Cabinet for dispensing items

• US 10,510,442 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peacock Law, P.C.
• Original Assignee: Peacock Law, P.C.
• Inventors: Adams, Patrick, Bell, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US16/052,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20190066828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/04 with counting or registering devices time recording locks G07C1/32
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/06 having provision for multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/08 secured individually
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/10 with alarm, signal or indicator E05G1/14 takes precedence; burglar, theft or intruder alarm per se G08B13/00; fire or explosion alarm per se G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/124 using tapes, cards or discs with optically sensed marks or codes G05B19/128, G05B19/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10762 Relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A cabinet that can control the distribution of products that can optionally include medications. The cabinet can have a user interface that receives information about a user and the user'"'"'s identity can then be authenticated. The cabinet can accept a user'"'"'s request to dispense a product and, if the user is approved, the cabinet can dispense a quantity of product to the approved user.

Claims

1. A method of regulating, controlling and distributing products inside of a store comprising:

providing a kiosk having a user interface for receiving identification information from a user;

prompting the user to request access to a prescribed regulated product;

the kiosk directing communications between a user and a healthcare professional authorized to write prescriptions;

delivering a quantity of the regulated product to the user; and

configuring the kiosk to also function as a self-checkout register for non-regulated store products.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an electronic application for requesting permission from the healthcare professional for access to the regulated product.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications are performed via a telephone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications are performed via an Internet connection.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating the identification information provided by the user.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising automatically sending the healthcare professional information regarding the user after authenticating the identification information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting the user is performed remotely.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending the user'"'"'s request to the healthcare professional.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sending step is performed electronically.

10. A method of regulating, controlling and distributing products inside of a store comprising:

providing a kiosk having a user interface for receiving identification information from a user;

prompting the user to request access to a prescribed regulated product;

the kiosk directing communications between the user and a healthcare professional authorized to write a prescription;

delivering a quantity of the regulated product to the user; and

configuring the kiosk to also function as a self-checkout register for non-regulated store products.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising authenticating the identification information provided by the user.

12. A regulated product distribution system comprising:

a kiosk having a user interface for receiving identification information from a user and for receiving a user'"'"'s request for a regulated product;

a system for authenticating the user'"'"'s identification information;

a communications system which transmits the user'"'"'s request to a healthcare professional authorized to prescribe the regulated product and which can receive input from the healthcare professional regarding access by the user to the regulated product, the communications system further comprising the ability to direct communications between the user and the healthcare professional;

a mechanism delivering a quantity of the regulated product to the user; and

wherein said kiosk also functions as a self-checkout register for non-regulated store products.

13. The distribution system of claim 12 further comprising a mechanism updating an inventory record based on the quantity of the regulated product delivered to the user.

14. The distribution system of claim 12 further comprising an electronic application for requesting permission from the healthcare professional for access to the regulated product.

15. The distribution system of claim 12 further comprising wherein the communications system automatically sending the healthcare professional information regarding the user after authenticating the user'"'"'s identification information.

16. The distribution system of claim 12 wherein the communications system comprises the ability to direct communications between the user, the healthcare professional, and a pharmacist.

17. A method of regulating, controlling and distributing products comprising:

providing a kiosk having a user interface for receiving identification information from a user;

prompting the user to request access to a regulated product that was prescribed by a healthcare professional authorized to issue a prescription;

directing communications between the user and the healthcare professional via the kiosk;

delivering a quantity of the regulated product to the user; and

providing primary and secondary security devices.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the secondary security device comprises pepper spray.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the secondary security device comprises a strobe light.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the secondary security device comprises a break-away handle.