Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Mechanized store
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-25
2003-10-07
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Mechanized store
C235S379000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06629636
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sales transaction terminal device which is preferably used on a shop counter.
FIG. 53
shows a conventional sales transaction terminal device
5000
which includes a terminal body
5001
and a display body
5002
. The display body
5002
, serving as a support body for an operator display unit
5003
, is rotatable about a shaft
5004
provided on the terminal body
5001
. An operator opens the display body
5002
by pulling it up. The display body
5002
is stationarily held at a predetermined angle. The operator performs an ordinary sales transaction by manipulating a touch panel on the operator display unit
5003
, while looking at money amount data in a display screen
5006
.
A magnetic card reader
5005
is provided at the operator side of the terminal body
5001
to check ID (i.e., identification) of the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to improve usability of this kind of sales transaction terminal device by effectively utilizing a dead space thereof for various purposes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of providing an attractive exhibition spot.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of providing various kinds of customer services.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of improving operability in an operator's sales transaction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of improving a customer's ordering procedure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of providing a compact, separable, or foldable arrangement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of providing a new type of customer services.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales transaction terminal device capable of improving security of an operator performing the sales transaction in a shop counter.
In order to accomplish the above and other related objects, the present invention provides a sales transaction terminal device comprising a terminal body having a recessed configuration when seen from its side. The terminal body has an exhibition spot opened to a customer side thereof, with a side view of the exhibition spot corresponding to the recessed configuration. And, an operator display unit is provided at an operator side of the terminal body for allowing an operator to perform a sales transaction when a customer places an order at a shop counter where the sales transaction terminal device is placed.
According to later-described embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the operator display unit is rotatably hinged about a shaft provided at the operator side of the terminal body so that an angle of the operator display unit is adjustable.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that a cover casing is provided to cover the exhibition spot, and the cover casing is transparent at a portion facing to the customer.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the terminal body is an L-shaped terminal body comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion which cooperatively constitute an L-shaped configuration. The horizontal portion has a top surface serving as a commodity table and the vertical portion has a wall cooperating with the top surface of the horizontal portion to form the exhibition spot. The vertical portion is rotatable about a shaft of a hinge provided at a corner of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion. A lock member is provided for fixing the vertical portion to the horizontal portion so that the vertical portion is held in a standing position. And, the vertical portion is foldable about the shaft of the hinge and lies on the horizontal portion when the lock member is unlocked.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the terminal body is an L-shaped terminal body comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion which cooperatively constitute an L-shaped configuration. The horizontal portion has a top surface serving as a commodity table, and the vertical portion has a wall cooperating with the top surface of the horizontal portion to form the exhibition spot. And, the vertical portion is detachable from the horizontal portion so as to be hung on a wall.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the terminal body is an L-shaped terminal body comprising a platelike horizontal portion and a vertical portion which cooperatively constitute an L-shaped configuration. The platelike horizontal portion has a top surface serving as a commodity table, and the vertical portion has a wall cooperating with the top surface of the platelike horizontal portion to form the exhibition spot. The platelike horizontal portion is foldable about a hinge member provided between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion, so that the sales transaction terminal device can be used in a first position where the platelike horizontal portion is unfolded about the hinge member to place the sales transaction terminal device on a horizontal surface with the vertical portion being held at a standing position, and can be used in a second position where the platelike horizontal portion is folded about the hinge member to hang the sales transaction terminal device on a wall.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the terminal body is an L-shaped terminal body comprising a plurality of casings which cooperatively surround a frame body on which a circuit board is installable, and the operator display unit is rotatably provided at the operator side of the terminal body.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the terminal body is an L-shaped terminal body comprising a standing portion supporting the operator display unit and a base portion supporting the standing portion so as to form at least part of the exhibition spot of the terminal body.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that a roof is provided on a top of the terminal body.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the terminal body has a lying U-shaped configuration when seen from its side. The lying U-shaped terminal body has an exhibition spot opened to a customer side thereof, with a side view of the exhibition spot corresponding to the lying U-shaped configuration. And, the operator display unit is provided at an operator side of the lying U-shaped terminal body for allowing an operator to perform a sales transaction when a customer places an order at a shop counter where the sales transaction terminal device is placed.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that a media card reader is provided at the operator side of the terminal body at a portion where the media card reader does not interfere with the operator display unit.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the media card reader is slidable in a back-and-forth direction in response to an angular adjustment of the operator display unit.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the media card reader is equipped with a wireless communication device so that the position of the media card reader can be flexibly changeable.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that a customer display unit is provided at the customer side of the terminal body opposed to the operator side.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the customer display unit has a display screen extending beyond a table of the exhibition sp
Arai Ichiro
Hayashi Kiyotsugu
Kato Teruo
Muto Kanji
Nakajima Akira
Connolly Bove & Lodge & Hutz LLP
Frech Karl D.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
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