CA3090121A1 - A merchandise sale system and method of use - Google Patents

A merchandise sale system and method of use Download PDF

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Publication number
CA3090121A1
CA3090121A1 CA3090121A CA3090121A CA3090121A1 CA 3090121 A1 CA3090121 A1 CA 3090121A1 CA 3090121 A CA3090121 A CA 3090121A CA 3090121 A CA3090121 A CA 3090121A CA 3090121 A1 CA3090121 A1 CA 3090121A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
access panel
merchandise sale
rear access
panel
discrete
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA3090121A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jennifer Kroetsch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA3090121A priority Critical patent/CA3090121A1/en
Publication of CA3090121A1 publication Critical patent/CA3090121A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/06Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/004Restocking arrangements therefor
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/10Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
    • G07F17/12Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/10Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A merchandise sale system has a housing that has an outer frame enclosing a hollow interior. At least one discrete compartment is positioned within the hollow interior. Each discrete compartment has a front access panel. The housing has at least one rear access panel that provides access to at least one of the discrete compartments. The front access panel is in communication with the rear access panel such that when the rear access panel is open, the front access panel is closed. A payment hub is provided. The payment hub has a card reader, a screen and a keypad. The payment hub provides a list of sale products on the screen and the keypad is usable to input a customer's product order. The payment hub is programmed to accept payment for the customer's product order.

Description

TITLE
[0001] A Merchandise Sale System and Method of Use FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present application relates generally to merchandise sale system and method of use. More particularly it relates to a merchandise sale system and method of use that limits contact between sellers, customers and products.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
[0004] When selling products, it is common to find that some products are damaged or stolen. It is also possible for staff to be injured during robberies. The loss of these products and injury to staff can be devastating to businesses. It is also possible that underage parties may attempt to steal products such as tobacco and liquor that they cannot legally purchase. These losses of products may be significantly reduced by limiting the prospective customers access to products. Staff may be protected from injury if access to staff by those in the retail establishment have limited to no direct access to the staff.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] There is provided a merchandise sale system that includes a housing that has an outer frame enclosing a hollow interior. A plurality of discrete compartments are positioned within the hollow interior. Each of the discrete compartments has a front access panel. The housing has at least one rear access panel that provides access to at least one of the discrete compartments. The front access panel is in communication with the rear access pane such that when the rear access panel is open, the front access panel is closed. A payment hub is provided. The payment hub has a screen and a keypad. The Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14 payment hub provides a list of sale products on the screen and the keypad is used to input a customer's product order. The payment hub is programmed to accept payment for the customer's product order.
[0006] In one embodiment, the merchandise sale system has a single rear access panel that provides access to all of the discrete compartments.
[0007] In another embodiment, each of the discrete compartments has a rear access panel such that each rear access panel provides access to a single discrete compartment.
[0008] In one embodiment, the rear access panel or panels are lockable.
[0009] In one embodiment, each of the front access panels is lockable.
[0010] In one embodiment, the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through a mechanical connection such as an arm connecting movement of the front access panel to the rear access panel.
[0011] In another embodiment, the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through an electronic connection.
[0012] There is also provided a method of merchandise sale comprising the steps of providing a merchandise sale system that includes a housing that has an outer frame enclosing a hollow interior. A
plurality of discrete compartments are positioned within the hollow interior.
Each of the discrete compartments has a front access panel. The housing has at least one rear access panel that provides access to at least one of the discrete compartments. The front access panel is in communication with the rear access pane such that when the rear access panel is open, the front access panel is closed. A
payment hub is provided. The payment hub has a screen and a keypad. The payment hub provides a list of sale products on the screen and the keypad is used to input a customer's product order. The payment hub is programmed to accept payment for the customer's product order. Payment is accepted for the .. customer's product order and an operator opens a rear access panel and places the customer's product order in at least one of the discrete compartments. The rear access panel or panels are closed to allow the front access panel or panels to be openable for retrieval of the customer's product order.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14
[0013] In one embodiment, a single rear access panel provides access to all of the discrete compartments.
[0014] In another embodiment, each of the at least one discrete compartments has a rear access panel such that each rear access panel provides access to a single discrete compartment.
[0015] In one embodiment, a further step of locking the rear access panels is completed before the front access panel is openable by a customer.
[0016] In one embodiment, each of the front access panels is lockable.
[0017] In one embodiment, the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through a mechanical connection such as an arm connecting movement of the front access panel to the rear access panel.
[0018] In another embodiment, the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through an electronic connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which references are made to the following drawings, in which numerical references denote like parts. The drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments shown.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a merchandise sale system.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the merchandise sale system.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the merchandise sale system with multiple rear access panels.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the merchandise sale system with a single rear access panel.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the merchandise sale system with a mechanical linkage.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the merchandise sale system with a mechanical linkage.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, in section, of the merchandise sale system with an electronic linkage.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14
[0027] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the merchandise sale system with an electronic linkage.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a payment hub.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the payment hub monitor.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a merchandise sale system positioned in an establishment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] A merchandise sale system, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 11.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, merchandise sale system 10 has a housing 12.
Housing 12 has an outer frame 14 that encloses a hollow interior 15. In the embodiment shown, housing 12 is rectangular in shape and has a top panel 16, a bottom panel 18, a first side panel 20, a second side panel 22, and a rear access panel 24, shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, rear access panel 24 provides access to the plurality of discrete compartments 26, shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, multiple rear access panels 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d each provide access to individual discrete compartments 26, shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that rear access panel or a series of rear access panels may be used to provide access to all, a single, or multiple discrete compartments 26. Referring to FIG. 4, rear access panel 24 may be lockable with a lock 30 to prevent rear access panel 24 from unauthorized opening. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that lock 30 may be any suitable mechanism that prevents rear access panel 24 from being opened including, but not limited to, latches, chains, hooks and apertures, pin connections, deadbolts, cam locks and any other mechanism know to a person skilled in the art. When merchandise sale system 10 is bolted to a floor or other surface, a bottom panel 18 may not be required. It will be understood that housing 12 may be any shape and size suitable for the user. A plurality of discrete compartments 26 are positioned within hollow interior 15. Discrete compartments 26 may be of uniform size or merchandise sale system 10 may include discrete compartments 26 of different sizes to accommodate goods of different sizes.
Each discrete compartment 26 has a front access panel 28 that allows access to the discrete compartment 26 to which it connects. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, front access panel 28 and rear access panel 24 communicate with each other such that when the rear access panel is open, the front access panel is closed. Front access panel and/or rear access panel may have locks to prevent unauthorized access to discrete compartments 26.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14
[0033] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, front access panel 28 and rear access panel 24 are in communication with each other through a mechanical connection 32 such as an arm 34. Arm 34 has a first end 36 connected to front access panel 28 and a second end 38 connected to rear access panel 24. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that arm 34 can be straight with hinged connections to front access panel 28 and rear access panel 24, arm 34 may be hinged with fixed connections to front access panel 28 and rear access panel 24 or any other suitable type of connection and arm known to a person skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
7 and FIG. 8, front access panel 28 and rear access panel 24 are in communication with each other through an electronic connection 40. Electronic connection 40 may include locks 30 that are programmed to lock and unlock based upon whether rear access panel 24 is open or closed.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a payment hub 42 is provided that allows customers to order products. Referring to FIG. 9, payment hub has a screen 44 and a keypad 46. A
list of sale products is listed on screen 44 and a customer utilizes keypad 46 to input their product order. Referring to FIG. 10, payment hub 42 is programmed to accept payment for product order. Payment hub 42 may accept payment by allowing a customer to input payment information using keypad 46, have a credit card reader 48, or any other technology known to a person skilled in the art.
Payment hub 42 may be associated with online sales or may be positioned adjacent housing such that a customer puts together their order and pays onsite. To facilitate payment of goods onsite, electronic access panel may include a payment processor 50 that allows for payment to be processed by cash, credit card, debit card or any other electronic payment method known in the art.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 11, housing 12 may be positioned in a retail establishment 52 such that it separates a room or space into a front area 54 accessible to customers and a rear area 56 accessible to retail staff. Products to be sold may also be found in rear area 56 out of direct customer contact.
Products to be sold may be stored on shelves 58, in coolers 60, or in any other suitable location. Front area 54 has access to front access panels 28. Rear area 56 has access to rear access panels 24. Housing 12 may also be positioned in a retail establishment in any other suitable orientation based upon the needs of the operator. Where housing 12 creates a physical barrier between front area 54 and rear area 56, retail staff can maintain strict separation between themselves and customers which may reduce the potential for robberies, assaults and the spread of disease. In the embodiment shown, two housing 12 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14 are positioned with a cashier station 62 positioned between them. Housing 12 and cashier station 62 block access of rear area 56 from individuals in front area 54.
[0036] Any use herein of any terms describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure unless specifically stated otherwise.
[0037] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A
reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0038] It will be apparent that changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention. As such, the scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples and drawings described above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

