Drive-through credit card payment device

• US RE34,872 E
• Filed: 06/16/1989
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James L. Lucero
• Original Assignee: James L. Lucero
• Inventors: Lucero, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weinhardt, Robert
• Application Number:
  US07/367,476
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/379, 235/380, 235/383, 235/375, 235/419, 235/487, 364/900
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

A system is set forth which is particularly adapted for use in drive-through, fast food establishments by which a patron make his/her own selections and pay for the order with a credit card. The system includes a panel having a plurality of touch responsive switches each or several corresponding to a particular item, e.g., food, to be selected. The system recognizes the patron'"'"'s credit card and account and, thereafter, the patron enters his/her selections at the panel. The selections are reproduced at, for example, the main building for filling of the order and may also be displayed at the panel for verification of the selections by the patron. After the order is complete, a credit voucher and receipt are generated at the panel and are provided to the patron, and the account is debited in the amount of the order. The patron signs the voucher accepting the credit terms represented thereby and presents the signed voucher in exchange for the order.

Claims

1. A .Iadd.drive-through fast food .Iaddend.system by which a patron may select and, via a .[.credit instrument.]. .Iadd.general purpose charge card .Iaddend.representing a .[.patron credit.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s .Iaddend.account, pay for items selected from a population of items vended by .[.an.]. .Iadd.a drive-through fast food .Iaddend.establishment, .Iadd.said establishment assembling the selected items at a remote location and the patron'"'"'s account being debited and the patron picking up the assembled items at said remote location, .Iaddend.the system comprising:

.Iadd.an exterior island .Iaddend.a panel disposed for operation by .[.or for.]. the patron, the panel including .[.a plurality of.]. touch responsive means .[.adapted to generate.]. .Iadd.for operation by the patron without requiring operation thereof by an employee of the fast food establishment, said panel generating selection .Iaddend.signals corresponding to the selection of .[.the.]. desired .Iadd.fast food .Iaddend..[.item.]. .Iadd.items .Iaddend.from the population;

means for communicating said selection signals to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.remote location at the .Iadd.fast food .Iaddend.establishment.Iadd., said remote location being remote from said exterior island, .Iaddend.and .Iadd.for .Iaddend.repeating said .[.selections.]. .Iadd.selection at said remote location to enable the commencement of .Iaddend..[.for.]. retrieval .Iadd.and assembly .Iaddend.of said .[.selections.]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend.by establishment personnel .Iadd.independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection, for pick-up by the patron.Iaddend.;

a processor .Iadd.at least at one of the establishment and a central location for .Iaddend.storing patron account information;

means at said .Iadd.exterior island .Iaddend.panel communicating with the processor for recognizing said .[.credit instrument.]. .Iadd.general purpose charge card .Iaddend.and accessing the patron account represented thereby;

.Iadd.and .Iaddend.

means for processing said signals including means for totalizing the totalized charge therefor and means for debiting said patron account in the amount of said totalized charge.[.; and

means for generating a printed credit voucher and receipt including at least said totalized charge, said voucher further including a portion designated to receive the patron'"'"'s signature acceptance of said charge on said account.]..

2. The system of claim 1.Iadd., .Iaddend.further including means at the panel for verifying each selection.

3. The system of claim 2.Iadd., .Iaddend.wherein the verifying means includes an indicator light associated with .[.each.]. g said touch responsive means, said light emitting a flash upon the touching of the associated touch responsive means.

4. The system of claim 3.Iadd., .Iaddend.further including means for altering the intensity of .[.each.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.indicator light in response to the repeated touching of the selection corresponding to said light.

5. The system of claim 2.Iadd., .Iaddend.further including video display means at the panel and means for interfacing said display means with the touch responsive means to display a visual representation of each item selected.

6. The system of claim 5.Iadd., .Iaddend.wherein said interfacing means also communicates with the processing means to display said totalized charge.

7. The system of claim 1.Iadd., including means for generating a printed credit voucher and receipt including at least said totalized charge, said voucher further including a portion designated to receive the patron'"'"'s signature to signify acceptance of said charge on said account, .Iaddend.wherein the generating means is adapted to also imprint each selection on said voucher and receipt.

