User interface protector and protected user interface

Abstract

Protectors for user interfaces having a perimeter and having a substantially-planar display board disposed about their perimeter, the protector comprising a framework dimensioned sufficiently to protect the user interface from sustaining damage from moving objects, the protector having a plurality of attachment fixtures, and wherein the framework comprises vertical beams having end portions that are permanently affixed to the attachment fixtures. The instant protectors are useful, inter alia, for user interfaces disposed at locations at which they are susceptible to sustaining damage from moving objects, including motorized vehicles, which includes trucks and automobiles.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to interfaces, including data terminals, at which persons can enter data. More particularly, it relates to protecting interfaces which are accessible by a driver of an motor vehicle from potential damage from inadvertent operation of the motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

The combined advents of motorcars and computerized electronic user interfaces for data transfer and financial transactions have given rise to the existence of display boards that include user interfaces at which an operator of a motorized vehicle may access a user interface while remaining seated in the driver's seat of the motorized vehicle. In order to attain sufficient proximity to a user interface, it is often the case that a person must maneuver a motorized vehicle into a suitable position. As persons are sometimes capable of making errors, it has been found to be the case that many user interfaces are subject to being damaged by errant operators of motorized vehicles, causing expensive damage to the user interfaces. Use of an article as provided herein substantially eliminates such damage from occurring, saving substantial monies for owners of such interfaces in repair and downtime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A protector for a user interface having a perimeter and having a substantially-planar display board disposed about its perimeter, said protector comprising a framework dimensioned sufficiently to protect said user interface from sustaining damage from moving objects, said protector having a plurality of attachment fixtures, said framework comprising vertical beams having end portions that are permanently affixed to said attachment fixtures, said attachment fixtures being configured to be removably attached to said substantially-planar surface. In one embodiment, an interface protector comprises: a substantially-linear first horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion; a substantially-linear first horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion; a substantially-linear first vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion; a substantially-linear second vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion; a substantially-linear third vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion; and a substantially-linear fourth vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the first vertical beam is attached to the first horizontal beam at the first end portion of the first horizontal beam. The first end portion of the second vertical beam is attached to the first horizontal beam at the second end portion of the first horizontal beam. The first vertical beam and second vertical beam each form an angle of about 90 degrees with the first horizontal beam at their points of attachment to the first horizontal beam. The first end portion of the third vertical beam is attached to the second horizontal beam at the first end portion of the second horizontal beam. The first end portion of the fourth vertical beam is attached to the second horizontal beam at the second end portion of the second horizontal beam. The third vertical beam and fourth vertical beam each form an angle of about 90 degrees with the second horizontal beam at their points of attachment to the second horizontal beam. There is a first substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the first support beam is attached to the first horizontal beam substantially at the location where the first horizontal beam is attached to the first vertical beam. The first support beam forms an angle of about 90 degrees with both of the first horizontal beam and the first vertical beam. The second end portion of the first support beam is attached to the second horizontal beam substantially at the location where the second horizontal beam is attached to the third vertical beam. The first support beam forms an angle of about 90 degrees with both the second horizontal beam and the third vertical beam. There is a second substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the second support beam is attached to the first horizontal beam substantially at the location where the first horizontal beam is attached to the second vertical beam. The first support beam forms an angle of about 90 degrees with both the first horizontal beam and the second vertical beam. The second end portion of the second support beam is attached to the second horizontal beam substantially at the location where the second horizontal beam is attached to the fourth vertical beam. The second support beam forms an angle of about 90 degrees with both of the second horizontal beam and the fourth vertical beam. There is a first attachment fixture having a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a wall portion. The first attachment fixture is attached to the second end portion of the first vertical beam and the second end portion of the third vertical beam. There is a second attachment fixture having a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a wall portion. The second attachment fixture is attached to the second end portion of the second vertical beam and the second end portion of the fourth vertical beam. In one embodiment the support beams are disposed to be oriented so that their longest length dimensions are substantially parallel to the longest length dimension of the attachment fixtures.

