Granted Patent B2

US 7,921,979 · App. 11/881,868 · Granted Apr 12, 2011

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. A drinking water bottle return apparatus comprising:

a bin having an interior space capable of holding a plurality of drinking water bottles of predetermined size;

a receiving tray movable between an open position and a closed position and being adapted and positioned such that when said receiving tray is in the open position a drinking water bottle of predetermined size can be placed in said receiving tray from outside of the apparatus, when said receiving tray is in the closed position said receiving tray prevents passage of a drinking water bottle of predetermined size into said receiving tray from outside of the apparatus and when said receiving tray is moved from the open position to the closed position a drinking water bottle of predetermined size placed in said receiving tray while in the open position enters into said bin;

a first sensor adapted and positioned to detect said receiving tray in the open position,

a second sensor adapted and positioned to detect a drinking water bottle of predetermined size entering said bin; and

a receipt dispenser operatively connected to said first sensor and to said second sensor such that said receipt dispenser dispenses a receipt therefrom in response to detection by said second sensor of a drinking water bottle of predetermined size entering said bin within a predetermined time period after detection by said first sensor of said receiving tray in the open position.

2. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving tray is adapted and positioned such that a drinking water bottle of predetermined size cannot pass through said receiving tray into said bin when said receiving tray is in the open position.

3. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first sensor is adapted and positioned such that said first sensor does not detect said receiving tray in the closed position.

4. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the predetermined time period commences when said first sensor initially detects said receiving tray as said receiving tray moves from the closed position toward the open position.

5. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the predetermined time period commences when said first sensor no longer detects said receiving tray as said receiving tray moves from the open position toward the closed position.

6. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving tray rotates at least partially about a generally horizontal axis as said receiving tray moves between the closed position and the open position.

7. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving tray rotates at least partially about a generally vertical axis as said receiving tray moves between the closed position and the open position.

8. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising an activation tab affixed to said receiving tray such that said activation tab is a predetermined distance from said first sensor when said receiving tray is in the open position and such predetermined distance is within the detection range of said first sensor.

9. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the predetermined distance is within the range of about one millimeter and about one hundred millimeters.

10. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a weight affixed to said receiving tray.

11. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a biasing mechanism maintaining said receiving tray in the closed positioned until said receiving tray is opened by a person depositing a drinking water bottle into said bin.

12. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a spring connecting said receiving tray and said bin.

13. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the predetermined period of time is within the range of about two seconds to about six seconds.

14. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first sensor is an inductive proximity sensor.

15. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second sensor is a mechanical sensor.

16. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second sensor is an electro-optical sensor.

17. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said second sensor is an electro-optical sensor.

18. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second sensor is a device capable of detecting the presence of an RFID tag.

19. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receipt dispenser dispenses receipts having product identification indicia thereon corresponding to drinking water bottles deposited in the apparatus.

20. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receipt dispenser is a device capable of encoding information onto an RFID tag.

21. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said receipt dispenser dispenses receipts having an RFID tag.

22. A drinking water bottle return apparatus comprising:

a bin having an interior space capable of holding a plurality of drinking water bottles of predetermined size and an opening through which bottles of a predetermined size may be deposited into said bin from outside of the apparatus;

a door movable between a closed position in which said door prevents passage of a bottle of predetermined size through the opening and an open position in which a drinking water bottle of predetermined size can travel through the opening unobstructed by said door;

a first sensor adapted and positioned to detect said door in the open position,

a second sensor adapted and positioned to detect a drinking water bottle of predetermined size entering said bin; and

a receipt dispenser operatively connected to said first sensor and to said second sensor such that said receipt dispenser dispenses a receipt therefrom in response to detection by said second sensor of a drinking water bottle of predetermined size entering said bin within a predetermined time period after detection by said first sensor of said door in the open position.

23. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said door rotates at least partially about a generally horizontal axis as said door moves between the closed position and the open position.

24. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said door rotates at least partially about a generally vertical axis as said door moves between the closed position and the open position.

25. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said first sensor is adapted and positioned such that said first sensor does not detect said door in the closed position.

26. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein the predetermined time period is less than ten seconds.

27. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said first sensor is an inductive proximity sensor.

28. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said second sensor is a mechanical sensor.

29. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said second sensor is an electro-optical sensor.

30. A drinking water bottle return apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said second sensor is an electro-optical sensor.

Assignments (19)