Automated rain check issue system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for issuing rain checks to customers in a retail store comprising:
- a central processing unit for storing and tracking inventory amounts of items sold in the store that are currently “
on sale”
along with a current sale price of each “
on sale”
item, and said central processing unit being structured and disposed for confirming inventory status of the “
on sale”
items and the current sale price of each “
on sale”
item;
a digital scanner for entering the current “
on sale”
items and the sale price of the “
on sale”
items into the central processing unit for storage therein;
a monitor for displaying information relating to the current “
on sale”
items and identifying each “
on sale”
item in the store and the sale price for each “
on sale”
item; and
a printer for printing a rain check for a customer when an “
on sale”
item desired to be purchased by the customer is not in the store'"'"'s inventory, wherein the rain check identifies the “
on sale”
item, the sale price of the “
on sale”
item, and date of issue of the rain check.
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Abstract
A computer controlled system for issuing “rain checks” to customers in a retail store in order to allow future purchase of retail items at a currently advertised sales price in the event the “on sale” items are currently out of stock. The system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a digital scanner for entering specific sale item information for storage on the CPU unit, a monitor for displaying information stored on the CPU, including a list of items that are currently “on sale” and the current inventory of the “on sale” items in the store, and a printer for printing the “rain check” which identifies the out of stock “on sale” item and the sale price of that item.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A system for issuing rain checks to customers in a retail store comprising:
-
a central processing unit for storing and tracking inventory amounts of items sold in the store that are currently “
on sale”
along with a current sale price of each “
on sale”
item, and said central processing unit being structured and disposed for confirming inventory status of the “
on sale”
items and the current sale price of each “
on sale”
item;a digital scanner for entering the current “
on sale”
items and the sale price of the “
on sale”
items into the central processing unit for storage therein;a monitor for displaying information relating to the current “
on sale”
items and identifying each “
on sale”
item in the store and the sale price for each “
on sale”
item; anda printer for printing a rain check for a customer when an “
on sale”
item desired to be purchased by the customer is not in the store'"'"'s inventory, wherein the rain check identifies the “
on sale”
item, the sale price of the “
on sale”
item, and date of issue of the rain check. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for issuing rain checks to customers in a retail store comprising the steps of:
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entering data relating to all items sold in the store that are “
on sale,”
including the identification of each “
on sale”
item and the sale price of each “
on sale”
item;tracking the store'"'"'s inventory levels of all of the “
on sale”
items;confirming the store'"'"'s inventory status of at least one “
on sale”
item at the request of a customer; andprinting a rain check for the customer after confirming that the at least one “
on sale”
item is no longer in inventory, thereby allowing the customer to return to the store in the future with the printed rain check in order to purchase the “
on sale”
item at the sale price. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeRuth Mullins
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Original AssigneeRuth Mullins
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InventorsMullins, Ruth
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Application NumberUS11/704,620Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current235/383CPC Class CodesG06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network...G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation...
