Methods and Apparatus for Merchandising Articles of Clothing

• US 20070095615A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donald Spector
• Original Assignee: Donald Spector
• Inventors: Spector, Donald
• Application Number:
  US11/558,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 186/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B

Abstract

A method and apparatus for retailing articles of clothing are disclosed. An article of clothing is provided with an electronic memory device. The electronic memory device can be an optical disk or a jump drive or the like. The device can also be an RFID tag. It contains information about how to accessorize or match the article of clothing with other articles of clothing. The information includes both general information and specific recommendations as to which additional articles of clothing to buy. Also, a kiosk-type structure can be provided in a retail outlet. The structure includes an input device, a display and memory. An information tag, such as a bar code, is provided on each article of clothing. When the identifier tag is input to the input device, the information concerning the information about how to accessorize the article of clothing with other articles of clothing is displayed on the display. Other information that has been described as being provided on the electronic device can also be stored in the memory in the structure and can be displayed on the display. Additionally, goods other than clothing that can be accessorized can be sold this way.

Claims

1. A retail sales kit that can communicate with a video or audio device, comprising:

an article for sale; and

a device connected to the article for sale, the device having a memory and an interface circuit to the video or audio device.

2. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the article for sale is clothing.

3. The retail sales kit of claim 1, the device further having a processor.

4. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the video or audio device is a personal computer.

5. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the video or audio device is a radio.

6. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the video or audio device is a portable computing device.

7. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit provides an interface to the video or audio device via a serial port.

8. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit provides an interface to the video or audio device via a parallel port.

9. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit provides an interface to the video or audio device via a USB port.

10. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit provides an interface to the video or audio device via a PCI port.

11. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit provides an interface to the video or audio device via a wireless interface.

12. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is a PCMCIA card.

13. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is a Memory Stick.

14. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is a wireless circuit.

15. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the memory stores information relating to the subject matter of the article for sale.

16. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the memory stores an internet address of a site having information relating to the subject matter of the article for sale.

17. The retail sales kit of claim 16, wherein a user of the article is charged for accessing the information relating to the subject matter of the article for sale.

18. The retail sales kit of claim 16, wherein the memory stores a key that allows access to the site.

19. The retail sales kit of claim 1, wherein the device is an RFID tag.

20. The retail sales kit of claim 19, wherein the interface circuit provides a wireless interface to the video or audio device.

21. The retail sales kit of claim 20, wherein the memory stores an identification of the article for sale.

22. The retail sales kit of claim 20 wherein the memory stores an address of an internet site.

23. The retail sales kit of claim 20, wherein the memory stores information related to the article for sale.

24. The retail sales kit of claim 23, wherein the interface circuit transmits the information related to the article to the video or audio device and the video or audio device plays the information.

25. The retail sales kit of claim 23, wherein the memory stores information related to the article for sale.

26. The retail sales kit of claim 23, wherein the video or audio device is programmed to access the internet site and the internet site has information related to the printed publication that can be accessed by the video or audio device.

27. The retail sales kit of claim 11, further comprising means for disabling the wireless interface.

28. The retail sales kit of claim 11, further comprising an on/off switch on the interface circuit.

29. The retail sales kit of claim 1, further comprising a cover that can disable the interface circuit.

30. A retail sales system including an internet site, comprising:

an article for sale;

the article for sale having a code on it;

wherein when the internet site is accessed with the code, information about the article for sale is provided.

31. The retail sales system of claim 30, wherein the code is printed on the article for sale.

32. The retail sales system of claim 30, wherein the code is stored on an electronic device attached to the article for sale.

33. The retail sales system of claim 30, wherein the code identifies the article for sale to the internet site.

34. The retail sales system of claim 30, wherein the code provides access to the internet site.

35. The retail sales system of claim 30, comprising a second code on the article for sale.

36. The retail sales system of claim 35, wherein the code provides access to the internet site and the second code identifies the article for sale to the internet site.

37. The retail sales system of claim 36, wherein the code and the second code is stored on an RFID tag.

38. The retails sales system of claim 37, wherein the second code is an inventory code that is used in an inventory control system.