# US 2014/0207657 A1 · Purchase and rental system and method

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- Number: US 2014/0207657 A1
- Document ID: US20140207657A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/745,838
- Filed: 2013-01-20
- Published: 2014-07-24
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-20
- Inventors: Kalman Gacs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207657A1

## CPC

- G06Q 20/42: Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
- G06Q 30/0645: Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
- G07F 17/0042: {for hiring of objects}
- G06Q: INFORMATION 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
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

One embodiment of the system involves providing one or more goods that are physically present but secured against removal through some locking or restraint mechanism. If a consumer desires a locked item, the consumer effects payment via remote means, such as via use of the Internet and/or via a smartphone. Upon confirmation of payment, the system responds with a means for the consumer to remove the lock from the purchased item and to take immediate possession. In some cases, this may be via the provision of a combination or code that is then used physically by the user to unlock the merchandise.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of implementing a financial transaction for an item comprising:
securing an item at a location with a locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism may be opened using a code;
in a processing system;
associating a payment processing system with the item;
accessing the payment processing system by a user and providing payment for the item;
providing the user with the code upon confirmation of the payment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further including the user unlocking the locking mechanism using the code and taking possession of the item.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the financial transaction is a purchase.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is a combination lock.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is a digital lock.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the item includes indicia for providing a path to the payment processing system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the payment processing system is a web page.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the payment processing system is a call center.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the indicia comprises a bar code.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the indicia comprise a QR code.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the indicia is a URL.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the item is disposed in a box secured by the locking mechanism.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the financial transaction is a rental transaction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the user pays a deposit in addition to a rental price for renting the item.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein the deposit is not returned until the next time the item is rented.