Patents by Inventor Joel M. Schaffer

Joel M. Schaffer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Surveillance system for observing shopping carts
    Patent number: 6201473
    Abstract: A surveillance system for use in a checkout stand counter and the like, comprises: a camera mounted near the floor of the checkout stand counter; a monitor mounted to the checkout stand counter and positioned for convenient viewing by a cashier working at the checkout stand counter; and, constraints defining an aisle adjacent to the checkout stand counter for shopping carts moved alongside the checkout stand counter, whereby the surveillance system displays any objects on a lower tray of the shopping carts moved through the aisle. The checkout stand counter can comprise a numerical keyboard and the monitor can be positioned adjacent to the numerical keyboard, whereby the monitor is in a position giving an appearance of being associated with operation of the numerical keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Joel M. Schaffer