U.S. patent application number 11/111544 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for assembly and device for automatically stabilizing a kiosk.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert David Parsons, Kevin Hunter Vorhees.
Application Number | 20060248806 11/111544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37392823 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060248806 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parsons; Robert David ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Assembly and device for automatically stabilizing a kiosk
Abstract
An assembly and device provides for automatically adding
stability to a kiosk having carriage bearing equipment that is
serviceable external to the inner portion of the kiosk by
withdrawing the carriage. The carriage includes a pivoted
stabilizer foot that is deployed responsive to the relative motion
of withdrawing the carriage.
Inventors: |
Parsons; Robert David;
(Raleigh, NC) ; Vorhees; Kevin Hunter; (Raleigh,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IBM CORPORATION
PO BOX 12195
DEPT YXSA, BLDG 002
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK
NC
27709
US
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
37392823 |
Appl. No.: |
11/111544 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/36.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 10/02 20130101;
G09F 27/00 20130101; F16M 11/22 20130101; F16M 2200/08 20130101;
F16M 2200/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/036.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 10/00 20060101
A47F010/00 |
Claims
1. A stabilized, floor supported kiosk comprising: a enclosure
defining a vertical front opening; a carriage including a front
panel of a configuration for mating with said front opening, said
carriage having a frame which supports equipment; a guide coupling
the enclosure and the carriage for relative movement of the
carriage between a withdrawn position and an inserted position
respective of the enclosure; a support foot pivotally mounted to
the carriage; a linkage, responsive to relative movement between
the carriage and the enclosure toward the withdrawn position, which
causes the support foot to pivot in the direction of movement of
the carriage to a deployed position in which it engages the floor
to stabilize the kiosk against tipping.
2. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:
the linkage is a mechanical linkage connected between the carriage
and enclosure, with a drive link connected to the stabilizer foot,
which drive link is connected to be driven by relative motion
between the carriage and the enclosure.
3. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 2 wherein:
the equipment includes a display and a computer system mounted to
the frame.
4. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 3 wherein:
the equipment further includes a card reader and a printer mounted
to the frame
5. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 2 wherein:
the linkage also retracts the stabilizer foot to be aligned with
the front panel for motion returning the carriage to the
enclosure.
6. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 2 wherein:
a spring is connected between the carriage and the drive linkage to
urge the stabilizer foot to the deployed position.
7. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 6 wherein:
the spring is connected to be stretched by movement of the linkage
occurring when the carriage is moved toward the inserted
position.
8. A stabilized floor supported kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:
the linkage is an electrical detector which detects relative motion
between the carriage and the enclosure and an actuator triggered by
the detector which deploys said support foot.
9. A mechanism for stabilizing a floor supported kiosk of the type
having an enclosure with a carriage supporting equipment which is
inserted in an opening and is mounted to a guide for relative
motion in a direction to a withdrawn position where it extends
outside the enclosure for servicing, the mechanism comprising: a
support foot mounted to the carriage be movable from a normal
position adjacent the carriage to a deployed position extending
therefrom in the direction of the withdrawn position to engage the
floor; a linkage responsive to relative motion of the carriage
toward the withdrawn position, which drives the support foot to the
deployed position.
10. A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein: the linkage includes
a spring which urges the stabilizer foot to the deployed
position.
11. A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein: the linkage is
connected to the carriage and the enclosure to receive relative
motion therebetween and the linkage includes a link which connects
to the stabilizer foot to transmit that motion for deploying and
retracting the stabilizer foot.
12. A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein: a spring urges the
stabilizer foot to the deployed position.
13. A mechanism according to claim 12 wherein the spring is
connected between the linkage and the carriage.
14. A floor-standing, point-of-sale terminal comprising: a
floor-standing vertical tower enclosure defining a front opening; a
carriage having a front panel configured to mate with the front
opening of the tower enclosure; a track and slider connecting the
carriage to the tower enclosure for relative motion between an
inserted position with the front panel mating with the tower
enclosure at the front opening and a maintenance position with the
carriage withdrawn from the enclosure; a frame mounted to the
carriage to extend into the tower enclosure for the inserted
position; a stabilizer foot mounted to the carriage to move between
a normal position with adjacent the carriage and a deployed
position extending forward of the carriage; a linkage connected to
the tower enclosure and the carriage to receive relative motion
when the carriage is withdrawn from the tower enclosure, the
linkage including a link which transfers such motion to the
stabilizer foot to drive it from the normal position to the
deployed position for carriage motion to the maintenance position,
whereby the terminal is is stabilized as the carriage assumes the
maintenance position.
15. A point-of-sale terminal according to claim 14 wherein: a
display and computer are mounted to the frame.
16. A point of sale terminal according to to claim 15 wherein: a
card reader is mounted to the frame and the display is a touch
panel display.
