Patents by Inventor Kenneth G. Rhineberger

Kenneth G. Rhineberger 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).

  • Patent number: 8676377
    Abstract: An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fasteners For Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman L. Siegel, Gregory M. Bird, Kenneth G. Rhineberger, James Bacnik, Paul Mueller, Daniel Kump, William H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20130024023
    Abstract: An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Norman L. Siegel, Gregory M. Bird, Kenneth G. Rhineberger, James Bacnik, Paul Mueller, Daniel Kump, William H. Walker
  • Patent number: 8260456
    Abstract: An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the at least one shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver, which receives corresponding data from all shelves employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fasteners For Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman L. Siegel, Gregory M. Bird, Kenneth G. Rhineberger, James Bacnik, Paul Mueller, Daniel Kump, William H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20090248198
    Abstract: An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the at least one shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver, which receives corresponding data from all shelves employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Norman L. Siegel, Gregory M. Bird, Kenneth G. Rhineberger, James Bacnik, Paul Mueller, Daniel Kump, William H. Walker