Battery and charger kiosk

• US 9,203,245 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Aloe
• Original Assignee: John Aloe
• Inventors: Aloe, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodas, Richard Isla
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/917,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/109, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery rental kiosk system is provided. The system allows for batteries to be rented or purchased for mobile devices that may require a battery recharge. In one embodiment, the system may allow a customer to rent the battery for a selected time period and charge a customer credit card periodically at the expiration of the time period.

Claims

1. A kiosk based battery rental system comprising:

a kiosk and a server in electronic communication with each other, and a charging unit configured to charge at least one of a plurality of battery packs;

wherein the kiosk comprises;

a computerized user interface module providing a user interface to a customer, the user interface module allowing a customer to identify one of the plurality of battery packs required to charge a device of the customer, the user interface module further configured to direct a customer to select a rental time period, pay for the identified battery pack, and to dispense the identified battery pack;

wherein the plurality of battery packs comprises battery packs of different configurations for charging different devices;

a dispensing structure allowing the identified battery pack to be removed from a vending rack and dispensed through the dispensing structure;

a return structure having an openable door and a sensor to identify when a battery pack has been received within the return structure;

a returned battery pack bin connected to the return structure, the returned battery pack bin sized to receive and store a returned battery pack, the returned battery pack bin being capable of being opened and accessed by a maintenance operator, the returned battery pack, once accessed by the maintenance operator being chargeable on the charging unit; and

a communications unit capable of communicating information relating to the battery pack identified by the customer to the server, the information comprising an identification number of the identified battery pack, selected time period, the device of the customer, and a credit card information of the customer;

wherein the server comprises;

a core services module configured to receive the information communicated by the communications unit, and further configured to process credit card information and return a confirmation to the customer through the kiosk and computerized user interface module;

an administration repository module configured to store and receive information relating to a history of the renting of the plurality of battery packs, the core services module passing the identification number and a kiosk identification number identifying the kiosk to the administration repository module;

an analytics repository module configured to receive information from the core services module and configured to calculate and store analytics information regarding kiosk operation based on the information received by the core services module; and

an administrator and analytics reporting module configured to provide a user interface and access to the server system, the administrator and analytics reporting module allowing an administrator to access data of the analytics repository, administration repository module, and the core services module; and

wherein the core services module of the server is configured to charge the credit card of the customer based on the credit card information received from the communication unit, to begin a timer for the selected time period and, upon expiration of the selected time period charge the credit card of the customer again, and restart the timer for the selected time period.

2. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the core services module is configured to repeat charging the credit card at the expiration of the timer, and to repeat re-setting the timer until the battery pack is returned by the customer.

3. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of battery packs comprises a plurality of batteries, and a plurality of different adapters, a first plurality of adapters of the plurality of different adapters configured to connect one of the plurality of batteries to a first device, and a second plurality of adapters of the plurality of different adapters configured to connect the one of the plurality of batteries to a second device.

4. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of battery packs comprises a first plurality of battery packs having a first mating protrusion configured to fit a first device, and a second plurality of battery packs having a second mating protrusion configured to fit a second device.

5. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to prompt a user to select a rental time period to be one of hourly, half day, and daily.

6. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the rental time period is hourly.

7. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the rental time period is daily.

8. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of battery packs comprises a scannable identification code, and wherein the kiosk further comprises a scanner to scan and record the scannable identification code.

9. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the server is further configured to provide an indication to the operator that the battery pack has been returned, and to instruct the operator to receive the battery pack and recharge the battery pack.

10. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the charging unit in positioned within the kiosk.

11. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the charging unit is remote from the kiosk.

12. The battery exchange service system of claim 1 wherein the charging unit is integrated into the dispensing structure.

13. A kiosk based battery rental system comprising:

a kiosk and a server in electronic communication with each other, and a charging unit configured to charge at least one of a plurality of battery packs;

wherein the kiosk comprises;

a computerized user interface module providing a user interface to a customer, the user interface module allowing a customer to identify one of the plurality of battery packs required to charge a device of the customer, the user interface module further configured to direct a customer to select a rental time period, pay for the identified battery pack, and to dispense the identified battery pack;

wherein the plurality of battery packs comprises battery packs of different configurations for charging different devices;

a dispensing structure allowing the identified battery pack to be removed from a vending rack and dispensed through the dispensing structure;

a return structure having an openable door and a sensor to identify when a battery pack has been received within the return structure;

a battery replacement unit connected to the return structure, the replacement unit configured to automatically place the returned battery pack into the charging unit, the charging unit being within the kiosk;

a communications unit capable of communicating information relating to the battery pack identified by the customer to the server, the information comprising an identification number of the identified battery pack, selected time period, the device of the customer, and a credit card information of the customer;

wherein the server comprises;

a core services module configured to receive the information communicated by the communications unit, and further configured to process credit card information and return a confirmation to the customer through the kiosk and computerized user interface module;

an administration repository module configured to store and receive information relating to a history of the renting of the plurality of battery packs, the core services module passing the identification number and a kiosk identification number identifying the kiosk to the administration repository module;

an analytics repository module configured to receive information from the core services module and configured to calculate and store analytics information regarding kiosk operation based on the information received by the core services module; and

an administrator and analytics reporting module configured to provide a user interface and access to the server system, the administrator and analytics reporting module allowing an administrator to access data of the analytics repository, administration repository module, and the core services module; and

wherein the core services module of the server is configured to charge the credit card of the customer based on the credit card information received from the communication unit, to begin a timer for the selected time period and, upon expiration of the selected time period charge the credit card of the customer again, and restart the timer for the selected time period.

14. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein, upon adequate charging of the returned battery on the charging unit, the battery replacement unit is configured to automatically move the returned battery pack into the vending rack.

15. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein the core services module is configured to repeat charging the credit card at the expiration of the timer, and to repeat re-setting the timer until the battery pack is returned by the customer.

16. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of battery packs comprises a plurality of batteries, and a plurality of different adapters, a first plurality of adapters of the plurality of different adapters configured to connect one of the plurality of batteries to a first device, and a second plurality of adapters of the plurality of different adapters configured to connect the one of the plurality of batteries to a second device.

17. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of battery packs comprises a first plurality of battery packs having a first mating protrusion configured to fit a first device, and a second plurality of battery packs having a second mating protrusion configured to fit a second device.

18. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein the user interface is configured to prompt a user to select a rental time period to be one of hourly, half day, and daily.

19. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of battery packs comprises a scannable identification code, and wherein the kiosk further comprises a scanner to scan and record the scannable identification code.

20. The battery exchange service system of claim 13 wherein the charging unit is part of the vending rack.