Abstract:
An electronic device such as an alarm that reminds a user when rented items or products such as video cassettes or digital versatile discs (DVDs) are due back to the rental store, or when a library book is due back at a library.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application claims priority of Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 60/337,696 filed Nov. 6, 2001. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an electronic device such as an alarm that reminds a user when rented items or products such as video cassettes or digital versatile discs (DVDs) are due back to the rental store, or when a library book is due back at a library. 
   One unpleasant experience of renting media such as video cassettes, DVDs, and library books is paying a late fee when the item is returned past its due date. From the point of view of the retailer, negative publicity is often associated with the large incomes associated with late fees. 
   Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device that alerts the consumer when the due date of a rented item is approaching. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an electronic device such as an alarm that reminds a user that the due date and time is approaching on a rented item. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of an alarm; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an alarm; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of methodology of a due-date sequence; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of an alarm attachable to a media case; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an attachable alarm and media case; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an attachable alarm and media case; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an attachable alarm and media case; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an attachable alarm and media case; 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of an alarm with a printed matter pocket; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the alarm of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a media case with an alarm; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the media case of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic view of a terminal for a rental transaction; 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic view of an alarm; and 
       FIG. 15  is a flow chart of methodology for providing an alarm. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in the drawings, an electronic device  100  such as an alarm that reminds a user when a rented item such as a video cassette or a digital versatile disc (DVD) is due back to the rental store. More specifically, the alarm  100  provides a warning signal prior to a due date of a rental item. For example, if a rented DVD is due back to the store at noon on Wednesday, then the alarm  100  will provide a warning signal, e.g., an audible signal or a visible signal, prior to noon on Wednesday so that the renter has sufficient time to return the DVD to the store. In a number of embodiments, the warning signal is provided at a time prior to the due date that is equal to a predetermined amount of time, or a warning lead time, which is discussed in more detail below. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a number of embodiments the alarm  100  may include a clock  102 , a memory  104 , a signal output  106 , a power supply  108  such as a battery, a display  110  for showing the time  112  and the day  114  of the week, and a keypad  116 . In addition, the alarm  100  may include a processor  118  connected to the clock  102 , the memory  104 , the signal output  106 , the power supply  108 , the display  110 , and the keypad  116 , for example, via a bus  120 . 
   In some of the embodiments, the keypad  116  may include a key  122  for initiating a due-date sequence. With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , when the initiate key  122  is actuated, a due-date sequence is initiated (step S 100 ). To enter the due date, a key  124  for selecting a day of the week of the due date may be actuated (step S 102 ). In a number of embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , the keypad  116  may include a plurality of keys  124  each corresponding to a day of the week day. 
   To enter the time of the due date, a key  126  for selecting a time of day of the due date may be actuated (step S 104 ). In a number of embodiments, the keypad  116  may include keys with indexed times of day corresponding to commonly used return times, for example, noon, 6 P.M., 9 P.M., midnight, etc., as shown in FIG.  1 . Alternatively, the keypad  116  may include keys for entering any time of day. 
   According to some of the embodiments, the keypad  116  may include a key  128  for selecting a warning lead time when actuated (step S 106 ). As mentioned above, the warning lead time is the time at which the processor  118  causes the signal output  106  to provide a warning signal prior to the due date. For example, if the due date is noon on Wednesday and the warning lead time is 4 hours, then the processor  118  will cause the signal output to provide a warning signal at 8 A.M. on Wednesday, thereby giving the renter sufficient time to return the rented item. In a number of embodiments, the keypad  116  may include a plurality of keys  128  with indexed lead times, for example, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, etc. Alternatively, any desired warning lead time may be entered. 
   In still other embodiments, the keypad  116  may include one or more keys  130  for selecting a delay time (step S 108 ). More specifically, when the warning lead time is reached and the processor  118  has caused the signal output  106  to provide a warning signal, the renter may actuate one of the delay keys  130 . Upon actuation of a delay key  130 , the processor  118  causes the signal output  106  to cease providing the warning signal for a period of time equal to the selected delay time. For example, if the due date is noon on Wednesday, the warning lead time is 4 hours, the signal output  106  is activated, and the selected delay time is 2 hours, then the processor  118  will turn off the signal output when the delay key  130  is actuated and will reactivate the signal output  106  again at 10 A.M. to remind the renter again of the due date. 
