Digital media rental and return kiosk having a three-position lockable gate mechanism and methods of operating a digital media rental and return kiosk
US9478091B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/005
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A digital media rental and return kiosk includes a store arranged to store physical digital media items. The kiosk further includes a user interface (i) having a dispense and return slot, and (ii) arranged to enable a customer to interact with the kiosk to either rent a digital media item or return a digital media item through the slot. The kiosk also includes a delivery system arranged to (i) transport a digital media item to be rented from the store to the slot, and (ii) transport a digital media item to be returned from the slot to the store. The kiosk further includes a gate mechanism including a gate which is (i) movable from a closed position to a first opened position to allow a digital media item to be rented to be dispensed through the slot to a customer, and (ii) movable from the closed position to a second opened position which is different from the first opened position to allow a digital media item to be returned to be inserted through the slot by the customer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.