Technical field

The present invention relates to a payment terminal for a fuel dispensing unit. Background art When refuelling a tank of a motor vehicle today, it is a common measure to pay for the fuel using a self-service payment terminal. The use of a payment terminal instead of paying inside a gas station facilitates the refuelling process and saves time for a user.

Today, different markets have different requirements regarding heights for payment terminals. Due to the different requirements and regulations in different markets, in combination with different installation designs, different heights, especially in respect of the user interface mechanism, are required. For example, some countries require ADA demands while other have regulations regarding zoning on a gas station. The installation of the freestanding payment terminal can also vary from station to station, due to islands and orientation.

A problem associated with payment terminals according to known prior art is therefore the configuration of the same in order to comply with the different height requirements on each market. To be able to cover the wide market, due to the regulations and demands regarding heights, different versions of the complete payment terminal has been designed. This is, however, not an ideal solution in view of time and costs for the manufacturers and their customers.

Brief Description It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement of the prior art. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved single payment terminal which fulfils all of the different requirements regarding heights for payment terminals.

These and other objects as well as advantages that will be apparent from the following description of the present invention are achieved by a payment terminal for a fuel dispensing unit according to the independent claim.

Thus, a payment terminal for a fuel dispensing unit is provided. The payment terminal comprises a user interface mechanism arranged in said payment terminal. The payment terminal is characterized in that said payment terminal further comprises means for adjusting a vertical position of said user interface mechanism, relative to a base of said payment terminal. Such a payment terminal will be able to adapt in height, manually or automatically, due to the vertical adjustability of the user interface mechanism. In turn, this means that it will be possible to manufacture one single payment terminal which accordingly can be adapted to fulfill the requirements of any existing market, worldwide. Naturally, as a consequence, both time and money will be saved. Additionally, by providing a payment terminal with a user interface mechanism that may be adjusted vertically when the payment terminal is mounted on the ground (including any possible base or the like), a disabled person, e.g. a chairbound person, may easily access the user interface mechanism of the payment terminal by an adjustment of the user interface mechanism to a lower position (compared to a higher position that may be used by standing persons).

The means for adjusting the vertical position of said user interface mechanism may comprise a module arranged to be mounted to a ground, said module being connected to a bottom section of said payment terminal, said bottom section being vertically adjustable in relation to said module. The height of the entire payment terminal will thereby be extended as well as the distance between the user interface mechanism and the ground. The module may comprise at least one groove adapted to receive at least one fastening means in order to fasten said bottom section of the payment terminal to the module. Alternatively, the payment terminal may comprise at least one groove adapted to receive at least one fastening means in order to fasten the bottom section of the payment terminal to the module. The fastening means may be received anywhere along the extension of the groove which makes the bottom section vertically adjustable in relation to the module by regulating the fastening means in relation to the groove. The fastening means may be chosen from a group consisting of a screw, a bolt, a pin or the like, which are all preferred embodiments for the invention.

The means for adjusting the vertical position of the user interface mechanism may comprise at least one motor. By means of the motor, the adjustments may be made automatically instead of manually. This is an important advantage, especially for users having a disability. The payment terminal may further comprise a motor control unit connected to the motor, which motor control unit comprising input means accessible to a user. The input means is then used to adjust the vertical position of the user interface mechanism by means of the motor via the motor control unit. Accordingly, the payment terminal may be adjusted at any time by a user in order to comply with his or hers specific needs. The input means is preferably positioned on an exterior portion of said payment terminal.

The means for adjusting the vertical position of the user interface mechanism may comprise pneumatics or hydraulics, which are both possible embodiments of the invention. The user interface mechanism may comprise any one or a combination of, or a plurality of a credit card receiver, a bank note validator, a touch screen, a display, a keypad and a selection button. The design and construction of the user interface mechanism differ between different markets and countries. Therefore, any combination of a credit card receiver, a bank note validator, a touch screen and a selection button is possible. The user interface mechanism may also comprise software, or software in combination with any one or a combination of, or a plurality of a credit card receiver, a bank note validator, a touch screen, a display, a keypad and a selection button. Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. Further, by "comprising" it is meant "comprising but not limited to" throughout the application, and the term "vertical" is referred to when the payment terminal is in use and in an upright position.

Brief description of the drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein:

Fig 1 a is a perspective view of a payment terminal according to a first embodiment of the invention when in a fully extended position,

Fig. 1 b is a cut out of a portion of the payment terminal of Fig. 1 a,

Fig. 2a is a perspective view of the payment terminal according to the first embodiment of the invention when in a fully compressed position,

Fig. 2b is a cut out of a portion of the payment terminal of Fig. 2a, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the payment terminal according to a second embodiment of the invention when in a fully compressed position, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the payment terminal according to the second embodiment of the invention when in a fully extended position,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the payment terminal according to a third embodiment of the invention when in a fully compressed position, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the payment terminal according to the third embodiment of the invention when in a fully extended position.

