Abstract:
A dispensing system for wheeled devices has a plurality of receiving slots, which may be assembled in a suitable pattern so that any wheeled device having a bar or a receiving latch secured thereto may be mounted in the dispensing system by sliding the receiving latch into the slot or released therefrom by activating a push-back mechanism permitting the receiving latch to be removed from the docking port.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/555,277, filed Mar. 22, 2004, by the same inventive entity, which Provisional Application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   This invention relates to a dispensing system for a device, and more particularly to a dispensing system for a wheeled device, which provides for proper control of the device while permitting proper use by a member of the general public at a desired time. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In many situations, it is very desirable to have a wheeled device available for temporary or intermittent use. For example, a shopper might desire a stroller. A wheelchair might also be a necessary device. 
   An individual powered device is sometimes useful. For example, grocery stores sometimes offer powered carts for their customers. Individual powered carts, with electric motors and rechargeable batteries, provide mobility for those who would not otherwise have it. Such individual carts or wheeled devices may have other power sources also. 
   Golf carts are also some common powered devices, but they customarily carry more than one person. Other such devices may carry more than one person also. For example, an all-terrain vehicle may carry more than one person. 
   Whatever type of wheeled device is desired, it is extremely useful to select and control the use thereof and efficient fashion. This is especially difficult when it is desired to control the use of different types of vehicles, within on system. 
   For example, many shopping centers provide strollers for customers to use. Customarily, the shopping centers are malls, with access to all stores being weather controlled and indoors. Typically, the strollers are collected in a corral type situation and require a person to dispense the strollers and accept payment therefor if any. 
   Such a situation leads to a substantial amount of disorganization. The corral is merely an open space on the floor surrounded by a type of containing mechanism such as a fence. The arrangement of the strollers therein depends on a particular person dispensing strollers from the corral. A haphazard arrangement is not conducive to a proper appearance, let alone proper access to the strollers. 
   Even nestable strollers create a problem. The nesting mechanism may not work properly. It may also be difficult to use. Additionally, bumping of the strollers together may cause damage to the strollers, and even the rack itself. 
   However, not every set position for a group of strollers is suitable for every location for the group of strollers. It is very desirable to be able to have a variety of set position for the strollers in order to fit in a desired area. 
   This discussion of strollers clearly applies to the other types of wheeled devices, for which it is also very desirable to be available for temporary or intermittent use. Such wheeled vehicles are very numerous. 
   Some of these other devices include, but are not limited to, a wheelchair or a grocery cart. An individual powered device is sometimes useful. An individual electric powered or gas powered two or three-wheel vehicle or device may be used for mobility by an incapacitated person, even in a grocery store. Golf carts, with four wheels, are also a common powered device. 
   Accordingly, if a device or a method can be developed to provide a consistent storage position for strollers or other wheeled vehicles, better control of each vehicle and reduction of damages thereto can be obtained. Better control means more efficient selectivity of a desired wheeled vehicle for the consumer. If a storage place for such can also be made self-service, greater advantages can be obtained. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a dispensing system for a plurality of wheeled devices with a set position for each wheeled device in a group of wheeled devices. 
   A further objective of this invention is the provision of a dispensing system for wheeled devices, which is self-service. 
   Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a dispensing system for wheeled devices, which may be arranged in any suitable fashion. 
   A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a dispensing system for wheeled devices, which accepts payments. 
   Another objective of this invention is the provision of a dispensing system for wheeled devices, which makes refunds. 
   These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a dispensing system for wheeled devices, having a plurality of receiving slots, which may be assembled in a suitable pattern so that any wheeled device having a bar or a receiving latch secured thereto may be mounted in the dispensing system by sliding the receiving latch into the slot or released therefrom by activating a push-back mechanism permitting the receiving latch to be removed from the docking port. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a dispensing system  100  of this invention with a plurality of the wheeled device  110  mounted therein. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of a dispensing system  100  of this invention with a plurality of the wheeled device  110  having one of the wheeled device  110  released therefrom. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective unassembled view  122  of the locking assembly  120  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a perspective, assembled view  124  from a top position of the locking assembly  120  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a perspective unassembled view  122  of the locking assembly  120  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a side view of perspective, assembled view  124  for the locking assembly  120  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention used with wheeled device  110 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a perspective unassembled view  122  of the locking assembly  120  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a bottom, perspective cutaway view  200  of the electronic assembly  150  for locking assembly  120  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a perspective unassembled view  122  of the electronic assembly  220  for the locking assembly  120  with docking port  180  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 10  depicts a perspective, unassembled view  122  with of the electronic assembly  220  shown for the locking assembly  120  with docking port  180  of  FIG. 9  for the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 11  depicts a top perspective view of the docking port  180  for the locking assembly  120  (without rack housing  126 ) of the dispensing system  100  of this invention. 
   

   Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A self service dispensing system for wheeled devices controls and positions each member of a set of the devices at a desired position. The system consists of a main raceway with docking ports designed to retainably hold a plurality of wheeled devices in consecutive alignment, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main raceway. 
