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Inventory monitoring system and associated methods

  • US 10,495,489 B2
  • Filed: 12/21/2017
  • Issued: 12/03/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An item monitoring system, comprising:

  • a bladder configured to be positioned on a supporting surface of a shelf and further configured to receive one or more items thereon, the bladder including;

    a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid;

    an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder, the energy generation mechanism including (i) a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil and including an interior passage in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, and (ii) a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube; and

    a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism;

    wherein displacement of at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the interior passage of the tube due to the one or more items placed on the body of the bladder moves the magnetic item within the tube; and

    wherein movement of the magnetic item within the tube generates an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.

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