Method for retail checkout

Claim 1

A method of selecting and checking out merchandise in a retail establishment, said establishment including a system comprising a display area having individual display compartments for displaying actual samples of items to be sold, selection means employing vertical and horizontal values associated with rows and columns of said compartments in the display area for selecting items from the display area, ID means for identifying the customer selecting the items, quantity means for entering the quantity desired of each selected item, pre-check means for producing a record of the items and quantity of items selected, a product stocking area for storing the items to be sold, an item accumulating area, means for retrieving items ordered by the customer from the product stocking area and placing them in locations in the item accumulating area in accordance with the customer identification, and a checkout station for checking out the items accumulated, comprising the following steps: (a) providing identification to the system by a customer by applying a customer card to said ID means; (b) viewing the samples in the display area by the customer; (c) selecting the desired item by using said selection means to index values corresponding to those associated with said compartments; (d) selecting the quantity desired of said selected items by entering a numerical value into said quantity means; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) if additional items are desired; (f) removing said customer card from said ID means; (g) performing a pre-check operation by or for the customer at the pre-check means; (h) receiving by the customer from the pre-check means of an itemized, totaled receipt for items purchased with identification number and account verification; (i) retrieving of selected items by the retrieving means from the product stocking area and assembling them in the item accumulating area; (j) checking out by or for the customer at said checkout station, and (k) receiving by the customer of the purchased items from the item accumulating area.

Claim 2

A method of selecting and checking out merchandise in a retail establishment, said establishment including a system comprising a display area having individual display compartments for displaying actual samples of items to be sold, selection means employing vertical and horizontal values associated with rows and columns of said compartments in the display area for selecting items from the display area, ID means for identifying the customer selecting the items, quantity means for entering the quantity desired of each selected item, pre-check means for producing a record of the items and quantity of items selected, a product stocking area for storing the items to be sold, an item accumulating area, means for retrieving items ordered by the customer from the product stocking area and placing them in locations in the item accumulating area in accordance with the customer identification, and a checkout station for checking out the items accumulated, comprising the following steps: (a) providing identification to the system by a customer by applying a customer card to said ID means; (b) viewing the samples in the display area by the customer; (c) selecting the desired item by using said selection means to index values corresponding to those associated with said compartments; (d) selecting the quantity desired of said selected items by entering a numerical value into said quantity means; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) if additional items are desired; (f) removing said customer card from said ID means; (g) performing a pre-check operation by or for the customer at the pre-check means; (h) receiving by the customer from the pre-check means of an itemized, totaled receipt for items purchased with identification number and account verification; (i) retrieving of selected items by the retrieving means from the product stocking area and assembling them in the item accumulating area; (j) checking out by or for the customer at said checkout station, and (k) receiving by the customer of the purchased items from the item accumulating area.