WO2020065559A1

WO2020065559A1 - Storage system for portable electronic devices

Info

Publication number: WO2020065559A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/058143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephan VAN BLERK; Henry Wong; Ken WILD; Robert Walker; David Maloney; David Shawcross; Rhys HENNIG; Leo WATSON; John Layne; Bevan GRIGGS; Charles Liu; Thomas HEGERTY; Jeff Cross
Original assignee: Iws Global Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-25
Filing date: 2019-09-25
Publication date: 2020-04-02

Abstract

A storage system for portable electronic devices (PEDs, e.g., smartphones, computers, etc.) includes several closable and lockable compartments, with each compartment having ports for powering and data exchange with any PED(s) therein. Powering is provided by power modules, each of which serves several compartments with power ports, while data exchange is provided by lock modules, each lock module serving a respective compartment, and serving to lock/unlock its compartment as well as providing one or more data ports for data exchange. The modules are configured for easy installation and replacement, providing installation, maintenance, and repair benefits.

Description

STORAGE SYSTEM FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/736210 filed September 25, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Field of the Invention

This document concerns an invention relating generally to devices for storing and charging portable electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers, tablet computers, and smartphones), and more specifically to a locker for secure storage of portable electronic devices wherein the locker has device charging and/or data exchange functionality.

Background of the Invention

Users often have a need to securely store portable electronic devices (PEDs). As examples, teachers often need to track and securely store tablet and other computers used in the classroom (and conversely, where teachers ban portable electronic devices from their classrooms, users have a need to securely store their devices during class); employers often need to track and securely store workplace equipment (cameras, projectors, and other audiovisual equipment, technical professional equipment, etc.); and many theaters do not permit portable electronic devices, requiring attendees to relinquish their smartphones and the like before entering. Prior solutions have been developed in the form of lockers wherein users can securely store devices for later retrieval, and which include charging ports whereby users can charge their devices during storage. See, for example, US published patent applications US20170033579 to Maguire et al. US20170323503 to Garcia·, US20170356218 to Beasley et al. US20180205247 to Maguire et al. and US20180262030 to Zadvinskis. While such lockers are useful, they tend to require frequent maintenance and repair, particularly when used in environments where users are numerous, unmonitored, and transient (such as schools, shopping centers, and public transportation centers), making wear and misuse more likely. Since such environments may be staffed by personnel who have limited technical expertise and/or no prior experience with the lockers, skilled maintenance personnel may need to be dispatched to perform installation, maintenance, and repair. This can greatly increase costs, as well as increasing downtime for the lockers. Summary of the Invention

The invention involves a storage system for portable electronic devices (PEDs) which is intended to at least partially solve the aforementioned problems, in particular, by providing a locker which is more easily installed, maintained, and repaired by unskilled/inexperienced personnel, and which provides multiple compartments for PED storage, charging, and data exchange (e.g., data synchronization between a stored PED and another device, uploading of updates to a stored PED, etc.) with greater versatility than prior lockers. To give the reader a basic understanding of some of the preferred features of the storage system, following is a brief summary of an exemplary version of the system, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings (which are briefly reviewed in the following "Brief Description of the Drawings" section of this document) to assist the reader’s understanding. Since the following discussion merely summarizes an exemplary version of the system, it should be understood that more details regarding other versions of the system may be found elsewhere in this document. The claims set forth at the end of this document then define the various versions of the invention in which exclusive rights are secured.

Referring to FIG. 1, a storage system for PEDs includes a cabinet 100 having a control panel 102 and multiple compartments 104. Each compartment 104 has a lockable door 106, with the doors being shown closed in FIG. 1 and with one compartment’s door 106 being shown open in FIG. 2, such that one or more PEDs can be placed within a selected compartment 104 when its door 106 is open, and secured within the compartment 104 when its door 106 is closed. The storage system may be programmed via the control panel 102 or remotely to provide desired functionality for any one or more of the compartments 104. As one example, one or more compartments 104 might behave in the manner of a common hotel safe, wherein a user may use the control panel 102 to program an access code for a compartment 104 (if not assigned to the user remotely), place a PED in the compartment 104 and close and lock it, and thereafter retrieve the PED after entering his/her access code. As another example, a PED may be left in a compartment 104, and an access code may be assigned to that compartment 104 prior to or upon a user’s arrival on the premises of the storage system. The user’s entry of the access code on the control panel 102 may allow the user to open the assigned compartment 104 and access the PED therein. Alternatively, the storage system might be situated at a work site with different compartments 104 holding different PEDs, and upon the user’s entry of a personal identification number and a code corresponding to a particular task to be performed, a compartment 104 containing the device corresponding to that code (task) may open, and the user may take the compartment’s PED to perform the task (with the user’s PIN establishing who has possession of the PED). Many other modes of operation are alternatively or additionally possible.

