INVENTORY RACK WITH MEASURING MEANS

• US 20090319399A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frank V. Resta, Paul Bamburak
• Original Assignee: Frank V. Resta, Paul Bamburak
• Inventors: Resta, Frank V., Bamburak, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/306,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An inventory rack comprising a measuring means for inventory control. Also, methods of inventory control and theft deterrence with use of the inventory rack.

Claims

1. An inventory rack for storage and display of items comprising measuring means for determining the number of items in the inventory rack.

2. The inventory rack of claim 1 wherein the measuring means comprises a light source and a sensor.

3. The inventory rack of claim 1 wherein the measuring means comprises an infrared light source, a reflective photo sensor, an infrared sensitive switch and a microcontroller.

4. The inventory rack of claim 1 further comprising one or more spring loaded pushers having a spring wherein the measuring means comprises metal contacts mounted to the one or more spring loaded pushers, magnetic proximity sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, a line resistive element comprising a wiper mounted to the one or more spring loaded pushers or measurement of a change in the electrical resistance of the spring.

5. A method of inventory control comprising the steps of providing the inventory rack of claim 1, inserting and removing items from the inventory rack and at a given time determining the number of items in one or more storage compartments of the inventory rack with the measuring means.