Rotatable antenna for financial transaction terminal

• US 5,949,378 A
• Filed: 03/20/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 1273239 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: 1273239 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Coveley, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG V
• Application Number:
  US08/821,053
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/906
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

A financial transaction terminal includes an outer casing including a keypad to allow financial transaction data to be entered. A card reader is accommodated by the outer casing to receive and read a credit, debit or smart card. A processor is within the outer casing and is in communication with the keypad and the card reader. The processing means generates a financial transaction request in response to financial transaction data input by the keypad and read by the card reader. An RF transceiver including a rotatable antenna is in communication with the processor to transmit the financial transaction request to a remote location.

Claims

1. A rotatable antenna comprising:

a generally L-shaped body having a first stationary arm and a second arm rotatable with respect to said first arm and arranged generally at a right angle thereto;

a transmission element accommodated by said second arm and in electrical communication with an electrical circuit associated with said first arm; and

a coupling acting between said first and second arms to permit relative rotational movement therebetween and to inhibit separation thereof, said coupling including a sleeve, opposite ends of said sleeve being accommodated by said first and second arms respectively, said sleeve having an inturned lip at one end thereof to abut against a first formation on one of said first and second arms, said sleeve having a projection adjacent another end thereof accommodated by a second formation formed in the other of said first and second arms.

2. A rotatable antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein said first formation is in the form of an annular grommet.

3. A rotatable antenna as defined in claim 2 wherein said projection is an annular ring on said sleeve and wherein said second formation is a circumferential groove.

4. A rotatable antenna as defined in claim 3 wherein said transmission element is in the form of a helical coil and wherein said coupling electrically connects said coil to said electrical circuit.

5. A rotatable antenna as defined in claim 4 wherein said first arm includes a tubular axial support, a tubular turning boss accommodated by said axial support and a pin connector accommodated by said turning boss, said pin connector retaining one end of a co-axial cable within said turning boss, said circumferential groove being formed in an outer surface of said turning boss, a portion of said sleeve being accommodated between said axial support and said turning boss.

6. A rotatable antenna as defined in claim 5 wherein said second arm includes a tubular body member and a pivot boss accommodated by said hollow body member, said pivot boss having said grommet formed on an outer surface thereof and being housed within said tubular body member.

7. A rotatable antenna as defined in claim 6 wherein said second arm further includes a coil supporting shank coupled to said pivot boss and supporting said coil.

8. A radio frequency financial transaction terminal comprising:

an outer casing;

input means on said outer casing to allow financial transaction data to be entered therein;

a card reader accommodated by said outer casing to receive and read a credit, debit or smart card;

a processor within said outer casing and in communication with said input means and said card reader to generate a financial transaction request in response thereto; and

an RF transceiver to transmit said financial transaction request to a remote location, said RF transceiver including a rotatable antenna mounted on said outer casing wherein, said antenna includes a generally L-shaped body having a first stationary arm mounted on said outer casing and a second arm rotatable with respect to said first arm and arranged generally at a right angle thereto;

a transmission element accommodated by said second arm and being in electrical communication with an electrical circuit associated with said first arm, said electrical circuit being electrically connected to said processor; and

a coupling acting between first and second arms to permit relative rotational movement therebetween and to inhibit separation thereof, said coupling including a sleeve, opposite ends of said sleeve being accommodated by said first and second arms respectively, said sleeve having an inturned lip at one end thereof to abut a first formation on one of said first and second arms, said sleeve having a projection adjacent another end thereof accommodated by a second formation formed in the other of said first and second arms.

9. A financial transaction terminal as defined in claim 8 wherein said coupling electrically connects said transmission element to said electrical circuit.

10. A financial transaction terminal as defined in claim 9 wherein said first formation is in the form of an annular grommet.

11. A financial transaction terminal as defined in claim 10 wherein said projection is an annular ring on said sleeve and wherein said second formation is a circumferential groove.

12. A financial transaction terminal as defined in claim 11 wherein said first arm includes a tubular axial support, a tubular turning boss accommodated by said axial support and a pin connector accommodated by said turning boss, said pin connector retaining one end of a co-axial cable within said turning boss, said circumferential groove being formed in an outer surface of said turning boss, a portion of said sleeve being accommodated between said axial support and said turning boss.

13. A financial transaction terminal as defined in claim 12 wherein said second arm includes a hollow body member and a pivot boss accommodated by said tubular body member, said pivot boss having said grommet formed on an outer surface thereof and being housed within said hollow body member.

14. A financial transaction terminal as defined in claim 13 wherein said second arm further includes a coil supporting shank coupled to said pivot boss and supporting said coil.