Power pack vending apparatus, system and method of use for charging packs with biased locking arrangement
First Claim
1. A power pack vending system for providing charged power packs to power portable electronic devices, the power pack vending system comprising:
- at least one vending kiosk comprising;
an outer housing assembly;
a user interface portion;
a plurality of rechargeable power packs, each power pack in the vending system comprising an outer case, each power pack having its own unique identifier and two power contacts for charging the power pack, and each power pack having a device connector arranged and designed to electrically connect with the portable electronic device;
a magazine having a plurality of slots, each slot having a slot identification number and each slot arranged and designed to receive only one power pack at a time, each slot having a locking member and two power pins;
wherein upon full insertion of the power pack in the magazine slot, the locking member in the magazine slot engages the power pack and locks the power pack in the slot, and the two power pins contact the two power contacts;
a charging unit adapted to charge the plurality of power packs received within the plurality of magazine slots; and
a kiosk computer for receiving the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot each power pack is in, and current power pack information of each power pack received within the magazine, and the kiosk computer controlling the charging of the plurality of power packs by the charging unit, andwherein the outer housing assembly includes an overflow slot door and an overflow slot in communication with an overflow bin in the vending kiosk, the overflow door, slot and bin are arranged and designed to receive a power pack returned to the vending kiosk by a customer only when there are no unoccupied magazine slots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power pack vending system comprises a plurality of kiosks including a magazine having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of rechargeable power packs. Each power pack has a unique identifier and is sized to be received within one slot. Each kiosk includes a computer for receiving and storing the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot the power pack is in, and current power pack information. The kiosk computer controls a charging unit for charging the power packs. The system includes a central management operation comprising a central computer and central database. The management operation communicates with each kiosk and the central database includes a database storing power pack information for every power pack and a database storing customer information. The central management operation receives, stores and processes information received from the kiosks and sends information to each of the kiosks.
234 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A power pack vending system for providing charged power packs to power portable electronic devices, the power pack vending system comprising:
at least one vending kiosk comprising; an outer housing assembly; a user interface portion; a plurality of rechargeable power packs, each power pack in the vending system comprising an outer case, each power pack having its own unique identifier and two power contacts for charging the power pack, and each power pack having a device connector arranged and designed to electrically connect with the portable electronic device; a magazine having a plurality of slots, each slot having a slot identification number and each slot arranged and designed to receive only one power pack at a time, each slot having a locking member and two power pins; wherein upon full insertion of the power pack in the magazine slot, the locking member in the magazine slot engages the power pack and locks the power pack in the slot, and the two power pins contact the two power contacts; a charging unit adapted to charge the plurality of power packs received within the plurality of magazine slots; and a kiosk computer for receiving the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot each power pack is in, and current power pack information of each power pack received within the magazine, and the kiosk computer controlling the charging of the plurality of power packs by the charging unit, and wherein the outer housing assembly includes an overflow slot door and an overflow slot in communication with an overflow bin in the vending kiosk, the overflow door, slot and bin are arranged and designed to receive a power pack returned to the vending kiosk by a customer only when there are no unoccupied magazine slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power pack vending system for providing charged power packs to power portable electronic devices, the power pack vending system comprising:
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a central management operation and at least one vending kiosk in communication with one another; wherein the at least one vending kiosk comprises; a user interface portion; a magazine having a plurality of slots, each slot having a kiosk slot identification number; a plurality of rechargeable power packs, each power pack in the vending system comprising an outer case identical in physical size, having its own unique identifier and sized to be received within one magazine slot, and each power pack having one of at least three types of device connector, each type of device connector adapted to connect to a different type of portable electronic device; a charging unit for charging a power pack; and a kiosk computer for receiving the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot each power pack is in, and current power pack information of each power pack received within the magazine, and the kiosk computer controlling the charging of the plurality of power packs by the charging unit; and wherein the central management operation comprises; a central computer for receiving, storing and processing information received from the at least one vending kiosk, including information regarding customer transactions and the unique identifier of each power pack at the at least one vending kiosk by the kiosk slot identification number, the central computer sending information to each of the at least one vending kiosk; and a central database for storing and maintaining the unique identifier of each power pack at the at least one vending kiosk by the kiosk slot identification number, the central database comprising; a power pack database for storing power pack information for every power pack distributed in the power pack vending system; and a customer database for storing customer information for the power pack vending system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification