Rapid Rescue of Inundated Cellphones
First Claim
1. A self-service machine for allowing consumers to rapidly rescue inundated wireless telecommunications handsets, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber;
said chamber having a support surface therein and enclosing a space above said support surface;
said space being sized and shaped to receive a wireless telecommunications handset therein, said support surface being positioned to support such wireless telecommunications handset that is received in said space;
said support comprising a thermal energy system for delivering thermal energy to a wireless telecommunications handset that is supported on said support surface;
said housing having a door for said chamber for opening external access to said chamber and for closing external access to said chamber;
a negative pressure system for producing a negative pressure atmosphere in said space;
one or more controllers for controlling operative function of said thermal energy system and said negative pressure system;
one or more sensors for directly or indirectly monitoring one or more conditions in said space;
an indicator for indicating a state to a user, said state being a state of completion of an effective duration and/or a state of completion of the operation of the machine, said effective duration being more than five minutes and less than thirty minutes; and
an interface module having a display screen.
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.
19 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A self-service machine for allowing consumers to rapidly rescue inundated wireless telecommunications handsets, comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber; said chamber having a support surface therein and enclosing a space above said support surface; said space being sized and shaped to receive a wireless telecommunications handset therein, said support surface being positioned to support such wireless telecommunications handset that is received in said space; said support comprising a thermal energy system for delivering thermal energy to a wireless telecommunications handset that is supported on said support surface; said housing having a door for said chamber for opening external access to said chamber and for closing external access to said chamber; a negative pressure system for producing a negative pressure atmosphere in said space; one or more controllers for controlling operative function of said thermal energy system and said negative pressure system; one or more sensors for directly or indirectly monitoring one or more conditions in said space; an indicator for indicating a state to a user, said state being a state of completion of an effective duration and/or a state of completion of the operation of the machine, said effective duration being more than five minutes and less than thirty minutes; and an interface module having a display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-service machine for allowing consumers to rapidly rescue inundated wireless telecommunications handsets, comprising:
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a housing defining two or more chambers for receiving inundated wireless telecommunications handsets, a space enclosed by each of said two or more chambers being sized and shaped to receive a wireless telecommunications handset therein, each of said two or more chambers having a support surface positioned to support a handset in the space enclosed thereby, and each of said two or more chambers being sealable to create a seal for sustaining a negative pressure atmosphere in the enclosed space in excess of a negative pressure threshold; each said support surface comprising a thermal energy system, said thermal energy comprising an electrical resistive heating element for delivering thermal energy to a wireless telecommunications handset that is supported on said support surface; said housing having a door for each said chamber, each said door being positionable in at least a first position and a second position, each said first position being an open position for opening external access to the corresponding chamber to allow placement and removal of a wireless telecommunications handset on and from the support surface of said corresponding chamber, and each said second position being a closed position for closing external access to each said chamber; said two or more chambers being sealable to create a seal for sustaining a negative pressure atmosphere in said space for a duration of time, each said chamber being sealed when said door is positioned in said second position; a negative pressure system for producing said negative pressure atmosphere in each said space at magnitudes equal to or greater than 30 mm Hg gauge pressure; one or more controllers for controlling operative functions of said thermal energy system and said negative pressure system; said one or more controllers being further adapted to control said electrical resistive heating element to deliver thermal energy to a wireless telecommunications handset positioned on said support surface only during a controlled operative duration, wherein said controlled operative duration is in excess of five minutes and less than thirty minutes; said one or more controllers being further adapted to control said negative pressure system to produce said negative pressure atmosphere in each said space during said controlled operative duration; one or more sensors for directly or indirectly monitoring one or more conditions in each said space, said one or more conditions being indicative of the success of a rescue attempt; an indicator for indicating a state to a user, said state being a state of completion of said controlled operative duration and/or a state of completion of the operation of the machine; and an interface module having a display screen for communicative interaction with a user of said machine. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A system for rapidly drying inundated wireless telecommunications handsets, comprising:
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a chamber for receiving an inundated wireless telecommunications handset; a thermal energy system being configured to deliver thermal energy to said inundated wireless telecommunications handset within said chamber; and a pressure system being configured to produce a negative pressure atmosphere within said chamber for at least an effective duration, wherein said effective duration is less than thirty minutes.
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Specification