8. A drive-through .Iadd.fast food .Iaddend.system by which a patron may select from .[.their.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.vehicle and, via a .[.credit.]. .Iadd.general purpose charge .Iaddend.instrument representing a .[.patron.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s .Iaddend.account and including machine readable indicia for identifying said account, pay for items vended by .[.an.]. .Iadd.a fast food .Iaddend.establishment, .Iadd.said establishment preparing the selected items at a remote location and the patron'"'"'s account being debited and the patron picking up the prepared items at said remote location, .Iaddend.the system comprising:

a panel .Iadd.at an exterior island .Iaddend.disposed for operation by .[.or for.]. the patron from .[.their.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.vehicle, the panel including .[.a plurality of.]. touch responsive means .[.adapted to generate.]. .Iadd.for operation by the patron without requiring operation of said touch responsive means at the panel by an employee of the fast food establishment, said panel generating selection .Iaddend.signals.[., each.]. corresponding to the selection of .[.a.]. desired .[.item.]. .Iadd.items.Iaddend., said touch responsive means, when touched by the patron, effective to enter a selection;

means for communicating said selection signals to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said remote .Iaddend.location at the establishment and for displaying said selection for .[.retrieval.]. .Iadd.commencement of the preparation .Iaddend.of said .[.selections.]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend.by establishment personnel .Iadd.independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection, for pick-up by the patron .Iaddend.;

a processor .Iadd.at least at one of the establishment and a central location .Iaddend.storing patron account information;

means at said .Iadd.exterior island .Iaddend.panel for machine reading said .[.credit.]. instrument indicia;

means .Iadd.at said exterior island panel for .Iaddend.communicating with the processor for recognizing said indicia and accessing the patron account;

.Iadd.and .Iaddend.

means .Iadd.at least at one of said exterior island panel and said processor .Iaddend.for processing said .[.touch generated.]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend.signals including means for identifying the selection made, the price thereof and for calculating a totalized charge for said .[.selections; and

means for imprinting on a credit voucher and receipt said identified selections and totalized charge, said voucher including a designated portion to receive the patron'"'"'s signature acceptance of said totalized charge on account.]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend..

9. The system of claim 8.Iadd., .Iaddend.further including means for verifying the touch selection of an item including a light associated with the touch responsive means visually indicating said item selection.

10. The system of claim 8.Iadd., .Iaddend.further including a video display screen and means for visually displaying a representation of each item selected for visual verification of said selection.

11. The system of claim 8.Iadd., .Iaddend.wherein said panel is disposed in a remote housing, the system further including means for positioning the panel for concealment thereof when not in use.

12. A method for vending .[.goods.]. .Iadd.fast food items at a drive-through fast food establishment .Iaddend.on a .[.credit.]. .Iadd.general purpose charge card .Iaddend.basis comprising:

providing a system including a panel .[.disposed.]. .Iadd.at an exterior drive-through island .Iaddend.for operation by a patron.[.,.]. .Iadd.to enter an order for desired fast food items.Iaddend., said panel including .[.a plurality of.]. touch responsive means .[.adapted to generate.]. .Iadd.for operation by the patron without requiring operation of said touch responsive means by an employee of the fast food establishment, said panel generating selection .Iaddend.signals corresponding to the selection of .[.the.]. desired .[.goods.]. .Iadd.fast food items.Iaddend., means for receiving and reading a .[.patron credit.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s general purpose charge .Iaddend.card and for transmitting patron account information stored on the .[.credit.]. card .[.and printing means.]., said system further including patron account storing and retrieval means;

.Iadd.inserting .Iaddend.the .[.patron inserting the credit.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s .Iaddend.card into the receiving means at the .Iadd.exterior island .Iaddend.panel;

the system transmitting the account information to the account storing and retrieval means to access the patron'"'"'s account;

.Iadd.making .Iaddend.the .[.patron making selections.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s selection .Iaddend.of goods at the panel, the system receiving the signals generated thereby and totalizing the .[.selections.]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend.and debiting the patron account in the amount of said .[.selection(s).]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend.plus tax where applicable;

the system displaying the selection .Iadd.at a location in the establishment which is .Iaddend.remote from the .Iadd.exterior island .Iaddend.panel for .Iadd.commencement of .Iaddend.filling of the patron'"'"'s order .Iadd.independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection.Iaddend.;

.[.the system printing a receipt and voucher indicating at least said amount and returning the credit card;

.]. and

.[.the patron signing the voucher to authorize the credit charge and presenting the signed voucher in exchange for the goods.]. .Iadd.the fast food establishment filling an order .Iaddend.representing said selection .Iadd.of fast food items for delivery to the patron at said location in the establishment which is remote from said exterior island.Iaddend..