Looking to FIGS. 4 and 5, behind each compartment’s door 106, the interior of each compartment 104 is bounded by compartment walls, including a compartment utility wall 108 bearing a power port 110 configured to provide power to a PED within the compartment 104, and a data port 112 configured to provide data to (and/or receive data from) a PED within the compartment 104. The compartment utility wall 108, and/or an adjacent enclosure wall 114 against which the door 106 rests when closed (best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4), also includes a door lock 116 configured to secure the door 106 closed. Here the door lock 116 is defined by a lock aperture 118 which receives a lock engagement member 120 on the door 106 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) when the door 106 is closed, with the door lock 116 engaging the lock engagement member 120 to lock the door 106 and disengaging the lock engagement member 120 to unlock the door 106. A maintenance enclosure 122 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5) is situated alongside the compartments 104, wherein each compartment’s utility wall 108 separates each compartment 104 from the maintenance enclosure 122. Within the maintenance enclosure 122, power modules 124 and lock modules 126 are situated along the compartment utility wall 108. (As used in this document, the term“module” should be understood to refer to an assembly which is configured for installation and removal as a unit.) The power modules 124 (shown in detail in FIG. 11) bear the power ports 110, and are configured to receive electrical power for supply to the power ports 110. The lock modules 126 (shown in detail in FIGS. 8A and 8B) bear the door locks 116, and are configured to receive electronic instructions controlling the lock module’s door locks 116, thereby locking and unlocking the locks’ corresponding doors 106. The lock modules 126 preferably also bear the data ports 112. Each power module 124 preferably bears two or more power ports 110, with each power port 110 being provided in a respective compartment 104 (with the power module 124 extending across the compartment utility walls 108 of several compartments 104, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3). In contrast, each lock module 126 preferably bears a single door lock 116 and data port 112 for provision to a respective compartment 104. Both the power modules 124 and lock modules 126 are configured for rapid and easy removal and replacement by unskilled personnel from within the maintenance enclosure 122.

The foregoing arrangement is useful for several reasons. Initially, different power modules 124 can be each be manufactured with multiple power ports 110 of the same type, such as a Type B socket (commonly used in the US), a Type I socket (commonly used in Australia), etc., and the appropriate power modules 124 can be speedily installed within a cabinet 100 to provide power modules 124 of the desired type (with all compartments 104 typically having power ports 110 of the same type, though in some instances - as where a cabinet 100 is to be used in an international travel hub - different power modules 124 may provide different sets of compartments 104 with different types of power ports 110). Also, door locks 116 and data ports 112 typically experience greater wear and user abuse than power ports 110, and thus require more frequent repair and replacement. Thus, when the door locks 116 and data ports 112 of one or more compartments 104 are malfunctioning, these compartments’ respective lock modules 126 may be rapidly removed and replaced on an individual as-needed basis. In contrast, when a power port 110 requires repair, this is typically a reasonable indication that the power ports 110 of nearby compartments 104 may soon need repair as well. Thus, when the power ports 110 of one or more compartments 104 are malfunctioning, the power module(s) of those compartments 104 may be removed and replaced, simultaneously replacing the power ports 110 of adjacent compartments 104 served by the removed power module(s).

Referring to FIG. 4, each compartment 104 also preferably includes a compartment illuminator 128 configured to illuminate the compartment interior, at least at such times that the compartment’s door 106 is open, or merely unlocked. The compartment illuminator 128 is preferably provided on the compartment’s lock module 126, and in FIG. 4 is provided by an LED or other lamp situated within the lock module 126, wherein the lamp emits light through a translucent wall of the lock module 126.

Each compartment 104 also preferably includes a lock status illuminator 130 configured to illuminate in dependence on the locked or unlocked status of the compartment’s door lock 116. For example, the lock status illuminator 130 may be an RGB LED which shines red when the compartment’s door 106 is secured in a closed state, and shines green when the door 106 may be opened (and in either or both instances, the illumination may vary in intensity over time, as by blinking on and off). As best seen in FIG. 4, the lock status illuminator 130 is provided outside and adjacent the compartment 104 on the compartment’s enclosure wall 114, more particularly on a portion of the compartment’s lock module 126 which is exposed through the enclosure wall 114 (see also FIGS. 5 and 08A). As seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, each compartment’s door 106 overlaps the enclosure wall 114 when closed, and includes a lock window 132 defined therein. When the door 106 is closed, the lock status illuminator 130 is situated adjacent the door’s lock window 132, and is aligned to emit light through the lock window 132. The lock status illuminator 130 can therefore indicate the locked or unlocked status of the door 106 through the door’s lock window 132 when the door 106 is closed, as well as indicating the locked or unlocked status of the door 106 on the enclosure wall 114 when the door 106 is open. The lock window 132 may bear indicia (e.g., a number) identifying its compartment 104, whereby the indicia are illuminated when the lock status illuminator 130 is lit. This arrangement allows users to rapidly determine the locked or unlocked status of an identified compartment 104.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the compartments 104 also preferably include expansion doors 134, whereby the expansion doors 134 may be opened or removed to install additional modules, and/or to accommodate modified power modules 124 and lock modules 126, wherein these modules can provide additional or different connections or other capabilities within the compartments 104. Each expansion door 134 preferably defines a portion of the compartment’s utility wall 108, and is removable from the utility wall 108 from within the maintenance enclosure 122 (see particularly FIG. 3). Preferably, as with the power modules 124, each expansion door 134 defines portions of the compartment utility walls 108 of two or more of the compartments 104, with each expansion door 134 thereby serving multiple compartments 104.

Further potential advantages, features, and objectives of the illustrated and other versions of the system will be apparent from the remainder of this document in conjunction with the associated drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawings depict an exemplary PED storage system illustrating concepts of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the exemplary system.

FIG. 2 depicts the system with one compartment door 106 open, and with its access door 168 open to reveal its maintenance enclosure 122.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the system depicting the maintenance enclosure 122. FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view showing the open compartment 104 of FIG. 2 in greater detail.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a section of the system of FIG. 2, showing the cabinet 100 as it would be seen from a plane at the ceiling of the open compartment 104.

FIG. 6 is an exploded (disassembled) isometric view of the compartment door 106. FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the control panel 102 of the system, removed from the cabinet 100.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict isometric views of the lock module 126 of the system.

FIG. 9 is a partial isometric view of the power supply module 172 of the system, shown with its cabling removed.

FIG. 10 is a partial isometric view of the power distribution module 174 of the system, shown with its cabling removed.

FIG. 11 is a partial isometric view of the power module 124 of the system, shown with its cabling removed.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the power module 124 of the system, shown with its cabling removed.

FIGS. 13A-13AA illustrate screens that might be displayed on the display 164 of the control panel 102 during installation and operation of the system.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Versions of the Invention

Expanding on the discussion above, and referring to particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet 100 is depicted with several stacked compartments 104 for user storage of PEDs, here fifteen compartments 104, with the top five compartments 104 being spaced from the bottom ten compartments 104 by the control panel 102. At the top of the cabinet 100, FIG. 1 depicts a mounting bracket 136 which may be used to secure the cabinet 100 to a wall to deter tipping, as well as an enclosure expansion door 138 situated above the maintenance enclosure 122 which may be removed to provide further opportunities to expand the system’s capabilities. As an example, a router might be installed atop the cabinet 100, and cables from the router could extend through the enclosure expansion door 138 and into the maintenance enclosure 122 (and thereafter to the control panel 102, to the lock modules 126, or to other components).

At the bottom of the cabinet 100, a pedestal compartment 140 may be provided below the lowermost compartment 104 in the cabinet 100, if this region isn’t already occupied by additional compartments 104. The pedestal compartment 140, if provided, may be used as a storage space for the locker’s operating manual, accessories, maintenance tools, and the like, as well as serving as a“lost and found” storage space for PEDs that may have been forgotten or abandoned within the compartments 104. Alternatively or additionally, the pedestal compartment 140 may be used for networking or other components which interact with one or more compartments 104 via their expansion slots (as discussed below). The pedestal compartment door preferably opens and closes in a manner similar to that of a compartment door 106, but is lockable via a keyed mechanical lock.

Looking particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, each compartment door 106 includes a door hinge 142 at one side which pivotally affixes the compartment door 106 to the cabinet 100; the lock window 132 near its opposite side (each lock window 132 bearing indicia, here numbers, which identify the door’s compartment 104); and a translucent door window 144 between the lock window 132 and the hinge 142. A depressed region 146 in the left side of the door window 144 leaves a portion of the body of the door 106 overhanging the door window 144 at the depression 146, with the overhanging portion defining a graspable lip so that a user may grasp the lip and pull the (unlocked) compartment door 106 open (as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4). As seen in FIG. 6, which shows the inner face of a selected door 106 with its hinges 142 disassembled/exploded about the body of the door 106, the door hinges 142 are formed as two halves l42a and l42b which mate together about a pin/rod at the side of the cabinet 100 (this pin/rod not being visible). The mated hinge pieces l42a and l42b have a protruding narrowed portion 148 which extends within complementary channels 150 on the inner face of the door 106, and which can be affixed to the door 106 to affix the door 106 and its hinge 142 about the pin/rod. The hinge 142 also bears a spring 152 therein which tends to bias the door 106 about the pivot pin/rod into a closed state. The inner door 106 face bears a series of protruding tongues 154 at its bottom. These tongues 154 are gently bent/sloped such that as the compartment door 106 is closed, when their tongue tips enter the compartment 104, they ride against the compartment 104 floor and help to properly align the closed door 106 with its compartment 104 regardless of any looseness in its door hinge 142 (and thus any sagging in the door 106), and guide the lock engagement member 120 on the inner face of the door 106 into the lock aperture 118. This measure is useful because door sagging might be expected in environments where the cabinet 100 is prone to user misuse (as where users exert force on open doors). The lock engagement member 120 (see particularly FIGS. 4 and 6) is here defined by a loop on the inner face of the door 106 which, when received in the lock aperture 118, can receive a catch/pin driven by the lock module 126 to lock the door 106 in a closed state.