   The dispensing system includes a plurality of modular plates with wire raceways and a plurality of docking ports having cart or wheel vehicle receiving and dispensing capability. Docking ports may be installed on one or both sides of the raceway, to facilitate convenient positioning of carts or to change the cart volume within a given space. The modular plates, containing the docking ports, may be configured into different layouts consisting of a linear structure, an “L” shape and a “T” shape in a top plan view, angular or other suitable positions. Such structure may even be reconfigured after installation. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a dispensing system  100  of this invention has a plurality of the wheeled device  110  mounted therein. Each vehicle or wheeled device  110  has its own locking assembly  120 . Each of locking assembly  120  connects a wheeled device  110  to rack housing  126 . Rack housing  126  has a main arm  128  with a plurality of branch arms  130  extending therefrom. Based on the block diagrams of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , it is clear that the suitable positions described in the preceding paragraph may be achieved 
   Within each of the branch arms  130  is the locking assembly  120 , which connects wheeled device  110  thereto. Each branch arm  130  provides a cart raceway  132  to receive a wheeled device  110 . 
   Extending from the control end  136  of main arm  128  is the control housing  138 . Control housing  138  includes an actuator button  140 . Each of the actuator buttons  140  operates its own member of locking assembly  120  and permits the wheeled device  110  attached thereto to be released therefrom. Each of actuator button  140  may be activated by a monetary unit insertion and the money receiver  142 . Money receiver  142  may also release a portion of the money if desired upon return of the wheeled device  110  through return deposit  146 . Preferably however, return deposit  146  is a separate apparatus. 
   Money receiver  142  can also be adapted to receive other activation articles. For example, tokens may be used, as may coupons. As long as the desired user has the appropriate article, to activate the money receiver, the consumer may obtain the desired wheeled vehicle. If desired, the actuator button  140  may even be operable, without money or other appropriate article. 
   Various indicia  144  may be used to correspond a locking assembly  120  with a particular wheeled device  110  attached thereto. Such indicia, as indicia  144 , become more important if different types of device  110  are attached to dispensing system  100 . 
   Clearly, main arm  128  may have any desired shape or positioning, so long as adequate space is provided to easily remove or attach the wheeled device  110 . Also, each of branch arm  134  may have any acute or right angle relative to main arm  128 . Main arm  128  may be straight, angled or arcuate, as may branch arm  134 . 
   Perspective unassembled view  122  and perspective, assembled view  124  illustrate the separation of a wheeled device  110  from a branch arm  130 . Control housing  138  has the necessary mechanical devices or electrical circuits to permit separation of the wheel device  110  from a branch arm  130 . 
   Adding  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  to the consideration, the mechanics of the dispensing system  100  become clear. Each wheeled device  110  includes a latch assembly  150  mounted thereon. To be used with dispensing system  100 , each wheeled device  110  must have this latch assembly  150  thereon. The latch assembly  150  includes a latch housing  152 . Latch housing  152  includes mounting flanges  154 , which permit the latch assembly  150  to be attached to the wheeled device  110 . Between the mounting flanges  154  is the receiving latch  156 . Receiving latch  156  includes a locking aperture  158 . 
   The oppositely disposed mounting flanges  154  each have an angled extension into a guide plate  160 . In turn, the guide plate  160  has an angled extension into the receiving latch  156 . The receiving latch  156  has a locking aperture  158  therein. 
   As receiving latch  156  at raceway  132  enters a docking port  180 , the docking port  180  holds the receiving latch  156  therein at locking aperture  158 . In so doing, the wheeled device  110  is held there or released therefrom as desired. The wheeled device  110  may be self-propelled or manually propelled as desired. In this manner, each wheeled device  110  may be removably accepted into the raceway at its docking port  180  by a receiver apparatus such as latch assembly  150  built into the wheeled device  110  to engage and controllably guide in the docking of the wheeled device  110  being received. 
   In both  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , each of the wheeled devices  110  is individually released from or attached to the dispensing system  100  at each docking port  180  through control circuitry mounted within a monetary actuated control terminal within control housing  138 . Monetary amounts for activation and removal of a vehicle are determined through electronically programmable controller or other suitable means within the control terminal circuitry, as monetary amounts awarded for the successful return and repositioning of the vehicle. 
   With the addition of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  upon receiving the activation signal from the control housing  138 , the docking port  180  corresponding to the selected position  182  on the control terminal keyboard  184  of the control housing  138  dispenses the selected cart or wheeled device  110  through mechanical means. A spring-loaded release or push-back mechanism  240  built into the latch assembly  150 , or docking port  180  ejects the wheeled device  110  a short distance from docking port  180  to indicate that the dispensing cycle for a wheeled device  110  is completed. 
   Upon receipt of another predetermined monetary deposit at the control terminal, the cycle can be repeated until all of the wheeled device  110  are dispensed. Likewise, as the wheeled device  110  is returned to the docking port  180 , the control housing  138  may include a standard return deposit  146  to refund at least a part of the rental fee. Alternatively, standard return deposit  146  may be a separate item ( FIG. 2 ). 
   Many options exist for rendering control housing  138  operable. Control housing  138  may be made operable at no charge. Other options include, but are not limited to, rendering control housing  138  operable at no charge. In other words, control housing may be operable without a cash insertion. 
   In one manner of operations, the docking port  180  includes a solenoid  184  having a solenoid pin  186 . The solenoid pin  186  operates a strike plate  188 , and permits the strike plate  188  to enter or leave locking aperture  158 , depending on whether wheeled device  110  is being removed from docking port  180  or returned thereto. Switch  190  operates the solenoid  184 , which in turn operates the strike plate  188 . 
   This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings being combined—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
   Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.