Minibar

• US 20080234859A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oppie Design AS
• Original Assignee: Oppie Design AS
• Inventors: Opheim, Styrk
• Application Number:
  US12/154,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A device for a mini bar is described that can be operated by a customer to remove goods with the removal being registered by the mini bar operator simultaneously, and possibly invoiced, and is characterized in that the mini bar is a product unit vending machine, that the product unit vending machine comprises a control system with which restrictions for delivery of product units from the vending machine can be regulated.

Claims

1. A system for delivering product units to a customer, said system comprising:

a control central; and

a vending machine located remotely from said control central, said vending machine comprising a control unit configured to control conditions for delivering the product units from said vending machine and configured to register information about the content of the product units in said vending machine;

wherein a withdrawal of the product units from said vending machine is dependent upon a member card being read by a card reader in said vending machine;

wherein registered information indicative of said withdrawal of the product units from said vending machine is employed to implement immediate invoicing in respect of withdrawn product units;

wherein selective access to said withdrawn product units from said vending machine is dependent on additional information associated with said registered information being sent to said control unit, said additional information including at least one of customer information, time, and location; and

wherein said card reader reads at least one of a magnetic card and another storing body and is used in combination with a code that can be keyed into a feed unit to activate said vending machine.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control central is configured to continuously register said withdrawn product units and wherein said withdrawn product units are debited to the customer by said control central immediately after the purchase.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is programmed via said control central to regulate the product units delivered from said vending machine and to regulate blockage of the product units.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control central is operable to rebate the customer for some or all the products units in said vending machine.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said conditions for delivering the product units include restrictions of at least one of age limits and time related restrictions.

6. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a display coupled to said vending machine, said display configured to show selection possibilities and information.

7. A system for delivering product units from a lobby vending machine to a customer, said system comprising:

a control central; and

a vending machine located remote from said control central, said vending machine comprising a control unit configured to control conditions for delivery of the product units from said vending machine;

wherein said control unit controls conditions for delivery, said conditions for delivery include determining which of the product units can be delivered from said vending machine to the customer, and which of the product units are prevented from being delivered depending upon registered information;

wherein a withdrawal of the product units from said vending machine is dependent upon a room key being read by a card reader in said vending machine;

wherein said registered information of withdrawn product units from said vending machine is employed to implement immediate invoicing in respect of said withdrawn product units;

wherein selective access to said withdrawn product units from said vending machine is dependent on additional information associated with said registered information being transmitted to said control unit, said additional information including at least one of customer information, time, and location; and

wherein said card reader reads at least one of a magnetic card and another storing body and is used in combination with a code that can be keyed into a feed unit to activate said vending machine.

8. A method of delivering a product unit to a customer, said method comprising:

providing a control central and a vending machine located remotely from said control central, said vending machine comprising a control unit configured to control conditions for delivery of the product units from said vending machine and configured to register information about product content in said vending machine, said method comprising;

reading a member card deposited in a card reader in said vending machine;

withdrawing a product unit from said vending machine; and

implementing immediate invoicing from registered information indicative of the product units withdrawn from said vending machine;

wherein selective access to the product units withdrawn from said vending machine is dependent on additional information associated with said register information being sent to said control unit, said additional information including at least one of customer information, time, and location; and

wherein said card reader reads at least one of a magnetic card and another storing body and is used in combination with a code that can be keyed into a feed unit to activate said vending machine.