The control panel 102, seen (for example) in FIGS. 1 and 4, and in greater detail in FIG. 7, is also configured as a door having a hinge that can be fit on a desired compartment 104, such that the selected compartment 104 defines a control compartment within the cabinet 100, with the remaining compartments serving as PED storage compartments 104. A keyed mechanical lock 156 allows the control panel 102 to be secured to the enclosure wall 114 of the selected compartment 104, e.g., via the aperture in the enclosure wall 114 wherein a lock module’s lock status illuminator 130 would otherwise fit (as the compartment 104 selected for the control panel 102 need not have a lock module 126). The lock 156, which preferably uses the same key as that used for the pedestal compartment 140, therefore allows authorized personnel to open the control panel 102 to reveal the control electronics 158 for maintenance or other purposes. These control electronics 158 may be mounted on the rear of the control panel 102, and/or may be situated in the control panel’s compartment, in which case they may communicate with the control panel 102 via a wired or wireless connection. Between the lock 156 and the hinge, the control panel 102 bears a keypad 160; a wireless identification scanner 162, e.g., a near-field communication (NFC) and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner; and a display 164, e.g., an LCD display. The keypad 160 may be used to select a specific compartment 104 (by entering a compartment 104 number when prompted), to enter a desired or preset access code for a compartment 104, to enter a user personal identification number, and so forth. Some or all of these functions might alternatively or also be performed by the wireless identification scanner 162; for example, placement of a user’s identification card/badge, credit card, hotel key card, mobile telephone, or other wirelessly -readable item near the scanner 162 might enter a user’s personal identification number, access code, or other information. For added security, a user may need to provide both wireless identification and keypad-entered information, e.g., presentation of wirelessly-readable identification as well as keypad entry of identifying info. The display 164 can provide instructions/prompts for programming or accessing any one or more of the compartments 104, and/or for programming the system’s overall functionality.

Looking to FIGS. 4 and 5, when a compartment door 106 is opened, the user sees the inner wall surfaces of the compartment walls, including the inner wall surface of the utility wall 108 between the compartment 104 and the maintenance enclosure 122, and also sees the outer surface of the enclosure wall 114 situated in front of the maintenance enclosure 122. The compartment’s lock module 126 (seen in detail in FIGS. 8A-8B), which is situated within the maintenance enclosure 122 on the outer surface of the utility wall 108 and on the inner surface of the enclosure wall 114, provides the lock status illuminator 130 on the enclosure wall 114, as well as the data port 112 and compartment illuminator 128 on the utility wall 108. The compartment’s power module 124 - which, as noted previously, is preferably shared with other compartments 104 - then provides the power port 110 along the utility wall 108, as well as an optional power switch 166 for powering or depowering the power port 110. The utility wall 108 also includes the expansion door 134, which may be removed from within the maintenance enclosure 122, with additional modules (and/or alternative versions of the power modules 124 and/or lock modules 126) being installed within the maintenance enclosure 122 on the utility wall 108 to protrude into, or at least be exposed through, the expansion slot left after removal of the expansion door 134. For example, a module might be installed which provides an ethernet, Apple Lightning, or other data port 112 through the expansion slot, in addition to the data port 112 provided by the lock module 126. At the corner between the compartment utility wall 108 and the enclosure wall 114, the lock aperture 118 is situated to receive the lock engagement member 120 on the inner face of the door 106 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) to lock the closed compartment door 106. A user may therefore place one or more PEDs within a compartment 104, connect them to power and/or data ports 112 as desired for charging and/or data exchange purposes, and close and lock the compartment door 106 to secure the PEDs within the compartment 104 during charging and/or data exchange.

Referring to FIG. 1, much of the left-hand side of the exemplary system’s cabinet 100 is defined by a maintenance enclosure access door 168 which opens as seen in FIG. 2 to allow repair/maintenance personnel access to the maintenance enclosure 122, and which is preferably locked via a mechanical keyed lock 170 using the same key as that used for the control panel 102 and the pedestal compartment 140. The maintenance enclosure access door 168 allows access to the various components within the maintenance enclosure 122 which provide the functionality of the system, and which are mounted on the outer surface of the compartment utility wall 108. Looking particularly to FIGS. 2-3, opening the access door 168 exposes the maintenance enclosure 122, and the following components on the utility wall 108 (each of which will be discussed in turn in greater depth below): the power supply module 172; the power distribution module 174; three power modules 124, each extending alongside five compartments 104; fifteen lock modules 126, each situated alongside a respective compartment 104; and three expansion doors 134, each extending alongside five compartments 104.

