Simulative check out station

A toy check out station simulates the action of an actual check out station by including a work supporting surface, a system that simulates the action of a bar code reader system, a cash register and a conveyor system. The station includes a plurality of objects that have identifying discs thereon and which are passed over a field generator. When the field of the generator is broken by the discs, a signal is actuated so that each individual item can have its own code according to the number of discs thereon.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the general art of amusement devices, and 
to the particular field of toys. Specifically, the present invention 
relates to simulative toys. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Children enjoy playing adult simulating role games. For example, games 
simulating shopping have always been popular, and there have been numerous 
toy stores proposed in response to this popularity. 
While there have been numerous toy store devices known, the inventor is not 
aware of any such devices which accurately simulate a modern check-out 
station, such as might be found in a modern grocery store. Since shopping 
in general, and grocery shopping in particular, is an important aspect of 
everyday adult life, and since children's games are often patterned after 
everyday life, there is a need for a toy which accurately simulates a 
grocery store check-out station. 
More important than simply providing amusement for children, many games can 
be used to teach children valuable lessons in life situations and skills 
that will serve them well in later life. For example, many games are 
directed to teaching reading skills, or teaching math skills, or the like. 
It is usually an objective of these games to be enjoyable as well as to be 
instructive; however, this object is not always achieved. 
Therefore, there is a need for a game device for use by children that is 
not only enjoyable to use, but will also teach the children valuable 
skills, especially skills associated with shopping, such as in a grocery 
store. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a game device for 
use by children that is enjoyable in use, yet is also instructive. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a game device for 
use by children that accurately simulates a grocery store check out 
station. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a grocery store 
check out station simulative toy that teaches children counting, and other 
basic arithmetic skills. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These, and other, objects are achieved by a toy that accurately simulates a 
grocery store check-out station and which includes a cash register that is 
coupled to a simulative bar code reader. The cash register operates in 
conjunction with the simulative bar code reader, and a conveyor system is 
also included. 
By including the simulative bar code reader, the toy of the present 
invention is able to not only simulate an actual checkout station, but can 
also teach the child counting skills. By coupling the simulative bar code 
reader to the cash register, the counting and arithmetic skills of the 
child can be challenged and checked. 
However, even though the toy is teaching the child basic skills and 
exposing the child to a real life situation, the toy remains enjoyable to 
use and fascinating for the child.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Shown in FIG. 1 is a toy check-out station 10 that can simulate a grocery 
store check-out station, or any other similar check-out station. The 
station 10 includes a counter unit 12 that can be formed of plastics-type 
material or the like and is sized for a child. The counter unit 12 
preferably is monolithic, but can be formed of several sections if 
suitable. 
The counter unit 12 includes a base 14, ends 16 and 18, a front side 20 and 
a rear side 22, and a work supporting surface 24. The child stands behind 
the counter unit and items to be "checked out" are moved across the work 
supporting surface 24 in the fashion of a normal check out station from 
the rear end 18 towards the front end 16. 
The unit 12 includes a shelf 26 which is used to "bag" the merchandise or 
can be used as a storage shelf or the like as the child desires. Extra 
"bags" can be stored on this shelf and used to package the items checked 
out at the station 10. 
The unit 12 also includes a cash register supporting section 30 having a 
cutout portion 32 located therein for storage or the like. The cash 
register supporting section is located adjacent to the work supporting 
surface as is the case in an actual check out station. 
A cash register unit 36 is supported on the supporting section 30, and 
includes a body 38 having an upper surface 40, a rear surface 42, and a 
read out portion 44 thereon. The cash register unit 36 also includes a 
drawer 46 that is spring biased to open when released, and a latch 
mechanism that keeps the drawer closed. The latch and spring biasing 
mechanisms are not shown in the figures as they are common to the art, and 
those skilled in the art will understand how to assemble such mechanisms 
from the teachings in the art. The opening latch is operated by a release 
button 50 on the upper surface of the cash register body, and the drawer 
is closed by forcing it back into the cash register body against the force 
of the internal spring until the latch catches the drawer. The latch can 
be spring biased as well to automatically move into a latching 
configuration when the drawer is closed. 
The read out portion 44 includes a digital display that is coupled to a 
keyboard 52 to display the numbers and other indicia associated With the 
keyboard keys, such as key 54. The circuits connecting the keys to the 
digital numbers, which can be LED or the like, will not be discussed since 
those skilled in the art will understand how to connect a LED display to 
number keys to display a number when that key is depressed. 
A signal element 58 is also mounted on the keyboard, and the function of 
this signal element will be discussed later. In the preferred embodiment, 
the keys 54 of the register are connected to a calculator microchip, and a 
total bar 56 is included to operated the equals function of the 
calculator. The chip is set to automatically add each item keyed in via 
the keys 54 and to display the total upon depressing the total bar 56. The 
chip can also be programmed to include multiplication functions as well if 
so desired, and the totals and sums will always be displayed on the 
register display portion 44. 
The check out station 10 further includes an object detector system 60 that 
simulates a bar code reader system of an actual check out station, without 
the cost of such a system. The object detector system includes an object 
detector element located in the work supporting surface 24 in a position 
to be passed over by an object being moved along the work surface toward 
the end 16 of the counter unit. As the object passes over the detector 
element 60, a signal is sent to the signal element 58 to cause that 
element to emit a light or an audible sound as the object passes over the 
detector. 
The detector system 60 is shown schematically in FIG. 2, and attention is 
now adverted thereto. Each object, indicated in FIG. 2 as object 64 
includes one or more metal discs 66 affixed thereto, and the detector 
induces a field 68 upwards from the work supporting surface. As the object 
passes through the field, the metal discs interrupt the field. The system 
60 includes circuitry 70 that emits a signal every time the field is 
interrupted. This signal is sent to a control unit 72, that operates the 
signal element 58 on the cash register. 
The preferred form of the detector system 60 is fashioned after the systems 
used to detect and count metal parts on a conveyor system, and suitable 
systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,232,265, 4,310,797, 4,314,202 and 
4,528,856, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by 
reference. Other suitable systems are modeled after systems known as event 
counters, such as an event counter using a photoelectric cell. In such a 
case, the photoelectric cell is substituted for the detector and a light 
source is located adjacent to the work station and the conveyor in 
substitution for the metal discs 66, and suitable relays, registers and 
the like are included as will occur to those skilled in the art familiar 
with this technology and based on the disclosure herein and with reference 
to textbooks such as "Industrial Instrumentation", by Considine, and 
published by Wiley and Sons, and the like. 
Each object will have several metal discs affixed thereto so that the 
signal 58 will be actuated a plurality of times for a particular object. 
Such action simulates the bar code reader action, yet the system 60 is not 
nearly as expensive as an actual bar code reader. 
The detector system 60 is used in conjunction with a conveyor system which 
includes a conveyor 80 located in the work supporting surface of the 
station. The conveyor 80 includes an endless belt 82 that has been cut off 
in FIG. 1 for the sake of clearly showing the detector element 60, but 
which actually extends over such element from a feed slot 84 to a take-up 
slot 86. A motor unit 87 having drive gears (not shown) is mounted beneath 
the counter working surface to drive the conveyor across the work 
supporting surface. The details of the conveyor system are not shown since 
those skilled in the art will understand how to construct the conveyor 
based on the foregoing disclosure. 
An on/off switch 90 connects all of the above-discussed systems to a source 
of power when desired and turns off all of these systems when desired. 
The reality of the station can be enhanced by including name tags, signs 
and the like as will be found in an actual check out station. 
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have 
been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the 
specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.