Abstract: A container has a container base, a container lid and a closure. The container base includes a back member and a base sidewall extending upwardly therefrom. The container lid is hingedly-connected to the base and movable relative thereto between closed and open positions, the container lid including a front member and a lid sidewall extending downwardly therefrom. The closure extending from the container lid and engaging the container base to maintain the container lid in the closed position. A resilient insert with a plurality of storage receptacles for small items is accommodatable in the container base.

Abstract: A tamper resistant cap for a container includes an inner cap and an outer cap. The inner cap has a threaded inner surface, and an upper surface with a plurality of upwardly extending teeth. The outer cap houses the inner cap and defines a central bore thereabove with an inner engagement surface. On an intermediate layer of the outer cap, below the upper bore, there are a plurality of downwardly extending teeth. The tamper resistant cap is releasably securable onto a neck of the container by engagement with the threaded inner surface and removable therefrom by applying a downward force to the outer cap to mesh the upwardly and downwardly extending teeth. The central bore is engageable with a frangible post of the container to effect removal thereof.

Abstract: The system described is an electronic payment and loyalty systems for retail and automatic unattended vending. In particular the invention relates to an electronic payment and loyalty system wherein the customer account information is cached in a nonvolatile memory on the payment terminal or point of sale system while addressing the problems of securely storing customer account information, operation of the system during a failure of the server or network, and the use of customer account synchronization scheduling to limit merchant fraud risk in a network or retail locations and to maximize the peak transaction capacity of the available server and network infrastructure. When the customer account information is not available at the payment terminal, transactions are processed with an online connection to the payment server. The invention allows customers to use and fund electronic stored value accounts at merchant locations without the need for an online connection to the payment system server.

Abstract: A hang tag having a bifolding body, one part of which has a long tail, and one of the parts having a recess adapted to receive an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device. The EAS device is placed or secured in the recess, the tail is wrapped around a piece of merchandise, and the other end of the tail is affixed to one of the bifolding bodies, and then the bifold is snapped shut permanently. The tag is made out of a tough, minimal stretch plastic such as nylon or another polyamide, enabling the tag to be assembled onto the merchandise simply by looping and snapping, without any riveting or other joining required. Using a tough polymer, the snap fit can be designed to create a permanent attachment so that the tag would have to be cut off or destroyed to remove it.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable merchandise display comprising a plurality of corner posts, a plurality of upper tracks attached to upper portions of the plurality of corner posts, and a plurality of lower tracks attached to lower portions of the plurality of corner posts, wherein the plurality of corner posts, the plurality of upper tracks, and the plurality of lower tracks constitute a support structure for panels stocked with merchandise for sale thereof.

Abstract: A protective housing for an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag is adhered directly to an article with an adhesive layer that is difficult to remove. The housing comprises a cavity defined by a base and rectilinear side walls, with the EAS tag secured against the base. The dimension of the side walls together with the adhesive layer is significantly greater than the thickness of the EAS tag, so that there is a substantial portion of the cavity between the EAS tag and the article to which the housing is attached.

Abstract: A hang tag having a bifolding body, one part of which has a long tail, and one of the parts having a recess adapted to receive an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device. The EAS device is placed or secured in the recess, the tail is wrapped around a piece of merchandise, and the other end of the tail is affixed to one of the bifolding bodies, and then the bifold is snapped shut permanently. The tag is made out of a tough, minimal stretch plastic such as nylon or another polyamide, enabling the tag to be assembled onto the merchandise simply by looping and snapping, without any riveting or other joining required. Using a tough polymer, the snap fit can be designed to create a permanent attachment so that the tag would have to be cut off or destroyed to remove it.

Abstract: A remote ordering system particularly suited to mobile customers placing remote orders with any one of a group of affiliated merchants for pick up by the customer at a specific merchant location. The system includes a database or store information directory that contains information characterizing order-processing features for each location. The information is preferably organized according to a schema corresponding to the organizational structure of the group of merchants. The information may include order fulfillment capability, menus, prices, payment features, taxes, security protocols and system administration privileges specific to each merchant location or sub-groups of merchant locations.

Abstract: In an electronic remote ordering system, an initial order from a new customer may be processed using limited information, with activation of the customer account, possibly including a payment account, occurring upon the customer's attendance at a customer-specified merchant point of sale for order fulfillment. Activation of the accounts may be upon obtaining a contract signature from the customer and/or in person verification of the customer's identity at the point of sale. Payment account information may be secured remotely or upon attendance at the point of sale. In the latter case, payment account information can be electronically captured from the means of payment tendered by the customer. The invention eases the burden on new customers and allows effective authentication during account creation.

Abstract: A hang tag having an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device is provided by using a conventional hang tag substrate, such as paper, securing the EAS device therein, and folding the substrate onto itself and securing it with a permanent adhesive. Preferably the substrate is accordian folded. With the EAS device permanently secured and hidden in a fold, the article is more amenable to consideration by the consumer, and the EAS device is unobtrusive.