Traveler's quarters

• US 5,638,646 A
• Filed: 12/27/1994
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Penny Petersen Shane
• Original Assignee: Penny Petersen Shane
• Inventors: Shane, Penny Petersen
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US08/364,044
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 52/64, 52/79.1, 52/36.1, 52/36.2, 52/33-35, 52/27, 70/278, 109/35, 186/35, 186/38, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/379, 340/825.31, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 340/825.24
• US Class Current: 52/79.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/125 Small buildings, arranged in other buildings E04H1/1272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

The present invention is a short-term rest facility for travelers that can be erected within existing transportation terminal structures such as airports, bus terminals, train stations, and the like. The traveler'"'"'s quarters of the present invention has provision for automatically charging the fees for the use of the facility to the guest'"'"'s credit or debit card account. The traveler'"'"'s quarters of the present invention contains complete bedroom and bathroom facilities, and other amenities.

Claims

1. A modular traveler'"'"'s quarters for installation within a preexisting transportation terminal structure, said traveler'"'"'s quarters comprising:

four external walls forming an enclosed perimeter, said enclosed perimeter being partitioned into at least a bathroom portion and a bedroom portion;

an entry door allowing entrance into said bedroom portion from outside said enclosed perimeter when said entry door is unlocked; and

a credit card entry system provided adjacent said entry door, said entry system capable of unlocking said entry door in response to at least an account number of a credit card and a personal identification number supplied by a user, wherein said entry system comprises a microprocessor in communication with a banking institution affiliated with the user, a card reader for receiving and recognizing an account number of the users credit card a display device capable of prompting the user for inputting a personal identification number and a duration of time during which the user intends to occupy said modular traveler'"'"'s quarters, and a keyboard for inputting the personal identification number and the duration of time, whereby the user can electronically prepay for occupancy of said modular traveler'"'"'s quarters without any personnel assistance.

2. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 1, where said bedroom portion includes a berth and a desk.

3. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 2, where said bedroom portion further includes a vending machine for food and drinks.

4. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 1, where said bathroom portion includes a shower, a toilet, and a sink.

5. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 1, wherein said four walls are dimensioned and configured to form an enclosed space in cooperation with a floor and a ceiling within the preexisting transportation terminal structure.

6. A modular traveler'"'"'s quarters for installation within a preexisting transportation terminal structure, said modular traveler'"'"'s quarters comprising:

four external soundproof walls forming an enclosed perimeter wherein said four walls are dimensioned and configured to form an enclosed space in cooperation with a floor and a ceiling within the preexisting transportation terminal structure, said enclosed perimeter being partitioned into at least a bathroom portion and a bedroom portion;

an entry door allowing entrance into said bedroom portion from outside said enclosed perimeter when said entry door is unlocked;

a credit card entry system provided adjacent said entry door, said entry system capable of unlocking said entry door in response to at least an account number of a credit card and a personal identification number supplied by a user, wherein said entry system comprises a microprocessor in communication with a banking institution affiliated with the user, a card reader for receiving and recognizing the account number of the user'"'"'s credit card, a first display device capable of prompting the user for inputting the personal identification number and a duration of time during which the user intends to occupy said modular traveler'"'"'s quarters, and a keyboard for inputting the personal identification number and the duration of time; and

a second display device provided inside said bedroom portion, said second display device being in communication with said entry system for displaying a menu to increase or terminate the duration of time, whereby the user can electronically pay for occupancy of said modular traveler'"'"'s quarters without any personnel assistance.

7. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 6, where said bedroom portion includes a vending machine for food and drinks.

8. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 6, where said bedroom portion further includes a berth and a desk.

9. The modular traveler'"'"'s quarters according to claim 6, where said bathroom portion includes a shower, a toilet, and a sink.