MOBILE INTERFACE UNIT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile interface unit (2) comprising at least one temperature controlled cabinet (4), a refrigerator door (6) to provide access to the cabinet, and refrigeration apparatus to provide refrigeration to the cabinet, the unit further comprising a safe (80) and one or more display screens (40, 45).

Claims

1. A mobile interface unit comprising at least one temperature controlled cabinet, a refrigerator door to provide access to the cabinet, and refrigeration apparatus to provide refrigeration to the cabinet, the unit further comprising a safe and one or more display screens.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more display screens is a touch screen.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the one or more display screens is provided on a substantially horizontal surface of the unit.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display screen includes a privacy filter.

5. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the one or more display screens is provided on a substantially vertical surface of the unit.

6. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wireless charging facility provided on the exterior of the unit.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a scanner.

8. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver for connecting the unit with a local network.

9. A unit as claimed in claim 1 further including one or more power or recharging sockets, stations or bases.

10. A unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more power or recharging sockets include one or more single phase 13 amp power sockets and/or one or more USB ports.

11. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further including a tracking device.

12. A unit as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more accelerometers and/or gyro sensors for detecting movement of the unit.

13. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising any one or more of speaker, camera or microphone means.

14. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an audible and/or visual alarm.

15. A unit as claimed in claim 14, further comprising alarm control means for activating said alarm on detection of movement of the unit above a threshold level.

16. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safe is wholly or substantially located within the cabinet.

17. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safe has a lockable safe door separate to the refrigerator door, to provide access to the safe.

18. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the safe has defined walls separate from the cabinet.

19. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safe is wholly or substantially separate from the cabinet.

20. A unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the safe has a lockable safe door separate to the refrigerator door, to provide access to the safe.

21. A unit as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the safe and the cabinet are housed in an outer housing.

22. A plurality of units according to claim 1, linked together to share visitor preference information, the one or more display screens on said units being configurable to display information relevant to the visitor preferences.

Description

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile refrigerator unit according to one embodiment of the present invention showing two doors in an open position;

[0044] FIG. 2 is the unit of FIG. 1 with the two doors in a closed position; and

[0045] FIG. 3 is a further embodiment to the unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0046] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a mobile refrigerator unit 2 having a temperature controlled cabinet 4 and a refrigerator door 6 to provide access to the cabinet 4.

[0047] The cabinet 4 is in the form of having a floor, three walls and a ceiling, such that the refrigerator door can provide a fourth wall when closed to allow a refrigeration apparatus (not shown) to provide a temperature controlled environment within the cabinet in a manner known in the art. Refrigerator apparatus generally includes at least a condenser, a pump and a heat sink, operating in the manner of the known refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration apparatus is typically located within one or more enclosures at or near the rear of the refrigerator unit in a manner known in the art.

[0048] The refrigerator door 6 provides access to the cabinet 4 when opened, generally full access across one side of the cabinet 4, so as to either add or remove contents therefrom. The contents can include any known or expected goods or items, including food and drinks such as the bottles 8 shown in FIG. 1.

[0049] The cabinet 4 could include one or more shelves 10 or other partitions or enclosures, able to help divide or sub-divide the space within the cabinet 4 in a manner known in the art.

[0050] Typically, the mobile refrigerator unit 2 provides a controlled temperature of approximately 5 C., or possibly in the range 5 C.-0 C., in a manner known in the art.

[0051] FIG. 1 also shows the mobile refrigerator unit 2 further comprising a safe 80. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the safe 80 is located above the cabinet 4, and has a series of distinct walls 12 intended to be wholly or substantially impenetrable for a pre-determined or defined period of time, within the expected standard of the safe. Many safes are defined by certain standards in the art, including ISO standards such as the current 9001 ISO standard, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the area of the safe 80 is wholly or substantially defined by the same width and depth as the cabinet 4, such that the cabinet 4 and the safe 80 together define the outer dimensions of the mobile refrigerator unit 2.

[0053] Optionally, the cabinet 4 and the safe 80 are formed by sharing at least one side and/or wall.

[0054] Alternatively, the cabinet 4 is formed of a series of distinct walls, optionally including a floor and ceiling, and the safe is formed of a series of separate distinct walls, optionally including a floor and ceiling, and the cabinet and safe are brought together, optionally conjoined, to provide the mobile refrigerator unit 2.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows the safe 80 including a door 14, moveable between an open position as shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position as shown in FIG. 2, using two hinges 16.

[0056] Typically, the safe door 14 provides access to or along one side of the safe 80.

[0057] Optionally, the safe door 14 and the refrigerator door 6 provide access to the same facing side of the cabinet and safe, although the skilled man can see that the location of the safe door 14 and the refrigerator door 6 can be so as to provide access on different sides or faces of, or from different directions around, the mobile refrigerator unit 2.

[0058] FIG. 1 also shows the mobile refrigerator unit 2 including a panel 20 having a plurality of power or recharging sockets or stations or bases 22. Such power sockets 22 may be the same or different, and may include one or more of the group comprising mains sockets, phone sockets, USB sockets and wireless charging pads.

