Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the inside of a parked vehicle particularly a parked truck includes a HVAC unit and electric switching apparatus supported in a parking area with cabling and hosing which connects to the parked vehicle via a head unit. The head unit includes a cover which opens to expose controls housed in said unit utilizing a central processor which in turn communicate for example via the Internet to a server providing for activation of the unit and payment for the services.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to Provisional Application 6/375,038 filed Apr. 22, 2002 entitled Apparatus for Controlling the Environment of a Parked Vehicle which is now pending. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Long haul truckers frequently spend the night in the cabs of their trucks. In fact, many trucks are designed with sleeping areas. This necessitates environmental control and specifically heating and cooling. In order to provide this heating or cooling, the truck drivers generally leave the trucks running overnight to utilize the truck&#39;s heating or air conditioning system. The cumulative pollution created by these vehicles running overnight is very significant.  
           [0003]    Further, although such trucks are in a position to receive radio signals, they are frequently located in positions where television signals are unavailable or weak and certainly no telephone connections are available to the truck itself.  
           [0004]    Providing these services to a parked truck involves overcoming many practical and physical problems. Payment for these services is a concern as well as physically fitting the equipment needed to provide these services in a small space is problematic. Protecting this equipment from the environment is also a concern.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for controlling the inside environment of a vehicle such as a truck, RV or other vehicle. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to not only provide heating and air conditioning but other conveniences such as electricity, phone hookups, computer hookups, videos such as for continuing education instruction or entertainment and a variety of related services, providing such services within a limited access space, i.e., through the window of a truck or a small access door. Further, additional services may be provided for the vehicle, including the ability to watch television, the ability to communicate and even the ability to pay for the services. These additional services may be delivered through wires or with a wireless system.  
           [0006]    Further, the present invention protects the equipment from the environment.  
           [0007]    The objects and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated in light of the following detailed description and drawings in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a truck with the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention attached to a window adapter.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus similar to FIG. 3 showing the cover of the device closed.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention attached to a window adapter with the cover closed.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a rear view of the device of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a disassemble perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention without the cover.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at lines  8 - 8  of FIG. 2.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one alternative form of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second alternative form of the invention.  
         [0018]    FIGS.  11 A- 11 E is are a series of perspective views depicting the installation of the environmental control unit.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is an apparatus  10  for controlling the internal environment of a vehicle such as a truck  11  shown in a parking space  12 . It includes an environmental control (HVAC) unit  14  which is suspended above the ground on a support  15  resting on posts  16 . The apparatus further includes a ventilation head  18  which as shown is attached to the passenger side window  19  of the cab of a truck  20  using a template. The head  18  is connected to the HVAC unit  14  by coaxial conduit  22  which runs from the head  18  to the HVAC unit  14  and by an electrical cable  24  which again runs from the support alongside the coaxial conduit  22  to the head and can be held in a sleeve connected to conduit  22 . This is attached to a breakaway connector  21  near support  15 .  
         [0020]    The head  18  as shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the window  19  of a truck cab  20 . However, it can also be attached at any location to the truck provided there is a receptacle within the truck adapted to support the ventilation head. FIGS. 9 and 10 show embodiments in which the ventilation head  18  is attached to a side wall  26  of the truck cab at the door  28  of the sleeper compartment  30  as is disclosed in more detail below.  
         [0021]    Head  18  includes a body portion  32  and a cover  34  which closes and seals the face  36  of the body portion  32 . These are attached by a hinge  31  which preferably can be adjusted to vary the tension. As shown in FIG. 7, the body portion  32  includes an inner housing portion  38  attached to an outer housing portion  42  with a gasket  44  between the two. Attached to the outer housing  42  is a circular handle  41  which is held onto the outer housing by first and second bracket members  48 ,  52 . The first bracket member  48  includes one low voltage connection  54  and two high voltage connectors  56 ,  58  connectors. These are all preferably water tight connectors. The bracket  48  includes a removable service cover  53 . The second bracket  52  includes an exterior GFI A/C outlet  62 .  
         [0022]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner housing  38  has an inner wall  64  and an outer wall  66  with an annular passageway  68  there between. An inner circular conduit  72  is supported by first, second and third support members  74  which extend to the inner wall  64  of the upper housing. Extended from this circular conduit  72  are upper and lower walls  76 ,  78  and face  82  which supports first and second A/C electrical outlets  84 ,  86 . Fan  82  is a removable service cover. Also as shown on face  82  are a phone connector  88  and an ethernet connection  92 .  
         [0023]    Outer wall  66  has a lower stepped annular portion  94  which is covered by gasket  44 . An annular screen  98  is positioned to cover the area  102  between the inner conduit  72  and the inner wall  64  of the inner housing. Area  102  is the return air flow passage for the system as indicated by arrow  101 .  
         [0024]    Abutting the gasket  44  is the upper edge  104  of the outer housing  42 . The outer housing  32  includes circular wall  106  which forms a conduit. Inside the conduit  106  of the lower housing is a lesser diameter conduit  107  which attaches to the inner circular wall  72  of the upper housing.  
         [0025]    Extended from the conduit  106  is an annular extension  108  which leads to the outermost or exterior wall portion  112  having edge  104 . This provides an annular passage  114  which communicates with the inner passage  68  of the inner housing  38 . The outer housing  42  further includes first and second handle receiving members  116 ,  118  which each include semi-circular arcuate channels  122 ,  124 . The ring shaped handle  41  is held within this groove by brackets  48  and  52 , each of which have handle recessive grooves  126 ,  128 .  
         [0026]    Extending up from the handle are first and second prongs  129 ,  130 . Each prong includes an outwardly extended tab  132 ,  134  and an inwardly extended tab  136 ,  138 . The first prong  129  further includes a planar arcuate member  140  perpendicular to and welded to the inside surface of the prong  129 .  
         [0027]    The first handle receiving member  116  further supports first and second spring biased switches  142 ,  144 . The first and second spring biased switches include first and second flag-shaped probe members  146 ,  148 . (See FIGS.  11 A- 11 C) These probe members are fixed within the spring biased switches and are both biased in the direction of arrow  150 . The first probe  146  includes an extended portion  152  and a lower enlarged portion  154 . When the first spring biased switch is extended, in other words in a non-compressed state, it is positioned in slot  156  in arcuate member  140 . This prevents the handle  41  from rotating. When this switch  142  is compressed, the enlarged portion  154  of the probe  146  will move below the arcuate plate member  140  and allow the handle  41  to rotate in the direction of arrow  158 .  
         [0028]    The probe  148  of the second spring biased switch  144  has an extended portion  162  and an enlarged portion  164 . The enlarged portion  164  has a slot  166 . Slot  166  will allow enlarged portion  164  to ride on the arcuate plate member  140  when the switch is in a compressed state. When enlarged portion  164  is aligned with the slot  156  in the arcuate plate  140 , i.e., when the probe  148  moves in the direction of arrow  150 , the enlarged portion moves into slot  156  stopping further rotation of the handle  46 .  
         [0029]    When assembled, the prongs  129 ,  130  extend upwardly through the outer housing into the inner housing with the tabs  132  and  134  extending through slots  172 ,  174  in the outer wall of the inner housing. Tabs  136  and  138  in turn extend through slots  176 ,  178  in the inner wall of the inner housing near its upper edge  180 . These prongs latch and unlatch the cover  34  and prevent the unit from being removed when the cover  34  is open as is explained below.  
         [0030]    The first handle cover  48  includes three electrical connections which are adapted to receive three separate sets of wires. The first set of wires connect through fitting  54  and are low voltage wiring such as telephone connections, ethernet connections, television or radio antenna for cable. The second and third set attach via fitting  56 ,  58  and provide high voltage electric. The electrical wires would run through the bracket  48  around the handle  41  into the annular passage  114  in the lower housing through the inner passage of the upper housing to the central shroud.  
         [0031]    The head connects to the HVAC unit utilizing a coaxial flexible duct  22 . The outer wall  120  of the coaxial duct attaches to the exterior surface  122  of the large conduit  106  of the outer housing. The inner conduit  123  is attached to the lesser diameter conduit  107  which itself is attached to the inner housing. The ratio of the cross-sectional inner conduit to the outer conduit should be about 1 to about 3.  
         [0032]    The head  18  includes the cover  34  which is attached by hinge  120  to the upper housing  38 . The head  18  is attached to the window of a vehicle using a template or adapter  126  as shown in FIG. 1. The use of an adaptor allows one head design to attach to any vehicle window. This adaptor  126  has an opening  128  which mates with the head  18  and an exterior configuration which mates with the window opening providing a tight seal. Spring biased latches  125  hold the head in place.  
         [0033]    The opening  128  through the adapter  126  includes upper and lower cut out portions  132 ,  134  adapted to permit tabs  132  and  134  to pass through the adaptor. When this occurs, the first spring biased switch  142  is compressed by the adapter, forcing the first probe  146  below the arcuate plate  140  permitting the handle to rotate. Rotation of the handle will cause the tabs  132 ,  134  to rotate out of alignment with cut out portions  133 ,  135  where they engage the adaptor holding it in position. The upper tabs rotate in slots  176  and  178  within the inner wall of the inner housing moving out of engagement with latch members  166  and  168  in the cover permitting the cover to open.  
         [0034]    Rotating handle  41  will align the slot in arcuate member  140  with the enlarged portion of probe  148 . As the cover opens, the probe  148  of the second spring biased switch moves in the direction of arrow  150 . At this point, the enlarged portion of the second probe  148  rests in the slot  156  in the arcuate plate  140  member preventing further rotation. This prevents the head from being separated from the adaptor if the cover is opened. This protects the head from the environment.  
         [0035]    Likewise to remove the head from the template, the cover must first be closed which will compress spring switch  144  allowing the handle to rotate which will hold the cover in a closed position as the head is removed from the template.  
         [0036]    The cover includes a variety of different features including a USB-port  182 , a connector  184  for the truck computer, a credit card reader  186 , a touch pad display screen  188  and a plurality of different dedicated buttons or switches used to control the unit and to activate various features of the unit.  
         [0037]    The controls on the cover activate and control the functioning of the unit. Head  18  has a central processing unit (not shown) which can be programmed to function as desired and to provide all desired Internet communication and functions. Although the particular configuration of the head can vary dramatically depending upon the desired functions, the device as shown has a variety of beneficial features.  
         [0038]    For example, it includes a touch switch  190  which turns the screen light on and off so that the head can remain open during the night without illuminating the cab. It further includes an adjacent LED  191  which will help the occupant locate the light on/off switch in the dark. There is also a dedicated help button  194  which can initiate step by step procedures for the functioning of the head. There is also a menu button which basically takes one to the top level of the menu. A dedicated thermostat button  196  activates the screen to show the temperature and provide for increasing or decreasing the temperature within the cab as well as activating or deactivating the fan. Also switches  198  to active the web browser, messaging systems, catalog-type shopping, and the like can be included. Finally a checkout button can also be provided. Spring switch  144  can also act as a check out switch. Thus when the head is removed from the template, the unit is deactivated and the customer is billed.  
         [0039]    Further, the connection  184  for the truck&#39;s onboard computer permits communication between the truck&#39;s computer and a central diagnostic unit via the Internet or through telephone lines.  
         [0040]    The window adapter can be positioned into the window of the truck by simply lowering the window, placing the adapter in position and raising the window until it is held tight by the upper pressure of the window against the template. This is preferably done before the ventilation head is attached to the adapter. The ventilation head would then be placed in the opening in the adapter. Since the adapter rests against the gasket, a relatively air tight seal is formed.  
         [0041]    The present invention includes many different optional features which improve the overall function of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the device includes a breakaway system at the HVAC support. Thus, if a truck driver inadvertently drives away with the unit attached, the lines will break away at the upper area and thus no live electrical wires will be at ground level.  
         [0042]    The electrical lines connect to a central switching unit. The electricity to the head particularly the 11OV is only activated or provided once the unit is installed and activated (generally using a credit card). This would obviously prevent theft of electricity as well as providing an added safety feature. The unit also shows a 220 v. outlet  208  designed to run the reefer unit of a trailer. This also would be activated via the head unit.  
         [0043]    Further, when the unit itself is disconnected and the head closed, air can be recirculated through the inner tube and return through the outer tube recirculating air within the hose to maintain flexibility in extremely cold temperatures. It would also potentially prevent introducing very cold air into the cab of a truck initially. This can be activated either locally or through a central server.  
         [0044]    As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, instead of attaching the present unit to the window of a truck or vehicle, it can be attached to a wall of a vehicle using a semi-permanent adapter. This adapter  200  is a rectangular unit which is generally bolted or generally fixed to the side wall of the cab of the truck or cab of the vehicle. It can also be formed at the factory. Adapter  200  includes a door  202  covering a round opening  204  which corresponds in size to the exterior shape of the head  18 . Thus, it acts just like an adapter  30 . Instead of inserting the head  18  into the adapter which is in the window, one simply opens the door  202  and inserts the head  18  into this opening  204  and the unit is operated in the same manner as previously described.  
         [0045]    The present invention has been described with respect to a separate head unit which is permanently attached to an HVAC unit. It is also within the scope of the present invention to permanently mount the head within the truck such as through a side wall and simply connect the head to the HVAC unit at the truck stop. Thus, the air handling hoses and electrical connections would simply plug into a permanently attached unit on the truck. Once the connections were made, the truck driver could then activate the HVAC unit and other options such as Internet connection, electricity to the reefer unit in the same manner as described with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Further, with respect to all communication systems, the present invention has been described wherein the communication lines are hard wired into the head. Obviously this can be conducted using wireless communications if desired.