# US 9,433,307 B1 · Indicating apparatus and system for carousel bagging rack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,307 B1 - Document ID: US9433307B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/821,851 - Filed: 2015-08-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-09 - Applicants: Kurt H. Newman - Inventors: Kurt H. Newman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433307B1 ## CPC - A47F 9/042: {Shopping bags or carton-dispensing systems therefor} - A47F 5/05: with separate containers rotatable around the pillar - A47F 9/04: Check-out counters, e.g. for self-service stores - A47F 13/085: {Shopping-bag holders (A47F9/042 takes precedence)} - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS ## Abstract An indicating apparatus and system for multi-bay carousel bagging-rack assemblies utilized in retail and grocery stores, wherein the indicating apparatus comprises illumination means, audible means, tactile means, and/or combinations thereof, and having assigned indication means for each separate bagging-bay provided by the bagging-rack assembly. The indicating apparatus may be manually or automatically activated and deactivated according to the position or location of purchased items placed into bags housed in the bagging-bays, communicating to the patron and/or cashier that purchased items are ready for transfer from the point-of-sale assembly to the patron's cart. The indicating apparatus may be attached to the carousel assembly by one or more clamps affixed through the indicating apparatus and/or through the carousel assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An indicating system for a carousel bagging-rack, the system comprising: a carousel bagging-rack assembly comprising multi-bays; an indicating apparatus comprising indication means for identifying one or more bays containing purchased items, wherein the indication means is assigned and labeled a bagging-rack bay having a similar label, the indicating apparatus attachable to the carousel bagging-rack assembly by at least one clamp; and an automatic mechanism for communicating to the indicating apparatus that purchased items have been placed into one or more bays. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bagging-rack assembly supports the indicating apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the bagging-rack assembly further supports the automatic mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the indicating apparatus comprises: a base supporting a plurality of indication means and a spacer; and a platform depending from the spacer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the indication means comprises illumination means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the indication means comprises audible means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the indication means comprises tactile means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic mechanism comprises a pressure-sensitive switch for each bagging-rack bay in communication with the indication means for activating and deactivating the indication means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic mechanism comprises an interactive touch-screen display in communication with indication means for activating and deactivating the indication means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one clamp comprises a compressive force spring steel clamp, the compressive force spring steel clamp attached to the indicating apparatus by at least one mechanical fastener. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one compressive force spring steel clamp comprising an inwardly biased end compressing against a lateral edge of the carousel bagging-rack assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one clamp comprises an L-shaped clamp attached to the indicating apparatus by at least one mechanical fastener and attached to the carousel bagging-rack assembly by at least one mechanical fastener. ### Claim 13 A carousel bagging-rack assembly comprising: a carousel bagging-rack having multi-bays, the bagging-rack supporting an indicating apparatus; the indicating apparatus comprising a base supporting a plurality of indication means and a spacer, and a platform depending from the spacer, the indicating apparatus arranged to align each indication means with each bay of the bagging-rack, wherein the indication means is assigned and labeled a bagging-rack bay having a similar label, the indicating apparatus attachable to the carousel bagging-rack assembly by at least one clamp; and a selection means for selectively activating and deactivating indication means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein the indication means comprises one of illumination means, audible means, and tactile means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein the selection means comprises a pressure-sensitive switch for each bagging-rack bay in communication with the indication means assigned to each bagging-rack bay, the pressure-sensitive switch actuates the indication means for indicating the position of a filled bag. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one clamp comprises a compressive force spring steel clamp, the compressive force spring steel clamp attached to the indicating apparatus by at least one mechanical fastener. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one compressive force spring steel clamp comprising an inwardly biased end compressing against a lateral edge of the carousel bagging-rack assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one clamp comprises an L-shaped clamp attached to the indicating apparatus by at least one mechanical fastener and attached to the carousel bagging-rack assembly by at least one mechanical fastener.