Kiosk

• US 20110316400A1
• Filed: 06/23/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Control Module, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Control Module, Inc.
• Inventors: Bianco, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/237
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A kiosk has a transaction terminal which is suspended between a pair of uprights. A cover is rotatably positionable between a closed position and an opened position to allow access to said terminal. The cover has a transparent, arcuate hood-like shape. The cover is maintainable in a stable opened position and is automatically returnable to the closed position. A solar array and/or communication equipment may be located above the transaction terminal.

Claims

1. A kiosk comprising:

a base;

a pair of uprights projecting upwardly from said base;

a transaction terminal suspended between said uprights and comprising a card reader and an electronic input device;

a cover rotatably positionable to cover said transaction terminal in a first closed pivotal position and allow free access to said terminal in a second opened pivotal position;

a latch configurable to maintain said cover at said second position and releasable to allow said cover to rotate to said first position; and

a device which facilitates return of said cover from said opened to said closed position.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said latch is solenoid operated.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a solar power unit mounted at an upper position of said uprights.

4. The kiosk of claim 3 further comprising an array of solar panels which are rotatably positionable relative to said uprights.

5. The kiosk of claim 4 further comprising a Hall sensor for sensing the position of said cover and generating a corresponding power control signal.

6. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the device is a weight motor or a spring motor.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said cover has an arcuate hood-like shape.

8. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said cover is transparent.

9. A kiosk comprising:

a base;

a pair of uprights projecting upwardly from said base;

a transaction terminal suspended from said uprights and accessible at a frontal portion;

a cover rotatably positionable to cover said frontal portion in a first closed pivotal position and allow free access to said frontal portion in a second opened pivotal position;

a mechanism which maintains said cover at said second position and is releasable to allow said cover to rotate to said first position; and

a device which automatically returns said cover from said opened to said closed position.

10. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein said mechanism is a solenoid operated latch.

11. The kiosk of claim 9 further comprising a solar power unit mounted at an upper position of said uprights.

12. The kiosk of claim 11 further comprising an array of solar panels which are rotatably positionable relative to said uprights.

13. The kiosk of claim 9 further comprising a Hall sensor for sensing the position of said cover and generating a corresponding power control signal.

14. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein the device is a weight motor or a spring motor.

15. A kiosk comprising:

an upright support assembly;

a transaction terminal mounted to said support assembly and comprising at least one electronic device selected from the group consisting of a card reader, a keyboard, a computer touch screen and a printer, each said electronic device being user interfaceable;

a cover rotatably positionable to cover said transaction terminal in a first closed pivotal position and retractable to allow free access to said at least one electronic device in a second opened pivotal position.

16. The kiosk of claim 15 further comprising a solenoid operated latch to maintain said cover at said second position.

17. The kiosk of claim 16 wherein said latch is releasable to allow said cover to rotate to said first position.

18. The kiosk of claim 17 wherein a weight motor or a spring motor automatically returns said cover to said first position.

19. The kiosk of claim 18 further comprising a Hall sensor for sensing the position of said cover and generating a corresponding power control signal for powering down the kiosk.

20. The kiosk of claim 15 wherein said cover comprises a transparent member having a general shape which is a portion of a cylinder and pivots about a central axis through said cylinder.