Diverter arm for retail checkstand and retail checkstands and methods incorporating same

• US 8,783,438 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heb Grocery Company LP (HEB Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Heb Grocery Company LP (HEB Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phan, Nhan Thanh, Marquis, Craig Lewis, Wenzel, Ronald Andrew, May, David Herschel
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US13/691,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20140151187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 198367-368, 198/370.07, 198/457.05, 198/459.6, 198/459.7, 198/496, 186/59, 186/68, 235/383
• US Class Current: 198/367
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2009/041 Accessories for check-out counters, e.g. dividers
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/04 Check-out counters, e.g. for self-service stores
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2811/0657 Deflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/766 Adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A diverter arm of a design that is configured to more effectively direct the movement of items along a retail checkstand, and checkout systems and methods incorporating such a diverter arm, are provided. In one embodiment, the diverter arm comprises an elongated block portion; an upper body portion positioned on top of the block portion substantially along its length, the upper body portion comprising at least a front face; and at least one bristle portion projecting downward from the bottom of the block portion substantially along its length.

Claims

1. A diverter arm comprising:

an elongated block portion;

an upper body portion positioned on top of the block portion substantially along its length, the upper body portion comprising at least a front face comprising a top section that is substantially vertical and a bottom section that is substantially concave toward the bottom of the upper body portion; and

at least one bristle portion projecting downward from the bottom of the block portion substantially along its length.

2. The diverter arm of claim 1 wherein the top section has a height of approximately 1 inch.

3. The diverter arm of claim 1 wherein the front face of the upper body portion is substantially convex toward the center of the upper body portion.

4. The diverter arm of claim 1 having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end of the upper body portion is narrower than the proximal end of the upper body portion.

5. The diverter arm of claim 1 further comprising a caster or ball bearing positioned on a bottom face of the block portion.

6. The diverter arm of claim 5 wherein the caster or ball bearing is at least partially positioned within a cavity formed in the bottom face of the block portion.

7. The diverter arm of claim 1 wherein at least one bristle portion comprises a bristle base attached to the block portion and a downward-projecting bristle attached to the bristle base.

8. A retail checkstand comprising:

a conveyor configured to receive items;

one or more item collection areas proximate to an end of the conveyor;

one or more diverter arms positioned between a portion of the conveyor and one or more of the item collection areas, wherein the diverter arm comprises

an elongated block portion,

an upper body portion positioned on top of the block portion substantially along its length, the upper body portion comprising at least a front face, and

at least one bristle portion projecting downward from the bottom of the block portion substantially along its length.

9. The retail checkstand of claim 8 wherein a proximal end of one or more of the diverter arms is pivotally mounted at the checkstand and each of the one or more diverter arms extends over at least a portion of the conveyor.

10. The retail checkstand of claim 8 wherein the front face of the upper body portion of one or more of the diverter arms comprises

a top section that is substantially vertical;

and

a bottom section that is substantially concave toward the bottom of the upper body portion.

11. The retail checkstand of claim 8 wherein the front face of the upper body portion of one or more of the diverter arms is substantially convex toward the center of the upper body portion.

12. The retail checkstand of claim 8 wherein one or more of the diverter arms comprises a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end of the upper body portion is narrower than the proximal end of the upper body portion.

13. The retail checkstand of claim 8 wherein one or more of the diverter arms further comprises a caster or ball bearing positioned on a bottom face of the block portion.

14. The retail checkstand of claim 8 wherein at least one bristle portion of one or more of the diverter arms comprises a bristle base attached to the block portion and a downward-projecting bristle attached to the bristle base.

15. A method of performing retail checkout comprising:

providing a retail checkstand comprising

a conveyor configured to receive items;

at least first and second item collection areas proximate to an end of the conveyor;

one or more diverter arms positioned between a portion of the conveyor and one or more of the item collection areas, wherein the diverter arm comprises

an elongated block portion,

an upper body portion positioned on top of the block portion substantially along its length, the upper body portion comprising at least a front face, and

at least one bristle portion projecting downward from the bottom of the block portion substantially along its length;

positioning one or more of the diverter arms in a first position in which items are permitted to pass from the conveyor to a first collection area but not to a second collection area; and

positioning one or more of the diverter arms in a second position in which items are permitted to pass from the conveyor to the second collection area but not to the first collection area.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the front face of the upper body portion of one or more of the diverter arms comprises

a top section that is substantially vertical;

and

a bottom section that is substantially concave toward the bottom of the upper body portion.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the front face of the upper body portion of one or more of the diverter arms is substantially convex toward the center of the upper body portion.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein one or more of the diverter arms comprises a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end of the upper body portion is narrower than the proximal end of the upper body portion.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein one or more of the diverter arms further comprises a caster or ball bearing positioned on a bottom face of the block portion.

20. A diverter arm comprising:

an elongated block portion;

an upper body portion positioned on top of the block portion substantially along its length, the upper body portion comprising at least a front face that is substantially convex toward the center of the upper body portion; and

at least one bristle portion projecting downward from the bottom of the block portion substantially along its length.

21. The diverter arm of claim 20 wherein the front face of the upper body portion comprises

a top section that is substantially vertical;

and

a bottom section that is substantially concave toward the bottom of the upper body portion.

22. The diverter arm of claim 21 wherein the top section has a height of approximately 1 inch.

23. The diverter arm of claim 20 having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end of the upper body portion is narrower than the proximal end of the upper body portion.

24. The diverter arm of claim 20 further comprising a caster or ball bearing positioned on a bottom face of the block portion.

25. The diverter arm of claim 24 wherein the caster or ball bearing is at least partially positioned within a cavity formed in the bottom face of the block portion.

26. The diverter arm of claim 20 wherein at least one bristle portion comprises a bristle base attached to the block portion and a downward-projecting bristle attached to the bristle base.