Car wash with responsive bonus function

• US 20050000777A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry Dilling, Mark G. Ringdahl
• Original Assignee: Harry Dilling, Mark G. Ringdahl
• Inventors: Dilling, Harry, Ringdahl, Mark G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/047 using liquid or gas distributing means B60S3/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/20 for washing or drying articles, e.g. clothes, motor cars

Abstract

A car wash includes a controller having an input element and an output element. The input element is configured to receive an input representing a payment. The output element is in operative communication with the input element, and is configured to assign an output comprising a bonus value of a product or service to be dispensed if the payment is of a preferred form.

Claims

1. A car wash comprising:

car wash equipment configured to perform a car wash function in response to a car wash control signal; and

a car wash controller in operative communication with the car wash equipment, and comprising;

a controller input configured to receive a plurality of fund inputs, each representative of a respective monetary value;

an evaluator configured to assign a plurality of credit values respectively to each of the fund inputs, wherein a bonus credit value is assigned to a fund input of a preferred form and responsively provide an accumulated credit value output; and

a controller output configured to provide the car wash control signal from the car wash controller to the car wash equipment based upon the accumulated credit values output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fund input of the preferred form comprises paper currency of at least a minimum denomination.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fund input of the preferred form comprises a credit card payment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fund input of the preferred form comprises an electronic fund transfer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display, in operative communication with the car wash controller, for communicating information about the accumulation of the credit values.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the display further communicates information, in response to the fund units being received via the control input, regarding which among the at least two car wash functions are available under the present accumulation of the credit values, and options for additional fund units required to make a car wash function become available.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a menu, in operative communication with the car wash controller, whereby a desired car wash function may be selected from among the at least two car wash functions.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a validator, operatively connected to the evaluator, for confirming that the fund inputs are valid.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a bonus selection switch, operatively connected to the evaluator, wherein the bonus credit value assigned to the fund input of the preferred form may be selected from at least two options on the bonus selection switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the bonus selection switch also allows a recurring period of time to be selected whereby the bonus credit value assigned to the fund input of the preferred form may vary according to the recurring period of time.

11. A car wash comprising:

car wash equipment;

a means for receiving an input representing a payment; and

a means for activating the car wash equipment based upon a bonus value of a product or service to be dispensed if the payment is of a preferred form.

12. A car wash comprising:

car wash equipment configured to provide a car wash function in response to a car wash control signal;

a car wash controller including;

an input configured to receive a plurality of monetary inputs representative of monetary values;

an evaluator configured to assign respective credit value to each of the monetary inputs, wherein a first relationship between a first monetary value and a first credit value is different than a second relationship between a second monetary value and a second credit value, the evaluator further configured to accumulate credit values; and

a controller output configured to provide car wash control signal to the car wash equipment based upon an accumulated credit value.

13. A method of activating car wash equipment, comprising:

receiving monetary funds;

identifying a preferred monetary fund type in the received monetary funds; and

vending a higher value product or service from the car wash equipment based upon identification of a preferred monetary fund type.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a preferred monetary fund comprises paper currency having higher denominations.

15. A car wash, comprising:

car wash equipment configured to provide a car wash function in response to a car wash control signal;

a monetary fund receiver configured to receive monetary funds of at least two forms;

a controller configured to provide the car wash control signal as a function of a form of a monetary fund received by the monetary fund receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least two forms of monetary funds comprise paper currency of a first denomination and paper currency of a second denomination.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the car wash control signal is of a higher monetary value when a preferred monetary fund form is provided to the monetary fund receiver.

18. A method comprising the steps of:

accepting a unit of currency in an input of a device;

determining whether the denomination is at or above a pre-selected threshold denomination; and

dispensing a good or a service from the device, with a value that is higher if the denomination is at or above the threshold denomination.

19. A device comprising:

an input component for accepting a form of payment;

an evaluator, operatively connected to the input component, for determining the form of payment;

a controller, operatively connected to the evaluator, for tallying a value of credit comprising a value of the payment and a bonus value if the form of payment is of a preferred form of payment; and

a dispenser, operatively connected to the controller, for dispensing a product or a service having a value corresponding to the value of credit.

20. A vending device comprising:

an input element configured to receive an input representing a payment; and

an output element, in operative communication with the input element, configured to assign an output comprising a bonus value to a product or service to be dispensed if the payment is of a preferred form.

21. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises a paper currency bill of a preselected denomination.

22. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises a coin of a preselected denomination.

23. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises a preselected token.

24. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises a credit card payment.

25. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises an electronic payment.

26. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises payment with a temporary payment card.

27. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises a code.

28. The vending device of claim 20 wherein the preferred form comprises a key.