Secure cabinet for dispensing items

• US 9,171,415 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peacock Law, P.C.
• Original Assignee: Peacock Myers PC
• Inventors: Adams, Patrick, Bell, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/589,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/237
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/04 with counting or registering devices time recording locks G07C1/32
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/06 having provision for multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/08 secured individually
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/10 with alarm, signal or indicator E05G1/14 takes precedence; burglar, theft or intruder alarm per se G08B13/00; fire or explosion alarm per se G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/124 using tapes, cards or discs with optically sensed marks or codes G05B19/128, G05B19/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10762 Relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present invention is a kiosk that can regulate, control and distributing authorized products. The kiosk has a user interface that receives information about a user and authenticates the user'"'"'s identity. The kiosk can accept a user'"'"'s request to purchase a regulated product. The kiosk can then a regulator the user'"'"'s request for approval and deliver the product to the user.

Claims

1. A method of regulating, controlling and distributing products comprising:

providing a kiosk having a user interface for receiving identification information from a user;

authenticating the user'"'"'s identification information;

prompting the user to request access to a regulated product;

sending the user'"'"'s request to a doctor who prescribed the regulated product;

receiving input from the doctor regarding the user'"'"'s access to the regulated product;

the kiosk directing communications between the user and the doctor;

using authentication information and the doctor'"'"'s input to determine the amount of the regulated product the user can purchase;

delivering the appropriate quantity of the regulated product to the user; and

updating an inventory record of the regulated product.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an electronic application for requesting permission from the doctor for access to the regulated product.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications are performed via a telephone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications are performed via Internet connection.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically sending the doctor information regarding the user after the authenticating step.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the prompting step is performed remotely.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending step is performed electronically.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the kiosk directing communications comprises the kiosk directing communications between the user, the doctor, and a pharmacist.