Point of purchase dispensing device with container and method of using same

• US 20050167489A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chibe, Paul, Barton, Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US10/930,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20050167489A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/02 Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/06 with provision for the noting of the money to be paid
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a point of purchase dispensing device and a method of using the same. The point of purchase dispensing device includes a housing adapted to receive a container. A container containing a stock of a point of purchase product may be placed within the housing. The device further includes a dispenser for dispensing the product from the container. The housing may be adapted to receive a plurality a containers, each container containing a stock of a different point of purchase product. The dispenser may be adapted to dispense product from each of the plurality of containers.

Claims

1. A point of purchase dispensing device comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a container;

a container containing a stock of a point of purchase product; and

a dispenser for dispensing the point of purchase product from container.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the container is reusable.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the container is disposable.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a support member for supporting the container in the housing.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises an engaging member and the housing further comprises a receiving member, the engaging member cooperatively engaging the receiving member to permit dispensing of the point of purchase product from the dispenser.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises an engaging member and the dispenser further comprises a receiving member, the engaging member cooperatively engaging the receiving member to permit dispensing of the point of purchase product from the dispenser.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a counting device in operative communication with the dispenser for counting the number of point of purchase products dispensed from the dispenser.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a weight detector for detecting the weight of the container.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the weight detector generates an indicia when the weight of the container is less than a threshold value.

10. A device for dispensing a point of purchase product comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a plurality of containers;

a plurality of containers, each container containing a stock of a point of purchase product; and

a dispenser for dispensing the point of purchase product from container.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the plurality of containers are modular.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein at least two of the modular containers have a different size.

13. The device of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of support members, each support member adapted to support a corresponding container.

14. A method of dispensing a point of purchase product comprising:

providing a point of purchase dispensing device having a dispensing device and a housing adapted to receive a container containing a stock of point of purchase product;

placing a container containing a stock of a point of purchase product in the housing; and

dispensing the point of purchase product from the container.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the dispensing is in response to a user selection of the point of purchase product.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the container has an engaging member and the housing has a receiving member, the method further comprising cooperatively engaging the engaging member with the receiving member to permit the dispensing.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the housing is adapted to receive a plurality of containers, the method further comprising placing a plurality of containers in the housing.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising replacing an empty container with a container containing a stock of the point of purchase product.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining the number of products dispensed from each container.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising weighing the container received in the housing.

21. A checkout device 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; and

a dispenser for storing and dispensing a point of purchase product, the dispenser including a removable container housing point of purchase product wherein the video monitor displays the cost of the product dispensed by the dispenser.

22. The checkout device of claim 21, wherein the dispenser dispenses the product into the container.

23. The checkout device of claim 21, wherein the dispenser dispenses the product adjacent to the scanner.

24. The checkout device of claim 21, wherein the dispenser dispenses the product adjacent to a device selected from the group consisting of:

the video monitor, a change maker that makes change from payments for items and products purchased and a receipt printer that provides a receipt for items and products purchased.

25. An automated checkout device comprising:

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 including a removable container that stores and dispenses a confectionary product upon request of the consumer; and

the cost of the confectionary product is added to the cost of the plurality of items automatically.

26. A device allowing a consumer to purchase point of purchase product comprising:

a body having an interior;

a container that can be removably received within the body and includes point of purchase product;

a controller coupled to the body;

a scanning device that communicates with and is coupled to the controller, the scanning device allowing one to scan purchasable items that the consumer brings to the device and accumulate a cost for the items;

a prompt to encourage a consumer to purchase the point of purchase 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.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the controller is integral with the body.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the controller is coupled to the body by a mode selected from the group consisting of:

electrical coupling, optical coupling and coupling via a radio frequency signal.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the scanning device is coupled to the controller by a mode selected from the group consisting of:

electrical coupling, optical coupling and coupling via a radio frequency signal.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the dispenser dispenses the product in a direction selected from the group consisting of:

vertically upward, vertically downward and laterally.

31. The device of claim 26, wherein the scanning device is integral with the controller.

32. The purchasing device of claim 26, which includes a display that prompts the consumer to purchase the product.

33. A method for providing point of purchase products to a retail outlet comprising the step of placing the point of purchase products in a container that is designed to be received by a point of purchase device.

34. A method for funding the placement of a point of purchase device comprising the step of charging a supplier of point of purchase product based on a number of containers housing point of purchase product placed in the point of purchase device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the supplier provides the container.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the owner of the point of purchase device provides the container.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the owner of the point of purchase device receives a fee.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the licensor of the point of purchase device receives a fee.