17. A point-of-sale terminal according to claim 14 wherein: a
spring is connected to the linkage to urge the stabilizer foot to
the deployed position.
18. A point-of-sale terminal according to claim 17 wherein: the
spring is connected between the linkage and the carriage.
19. A point-of-sale terminal according to claim 14 wherein: the
linkage includes a cam follower.
20. A point-of-sale terminal according to claim 14 wherein: the
stabilizer foot is pivotally mounted to the carriage by a pin.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. The Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates in general to an assembly and
device that provides stabilization to a mounted computer terminal
such as a kiosk. More particularly, the present invention relates
to a stabilizing assembly and device that automatically increases
kiosk stability for maintenance.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] It is widely known that computer systems are used and
integrated with most retail related environments. Examples of this
include the use of Point of Sale (POS) devices, cash registry and
inventory control devices, and various computerized systems in
retail environments such as groceries, superstores and department
stores. Now, it is becoming more commonplace for consumers to be
offered the opportunity to use a localized POS device, also known
as a kiosk, for financial transactions, advertising and even
entertainment.
[0005] Kiosks are gaining use in shopping centers, airports and
areas where convenience and ease of use are desired. Kiosks often
offer an ideal solution to improve information flow to customers at
a significantly lower cost than information desks, which require
staff. Typically, it is the ability to reduce costs that is the
real driver in identifying strategic implantations of kiosks.
[0006] Kiosks can be placed in remote areas, require very little
floor space (or even be portable), and can operate 24 hours and 7
days a week without the traditional 2-3 persons that may be
required at a traditional staffed location. These computer-based
convenience centers and similar other types of kiosk-like systems
are referred to hereinafter as kiosks, POS systems, assemblies and
devices, and terminals, though such descriptions are intended to be
inclusive and instructive to any and all computer systems that are
for transactions with multiple users, in operation, and are
typically mounted for use by the public in an area of
convenience.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a depiction of an existing type of kiosk 100 of a
tower type that is free standing on a floor and has a desirable
slender tower, so as to not consume excessive valuable space, for
example, in a mall area. This tower type of kiosk places customer
interaction equipment such as a display 110 (usually a touch panel
display), a credit card reader 112, a printer 114 and a coupon
dispenser 116 at a convenient level for a standing customer or
user. As is seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the kiosk has two main
parts, an enclosure 122 which defines a front opening at opposing
edges 124 (one side viewable) and a pull-away equipment carriage
130. The enclosure 122 includes a large base portion 126 which
serves to stabilize the kiosk 100 from tipping over when the
carriage 130 is withdrawn for service.
[0008] The carriage 130 has a panel 132 that fills the front
opening and mates with edges 124 when in a closed position for the
kiosk 100 (shown in FIG. 1). The panel is mounted to a frame 134
which supports the panel 132 and equipment 138, which may include a
central processing unit, telecommunications devices and other items
to support the function of the kiosk. The carriage 130 is coupled
to the enclosure base, for example by a guide 134 running in a
track 135, such as a drawer slide mechanism, which allows the
carriage 21 to be withdrawn from the enclosure 122 (as shown in
FIG. 2). This pullout capability as is highly desirable to
facilitate maintenance on the equipment 138 and saves technician
time compared to an approach requiring the technician to work
within the enclosure.
[0009] While offering convenience features for servicing, the kiosk
100 has a big base plate to prevent tipping when the carriage is
withdrawn, and this greatly increases the room it occupies and
causes the customer to step up onto the base plate to consummate a
transaction. Other attempts to reduce the likelihood of tipping of
a slender kiosk during service have included adding a counterweight
to offset imbalances, or manually placing a support under the
carriage, when withdrawn by the service technician seeking to
access the internal equipment 138.
[0010] Unfortunately, in many of the attempts at kiosk design,
access to internal parts is inconvenient because access requires
dismantling the enclosure. And, where a pullout carriage or drawer
is provided, provision for avoiding tipping is unsatisfactory. Bulk
is added or an undesirable base is added, which extends into the
customer location for access. Often, the appearance of the kiosk is
impaired.
[0011] Therefore, what is needed is an assembly and device for
providing added stability to a kiosk having carriage-mounted
equipment that is withdrawn for service. Such an assembly and
device should also provide the functional and aesthetic benefits of
a traditional kiosk and nonetheless permit a rich offering of
interaction capabilities for users.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention has been developed in response to the
present state of the art regarding kiosk stability during
servicing, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs
in the art regarding kiosk stability that have not yet been fully
solved by currently available retail devices and processes.
[0013] Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present
invention to provide an assembly and device that provides for
automatically adding stability to a kiosk having carriage-mounted
equipment that is serviceable external to the inner portion of the
kiosk by extending or retracting in relation to the opening or
closing of the equipment carriage. It is a further object of the
invention that the present invention be configured to be easily
maintained and customizable by the owner, and still provide the
customer interaction benefits of a kiosk such as printing coupons,
displaying messages, swiping cards and dispensing materials such as
tickets.
