Torsion resistant interactive kiosk

• US 10,409,323 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verifone, Inc. (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zivelo Incorporated
• Inventors: Birgeoglu, Zubair, Kucera, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez Cruz, Dimary S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Ingrid D
• Application Number:
  US15/464,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20170255227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 Alarm indicators, e.g. bells

Abstract

A kiosk chassis includes first and second oppositely disposed, vertically extending u-channel side members; a top region, a middle region, and a bottom region disposed between the first and second side members; and a cross brace disposed within the middle region and extending between the first and second side members. The cross brace includes two intersecting members secured together and forms respective first and second acute angles with one of the u-channel side members.

Claims

1. A kiosk chassis comprising:

first and second oppositely disposed, vertically extending u-channel side members;

a top region, a middle region, and a bottom region disposed between the first and second side members; and

a cross brace disposed within the middle region and extending between the first and second side members, the cross brace comprising two intersecting members secured together;

wherein;

each intersecting member forms respective first and second acute angles with one of the u-channel side members; and

a computing module is disposed within the top region.

2. The chassis of claim 1, wherein the computing module comprises a personal computer (PC).

3. The chassis of claim 2, further comprising a power supply disposed within the middle region and bounded by respective portions of the two intersecting members and one of the u-channel side members.

4. The chassis of claim 3, further comprising a user interactive component disposed within the bottom region.

5. The chassis of claim 4, wherein the user interactive component comprises at least a portion of one of a printer, keypad, scanner, and payment module.

6. The chassis of claim 1, wherein the two intersecting members are secured together by welding.

7. The chassis of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second tapered reinforcement members secured to the first and second side members, respectively, and disposed within the bottom region.

8. The chassis of claim 7, wherein each reinforcement member comprises a tapering member which extends inwardly and downwardly from one of the side members.

9. The chassis of claim 7, wherein;

the bottom region comprises a bottom member; and

each reinforcement member is attached to one of the side members and to the bottom member.

10. The chassis of claim 9, wherein the bottom region further comprises a second reinforcement structure including a cross member configured to provide stiffening against torsion.

11. The chassis of claim 10, wherein the second reinforcement structure comprises a stiffening member which exhibits a taper extending from the front of the chassis towards the rear of the chassis.

12. The chassis of claim 11, wherein the stiffening member is tubular.

13. The chassis of claim 7, wherein each reinforcement member is stitch welded to the inside of one of the side members.

14. The chassis of claim 7, wherein each reinforcement member is tubular.

15. A kiosk assembly comprising a main chassis frame and a sub-chassis hingedly mounted to the main chassis frame and having an opening for viewing a display and a component panel adapted to accommodate a user interactive component, the main chassis frame comprising:

a top region including a PC, a middle region including a power supply, and a bottom region, the top, middle, and bottom regions each disposed between first and second vertically extending side members; and

a cross brace disposed within the middle region and extending between the first and second side members, the cross brace comprising two intersecting members secured together.

16. The kiosk assembly of claim 15, further comprising first and second reinforcement members secured to the first and second side members, respectively, and disposed within the bottom region.

17. The kiosk assembly of claim 16, further comprising a stiffening member disposed in the bottom region and exhibiting a taper extending from the front of the chassis towards the rear of the chassis.

18. The kiosk of claim 16, wherein each reinforcement member comprises a tapered member which extends inwardly and downwardly from one of the side members.

19. The kiosk assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second side members comprises an inwardly facing U-channel.