Abstract: A system for transporting merchandise returned by a customer from a customer service area or a retail store to a back storage area of a retail store comprises a customer facing device for use by a retail store customer to enter return merchandise data; a scanning device for identifying the returned merchandise; and at least one conveyor belt at the retail store for transporting the returned merchandise from the customer service area to the back storage area.

Abstract: An asset protection system and method may include detecting that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user, instructing the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device, directing a detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area, and determining based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to the at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

Abstract: Described is a bagging station system for dispensing shopping bags. The bagging station system includes a bracket and a bagging station. The bracket is coupled to a wall. The bagging station is hung from the bracket. The bracket includes a support plate and at least one hook rail coupled to the support plate. The support plate has a first and a second slot opening in the support plate. The hook rail has at least one pin that extends through one of the first or the second slot opening to couple the hook rail to the support plate. With the support plate coupled to a wall, one or more hook rail coupled to the support plate, and the bagging station coupled to the one or more hook rail, the bagging station is available to dispense shopping bags to employees or customers of a retail store.

Abstract: Described is a mobile point-of sale cart for use in a retail store. The cart has four legs and three platforms coupled to the legs. Each of the three platforms is at a different height above the ground. The legs have wheels for easy movement from one place to another, and the legs are telescoping so the cart can be easily stored. The cart holds the equipment needed for a retail store employee to checkout customers and perform other common tasks. The cart has multiple bins to hold a handheld scanner, a debit card reader, and a portable printer. The cart has a bagging station coupled to the top platform, and a shopping bag support surface coupled to the second platform. The cart can be moved about the store to easily ring up purchases, and can be stored when not in use.

Abstract: Described is a shopping cart bagging station can be used by customers to bag their purchases as they shop. The disclosed shopping cart bagging station includes a box front portion and a back plate that couple together to form a rectangular enclosure for shopping bags. The box front portion has a bag holder hook inside the enclosure that shopping bags are hung from. An opening in the box front portion allows access to the shopping bags hanging from the bag holder hook. At least one cart coupling hook is coupled to the back plate to couple the shopping cart bagging station to a shopping cart. A customer hangs the shopping cart bagging station, with shopping bags hung from the bag holder hook, on the side of a shopping cart, and uses the shopping cart bagging station to provide shopping bags while they shop.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bagging clip that couples to a bag holder hook of a shopping bag bagging station. The bagging clip helps to keep shopping bags hung from the bag holder hook in place as one of the shopping bags is opened, filled and removed. The bagging clip includes a plate with at least one slot in the plate. The slot is a cutout in the plate extending from a front surface to a back surface of the plate. The slot is configured to couple with a rail of the bag holder hook of the bag holder, in order to couple the bagging clip to the bag holder hook. Once the bagging clip is coupled to the bag holder hook, shopping bags hung from the bag holder hook will stay in place as individual shopping bags are filled and removed from the bag holder hook.

Abstract: A universal support clip for coupling a mobile electronic device to a shopping cart comprises a bar clamping member, which comprises a first end; a second end having a base portion constructed and arranged to accommodate a plurality of different device mount interfaces; and a body portion between the first and second ends, the body portion including a curved interior wall for receiving a portion of a handlebar of the shopping cart from the first end in an open state and for securing to the portion of the handlebar when the first end is in a closed state

Abstract: A tether system is described that tethers a mobile computing device to a base. The tether system allows the mobile computing device to be used by individuals, but does not allow the mobile computing device to be moved further away from the base than the length of the tether. The tether system includes a tether cord with a first end coupled to the base, and a second end coupled to a coupling apparatus. The base can be a fixed structure, or can be coupled to a fixed structure, at the location where the mobile computing device is kept. The coupling apparatus is coupled to the mobile computing device. With the coupling apparatus coupling one end of the tether cord to the mobile computing device, and the other end of the tether cord coupled to the base, the tether system couples the mobile computing device to the base.

Abstract: A voice-actuated system is described that allows voice authentication of on-line secure commands, such as purchases, by one or more designated users. It allows for an account to have multiple signatories that are required to approve a secure command. A user speaks commands into a local microphone, or in another embodiment, into a mobile device. A command recognition device identifies a secure command and sends it to a spectrum/cadence device to analyze spectrum and/or cadence. Also, the voice input may be sent to a word count/grammar device to analyze word counts and grammar errors to identify the user. Once identified, the account of user may be found and contact information for other signatories is acquired. The signatories are contacted and their identities are verified by comparison of their voices to pre-stored voice samples of the signatories.

Abstract: A shopping cart with sensor system is used by customers of a retail store to collect and scan items to be purchased. The shopping cart with sensor system includes a shopping cart and a shopping cart sensor system. Items to be purchased are placed in the shopping cart, where they are automatically scanned by the sensor system. The shopping cart sensor system includes a frame and a sensor coupled to the frame. The frame rotates with respect to the shopping cart so that the sensor can collect product information from items in the shopping cart. A first and a second light bar and a microcomputer are also coupled to the frame. The product information is used to ring up the items a customer wishes to purchase, so the customer does not have to visit a checkout station to have their items rung up.

