Patent Publication Number: US-7224762-B2

Title: Counting device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to counting devices, and, in particular, to electronic counting devices. 
   In retail stores, employees typically work in isolated or back-to-back shifts. For example, an employee working for a convenience store or a gas stop will typically work a morning shift, and then turn over responsibility to another employee for the afternoon or night shifts. A time consuming duty of an employee beginning a shift at such an establishment includes the taking of inventory of such goods as cigarettes. In particular, the employee must account for the number of cigarette packs and cartons he or she begins the shift with, so that any potential inconsistencies in numbers between shifts can be avoided. If inventory were not taken, the burden of accounting for missing goods that were not sold as evidenced by a receipt would fall on the last employee to take a shift. Therefore, an inventory-taking system must be in place in such stores to avoid the potential for employee theft. 
   Traditional methods for taking inventory include counting by hand or employing a calculator and thereafter recording the totals. Whereas these methods are sufficient to accomplish the task of taking inventory, mistakes can occur in calculating the goods. Accordingly, employees typically perform the task multiple times for accuracy. Further, these methods are not particularly fast. Therefore, performing them multiple times makes the task of taking inventory both time consuming and tedious. 
   Accordingly, there exists a need for a convenient and efficient device for taking inventory of goods. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
   According to its major aspects and briefly stated, the present invention includes 
   In operation, the device can be placed over the objects needing to be counted. The delineating means of the device is then aligned with the outer boundaries of the objects so that the first object in an array of objects is in line with the end of the counting portion. Finally, the counting means is activated at the location of the last object in the array of objects. These steps are repeated until all of the objects are counted. The total number of objects counted will be displayed on the handle portion until either the device is turned off or the display is cleared. 
   A feature of the present invention is the use of a counting device including the combination of a delineating means and counting means. This feature eliminates and/or improves upon traditional steps employed in taking inventory thereby providing enhanced efficiency and accuracy. In the past, taking inventory in stores included the manual counting of a number of objects and the recording of the results from the manual counting. To avoid errors, the entire group of objects needing to be counted was divided into smaller groups, and manual counting was typically done on each of the smaller groups. Next, the sums of the number of objects from the smaller groups were added to produce a total number of objects. Depending on the number of objects, traditional calculators were also employed. However, these steps still produced inaccuracies considering the potential for human error. Not only can the eyes of one taking inventory skip over an object in an array of objects, but also errors can be made in both recording information, as well as inputting information into a calculator. In the present invention, the delineating means alleviates the need for manually counting and visualizing each object. As long as the objects are placed into an orderly array that is synchronized with the delineating means, the counting device accounts for all of the objects within the array. Furthermore, there is no need to record separate sums from distinct arrays in order to calculate a total number because the counting means can automatically add the number of objects in each array as a user continues to activate the counting means. 
   Another feature of the present invention is the use of a delineating means that can include protuberances along the counting portion of the device so that the device can be utilized at various angles and heights without having to sacrifice the accuracy of the counting process. For example, if the user has to count an array of objects that is on the top of a series of shelves, the protuberances of the delineating means can facilitate the user in assessing at which point along the counting portion the counting means should be activated. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a careful reading of the Detailed Disclosure of the Preferred Embodiments presented below and accompanied by the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a counting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a counting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an detailed top view of a counting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a counting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of a counting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a perspective view of a counting device in operation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a perspective view of a counting device in operation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1–5 , the present invention includes a counting device  10  having a handle portion  12  and a counting portion  14 . The handle portion  12  can include a face  16 , a rear wall  18 , and an interior (not illustrated) that can house the electrical components for providing the functions of the present invention. The electrical components utilized can include standard electronic features that would allow the counting device to function and display the results. As further shown, the face  16  of the handle portion  12  can include a display screen  20 , such as an LCD screen, which has the ability to display numbers up to about 4 digits. Optionally, the face  16  can include an area  22  for placing indicia, such as a logo used in connection with the counting device  10 . Further, the handle portion can include an aperture  24  that can be employed in the storing the counting device  10 . 
   The counting portion  14  can include a top surface  30 , a bottom surface  32 , a top edge  40 , a first side edge  41 , a second side edge  42 , and an interior (not illustrated) that can house any additional electrical components needed for providing the functions of the present invention. Along the top surface  30  can be included means for delineating  34  the boundaries of the objects being counted and means for counting  36  the objects that is associated with the delineating means  34 . As shown in detail in  FIG. 3 , the delineating means  34  can include a series of primary marks, such as large straight arrows  35 , that extend laterally from the first side edge  41  to the second side edge  42  of the counting portion  14  and that are evenly spaced along the top surface  30  of the counting portion  14 . These primary marks can delineate the outer boundaries of whatever object needs to be counted. Depending on the size and dimensions of a particular object, the spacing of the primary marks can be modified. For example, the space between two primary marks can delineate the outer boundaries of a pack of regular cigarettes. Optionally, a series of secondary marks, such as small straight arrows  37 , can also be included along the top surface  30 . For example, the spacing between two secondary marks can delineate the outer boundaries of a pack of slim cigarettes. It is contemplated that multiple marks designating the boundaries of various sized objects can be employed in the present invention. 
