Automated Vending of Products Containing Controlled Substances
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a sales transaction for a regulated product comprising:
- providing a consumer interface for receiving identification information from a consumer;
prompting the consumer to select a regulated product;
using the identification information and at least one product data derived from the regulated product to determine that the sales transaction complies with an applicable regulation governing the sale of the regulated product; and
delivering the product to the consumer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for devices and methods for vending regulated products, particularly controlled substances, including those containing pseudoephedrine. The present invention allows for the identification of consumers through reliable log-in-procedures, allows the consumer to select items, validates whether the purchase request complies with regulations, to facilitate the delivery of the requested product to a consumer. Other embodiments include a vending machine that is placed into a retail environment in which software enforces validation of the purchasers'"'"' identities, limits the amount of pseudoephedrine for each purchaser within the regulations of local, state and federal agencies.
This invention reduces the resources which must be expended in retail locations to comply with regulatory agencies, to implement effective counter measures against illegal purchases of regulated and controlled substances, and to ensure the effective limitation of these substances within reasonable limits required for normal consumption.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a sales transaction for a regulated product comprising:
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providing a consumer interface for receiving identification information from a consumer; prompting the consumer to select a regulated product; using the identification information and at least one product data derived from the regulated product to determine that the sales transaction complies with an applicable regulation governing the sale of the regulated product; and delivering the product to the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for conducting a sales transaction for a product that is subject to regulations governing its purchase comprising
providing a consumer interface for receiving identification information from a consumer, and for communicating transaction information to the consumer; -
offering the consumer a selection of products; allowing the consumer to select a product; determining whether the sales transaction complies with an applicable regulation governing the sale of the regulated product by using the identification information and at least one product data derived from the regulated product delivering the product to the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A device for vending a regulated product, wherein the regulated product, or a component thereof, is subject to a regulation governing its sale, comprising:
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a housing that allows for the secure storage of regulated products; a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of regulated products; a consumer interface substantially affixed to the housing, which receives identification information from the consumer, and communicates information about a purchase transaction for a regulated product to the consumer; a means for accessing a database containing information about the consumer'"'"'s previous purchases of the product itself, or the regulated component contained within the product, within a designated time period established by the regulation; a vending mechanism for delivering the product to the delivery point; a delivery point for allowing the consumer to retrieve the regulated product after it has been determined that the purchase transaction complies with the regulation. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification