Coded merchandising coupon

• US 3,959,624 A
• Filed: 12/13/1974
• Issued: 05/25/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter Kaslow
• Original Assignee: Walter Kaslow
• Inventors: Kaslow, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilgore, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US05/532,586
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.11 R, 235/61.11 D, 235/61.11 E, 235/61.7 B, 235/61.12 N, 235/61.12 R, 250/568, 250/569, 250/570, 340/149 A, 194/4
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/145 PLU-management

Abstract

A redeemable merchandising coupon entitling its holder to a specified discount on a particular consumer item, the coupon having printed thereon not only the name of the item and the amount to be taken off the purchase price, but also code indicia. The code indicia has a first component which matches the universal product code (UPC) assigned to an item in question and a second component indicative of the fact that this item is subject to discount. When the holder purchases a group of items in a supermarket and the UPC indicia on these items are scanned at a check-out lane by a UPC system so that the terminal of the system may determine the names and prices of the group of items purchased and provide a receipt listing these items and the total to be paid, the same scanner thereafter serves to scan the two components on the coupon presented at the check-out lane. If the first component matches any one of the UPC indicia in the group of items previously scanned, the second component is then recognized and the terminal accords to the purchaser the specified discount which is taken into account in the total to be paid.

Claims

1. In a supermarket system adapted to check-out consumer items, each bearing a distinctive symbol based on the universal product code, the combination comprising:

A a merchandise coupon entitling the holder thereof to a specified discount on one of said items, said coupon having printed thereon a symbol corresponding to the symbol appearing on said one item;

B an optical scanning unit to scan the symbols on said items and on said coupon to produce signal representative thereof, and

C a terminal responsive to signals derived from scanning a group of said items selected by the holder and including means to retrieve the name and price of each item in the group of selected items and to produce an output record in which these items and their prices are identified, said computer further including a memory to store the signals derived from the symbols borne by the items in said group, said terminal being thereafter responsive to a signal derived from scanning said coupon and having means to compare the coupon signal with the stored signal to accord to said holder on said record the benefit of said specified discount only if the coupon signal matches one of the stored signals in the group of items.

2. In a system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupon further has printed thereon a second symbol indicative of the fact that it is a merchandise coupon.

3. In a system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said terminal includes means responsive to a signal derived from scanning said second symbol to accord to the holder said discount only if said match exists.

4. The method of redeeming merchandise coupons having specified discounts and avoiding misredemption thereof, said method comprising the steps of scanning a group of items bearing universal product code symbols to produce signals for operating a supermarket terminal adapted to retrieve the prices of these items and to produce a read-out totaling the items purchased;

storing the signals derived from the scanned items; and

scanning a coupon bearing a universal product code symbol to produce a signal representing the coupon and comparing the coupon signal with each of the stored item signals to determine whether a match exists with one of the item signals, and deducting the discount specified on the coupon from said total if said scanning symbol matches that borne by one of the items in said group.