Also provided is a terminal at which information transfer may be caused to transpire. The terminal comprises: a display board comprising at least one menu of information; a user interface disposed on the display board; and an interface protector removably attached to the display board and disposed within sufficient proximity to the user interface so as to effectively shield the user interface from sustaining damage from a moving object present in the proximity of the user interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of invention may take physical form in certain elements and arrangement of elements, the preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an interface protector according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an interface protector according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an end view of an interface protector according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an attachment fixture according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a frontal view of a display board having a user interface disposed thereon and also provided with an interface protector according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a close-up frontal perspective view of a user interface disposed on a display board which is provided with an interface protector according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interface protector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment is shown first attachment fixture 9a and second attachment fixture 9b. In one embodiment each of the first attachment fixture 9a and second attachment fixture 9b comprise angled metal stock (“angled stock”), which may comprise as angled iron, steel, aluminum and any other metal or metallic alloy, such angled stock sometimes referred to in the art as “angle iron”. In one embodiment there is a first horizontal beam 5a having a first end portion and a second end portion, in which the first horizontal beam 5a is sufficiently bent at its end portions to define a first vertical beam portion 3a and a second vertical beam portion 3b. In another embodiment, the first horizontal beam 5a is a separate and distinct piece from first vertical beam portion 3a and a second vertical beam portion 3b, and the first vertical beam portion 3a and a second vertical beam portion 3b are each attached to the ends of the first horizontal beam 5a by conventional means, including welds and welding.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 there is a second horizontal beam 5b having a first end portion and a second end portion, in which the second horizontal beam 5b is sufficiently bent at its end portions to define a third vertical beam portion 3c and a fourth vertical beam portion 3d. In another embodiment, the second horizontal beam 5b is a separate and distinct piece from third vertical beam portion 3c and fourth vertical beam portion 3d, and the third vertical beam portion 3c and fourth vertical beam portion 3d are each attached to the ends of the second horizontal beam 5b by conventional means, including welds and welding.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 there is a first support beam 7a and a second support beam 7b, each having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the first support beam 7a is attached to each of the first horizontal beam 5a and the second horizontal beam 5b substantially at the points where the vertical beams 3a, 3c intersect the horizontal beams 5a, 5b, substantially at the first end portions of the horizontal beams 5a, 5b, as shown. The first end portion of the second support beam 7b is attached to each of the first horizontal beam 5a and the second horizontal beam 5b substantially at the points where the vertical beams 3b, 3d intersect the horizontal beams 5a, 5b, substantially at the second end portions of the horizontal beams 5a, 5b, as shown. In one embodiment, the first support beam 7a and the second support beam 7b are each attached to the first and second horizontal beams 5a and 5b by conventional means, such as by welding.

In another embodiment, the first support beam 7a comprises a single piece, such as rod stock, which is bent so that its end portions comprise the first vertical beam 3a and a third vertical beam 3c, and the second support beam 7b comprises a single piece, such as rod stock, which is bent so that its end portions comprise the second vertical beam 3b and a fourth vertical beam 3d. In this embodiment, the first horizontal beam 5a and second horizontal beam 5b are each substantially linear, each having a first end portion and a second end portion. In this embodiment, the first end portion of the first horizontal beam 5a is attached substantially at the location at which the first vertical beam 3a intersects the first support beam 7a, and the second end portion of the first horizontal beam 5a is attached substantially at the location at which the second vertical beam 3b intersects the second support beam 7b. The first end portion of the second horizontal beam 5b is attached substantially at the location at which the third vertical beam 3c intersects the first support beam 7a, and the second end portion of the second horizontal beam 5b is attached substantially at the location at which the fourth vertical beam 3d intersects the second support beam 7b. Conventional means of attachment, such as welds are useful again in connection of the various elements as described.

In the embodiment shown and described in reference to FIG. 1, the end portions of the first vertical beam 3a and third vertical beam 3c are shown attached to the first attachment fixture 9a, and the end portions of the second vertical beam 3b and fourth vertical beam 3d are shown attached to the second attachment fixture 9b. The exact location on the vertical beams at which the end portions of the first, second, third and fourth vertical beams 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d are attached to the attachment fixtures 9a, 9b is not necessarily critical, as one embodiment provides for attachment, by welding, to be made at the very ends of the vertical beams where they intersect the attachment fixtures floor portions (91, FIG. 4). In another embodiment, attachment of the vertical beams to the attachment fixtures, by welding, are made along the shank of the vertical beams, the weld being made between the shank of the vertical beams and the vertical wall portion (33, FIG. 4) of the attachment fixtures. Also shown in the embodiment provided in FIG. 1 are holes 11 disposed through the floor portion (91, FIG. 4) of the first attachment fixture 9a, which serve to enable the interface protector 10 to be affixed to a flat surface, by insertion of conventional fasteners including without limitation nuts and bolts, and rivets therethrough. Second attachment fixture 9b is identically equipped with such holes. In a preferred embodiments, all elements of the interface protector 10 shown and described in reference to FIG. 1 are comprised of a metal or a metallic alloy, including without limitation aluminum, and stainless steel. In a preferred embodiment, the cross section of the vertical beams, horizontal beams and support beams are circular; however, stock having cross-sections other than circular may be employed, including without limitation stock that is oval in cross section and rectangular in cross section.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an interface protector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2 are shown the respective locations of first horizontal beam 5a, first vertical beam 3a, second vertical beam 3b, first attachment fixture 9a, and second attachment fixture 9b.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of an interface protector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3 are shown the respective locations of second support beam 7b, second vertical beam 3b, fourth vertical beam 3d, second attachment fixture 9b having a vertical wall 33, and holes 11 disposed through the floor (91, FIG. 4) of the second attachment fixture 9b. The exemplary location of weld 69 is shown to illustrate one embodiment in which vertical beam 3b is attached to the attachment fixture 9b at its vertical wall 33. The exemplary location of weld 70 is shown to illustrate another embodiment in which vertical beam 3d is attached to attachment fixture 9b substantially at the end of the vertical beam 3d.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an attachment fixture 9 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the attachment fixture 9 comprises an angled piece of metal generally in the form of an L-shape as viewed from a side perspective. Such angled metal stock is well known in the art and may be comprised of various metals and metallic alloys. Attachment fixture 9 includes a vertical wall 33, a floor portion 91, and holes 11 disposed through the floor portion 91 for fastening, as previously described.

FIG. 5 shows a frontal view of a display board 13 having a user interface 21 disposed thereon and also provided with an interface protector 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. A display board 13 such as that shown in FIG. 5 occurs in many locations, including banking machines, drive-thru windows at restaurants, and other locations where a person may interface with an external database while residing within the driver's seat of a motorized vehicle, pushing a shopping cart, etc. Often such a display board contains a first information menu 23, sometimes a second information menu 25, and sometimes more information menus. These menus may contain instructions for the user, advertisements, offers, including food items. Often, such a display board 13 is mounted on a firmament 19 such as the earth or a man-made surface such as concrete, by means of a first vertical support 15 and a second vertical support 17. Typically, there is a user interface 21 disposed on the display board 13, useful for enabling a person to enter data, which may include menu selections or other commands as are known in the art. Such a user interface 21 typically includes a keypad and a data screen which may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. It is also not uncommon for such user interface 21 to include a credit-card reading device, to enable a user to swipe their card to make a payment on a financial transaction, which may include ordering a bag of French fries, or obtaining cash from an automated teller machine. Also shown in FIG. 5 is interface protector 10 disposed about the user interface 21, by the interface protector 10 being attached to the display board by means of bolts disposed through the holes 11 in the attachment fixtures. Such affixment of the interface protector 10 protects the user interface 21 from potential damage arising from a collision between a wheeled or other device such as shopping cart or an automobile and the user interface, for cases where the person in charge of the wheeled or other device behaves carelessly.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up frontal perspective view of a user interface 21 disposed on a display board 13 which is provided with an interface protector 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. User interfaces such as 21 can sometimes be flush with the surface of the display board 13 and can other times protrude outwardly from the surface of the display board, i.e., they “stick out”. Often these user interfaces exist substantially in the form of a rectangular solid. In a preferred embodiment, the lengths of the vertical beams of an interface protector as provided herein are dimensioned sufficiently so that the horizontal beams 5a, 5b are disposed farther from the surface of the display board 13 than is the topmost surface of the user interface 21, sufficiently so that if the interface protector 10 is struck by an object or device moving towards the user interface 21, the interface protector 10 is struck before the user interface 21 itself is struck, thus absorbing or deflecting the force of the blow of the object or device. By such provision, the user interface 21 can be prevented from sustaining damage from a moving object or device. In FIG. 6 user interface 21 is seen to include a card reader 27, a keypad (not labeled) and a display 31. The respective locations of the first horizontal beam 5a, second horizontal beam 5b, first support beam (not labeled), second support beam 7b, first attachment fixture 9a, second attachment fixture 9b of the interface protector 10 are shown. In this embodiment, the interface protector is maintained in position above the user interface 21 by its being attached to the display board surface by fasteners 29, disposed through holes 11 (FIG. 1), and corresponding fasteners through like holes on second attachment fixture 9b. The attachment fixtures are attached to the display board at a location that is adjacent to the user interface 21, making the removal of the interface protector 10 a simple operation for cases where the user interface may need to be serviced.

