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:
Jul. 22, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 16, 2012
Paresh K. Patel, Portland, OR (US);
Glenn D. Butler, Holliston, MA (US);
Paresh K. Patel, Portland, OR (US);
Glenn D. Butler, Holliston, MA (US);
VendScreen, Inc., Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
A vending machine system includes at least one vending machine having a central coordinating unit, at least one management technology, and at least one communication technology facilitating communication between the at least one vending machine and the at least one management technology. Optional features that may be used alone or in combination with the vending machine system include: the ability to provide users with a promotional discount; the ability to provide users with multilevel pricing; the ability to track, time stamp, and keep records of activity at the at least one vending machine; a unique user interface; the ability to allow a user to report vending machine problems from a 'report problem screen' on a unique user interface; unique vending machine-to-server communications; and the ability to remotely issue a refund to the user.