Apparatus and method for providing point of purchase products
First Claim
1. A checkout area in a retail outlet for allowing a consumer to purchase items comprising:
- a scanner to scan items;
a video monitor to display the cost of scanned items;
a packaging area for placing scanned items into a container;
a dispenser for storing and dispensing a point of purchase product, wherein the video monitor displays the cost of the point of purchase product dispensed by the dispenser; and
no point of purchase products are accessible to the consumer in the checkout area except those dispensed by the dispenser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides various apparatuses and methods that allow point of purchase products to be automatically dispensed. In an embodiment, the present invention operates with a self-scanning checkout and enables products to be dispensed with other retail items that a consumer collects and brings to the point of purchase. The product is immediately dispensed and provided to the consumer at the point of purchase. The cost of the dispensed product is added to the cost of the collected and transported retail items. The consumer makes one payment for both the dispensed product and the collected and transported retail items. In another embodiment, the present invention is modular and operates in a quick service restaurant environment. The present invention requires little counter/floor space, adds little to the cost of labor, can be mounted in a variety of locations, dispenses in any direction and integrates with virtually any existing system.
48 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A checkout area in a retail outlet for allowing a consumer to purchase items comprising:
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a scanner to scan items;
a video monitor to display the cost of scanned items;
a packaging area for placing scanned items into a container;
a dispenser for storing and dispensing a point of purchase product, wherein the video monitor displays the cost of the point of purchase product dispensed by the dispenser; and
no point of purchase products are accessible to the consumer in the checkout area except those dispensed by the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automated checkout comprising:
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a surface for allowing a customer to place a plurality of items to be purchased;
a scanner for allowing the customer to accumulate a cost for the items;
a second surface to support a container for receiving items after they are scanned;
a point of purchase device that stores and dispenses a confectionary product into the container upon request of the consumer; and
the cost of the confectionary product is added to the cost of the plurality of items automatically. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A device for use in a retail outlet for allowing a consumer to purchase items that the consumer physically brings to the device and confectionary product that the consumer does not physically bring to the device, without the need for a cashier comprising:
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a body having an interior;
a controller coupled to the body;
a scanning device that communicates with and is coupled to the controller, the scanning device allowing a consumer to scan items that the consumer brings to the device and accumulate a cost for the items;
a confectionary product stored within the interior of the body;
a prompt to encourage a consumer to purchase the confectionary product; and
a dispenser that dispenses the confectionary product from the body upon a request for product by the consumer, wherein a cost for the confectionary product is added to the cost for the items. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A point of purchase device for use in a quick service restaurant comprising:
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a body housing a confectionary product and including a member for coupling the point of purchase device to a cash register in the quick service restaurant;
a prompt for encouraging the purchase of the confectionary product; and
a dispenser that dispenses a confectionary product from the body upon request by the consumer, wherein a cost for the confectionary product is automatically added to the cost for the food items. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A point of purchase device that operates with an automated purchasing device, the point of purchase device allowing a consumer to purchase a consumable product that is not otherwise available to the consumer, accumulating a cost for the items and allowing the consumer to pay for the item, the point of purchase device comprising:
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means for allowing a consumer to purchase items that the consumer transports to the means for allowing a consumer to purchase;
a body housing a consumable product;
a controller coupled to the body; and
a dispenser that dispenses the consumable product from the body upon a signal from the controller, the signal initiated by the consumer, wherein a cost for the consumable product is added to the cost for the items. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that allows a retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items comprising:
a dispenser that dispenses a consumable product from a stock upon a signal from a controller that is coupled to a retail operator controlled device, the signal initiated by the retail operator, wherein a cost for the consumable product is automatically added to the cost of the purchasable items by the controller and wherein the consumable product is not otherwise available at the point of purchase, the dispenser storing the consumable product at the point of purchase. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A device that allows a retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items comprising:
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means for allowing the retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items;
a body housing a stock of confectionary products at a point of purchase location, the stock of confectionary product not accessible to the consumer at the point of purchase location until dispensed from the body;
a controller maintained within the body;
a prompt to encourage a consumer to request from the retail operator a confectionary product; and
a dispenser within the body that dispenses a confectionary product from the stock upon a signal from the controller, the signal initiated by the retail operator, wherein a cost for the product is added to the cost for the purchasable items by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of operating a checkout station comprising:
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allowing a consumer to bring purchasable items to a store operator;
allowing the operator to scan the purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the scanned items;
allowing the consumer to independently purchase a product supplied by a third party by touching a screen coupled to a dispensing device;
dispensing the product from the dispensing device in response to the consumer touching the screen;
automatically adding a cost of the dispensed product to the cost for the scanned items; and
charging the third party a fee for the sale of the product.
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35. A method of operating a checkout station at a retail outlet comprising:
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employing an operator to input purchasable items into a device and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items;
prompting a consumer to purchase a product supplied by a third party from a dispensing device;
automatically dispensing the product from the dispensing device upon the consumer'"'"'s request;
automatically adding a cost of the product to the cost for the purchasable items; and
charging the third party a fee for the sale of the product.
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36. A method for providing a point of purchase product comprising:
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providing a checkout area for the consumer to bring items for purchase;
accumulating a cost associated with the items the consumer wants;
storing in a body a product at the point of purchase;
prompting the consumer that the product is available at the point of purchase;
dispensing the product to the consumer at the point of purchase upon a request by the consumer to purchase the product;
automatically, without the need for any action by a cashier, adding to the cost associated with other items purchased an additional cost for the product; and
charging a supplier of the product a fee based on the sale of the product. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for providing a point of purchase product comprising:
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stocking a plurality of different point of purchase products made by different manufacturers at a checkout area;
automatically prompting the consumer that the point of purchase products are available at the checkout area;
accepting an approval by the consumer to purchase at least one of the point of purchase products;
automatically dispensing the at least one of the products to the consumer at the checkout area; and
automatically adding to the cost of the dispensed product to the cost of any other items that are being purchased. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for providing consumable and non-consumable products at a checkout area of a retail outlet comprising:
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stocking consumable and non-consumable products in a single device at the checkout area;
allowing the consumer to bring items to the checkout area;
allowing the consumer to purchase the items;
prompting a consumer to purchase a consumable product from the single device;
prompting the consumer to purchase a non-consumable product from the single device;
dispensing at least one of the consumable and non-consumable product to the checkout area in response to a request from the consumer;
allowing the consumer to pay for the items, and consumable and non-consumable product dispensed at the checkout area; and
charging the suppliers of the dispensed consumable and non-consumable products a fee. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A method of generating revenue comprising:
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providing a point of purchase device that is coupled to a quick service restaurant cash register, the point of purchase device designed to dispense a product at the point of purchase; and
obtaining a fee paid from a supplier of the product in exchange for allowing the product to be dispensed from the point of purchase device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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Specification