While the invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments, it should be understood that changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope permitted by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1) An interface protector comprising: said first end portion of said first vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said first end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said second vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said second end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first vertical beam and second vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said first horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said third vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said first end portion of said second horizontal beam, said first end portion of said fourth vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said second end portion of said second horizontal beam, said third vertical beam and fourth vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said second horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said second horizontal beam; said first end portion of said first support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said first vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said first vertical beam, said second end portion of said first support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said third vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said third vertical beam; said first end portion of said second support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said second vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said second vertical beam, said second end portion of said second support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said fourth vertical beam, said second support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said fourth vertical beam;

a) a substantially-linear first horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

b) a substantially-linear second horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

c) a substantially-linear first vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

d) a substantially-linear second vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

e) a substantially-linear third vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

f) a substantially-linear fourth vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,

g) a first substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,

h) a second substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,

i) a first attachment fixture, said first attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said first vertical beam and said second end portion of said third vertical beam; and

j) a second attachment fixture, said second attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said second vertical beam and said second end portion of said fourth vertical beam.

2) An interface protector according to claim 1 wherein said first attachment fixture has a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a wall portion.

3) An interface protector according to claim 2 wherein said second attachment fixture has a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a wall portion.

4) An interface protector according to claim 1 wherein said attachment fixtures each comprise a section of an angle iron.

5) An interface protector according to claim 1 wherein all elements of said interface protector comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: iron, steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

6) An interface protector according to claim 1 wherein said support beams are disposed to be oriented so that their longest length dimensions are substantially parallel to the longest length dimension of said attachment fixtures.

7) An interface protector according to claim 3 wherein said support beams are disposed to be oriented so that their longest length dimensions are substantially parallel to the longest length dimension of said attachment fixtures.

8) A terminal at which information transfer is effected, comprising:

a) a substantially-planar display board comprising at least one menu of information;

b) a user interface disposed on said display board, said user interface protruding upwardly from said substantially-planar display board; and

c) an interface protector removably attached to said display board and disposed within sufficient proximity to said user interface so as to effectively shield said user interface from sustaining damage from a moving object present in the proximity of said user interface.

9) A terminal according to claim 8 wherein said user interface includes a magnetic card reader.

10) A terminal according to claim 8, wherein said user interface is disposed such that to be accessible by the driver of a motorized vehicle.

11) A terminal according to claim 8 wherein said interface protector is dimensioned sufficiently so that at least one of its elements is disposed at a greater distance from said display board than is disposed any portion of said user interface distanced from said display board.

12) A terminal according to claim 8 wherein said interface protector comprises: said first end portion of said first vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said first end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said second vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said second end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first vertical beam and second vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said first horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said third vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said first end portion of said second horizontal beam, said first end portion of said fourth vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said second end portion of said second horizontal beam, said third vertical beam and fourth vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said second horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said second horizontal beam; said first end portion of said first support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said first vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said first vertical beam, said second end portion of said first support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said third vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said third vertical beam; said first end portion of said second support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said second vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said second vertical beam, said second end portion of said second support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said fourth vertical beam, said second support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said fourth vertical beam;

a) a substantially-linear first horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

b) a substantially-linear second horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

c) a substantially-linear first vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

d) a substantially-linear second vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

e) a substantially-linear third vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;

f) a substantially-linear fourth vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,

g) a first substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,

h) a second substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,

i) a first attachment fixture, said first attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said first vertical beam and said second end portion of said third vertical beam; and

j) a second attachment fixture, said second attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said second vertical beam and said second end portion of said fourth vertical beam.

13) A terminal according to claim 8, wherein said terminal is disposed at a drive-through restaurant.

14) A protector for a user interface having a perimeter and having a substantially-planar display board disposed about its perimeter, said protector comprising a framework dimensioned sufficiently to protect said user interface from sustaining damage from moving objects, said protector having a plurality of attachment fixtures, said framework comprising four vertical beams having end portions that are permanently affixed to said attachment fixtures, said attachment fixtures being configured to be removably attached to said substantially-planar surface, said attachment fixtures comprising a first attachment fixture that is attached to the end portions of two of said vertical beams, and a second attachment fixture that is attached to the end portions of the remaining vertical beams to which said first attachment fixture is not attached.

15) A protector according to claim 14 wherein said attachment fixtures comprise angled stock, each of said attachment fixtures having a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a vertical wall portion.

16. A protector according to claim 15 wherein said vertical beams are affixed to said attachment fixtures at said vertical wall portion of said angled stock.