COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE RACK WITH INTEGRAL RFID TAG SCANNER

• US 20140167919A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interstate Battery Systems International Incorporated (Interstate Battery System of America, Inc.), Seeonic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Interstate Battery Systems International Incorporated (Interstate Battery System of America, Inc.), Seeonic, Inc.
• Inventors: Singh, Nicholas, Hellen, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US14/040,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20140167919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 43/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling folding of the cabinet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/005 using RFID elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/10 Adjustable or foldable or dismountable display stands foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/046 RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00

Abstract

A collapsible storage rack includes an integral RFID tag scanner configured to read RFID tags of products stored thereon. The storage rack is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration.

Claims

1. A collapsible storage rack comprising:

one or more shelves including one or more antennas configured to communicate with RFID tags;

a frame structure including support panels and a back panel, wherein the one or more shelves are pivotally connected to the back panel, and wherein the support panels are configured to support the one or more shelves in the expanded configuration ;

a control unit including RFID tag scanning circuitry configured to send and receive RF signals using the antennas;

wherein the collapsible storage rack is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration.

2. A method of expanding a collapsible storage rack, the method comprising:

rotating shelves coupled to the back panel from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by rotating the shelves about pivot joints between the shelves and the back panel, wherein at least some of the shelves include one or more antennas therein;

engaging the shelves with support panels to support the shelves in the expanded configuration; and

activating a control unit containing RFID tag scanning electronics configured to send and receive RF signals using the antennas.