US 4,073,368 AGranted

Automated merchandising system

OwnerAndrew J. Mustapickinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A plurality of communication stanchions are arranged in a parking lot, spaced one from the other, so that each merchandise customer may park their automobile adjacent a stanchion close enough to be able to use communication equipment carried by the stanchion without leaving the automobile. The communication equipment interconnects with a remote warehouse type market and includes a video receiver which displays for the customer the merchandise available for sale. Keyboard and voice units also interconnected with the warehouse, are provided at the communication stanchion for customer use to transmit to the warehouse a merchandise order. Within the warehouse goods are stored for ready access, either by order clerks, or automatic order picking equipment. The order once picked is tabulated, bagged and forwarded either directly to the stanchion where the customer pays and the order is placed in the customer's automobile or to a central leading area which the customer moves to pay a cashier and have the goods loaded into the automobile.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An automated merchandising system comprising:

a goods storage building;
a plurality of communications stanchions arranged outside of and remote from said goods storage building but electrically and electronically interconnected therewith;
said communications stanchions being spaced one from the other a distance sufficient to permit an automobile to be parked adjacent thereto;
a goods ordering unit carried by each of said communications stanchions so as to be electrically and electronically interconnected therewith and through said communications stanchion to said goods storage building wherein said goods ordering units are removable from their respective stanchions and into the automobile parked adjacent thereto while still remaining electrically and electronically interconnected to said goods storage building;
and
each said goods ordering unit being accessable to an occupant of an automobile when parked adjacent said communications stanchion and being provided with video display means operable by the customer to display goods available at said goods storage building and data transmission means to transmit to said goods storage building data indicative of goods which the automobile occupant desires to obtain.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/704,449Filed 12 Jul 1976 · continuation
Priority: 20 Jan 1975
Granted: 14 Feb 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A47F 10/02
Furniture or installations specially adapted to particular types of service systems, not otherwise provided for: for self-service type systems,…
E04H 3/04
Hotels; Motels; Coffee-houses; Restaurants; Shops; Department stores: restaurants or shops having arrangements for self-service
G07F 7/00
Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate
A47F
Special furniture, fittings, or accessories for shops, storehouses, bars, restaurants or the