Mobility device rental system
First Claim
1. A mobility device rental system that is operable to facilitate the rental of at least one mobility assistance device comprising:
- at least one rental terminal, said at least one rental terminal having a frame, said frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame further including a plurality of brace members, said brace members structurally integrated with said plurality of frame members, said frame members being secured to each other so as to create at least one receiving stall, said at least one receiving stall being configure to receive and retain at least one mobility assistance device, said at least one rental terminal having a first control tag, said first control tag being communicably coupled to a second control tag, said second control tag be secured to said at least one mobility assistance device, said first control tag configured to obtain identification information from the second control tag concerning the at least one mobility assistance device;
a computing device;
said computing device operably coupled to said at least one rental terminal, said computing device having a graphical display, said computing device having the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said computing device providing an interface to facilitate rental of the at least one mobility assistance device;
an operating software, said operating software accessible to a user utilizing a software application on a computing device or via a website, said software application operable to facilitate a rental process for the at least one mobility assistance device;
a locking member, said locking member operable to retain the at least one mobility assistance device in said at least one receiving stall, said locking member configured to retain said at least one mobility assistance device within said at least one receiving stall until said at least one mobility assistance device has been rented, said locking member configured to engage a portion of a wheel of the at least one mobility assistance device.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobility device rental system that is operable to facilitate the rental of a plurality of mobility assistance devices. The mobility device rental system includes a plurality of rental terminals that are installed at publicly accessible locations. The rental terminals include at least one receiving stall so as to accommodate at least one wheelchair therein. A locking member is secured within the receiving stall so as to retain the mobility assistance device until rental thereof. An operating software is provided that is accessible via the Internet or software application wherein the operating software facilitates the rental process of a mobility assistance device. The rental terminals further include control tags configured to assist in tracking of the mobility assistance devices and maintaining an inventory thereof. The rental terminals include computing devices having graphical displays that are operable to facilitate the rental and return of a mobility assistance device.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A mobility device rental system that is operable to facilitate the rental of at least one mobility assistance device comprising:
-
at least one rental terminal, said at least one rental terminal having a frame, said frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame further including a plurality of brace members, said brace members structurally integrated with said plurality of frame members, said frame members being secured to each other so as to create at least one receiving stall, said at least one receiving stall being configure to receive and retain at least one mobility assistance device, said at least one rental terminal having a first control tag, said first control tag being communicably coupled to a second control tag, said second control tag be secured to said at least one mobility assistance device, said first control tag configured to obtain identification information from the second control tag concerning the at least one mobility assistance device; a computing device;
said computing device operably coupled to said at least one rental terminal, said computing device having a graphical display, said computing device having the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said computing device providing an interface to facilitate rental of the at least one mobility assistance device;an operating software, said operating software accessible to a user utilizing a software application on a computing device or via a website, said software application operable to facilitate a rental process for the at least one mobility assistance device; a locking member, said locking member operable to retain the at least one mobility assistance device in said at least one receiving stall, said locking member configured to retain said at least one mobility assistance device within said at least one receiving stall until said at least one mobility assistance device has been rented, said locking member configured to engage a portion of a wheel of the at least one mobility assistance device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A mobility device rental system that is operable to facilitate the rental of a plurality of mobility assistance devices comprising the steps of:
-
providing an operating software, said operating software configured to facilitate a rental process of a mobility assistance device, said operating software being provided on a server computer or a mobile computing device, wherein the operating software functions to maintain an inventory of the mobility assistance devices; providing a plurality of rental terminals, said plurality of rental terminals having a frame, said frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame further including a plurality of brace members, said brace members structurally integrated with said plurality of frame members, said frame members being secured to each other so as to create at least one receiving stall, said at least one receiving stall being configure to receive and retain a plurality of mobility assistance devices, said plurality of rental terminals having a first control tag, said first control tag being communicably coupled to a second control tag, said second control tag be secured to said plurality of mobility assistance devices, said first control tag configured to obtain identification information from the second control tag concerning the plurality of mobility assistance devices; providing a plurality