Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SAT~T~ Th'lRMTNATl KT~',YnOART~ pT~ATFoRM
FIT~,T T) OF THE INVF,NTION
This invention is directed to a mounting m~t and platform, with an
associated confif~Pnt~ ty sight screen for use at a "c.-nfi~PntiAIity" location such
as a sales terminal, to mount an electronic access device such as a keyboard or
a keypad thereon, and to a movable platform incorporating a user privacy screen.
BACKGRO11Nl) ART
The use of electronic access devices, including sales terminals is getting
ever more popular. These access devices enable the completion of different
types of tr~n~ ti-)ns by use of a personal entry code, or an access media such as
a ~U~ dS~ credit\debit card, which is swiped along a magnetic code reading
slot. The sales tr~n~n tion, as an example, frequently involves the entry by thecustomer of their personal i-lPntifi~tion number or PIN onto the keyboard. In
the case of a bank machine (ATM), the entry of a PIN also is required.
In United States Patent No. 4,923,154 to Konkel, there is provided a
tur~table for ~ttslr.hm~nt to a check-out courlter and the like, having provision for
a keyboard or keypad mounting box that enables the accessing of the code
reading slot of the keypad, for wiping therealong a magnetically coded credit
card. This turntable has a limited range of rotation, and the unprotected electrical
C~-nn~C.tin~ cord is routed externally of the supporting tube to an aperture in the
side of the mounting box. It also has a single degree of freedom, namely by
rotation about a vertical rotational axis.
SUMM~RY OF TETl~, TNVFNTION
The present invention provides a ~nnfi(lPnti~lity sight screen for use with
electronic entry systems that require the keying-in of sensitive, confidential
inforrn:ltil~n
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In one f~mho~limPnt the present invention provides a platform for
mounting an electronic keypad thereon, the platform having a first degree of
freedom, namely an extended arc of rotation in excess of 180 degrees about a
vertical axis.
S In this r ~ o~l;",~ ,l the preferred platform is provided with a second
degree of freedom, namely the capability to tilt in a vertical plane, to facilitate
access by users of various heights to a keypad when mounted o~ the platform,
andto improvethe l",."," ,- .~c of c~nfi~rnti~lity, if required.
The platform also is provided with a privacy screen, to limit visual access
of a non-user to the keypad, when in use for entry of informAticm by a user.
In one platform ~,.lbodi~ ,.,l, the privacy screen includes a fixed screen
portion along one side edge of the platform. The sNeen may extend to further
include portions along other edges of the platform.
In a further embodiment a privacy screen is provided that is selectively
movable to a preferred position adjacent to, and in at least partial shielding
relation with an electronic access device, such as a keypad mounted on the
platform.
In the instance of a platform the preferred arrangement for this movable
screen embodiment includes a radius arm pivotally mourlted below the platform,
on the supporting mount of the platform, for rotation about at least an angular
segrnent of the platform, with an llrgtAn-lin~ blanking screen portion projecting
above the level of the platform and repositionable in sp_ced relation about the
platform to afford elective visual protection thereto.
It will be l-n(l~rit~od that this rotatable screen may be used with a number
of electronic access systems, including ~ o~ and electronic pads where
privacy is important.
The present invention thus provides in one embodiment a platform for use
with an electronic keypad and the like, the platform to receive the keypad in
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supported relation thereon; rotatable mast means mcludmg a pedestal having an
upwardly extending post portion; a support shaft extending upwardly therefrom
having an upper bracket portion; lateral pivot means c~nnPçtin~ the upper
bracket portion with the platform, for pivotal canting of the platform from a first
5 position to a second canted position; the platform mounting means having
bearing means to enable rotation of the platform in turning relation about a
sllh~t~n~ ly vertical axis; and stop means to limit the extent of such rotation to
a predP~rrninPd maximum angle. The subject platform may include a keypad
restraint means for retaining the keypad in mounted relation upon the platform.
In the aforesaid platform the pre~lp~prrninpd angle of oscillation of the
turntable about its vertical axis may be greater than 180 degrees and less than 360
degrees, to afford optimum versatility of use to a pair of users situated in general
mutual facing relation, and to preclude undue twisting of an electronic cord
attached to the keypad.
The rotatable mast means, including the supporting base thereof has a
through passage for the çon~ ln P.ni therem in protected relation of an electrical
cord. This cord passes through an aperture in the head of the mast means for
connection to the subject electronic keypad.
In one ~I..b~di~ , the platform lateral pivot means permits variation of
20 the angle of cant of the platform portion about a lateral axis by about 45 degrees.
The aforesaid platform may include privacy screen means to provide a visual
privacy ~one, to safeguard the visual security of the keypad by limiting visual
access thereof to cllhst~nli~lly exclusively a single user.
