Patrick James Loftus

US Patent:

6509826, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Oct 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/679909

Inventors:

Patrick David Loftus - Kingwood TX

Assignee:

PepsiPark U S A Inc. - Kingwood TX

International Classification:

G05B 1900

US Classification:

340 56, 340 52, 340 104, 340 59, 235384, 359155

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for controlling access to or from a facility associated with providing services and/or sales of merchandise. The facility has an automatically operated, normally closed access gate and a scanner. Patrons may access the facility free of charge or at a discount by displaying an article of merchandise such that the scanner reads a bar code inscribed upon the merchandise. Data corresponding to the scanned bar code is compared to data entered into the memory of an automated data processing device. If that comparison results in establishing a correlation between data from the scanned merchandise and data entered into memory corresponding to merchandise for which a discount is accorded, then a control signal is generated and transmitted to the access gate. The access gate then opens and allows the patron submitting merchandise for scanning to enter or leave the facility.

US Patent:

61573140, Dec 5, 2000

Filed:

Jul 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/112963

Inventors:

Patrick David Loftus - Kingwood TX

Assignee:

PepsiPark U.S.A., Inc. - Kingwood TX

International Classification:

G06F 704

US Classification:

34082531

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for controlling access to or from a parking lot associated with a retail or other sales facility. The parking lot has an automatically operated, normally closed access gate and an optical scanner. Patrons may access the parking lot free of charge by displaying purchased merchandise such that the scanner reads a bar code inscribed upon the merchandise. Data corresponding to the scanned bar code is compared to data entered into the memory of an automated data processing device. If that comparison results in establishing a correlation between data from the scanned merchandise and data entered into memory corresponding to merchandise stocked by the sales facility for vending, then a control signal is generated and transmitted to the access gate. The access gate then opens and allows the vehicle submitting merchandise for scanning to access the parking facility.