#patentHello, this is Hiro. During a recent business trip to Tokyo, I stayed at APA Hotel. When I took the elevator down to the first floor to check out, my eye was caught by a kiosk labeled “Express Checkout.” Following the instructions, I inserted my key card into the slot, and my checkout was completed in the blink of an eye. Although this is limited to cases where no additional charges are required, it is a very convenient system that allows you to complete the procedure quickly without involving hotel staff. APA Hotel seems to call this “1-Second Checkout.”
In the lower right corner of the signboard, it said “Patent Registered No. 7430491.” Whenever I see a patent number in my daily life, I can’t help but want to check what it’s about.
This patent pertains to a “Room key collection box and checkout system using the same” and it is configured not merely as a collection box but as a device integrated with an operational system.
[Claim 1] (Excerpted verbatim from the patent publication)
The room key collection box includes a housing provided with a room key collection port for collecting a room key in an accommodation facility, and is installed in an arbitrary place to be movable.
A guide path that guides the room key inserted from the recovery port;
A room information reading unit configured to read room information held by the room key;
A room information output unit that outputs the room information to a front office device of the accommodation facility;
A light emitting unit provided at or around the recovery port;
A sensor configured to sense approach of a user
The sensor detects approach of a user and turns on the light emitting unit
A sound output device that emits a reading sound when the room information reading unit normally reads the room information, when the room information reading unit does not normally read the room information, or when a room key moves in the guide path
Wherein an upper surface of the housing is inclined downward toward a front side.
Figure 1 of Patent No. 7430491 (Excerpt from the Patent Gazette)
To briefly explain the invention of Claim 1, it is a “collection box that automatically performs the acquisition of information necessary for check-out and related processing simply by inserting a room key.”
First, this device is equipped with a collection slot, and the user completes the operation (check-out procedure) simply by inserting the card key. Internally, the inserted key passes through the guide path, and room information is acquired by a reader unit installed along the path.
The acquired information is transmitted to the front desk’s operational system and used for check-out processing and subsequent tasks (such as cleaning the room after the guest’s stay). In other words, this device is not a standalone machine but is designed to integrate with the front desk system.
Furthermore, it incorporates features designed with user convenience in mind. The device is equipped with sensors that cause the area around the return slot to light up when a user approaches. This allows users to intuitively understand where to insert the key. It also features a mechanism that emits sounds based on reading status and operation, providing feedback to users.
Another distinctive feature is that the top surface slopes forward. This is a functional design intended to make the return slot easier to recognize and the key easier to insert, rather than merely a visual design element.
As described above, Claim 1 is characterized by the integration of functions such as “key transport,” “information reading,” “transmission to the system,” and “user guidance.” Although the device appears simple at first glance, the design—which automates business processes triggered by users’ natural actions—is protected by this patent. This serves as a prime example demonstrating that even innovations developed at the service site can qualify for patent protection if expressed as a technical configuration.
Reference: Patent Grant Announcement (APA Hotel (Japanese only))