The power supply module 172 of FIGS. 2-3 (see also FIG. 9) is supplied by mains power, and is used to power at least some of the electronics of the components (in particular, the control electronics 158 and the lock modules 126). The power supply module 172 may rectify and otherwise convert the mains power to a suitable value for powering the system’s electronics (e.g., 12V DC). The power supply module 172 is also preferably an uninterruptible power supply, one which maintains sufficient battery power that it can continue to supply power to the system’s electronics for at least a short while after mains power is interrupted, and which can send a signal to the system’s control electronics 158 (behind the control panel 102 of FIG. 7 and/or within the control compartment behind it) if mains power is interrupted. The control electronics 158 can then provide safe shutdown routines for any PED(s) connected to the data port(s) 112 and/or power port(s) 110 within the storage compartments 104. More particularly, in the event of power fault, the control electronics 158 can appropriately control the lock modules 126 and power modules 124 such that any data and/or power cutoff routines can be executed before power is cut (e.g., safe shutdown routines can be executed to avoid PED memory corruption).

The power distribution module 174 of FIGS. 2-3 (see also FIG. 10) receives power from mains power, and provides power ports which in turn supply the power modules 124 and power supply module 172 with power. The power ports here, as well as in other components (e.g., in the power modules 124), are preferably conventional Type A-0 sockets suitable for receiving a complementary plug, such sockets being conventional for household appliances. When assembling the system, the assembler may have power distribution modules 174 bearing different types of sockets, and may select power distribution modules 174 having the desired type(s) of sockets for use in the system.

The power modules 124 of FIGS. 2-3 (see also FIG. 11) each bear five power ports 110 of the desired type for provision within the storage compartments 104 for powering PEDs. Each power port 110 serves a respective storage compartment 104 when a power module 124 is secured to the outer surface of the compartment utility wall 108 within the maintenance enclosure 122, and is exposed by an aperture in the utility wall 108 for use within its respective storage compartment 104, as seen in FIG. 4. Each power port 110 is preferably accompanied by an (optional) on/off power switch 166 for powering/depowering the power port 110.

The lock modules 126 of FIGS. 2-3, one of which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8A- 8B, each bear the door lock 116, lock status illuminator 130, compartment illuminator 128, and data port 112 serving its respective storage compartment 104. The door lock 116 is defined as a notch 176 in the lock module 126 which is exposed within the lock aperture 118 on the compartment utility wall 108 and/or the enclosure wall 114 when the lock module 126 is installed on one or more of these walls within the maintenance enclosure 122 (see particularly FIG. 4), with the notch 176 receiving the lock engagement member 120 (see particularly FIGS. 4 and 6) on the inner face of the compartment’s door 106 when the door 106 is closed. A catch/pin 178 within the notch 176 is driven by a suitable solenoid or other electromechanical actuator to engage or disengage the lock engagement member 120, and thereby lock or unlock the door 106. The lock status illuminator 130 is similarly exposed within the enclosure wall 114 when the lock module 126 is installed, and as discussed above, is situated to shine through the lock window 132 of its compartment’s door 106 when the door 106 is closed. The lock status illuminator 130 can preferably change color and/or illumination cadence to indicate different compartment 104 states (available, occupied, locked, unlocked, etc.), and is preferably provided in the form of a multicolor RGB LED or other lamp within the housing of the lock module 126. The lock module’s housing is preferably formed, at least in part, of translucent plastic, such that light from the lock status illuminator’s lamp is transmitted through the housing. The compartment illuminator 128 is similarly exposed within the compartment utility wall 108 when the lock module 126 is installed, and is configured and situated to illuminate the compartment interior, at least at such times that the compartment 104 is open or when its door 106 is unlocked. The compartment illuminator 128 is also preferably provided by an LED or other lamp situated within the lock module 126, wherein the lamp emits light through a translucent wall of the lock module’s housing. The data port 112 is preferably a USB, Lightning, or Ethernet socket, with the drawings depicting a“smart” USB-A socket capable of providing data exchange and/or charging. Thus, the data port 112 may also serve as a power port 110, in which case no separate power port 110 need be provided (though provision of a power port 110 via a power module 124, in the form of a Type A-0 socket or other conventional form, is preferred). A lamp may also or alternatively be provided within the lock module 126 near the lock module’s data port 112, or light from the compartment illuminator 128 may be transmitted to this region, so that the (translucent) portion of the housing surrounding the lock module’s data port 112 may emit light in the same manner as the compartment illuminator 128. This arrangement, which might serve as a compartment illuminator 128 instead of or in addition to the compartment illuminator 128 arrangement discussed previously, conveniently calls a user’s attention to the location of the data port 112, as well as further illuminating the interior of the compartment 104 to enhance the visibility of PEDs therein.

FIG. 8A also shows the power supply connections used to power the lock module 126, and the communications connection 184 used to provide data communications from the control electronics 158 to the data port 112 (in the case where data communications are provided via the data port 112 rather than mere device charging functionality). Two power supply connections 180 are provided whereby lock modules 126 can be connected in series (see FIG. 3), with one power connection 180 receiving power from a preceding lock module 126 via a short cable (which may be situated within a mounting clip 182 on the lock module 126), or alternatively receiving power from the power supply module 172. The other power connection 180 can then supply power to any succeeding lock module 126 in the series. The communications connection 184 then receives operational commands from the control electronics 158 (such as lock, unlock, initiate data exchange, etc.). FIG. 8B illustrates an emergency release 186 at the rear of the lock module 126, with this emergency release 186 being accessible within the maintenance enclosure 122 (see FIG. 3) and releasing any catch/pin 178 within the lock notch 176 if the emergency release 186 is actuated.

