Apparatus and method for providing point of purchase products

Abstract

The present invention provides various apparatuses and methods that allow point of purchase products to be automatically dispensed. In an embodiment, the present invention operates with a self-scanning checkout and enables products to be dispensed with other retail items that a consumer collects and brings to the point of purchase. The product is immediately dispensed and provided to the consumer at the point of purchase. The cost of the dispensed product is added to the cost of the collected and transported retail items. The consumer makes one payment for both the dispensed product and the collected and transported retail items. In another embodiment, the present invention is modular and operates in a quick service restaurant environment. The present invention requires little counter/floor space, adds little to the cost of labor, can be mounted in a variety of locations, dispenses in any direction and integrates with virtually any existing system.

1 . A checkout area in a retail outlet for allowing a consumer to purchase items comprising: 
 a scanner to scan items;    a video monitor to display the cost of scanned items;    a packaging area for placing scanned items into a container;    a dispenser for storing and dispensing a point of purchase product, wherein the video monitor displays the cost of the point of purchase product dispensed by the dispenser; and    no point of purchase products are accessible to the consumer in the checkout area except those dispensed by the dispenser.    
     
     
         2 . The checkout area of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser dispenses the point of purchase product into the container.  
     
     
         3 . The checkout area of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser dispenses the point of purchase product adjacent to the scanner.  
     
     
         4 . The checkout area of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser dispenses the point of purchase product adjacent to a device selected from the group consisting of: the video monitor, a change maker that makes change from payments for items and point of purchase products purchased and a receipt printer that provides a receipt for items and point of purchase products purchased.  
     
     
         5 . An automated checkout comprising: 
 a surface for allowing a customer to place a plurality of items to be purchased;    a scanner for allowing the customer to accumulate a cost for the items;    a second surface to support a container for receiving items after they are scanned;    a point of purchase device that stores and dispenses a confectionary product into the container upon request of the consumer; and    the cost of the confectionary product is added to the cost of the plurality of items automatically.    
     
     
         6 . The automated checkout of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface supports a container for receiving the items.  
     
     
         7 . The automated checkout of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface and first surface are integral.  
     
     
         8 . The automated checkout of  claim 5 , wherein the confectionary products are stored above the second surface.  
     
     
         9 . A device for use in a retail outlet for allowing a consumer to purchase items that the consumer physically brings to the device and confectionary product that the consumer does not physically bring to the device, without the need for a cashier comprising: 
 a body having an interior;    a controller coupled to the body;    a scanning device that communicates with and is coupled to the controller, the scanning device allowing a consumer to scan items that the consumer brings to the device and accumulate a cost for the items;    a confectionary product stored within the interior of the body;    a prompt to encourage a consumer to purchase the confectionary product; and    a dispenser that dispenses the confectionary product from the body upon a request for product by the consumer, wherein a cost for the confectionary product is added to the cost for the items.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is integral with the body.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is coupled to the body by a mode selected from the group consisting of: electrical coupling, optical coupling and coupling via a radio frequency signal.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the scanning device is coupled to the controller by a mode selected from the group consisting of: electrical coupling, optical coupling and coupling via a radio frequency signal.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser dispenses the product in a direction selected from the group consisting of: vertically upward, vertically downward and laterally.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the scanning device is integral with the controller.  
     
     
         15 . The purchasing device of  claim 9 , which includes a display that prompts the consumer to purchase the confectionary product.  
     
     
         16 . The purchasing device of  claim 9 , wherein the body includes a plurality of different confectionary products.  
     
     
         17 . The purchasing device of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of different confectionary products includes chewing gum.  
     
     
         18 . A point of purchase device for use in a quick service restaurant comprising: 
 a body housing a confectionary product and including a member for coupling the point of purchase device to a cash register in the quick service restaurant;    a prompt for encouraging the purchase of the confectionary product; and    a dispenser that dispenses a confectionary product from the body upon request by the consumer, wherein a cost for the confectionary product is automatically added to the cost for the food items.    
     
     
         19 . The point of purchase device of  claim 18 , wherein the body houses a plurality of different confectionary products.  
     
     
         20 . The point of purchase device of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of confectionary products includes chewing gum.  
     
     
         21 . The point of purchase device of  claim 18 , wherein the body is modular and physically independent from the quick service restaurant cashier.  
     
     
         22 . The point of purchase device of  claim 18 , wherein the member couples the body to the quick service restaurant cashier by a mode selected from the group consisting of: electrical coupling, optical coupling and coupling via a radio frequency signal.  
     
     
         23 . A point of purchase device that operates with an automated purchasing device, the point of purchase device allowing a consumer to purchase a consumable product that is not otherwise available to the consumer, accumulating a cost for the items and allowing the consumer to pay for the item, the point of purchase device comprising: 
 means for allowing a consumer to purchase items that the consumer transports to the means for allowing a consumer to purchase;    a body housing a consumable product;    a controller coupled to the body; and    a dispenser that dispenses the consumable product from the body upon a signal from the controller, the signal initiated by the consumer, wherein a cost for the consumable product is added to the cost for the items.    
     
     
         24 . The point of purchase device of  claim 23 , -wherein the body is modular and physically independent from the automated purchasing device.  
     
     
         25 . The point of purchase device of  claim 23 , which includes a display that communicates with the controller and prompts the consumer to purchase the consumable product.  
     
     
         26 . A point of purchase device that is coupled to a device that allows a retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items comprising: 
 a dispenser that dispenses a consumable product from a stock upon a signal from a controller that is coupled to a retail operator controlled device, the signal initiated by the retail operator, wherein a cost for the consumable product is automatically added to the cost of the purchasable items by the controller and wherein the consumable product is not otherwise available at the point of purchase, the dispenser storing the consumable product at the point of purchase.    
     
     
         27 . The point of purchase device of  claim 26 , wherein the device is chosen from the group consisting of: a scanner, a cash register, a point of purchase kiosk and a touch screen.  
     
     
         28 . The point of purchase device of  claim 26 , wherein the controller is coupled to the device by a mode selected from the group consisting of: electrical coupling, optical coupling and coupling via a radio frequency signal.  
     
     
         29 . The point of purchase device of  claim 26 , wherein the controller is integral with the device.  
     
     
         30 . A device that allows a retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items comprising: 
 means for allowing the retail operator to input purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items;    a body housing a stock of confectionary products at a point of purchase location, the stock of confectionary product not accessible to the consumer at the point of purchase location until dispensed from the body;    a controller maintained within the body;    a prompt to encourage a consumer to request from the retail operator a confectionary product; and    a dispenser within the body that dispenses a confectionary product from the stock upon a signal from the controller, the signal initiated by the retail operator, wherein a cost for the product is added to the cost for the purchasable items by the controller.    
     
     
         31 . The point of purchase device of  claim 30 , wherein the means for allowing is selected from the group consisting of: a scanner and a cash register.  
     
     
         32 . The point of purchase device of  claim 30 , including a display that communicates with the controller and prompts the consumer to purchase the product.  
     
     
         33 . The point of purchase device of  claim 30 , wherein the body is modular and physically independent from the means for allowing.  
     
     
         34 . A method of operating a checkout station comprising: 
 allowing a consumer to bring purchasable items to a store operator;    allowing the operator to scan the purchasable items and accumulate a cost for the scanned items;    allowing the consumer to independently purchase a product supplied by a third party by touching a screen coupled to a dispensing device;    dispensing the product from the dispensing device in response to the consumer touching the screen;    automatically adding a cost of the dispensed product to the cost for the scanned items; and    charging the third party a fee for the sale of the product.    
     
     
         35 . A method of operating a checkout station at a retail outlet comprising: 
 employing an operator to input purchasable items into a device and accumulate a cost for the purchasable items;    prompting a consumer to purchase a product supplied by a third party from a dispensing device;    automatically dispensing the product from the dispensing device upon the consumer's request;    automatically adding a cost of the product to the cost for the purchasable items; and    charging the third party a fee for the sale of the product.    
     
     
         36 . A method for providing a point of purchase product comprising: 
 providing a checkout area for the consumer to bring items for purchase;    accumulating a cost associated with the items the consumer wants;    storing in a body a product at the point of purchase;    prompting the consumer that the product is available at the point of purchase;    dispensing the product to the consumer at the point of purchase upon a request by the consumer to purchase the product;    automatically, without the need for any action by a cashier, adding to the cost associated with other items purchased an additional cost for the product; and    charging a supplier of the product a fee based on the sale of the product.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , which includes accepting a single payment in exchange for the product and other purchased items.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the consumer is prompted that the product is available by an advertisement for the product.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein prompting the consumer includes prompting the consumer at a time selected from the group consisting of: before the consumer purchases the other consumable items, while the consumer is purchasing the other items and after the consumer purchases the other items.  
     
     
         40 . A method for providing a point of purchase product comprising: 
 stocking a plurality of different point of purchase products made by different manufacturers at a checkout area;    automatically prompting the consumer that the point of purchase products are available at the checkout area;    accepting an approval by the consumer to purchase at least one of the point of purchase products;    automatically dispensing the at least one of the products to the consumer at the checkout area; and    automatically adding to the cost of the dispensed product to the cost of any other items that are being purchased.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein prompting the consumer that the products are available includes displaying a dynamic display selected from the group consisting of: a display of the products, a message concerning the point of purchase products, an advertisement concerning the point of purchase products and a price reduction concerning the point of purchase products.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , which includes allowing a retail operator to enter the consumer's approval to purchase the at least one point of purchase product.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , which includes allowing the consumer to enter the approval to purchase the at least one point of purchase product.  
     
     
         44 . A method for providing consumable and non-consumable products at a checkout area of a retail outlet comprising: 
 stocking consumable and non-consumable products in a single device at the checkout area;    allowing the consumer to bring items to the checkout area;    allowing the consumer to purchase the items;    prompting a consumer to purchase a consumable product from the single device;    prompting the consumer to purchase a non-consumable product from the single device;    dispensing at least one of the consumable and non-consumable product to the checkout area in response to a request from the consumer;    allowing the consumer to pay for the items, and consumable and non-consumable product dispensed at the checkout area; and    charging the suppliers of the dispensed consumable and non-consumable products a fee.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , which includes allowing the consumer to pay for the consumable and non-consumable product at one time.  
     
     
         46 . A method of generating revenue comprising: 
 providing a point of purchase device that is coupled to a quick service restaurant cash register, the point of purchase device designed to dispense a product at the point of purchase; and    obtaining a fee paid from a supplier of the product in exchange for allowing the product to be dispensed from the point of purchase device.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the point of purchase device is integral with the quick service restaurant cash register.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the quick service restaurant cash register is part of a drive-thru restaurant.