Granted Patent B1

US 7,353,989 · App. 11/648,987 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Abstract

Claims (74)

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including:

a user interface having:

a card reader;

a keypad including a plurality of keys;

a display;

a cash dispense opening;

a keypad cover overlying at least a portion of some of the keys of the keypad,

wherein the cover comprises flexible, deformable material,

wherein the material enables the cover to be changed between a deformed condition and an undeformed condition,

wherein the cover bounds an opening,

wherein the opening enables manual digit access therethrough to at least some of the keys of the keypad,

 wherein cover deformation is adapted to facilitate manual digit access to selected keys of the keypad,

wherein the cover is configured so the keypad is not clearly visible through the cover except from a point of view of a user operating the machine at the user interface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the keypad cover comprises a pair of flexible wall portions and a flexible top portion, wherein the cover includes at least one visual opening adjacent the top portion, and wherein each of the wall portions are tapered inwardly with proximity toward the top portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the top portion overlies at least a portion of at least some of the keys of the keypad, and wherein the top portion includes at least one flexible flap portion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the opening is configured to enable insertion of manual digits therethrough in a first direction to engage the keys.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the top portion is tapered.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the top portion is tapered so as to extend closer to the keys with increasing distance from the opening.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the flexible flap portion is bounded by two spaced parallel slots.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a pair of inturned flange portions, wherein a first inturned flange portion is engaged with the user interface of the machine on a first side of the keypad, and a second inturned flange portion is engaged with the user interface of the machine on a second side of the keypad opposed of the first side.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the user interface includes a pair of spaced pockets, and wherein each of the first and second inturned flange portions engage the user interface in a respective one of the pockets.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first and second flange portions are engaged with the user interface through adhesive material.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the banking machine comprises a fascia, wherein the fascia includes a recess, wherein the keys of the keypad are accessible within the recess, and wherein each of the flange portions are in engagement with the fascia in the recess.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the cover is collapsible, wherein the cover in an operative condition enables a user to manually access all of the keys of the keypad, and in a collapsed condition manual access to at least some keys of the keypad is prevented.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the automated banking machine further comprises at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to enable the machine to receive at least one digit input through the keypad, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the cover to change between the operative condition and the collapsed condition.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the cover includes at least one member comprising shape memory alloy, wherein the at least one member is in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor causes the at least one member to change shape, and wherein the cover changes between the operative condition and the collapsed condition responsive to the change in shape.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the cover includes at least one fluid cavity, and wherein the banking machine includes at least one fluid source fluidly connectable to the at least one fluid cavity, and at least one fluid source controller in operative connection with the at least one processor, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the fluid from the fluid source to be delivered to at least one fluid cavity, wherein the cover changes between the operative condition and the collapsed condition responsive to delivery of fluid to the at least one fluid cavity.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the user interface includes at least one visual indicator, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the keypad to change between an encrypting condition and a nonencrypting condition, wherein in the encrypting condition inputs to the keypad are encrypted through operation of the keypad, and wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one visual indicator, wherein the at least one visual indicator is operative to change condition responsive to the keypad changing between the encrypting condition and the nonencrypting condition.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein the user interface includes at least one visual indicator, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the keypad to change between an encrypting condition and a nonencrypting condition, wherein in the encrypting condition, inputs to the keypad are encrypted through operation of the keypad, and wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one visual indicator, wherein the at least one visual indicator is operative to change condition responsive to the keypad changing between the encrypting condition or the nonencrypting condition.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cover is collapsible, wherein the cover in an operative condition enables a user to access with at least one digit all of the keys of the keypad, and in a collapsed condition digit access to at least some of the keys of the keypad is prevented.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the automated banking machine further comprises at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to enable the banking machine to receive at least one manual digit input through the keypad, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the cover to change between the operative condition and the collapsed condition.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the cover includes at least one member comprising shape memory alloy, wherein the at least one member is in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor causes the at least one member to change shape, wherein the cover changes between the operative condition and the collapsed condition responsive to the change in shape.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises manual digit deformable material enabling manual changing of the cover between an undeformed condition and a deformed condition.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the cover is comprised of molded urethane.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the keypad, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the cover to change between an undeformed condition and a deformed condition.

24. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including:

at least one processor,

at least one fluid source,

at least one fluid source controller in operative connection with the at least one fluid source,

wherein the fluid source controller is in operative connection with the at least one processor,

a user interface having:

a card reader

a keypad including a plurality of keys,

wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the keypad,

a display,

a cash dispense opening,

a keypad cover overlying at least a portion of some of the keys of the keypad,

wherein the cover includes at least one fluid cavity,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause fluid from the at least one fluid source to be delivered to the at least one fluid cavity,

wherein the cover comprises collapsible flexible material,

wherein the cover in an operative condition enables a user to access with at least one digit all of the keys of the keypad,

wherein the cover in a collapsed condition prevents digit access to at least some of the keys of the keypad,

 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the cover to change between the operative condition and the collapsed condition,

 wherein the cover changes between the operative condition and the collapsed condition responsive to fluid in the at least one fluid cavity,

wherein the cover is configured so the keypad is not clearly visible through the cover except from a point of view of a user operating the machine at the user interface.

25. A method comprising:

(a) covering with a flexible cover at least some keys of a keypad of an automated banking machine, wherein the keypad includes a plurality of keys, wherein the cover limits viewing of digit engagement of all of the keys to a point of view of a user operating the machine; and

(b) changing the cover between a collapsed condition and an operative condition responsive to fluid in at least one fluid cavity of the cover, wherein in the collapsed condition digit engagement with at least some of the keys of the keypad is prevented by the cover, and wherein in the operative condition digit engagement with all of the keys of the keypad is enabled.

26. A method comprising:

(a) covering with a flexible, deformable cover at least some keys of a keypad, wherein the keypad includes a plurality of keys, wherein the keypad is included in a cash dispensing automated banking machine, wherein the cover is adapted to be changed between a deformed condition and an undeformed condition, wherein the cover bounds an opening, wherein the opening enables manual digit access therethrough to at least some of the keys of the keypad, wherein cover deformation is adapted to facilitate manual digit access to selected keys of the keypad, and wherein the cover limits viewing of digit engagement with all of the keys to a point of view of a user operating the machine;

(b) receiving through the keypad at least one input to the machine.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein in (b) the cover is manually deformed.

28. The method according to claim 26 and further comprising:

(c) changing the cover between a collapsed condition in which digit engagement with at least some of the keys of the keypad is prevented by the cover in the collapsed condition, and an operative condition wherein digit engagement with all of the keys of the keypad is enabled;

wherein in (b) the keypad is in the operative condition.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein in (c) the cover changes between the collapsed condition and the operative condition responsive to at least one member comprised of shape memory alloy.

30. The method according to claim 26 wherein in (b) the at least one input comprises a PIN and wherein the keypad is operative to encrypt the PIN, and further comprising:

(c) changing a condition of at least one visual indicator on the machine to indicate that the keypad is operative to encrypt an inputted PIN.

31. The method according to claim 26 wherein the cover comprises manual digit deformable material, and further comprising:

(c) manually changing the cover between an undeformed condition and a deformed condition.

32. The method according to claim 26 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one processor in operative connection with the keypad, and further comprising:

(c) operating the at least one processor to cause the cover to change between an undeformed condition and a deformed condition.

Assignments (20)