The subject privacy screen may constitute a fixed portion of the platform,
25 being in fixed relation to the platform.
Alternatively, the privacy screen means may be movable relative to the
platform.
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The movable privacy screen is deployable to afford the desired privacy
zone against undesired viewing from a prP/~ tl~rrninr(l location adjacent the
platform.
The movable privacy screen may be mounted in rotatable relation relative
5 to the platform. In the main ~ bodi~ ll of the privacy screen, it is mounted on
an arm extending outwardly from the platform mounting means, the arm being
pivoted about the platform and having the privacy screen extending upwardly
from the arm and movable with the arm into a range of positions about the
platform, in selective vision sheltering relation therewith.
BRll~ E~CRIPTION OF TE~F llR~WINGS
Certain ~ l-.bodil-..,.-~ of the invention are described, without limitation of
the invention thereto except as claimed in the claims appended hereto, referencebeing made to the accu..l~ulyL,Ig drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a cantable embodiment of the
subject platform;
Figure 2, is a view from above of the Figure 1 embodiment;
Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the platform of Figure I in a
forwardly canted position;
Figure 4 is a front right perspective view looking down on an embodiment
having a rotatable sight screen; and
Figure 5 is an inverted view of a portion of the platform of Figure 4,
showing the sight screen arm mounting.
S DFT~lT.li'l) Vl; ~CRTPTll)N OF T~ Tl~lYTION
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a platform 10 according to the present
invention has a base bracket 12 for ~tt~hm~n~ to a supporting surface such as a
portion of the counter of a ll~ check-out.
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A m~t 14 extends upward from the bracket 12, having a bracket 16
secured thereto. A rotary bearing of annular form (not shown) is ill~ull ~ ' in
the mast 14 to permit rotation of at least a portion thereof about a vertical axis.
The mast 14 is mounted upon an annular bearing to enable a
5 ~lcd~ t~ pd extent of angular rotation of the turntable lO about the polar axis
of the mast 14. The bracket 12, mast 14, and the head of mast 14 provide a
through passage for an electrical cord (not shown) cl-nnertin~ with an electronic
keypad and the like (not shown), mounted on platform 10.
Ahori7.nnt~l11yextendingpivotl8mountedonthebracketl6connectsto
the platform portion 20 by way of a bracket 22. This pivot 18 permits tilting ofthe table through an included angle "A" of about 45 degrees, in the illustrated
embodiment. The location and degree of tilt is regulated by adjoining bracket
portions 23,25 against which portions of the platform come into abutting relation
at its c~i~clll;lic~ of tilting. The platform portion 20 has a relieved recess 26
therein in the form of a raised bracket portion 28 which may serve to
Arcl-mm-ld~te passage of an electronic cr nn~ ~ti/~n cord (not shown) therethrough
or to secure a keypad (shown in phantom). The connection cord may be accessed
in protected relation through the mast 14 and bracket 16, as set forth below. ~
Sight-screen portions 30,32 extendirlg upwardly from two of the sides of
platform ps1rtion 20 afford privacy to a person using the arrangement, whereby
sellsitive inf~rmAti-)n such as the precise action of the keying-in of a PIN number
may be fairly readily concealed.
Turrling to Figures 4 ~md 5, the embodiment 40 has a number of similarly
functioning elements such as the base bracket 12, mast 14, a rotary bearing (notshown) a hori70ntal pivot 18 and a platform portion 42 of differing ArrAn~ement
with shallow wall portions 44 thereabout.
The protective cord passage within the mast 14 has an outlet aperture 27
in adjacent, aligned relation to bracket portion 29 of platform 42. The bracket
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portion 29 has an aperture 31 to ~c~ t~, the passage therethrough of an
electrical cord and its associated plug connector (not shown).
A movable sight-shield 46 is mounted upon arm 48, Figure 5, for
r~ about the platform portion 42 through an angle of about 180
5 degrees, in the illustrated embodiment. This enables a user standing in facingrelation to the platform to position the sight-shield in any desired location for a
wide range of crmrP~lmlont angles.
The arm 48 is suspended beneath the platform portion 42 upon a pivot
post 50, shown located adjacent the off-set table ~ bolts 52, which serve
10 as position stops to the arm 48 in its respective extremes of location.
It will be llnllPrctr~od that a different type of arm support bearing could
~" ,r.. " "1"''' the bolt or bolts 52. Alternatively, the post 50 could also serve as the
sltt~rhment bolt for the table portion 40, such that there be no restriction on the
angular position of the sight-shield 46 about the table portion 40.
COIvrMli',RCl ~l, APPJ ,lcATIoN
Wide spread use of these rotatable protective masts and the associated
sight-screens is envisaged, in any instance where keying of cr~nfir1r,nti~1
inform:~tion is required.
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