Semi-private internet kiosk

• US 6,646,863 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neptune Networks Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neptune Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Deacon, Dennis, White, Todd D., Vong, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/039,891
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/683, 361/684-685, 361/689, 361/724-729, 361/743, 361/752, 109/24.1, 109/11, 109/1.R, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 395/18, 395/20, 395/22, 340/706, 340/709, 340/825.31, 340/825.33, 700/233, 700/236-238, 707/100-104, 345/32, 345/113, 345/133, 348/839-845, 348/832, 359/483, 359/485, 359/493, 359/501, 359/601, 359/900, 312/223.3, 312/235.5, 312/235.9, 312/240, 297/147, 297/172, 297/174, 297/135, 297/217, 297/188, D20/10, D20/39, D20/40, D20/42, D14/103, D14/106, D14/113, D14/124-129
• US Class Current: 361/679.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention includes a kiosk having a computer system therein that allows a seated person to access a computer network, such as the Internet. A hinged keyboard retracts into the kiosk to preserve space when not in use. The hinged keyboard is advantageously protected from damage, by a breakaway mechanism that allows the keyboard to pivot away from a position upon the application of a relatively damaging force. A retractable wing door further provides a level of privacy for the user. When closed, the hinged keyboard and the retractable wing door further enclose the computer system in a protected shell.

Claims

1. A kiosk for providing convenient access to the Internet, the kiosk comprising:

a housing extending in a generally vertical direction, the housing adapted to store a display device and a computer system therein, where a base of the housing is adapted to securely mount the housing to a floor, the base further defining at least one aperture adapted to pass electrical cabling therein;

a keyboard coupled to the housing with a first hinge, where the first hinge is adapted to pivot the keyboard along the first hinge from a closed position to an opened position, where the keyboard includes a typing surface and a backside surface, where the keyboard pivots to the closed position in a first generally vertical position such that when the keyboard is closed, the typing surface of the keyboard faces inward and the backside surface is substantially flush with an exterior the housing, where the keyboard includes a spring adapted to maintain the keyboard in the closed position, where the keyboard further includes a stop adapted to maintain the keyboard in a generally horizontal open position, where the keyboard closes such that when in the closed position, the keyboard conceals at least a first portion of the display device from outside the kiosk, and where the keyboard opens such that when in the open position, the first portion of the display device is visible from outside the kiosk; and

a wing door coupled to the housing with a second hinge, where the second hinge is adapted to pivot the wing door along the second hinge from a closed position and to an opened position, where an exterior surface of the wing door is substantially flush with the housing when the wing door is in the closed position, where at least a second portion of the display device is concealed when the wing door is in the closed position, where the second portion of the display device is revealed when the display device is in the opened position.

2. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, wherein the keyboard is further adapted to pivot from the generally horizontal open position to a second generally vertical position to protect the keyboard upon an application of a forceful downward load from breakage.

3. The kiosk as defined in claim 2, wherein the keyboard pivots to the second generally vertical position through a third hinge coupled to the keyboard.

4. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, wherein the kiosk is further adapted to provide access to a user in a seated position, where a screen height is approximately at an eye-level height, and where the keyboard is easily accessible to the seated user'"'"'s hands.

5. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, further comprising a privacy screen to substantially prevent a person seated adjacent to a user from viewing the display device.

6. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, wherein an axis defined by the first hinge is approximately at a right angle to an axis defined by the second hinge.

7. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, further comprising a credit card reader coupled to the computer system and adapted to allow a user to enter the user'"'"'s credit card information.

8. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, further comprising a headset including a speaker and a microphone, where the headset is adapted to allow the user to send and receive voice messages over the Internet.

9. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, further comprising an infra-red (IR) port adapted to interface with a personal digital assistant (PDA).

10. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, further comprising an input/output port adapted to interface with a laptop computer.

11. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, further comprising a domed top coupled to the housing to discourage the placement of objects thereupon.

12. The kiosk as defined in claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the housing is configured to discourage the placement of objects thereupon.

13. A kiosk for providing convenient access to the Internet, the kiosk comprising:

a display device;

a CPU unit adapted to interface with the Internet to retrieve Web pages and display the Web pages on the display device;

a generally vertical housing that is adapted to store the display device and the CPU unit, where the housing further defines an aperture adapted allow a user to view the display device such that a user'"'"'s viewing angle is substantially normal to a surface of the display device;

a keyboard coupled to the housing and adapted to swing open to allow a user to access keys of the keyboard, where the keyboard is further adapted to interface with the CPU unit, and where the keyboard is further adapted to swing closed to save space and to protect the keys from inadvertent damage; and

a privacy cover coupled to the housing, where the privacy cover is adapted to extend outwardly from the housing such that the privacy cover obscures a covered viewing angle from at least one side of the display device where the covered viewing angle is greater than about 30 degrees from a vector normal to the surface of the display device.

14. The kiosk as defined in claim 13, wherein the aperture further comprises a plate of glass.

15. A keyboard mounting assembly suited to permit relatively permanent attachment of a keyboard to a structure, the keyboard mounting assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to hold the keyboard such that the keyboard is securely maintained within the housing regardless of an orientation of the housing;

a hinge assembly coupled to the housing, where the hinge assembly is adapted to couple the housing to the structure, and where the hinge assembly is further adapted to pivot the housing along the hinge with respect to the structure; and

a torque limiting assembly coupled to the housing, where the torque limiting assembly is adapted to maintain a position of the housing relative to the structure, where the torque limiting assembly is further adapted to release, without damage to the torque limiting assembly, the maintained position of the housing upon the application of a load to the keyboard assembly that causes a torque between the keyboard assembly and the structure to exceed a predetermined torque, where the predetermined torque is higher than a first torque approximately derived from a sum of the weight of the keyboard, the keyboard assembly, and the load applied to the keyboard assembly, and where the predetermined torque is lower than a second torque that would otherwise result in damage to the keyboard assembly if not for the action of the torque limiting assembly.

16. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the predetermined torque is approximately 25 foot-pounds.

17. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the torque limiting assembly is integrated with the hinge assembly.

18. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the housing is further adapted to hold a pointing device.

19. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 15, further comprising a spring assembly adapted to apply a force to the housing such that when the torque limiting assembly has released, the spring assembly applies force in the direction of the previously maintained position.

20. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the predetermined torque applies only in a first rotation direction and not in a second rotation direction, such that the torque assembly offers nominal resistance to movement in the second rotational direction.

21. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the torque limiting assembly further comprises:

a torque application member adapted to transfer the torque between the keyboard assembly and the structure to a radially extending force;

a plunger coupled to the torque application member, where the plunger includes a substantially rounded tip that extends from the plunger in a first axis that is perpendicular to the direction of the radially extending force, and where the tip is adapted to move along the first direction;

a substantially rigid plate with a deformation, where the deformation is adapted to accommodate the tip of the plunger to maintain the position of the housing relative to the structure; and

a spring coupled to the plunger adapted to apply a spring force to the tip along the first axis such that the radially extending force that overcomes the spring force and displaces the tip in a direction opposite to the spring force corresponds to the predetermined torque.

22. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein the deformation in the plate comprises a cutout.

23. The keyboard assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein the plunger is a ball bearing.

24. A kiosk for providing convenient access to the Internet, the kiosk comprising:

means for storing a display device and a computer system;

means for coupling the storage means to a floor, where the floor coupling means further permits electrical cabling to pass through to the floor;

means for rotatably coupling the storage means to a keyboard such that the keyboard pivots from a closed position to an opened position;

means for maintaining the keyboard in the closed position to decrease a footprint of the kiosk and to protect the keyboard from damage;

means for maintaining the keyboard in the open position to expose the keyboard to a user;

means for protecting the keyboard while in the open position, the protecting means allowing the keyboard to pivot away from a predetermined applied force; and

means for shielding a portion of the display device from an onlooker other than the user, where the shielding means couples to the storage means and pivots along a second axis with respect to the storage means from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position, the shielding means is substantially flush with the storage means, and where in the open position, the shielding means obscures the portion of the display device from the onlooker.