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:
Feb. 26, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2004
Applicant:
Robert S. Hoblit, Knightdale, NC (US);
Inventor:
Robert S. Hoblit, Knightdale, NC (US);
Assignee:
Toshiba TEC Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06Q 40/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A system for tracking a number of items borrowed or rented by customers includes a chute reading identification data from each item as the item is returned through the chute by the customer. Data records associated with the returned items are updated to indicate the items are available, even before the items can be restocked. The time at which an item is returned may be compared with a time at which it is due, with an additional fee being added to an account of a customer borrowing or renting an item that is returned late.