Self service sales and security system

• US 6,198,391 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dean R. Devolpi
• Original Assignee: Dean R. Devolpi
• Inventors: DeVolpi, Dean R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/169,831
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.2, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 705/22, 705/28, 235/385, 235/381, 221/2, 221/4, 221/5, 194/205, 194/906
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18

Abstract

A self service sales and security system for use in the retail sales environment including a means for identifying the presence, removal, and addition of each item of inventory on a merchandise rack and correlating the removal or addition of each item of inventory to an identifiable customer so that the customers can be automatically billed or charged for the items of inventory that the customer removes, and a report of which items need to be ordered to replenish inventory can be automatically prepared. The self service sales and security system includes customer records which may include credit information to selectively allow customers to remove only such items of inventory as their credit information allows; and an alarm is included to indicate tampering or the unauthorized removal of any item of inventory.

Claims

1. A self service sales and security system comprising:

a rack having a number of locations to support specific items of inventory;

a system controller;

signaling means for communicating the presence and location of each item of inventory, the signaling means comprising a length of electrically conductive material that is attached to the item of inventory at each location of the rack with each end of the length of electrically conductive material terminating on a separate contact of a connector, said connector being adapted to detachably attach to the rack;

a pair of electrical contacts at each location of the rack communicate with the system controller, and are arranged so that contact is established between each contact of the connector and a corresponding contact of the rack when the connector is attached to the rack, thereby establishing a closed circuit when the connector is attached to the rack, which is used to indicate the presence of the item of inventory at the location on the rack;

an individual identity input means for providing customer identification; and

data memory means;

the system controller monitors the signaling means for each item of inventory, monitors the individual identity input means, and communicates with the data memory means, for comparing changes in the presence and location of each item of inventory and records changes in the presence and location of each item of inventory with a corresponding customer identification.

2. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 1 in which the individual identity input means for providing customer identification comprises a card with unique data recorded thereon for identifying a customer, and a card reader able to communicate with the system controller, capable of receiving the card and perceiving the data recorded on the card.

3. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 1 in which the individual identity input means for providing customer identification comprises a tactile input device with two or more selectable input values able to communicate with the system controller, whereby selection of a unique series of input values would provide customer identification.

4. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 1 further comprising locking means for selectively releasing an item of inventory at a location, from the rack, in response to a signal from the system controller.

5. A self service sales and security system according to claim 1 further comprising an alarm capable of detecting an alarm signal of the system controller for indicating an unauthorized change in the presence and location of an item of inventory.

6. A self service sales and security system comprising:

a rack having a number of locations to support specific items of inventory;

a system controller;

signaling means for communicating the presence and location of each item of inventory, the signaling means comprising a semi conductor circuit that is attached to the item of inventory at each location of the rack, having two or more electrical contacts extending therefrom which are electrically connected to a set of contacts of a connector, said connector being adapted to detachably attach to the rack;

a set of two or more electrical contacts at each location of the rack communicate with the system controller, and are arranged so that contact is established between each contact of the connector and a corresponding contact of the rack when the connector is attached to the rack, thereby establishing electrical communication between the semi conductor circuit and the system controller when the connector is attached to the rack indicating the presence of the item of inventory;

an individual identity input means for providing customer identification; and

data memory means;

the system controller monitors the signaling means for each item of inventory, monitors the individual identity input means, and communicates with the data memory means, for comparing changes in the presence and location of each item of inventory and records changes in the presence and location of each item of inventory with a corresponding customer identification.

7. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 6 in which the semi conductor circuit is programmed with data to identify the item of inventory to which it is attached.

8. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 6 in which the semi conductor circuit comprises a microchip.

9. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 8 in which the microchip is programmed with data to identify the item of inventory to which it is attached.

10. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 8 in which the individual identity input means for providing customer identification comprises a card with unique data recorded thereon for identifying a customer, and a card reader able to communicate with the system controller, capable of receiving the card and perceiving the data recorded on the card.

11. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 8 further comprising locking means for selectively releasing an item of inventory at a location, from the rack, in response to a signal from the system controller.

12. A self service sales and security system according to claim 8 further comprising an alarm capable of detecting an alarm signal of the system controller for indicating an unauthorized change in the presence and location of an item of inventory.

13. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 8 in which the individual identity input means for providing customer identification comprises a tactile input device with two or more selectable input values able to communicate with the system controller, whereby selection of a unique series of input values would provide customer identification.

14. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 6 in which the individual identity input means for providing customer identification comprises a card with unique data recorded thereon for identifying a customer, and a card reader able to communicate with the system controller, capable of receiving the card and perceiving the data recorded on the card.

15. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 6 further comprising locking means for selectively releasing an item of inventory at a location, from the rack, in response to a signal from the system controller.

16. A self service sales and security system according to claim 6 further comprising an alarm capable of detecting an alarm signal of the system controller for indicating an unauthorized change in the presence and location of an item of inventory.

17. A self service sales and security system as defined in claim 6 in which the individual identity input means for providing customer identification comprises a tactile input device with two or more selectable input values able to communicate with the system controller, whereby selection of a unique series of input values would provide customer identification.