13. A method for vending .[.goods.]. .Iadd.fast food items .Iaddend.on a .[.credit.]. .Iadd.general purpose charge card .Iaddend.basis at a drive-through .Iadd.fast food .Iaddend.establishment.[.;

.]..Iadd., comprising the steps of;

.Iaddend.

providing a system including .[.a.]. .Iadd.an exterior island .Iaddend.panel located for operation by a patron from .[.their.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.vehicle, the panel including .[.a plurality of.]. touch responsive means .[.adapted to generate.]. .Iadd.for operation by the patron without requiring operation by an employee of the establishment, said panel generating selection .Iaddend.signals corresponding to the selection of desired .[.goods.]. .Iadd.items.Iaddend., means .Iadd.at the exterior island panel .Iaddend.for receiving and reading a .[.credit.]. .Iadd.general purpose charge .Iaddend.card and for transmitting patron account information stored on the .[.credit.]. card .[.and printing means for issuing a printed receipt and voucher.]., the system further including patron account storing, retrieval and processing means;

.Iadd.inserting .Iaddend.the .[.patron from their vehicle inserting their credit.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s .Iaddend.card into the receiving means .Iadd.at the exterior island panel from the patron'"'"'s vehicle.Iaddend.;

the system reading and transmitting account information to the account storing, retrieval and processing means for retrieval and verifying of the account;

.Iadd.entering .Iaddend.the .[.patron entering his.]. .Iadd.patron'"'"'s .Iaddend.order by .[.making selections by.]. .Iadd.operations including .Iaddend.touching .[.the appropriate.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.touch responsive means at the .Iadd.exterior island .Iaddend.panel, the system processing the signals generated thereby and debiting the account in the amount of the .[.selections.]. .Iadd.selection; and

.Iaddend.

displaying the .[.selections.]. .Iadd.selection .Iaddend.in the establishment for filling of the patron'"'"'s order .Iadd.independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection.Iaddend.;

.[.issuing a printed receipt and voucher indicating at least said amount at the printing means and returning the credit card; and

the patron signing the voucher to authorize the account debit and presenting the signed voucher in exchange for the order.]. .Iadd.said establishment filling an order in response to said signals corresponding to the selection of desired items for delivery to the patron at a location in the establishment which is remote from said exterior island.Iaddend.. .Iadd.

14. In a fast food drive-through establishment providing a population of different food items available for selection by patrons of the establishment, a system by which a patron may select and, via a general purpose charge instrument representing a patron'"'"'s account, pay for fast food items selected from an available population of fast food items, the system comprising:

a panel disposed for operation by the patron at an exterior drive-through island, the panel including means generating selection signals related to a selection of desired fast food items from an available population of fast food items in response at least in part to operation of said panel by the patron without requiring operation of the panel by an employee of the fast food establishment;

a processor at least at one of the fast food establishment and a central location for storing patron account information;

means at the exterior island for receiving information stored on a patron'"'"'s general purpose charge instrument and transmitting same to the processor for verification of the patron'"'"'s credit; and

,

means for processing said selection signals including means for totalizing the charges for the selected fast food items and for debiting the patron'"'"'s verified credit account in the amount of the totalized charge;

said establishment having an order filling location which is remote from said exterior island panel for commencing the filling a fast food order in response to said selection signals from said panel independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection, for delivery to the patron. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The system of claim 14, further including hardwired means for communicating the selection of the items to said remote location for filling the food order for delivery to the patron. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The system of claim 14, including means for displaying said selection at a kitchen area at said establishment to guide employees to prepare and assemble the food items selected for delivery to the patron. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The system of claim 16, including a delivery station remote from said panel for delivering the assembled food items to the patron. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A drive-through fast food system by which a patron may select from a vehicle and, via a general purpose charge instrument representing a patron account and including machine readable indicia for identifying said account, pay for items vended by a fast food establishment, the system comprising;

a panel which is at an exterior drive-through island for operation by the patron from a vehicle, the panel including means which in response to operation thereof by the patron, without requiring operation by employees of the fast food establishment, generate selection signals for placing an order for a selection of desired fast food items, said order for desired fast food items being specified at least in part by said selection signals generated in response to the operation of said means at the exterior island;

means for communicating said selection signals to a location at the establishment which is remote from said drive-through exterior island and for displaying said selection of desired fast food items to enable the commencement of retrieval and assembly of said selections by establishment personnel independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection;

a processor at least at one of the establishment and a central location storing patron account information;

means at the exterior drive-through island for machine reading said instrument indicia;

means communicating with the processor for recognizing said indicia and accessing the patron'"'"'s account;

means for processing said selection signals including means for identifying the selection made of fast food items, the price thereof and for calculating a totalized charge for said selection;

said establishment including an assembly area which is remote from said exterior drive-through island for assembling said selection of fast food items for later delivery to the patron at a delivery location which is remote from said exterior drive-through island. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A method of vending fast food items at a fast food establishment where different fast food items are prepared and available for selection by patrons;

(a) providing a panel at a first location in said fast food establishment, said panel having switching means for operation by the patron without requiring operation by personnel of said fast food establishment, said panel generating selection signals corresponding to the selection of an order for different food items available in the population of food items at the establishment;

(b) selectively operating said switching means at the panel by the patron without requiring operation at the panel by an employee of the fast food establishment to specify a selection of an order for fast food items desired by a patron and to generate selection signals corresponding to such order;

(c) providing receiving means for receiving and transmitting information stored on a patron'"'"'s general purpose charge instrument to verify the patron'"'"'s account and for debiting the patron'"'"'s account;

(d) inserting the patron'"'"'s charge instrument in the receiving means at the first location to verify the patron'"'"'s account;

(e) using the selection signals corresponding to the patron'"'"'s order for totalizing the charges for the order;

(f) debiting the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of the totalized charges;

(g) using the selection signals corresponding to the patron'"'"'s order for fast food items to provide identification of such food items for assembly of same at a second location within the establishment which is remote from said first location to enable the assembly of said selection to commence independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection and to fill the order for delivery to the patron at a location in the establishment which is remote from said first location at which the panel

15. is disposed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The method of claim 18, including the step of delivering the patron'"'"'s order at a delivery station which is at said second location and is remote from the panel used to place such order. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The method of claim 18, wherein either of the steps in subparagraphs (b) or (d) is performable ahead of the other, and wherein the steps in subparagraphs (e), (f) and (g) are performable at any time subsequent to the step in subparagraph (b) and in any desired selective order. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. In a fast food drive-through establishment providing a population of different food items available for selection by patrons of the establishment, a system by which a patron may select and, via a charge instrument representing a patron charge account, pay for items selected from an available population of food items, the system comprising:

an exterior drive-through island panel disposed for operation by the patron, the panel including display and touch responsive means generating selection signals corresponding to a selection of desired food items from the available population of food items displayed at said display;

a processor at least at one of the establishment and a central location for storing patron account information;

means at the exterior island for reading information stored on a patron'"'"'s charge instrument and transmitting same as well as said signals corresponding to the selection of food items to the processor; and

,

means at said exterior island for processing information stored on the patron'"'"'s charge instrument and said food items selection signals including means for totalizing the charges for the selected items and for recording a debit against the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of the totalized charge at least at one of the establishment and the central location; and

means at said establishment to enable assembly of an order corresponding to said food items selection signals to commence independent of an approval of a totalized charge for said selection, for handling over to the patron at said establishment at a location remote from said exterior island. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A method of vending fast food items at a fast food drive-through establishment where different fast food items are prepared and are available for selection by patrons;

(a) providing a panel at a first, drive-through location in the establishment, said panel having touch responsive means generating selection signals corresponding to a selection from different food items available in the population of food items at the establishment without requiring operation of said touch responsive means by employees of said fast food establishment;

(b) selectively operating said touch responsive means to select those food items desired by a patron placing an order and to generate selection signals corresponding to such items;

(c) providing receiving means at the panel for receiving and recording information stored on a patron'"'"'s charge instrument related to a patron'"'"'s account and for recording a debit against the patron'"'"'s account;

(d) inserting the patron'"'"'s charge instrument in the receiving means at the panel to receive and record the information on such charge instrument;

(e) using the signals corresponding to the food items included in the patron'"'"'s order for totalizing the charges for the order;

(f) recording a debit against the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of the totalized charges;

(g) using the signals corresponding to the food items included in the patron'"'"'s order to provide identification of such food items and to enable assembly of same within the establishment to commence independent of approval of a totalized charge for said selection and to fill the order at a second location which is remote from said first location at which the panel is disposed for delivery of the order to the patron at a location remote from said first location. .Iaddend.