Abstract: A guidance system and method including receiving self-service option information from a self-service kiosk, wherein the self-service kiosk prompts the user to input information regarding a self-service option, processing the self-service option information to determine a correct kiosk destination for the user from a plurality of kiosk destinations, wherein the self-service order is processed at the correct kiosk destination, actuating a light source to illuminate a pathway to be followed by the user to reach the correct kiosk destination, wherein the pathway is visible on a floor of a user queuing location for processing self-service orders, between the self-service kiosk and the correct kiosk destination located in the user queuing location for processing self-service orders of the retail location, and prompting an available self-service kiosk to alert a nearby customer to an availability of the available self-service kiosk, to reduce a queue of customers in the user queuing location.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing gun is provided, including: a 3D printing filament source removably attached to a housing, a 3D filament advancing mechanism configured to advance a 3D filament through a barrel portion, a heating element coupled to the front end of the barrel portion of the housing, the heating element having an internal bore configured to receive the advanced 3D filament from the 3D filament advancing mechanism and heat the 3D filament to a hot molten 3D printing material to be discharged from an outlet of a nozzle of the heating element, as part of the actuation of the actuator, and an insulator sleeve surrounding the heating element. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shopping cart with a scanner system that is used by customers of a retail store to collect and scan items to be purchased. The shopping cart with scanner system includes a shopping cart, a scanner support structure, and a scanner. Items to be purchased are placed in the shopping cart, where they are automatically scanned by the scanner system. The scanner support structure includes a base bar, an extension bar, and a scanner support bar. The base bar and extension bar are coupled to each other and to a shopping basket of the shopping cart. The scanner support bar holds the scanner and related electronic devices, and is supported above the shopping cart basket by the base bar and the extension bar.

Abstract: Described is a hanger device and key holder. The key holder is coupled to the hanger device and includes a key ring for holding keys. The hanger device is configured for office use by coupling to the top of an office divider wall. The hanger device is both a coat hanger for hanging apparel and a key holder for holding keys. The hanger device has several common office use electronic devices integrated into the hanger device, such as a laser pointer, a remote access device, and a portable memory device. The hanger device has a battery to feed the included electronic devices and a display to provide data and information related to the electronic devices. The hanger device provides functions needed by office workers and helps keep items used by office workers from getting lost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a call button system for a monitor at a self-checkout station of a retail store. The call button system includes an apparatus for coupling the call button to a monitor at the self-checkout station. The call button can be used by customers to summon help from a retail store employee while they are using the self-checkout station. The apparatus for coupling the call button to the monitor places the call button conveniently near the monitor the customer will be using at the self-checkout station. The apparatus for coupling the call button to the monitor includes a coupling bracket that couples the call button to the monitor. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes two S brackets that stabilize the call button and the coupling bracket.

Abstract: Described is a bagging station that uses a bag retaining fixture. The bag retaining fixture holds paper bags open at the bagging station so the paper bags can be filled without the bag moving or falling off the bagging station. The bag retaining fixture includes a plate and an elongate rod. The plate is coupled to the bagging station. The elongate rod is coupled to the plate such that the elongate rod captures a side of a paper bag between the elongate rod and a side wall of the bagging station. The bagging station can have a number of bag retaining fixtures coupled to it, so that a number of paper bags can be held open at a time, and filled with purchased items.

Abstract: Described is a checkout station in a retail store that includes a bumper for preventing dividers from covering a belt end sensor. The belt end sensor senses when items on a checkout station conveyor belt have reached the end of the conveyor belt. If a divider stored on an edge wall alongside the conveyor belt covers the belt end sensor, the conveyor belt stops motion when it should keep moving. The checkout station includes a bumper that couples to the edge wall. The bumper prevents the dividers from covering the belt end sensor and interfering with the operation of the belt end sensor and the conveyor belt. The bumper includes a backbone and a hook coupled to the backbone. The hook couples the bumper to the edge wall. When the bumper is coupled to the edge wall, the bumper blocks dividers from covering the belt end sensor.

Abstract: Described is a checkout station with an adjustable height conveyor belt, and a motorized height adjustor that is used to level and adjust the height of the conveyor belt. The motorized height adjustor includes an adjustable height leg and a motor drive. The motor drive uses a motor to rotate a foot sleeve of the adjustable height leg. Rotating the foot sleeve adjusts the height of the adjustable height leg. Adjusting the height of the adjustable height leg adjusts the height of the conveyor belt of the checkout station. The motorized height adjustor can be coupled to sensors to automatically adjust the height of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Described is a shopping cart used to collect items in a retail store and transport them throughout the store and/or to a customer's vehicle. The shopping cart is configured to make it easier to load and unload heavy and awkward items. The shopping cart has a shopping cart basket and a support structure supporting the shopping cart basket above a wheel assembly. A front panel of the shopping cart basket rolls on wheels and tracks to a position above the basket or below the shopping basket. The shopping cart also has a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the shopping cart basket. A customer can raise or lower the shopping cart basket and slide the front panel out of the way, if needed, for easy loading and unloading of the shopping cart. These features make it easier for the customer to load and unload heavy and awkward items.

Abstract: A system that may transmit the customer data for each customer client device entering the geofence having a shopping application and profile accessible to the store's computer network to an augmented reality device. Each of the augmented reality devices may be worn by a sales associate or other employee of the store. The augmented reality devices may take the shape of any computing device, but in the exemplary embodiment the augmented reality device may be in the form of glasses or eyewear. While wearing the glasses or eyewear, the store's sales associate or employee may view customer data transmitted over the stores computer network while simultaneously viewing the physical world. The augmented reality device may present the data in the form of a heads up display (HUD), allowing the associate to know details about the customer entering the store before engaging in a conversation with the customer.