Appeal 2006-2109
Application 10/680,678
1 modifications and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the
2 scope of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be
3 construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes
4 coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended
5 claims are intended to be embraced therein.” (Specification 12:10-17).
6 Helbling
7 03. Helbling is directed toward correlating charitable contributions,
8 especially in conjunction with the vending of food products including
9 beverages. (Helbling, col. 1, ll. 14-18).
10 04. Helbling accomplishes this by collecting a charitable contribution
11 from a patron at the cash register of a fastfood operation. The patron is
12 conditioned to make the contribution, in part, by awarding the patron a
13 free beverage, for example, which can be drawn by the patron.
14 (Helbling, col. 2, ll. 5-11).
15 05. Helbling’s system operates by a prospective donor, generally also a
16 patron of the fastfood establishment, selecting the food items offered by
17 the cashier at the register 10 who punches in the food items, registering
18 the charges. The patron is offered the opportunity to make a certain
19 minimum donation to a particular charity, e.g. twenty-five cents, and if
20 the donor is willing, the amount of the contribution, including any
21 additional amount the donor may choose, is punched into the cash
22 register by the cashier and appears on the display 12. The registration of
23 this contribution and collection of the equivalent amount from the patron
24 at the cash register is transmitted to the restaurant computer 13 and
9
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Last modified: September 9, 2013