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US 6,587,031 B1Granted
Secure storage of high value items
AssigneeCash America International, Inc.
InventorsJack R. Daugherty, Jodie W. Mooty, James C. Gaughan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Items are securely stored and retrieved using a storage unit having separate compartments. A storage code is provided to the storage unit, and the storage unit responds by permitting access to a particular compartment while preventing access to other compartments. An item then is placed in the particular compartment. At a later time, a retrieval code is provided to the storage unit and the storage unit responds by permitting access to the particular compartment while preventing access to other compartments. The item then may be retrieved from the particular compartment.
Claims24
A method of securely storing and retrieving items, the method comprising:
- providing a storage unit having separate compartments and an access section;
- providing a storage code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving a particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- placing an item into the particular compartment;
- at a later time, providing a retrieval code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving the particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- and
- retrieving the item from the particular compartment;
- wherein the storage code comprises a transaction identifier, and the storage unit is configured to select an available compartment to which access is to be permitted;
- wherein each compartment is configured to store multiple items, and wherein the storage unit is configured to select a compartment storing a smaller number of items than other compartments.
5 more elements
A method of securely storing and retrieving items, the method comprising:
- providing a storage unit having separate compartments and an access section;
- providing a storage code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving a particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- placing an item into the particular compartment;
- at a later time, providing a retrieval code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving the particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- and
- retrieving the item from the particular compartment;
- wherein the storage code comprises a transaction identifier, and the storage unit is configured to select an available compartment to which access is to be permitted;
- wherein each compartment is configured to store multiple items, and wherein the storage unit is configured to select a compartment storing a smaller value of items than other compartments.
5 more elements
A method of securely storing and retrieving items, the method comprising:
- providing a storage unit having separate compartments and an access section;
- providing a storage code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving a particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- placing an item into the particular compartment;
- at a later time, providing a retrieval code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving the particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- retrieving the item from the particular compartment;
- and
- securing the storage unit to an interior surface of a lockable safe.
4 more elements
A method of securely storing and retrieving items, the method comprising:
- providing a storage unit having separate compartments and an access section;
- providing a storage code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving a particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- placing an item into the particular compartment;
- at a later time, providing a retrieval code to the storage unit, the storage unit responding by moving the particular compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- retrieving the item from the particular compartment;
- and
- retrieving a second item from an additional compartment, wherein the second item is retrieved only after expiration of a predetermined time period after retrieval of the first item.
4 more elements
A storage unit for securely storing and retrieving items, the storage unit comprising:
- separate storage compartments, each storage compartment being configured to receive an item;
- an access section for providing access to a storage compartment;
- a controller configured to:
- respond to a storage code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments, and
- respond to a retrieval code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- and
- a security screen covering a front of the storage unit and positioned to conceal from an exterior of the storage unit compartments and contents of compartments to which access is not permitted;
- wherein the storage code comprises a transaction identifier, and wherein the controller is configured to select an available compartment to which access is to be permitted;
- wherein each compartment is configured to store multiple items, and wherein the controller is configured to select a compartment storing a smaller number of items than other compartments.
6 more elements
A storage unit for securely storing and retrieving items, the storage unit comprising:
- separate storage compartments, each storage compartment being configured to receive an item;
- an access section for providing access to a storage compartment;
- a controller configured to:
- respond to a storage code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments, and
- respond to a retrieval code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- and
- a security screen covering a front of the storage unit and positioned to conceal from an exterior of the storage unit compartments and contents of compartments to which access is not permitted;
- wherein the storage code comprises a transaction identifier, and wherein the controller is configured to select an available compartment to which access is to be permitted;
- wherein each compartment is configured to store multiple items, and wherein the controller is configured to select a compartment storing a smaller value of items than other compartments.
6 more elements
A storage unit for securely storing and retrieving items, the storage unit comprising:
- separate storage compartments, each storage compartment being configured to receive an item;
- an access section for providing access to a storage compartment;
- a controller configured to:
- respond to a storage code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments, and
- respond to a retrieval code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- a security screen covering a front of the storage unit and positioned to conceal from an exterior of the storage unit compartments and contents of compartments to which access is not permitted;
- a housing containing the storage compartments and controller, defining the access section, and carrying the security screen;
- and
- a lockable safe in which the housing is positioned.
6 more elements
A storage unit for securely storing and retrieving items, the storage unit comprising:
- separate storage compartments, each storage compartment being configured to receive an item;
- an access section for providing access to a storage compartment;
- a controller configured to:
- respond to a storage code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments, and
- respond to a retrieval code by moving a particular storage compartment to the access section and permitting access to the particular compartment while continually preventing access to all other compartments;
- and
- a security screen covering a front of the storage unit and positioned to conceal from an exterior of the storage unit compartments and contents of compartments to which access is not permitted;
- wherein the controller is configured to initiate a timer after permitting access to a storage compartment, and to wait for the timer to expire before permitting access to an additional storage compartment.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.