[0014] The present invention overcomes many or all of the
above-discussed shortcomings in the art. To achieve the foregoing
objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and
broadly described herein in the preferred aspects and embodiments,
a device and assembly for stabilizing a kiosk comprising a front
vertical plate having a front face configured with a frame and a
base guide; wherein, said frame cooperates with an enclosure
portion of the kiosk to permit guided retraction/insertion of the
carriage such that when the carriage is withdrawn enclosure the
relative motion is linked to force a pivoted foot to move to extend
in the direction of motion.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a kiosk
having improved stability during servicing, comprising: a CPU, a
display, an input device, a stand separable into at least a front
drawer or carriage and a rear enclosure, a guide track defining a
carriage path, there being a stabilizing device which is driven to
extend beyond the carriage in the direction of carriage motion when
the carriage is being withdrawn from the enclosure.
[0016] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become more fully apparent from the
following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the
practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. The above is
merely a summary of the invention and thus contains, by necessity,
simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail;
consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be
comprehensive or limiting with regard to the invention at hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In order to better understand the manner in which the
advantages, aspects and objects of the invention are obtained, a
more particular description of the invention briefly described
above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof
which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that
these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and
are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the
invention will be described and explained with additional
specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a prior art kiosk
with an equipment carriage the may be withdrawn (as shown in FIG.
2) from an enclosure portion of the kiosk to permit servicing;
[0019] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are bottom views of a stabilized device and
assembly for a kiosk, which includes an automatic stabilizer foot
in accordance with a preferred embodiment for the invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a kiosk according to a
preferred embodiment for the invention, which shows a stabilizing
foot member as positioned in response to withdrawal of equipment
carriage from the kiosk enclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a stabilized device and assembly with
a stabilizer foot 306 for a kiosk 100, in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows carriage 130
fully inserted 21 as in normal operation, whereas FIG. 4 shows
partial withdrawal and FIG. 5 shows full withdrawal as would occur
for servicing access. During withdrawal, motion between carriage
130 and enclosure 122 is coupled by a cam follower 300 to a linkage
302, then through a linkage 304 to the stabilizer foot 306, which
is pivotally mounted to the bottom of carriage 130 by a pin 308. As
is seen in the progression of FIGS. 3-5 the linkages 302 and 304
drive the stabilizer foot 306 to rotate and extend in the direction
of carriage motion. The use of the am follower 300 and a spring 301
with one end attached attached at carriage 130 the other to linkage
302 is presently preferred and urges the stabilizer foot 306 to
deploy more fully in an early portion of the travel. The spring 301
is energized by moving the carriage 130 to the normal or inserted
position (FIG. 3) and urges the stabilizer foot 306 to the deployed
or extended position (FIG. 5) through the linkage 302. As a result
the kiosk 100 is stabilized by the stabilizer foot 306, which is
deployed to the extended position, early in the withdrawal motion
for the carriage 130 and is withdrawn from extended position, later
in the insertion motion for the carriage.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows, in a perspective view, the stabilizer foot 306
as positioned (the deployed or extended position) when the carriage
130 is withdrawn from the enclosure 122. As can be readily seen
(FIGS. 3-5), the foot 306 automatically responds to the carriage
130 being withdrawn to provide added stability of the kiosk 100 to
prevent tipping forward during servicing. There is no reliance on
manual placement of a stabilizer by the service technician and
there is no need to have the kiosk base be specially enlarged to
extend into the intended user space to accommodate weight shifting
due to carriage removal to a service position during
maintenance.
[0023] Linkages as used herein are intended to include any link,
connection, adaptation, configuration or arrangements, including
electrical or fluid linkages, where the resulting function of a
link mechanism is to produce motion as a result of motion between
the carriage 130 and enclosure 122 to cause the stabilizer foot 306
to advance in the direction of relative motion by the carriage.
[0024] By way of example and not of limitation, a four link
mechanism may be used, as preferred, for a kinematic linkage, where
it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that a
variety of useful arrangements can be formed from a four-link
mechanism through slight variations, such as changing the character
of the pairs, proportions of links, etc. It should be appreciated,
by those skilled in the art, that a linkage could be achieved by
sensing, electrically, the relative motion of the carriage 130 and
the enclosure 122 and triggering an actuator to advance a
stabilizer foot 306 to extend in the direction of motion of the
carriage relative to the enclosure.
[0025] Advantages of the present invention include: providing:
improved stability and resistance to tipping, easy access to
equipment within a kiosk type of device, and maintaining a sleek
and aesthetically pleasing design. The present invention may
include customized or off the shelf technology and products without
limitation.
[0026] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
* * * * *