The expansion doors 134 of FIGS. 2-3 (see also FIG. 12 for an individual expansion door 134) are removable from the compartment utility wall 108 to expose expansion slots 188 defined in the utility wall 108 (see FIG. 4), wherein each expansion slot 188 defines an open port between the maintenance enclosure 122 and the expansion slot’s storage compartment 104. Thus, expansion slots 188 may be covered by expansion doors 134 when not used. As noted previously, if additional functionality is to be added to the storage compartments 104, additional modules or other components may be installed within the maintenance enclosure 122 (and/or within the pedestal compartment 140), and these components (or associated parts) may protrude into, or at least be exposed through, the expansion slots 188. As an example, if data ports 112 other than the one provided on the lock module 126 are desired - for example, one or more ethernet, USB, Apple Lightning, or other suitable port(s) - such data ports 112 might be provided on one or more data port modules which install within the maintenance enclosure 122, and on the compartment utility wall 108, to provide the data ports through the expansion slots 188. Such data port modules may then bear appropriate cabled or wireless connections to the control electronics 158, and/or to components within the pedestal compartment 140 or elsewhere. Other modules installable within the expansion slots 188, and having other or additional features, are possible, such as a wireless identification scanner which reads a wireless ID tag borne by a PED within a compartment 104 (thereby identifying the device); an inductive charger for wireless charging of a PED; or a device which provides application-specific features (e.g., degaussing, heating, cooling, sterilization, or other features needed for maintenance and/or operation of specific PEDs). As with the lock modules 126 and the power modules 124, any modules using the expansion slots 188 may be configured to serve only a single storage compartment 104, or several adjacent storage compartments 104. The aforementioned modules, and the expansion doors 134, are configured for easy installation within the maintenance enclosure 122 and on the utility wall 108 using standard fasteners/screws, and the modules are configured for easy interconnection using standard cabling and ports (plugs/sockets). Thus, in the case of fault or failure, one or more modules may be easily removed and replaced by untrained personnel, thereby avoiding the need for a service call by trained field personnel.

As previously noted, the system can be programmed, either via the control panel 102 or remotely (e.g., through a secure internet connection) to provide the system with desired functionality. To illustrate, FIGS. 13A-13C show screens that might appear on the display 164 of the control panel 102 following an installer’s assembly or repair of the cabinet 100 to ensure that assembly or repair was properly performed. The display 164 can instruct the installer to open all doors via the emergency release 186 on the lock modules 126, and then successively close all doors in order starting from the top. As each door 106 is closed, the control electronics 158 will detect closure, and a successful closure indication for the doors in sequence can indicate successful assembly. Such success can be indicated on the display 164 (which can otherwise indicate any faults). Upon closing each door 106, it may lock, and the doors’ lock status illuminators 130 may then, for example, turn green, indicating that each compartment 104 is unoccupied and locked, and ready for use. Or, if the administrator wishes to have the doors unlocked when the compartments 104 are not in use, the doors 106 may remain unlocked after closure, with green light from the lock status illuminators 130 indicating that the compartments 104 are unoccupied and unlocked. These options, among others, may be selected on menus presented on the display 164.

FIG. 13D then illustrates a screen that might be shown to an installer or user thereafter. An installer might then access administrative functions by entering a certain invalid compartment number, such as compartment 00, resulting in the screen shown in FIG. 13E, wherein an installer can present a password or other identifying information to access administrative functions. FIG. 13F then shows various administrative functions that might be selected. FIG. 13G shows a screen that might be presented when the installer selects option 1 in FIG. 13F, with FIGS. 13H and 131 showing successive screens that might be displayed following the installer’ s selection of any one of options 1, 3, and 5 in FIG. 13G. In FIG. 131, depending on which of these options was selected, the system will unlock the selected door 106; run diagnostics to verify whether communications/connections with the selected compartment’s modules 172 and 174 seen intact; or“quarantine” (lock down) the selected compartment 104 against further use by users (as may be useful when the compartment 104 requires maintenance). FIGS. 13J-13R illustrate exemplary screen that might be presented when the installer selects option 2 in FIG. 13F, allowing the installer to test the integrity of various operations and components of the cabinet 100.

FIGS. 13S-13W then illustrate screens that may be displayed to a user to secure a PED within a selected compartment 104 when the system is programmed to solicit a user-generated PIN to secure the selected compartment 104. Thereafter, the screens of FIGS. 13X and 13Y may be displayed to allow the use to retrieve his/her PED(s) from the selected compartment 104. FIGS. 13Z and 13AA then illustrate screens that might be displayed when the installer or another administrator assigns a PIN (typically remotely) to a user, rather than having the user generate his/her own PIN.

