Battery tester with promotion feature

• US 20080204030A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interstate Battery Systems International Incorporated (Interstate Battery System of America, Inc.), Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Troy, Michael E., Brown, Dennis V., Bertness, Kevin I., Sampson, William G., McShane, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,791,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

Battery maintenance equipment is provided for use in maintaining storage batteries. The battery maintenance equipment includes battery maintenance circuitry. A redemption code output is provided and configured to provide an output having a redeemable value in response to the battery maintenance circuitry. A method includes outputting a redemption code in response to usage of battery maintenance equipment.

Claims

1. Battery maintenance equipment for use with storage batteries, comprising:

battery maintenance circuitry; and

a redemption code output configured to provide an output having a redeemable value in response to the battery maintenance circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output comprises a printed output.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the printed output comprises a coupon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output is a function of a number of tests.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output is a function of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output is transmitted over a network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output is a wireless output.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is based upon the number of times the battery maintenance circuitry is utilized.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is based upon a period of time.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code includes information related to a serial number of the maintenance equipment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code includes information related to a location of the maintenance equipment.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code includes information related to the date.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code identifies an operator.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is for use in a lottery.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is displayed on the battery maintenance equipment.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output comprises a bar code.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 including a memory configured to store a plurality of redemption codes.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry comprises battery test circuitry.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry comprises battery charger circuitry.

20. A method of encouraging use of battery maintenance equipment, comprising:

verifying use of the battery maintenance equipment;

generating a redemption code in response to verifying usage of the battery maintenance equipment; and

outputting the redemption code.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein outputting comprises printing the redemption code output.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the printed output comprises a coupon.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the outputting is a function of a number of tests.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the outputting is a function of time.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the outputting comprises transmitting over a network.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the outputting is provided wirelessly.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code is based upon the number of times the battery maintenance circuitry is utilized.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code is based upon a period of time.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code includes information related to serial number of the maintenance equipment.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code includes information related to the location of the test equipment.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code includes information related to the date.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code identifies an operator.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code is for use in a lottery.

34. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code is displayed on the battery maintenance equipment.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein the redemption code output comprises a bar code.

36. The method of claim 20 including storing a plurality of redemption codes in a memory.

37. The method of claim 20 wherein the battery maintenance equipment comprises battery test circuitry.

38. The method of claim 20 wherein the battery maintenance equipment comprises battery charger circuitry.

39. The method of claim 20 including storing the redemption code in a centralized database.