[in 3,837,455 [451 Sept. 24, 1974
[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSTOMER RETURN OF MERCHANDISE CARTS
[76] Inventor: Arthur J. Hurt, 720 S. Elizabeth St., Denver, Colo. 80209
[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972
[21] Appl. No.: 295,857
[52] U.S. Ct 194/4 R, 49/28, 49/35
[51] Int.Cl G07I1/06
[58] Field of Search 194/4, 65; 49/26, 28, 35
[56] References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
2,526,503 10/1950 Raque 49/26 X
3,194,377 7/1965 Fishbach et al 194/4
3,220,528 1 1/1965 Friedrich .. 194/65 X
3,609,914 10/1971 Berl: 49/35
Primary Examiner—Robert B. Reeves
Assistant Examiner—Joseph J. Rolla
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Ahcel W. Lewis, Jr.
[57] ABSTRACT
In a merchandise cart return system and method to encourage the customer to return the merchandise cart to the store after use, there is provided a cartreceiving area normally blocked off by a partition including a movable door to control admittance of a cart into the cart receiving area and block the retraction of the cart from the area once it has been placed therein. The door is opened in response to the placement of the cart in front of the door and the presentation of a token given to the customer when a purchase is made. Once the cart is placed in the cart receiving area via the doorway, the door closes and a payoff device is actuated to pay out a reward for the return of the cart. To further position the cart, if desired, a turntable turns the carts so that the handle faces the direction of movement and a takeaway mechanism moves the cart from the turntable for subsequent pickup by the customers entering the store.
10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures
