Vehicle system including a plurality of wheeled vehicles docked for vending and recharging

• US 8,183,829 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smarte Carte Incorporated (SMARTE CARTE)
• Original Assignee: Nelson Wittaker
• Inventors: Maher, Jay A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US12/369,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A system employing wheeled vehicles, such as strollers. A plurality of the wheeled vehicles is provided, each having a docking element. A vehicle station has a docking port for each of at least some of the wheeled vehicles. Each docking port has a charging device and is shaped to engage a docking element of an engaged wheeled vehicle. At least two display screens are provided on the wheeled vehicle, one for an occupant and one for an operator. One or more screen drivers is provided for the display screens.

Claims

1. A docking system for charging a battery carried by a wheeled vehicle, comprising

a. a docking element carried by the wheeled vehicle, said docking element being situated beneath the wheeled vehicle and comprising an extended docking guide protruding beneath the wheeled vehicle and spaced first electrical contacts carried by said docking guide, said first electrical contacts being displaceable relative to said docking guide, and

b. a fixed docking port, said docking port being shaped to accommodate penetration by said docking guide to seat said docking guide and having spaced second electrical contacts in registration with and contactable by respective ones of said first electrical contacts when said docking port is penetrated by said docking guide.

2. The docking system according to claim 1, in which said first electrical contacts each comprise an elongate contact mounted at one end in a contact housing.

3. The docking system according to claim 2, in which each said contact comprises a strip, each strip having a protuberance proximate an opposite free end.

4. The docking system according to claim 3, in which each opposite free end extends into a guide channel in said contact housing.

5. The docking system according to claim 1, including first and second display screens carried by said wheeled vehicle, and a screen driver for each display screen.

6. The docking system according to claim 5, including a separate screen driver for each display screen, and in which each screen driver includes a memory.

7. The docking system according to claim 6, in which the memory of the screen driver of the first display screen has content different from the memory of the screen driver of the second display screen.

8. The docking system according to claim 5, including a third display screen and a third screen driver carried by said wheeled vehicle.

9. The docking system according to claim 8, in which said screen drivers are separate from one another.