Claims (16)

What is claimed is:
1. A merchandise sale system comprising:
a housing having an outer frame enclosing a hollow interior, at least one discrete compartment positioned within the hollow interior, each discrete compartment having a front access panel, the housing having at least one rear access panel that provides access to at least one of the discrete compartments, the front access panel being in communication with the rear access panel such that when the rear access panel is open the front access panel is closed;
a payment hub having a screen and a keypad, the payment hub providing a list of sale products on the screen and the keypad being usable to input a customer's product order, the payment hub being programmed to accept payment for the customer's product order.
2. The merchandise sale system of claim 1 wherein a single rear access panel provides access to all of the at least one discrete compartments.
3. The merchandise sale system of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one discrete compartments has a rear access panel such that each rear access panel provides access to a single discrete compartment.
4. The merchandise sale system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rear access panel is lockable.
5. The merchandise sale system of claim 1 wherein each of the front access panels is lockable.
6. The merchandise sale system of claim 1 wherein the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through a mechanical connection.
7. The merchandise sale system of claim 6 wherein the mechanical connection is an arm connecting movement of the front access panel to the rear access panel.
8. The merchandise sale system of claim 1 wherein the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through an electronic connection.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14
9. A method of merchandise sale comprising the steps of:
providing a merchandise sale system comprising:
a housing having an outer frame enclosing a hollow interior, at least one discrete compartment positioned within the hollow interior, each discrete compartment having a front access panel, the housing having at least one rear access panel that provides access to at least one of the discrete compartments, the front access panel being in communication with the rear access panel such that when the rear access panel is open the front access panel is closed;
a payment hub having a screen and a keypad, the payment hub providing a list of sale products on the screen and the keypad being usable to input a customer's product order, the payment hub being programmed to accept payment for the customer's product order;
accepting payment for the customer's product order;
opening the at least one rear access panel and placing the customer's product order in at least one of the discrete compartments;
closing the at least one rear access panel to allow the at least one front access panel to be openable for retrieval of the customer's product order.
10. The method of merchandise sale of claim 9 wherein a single rear access panel provides access to all of the at least one discrete compartments.
11. The method of merchandise sale of claim 9 wherein each of the at least one discrete compartments has a rear access panel such that each rear access panel provides access to a single discrete compartment.
12. The method of merchandise sale of claim 9 further comprising the step of locking the at least one rear access panel before the front access panel is openable.
13. The method of merchandise sale of claim 9 wherein each of the front access panels is lockable.
14. The method of merchandise sale of claim 9 wherein the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through a mechanical connection.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14
15. The method of merchandise sale of claim 14 wherein the mechanical connection is an arm connecting movement of the front access panel to the rear access panel.
16. The method of merchandise sale of claim 9 wherein the front access panel and the rear access panel are in communication with each other through an electronic connection.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14
CA3090121A 2020-08-14 2020-08-14 A merchandise sale system and method of use Abandoned CA3090121A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA3090121A CA3090121A1 (en) 2020-08-14 2020-08-14 A merchandise sale system and method of use

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA3090121A CA3090121A1 (en) 2020-08-14 2020-08-14 A merchandise sale system and method of use

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA3090121A1 true CA3090121A1 (en) 2022-02-14

Family

ID=80632809

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA3090121A Abandoned CA3090121A1 (en) 2020-08-14 2020-08-14 A merchandise sale system and method of use

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA3090121A1 (en)

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Discontinued

Effective date: 20240215