APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POINT OF PURCHASE PRODUCTS
First Claim
1. A self-scanning checkout providing point of purchase products comprising:
- a scanner to scan items selected by a consumer;
a video monitor to display the cost of items scanned by the consumer;
a packaging area for placing items scanned by the consumer into a container; and
a dispenser for storing and dispensing a point of purchase product, the dispenser located at least in juxtaposition to the scanner and thereby storing point of purchase product in juxtaposition to the scanner, and wherein the video monitor displays the cost of the product dispensed by the dispenser.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
105 Claims
-
1. A self-scanning checkout providing point of purchase products comprising:
-
a scanner to scan items selected by a consumer;
a video monitor to display the cost of items scanned by the consumer;
a packaging area for placing items scanned by the consumer into a container; and
a dispenser for storing and dispensing a point of purchase product, the dispenser located at least in juxtaposition to the scanner and thereby storing point of purchase product in juxtaposition to the scanner, and wherein the video monitor displays the cost of the product dispensed by the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 102)
-
-
5. 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 the items after they are scanned;
a point of purchase device that dispenses a point of purchase product onto the second surface upon request of the consumer; and
the cost of the point of purchase product is added to the cost of the plurality of items automatically. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A device allowing a consumer to purchase product without the need for a cashier comprising:
-
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 purchasable items that the consumer brings to the device and accumulate a cost for the items;
a product maintained within the interior of the body; and
the body including a dispenser that dispenses the product from the body upon a request for product by the consumer, wherein a cost for the product is added to the cost for the items. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17)
-
-
15. (canceled)
-
18. A point of purchase device that operates with an automated purchasing device having a controller that allows a consumer to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the items, the point of purchase device comprising:
-
a body housing a product and including a member for coupling the point of purchase device to the automated purchasing device; and
a dispenser that dispenses the product from the body upon request by the consumer, wherein a cost for the product is added to the cost for the items. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A point of purchase device that operates with an automated purchasing device that allows a consumer to purchase items without the need for a cashier, accumulating a cost for the items and allowing the consumer to pay for a product, the point of purchase device comprising:
-
a body housing the product;
a controller coupled to the body; and
a dispenser that dispenses the product from the body upon a signal from the controller, the signal initiated by the consumer, wherein a cost for the product is added to the cost for the items. - View Dependent Claims (24, 103)
-
-
25. (canceled)
-
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 product from a stock upon a signal from a controller that is coupled to the retail operator controlled device, the signal initiated by the retail operator, wherein a cost for the product is automatically added to the cost of the purchasable items by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 104)
-
30. A point of purchase device that operates with an automated purchasing device that allows a retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items, the point of purchase device comprising:
-
a body housing a stock of product;
a controller maintained within the body; and
a dispenser within the body that dispenses a product from the stock upon a signal from the controller, the signal initiated by the retail operator, wherein a cost for the product is automatically added to the cost for the purchasable items by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 105)
-
-
34-43. -43. (canceled)
-
44. A method of operating an automated checkout comprising:
-
allowing a consumer to bring purchasable items to an automated checkout device;
allowing the consumer to scan the purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the scanned items on a display;
allowing the consumer to select a product from a dispensing device located in juxtaposition to the automated checkout;
automatically dispensing the product from the dispensing device in response to the consumer'"'"'s selection; and
automatically adding a cost of the product to the cost for the scanned items on the display. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A method of operating a checkout station comprising:
-
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 by touching a screen coupled to a dispensing device;
dispensing the product from the dispensing device in response to the consumer touching the screen; and
automatically adding a cost of the dispensed product to the cost for the scanned items.
-
-
49. A method of operating a checkout station comprising:
-
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 from a dispensing device;
automatically dispensing the product from the dispensing device upon the consumer'"'"'s request; and
automatically adding a cost of the product to the cost for the purchasable items.
-
-
50. A method for providing a point of purchase product without the need for a cashier comprising:
-
providing a checkout area for the consumer to bring items for purchase;
accumulating a cost associated with the items the consumer wants;
providing a product at the point of purchase;
prompting the consumer that other 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; and
automatically, without need for a cashier, adding to the cost associated with other items purchased any additional cost for the product. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
-
-
56. A method for providing different products at a point of purchase comprising:
-
stocking a plurality of different products at the point of purchase;
automatically prompting the consumer that the products are available at the point of purchase;
automatically accepting an approval by the consumer to purchase at least one of the products;
automatically dispensing the at least one the product to the consumer at the point of purchase; and
automatically adding to the cost of the product to the cost of any other items that are being purchased. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
-
-
60. A method for providing consumable and non-consumable products at the same location comprising:
-
stocking consumable and non-consumable products in a single device;
allowing a consumer to purchase a consumable product from the single device without the need for a cashier;
allowing the consumer to purchase a non-consumable product from the single device without the need for a cashier;
dispensing the consumable and non-consumable product to the consumer at the same location in the device; and
allowing the consumer to pay for the consumable and non-consumable product without the need for money. - View Dependent Claims (61)
-
-
62. A method of generating revenue comprising:
-
providing a point of purchase device that is coupled to the retail purchasing device, 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 (63, 64)
-
-
65. A method for purchasing items comprising the steps of:
-
transporting a plurality of items to a checkout station;
using a device that identifies costs for the items to create a purchase price for the plurality of items;
prompting a consumer to purchase a point of purchase product;
dispensing from a dispenser the point of purchase product; and
automatically, without the need for a human operator, adding the cost of the point of purchase product to the purchase price. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
-
-
69-75. -75. (canceled)
-
76. A method for dispensing a point of purchase product comprising the steps of:
-
providing a purchasable item and a point of purchase product for sale to a retail customer;
inputting a customer selection for the point of purchase product to a retail customer terminal proximate a point of purchase location for the purchasable item, the retail customer terminal adapted to process the customer selection for the point of purchase product and a customer selection for the purchasable item;
processing the customer selection for the point of purchase product for electrical communication with a point of purchase dispenser proximate the point of purchase location for the purchasable item; and
dispensing the point of purchase product to the customer from the point of purchase dispenser responsive to the electrical communication.
-
-
77-85. -85. (canceled)
-
86. A point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that inputs purchasable items and accumulates a cost for the purchasable items comprising:
-
a dispenser that dispenses a product, wherein a cost for the product is automatically added to the cost of the purchasable items; and
a display that shows an advertisement for the product, the advertisement being selected at a remote location and communication to the point of purchase device. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89)
-
-
90-93. -93. (canceled)
-
94. A point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that inputs purchasable items and accumulates a cost for the purchasable items comprising:
-
a dispenser that dispenses a product, wherein a cost for the product is automatically added to the cost of the purchasable items; and
a smart prompt provided to a consumer based on at least one purchasable item that the consumer has selected to purchase.
-
-
95. A point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that inputs purchasable items and accumulates a cost for the purchasable items comprising:
-
a dispenser that dispenses a product, wherein a cost for the product is automatically added to the cost of the purchasable items; and
a smart prompt provided to a consumer based on a profile of the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97)
-
-
98. A method for operating a point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that inputs purchasable items and accumulates a cost for the items comprising:
-
using the point of purchase device to independently track inventory data for a product dispensed by the point of purchase device; and
communicating the level to a supplier of the product at a location remote from the purchasable item input device. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100)
-
-
101. A method for operating a point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that inputs purchasable items and accumulates a cost for the items comprising:
-
obtaining a profile for a consumer who has selected an item for purchase; and
providing a prompt to the consumer to purchase a product contained in the point of purchase device, wherein the prompt is based on the user profile.
-
Specification