[0059] In this way, the mobile refrigerator unit 2 of the present invention can also provide the user with one or more power sockets suitable for powering one or more other appliances or units, without the need for additional power sources in or around the area being used by the user. Typically, the mobile refrigerator unit 2 is powered from a single source, such as mains power using a suitable socket such as a 13 Amp socket in a manner known in the art, such that additional connections within the mobile refrigerator unit 2 can provide power to one or more additional power sockets 22.

[0060] Optionally, the panel 20 is integrally formed in the mobile refrigerator unit 2, and may be covered by a suitable door or flap when access to the power sockets 22 is not required.

[0061] FIG. 1 also shows the mobile refrigerator unit 2 including a flat upper surface or top 24, which can be used by a user as a suitable working surface to assist with any exhibition stand or display of certain material or goods. An interactive touch screen 40 is integrated into the top surface, the screen 40 preferably having a restricted or narrow viewing angle, provided by way of a privacy filter so that personal and potentially sensitive data can be displayed and entered at the unit, without such data being generally viewable by visitors around the unit.

[0062] A further screen 45 is mounted on a front vertical face of the unit and is intended to display relevant material to those in the unit's surroundings. The front screen has a wide viewing angle so that it is visible to a wide audience around the unit.

[0063] Each screen may be fixedly mounted in the exterior of the unit, or may be releasably mounted, for example through a lockable docking connection, for removal and storage within the unit when not required. The unit may in this connection have suitable slots within its interior for housing one or more screens when not in use.

[0064] The unit may moreover incorporate one or more speakers 53, cameras 51 or microphones 52 enabling the unit to offer video conferencing facilities, or to operate as a public address (PA) system, such speakers, cameras and/or microphones conveniently being part of the one or more screens.

[0065] The interface unit includes a wireless charging capability in the form of one or more charging pads or mats 44, where devices to be charged are placed on the pad or through a charging transmitter to charge adjacent devices (not shown).

[0066] The interface unit may further comprise a scanner 46 for scanning, for example, QR codes or bar codes on a visitor's pass, or for scanning business cards into an appropriate directory. Consequently, business cards need not be left at the unit, reducing the risk of information theft.

[0067] The interface unit may further be linked to a Native App, so that information can be gathered relevant to visitor preferences and hub locations, thereby optimising information displayed on the one or more screens 40, 45.

[0068] In this respect a number of such units may be linked together in, for example, an exhibition hall, and the display screens 40, 45 may be configurable to be relevant to information gathered on visitor preferences. For example, the units may gather visitor information so that a particular unit can display a map showing other stands that the visitor may wish to visit. The unit could serve push notifications about offers or companies that might be relevant and could display them on the one or more screens.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows the mobile refrigerator unit 2 wherein the refrigerator door 6 and the safe door 14 are in a closed position.

[0070] FIG. 2 also shows the refrigerator door having a handle 26. Optionally, the refrigerator door 6 is lockable in its own right, such as having a suitable locking mechanism within or associated with the handle 26.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows the safe door 14 having a handle 28 and a keypad 30. The keypad 30 typically includes one or more physical or electronic buttons, to allow a user to enter a pre-defined password or passcode etc. via the buttons, to open the safe door 14. Other locking mechanisms or units may include RF-loops or tags, wireless or Bluetooth units, or a physical key or an electronic tag or key, or similar mechanism, able to work with a complementary mechanism within or close to the safe door 14.

[0072] In the case of an electronic tag or key, users of the unit may be issued with unique identifier pass codes, so that data relating to details of access into the safe and/or refrigerator can be logged. Such pass codes can be issued remotely when required and can be programmed to allow access for different people within specific time periods, such as for example the duration of a particular exhibition for an exhibitor, or pre-exhibition for restocking requirements. The unit may transmit such data to a remote location and/or may have local memory for storing such data.

[0073] Optionally, the handles 26, 28 and/or the keypad 30 are inset within the general outer dimensions of the mobile refrigerator unit 2.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows the unit 2 having an additional outer door 32 able to cover both the safe door 14 and the refrigerator door 6, and able to provide a more desirable outer finishing to the unit 2.

[0075] The unit further can include a tracking device (not shown). The tracking device may have any suitable size, shape design, design, and may be overt or covert. The tracking device can be linked to a tracking unit or station, and assist location of the unit should the unit be moved without expectation, e.g. stolen.

[0076] The interface unit may also have one or more accelerometers and/or gyro sensors 50 for detecting if the unit is being moved. If movement is detected at a time when this is not anticipated, then a suitable alarm signal and/or notification can be activated. The unit may in this regard have means for programming appropriate moving times and/or status. The status of the interface unit may in this regard be set remotely, so that for example the status of the unit can be moved to an alarmed mode when positioned on a stand, such that unauthorised subsequent movement will activate an alarm signal. In the event of unauthorised movement, the one or more cameras 51 and/or microphones on the unit may be activated to record.