APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE ENVIRONMENT OF A PARKED VEHICLE

• US 20030199242A1
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convoy Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Idleaire Technologies Corporation (Convoy Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Cooper, Lloyd G. B., Everhart, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,705,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/119
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00257 Non-transportable devices, disposed outside the vehicle, e.g. on a parking

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the inside of a parked vehicle particularly a parked truck includes a HVAC unit and electric switching apparatus supported in a parking area with cabling and hosing which connects to the parked vehicle via a head unit. The head unit includes a cover which opens to expose controls housed in said unit utilizing a central processor which in turn communicate for example via the Internet to a server providing for activation of the unit and payment for the services.

Claims

1. A ventilation head adapted to attach to a vehicle comprising:

a body portion;

a cover hinged to said body portion and adapted to enclose said body portion;

said body portion attached to an air circulation unit; and

said cover supporting controls for said ventilation head.

2. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes high voltage connections.

3. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes at least one communication/cable hook-up.

4. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover includes a credit card reader.

5. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover includes a key pad.

6. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover has a display screen.

7. The ventilation head claimed in claim 6 wherein said display screen is an interactive touch screen display.

8. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes an air inlet and an air outlet wherein said air outlet circumscribes said air inlet and said head is adapted to recirculate air in a truck cab.

9. The ventilation head claimed in claim 8 wherein the volumetric ratio of said air inlet to said air outlet is 1 to at least about 2.5.

10. The ventilation head claimed in claim 8 wherein said air inlet is a cylindrical member supported in said body portion by two parallel lateral braces and wherein said cover holds said low voltage components in a central portion which is adapted to fit between said two braces when said cover is closed upon said body portion.

11. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said controls are attached to said body portion by a ribbon connection which runs along a hinge.

12. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said body portion is connected to an air circulation unit by a flexible coaxial air conduit.

13. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes an external AC outlet.

14. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said ventilation head has a generally circular housing and said housing includes a keyed portion.

15. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover closes upon said body portion to form a weather-tight seal.

16. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said body portion is connected to two electrical components and to said air ventilation unit by a breakaway connection.

17. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 wherein said ventilation head includes a window template adapted to fit within the window opening of a motor vehicle and wherein said template includes a first and second latch adapted to engage said body portion.

18. The ventilation head claimed in claim 1 in combination with an exterior electrical outlet separate from said head wherein said head acts to activate said exterior electrical outlet.

20. The ventilation system claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a cover hinged to said body portion and adapted to cover said body portion; and

said cover supporting low voltage communication components.

23. The united claimed in claim 20 said closure mechanism included a latch mechanism adapted to engage an edge of said opening;

a first stop mechanism adapted to prevent said latch mechanism from moving if said head is not located in said opening.

26. The unit claimed in claim 23 wherein said second stop mechanism is a second spring biased switch adapted to prevent movement of said latch mechanism if said spring switch is not depressed by said cover.

29. The unit claimed in claim 20 wherein said opening extends through an adapter unit positioned in an opened window of said vehicle.

30. The unit claimed in claim 20 wherein said opening extends through a wall in said vehicle.

19. A ventilation system adapted to attach to a vehicle comprising:

controls adapted to activate air circulation through a body portion said body portion adapted to attach to a vehicle; and

a coaxial air circulation conduit connecting said body portion to an air circulation unit.

21. A system to provide a plurality of services to a parked vehicle comprising a head unit adapter to attach to said vehicle;

said head unit adapted to communicate to a central server;

high voltage outlets associated with said head unit which are normally switched off;

wherein communication with said server activates said outlets.

24. The unit claimed in claim 21 further including a second stop mechanism adapted to prevent said latch mechanism from releasing from said opening if said cover is not closed.

25. The unit claimed in claim 21 wherein said first stop mechanism is a first spring biased switch having a stop member adapted to engage said latch mechanism and prevent movement of said latch mechanism if said first spring biased switch is not depressed.

27. The unit claimed in claim 24 wherein one of said spring switches is adapted to terminate said services.

28. The unit claimed in claim 25 wherein one of said spring biased switches provides a signal initiating charging for said services.

22. A unit for providing services to a stationary vehicle through an opening in said vehicle comprising:

a head unit having a generally mating configuration with said opening;

said head unit having a body portion and a cover said cover adapted to open into said vehicle to provide access to said services;

a closure mechanism adapted to release said cover permitting opening of said cover only when said head is located in said opening and further adapted to prevent said head from separating from said opening if said cover is not closed on said head.