Kiosk and Method for Renting Carpet Cleaning Machines
First Claim
1. A kiosk for leasing carpet cleaning machines to customers, the kiosk comprising:
- a storage unit for housing carpet cleaning devices, the storage unit comprising at least one locking portion and an electronically controlled lock, the electronically controlled lock being able to, alternatively, lock and unlock the locking portion, the storage unit being configured such that, when a carpet cleaning machine is housed by the storage unit, the carpet cleaning machine can be secured thereto by electronically locking the locking portion via the electronically controlled lock, and such that the carpet cleaning machine can be removed from or returned to the storage unit when the locking portion is unlocked via the electronically controlled lock;
an electronic input device, the electronic input device being adapted and configured to obtain a code key from a customer, the electronic input device being configured to cause the electronically controlled lock to unlock the locking portion following the receipt of the code key without any remote communication with any other non-customer device external to the kiosk.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A kiosk for leasing carpet cleaning machines to customers comprises a storage unit and an electronic input device. The storage unit is configured to house a carpet cleaning device and comprises a locking portion and an electronically controlled lock. The electronically controlled lock is able to, alternatively, lock and unlock the locking portion. The storage unit is configured such that the carpet cleaning machine can be secured thereto by electronically locking the locking portion, and such that the carpet cleaning machine can be removed from or returned to the storage unit when the locking portion is unlocked. The electronic input device is adapted and configured to obtain a code key from a customer and to cause the electronically controlled lock to unlock the locking portion following the receipt of the code key without any remote communication with any other non-customer device external to the kiosk.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A kiosk for leasing carpet cleaning machines to customers, the kiosk comprising:
-
a storage unit for housing carpet cleaning devices, the storage unit comprising at least one locking portion and an electronically controlled lock, the electronically controlled lock being able to, alternatively, lock and unlock the locking portion, the storage unit being configured such that, when a carpet cleaning machine is housed by the storage unit, the carpet cleaning machine can be secured thereto by electronically locking the locking portion via the electronically controlled lock, and such that the carpet cleaning machine can be removed from or returned to the storage unit when the locking portion is unlocked via the electronically controlled lock; an electronic input device, the electronic input device being adapted and configured to obtain a code key from a customer, the electronic input device being configured to cause the electronically controlled lock to unlock the locking portion following the receipt of the code key without any remote communication with any other non-customer device external to the kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method comprising:
-
utilizing a kiosk located within a brick-and-mortar store to lease a carpet cleaning machine, the kiosk comprising a storage unit for housing the carpet cleaning machine, the storage unit comprising at least one locking portion and an electronically controlled lock, the electronically controlled lock being able to, alternatively, lock and unlock the locking portion, the storage unit being configured such that, when a carpet cleaning machine is housed by the storage unit, the carpet cleaning machine can be secured thereto by electronically locking the locking portion via the electronically controlled lock, and such that, the carpet cleaning machine can be removed from or returned to the storage unit when the locking portion is unlocked via the electronically controlled lock, the electronic input device being adapted and configured to obtain a code key from a customer, the electronic input device being configured to cause the electronically controlled lock to unlock the locking portion following the receipt of the code key without any remote communication with any other non-customer device external to the kiosk; advising customers via the kiosk to obtain the code key by paying a cashier in the brick-and-mortar store; releasing the carpet cleaning machine by causing the electronically controlled lock to unlock the locking portion in response to the code key being obtained by the input device from a customer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of leasing a carpet cleaning device via a kiosk, the method comprising:
-
completing a financial transaction for the rental of a carpet cleaning machine secured to the kiosk, the financial transaction occurring without the use of the kiosk; and receiving a code key in response to completing the financial transaction; providing the code to the kiosk in a manner causing the kiosk to release the carpet cleaning machine. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification