Task-indicating shelf

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10140895-B2
Application number	US-201715849976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Jan 10, 2017
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A task-indicating shelf that includes a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects and one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects is described. The task-indicating shelf includes a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device. Docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A task-indicating shelf, comprising:
a shelf including a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects;
one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects; and
a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device;
wherein docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators.

2. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein the handheld device provides electrical power to the one or more visual indicators through the docking station.

3. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein the one or more visual indicators are spaced along a length of the shelf.

4. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein the one or more visual indicators are disposed along a front face of the shelf.

5. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is a light source including a light emitting diode.

6. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a light having a single color.

7. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a flashing light.

8. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit lights having different colors.

9. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of placing a physical object on the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

10. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1 , wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of removing a physical object from the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

11. A task-indicating shelf system, comprising:
a shelf including:
a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects;
one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects; and
a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device; and

a server in communication with the handheld device;
wherein docking the handheld device within the docking station triggers the handheld device to communicate with the server and receive a specification of tasks to be performed at the shelf from the server; and
wherein docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators based on the task to be performed at the shelf.

12. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein the handheld device provides electrical power to the one or more visual indicators through the docking station.

13. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is a light source including a light emitting diode.

14. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a light having a single color.

15. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a flashing light.

16. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit lights having different colors.

17. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of placing a physical object on the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

18. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11 , wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of removing a physical objects from the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

19. A method of indicating tasks to be performed on a shelf, comprising:
providing a shelf including:
a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects;
one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects; and
a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device;

docking the handheld device within the docking station of the shelf;
transmitting tasks to be performed at the shelf from a server to the handheld device; and
powering an electric circuit from the handheld device to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators based on the tasks to be performed at the shelf.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
selectively energizing the one or more visual indicators with the handheld device to emit a light having a single color.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nicholaus Adam
• Jones Matthew Allen
• Vasgaard Aaron

Classifications

• A47F11/10

  Arrangements of light sources · CPC title

• G08B5/36

  using visible light sources · CPC title

• G06F13/4081 Primary

  Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging (current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004) · CPC title

• G09F2013/222

  with LEDs · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title