Provided the cabinet 100 has internet and/or wireless communications capabilities, any of the features shown in the foregoing screens can also or alternatively be performed remotely, e.g., at a remote administration center or on an installer’s or user’s smartphone or other PED, instead of or in addition to via use of the control panel 102.

While the system is particularly suitable for the secure storage, charging, and data exchange of portable electronic devices such as laptop computers, tablet computers, and smartphones, the system may be used with any other portable electronic devices (e.g., power tools, medical equipment, testing/monitoring equipment, etc.). It may also or alternatively be used with non electronic devices which do not receive or provide electronic data (e.g., common hand tools), in which case the devices need not use the power and data ports 110 and 112.

The system described above is merely exemplary, and many variations from the exemplary version are possible. Following are examples of several variations, though it should be understood that these are not the only possible variations.

While the power modules 124 and expansion doors 134 are depicted as servicing five compartments 104 at the same time, they could be configured to serve more or fewer compartments 104. For example, a power module 124 might only supply power to the interior of a single compartment 104 (in which case the power distribution module 174 might need additional ports to supply the different compartments’ power modules 124 with power), and an expansion cover might only cap the expansion slot 188 of a single compartment 104, etc. In similar respects, lock modules 126 may be configured to service more than one compartment 104, but lock modules 126 serving single compartments 104 are preferred, as the lock modules 126 experience the greatest user exposure and wear. A power module 124 may provide a compartment 104 with more than one power port 110 (e.g., a Type B socket, conventional in the US, and a Type C socket, conventional in China), and/or a lock module 126 may provide more than one data port 112 (e.g., a USB-A socket and an Ethernet socket). A lock module 126 might instead provide no data ports 112, with all data ports 112 for a compartment 104 being provided on a separate data port 112 module (which, as with the power modules 124 and lock modules 126, may serve only a single compartment 104 or multiple compartments 104).

While the compartment illuminator 128 is preferably provided on the lock module 126, the compartment illuminator 128 might alternatively or additionally be provided on the power module 124, as by providing an LED or other lamp within or adjacent each power port 110 provided on the power module 124. If this is done, a preferred arrangement is to form the power port 110 (or surrounding portions of the power module 124) from translucent plastic (or another translucent material) and situate the lamp within the power module 124 such that the power port 110 itself, and/or surrounding regions of the power module 124, serve as the compartment illuminator 128. Such arrangements illuminate the interior of the compartment 104 while also readily calling a user’s attention to the power port 110, making the power port 110 easily located within the compartment 104.

The control panel 102 may bear additional features, such as a video camera and microphone/speaker allowing an administrator to remotely communicate with a user of the system (with such communications being enabled by any internet connection to the system). As another example, the control panel 102 may include a credit card reader, a barcode scanner (e.g., a QR code reader), a bill/coin receiver, or other measures for accepting user payment in instances where the system may require payment for its use. Such payment might instead be accepted at a kiosk or other station which is separate from the cabinet 100, and which communicates with the system via wired or wireless communication.

It should be understood that the versions of the invention described above are merely exemplary, and the invention is not intended to be limited to these versions. Rather, the scope of rights to the invention is limited only by the claims set out below, and the invention encompasses all different versions that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of these claims.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A storage system for portable electronic devices (PEDs), the system including:

a. a cabinet including compartments defined therein, each compartment including:

(1) compartment walls with:

(a) inner wall surfaces within the compartment, and

(b) opposing outer wall surfaces outside the compartment,

(2) a door, wherein the compartment is configured to secure a PED within the compartment walls when the door is closed,

(3) a door lock configured to secure the door closed,

(4) a power port within the compartment, the power port being configured to provide power to a PED,

(5) a data port within the compartment, the data port being configured to provide data to a PED,

b. two or more power modules, each power module:

(1) including at least one of the power ports, and

(2) being configured to receive electrical power for supply to the power module’s power ports,

c. two or more lock modules, each lock module:

(1) including at least one of the door locks, and

(2) being configured to receive electronic instructions activating the lock module’s door locks.

2. The storage system of claim 1 wherein each lock module includes one of the data ports thereon.

3. The storage system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the power modules includes two or more of the power ports, each of the power ports being within a respective one of the compartments.

4. The storage system of claim 1 wherein:

a. each power module is situated on the outer wall surfaces of the compartment walls of the compartments wherein the power module’s power ports are situated, and b. each lock module is situated on the outer wall surfaces of the compartment walls of the compartments including the lock module’s door locks.

5. The storage system of claim 4 wherein the data ports are provided on the lock modules, with each lock module providing one of the data ports within a respective one of the compartments.

6. The storage system of claim 5 wherein each compartment further has a compartment illuminator:

a. configured to illuminate the compartment interior, and

b. situated on the lock module providing the data port to the compartment.

7. The storage system of claim 4 wherein:

a. each lock module includes a lock status illuminator thereon,

b. each door includes a lock window defined therein, wherein the lock status illuminator of the lock module of the door’s compartment is:

(1) situated adjacent, and

(2) aligned to emit light through,

the door’s lock window when the door is closed.

8. The storage system of claim 1 wherein:

a. the cabinet further includes a maintenance enclosure extending alongside the compartments,

b. each compartment’s compartment walls include a compartment utility wall:

( 1 ) situated between the compartment and the maintenance enclosure, and

(2) including the compartment’s power port and data port situated along the compartment utility wall,

c. each lock module:

(1) is situated within the maintenance enclosure, and

(2) includes one of the data ports thereon,

d. each power module:

(1) is situated within the maintenance enclosure, and

(2) includes two or more of the power ports thereon, each of the power ports being within a respective one of the compartments, e. each compartment further includes an expansion door:

(1) defining a portion of the compartment’s compartment utility wall, and

(2) being removable from the compartment’s compartment utility wall from within the maintenance enclosure.

9. The storage system of claim 8 wherein each lock module further includes a compartment illuminator, the compartment illuminator being situated to illuminate the interior of the compartment that includes the lock module’s data port therein.

10. The storage system of claim 8 wherein each lock module:

a. includes one of the door locks, and

b. includes a lock status illuminator:

(1) situated outside the compartment including the lock module’s door lock, and

(2) configured to illuminate in dependence on whether the door lock has secured closed the door of the compartment including the lock module’s door lock.

11. The storage system of claim 10 wherein the doors of the compartments each include a lock window defined therein, each lock window being situated to rest over the lock status illuminator of the lock window’s compartment’s lock module when the lock window’s door is closed.

12. The storage system of claim 1 wherein:

a. each compartment has an enclosure wall situated outside and adjacent the compartment, the enclosure wall including a lock status illuminator thereon, b. each compartment’s door:

( 1 ) overlaps the enclosure wall when closed, and

(2) includes a lock window defined therein, wherein the lock status illuminator is situated to emit light through the lock window when the door is closed.

13. The storage system of claim 12 wherein:

a. each compartment’s compartment walls include a compartment utility wall, with the compartment’s power port and data port being situated along the compartment utility wall,

b. each compartment’s enclosure wall:

(1) is bounded by the compartment utility wall,

(2) rests between:

(a) at least a major portion of the lock module of the compartment, and

(b) the compartment’s door,

when the compartment’s door is closed,

c. the power module of each compartment’s power port is situated on the outer wall surfaces of the compartment utility wall of the compartment.

14. The storage system of claim 12 wherein:

a. each compartment’s door includes a lock engagement member protruding therefrom, wherein the lock engagement member extends into the compartment’s enclosure wall when the door is closed,

b. the compartment’s door lock engages the lock engagement member to secure the door closed.

15. The storage system of claim 14 wherein each compartment’s data port is provided on one of the lock modules.

16. The storage system of claim 12 wherein each compartment further includes an expansion door:

a. defining a portion of the compartment’s compartment utility wall, and

b. being removable from the compartment’s compartment utility wall from the exterior of the compartment.

17. The storage system of claim 16 wherein the expansion door defines portions of the compartment utility walls of two or more of the compartments.

18. A storage system for portable electronic devices (PEDs), the system including:

a. a cabinet including:

(1) compartments defined within the cabinet, each compartment including:

(a) compartment walls, the compartment walls including a compartment utility wall,

(b) a door, wherein the compartment is configured to secure a PED within the compartment when the door is closed,

(c) a door lock configured to secure the door closed,

(d) a power port situated along the compartment utility wall, the power port being configured to provide power to a PED within the compartment,

(e) a data port situated along the compartment utility wall, the data port being configured to provide data to a PED within the compartment,

(2) a maintenance enclosure situated alongside the compartments, wherein each compartment’s compartment utility wall separates each compartment from the maintenance enclosure,

b. two or more power modules within the maintenance enclosure, each power module:

(1) including two or more of the power ports, and

c. two or more lock modules within the maintenance enclosure, each lock module:

(1) including one of the door locks, and

(2) being configured to receive electronic instructions activating the lock module’s door lock.

19. The storage system of claim 18 wherein:

a. each lock module includes one of the data ports thereon,

b. the cabinet further includes two or more expansion doors, each expansion door:

(1) defining a portion of the compartment utility walls of two or more of the compartments, and

(2) being removable from the compartment utility walls from within the maintenance enclosure.

20. A storage system for portable electronic devices (PEDs), the system including:

(1) compartment walls with:

(a) inner wall surfaces within the compartment, and

(b) opposing outer wall surfaces outside the compartment,

(3) a door lock configured to secure the door closed,

b. two or more power modules, each power module:

(1) including at least one of the power ports, and

c. two or more lock modules, each lock module:

(1) including one of the door locks,

(2) being configured to receive electronic instructions activating the lock module’s door lock,

(3) including one of the data ports,

(4) including a compartment illuminator situated to illuminate the interior of the compartment whose door is secured by the lock module’s door lock, and

(5) including a lock status illuminator:

(a) situated outside the interior of the compartment whose door is secured closed by the lock module’s door lock, and

(b) configured to illuminate in dependence on whether the lock module’s door lock has secured closed the door of the door lock’s compartment.