Carpet Cleaning Machine Rental Kiosk
First Claim
1. A self-service carpet cleaning machine rental kiosk comprising:
- a plurality of storage stalls, at least some of the storage stalls being each configured and adapted to contain at least one carpet cleaning machine, at least one of the storage stalls comprising at least one retaining mechanism that is configured and adapted to selectively prevent and allow the removal of a carpet cleaning machine from the kiosk;
a control system, the control system comprising at least one user input device that is configured and adapted to receive rental data from a customer, the control system being operatively connected to the retaining mechanism in a manner such that the control system can activate the retaining mechanism to allow a carpet cleaning machine to be removed from the at least one of the storage stalls;
at least one detection device, the detection device being adapted and configured to detect when a carpet cleaning machine has been removed from a stall of the kiosk, the detection device also being operatively connected to the control system in a manner such that the control system is responsive to whether a carpet cleaning machine has been removed from the at least one of the storage stalls of the kiosk; and
a communication system operatively connected to the control system, the communication system being adapted and configured to communicate with a remote processing system.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-service kiosk enables customers to conduct rental transactions for carpet cleaning machines without the need of assistance from store personnel. The kiosk comprises a housing having several stalls or bays that hold and display carpet cleaning machines and carpet cleaning accessories for rental. The kiosk controls whether such carpet cleaning machines and carpet cleaning accessories can be removed from or returned to the kiosk. The kiosk also optionally includes a control panel for conducting a rental transaction. The self-service kiosk may also include automatic dispensing of cleaning products purchased by the customer at the kiosk. Still further, the self-serve kiosk may include shelving for holding cleaning products that can be purchased separately at a checkout counter.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A self-service carpet cleaning machine rental kiosk comprising:
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a plurality of storage stalls, at least some of the storage stalls being each configured and adapted to contain at least one carpet cleaning machine, at least one of the storage stalls comprising at least one retaining mechanism that is configured and adapted to selectively prevent and allow the removal of a carpet cleaning machine from the kiosk; a control system, the control system comprising at least one user input device that is configured and adapted to receive rental data from a customer, the control system being operatively connected to the retaining mechanism in a manner such that the control system can activate the retaining mechanism to allow a carpet cleaning machine to be removed from the at least one of the storage stalls; at least one detection device, the detection device being adapted and configured to detect when a carpet cleaning machine has been removed from a stall of the kiosk, the detection device also being operatively connected to the control system in a manner such that the control system is responsive to whether a carpet cleaning machine has been removed from the at least one of the storage stalls of the kiosk; and a communication system operatively connected to the control system, the communication system being adapted and configured to communicate with a remote processing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of leasing carpet cleaning machines, the method comprising:
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providing a kiosk, the kiosk comprising a control system, a communication system, at least one storage stall, at least one carpet cleaning machine, and at least one retaining mechanism, the control system comprising at least one user input device that is configured and adapted to receive rental data from a customer, the retaining mechanism being configured and adapted to selectively prevent and allow the removal of the carpet cleaning machine from the storage stall; permitting a customer to enter rental data into the kiosk using the input device; using the control system to activate the retaining mechanism in a manner such that the retaining mechanism allows the removal of the carpet cleaning machine from the storage stall of the kiosk in response to the entered rental data; permitting the customer to enter return data into the kiosk using the input device; using the control system to activate the retaining mechanism in a manner such that the retaining mechanism initially allows the customer to return the carpet cleaning machine to the stall and thereafter prevents the removal of the carpet cleaning machine from the stall in response to the return data; and transmitting data that is dependent upon the rental data to a remote processing system via the communication system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification