Patent Application
20180151020
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates to an automatic merchandising system, wherein the automatic merchandising system is a system that vends tinted films, stickers, and decals. Herein the at least one user is enabled to choose the designs for each product category from the menu of the designs available. The automatic merchandising system is also connected to the internet enabling the at least one user to download content to be turned into stickers or decals and potentially the automatic merchandising system may also have a image editing software enabling the at least one user to turn a photo or other digital image into a high contrast image that is to be cut into a sticker.
The most commonly known machine for executing the at least one user request immediately on his/her command is the ATM machine, wherein a ATM machine is an electronic telecommunications device that enables the customers of a financial institution to perform financial transactions, particularly cash withdrawal, without the need for a human cashier, clerk or bank teller. But still there don't exist a machine which can act as an automatic merchandiser and which can process the request for any items or goods according to the at least one user's need. Also, the various merchandising machines available in the market are not enabled with the feature to choose the designs for each product category from the menu of the designs available and connect to the internet enabling the at least one user to download content to be turned into stickers or decals and neither have the potential to have image editing software enabling the at least one user to turn a photo or other digital image into a high contrast image that is to be cut into a sticker.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known automatic merchandising systems, the present invention provides an automatic merchandising system that vends tinted films, stickers, and decals. Herein the at least one user is enabled to choose the designs for each product category from the menu of the designs available. The automatic merchandising system is also connected to the internet enabling the at least one user to download content to be turned into stickers or decals and potentially the automatic merchandising system and also have image editing software enabling users to turn a photo or other digital image into a high contrast image that is to be cut into a sticker.
In a situation that a user has a pair of eyeglasses that he/she desires to convert into sunglasses then he/she goes to the automatic merchandiser system, which is contained within a free-standing cabinet. The display on the screen of the automatic merchandiser system shows examples of products or promotional art until interacted by the at least one user. The at least one user is then directed to select an option from the menu for the purchase of an item for example; a lens covers. The at least one user herein is then enabled to choose a material from a variety of materials to select the type and quality of lens cover the at least one user wants. Then the at least one user is prompted to pay for his/her selected option. The scanning bay of the automatic merchandiser system is unlocked and the user is prompted to place his/her glasses to be outfitted with the lens covers on the marker in the scanner and close the compartment, the machine scans the glasses to determine the dimensions to cut from the material selected. The machine cuts the material from a spool of stocked material by use of a plotter, which is fed the dimensions from the scan performed. The custom cut material is dropped into the delivery box and the at least one user is prompted to take their glasses and the custom cut lens covers. A receipt is then printed. Instructions on how to apply the product is also provided by printed material or on screen.
Certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, automatic merchandising system constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an automatic merchandiser system is explained as a preferred embodiment which states that if the at least one user has a pair of eyeglasses that he/she desires to convert to sunglasses then he/she goes to the automatic merchandiser system, which is like a free-standing cabinet similar to an ATM. The display on the screen of the automatic merchandiser system wherein, the display is a touch screen display shows examples of product or promotional art until interacted with the at least one user. The at least one user herein is then directed to the menu of the options that he/she may purchase for example; lens covers, stickers, decals or other product made from an adhesive film. Once the product selection has been made the at least one user is then enabled to choose a material from a variety of materials and patterns to select the type of product the at least one user wants. Then the at least one user is prompted to pay, wherein the payment is made either via bill valuator that is enabled to receive a cash payment or via a card reader which is enabled to receive a card payment. In the case of a lens cover or other product to be applied to a custom form provided by the user, the automatic merchandiser system unlocks the receiving bay to a 3D scanner and the at least one user is prompted to place the glasses on the marker in the 3D scanner and close the lid. The 3D scanner scans the glasses to determine the dimensions to cut from the material selected. The automatic merchandiser system cuts the material from a spool of stocked material by use of a plotter, which is fed the dimensions from the scan performed. The custom cut material is dropped into the delivery box and the at least one user is prompted to take their glasses and product. A receipt is then printed. Instructions on how to apply the product is also provided by printed material or on screen. Additionally, the automatic merchandiser also vends stickers, screen protectors and/or decals. The automatic merchandiser system is also enabled to be connected to the internet allowing the at least one user to download content to be turned into stickers or decals.
Potentially the automatic merchandiser system would be enabled with image editing software allowing the at least one user to turn a photo or other digital image into a high contrast image consisting of a positive and negative value that can be cut into a sticker. The automatic merchandiser system is enabled to stock protective film for screen protectors. The automatic merchandiser system similarly scan the screen size of a given object to produce the desired adhesive film for a screen cover. Other materials used herein may be polarized films, colored films, transparent, translucent or opaque, or perforated films. The internet connectivity also allows the operator of the automatic merchandiser system to track sales data, supplies, and other important data for the management of the machine. The rolls of material could be replaced periodically and cycled by the manager of the equipment with new or different content to enable different products to be produced by the machine on demand.
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in
The automatic merchandiser system may further comprise a card reader member 255 located on the front panel, be electronically connected to the computer module and the power source, and be adapted to retrieve and process payment information from a payment card for services rendered by the automatic merchandiser system; a receipt printer member 245 located on the front panel, be electronically connected to the computer module and the power source, and be adapted to print out a receipt for services rendered by the automatic merchandiser system; and a transceiver member 235 located within the interior volume of the cabinet member, be electronically connected to the computer module, and be adapted to transmit and send electronic signals remotely via radio waves. The radio waves may be transmitted and received via an internet system.
The computer software applications of said computer module can be adapted to track sales data, amounts of stocked material, and other important data for the management of said automatic merchandiser system. The computer software applications may also be adapted to provide a user with remote diagnosing capabilities to remotely monitor said automatic merchandiser system and schedule necessary software upgrades and repairs. Furthermore, the computer software applications can be adapted to allow a user to input photographic and digital images via said transceiver into said computer module and convert them into high contrast images consisting of positive and negative values that can be used by said computer module for cutting respective said stock material in desired shapes and styles, and to cut images into the surface of said stock material.
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It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 62/426,862, filed Nov. 28, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62426862 | Nov 2016 | US |
