One or more vending tracks (e.g., for strollers, carts, or other such vehicles) can be indirectly coupled (e.g., wirelessly coupled) to a single kiosk managing the rental transaction. The kiosk does not store instructions or other data for operating the vending tracks. Rather, management of the vending tracks is handled by a controller that is external of the kiosk. The controller may be mounted to an exterior of the kiosk, to one of the tracks, or elsewhere. The controller connects (e.g., wirelessly couples) to a respective communications unit of each vending track.

A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

Disclosed herein are mobile battery powered kiosks generally shaped as a standing workstation having an interactive touch screen at a comfortable viewing height and a wheeled base portion for convenient rolling transportation. These mobile kiosks may have collapsible handles and may be nested together for more compact storage and more efficient battery charging, such as by daisy chaining These mobile kiosks may have removable or swappable rechargeable batteries, or may be recharged simply by plugging into a wall outlet. The mobile kiosks have an interactive touch screen, which may itself be a computer, or may be operably coupled to a computer, such as via Wi-Fi. These mobile kiosks may be used at a point-of sale and are wheeled and lightweight to be easily maneuvered and quickly deployed when needed, such as at crowded venues, or on a temporary as-needed basis, and can then be put away, when no longer needed.

A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

Systems and methods for operating a vending system for renting carts or strollers. The methods comprise: performing tag read operations or barcode scan operations by a device disposed at a lock mechanism of the vending system to obtain a unique identifier for a cart or stroller; selecting, by a computing device of the vending system, an image from a plurality of pre-stored images based on the unique identifier; displaying, by the computing device, the selected image along with other images as part of a graphical user interface facilitating cart or stroller rental; receiving, by the computing device, at least one user input for renting a cart or stroller associated with one of the displayed images; and performing operations by the computing device to cause a release of the lock mechanism that is locking the rented cart or stroller to the vending system.

Systems and methods for operating a vending system for renting carts or strollers. The methods comprise: performing tag read operations or barcode scan operations by a device disposed at a lock mechanism of the vending system to obtain a unique identifier for a cart or stroller; selecting, by a computing device of the vending system, an image from a plurality of pre-stored images based on the unique identifier; displaying, by the computing device, the selected image along with other images as part of a graphical user interface facilitating cart or stroller rental; receiving, by the computing device, at least one user input for renting a cart or stroller associated with one of the displayed images; and performing operations by the computing device to cause a release of the lock mechanism that is locking the rented cart or stroller to the vending system.

One or more vending tracks (e.g., for strollers, carts, or other such vehicles) can be indirectly coupled (e.g., wirelessly coupled) to a single kiosk managing the rental transaction. The kiosk does not store instructions or other data for operating the vending tracks. Rather, management of the vending tracks is handled by a controller that is external of the kiosk. The controller may be mounted to an exterior of the kiosk, to one of the tracks, or elsewhere. The controller connects (e.g., wirelessly couples) to a respective communications unit of each vending track.

One or more vending tracks (e.g., for strollers, carts, or other such vehicles) can be indirectly coupled (e.g., wirelessly coupled) to a single kiosk managing the rental transaction. The kiosk does not store instructions or other data for operating the vending tracks. Rather, management of the vending tracks is handled by a controller that is external of the kiosk. The controller may be mounted to an exterior of the kiosk, to one of the tracks, or elsewhere. The controller connects (e.g., wirelessly couples) to a respective communications unit of each vending track.