Patent US6482080B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6482080B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for providing convenience services to stationary vehicles
Assignee: SOUTH BRONX SUSTAINABLE SOLAR BIODIESEL LLC
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Filing: 2001-04-19
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Granted: 2002-11-19
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Expires: 2021-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for providing convenience services to a stationary vehicle independent of the vehicle's electrical system. At least one conduit is attached to a housing for transferring the services to a supply panel. The supply panel includes a face on which the various controls and connectors associated with the supplied convenience services, such as heating, cooling, electrical power, compressed air, computer network communications, telephone, video, and television, are disposed. The supply panel is dimensioned to interface with the stationary vehicle through an opening in the vehicle, such as a window or service door, and includes means for providing a substantially airtight seal for climate control.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold C. Wilson
- 👤 David Everhart
- 👤 J. T. Badgett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/0025; B60H1/00257; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/28; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A service unit for providing a convenience service to a cab of a tractor trailer, comprising; a housing; a supply panel coupled to said housing and operable to attach to a cab of a tractor trailer, said supply panel providing conditioned air to said cab and providing at least one convenience service selected from the group consisting of radio signals, electrical power, telephone, computer network and video; and an interactive control mounted in said supply panel and operable to activate said service unit and to obtain payment for use of said service unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A service unit for providing a convenience service to a cab of a tractor trailer, comprising; a housing; a supply panel coupled to said housing and operable to attach to a cab of a tractor trailer, said supply panel providing conditioned air to said cab and providing at least one convenience service selected from the group consisting of radio signals, electrical power, telephone, computer network and video; and an interactive control mounted in said supply panel and operable to activate said service unit and to obtain payment for use of said service unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The service unit of claim 1 wherein said housing contains an air conditioning unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The service unit of claim 1 wherein said supply panel provides at least one convenience service selected from the group consisting of: compressed air, video signals, heated air, and cooled air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The service unit of claim 1 further comprising means for attaching said supply panel to an opening in said cab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The service unit of claim 4 further comprising a template, said template disposed around said supply panel and dimensioned to substantially fit an opening in said cab.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The service unit of claim 5 further comprising a gasket for forming a substantially airtight seal between said opening and said template.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The service unit of claim 5 wherein said opening is a window in said cab.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The service unit of claim 1 further comprising a gasket being a pneumatic seal disposed around said panel perimeter, said pneumatic seal being inflatable to form an airtight seal with the said cab, wherein said supply panel is dimensioned to substantially fit a window of said cab and defining a perimeter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The service unit of claim 8 wherein at least one intermediate sealing member is used to fill a gap between said pneumatic seal and said window.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A service unit of claim 8 wherein said supply panel includes a control for inflating and deflating said pneumatic seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The service unit of claim 1 further comprising a support for mounting said housing at a preselected height.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The service unit of claim 11 further comprising a weight supporting member for supporting said supply panel when said supply panel is not in use.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The service unit of claim 12 wherein said weight supporting member is a tether between said housing and said supply panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The service unit of claim 12 wherein said weight supporting member is a cradle for receiving said supply panel, said cradle located such that said conduit does not support said supply panel when said supply panel is not in use.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The service unit claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said service units are supported in a gantry extending across a plurality of tractor trailers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The service unit claimed in claim 1 wherein said interactive control comprises a credit card reader mounted in said supply unit whereby said service unit can be activated by an operator within said cab.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The service unit claimed in claim 1 wherein said supply panel provides heated air, cooled air, alternating current electricity and telephone connection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The service unit claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing recirculates air from within said cab through said supply panel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A service unit of claim 1 further comprising a conduit operable to couple said housing and said supply panel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A service unit of claim 19 wherein said conduit contains at least one air duct and at least one cable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The service unit of claim 20 wherein said at least one air duct and said at least one cable are plenum-rated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The service unit of claim 19 wherein said conduit is a flexible conduit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-18 | 2006-05-20 | 2006-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | 2010-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-18 | 2014-05-20 | 2014-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |