Sundry article vending apparatus

• US 6,401,009 B1
• Filed: 02/16/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzette M. Chandonnet
• Original Assignee: Suzette M. Chandonnet
• Inventors: Chandonnet, Suzette M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US09/250,194
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/4, 221/5, 221/7, 194/217, 700/231, 700/232, 700/241
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/72 Auxiliary equipment, e.g. for lighting cigars, opening bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/20 for washing or drying articles, e.g. clothes, motor cars

Abstract

A sundry article vending apparatus, in structural and functional cooperation with a fully automatic vehicle-related product and/or service providing apparatus, for the on-site storage and vending of sundry articles, wherein the payment for the sundry articles may be accomplished through cash payment to a cash box integrated into the structure of the product and/or service providing apparatus, or through an on-line banking or payment facility, using the keypad, card reader and banking or billing system for the product and/or service providing apparatus. The vehicle-related product/service vending device may be a service station fuel pump, an automated or self-service car wash device,.or a compressed air vending device, among other vehicle-related vending devices.

Claims

1. A sundry article vending apparatus, for the facilitated display and vending of at least one type of sundry article, at the location of a device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to enable a purchaser to complete a purchase transaction of at least one of the sundry articles, at said vehicle-related product/service vending device, wherein the vehicle-related product/service vending device is provided with a payment device including a keypad, an alphanumeric display, a card reader, and a vehicle-related product/service vending control device having suitable connections to an automated billing system, the sundry article vending apparatus comprising:

a storage device, operably and physically integrated with a vehicle-related product/service device housing configured for facilitating delivery of at least one vehicle related fluid or service, and adjacent said housing,

said storage device and said vehicle-related product/service device housing forming a single integrated structure,

the storage device being operably configured to contain a quantity of at least one type of sundry articles different from said at least one vehicle-related fluid or service;

said storage device further including a dispensing mechanism operably configured, upon actuation, for delivering at least one of said sundry articles from the storage device to a dispensing aperture;

a sundry article vending control device, operably connected to the dispensing mechanism, and further operably connectable to a vehicle-related product/service vending control device,

the sundry article vending control device operably connected to a vehicle-related product/service vending control device, to receive order instructions from a purchaser, entered by keystrokes on the payment device keypad of the vehicle-related product/service vending device,

the sundry article vending control device further being operably configured to accept payment for the purchase of at least one sundry article, through the passing of an indicia bearing payment card through the card reader and to actuate the dispensing mechanism in response thereto, through interactive accessing of customer data not contained on the indicia bearing payment card from a source of data at a remote position relative to the indicia bearing payment card;

said sundry article vending control device and said vehicle-related product service vending control device sharing the same payment device integrated therebetween;

a cash box mechanism, operably connected to the sundry article vending control device, for enabling a purchaser to alternatively complete a purchase of at least one sundry article using cash; and

means for inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles.

2. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-related product/service vending device is one selected from the group consisting of a service station fuel pump, a self-service car wash control device, a compressed air dispenser.

3. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cash box mechanism is configured to be operated by one of the group consisting of coins, bills, coins and bills.

4. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of towelettes, air gauges, gloves, tissues, fuel additives.

5. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one type of sundry article comprises a towelette, moistened with at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a deodorizing and/or scenting agent, an antibacterial agent.

6. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of vehicle-related non-fuel goods, non-vehicle-related goods.

7. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles further comprises:

means for displaying on the alphanumeric display an inquiry to the user relating to the at least one sundry article, requiring a response by the user.

8. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to purchase at least one of said sundry articles comprises:

means for prompting the user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to purchase at least one of said sundry articles,

the means for prompting being actuated to present the prompt no earlier than the initiation of the dispensing of the vehicle-related product or service.

9. A combination vehicle-related product/service vending device and integrated sundry article vending apparatus, for the facilitated display and vending of at least one type of sundry articles other than fuel, to enable a purchaser to complete a purchase transaction of at least one of the sundry articles, at the site of the vehicle-related product/service vending device, the combination vehicle-related product/service vending device and integrated sundry article vending apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a device disposed within the housing for providing a vehicle-related product/service configured for facilitating delivery of at least one vehicle related fluid or service;

a payment device including a keypad, an alphanumeric display, a card reader, and a vehicle-related product/service vending control device having suitable connections to an automated billing system;

a storage device, operably and physically integrated with and disposed within the housing in which the device for providing a vehicle-related product/service is disposed, and operably configured to contain a quantity of at least one type of sundry articles different from said at least one vehicle related fluid or service;

said storage device and said vehicle-related product/service device housing forming a single integrated structure,

a sundry article dispensing mechanism operably configured, upon actuation, for delivering at least one of said sundry articles from the storage device to a dispensing aperture;

a sundry article vending control device, operably connected to the sundry article dispensing mechanism, and further operably connected to the vehicle-related product/service vending control device,

the sundry article vending control device being operably configured, to receive order instructions from a purchaser, entered by keystrokes on the payment device keypad of the vehicle-related product/service vending device,

the sundry article vending control device further being operably configured to accept payment for the purchase of at least one sundry article, through the passing of an indicia bearing payment card through the card reader, and to actuate the dispensing mechanism in response thereto, through interactive accessing of customer data not contained on the indicia bearing payment card from a source of data at a remote position relative to the indicia bearing payment card;

said sundry article vending control device and said vehicle-related product service vending control device sharing the same payment device integrated therebetween;

a cash box mechanism, operably connected to the sundry article vending control device, for enabling a purchaser to alternatively complete a purchase of at least one sundry article using cash; and

means for inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles.

10. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of towelettes, air gauges, gloves, tissues, fuel additives.

11. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one type of sundry article comprises a towelette, moistened with at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a deodorizing and/or scenting agent, an antibacterial agent.

12. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of vehicle-related non-fuel goods, non-vehicle-related goods.

13. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle-related product/service vending device is one selected from the group consisting of a service station fuel pump, a self-service car wash control device, a compressed air dispenser.

14. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cash box mechanism is configured to be operated by one of the group consisting of coins, bills, coins and bills.

15. The combination vehicle-related product/service vending device and integrated sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles further comprises:

means for displaying on the alphanumeric display an inquiry to the user relating to the at least one sundry article, requiring a response by the user.

16. The sundry article vending apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to purchase at least one of said sundry articles comprises:

means for prompting the user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to purchase at least one of said sundry articles,

the means for prompting being actuated to present the prompt no earlier than the initiation of the dispensing of the vehicle-related product or service.

17. A method of vending sundry articles from a vehicle-related product/service vending device, comprising the steps of:

providing a sundry article vending apparatus, for the facilitated display and vending of at least one type of sundry articles other than fuel, at a vehicle-related product/service vending device, to enable a purchaser to complete a purchase transaction of at least one of the sundry articles, at the vehicle-related product/service vending device, wherein the vehicle-related product/service vending device is provided with a payment device including a keypad, an alphanumeric display, a card reader, and a vehicle-related product/service vending control device having suitable connections to an automated billing system,

the step of providing a sundry article vending apparatus further comprising the steps of;

providing a storage device, in operable and physical integration with a vehicle-related product/service vending device housing configured for facilitating delivery of at least one vehicle related fluid or service and adjacent said housing, said storage device and said vehicle-related product/service device housing forming a single integrated structure,

operably configuring the storage device to contain a quantity of at least one type of sundry articles different from said at least one vehicle-related fluid or service;

including in the storage device a dispensing mechanism operably configured to, upon actuation, deliver at least one of said sundry articles from the storage device to a dispensing aperture;

providing and operably connecting a sundry article vending control device to the dispensing mechanism, and further operably connecting the sundry article vending control device to a vehicle-related product/service vending control device,

operably configuring the sundry article vending control device, upon connection to a vehicle-related product/service vending control device, to receive order instructions from a purchaser, entered by keystrokes on the payment device keypad of the vehicle-related product/service vending device,

further operably configuring the sundry article vending control device, upon connection to a vehicle-related product/service vending control device, to accept payment for the purchase of at least one sundry article, through the passing of an indicia bearing payment card through the card reader and to actuate the dispensing mechanism in response thereto, through interactive accessing of customer data not contained on the indicia bearing payment card from a source of data at a remote position relative to the indicia bearing payment card;

said sundry article vending control device and said vehicle-related product service vending control device sharing the same payment device integrated therebetween;

providing and operably connecting a cash box mechanism, to the sundry article vending control device, for enabling a purchaser to alternatively complete a purchase of at least one sundry article using cash; and

inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles.

18. The method of vending according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle-related product/service vending device is one selected from the group consisting of a service station fuel pump, a self-service car wash control device, a compressed air dispenser.

19. The method of vending according to claim 17, wherein the cash box mechanism is configured to be operated by one of the group consisting of coins, bills, coins and bills.

20. The method of vending according to claim 17, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of towelettes, air gauges, gloves, tissues, fuel additives.

21. The method of vending according to claim 17, wherein the at least one type of sundry article comprises a towelette, moistened with at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a deodorizing and/or scenting agent, an antibacterial agent.

22. The method of vending according to claim 17, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of vehicle-related non-fuel goods, non-vehicle-related goods.

23. The method of vending sundry articles from a vehicle-related product/service vending device according to claim 17, wherein the step of inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles further comprises the step of:

displaying on the alphanumeric display an inquiry to the user relating to the at least one sundry article, requiring a response by the user.

24. The method of vending sundry articles from a vehicle-related product/service vending device according to claim 17, wherein the step of inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles, further comprises the step of:

prompting the user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to purchase at least one of said sundry articles,

the prompting being actuated to present the prompt no earlier than the initiation of the dispensing of the vehicle-related product or service.

25. A method for vending sundry articles from a combination vehicle-related product/service vending device and integrated sundry article vending apparatus, for the facilitated display and vending of at least one type of sundry articles other than fuel, to enable a purchaser to complete a purchase transaction of at least one of the sundry articles, at the vehicle-related product/service vending device, the method of vending sundry articles from a combination vehicle-related product/service vending device and integrated sundry article vending apparatus comprising the steps of:

providing a housing;

disposing a vehicle-related product/service vending mechanism within the housing configured for facilitating delivery of at least one vehicle related fluid;

disposing a payment device including a keypad, an alphanumeric display, a card reader, and a vehicle-related product/service vending control device having suitable connections to an automated billing system, within the housing;

disposing a storage device in operable and physical integration with the housing in which the device for providing a vehicle-related product/service is disposed, and operably configuring the storage device to contain a quantity of at least one type of sundry articles different from said at least one vehicle related fluid or service, said storage device and said vehicle-related product/service device housing forming a single integrated structure;

operably configuring a sundry article dispensing mechanism to, upon actuation, deliver at least one of said sundry articles from the storage device to a dispensing aperture;

operably connecting a sundry article vending control device to the sundry article dispensing mechanism, and further operably connecting the sundry article vending control device to the vehicle-related product/service vending control device,

operably configuring the sundry article vending control device to receive order instructions from a purchaser, entered by keystrokes on the keypad of the vehicle-related product/service vending device,

further operably configuring the sundry article vending control device to accept payment for the purchase of at least one sundry article, through the passing of an indicia bearing payment card through the card reader, and to actuate the dispensing mechanism in response thereto, through interactive accessing of customer data not contained on the indicia bearing payment card from a source of data at a remote position relative to the indicia bearing payment card;

said sundry article vending control device and said vehicle-related product service vending control device sharing the same payment device integrated therebetween;

operably connecting a cash box mechanism to the sundry article vending control device, for enabling a purchaser to alternatively complete a purchase of at least one sundry article using cash; and

inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles.

26. The method of vending according to claim 25, wherein the vehicle-related product/service vending device is one selected from the group consisting of a service station fuel pump, a self-service car wash control device, a compressed air dispenser.

27. The method of vending according to claim 25, wherein the cash box mechanism is configured to be operated by one of the group consisting of coins, bills, coins and bills.

28. The method of vending according to claim 25, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of towelettes, air gauges, gloves, tissues, fuel additives.

29. The method of vending according to claim 25, wherein the at least one type of sundry article comprises a towelette, moistened with at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a deodorizing and/or scenting agent, an antibacterial agent.

30. The method of vending according to claim 25, wherein the at least one type of sundry article is selected from the group consisting of vehicle-related non-fuel goods, non-vehicle-related goods.

31. The method for vending sundry articles from a combination vehicle-related product/service vending device and integrated sundry article vending apparatus, according to claim 25, wherein the step of inquiring of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles further comprises the step of:

displaying on the alphanumeric display an inquiry to the user relating to the at least one sundry article, requiring a response by the user.

32. The method of vending sundry articles from a vehicle-related product/service vending device according to claim 25, wherein the step of inquiring of a user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, whether the user wishes to purchase at least one of said sundry articles, further comprises the step of:

prompting the user of the device for the vending of a vehicle-related product and/or service, to purchase at least one of said sundry articles,

the prompting being actuated to present the prompt no earlier than the initiation of the dispensing of the vehicle-related product or service.