Point-of-sale tape measure dispenser

• US 20040044438A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nistal, Miguel A., Lorraine, Steven Charles, Scillia, Robert Leo, Murray, John C.
• Application Number:
  US10/465,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/68 in which the articles are torn or severed from strips or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

The invention provides a method of selling tape measures. The tape measures are contained within a point-of-sale vending device (i.e., a vending machine), and are dispensed individually when purchased by a user. Several varieties of tape measure may be included within the vending device. The vending device may allow the user to purchase tape measures using cash, credit cards, debit cards, store credit cards and automated clearing house transactions. Additionally, the vending device may be networked to a central inventory control computer to assist a retail store with inventory control and revenue tracking. Within the vending device, the tape measures may be unpackaged, resulting in a cost savings for the manufacturer. Because the tape measures are dispensed only when purchased and are inaccessible until then, theft of tape measures may be reduced or eliminated.

Claims

1. A point-of-sale vending device containing therein a plurality of tape measures.

2. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tape measures comprises several pluralities of different types of tape measures.

3. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale vending device is configured and adapted to dispense one or more of the plurality of tape measures upon payment of a predetermined amount.

4. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 3, wherein the point-of-sale vending device is configured and adapted to accept the payment of the predetermined amount in cash, credit, debit or automated clearing house transaction form.

5. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 4, further comprising a network connection configured and adapted to connect the point-of-sale vending device to an electronic payment authorization system.

6. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 5, further comprising an inventory control system configured and adapted to record how many tape measures are dispensed.

7. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 6, wherein the inventory control system is further configured and adapted to record types of tape measures dispensed.

8. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 7, wherein the network connection is further configured and adapted to allow the inventory control system to communicate with a centralized inventory control system.

9. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 8, wherein the inventory control system sends signals to the centralized inventory control system representative of one or more of how many tape measures are dispensed, the types of tape measures that are dispensed, or times at which tape measures are dispensed.

10. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 9, wherein the inventory control system is configured and adapted to send a signal to the centralized inventory control system when the point-of-sale vending device is sold out of one or more of the pluralities of tape measures.

11. The point-of-sale vending device of claim 1, wherein ones of the plurality of tape measures are unpackaged and devoid of any individual theft deterrent mechanism.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording that the one or more tape measures have been dispensed.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting to a centralized inventory control system one or more of (a) the number of the one or more tape measures that have been dispensed, (b) types of the one or more tape measures that have been dispensed, or (c) times at which the one or more tape measures have been dispensed.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising communicating to the centralized inventory control system when all of the tape measures have been dispensed.

12. A tape measure inventory control system, comprising:

a point-of-sale vending device containing a supply of tape measures, the point-of-sale vending device being configured and adapted to dispense one or more of the supply of tape measures upon payment of a predetermined amount and to establish signals representative of one or more of a number of tape measures dispensed, types of tape measures dispensed, or times at which tape measures are dispensed; and

a centralized inventory control system in communication with the point-of-sale vending device to receive the signals.

13. The tape measure inventory control system of claim 12, wherein the centralized inventory control system is an inventory control system of a retailer.

14. The tape measure inventory control system of claim 12, wherein the centralized inventory control system is an inventory control system within the point-of-sale vending device.

15. The tape measure inventory control system of claim 12, wherein the supply of tape measures comprises one or more pluralities of different types of tape measures.

16. The tape measure inventory control system of claim 12, wherein the point-of-sale vending device is configured and adapted to accept the payment of the predetermined amount in cash, credit, debit, or automated clearing house transaction form.

17. A method for selling tape measures, comprising:

installing the tape measures securely within a point-of-sale vending device configured and adapted to process financial transactions; and

causing the point-of-sale vending device to dispense one or more of the tape measures upon completion of a successful vending device financial transaction.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the financial transaction is one or more of a credit card transaction, a cash transaction, a debit card transaction, a store credit card transaction or an automated clearing house transaction.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising recording one or more of (a) a number of tape measures dispensed, (b) types of tape measures dispensed, or (c) times at which tape measures are dispensed in a centralized inventory control system connected to the point-of-sale vending machine.

22. A method for selling tape measures, comprising:

stocking a plurality of different types of tape measures within a point-of-sale vending device, the tape measures being devoid of any individual theft deterrent mechanism and being inaccessible until a user completes a financial transaction; and

dispensing one or more of said tape measures after completion of the financial transaction.