of locking members, said locking members being disposed in said at least one receiving stall, said plurality of locking members further including a wheel engagement member, said wheel engagement member configured to engage a portion of a wheel of a mobility assistance device, said locking members configured to retain the plurality of mobility assistance devices within the at least one receiving stall; accessing the mobility device rental system, wherein a user accesses the mobility device rental system utilizing the operating software; inputting a date and time for a desired rental of a mobility assistance device; providing at least one location of a rental terminal that has an available mobility assistance device on the requested date and time; facilitating collection of a deposit for the rental of the mobility assistance device; providing a rental confirmation code; proceeding to the rental terminal; entering the confirmation code, wherein the confirmation code is entered onto a computing device, said computing device operably coupled to said rental terminal, said computing device having a graphical display, said computing device having the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said computing device providing an interface to facilitate rental of the mobility assistance device; illuminating a receiving stall, said illuminating a receiving stall being accomplished by an indicator light, said indicator light being mounted to a frame member adjacent to said receiving stall, said indicator light being operably coupled to said rental terminal, said indicator light having a first mode and a second mode, said first mode of said indicator light said indicator light is turned off, said second mode of said indicator light said indicator light is illuminated, said second mode of said indicator light operable to identify the receiving stall to retrieve or return a mobility assistance device; releasing a locking member, said locking member operable to retain the mobility assistance device in the receiving stall; removing the mobility assistance device from the receiving stall; utilizing the mobility assistance device; and returning the mobility assistance device subsequent use thereof. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A mobility device rental system that is operable to facilitate the rental of a plurality of mobility assistance devices comprising the steps of:
-
providing an operating software, said operating software configured to facilitate a rental process of a mobility assistance device, said operating software being provided on a server computer or a mobile computing device, wherein the operating software functions to maintain an inventory of the mobility assistance devices; providing a plurality of rental terminals, said plurality of rental terminals having a frame, said frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame further including a plurality of brace members, said brace members structurally integrated with said plurality of frame members, said frame members being secured to each other so as to create at least one receiving stall, said at least one receiving stall being configure to receive and retain a plurality of mobility assistance devices, said plurality of rental terminals having a first control tag, said first control tag being communicably coupled to a second control tag, said second control tag be secured to said plurality of mobility assistance devices, said first control tag configured to obtain identification information from the second control tag concerning the plurality of mobility assistance devices; installing the plurality of rental terminal in public accessible facilities; providing a plurality of locking members, said locking members being disposed in said at least one receiving stall, said locking members configured to retain the plurality of mobility assistance devices within the at least one receiving stall, wherein said locking members further includes a base member, said base member configured to be secured to one of said plurality of frame members, said locking member further including a clamping member, said clamping member having a lower surface that is arcuate in shape, said lower surface having a radius that is similar to that of a wheel of the mobility assistance device, said clamping member movably coupled to said base member, said clamping member having a first end and a second end, said clamping member configured to be superposed a wheel of the plurality of mobility assistance devices so as to retain the mobility assistance devices within said at least one receiving stall; accessing the mobility device rental system, wherein a user accesses the mobility device rental system utilizing the operating software; inputting a date and time for a desired rental of a mobility assistance device; verifying an inventory of mobility assistance devices stored in the plurality of rental terminals; providing at least one location of a rental terminal that has an available mobility assistance device on the requested date and time; facilitating collection of a deposit for the rental of the mobility assistance device; proceeding to the rental terminal; accessing a computing device, said computing device operably coupled to said rental terminal, said computing device having a graphical display, said computing device having the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said computing device providing an interface to facilitate rental of the mobility assistance device; verifying availability of a mobility assistance device for rental; collecting payment for rental of the mobility assistance device; illuminating a receiving stall, said illuminating a receiving stall being accomplished by an indicator light, said indicator light being mounted to a top portion of a frame member adjacent to said receiving stall, said indicator light configured to provide notification to a user as to which of the at least one receiving stall a mobility assistance device can be retrieved or returned; releasing a locking member, said locking member operable to retain the mobility assistance device in the receiving stall; removing the mobility assistance device from the receiving stall; utilizing the mobility assistance device; providing notification of rental expiration, wherein the operating software provides an electronically delivered message to a renter of a mobility assistance device prior to end of a rental time period; and returning the mobility assistance device subsequent use thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification