A twist-tie includes a fastener having a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.

A twist-tie includes a fastener having a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

A car seat holder is used to support a portable infant car seat by providing a flexible support. The apparatus comprises a first support, a second support, and a canvas. The first support and the second support are elongated members that extend across a shopping cart. The first support and the second support are rigid members that distribute the weight of an infant carriage device. The canvas is a flexible surface that extends from the first support to the second support across the shopping cart. The canvas provides a mechanism for transmitting the weight of the infant carriage device to the first support and the second support. In this way, the first support and second support hold the canvas in optimal position for holding an infant car seat. This arrangement frees up space within a shopping cart.

A car seat holder is used to support a portable infant car seat by providing a flexible support. The apparatus comprises a first support, a second support, and a canvas. The first support and the second support are elongated members that extend across a shopping cart. The first support and the second support are rigid members that distribute the weight of an infant carriage device. The canvas is a flexible surface that extends from the first support to the second support across the shopping cart. The canvas provides a mechanism for transmitting the weight of the infant carriage device to the first support and the second support. In this way, the first support and second support hold the canvas in optimal position for holding an infant car seat. This arrangement frees up space within a shopping cart.

A twist-tie dispenser comprises a twist-tie cluster and a base. The base includes a top portion, a rear wall extending downward from the top portion, and an open front. A latching structure for removably mounting the base to a fixture is defined at least in part by a first hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall of the base, the first hook-like extension defining a pocket formed by an upper stop surface and a vertical retention surface, the latching structure also defined at least in part by a flexible portion of the rear wall that is configured to elastically deflect through a cut-out provided on the rear wall in a direction from the rear wall toward the open front when a rod-like mounting structure of the fixture is inserted into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, the flexible portion also defining a lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension when the rod-like mounting structure is within the pocket and is captured between the lower stop surface and the upper stop surface.

A twist-tie dispenser comprises a twist-tie cluster and a base. The base includes a top portion, a rear wall extending downward from the top portion, and an open front. A latching structure for removably mounting the base to a fixture is defined at least in part by a first hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall of the base, the first hook-like extension defining a pocket formed by an upper stop surface and a vertical retention surface, the latching structure also defined at least in part by a flexible portion of the rear wall that is configured to elastically deflect through a cut-out provided on the rear wall in a direction from the rear wall toward the open front when a rod-like mounting structure of the fixture is inserted into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, the flexible portion also defining a lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension when the rod-like mounting structure is within the pocket and is captured between the lower stop surface and the upper stop surface.

A utensil dispenser including a reservoir that stores utensils and front and rear pedestals in contact with a next utensil. The pedestals contain a plurality of utensils within the reservoir. A gravity feed ramp moves the next utensil to an access port of the utensil dispenser. The utensil dispenser includes an actuator operably connected to a drive pin or other drive mechanism. The actuator is configured to halt a dispensing utensil at a ready position based upon contact between the dispensing utensil and the actuator. In the ready position, a handle portion of the dispensing utensil is accessible via the access port. The drive mechanism is configured to contact the next utensil. The actuator is configured to move the drive mechanism to move the next utensil to clear the front pedestal to release the next utensil from the reservoir onto the gravity feed ramp when the dispensing utensil is dispensed.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.