MULTIFUNCTIONAL PODS

• US 20100308037A1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optimus Services AG
• Original Assignee: Optimus Services, LLC
• Inventors: Mangiardi, John R.
• Application Number:
  US12/374,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/3.5
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/185 Floor outlets and access cups

Abstract

A pod, particularly for indoor use, consisting of a vertically movable bollard adapted to present utilities and optionally provide security function, presented in a watertight or waterproof housing is disclosed. The pod can provide a watertight or waterproof seal in both its distended and retracted state and also provides a substantially flush, cleanable top surface with respect to the surrounding floor, table, or surface when retracted. The pod may optionally be adapted with a universal adaptor for presenting gas and other like utilities. All utilities are sourced from beneath the ground or from a source outside the pod. The pod is powered and may be controlled directly on the bollard or distant to the bollard by a wired or wireless connection thereto. Finally, the pod may be placed in a floor, table, or other structure as a single stand-alone unit and may work in conjunction with other pods.

Claims

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A multifunctional pod of variable height adapted to provide utilities, comprising:

a vertically movable bollard inserted in a housing,

said bollard comprising;

an outer structure adapted to present utility connections,

said outer structure having a top surface,

said top surface of said outer structure forming a flush surface when said bollard is retracted,

an upper and lower sealing lip adapted to provide a seal when said bollard is retracted or distended, and

an inner structure adapted to receive utilities and having a powered actuator which vertically moves said bollard.

33. The pod of claim 32, wherein said seal is watertight.

34. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is watertight in its retracted or distended state.

35. The pod of claim 32, wherein said inner structure is adapted to receive said utilities from connections outside the pod and said utilities are from underneath a floor.

36. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is a floor pod.

37. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is a table pod.

38. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is in a structure.

39. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod has a key port adapted to provide control over the functionality of said pod.

40. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod presents flat surfaces along the height of said pod and said flat surfaces are adapted to provide said utility connections.

41. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is a self-contained unit adapted for removal as a single piece.

42. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is adapted to receive a console unit on said top surface of said pod.

43. The pod of claim 32, wherein said pod is adapted to use a worm gear for actuating said pod'"'"'s movement.

44. The pod of claim 32, wherein said powered actuator is powered by a motor, an electro-pneumatic generator, an electro-mechanical generator, an electro-hydraulic generator, or by a worm-gear driven device.

45. The pod of claim 32, wherein any of said utility connections are provided by presentation of a universal adaptor adapted to provide gases, vacuum, scavenging means, aspiration means, and other like utilities.

46. The pod of claim 32, wherein said utility connections are provided by presentation of a dock comprising any combination of receptacles, connectors, and universal adaptors.

47. The pod of claim 32, wherein said powered actuator is controlled by a wired or wireless control box adapted to allow a user to control the up/down position of said floor pod.

48. The pod of claim 32, wherein said top surface is comprised of materials that are non-porous and sterilizable.

49. The pod of claim 32, wherein said bollard is docked to a device adapted to join with any said presented utilities by said device being placed on bollard or said device being rolled onto the bollard.

50. An array of pods, comprising at least two pods as claimed in claim 32.

51. The array of claim 50, wherein said powered actuators of said pods are controlled by a wired or wireless control box adapted to allow a user to control the up/down position of said floor pods.