The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 13, 1996
Mark S Smith, West Hartford, CT (US);
Seth M Epstein, West Hartford, CT (US);
Jennifer J Smith, West Hartford, CT (US);
Arthur D Corarito, Rowe, MA (US);
George V Cinquegrana, Southbury, CT (US);
Tactical Retailing Solutions, West Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a store level marketing system and a unique printer to be used in the system. The store level marketing system includes an activation device for initiating use of the system and for providing the system with information about the consumer using it, a network interface or computer for selecting a series of offers/discounts to be printed on a piece of paper, and a printer for printing a paper document containing the selected offers/discounts. The system further includes a checkout station which communicates with the network interface or the computer to provide it with information about the purchases made by the consumer. In a preferred embodiment, the printer is a thermal printer provided with a mechanism for substantially eliminating any curl in the paper being fed into the printer. The curl eliminating mechanism includes a tube which is pressed against the paper to impart a reverse curl to the paper which is opposite to the natural curl of the paper.