Article vending machine and method for exchanging an inoperable article for an operable article
US8996162B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F11/54
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An article vending machine in a network of article vending machines capable of exchanging an inoperable rental article received from a user for an operable replacement article. The article dispensing machine checks customer identification information against one or more customer rental criteria to determine if the customer is eligible to exchange an inoperable article for an operable one. The article vending machine searches for an identical replacement article within an inventory of the machine itself and within inventories of the networked article vending machines. Alternatively, the article vending machine may provide a refund for the inoperable article.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.