Detailed description

Fig. 1 a illustrates a payment terminal 1 for a fuel dispensing unit (not shown) according to a first embodiment of the invention when in a fully extended position. The payment terminal 1 comprises a user interface mechanism 2 arranged in the payment terminal 1 . The payment terminal 1 further comprises means 3 for adjusting a vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2, relative to a base on which said payment terminal is arranged. The means 3 for adjusting the vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2 comprises a module 4, arranged to be mounted to a ground, which is connected to a bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 . The module 4 has two grooves 6 which are adapted to receive a fastening means 7, respectively, in order to fasten the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 to the module 4. By regulating the fastening means 7 in relation to the grooves 6, the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 will be vertically adjustable in relation to the module 4. As a consequence, the height of the payment terminal 1 can be changed and the distance from the ground up to the user interface mechanism 2 adjusted. Each one of the fastening means 7 is constituted by a screw and a nut. In Fig. 1 b, a cut out of a portion of the payment terminal of Fig. 1 a is illustrated. As the payment terminal 1 is in a fully extended position, the fastening means 7 are provided at the highest possible position in the grooves 6 of the module 4. Fig. 2a illustrates a payment terminal 1 for a fuel dispensing unit according to the first embodiment of the invention when in a fully compressed position.

In Fig. 2b, a cut out of a portion of the payment terminal of Fig. 2a is illustrated. As the payment terminal 1 is in a fully compressed position, the fastening means 7 are provided at the lowest possible position in the grooves 6 of the module 4.

Fig. 3 illustrates the payment terminal 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention when in a fully compressed position. In this embodiment, the means 3 for adjusting the vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2 comprises a motor 8, a motor control unit 9 connected to the motor 8. The motor control unit 9 comprises input means 10 positioned on an exterior portion of said payment terminal 1 and being accessible to a user. The motor 8 is connected to a gear rack 1 1 rotatably attached to the module 4 and in an engagement with a screw 12 or the like having an inner threading and being fixedly attached to the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 . By rotating the gear rack 1 1 by means of the motor 8, the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 will be vertically adjusted in relation to the module 4. As a consequence, the height of the payment terminal 1 can be changed and the distance from the ground up to the user interface mechanism 2 adjusted. In Fig. 4, the payment terminal 1 according to the second embodiment of the invention when in a fully extended position is illustrated.

Fig. 5 illustrates the payment terminal 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention when in a fully compressed position. In this embodiment, the means 3 for adjusting the vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2 comprises a motor 8, a motor control unit 9 connected to the motor 8. The motor control unit 9 comprises input means 10 positioned on an exterior portion of said payment terminal 1 and being accessible to a user. The motor 8 is connected to a gear wheel 13 rotatably attached to the module 4 and in an engagement with a gear rack 1 1 fixedly attached to the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 . By rotating the gear wheel 13 by means of the motor 8, the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 will be vertically adjusted in relation to the module 4. As a consequence, the height of the payment terminal 1 can be changed and the distance from the ground up to the user interface mechanism 2 adjusted.

Some markets require a specific distance between the ground and the user interface mechanism of the payment terminal 1 , such as a credit card receiver or a bank note acceptor. Other markets has a maximum distance allowed from the ground and up to position of the highest selection button or touch screen on the payment terminal 1 in order to facilitate the use of the same for a disabled person. By adjusting the height of the payment terminal 1 , the distance between the ground and the user interface mechanism 2 is also adjusted. The payment terminal 1 can thus be adjusted to fulfill the requirements and regulations on any market, worldwide. The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

For instance, the motor can be connected to a gear rack rotatably attached to the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 and in an engagement with a screw or the like having an inner threading and being fixedly attached to the module 4. By rotating the gear rack by means of the motor, the module 4 will be vertically adjustable in relation to the bottom section of the payment terminal 1 . The motor can be connected to a gear wheel rotatably attached to the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 and in an engagement with a gear rack fixedly attached to the module 4. By rotating the gear wheel by means of the motor, the module 4 will be vertically adjustable in relation to the bottom section of the payment terminal 1 . Naturally, the alternatives above can be applied manually as well, i.e. without the motor, using, for example a wheel or a lever attached to rotatable elements.

The adjustment of the vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2 of the payment terminal 1 can be carried out in a vast number of ways without extending the scope of protection for the application. One possibility is to have another part than the bottom section 5 of the payment terminal 1 vertically adjustable.

The adjustment of the vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2 of the payment terminal 1 can also be carried out without changing the height of the payment terminal 2, i.e. by merely changing the vertical position of the user interface mechanism 2 in a fixed payment terminal 1 .

The placement of the motor, the motor control unit and the input means can be anywhere, either within the payment terminal or outside of the same.