   The keypad  116  may also include a key  130  for clearing the due date. Upon actuation of the clear key  130 , the alarm  100  may be reset to a default condition. In addition to the current time  112  and day  114 , the display  110  may display the time  134  and the day  136  of the due date. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , according to a number of embodiments, the alarm  100  may include a housing  138  with an attachment structure  142  for attaching the alarm  100  to a rental case  140 . For example, the attachment structure  140  may include a flap  142  that is configured to slide within the clear plastic sleeve of a typical media case  140 . Accordingly, the alarm  100  may be releasably engageable with a media case  140 . 
   Alternatively, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the attachment structure  140  may include one or more pins  144  for engaging with complementary holes  146  formed in the media case  140 . In a number of embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 6 , the pins  144  may be disposed orthogonally on the housing to engage with holes  146  formed in a top of a media case  140 . 
   In other embodiments, the alarm  100  may be attached to a media case  140  by snapping the housing  138  into a set of tabs  148  disposed on the media case  140  as shown in FIG.  7 . Alternatively, the alarm  100  may inserted into a plurality of slits  150  formed in the media case  140  as shown in FIG.  8 . 
   Referencing  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the alarm  100  may include structure for receiving printed matter  152  such as a coupon or an advertisement. More specifically, the housing  138  may include a panel  154  with a slit  156  formed in a transparent cover  158 . Accordingly, printed matter  152  may be inserted through the slit  156  to be displayed behind the cover  158 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a media case  160  may include an alarm  100  fixed or integrally disposed therein. In addition, the media case  160  may include one or more pockets  162  for receiving items. For example, one of the pockets  162  may be configured to receive printed matter  152  analogous to that described above, and one of the pockets  162  may be configured to receive a promotional or supplemental DVD  164 , with the desired rented DVD  166  contained within the case  160 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 13 , a terminal  170  for handling a transaction of a rental item such as a DVD may include a register  172  and a coupler  174  for providing a due date to an alarm  176 . The register  172  may include a computer  178  connected to the coupler  174  and for generating a due date. The remaining components of the register  172  may include a display  180 , a user interface  182  (such as a keyboard), a cash till  184 , a point-of-sale (POS) device  186  for credit transactions, a scanner  188  for reading bar codes, and a printer  190  for printing receipts, advertisements, coupons, and so on. The coupler  174  may include an output interface  192  for connecting to a complementary interface or port  194  of the alarm  176 . 
   With additional reference to  FIG. 14 , the alarm  176  may include a clock  196 , a signal output  198 , a power supply  200 , a memory  202  for storing the due date, and a processor  204  connected to the clock  196 , the signal output  198 , the power supply  200 , and the memory  202 . The processor  204  may be configured to cause the signal output  198  to provide a warning signal at a predetermined time prior to the due date. 
   During a rental transaction, the computer  178  may generate a due date automatically. Alternatively, a due date may be manually entered via the interface  182 . In either case, the due date is output to the coupler  174  which, in turn, provides the due date to the alarm  176  connected via the interface  192  and  194 . In addition, a warning lead time may be automatically or manually generated and provided to the alarm  172 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 15 , when the due date and the warning lead time are received by the alarm  172  (steps S 112  and S 114 ), the processor  204  monitors the clock  196  to determine whether the warning lead time is reached (step S 116 ). When the clock  196  is at the warning lead time, then the processor  204  causes the signal output  198  to provide a warning signal, either audible or visible (step S 118 ). If a delay key  206  is activated (step S 120 ), then the warning signal is ceased until the delay time has passed (step S 122 ), after which time the signal output is again activated to provide a warning signal (step S 124 ). 
   Those skilled in the art will understand that the preceding exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide the foundation for numerous alternatives and modifications thereto. For example, the alarm may attach to the case of the cassette or DVD directly, for example, with a clip or an elastic band, or may be free standing. Features of the alarm may include a first alarm that may be set a first period of time prior to the due date/time (e.g., six hours) and a second alarm that may be set a second period of time prior to the due date/time (e.g., four hours), and so on. These other modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to that precisely as shown and described herein but rather by the appended claims.