Self-service vending system for electric convenience vehicles
First Claim
1. A system for self-service vending of an electric convenience vehicle, the system comprising:
- a docking station, the docking station including;
one or more docks, each dock including a locking mechanism configured to receive a locking catch positioned at a front bumper of the electric convenience vehicle, and to engage the locking catch to lock the electric convenience vehicle to the dock,one or more posts positioned above the locking mechanism and vertically aligned with the locking mechanism to indicate to a user of the electric convenience vehicle proper alignment of the locking catch during docking of the electric convenience vehicle, anda charging station configured to charge the electric convenience vehicle when the locking catch is engaged with the locking mechanism; and
a terminal including a user interface to provide a plurality of instructions to the user of the electric convenience vehicle relating to safety and operation of the electric convenience vehicle and to receive feedback from the user of the electric convenience vehicle indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions, the terminal being configured to process a reservation of the electric convenience vehicle and to provide a code for operating the electric convenience vehicle based on the reservation and the feedback indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for self service vending of electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) are disclosed. Various embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein allow convenient rental of ECVs to visitors of large venues without requiring dedicated service personnel. In one embodiment, a self service vending system may include a charging station configured to charge an ECV, a locking mechanism configured to lock the ECV, and a terminal configured to process a reservation of the ECV and to provide a code for operating the ECV based on the reservation. In some embodiments, a self service vending system may include a docking station. Embodiments may further include a reservation management system. Computer systems implementing methods of self service vending of ECVs are also disclosed.
50 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A system for self-service vending of an electric convenience vehicle, the system comprising:
a docking station, the docking station including; one or more docks, each dock including a locking mechanism configured to receive a locking catch positioned at a front bumper of the electric convenience vehicle, and to engage the locking catch to lock the electric convenience vehicle to the dock, one or more posts positioned above the locking mechanism and vertically aligned with the locking mechanism to indicate to a user of the electric convenience vehicle proper alignment of the locking catch during docking of the electric convenience vehicle, and a charging station configured to charge the electric convenience vehicle when the locking catch is engaged with the locking mechanism; and a terminal including a user interface to provide a plurality of instructions to the user of the electric convenience vehicle relating to safety and operation of the electric convenience vehicle and to receive feedback from the user of the electric convenience vehicle indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions, the terminal being configured to process a reservation of the electric convenience vehicle and to provide a code for operating the electric convenience vehicle based on the reservation and the feedback indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A vending system comprising:
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a plurality of electric convenience vehicles, each electric convenience vehicle of the plurality of electric convenience vehicles including a locking catch positioned at a front bumper of the electric convenience vehicle; a plurality of docking stations, each respective docking station including; a plurality of docks, each dock including at least one locking mechanism, each locking mechanism being configured to couple to the locking catch of an electric convenience vehicle of the plurality of electric convenience vehicles to lock the electric convenience vehicle to the respective docking station, one or more posts positioned above the at least one locking mechanism of each dock and vertically aligned with the locking mechanism to indicate to a user of the electric convenience vehicle proper alignment of the locking catch during docking of the electric convenience vehicle, and a charging station configured to charge each electric convenience vehicle that is locked to the respective docking station; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being configured to communicate with at least one respective docking station of the plurality of docking stations, to provide a plurality of instructions to the user of an electric convenience vehicle that is locked to the at least one respective docking station relating to safety and operation of the electric convenience vehicle that is locked to the at least one respective docking station, to receive feedback indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions, to process a reservation corresponding to the electric convenience vehicle that is locked to the at least one respective docking station, and to unlock the electric convenience vehicle from the at least one respective docking station based on the reservation and the feedback indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of vending an electric convenience vehicle, the method comprising:
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locking a plurality of electric convenience vehicles to a docking station by coupling a respective locking catch of each electric convenience vehicle to a respective locking mechanism of the docking station, wherein the respective locking catch is positioned at a front bumper of the electric convenience vehicle; charging each of the plurality of electric convenience vehicles that is locked to the docking station; receiving a reservation for an electric convenience vehicle of the plurality of electric convenience vehicles; providing a plurality of instructions to a user of the electric convenience vehicle directed to safety and operation of the electric convenience vehicle; receiving feedback indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions; unlocking the electric convenience vehicle from the docking station based on the reservation; providing a code to operate the electric convenience vehicle and the feedback indicating the user has reviewed the plurality of instructions; and providing one or more posts positioned above the respective locking mechanism of the docking station and vertically aligned with the locking mechanism to indicate to the user of the electric convenience vehicle proper alignment of the locking catch during docking of the electric convenience vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification