US Patent No: 5,544,784

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Rechargeable battery vending machine

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Importance

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Abstract

A vending machine (10) for vending a rechargeable battery pack has a interface unit (12), new battery reservoir (14), battery dispensing unit (16), and a control unit (18). A customer interested in purchasing a new battery insets a payment in the money handling unit (30). A display (32) is provided and prompts the customer for a response. The customer responds by use of an entry pad (3), and the machine dispenses a new battery. Alternatively, if the customer is interested in exchanging a discharged battery for a fully charged one of similar condition, a battery pack received unit (20) is provided with a receiver port (42) for the customer to insert the spent battery. The spent battery is quickly analyzed by a battery test unit (22) and assigned a grade. If the spent battery is in usable condition, it is passed to a battery recharger, and the customer is prompted to choose between a new battery and one of similar grade to that deposited. If a new battery is selected, one is dispensed, as before. If a similar battery is requested, then one is located in the recharged battery reservoir (26), and dispensed. The price charged to the customer is proportional to the difference in grade between the battery deposited and the battery dispensed. If the battery is in an unusable condition, the customer may choose to have it returned, or may choose for the machine to retain the battery in an internal recycle bin so that the battery may be collected for recycling. Additionally, the machine may have a communications relay station mounted on it for short range wireless communications systems.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLCLIBERTYVILLE, IL5841

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Malaspina, Francis P Plantation, FL 7 202

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
UMC INDUSTRIES, INC. (1)
4,823,984 Container storage and dispensing apparatus and vending machine for dispensing refrigerated, unrefrigerated and/or heated foods 49 1987

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
WALKER DIGITAL, LLC (17)
7,546,277 Method and apparatus for dynamically managing vending machine inventory prices 4 1997
7,587,333 Method and apparatus for vending products 5 1998
7,236,942 Pre-sale data broadcast system and method 9 1998
7,249,050 Vending machine system and method for encouraging the purchase of profitable items 11 1999
7,894,936 Products and processes for managing the prices of vending machine inventory 1 2004
7,499,769 Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups 4 2006
7,885,726 Vending machine system and method for encouraging the purchase of profitable items 0 2006
7,451,892 Vending machine system and method for encouraging the purchase of profitable items 5 2006
7,826,923 Products and processes for vending a plurality of products 0 2006
7,856,379 Pre-sale data broadcast system and method 3 2006
7,726,562 System for vending physical and information items 0 2007
7,577,496 System for vending physical and information items 3 2007
7,912,581 Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups 0 2007
7,865,265 Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups 0 2007
7,711,658 Method and apparatus for dynamically managing vending machine inventory prices 6 2007
8,068,933 Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups 0 2009
8,112,359 Pre-sale data broadcast system and method 0 2010
 
SIPCO, LLC (10)
7,756,086 Method for communicating in dual-modes 1 2004
7,295,128 Smoke detection methods, devices, and systems 31 2005
8,064,412 Systems and methods for monitoring conditions 4 2005
7,697,492 Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling remote devices 24 2005
8,013,732 Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling remote devices 6 2009
8,171,136 System and method for transmitting pollution information over an integrated wireless network 0 2010
8,212,667 Automotive diagnostic data monitoring systems and methods 0 2011
8,379,564 System and method for monitoring remote devices with a dual-mode wireless communication protocol 0 2011
8,223,010 Systems and methods for monitoring vehicle parking 0 2011
8,410,931 Mobile inventory unit monitoring systems and methods 0 2011
 
STATSIGNAL IPC, LLC (6)
7,137,550 Transmitter for accessing automated financial transaction machines 21 1997
6,628,764 System for requesting service of a vending machine 95 2000
7,397,907 Multi-function general purpose transceiver 31 2001
7,480,501 System and method for transmitting an emergency message over an integrated wireless network 29 2001
7,079,810 System and method for communicating with a remote communication unit via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 21 2003
8,031,650 System and method for monitoring remote devices with a dual-mode wireless communication protocol 1 2004
 
FACEBOOK, INC. (3)
7,340,419 Method and apparatus for product display 18 2002
7,835,950 Method and apparatus for product display 13 2006
7,912,758 Method and apparatus for product display 13 2007
 
HUNT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (3)
7,650,425 System and method for controlling communication between a host computer and communication devices associated with remote devices in an automated monitoring system 35 2001
7,263,073 Systems and methods for enabling a mobile user to notify an automated monitoring system of an emergency situation 36 2001
7,103,511 Wireless communication networks for providing remote monitoring of devices 147 2001
 
COIN ACCEPTORS, INC. (2)
6,772,048 Vending machine system 26 2001
6,959,230 Vending machine system and method 4 2004
 
INTEL CORPORATION (2)
7,723,951 Battery charging apparatus having a chute and method of recharging a battery 0 2006
8,098,046 Battery charging apparatus having a chute and method of recharging a battery 0 2010
 
IPCO, LLC (2)
8,000,314 Wireless network system and method for providing same 1 2005
8,233,471 Wireless network system and method for providing same 0 2009
 
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. (2)
6,166,522 Battery conditioning scheme 5 1999
6,242,894 Battery conditioning scheme 2 2000
 
BEGHELLI S.P.A. (1)
7,777,448 Battery-recharging device 1 2005
 
EBAY INC. (1)
6,748,296 Automated vending 26 2002
 
LIFESIZE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (1)
7,602,141 Battery operated speakerphone and charging stand 1 2005
 
MARUKAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA (1)
5,744,933 Vending machine for charging a secondary battery of a mobile phone 8 1996
 
NEC CORPORATION (1)
6,822,422 Battery recycle system 4 2003
 
STATSIGNAL IPC (1)
7,424,527 System and method for transmitting pollution information over an integrated wireless network 33 2001
 
TEXTRON IPMP L.P. (1)
6,735,536 Method and apparatus for testing batteries on a golf car 2 2001
 
YUJIN COMPANY LTD. (1)
7,172,094 Packaged goods delivering device 0 2003
 
ZITTRAIN, PROF. JONATHAN (1)
7,324,000 State adaptation devices and methods for wireless communications 0 2006
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (2)
6,998,984 State adaptation devices and methods for wireless communications 3 2001
8,217,622 Patient identification and labeling system incorporated into a portable bin and exhibiting electrical charge architecture for recharging an electronic device plugged into the bin architecture once the bin is set upon a pedestal charging base 0 2009