Abstract:
A kiosk has a transaction terminal which is suspended between a pair of uprights. A cover is rotatably positionable between a closed position and an opened position to allow access to said terminal. The cover has a transparent, arcuate hood-like shape. The cover is maintainable in a stable opened position and is automatically returnable to the closed position. A solar array and/or communication equipment may be located above the transaction terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/357,638 filed on Jun. 23, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to kiosks and publicly accessible facilities for automated financial transactions. More particularly, this disclosure relates to kiosks which are employed to automatically process transactions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Briefly stated, a kiosk in one embodiment comprises a base and a pair of uprights projecting upwardly from the base. A transaction terminal is suspended between the uprights. The transaction terminal comprises a card reader and/or an electronic input device which is accessible at a first side. A cover is rotatably positionable to cover the first side in a first closed pivotal position and allow free access to the first side in the second open pivotal position. A latch is configurable to maintain the cover at the second position and is also releasable to allow the cover to rotate to the first position. A return device facilitates return of the cover from the opened to the closed position. 
         [0004]    The latch is preferably solenoid operated. A Hall sensor senses the position of the cover and generates a corresponding power control signal. The return device is preferably a weight motor or a spring motor. The cover preferably has a transparent, arcuate hood-like shape. The return device automatically returns the cover from the open to the closed position. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a solar power unit is mounted at an upper portion of the uprights. An array of solar panels is rotatably positionable relative to the uprights. The kiosk may comprise an upright support assembly, wherein a transaction terminal is mounted to the support assembly and comprises at least one electronic device selected from the group consisting of a card reader, a keyboard, a computer touch screen and a printer. Each of the electronic devices is user-interfaceable at a first side. A cover is rotatably positionable to cover the first side in a first closed pivotal position and retractable to allow free access to the first side in a second open pivotal position. A solenoid operated latch maintains the cover at the second position. The latch is releasable to allow the cover to rotate to the first position wherein it is automatically returned by either a weight motor or a spring motor. 
         [0006]    A Hall sensor senses the position of the cover and generates a corresponding power control signal for powering down the kiosk under certain circumstances. In one embodiment, the cover comprises a transparent member having a general shape which may be described as a portion of a cylinder. The cover pivots about a central axis through the quasi-cylindrical member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a kiosk; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view, portions removed, of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view, portions removed, of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a kiosk; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the kiosk of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view, portions removed and partly in diagram form, of a central portion of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the side thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary frontal view, portions removed, of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view, portions removed, partly in phantom and partly in diagram form, of a portion of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the opposite side thereof to that of  FIG. 7 , and further illustrating a weight mechanism feature; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged front view, partly in section, of a latch employed, in the kiosk of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the latch of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram for the electronic/electrical components of the kiosk of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of a kiosk; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the kiosk of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several Figures, a kiosk is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The kiosk functions as a transaction facility. For a preferred application, the kiosk  10  functions as a central transaction location for servicing several electric vehicle charging stations. The kiosk  10  may also be adaptable for functioning as a transaction station for a car rental facility or for numerous other applications. 
         [0022]    The kiosk  10  has a sleek, efficient appearance, and in some embodiments, functions as a stand-alone station which does not require a remote power supply or a direct communication line. 
         [0023]    The kiosk  10  includes a base  20  which is preferably bolted or otherwise fixed to a floor, pavement or other level support. A pair of tubular uprights  22  and  24  extends vertically from the base. In a preferred form, each upright is a 2 inch by 6 inch aluminum tube. The uprights  22  and  24  support at an upward terminus a solar power unit  30 . A display panel  28  extends between an upper location of the uprights below the solar power unit  30 . The display panel  28  preferably identifies the function or proprietor of the kiosk. 
         [0024]    A transaction terminal  40  is suspended between the uprights at an intermediate position so that it is easily accessible to a user. The transaction terminal  40  includes a fixed platform  42  which supports an inclined front panel  44  and an inclined rear panel  46 . The panels  44  and  46  converge at an upper apex  48  to form a substantially triangular shaped structure which essentially functions as a tent-like housing and support for various components, as best viewed in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, the front and rear panels may be disposed in a parallel or non-intersecting relationship. 
         [0025]    A transparent cover  50  having an arcuate hood-like form, or the general shape of a portion of a cylinder, covers the housing. The cover  50  is rotatably pivotable from a closed protective position to an opened operative position which allows user access to the transaction terminal. A lower forward portion of the cover  50  mounts a handle  52  affixed with a magnet  53 . The user typically manually grasps the handle  52  and pivots the cover  50  generally upwardly and rearwardly to the opened position. The frontal panel  44  mounts a touch screen computer  60  and a card reader  62 . The frontal panel may also mount a keyboard, a printer or other electronic input/output devices. 
         [0026]    The sides  56  and  58  of the cover  50  are bolted to axles journaled into the uprights or rotatably mounted thereto to provide for pivotal motion of the cover  50 . One axle  66  rotatably connects with a weight motor  70 . The weight motor  70  includes a reel  72  which takes up a cable  74 . A weight  76  is suspended from the end of the cable  74 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the closed position of the cover  50  is sensed by a Hall sensor  78  which effectively senses the proximity of magnet  53 . When the cover  50  is moved to the opened position, the handle magnet  53  magnetically engages a magnet  83  of a latch  80  at the upper portion or apex  48  of the housing so that the opened position is a stable position and permits ready access to the front panel of the transaction terminal. The latch  80  is preferably actuated by a solenoid  82 . 
         [0028]    As the cover is moved to the opened position (arrows of  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), the cable  74  wraps around the reel  72 . After the transaction has been completed, a sensing signal is sent to the solenoid  82  which releases the latch  80  and allows the cover to return (rotate) to the closed position under the force of the weight  76 . Alternatively, a spring return motor or device may be employed in place of the weight motor or device. The handle includes a magnet  53  which is magnetically attracted to a magnet  83  at the opened position to maintain a stable closed position. The Hall sensor  78  senses the magnetic attraction at the closed position, and accordingly preferably transmits a signal so that the station can be powered down when usage is not required. 
         [0029]    In a preferred form, the power for the kiosk is supplied via the solar power unit  30 . Solar panels  90  are mounted in a quasi-arcuate array at the interior periphery of a circular support  92 . A cap  94  is mounted at the top of the panels  90 . Four solar voltaic cells  96  are housed within the cap. The positioning of the solar panels can be easily selectively obtained by simply rotating the solar panel array to obtain the optimal orientation relative to the sun for a given installation site. LED illumination lights  98  may be mounted for illumination at the underside of the support  92 . An antenna  99  for data communication is also mounted to the support. 
         [0030]    A block diagram for the kiosk is generally designated by the numeral  100  in  FIG. 12 . The solar cells  96  communicate with a battery charger  102  connected for charging a power supply  104 . The power supply supplies power to the cover unlatching solenoid  82  as well as to LED lights  98 . A photo sensor  108  supplies an input signal for the LED lights  98 . The cover magnet  53  is sensed by the Hall sensor  78  which supplies an input to the power control unit  110 . An I/O controller  120  communicates with a processor  122  which also, in turn, communicates with the touch screen display  60  at the front of the transaction terminal. The cover unlatching solenoid  82  is also responsive to a signal from the I/O controller. Power is supplied to the credit card reader  62 , a cell phone  132 , a Zigbee transceiver  134  and a receipt printer  136 , each of which also have two-way communication with the I/O controller  120 . 
         [0031]    The antenna  99  is mounted at an upper location of the kiosk for the cell phone  132  and transceiver  134 . The communications to and from the various charging stations are transmitted from and to the Zigbee transceiver  134 . The cell phone  132  is employed to communicate the data, such as credit card information, and to receive confirmation. If required, a receipt printer  136 , which prints an output receipt, may also be employed. 
         [0032]    For kiosk  210  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the terminal  212  employs a receipt printer  220  as well as a touch screen computer  230  and a credit card reader  240 . This kiosk is especially adapted for use in connection with a vehicle rental facility. The components of the kiosk  210  generally have the same form and function as for kiosk  10 . 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , in some embodiments, a solar powered unit is not employed. Power for the kiosk  310  is supplied via a power line which extends through one of the uprights to the terminal  312 . The other functions and operations of the kiosk  310  are substantially similar to that previously described for kiosk  10 .