1. A shopping cart caddy comprising:
a caddy body having a pair of elongated edges and a pair of short edges, wherein the elongated edges are arranged perpendicular to and span between the pair of short edges;
a lateral coupling formation extending rearward from a rear elongated edge of the body, the lateral coupling formation having a c-shaped cross sectional shape of a size, and orientation to be removably coupled to a lateral segment of a shopping cart handle;
at least one longitudinal coupling formation, each of the at least one longitudinal coupling formation extends sideward from the respective short edges of the body, the at least one longitudinal coupling formation having a c-shaped cross sectional shape of a size and orientation to be removably coupled to a side segment of a shopping cart handle; and
a storage container formed within the edges of the body;
wherein the caddy body is supported by coupling the lateral coupling formation to the lateral segment of the shopping cart handle and by coupling each of the at least one longitudinal coupling formation to the respective side segment of the shopping cart handle.
2. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 1, the caddy further comprising at least one cup holder formed within the caddy body at a position proximate a lateral end of the body.
3. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 2, the cup holder defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
4. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one hand clearance, said at least one hand clearance defined by an aperture integrated into the caddy body at a location adjacent to and forward of the lateral coupling formation.
5. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of finger registration ridges, said plurality of finger registration ridges are located within said at least one hand clearance, extending forward from a forward edge of said lateral coupling formation.
6. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 1, the storage container further defined by:
a pair of lateral walls arranged parallel to the lateral coupling formation;
a pair of longitudinal walls spanning between distal edges of the pair of lateral wall; and
a base portion provided along a lower perimeter formed by the lateral walls and longitudinal walls.
7. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 6, the storage container defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
8. A shopping cart caddy comprising:
a caddy body having a pair of elongated edges and a pair of short edges, wherein the elongated edges are arranged perpendicular to and span between the pair of short edges;
a lateral coupling formation extending rearward from a rear elongated edge of the body, the lateral coupling formation having a c-shaped cross sectional shape of a size, and orientation to be removably coupled to a lateral segment of a shopping cart handle;
at least one longitudinal coupling formation, each of the at least one longitudinal coupling formation extends sideward from the respective short edges of the body, the at least one longitudinal coupling formation having a c-shaped cross sectional shape of a size and orientation to be removably coupled to a side segment of a shopping cart handle;
a pair of cup holders formed within the caddy body, each cup holder being located adjacent to a respective lateral end of the body; and
a storage container formed within the edges of the body;
wherein the caddy body is supported by coupling the lateral coupling formation to the lateral segment of the shopping cart handle and by coupling each of the at least one longitudinal coupling formation to the respective side segment of the shopping cart handle.
9. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 8, each cup holder defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
10. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 8 further comprising at least one hand clearance, said at least one hand clearance defined by an aperture integrated into the caddy body at a location adjacent to and forward of the lateral coupling formation.
11. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of finger registration ridges, said plurality of finger registration ridges are located within said at least one hand clearance, extending forward from a forward edge of said lateral coupling formation.
12. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 8, the storage container further defined by:
a pair of lateral walls arranged parallel to the lateral coupling formation;
a pair of longitudinal walls spanning between distal edges of the pair of lateral wall; and
a base portion provided along a lower perimeter formed by the lateral walls and longitudinal walls.
13. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 12, the storage container defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
14. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 13, each cup holder defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
15. A shopping cart caddy comprising:
a caddy body having a pair of elongated edges and a pair of short edges arranged perpendicular to and spanning between the pair of elongated edges;
a lateral coupling formation extending rearward from a rear elongated edge of the body, the lateral coupling formation having a c-shaped cross sectional shape of a size, and orientation to be removably coupled to a lateral segment of a shopping cart handle;
a pair of longitudinal coupling formations, each of the at least one longitudinal coupling formation extends sideward from the respective short edges of the body, each longitudinal coupling formation having c-shaped cross sectional shape of a size and orientation to be removably coupled to a side segment of a shopping cart handle;
a pair of cup holders formed within the caddy body, each cup holder being located adjacent to a respective lateral end of the body; and
a storage container formed within the edges of the body.
16. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 15, each cup holder defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to properly nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
17. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 15 further comprising at least one hand clearance, said at least one hand clearance defined by an aperture integrated into the caddy body at a location adjacent to and forward of the lateral coupling formation.
18. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 17 further comprising a plurality of finger registration ridges, said plurality of finger registration ridges are located within said at least one hand clearance, extending forward from a forward edge of said lateral coupling formation.
19. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 15, the storage container further defined by:
a pair of lateral walls arranged parallel to the lateral coupling formation;
a pair of longitudinal walls spanning between distal edges of the pair of lateral wall; and
a base portion provided along a lower perimeter formed by the lateral walls and longitudinal walls.
20. A shopping cart caddy as recited in claim 19, the storage container defined having a depth, wherein said depth enables a pair of shopping carts to nest when the shopping cart caddy is assembled to the cart handle.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic vehicle key comprising:
a radio receiver for receiving radio call information which is transmitted by a control centre;
a key communication device for communicating with a vehicle communication device in an associated vehicle, signals transmitted by the key communication device to the vehicle communication device serving to activate or deactivate an immobilizer on the vehicle; and
a key controller provided in the electronic vehicle key for administering a mobility account, wherein
use-enabling radio call information transmitted by the control centre is registered as a maximum credit in the mobility account; relevant events are registered as debits in the mobility account; and the vehicle key can transmit a signal to deactivate the immobilizer only if the credit in the mobility account has not yet reached a prescribed account value.
2. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein if the credit in the mobility account has reached a prescribed account value, the immobilizer on the vehicle is activated by the electronic vehicle key.
3. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein at least one detection device is provided for detecting relevant events, the relevant events being transmitted from the at least one detection device to the key controller.
4. An electronic vehicle key comprising:
a radio receiver for receiving radio call information which is transmitted by a control centre;
a key communication device for communication between the electronic vehicle key and a vehicle communication device in an associated vehicle, signals transmitted by the key communication device to the vehicle communication device serving to activate or deactivate an immobilizer on the vehicle; and
a key controller provided in the electronic vehicle key for administering a mobility account; wherein
radio call information transmitted by the control centre is registered as a credit in the mobility account;
relevant events are processed as debits in the mobility account; and
the key controller regularly transmits a use-enabling signal to the associated vehicle as long as the credit in the mobility account has not yet reached a prescribed account value, it being no longer possible to deactivate the immobilizer on the vehicle if the use-enabling signal is not received.
5. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 4, wherein if the use-enabling signal is not received, the immobilizer on the vehicle is activated.
6. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 4, wherein at least one detection device is provided for detecting relevant events, the relevant events being transmitted from the at least one detection device to the key controller.
7. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 6, wherein a first detection device is arranged in the electronic vehicle key.
8. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 6, wherein:
a second detection device is arranged in the associated vehicle; and
relevant events are transmitted by the second detection device to the key controller via the vehicle communication device and the key communication device.
9. An electronic vehicle key comprising:
a radio receiver for receiving radio call information which is transmitted by a control centre;
a key communication device for communicating with a vehicle communication device in an associated vehicle; signals transmitted by the key communication device to the vehicle communication device serving to activate or deactivate an immobilizer on the vehicle; and
a key controller provided in the electronic vehicle key for administering a mobility account;,
use-enabling radio call information transmitted by the control centre is registered as a maximum credit in the mobility account, said use-enabling radio call information containing a specific time; and
the immobilizer can be deactivated by the electronic vehicle key only if the specific time has not yet been exceeded.
10. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 9, when the specific time is exceeded, the immobilizer on the vehicle is activated.
11. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is activated by the key controller only when required.
12. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 4, wherein the radio receiver is activated by the key controller only when required.
13. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 9, wherein the radio receiver is activated by the key controller only when required.
14. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 11, wherein the radio receiver is activated by the key controller at prescribed times.
15. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 11, wherein the radio receiver is activated by the key controller if the credit in the mobility account has reached a prescribed minimum account value.
16. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 11, wherein:
the key controller regularly activates the radio receiver in order to determine whether radio call information can be received at a location; and
when an area of no radio coverage is detected, the radio receiver remains activated until radio call information can be received again at the location.
17. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 15, wherein at least one visual andor audible indicator device is provided, which informs a user that the credit in the mobility account has reached the prescribed minimum account value or that a area of no radio coverage has been detected.
18. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 16, wherein at least one visual andor audible indicator device is provided, which informs a user that the credit in the mobility account has reached the prescribed minimum account value or that a area of no radio coverage has been detected.
19. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 1, wherein the control centre transmits use-disabling radio call information, which prevents further use of the vehicle even if the credit in the mobility account has not yet reached a prescribed account value.
20. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 4, wherein the control centre transmits use-disabling radio call information, which prevents further use of the vehicle even if the credit in the mobility account has not yet reached a prescribed account value.
21. The electronic vehicle key according to claim 10, wherein the control centre transmits use-disabling radio call information which prevents further use of the vehicle even if the specific time has not yet been exceeded.