Rapid Rescue of Inundated Cellphones
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing fast and effective drying for inundated wireless telecommunications handsets by a combination of technologies that induce a negative pressure atmosphere together with controlled thermal energy at levels that is significant yet relatively harmless to handset components and memory. The combination is such that the embodiments generally restore full handset functionality (to the extent recoverable) within thirty minutes from activation of the particular station for treatment of an inundated handset. Related business methods of the embodiments include the derivation of revenue through licensing and marketing agreements with service center owners or the operators of other retail establishments such as courier mail centers.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. (canceled)
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3. A system for rapidly drying inundated wireless telecommunications handsets, comprising:
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a housing defining one or more chambers for receiving an inundated wireless telecommunications handset, said one or more chambers enclosing a space around a surface, said space being sized and shaped to receive a wireless telecommunications handset therein, said surface being positioned to support an inundated handset within said one or more chambers, and said one or more chambers being sealable to create a seal for sustaining a negative pressure atmosphere in said space in excess of a threshold for at least an effective duration of time in excess of twenty minutes; a negative pressure system for producing said negative pressure atmosphere in said space at magnitudes equal to or greater than said threshold, said threshold being equal to or greater than 30 mm Hg gauge pressure; said housing having a door for each of said one or more chambers for opening access to said one or more chambers, said door being positionable in at least two positions, including an open position for opening external access to said one or more chambers to allow placement of such inundated handset on said surface in said one or more chambers, and including a closed position for closing external access to said one or more chambers and enabling said seal; a thermal energy system for delivering thermal energy to said space and/or to a handset in said space, said thermal energy exceeding the thermal energy produced by a 20 Watt incandescent light bulb powered by conventional domestic mains power; one or more sensors for directly or indirectly monitoring one or more conditions in said space, said one or more conditions being indicative of effectiveness of the system; an indicator for indicating a state to a user, said state being a state of completion of said effective duration and/or a state of completion of the operation of the system; one or more controllers for serving operative functions while said door is closed and said seal is created, said functions including (i) causing said negative pressure system to operatively produce said negative pressure atmosphere in said chamber, (ii) causing said thermal energy system to operatively deliver said thermal energy, (iii) monitoring said one or more sensors, and (iv) operatively controlling said indicator; an interface module having a display screen for communicative interaction with a user of said system; and a mechanism for accepting payment by a user of said system. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a system for rapidly drying an inundated wireless telecommunications handset, said method comprising;
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placing an inundated wireless telecommunications handset onto a surface located within a chamber of said system; reducing atmospheric pressure within said chamber; heating said chamber and said wireless telecommunications handset with a thermal energy source; controlling the reduced pressure and increased temperature conditions with one or more controllers; providing said one or more controllers with feedback relating to pressure and temperature during drying; and maintaining reduced pressure and increased temperature conditions until said wireless telecommunications handset is dry.
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Specification