Inventory Monitoring System with Visual Indicator and Associated Methods
AssigneeWal-Mart Stores, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An item monitoring system including a bladder having a body with a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid is described. The system includes an indicator fluidly connected to the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, the indicator including a movable component configured to visually indicate a fullness of the shelf with one or more items in a non-electrical manner. The connection between the indicator and the bladder defines a closed system. Displacement of the fluid from the bladder into the indicator moves the movable component of the indicator to indicate the fullness of the shelf.
Claims20
An item monitoring system, comprising:
- a bladder configured to be positioned on a supporting surface of a shelf and further configured to receive one or more items thereon, the bladder including:
- a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid;
- and
- an indicator fluidly connected to the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, the indicator including a movable component configured to visually indicate a fullness of the shelf with the one or more items in a non-electrical manner;
- wherein displacement of at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the indicator due to the one or more items being placed on the body of the bladder repositions the movable component of the indicator to indicate the fullness of the shelf with the one or more items;
- and
- wherein the fluidic connection between the hollow interior of the body and the indicator defines a closed system.
An item monitoring system, comprising:
- a bladder configured to be positioned on a supporting surface of a shelf and further configured to receive one or more items thereon, the bladder including:
- a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid;
- an indicator fluidly connected to the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, the indicator including a movable component configured to indicate a fullness of the shelf with the one or more items in a non-electrical manner;
- wherein displacement of at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the indicator due to the one or more items placed on the body of the bladder repositions the movable component of the indicator to visually indicate the fullness of the shelf with the one or more items;
- and
- wherein the fluidic connection between the hollow interior of the body and the indicator defines a closed system;
- and
- an image capture device configured to detect a position of the movable component of the indicator to determine the fullness of the shelf with the one or more items.
A method of monitoring items on a shelf including a supporting surface, the method comprising:
- positioning a bladder on the supporting surface of the shelf, the bladder including:
- a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid;
- detecting with an image capture device a movement of a movable component of an indicator fluidly connected to the hollow interior of the body of the bladder;
- and
- identifying a change in items on the shelf based on the detected movement,
- wherein positioning one or more items on the bladder displaces at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the indicator causing the movement of the movable component of the indicator;
- and
- wherein the fluidic connection between the hollow interior of the body and the indicator defines a closed system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.