   The counting means  36  can include a series of buttons  50  that each correspond to a number that is equal to the number of objects located between the top edge  40  of the counting portion  14  and the button. Of course, the farther removed the particular button of the series of buttons  50  is from the top edge  40 , the higher the number corresponding to that button. Each button of the series of buttons  50  can include primary indicia, such as letters  52 , that show an incremental increase from the first button of the series  50  to the last button of the series  50 . Once depressed, the buttons will activate the counting means  36 , which will display the number of objects counted based on the particular button of the series of buttons  50  that is pushed. Although a variety of electronic means can be employed, the device can contain an electronic, digital calculator, which is well known in the art, having an “add” capability only, wherein its input is the series of buttons  50  and its output is the display screen  20 . For example, pressing the “C” button inputs a “3” to the calculator and outputs a “3” on the display screen  20 . Thereafter, pressing the “D” button inputs a “4” and adds the “4” to the “3” in the calculator register so that the output displays the sum, namely, a “7.” Optionally, the display screen  20  can include up to four digits, as well as the current primary indicia. For example, if the last button pressed is a “D” which adds “4” to a previous sum of 9990, the display screen  20  would have the capability of showing “D9994.” 
   At the end of the series of buttons  50  can be included a control button  51  for use in both turning the device on or off, and in clearing the display screen  20 . If the device  10  is accidentally left on, a timer (not shown) can also be included that will automatically turn off the device  10  so as to conserve energy. Preferably, the number last displayed on the screen  20  will continue to show even after the device  10  is turned off and on again until the screen  20  is cleared so that a user will not lose count in the case the device  10  is accidentally turned off. 
   Optionally, the counting means can include secondary indicia, such as small numbers  53 , that can be located next to the series of buttons  50 . In the case that the primary indicia includes letters  52 , the use of numbers  53  as secondary indicia can assist a user in adding objects whose boundaries are not delineated by either the primary or secondary marks of the delineating means  34 . For example, in the case that inventory needs to be taken of packs of cigarettes that are contained by cartons, the dimension of which are not delineated, a user can manually count the cartons, and then push the button next to the small number  53  that corresponds to the number of packs of cigarettes within each carton. For example, if each carton contains  10  packs of cigarettes, a user will push the button next to the small number “10,” which corresponds to the letter “J,” three times so that the output displays “30,” or the total number of packs of cigarettes. If the carton contains 5 packs instead of 10, then the button next to the smaller number “5” will be pushed the number of times equal to the number of cartons counted. 
   As discussed, a feature of the present invention is the use of the combination of the delineating means  34  and the counting means  36 . This feature eliminates and/or improves upon traditional steps employed in taking inventory thereby providing enhanced efficiency and accuracy. In the present invention, the delineating means  34  alleviates the need for manually counting and visualizing each object. As long as the objects are placed into an orderly array that is synchronized with the delineating means  34 , the counting device  10  accounts for all of the objects within the array. Furthermore, there is no need to record separate sums from distinct arrays in order to calculate a total number because the counting means  36  can automatically add the number of objects in each array as a user continues to activate the counting means  36 . 
   As further illustrated in the figures, the counting portion  14  can include additional features that assist in the operation of the counting device  10 . Along the first side edge  41  and the second edge  42  can be included a series of side projections  60 . These side projections  60  can be aligned with the delineating means  34  so that a user need not be able to see the delineating means  34  in order to press the correct button for counting. For example, if an array of objects is located on an elevated shelf, the user of the device  10  can be guided by the side projections  60  through feel to the correct button without having to view the top surface of the device  10  in the process. In the case that the delineating means  34  includes both primary and secondary marks, the projections  60  can approximately span the width between the primary and secondary marks located at each button so that the projections can aid in the counting of objects of differing dimensions. The bottom surface  32  of the counting portion  14  can also include a series of bottom projections  70  that indicate the location of the series of buttons  50  along the top surface  30 . Again, such bottom projections  70  enable a user to press the correct button during the counting process without also having to view the top surface  30  of the device  10 . Not only do these features provide flexibility to the use of the device  10 , they may also assist employees that are physically disabled, such as visually impaired, in performing such tasks. 
   Additionally, the top edge  40  can include a flange  62  that extend perpendicularly from the top surface  30  of the counting portion  14 . As shown, the flange  62  can extend beyond the bottom surface  32  so that the flange  62  can engage the first object of an array of objects to initiate the counting process. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the counting device  10  in use. For exemplary purposes only, the device  10  is being shown as used in counting an inventory of cigarette packs. However, it is contemplated that a variety of different objects can also be counted by employing the present invention. In operation, the device  10  can be placed over an array of objects needing to be counted, such as a row of cigarette packs  100 . The first object in the array of objects is then engaged by the flange  62   50  that the boundaries of the array of objects become synchronized with the primary or secondary marks of the delineating means  34 . Once the array of objects is appropriately engaged by the device, the user presses the button along the series of buttons  50  that corresponds to the last object of the array of object. As shown in  FIG. 6B , because the boundaries last object of the array of objects are in line with the primary marks of the delineating means  34  corresponding to the button labeled “J,” the “J” button would be pressed by a user. These steps are repeated until all of the arrays of objects are counted. Once counting is completed, the total number of objects counted will be displayed on the display screen  20 .