing device executes a check routine in the context of a release request. In the context of said execution, data is queried, which is provided by the smartphone. In connection with the queried data and with contents stored in the memory device, it is determined whether a release criterion is satisfied. If the release criterion is satisfied, the blocking device is controlled by the control device in order to bring about the release state.

Inventors

  • Bühler, Benny

Assignees

  • Wanzl GmbH & Co. KGaA

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240820

Claims (11)

  1. 1. Deposit lock device for a shopping cart with: a locking device which is designed in such a way that it can be brought into a release state by electromechanical means, a control device for controlling the locking device and an interface device for bringing about an interaction between the control device and a smartphone held ready by a user in the area of the shopping cart, wherein the control device comprises an electronic computer device and a memory device, the computer device processes a test routine as part of a release request, as part of this processing a query of data which is provided by the smartphone takes place, in conjunction with the queried data and the contents stored on the memory device it is determined whether a release criterion is met and if the release criterion is met the locking device is controlled by the control device to bring about the release state.
  2. 2. Deposit lock device according to claim 1, characterized in that a data set containing information on a branch ID is provided via the smartphone.
  3. 3. Deposit lock device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a data set containing information on identifiers specific to shopping carts of a store is provided via the smartphone.
  4. 4. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a data set is provided in the storage device which represents an identifier specific to the shopping trolley or a group of shopping trolleys.
  5. 5. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a data set is provided in the storage device which contains information which is indicative of authorized branch IDs.
  6. 6. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the data records provided via the smartphone are generated using a code.
  7. 7. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that this code is provided in the area of the shopping trolley.
  8. 8. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an app is installed on the smartphone and that in connection with this app or a memory content to which this app has access, information is stored as to which branch IDs allow a deposit lock release and which shopping carts may be released with it.
  9. 9. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the app is provided via a download portal
  10. 10. Deposit lock device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the data processed by this app are updated continuously or at sufficiently short intervals.
  11. 11. System for the authorization-verified release of deposit locks from shopping carts using smartphones carried by the customer and configured with an app, comprising: - Shopping trolleys equipped with deposit lock devices according to at least one of claims 1 to 10 and - a data set hosted by a system operator and made available for access by the app, whereby the data set includes content that is indicative of the authorization to initiate a deposit lock release in a market, as well as for the release of specified deposit locks in that market.

Description

Deposit lock device for a shopping cart and system implemented including the same The invention relates to a deposit lock device for a shopping cart, which can be unlocked cashlessly by means of an interaction with a smartphone provided by a user by controlling electromechanically operating elements of a locking mechanism of the deposit lock device, so that a shopping cart initially secured by the deposit lock device by locking a holding element anchored elsewhere can be released. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a system that includes several such shopping carts, even across multiple locations—e.g., in different stores or branches of a retailer—e.g., each provided in groups. The invention also relates to a method implemented in conjunction with this system for managing the maintenance and updating of this system, as well as to a method for offline opening of a shopping cart's deposit lock in conjunction with a mobile communication device, such as, in particular, a smartphone configured with an app. Shopping carts equipped with deposit locks are particularly used in the sale of goods to end consumers. The shopping carts can be provided in defined zones, e.g., cart stations, where a first mechanical plug-in element, coded by its geometry, can be provided at a cart station, for example, on a chain. This stationary, chained first plug-in element secures a complementary shopping cart at the cart station by inserting this chained plug-in element into the cart's deposit lock and locking it in the deposit lock. This shopping trolley is usually provided with an insert element, which is identical in terms of its mechanical coding, via a short chain, which can be inserted into the deposit lock of another compatible trolley which is inserted in a known manner, so that in the area of the trolley station, a horizontal stack or of shopping trolleys which are nested one inside the other and sequentially linked by insert elements and complementary deposit locks can be formed, with the last shopping trolley inserted from this stack or train can be withdrawn again by bringing about a release state of its deposit lock. This release state of the deposit lock is usually achieved by inserting a coin into the deposit lock. The admissibility of this coin is checked mechanically in the deposit lock device, in particular by taking into account shape and material characteristics. Concepts of deposit locks are known that can be brought into a release state by signal technology using mobile phones, in particular so-called smartphones. The value of the deposit collected by the deposit lock is based on an amount that can usually be demanded from a user of the shopping cart in order for them to return a shopping cart to the cart station. The value of the deposit therefore does not correspond to the value of the provided shopping cart and due to the relatively low value of the deposit, the collection can be processed with moderate verification effort. The invention is based on the object of creating solutions by means of which it is possible, with sufficient security against manipulation, to bring deposit locks of shopping trolleys that are provided in the surrounding area of a shopping facility, in particular a trolley station, into a release state by means of a smartphone carried by the user. This object is achieved according to the invention by a deposit lock device for a shopping trolley with: a locking device which is designed in such a way that it can be brought into a release state by electromechanical means, a control device for controlling the locking device and an interface device for effecting an interaction between the control device and a smartphone held ready by a user in the area of the shopping trolley, wherein the control device comprises an electronic computer device and a memory device, the computer device processes a test routine as part of a release request, as part of this processing a query of data which is provided by the smartphone takes place, in connection with the queried data and the contents stored on the memory device it is determined whether at least one release criterion is met and if at least one release criterion is fulfilled, the locking device is activated by the control device to bring about the release state. This advantageously makes it possible to create a deposit lock device in which a release state can be initiated via an offline dialogue between the circuit integrated in the deposit lock and the user's smartphone. The criteria and key information for initiating the release state can be modified via software on both the smartphone and the shopping cart. According to a particular aspect of the present invention, the deposit lock device is designed such that the release state can be initiated by fulfilling different release criteria. Interactions can occur with different apps installed on the user's respective smartphone. The app installed on the user's smartphone can be assigned differen