Granted Patent B2

US 12,342,948 · App. 18/413,726 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Inventors: William M. Huffar (Cazenovia, WI); Stephen J. Dieter (Oregon, WI); Terry D. Matt (Evansville, WI); John A. Miller (Sun Prairie, WI); Nicholas A. Truesdale (Madison, WI)

Assignee: LEER, INC.

A47F10/02F25D11/04F25D17/042G06Q20/18G06Q20/208G07F9/006G07F9/105G07F11/62F25D2317/0417F25D2331/801

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer, the merchandiser comprising:

a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product; and

a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser, the controller comprising one or more processors coupled to one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices having instructions stored therein that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the controller to:

receive an input to initiate the transaction for the product;

unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input;

initiate a timer that defines an unlock time duration for the door;

detect a removal of the product prior to an expiration of the unlock time duration;

override the unlock time duration based on the detected removal of the product prior to the expiration of the unlock time duration;

lock the door of the merchandiser based on the override; and

charge the customer for the product of the transaction.

2. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the input to initiate the transaction for the product includes a type and amount of product to be purchased.

3. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the merchandiser is an ice merchandiser and the product is bagged ice.

4. The merchandiser of claim 1 , further comprising a display and a payment card reader.

5. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to determine a weight of product removed during the transaction based on a value regarding the weight of the product remaining within the merchandiser being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.

6. The merchandiser of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to determine a type of product removed from the merchandiser based on the determined weight of product removed.

7. The merchandiser of claim 6 ,

wherein the input to initiate the transaction comprises a type and an amount of product to be purchased; and

wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to charge the customer for the determined type and weight of product removed from the merchandiser during the transaction irrespective of the input to initiate the transaction comprising the type and the amount of product to be purchased.

8. The merchandiser of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to compare the determined weight of product removed to the input comprising the amount of product to be purchased, and provide an alert in response to the comparison.

9. A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer, the merchandiser comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

a door coupled to the housing;

a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; and

a controller configured to unlock the door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product, initiate a timer that defines an unlock time duration for the door, detect a removal of the product prior to an expiration of the unlock time duration, override the unlock time duration based on the detected removal of the product prior to the expiration of the unlock duration, lock the door of the merchandiser based on the override, and provide an indication of a charge for the product of a transaction to the customer.

10. The merchandiser of claim 9 , further comprising a display configured to show at least one of a type and a cost for the product.

11. The merchandiser of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an initiation of the transaction for the product based on receiving information regarding a payment card of the customer.

12. The merchandiser of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to lock the door based on a determined completion of the transaction and the override of the unlock time duration.

13. The merchandiser of claim 9 , wherein the merchandiser is an ice merchandiser and the product is bagged ice.

14. The merchandiser of claim 9 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine a weight of the product, wherein the controller is configured to determine a weight of product removed during the transaction based on a value regarding the weight of the product remaining within the merchandiser being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.

15. The merchandiser of claim 9 , further comprising a payment card reader coupled to the controller.

16. A method of operating a merchandiser, the method comprising:

receiving an initiation of a transaction;

unlocking a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of a product during the transaction based on receiving the initiation of the transaction;

initiating a timer that defines an unlock time duration for the door;

detecting a removal of the product prior to an expiration of the unlock time duration;

overriding the unlock time duration based on the detected removal of the product prior to the expiration of the unlock duration;

determining that the transaction is complete based on the override;

locking the door of the merchandiser based on the determination that the transaction is complete; and

providing an indication of a charge for the product of the transaction to a customer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the merchandiser is an ice merchandiser and the product is bagged ice.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining a weight of product removed during the transaction based on data indicating the weight of the product remaining within the merchandiser is substantially constant for the unlock time duration; and

charging or facilitating charging the customer for the determined weight of product removed during the transaction.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the transaction is initiated based on a validation of payment card information for the transaction.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing, via a display of the merchandiser, instructions regarding how to use the merchandiser.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (118)