DETACHABLE CARD READER MOUNTING SYSTEM
Examples provide a detachable card reader mounting system. A latching mechanism removably attaches a mounted card reader to a point-of-sale (POS) fixture for utilization in a fixed position. The latching mechanism detaches the mounted card reader from the POS fixture for utilization in a non-fixed position. This enables a user to hold the mounted card reader and adjust a location, proximity, and/or height of the mounted card reader to suit individual preferences of each user. A security cable anchors the mounted card reader to the POS fixture to prevent loss of the detached card reader. A padded ring holder provides a handle for a user to grip when it is detached from the POS fixture. A retractor device autonomously retracts the security cable to return the mounted card reader to a point of attachment on the POS fixture when detachment of the mounted card reader is no longer indicated.
1 . A detachable card reader mounting system comprising:
an outer mounting ring assembly comprising a ring holder attached to a base plate, the base plate comprising a card reader mounted to at least a portion of the base plate;
a retractable set of cables, a first end of the set of cables connected to the card reader and a second end of the set of cables connected to an interior cavity of a cable housing embedded within a portion of a counter of a point-of-sale (POS) fixture, the set of cables threaded through an aperture within the base plate;
a retractor device configured to automatically retract the set of cables within the cable housing in response to returning the outer mounting ring assembly to a point of attachment associated with the POS fixture;
a solenoid release device configured to removably attach the outer mounting ring assembly to the portion of the counter of the POS fixture at the point of attachment in a locked configuration of the outer mounting ring assembly and configured to unlock the outer mounting ring assembly from the portion of the counter of the POS fixture in response to receiving a release signal, the retractor device releases at least one cable in the set of cables to enable at least a portion of the at least one cable to extend outside the cable housing during detachment of the outer mounting ring assembly from the POS fixture.
2 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 1 wherein the retractable set of cables further comprises:
a set of security cables configured to anchor the outer mounting ring assembly to at least a portion of the cable housing embedded within the POS fixture at the point of attachment while the outer mounting ring assembly is detached from the POS fixture.
3 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid release device further comprises:
an electric latching mechanism.
4 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a set of sensors associated with the POS fixture configured to generate sensor data associated with one or more users within a user-defined proximity of the POS fixture.
5 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a self-release analyzer component analyzing the sensor data using orientation recognition data to determine whether the user is in a sitting position or a standing position, wherein the self-release analyzer component triggers self-release of the outer mounting ring assembly from the POS fixture on condition the user is in the sitting position.
6 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a self-release analyzer component analyzing the sensor data using height recognition data to determine a substantial height of the user, wherein the self-release analyzer component triggers self-release of the outer mounting ring assembly from the POS fixture on condition the height of the user is greater than a maximum height threshold or less than a minimum height threshold.
7 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor data includes radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data and further comprising:
a self-release analyzer component analyzing the RFID tag data to determine whether to self-release the outer mounting ring assembly for utilization by the user, wherein the self-release analyzer component triggers self-release of the outer mounting ring assembly from the POS fixture on condition the RFID tag data indicates self-release.
8 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a set of contact points associated with the ring holder, wherein the solenoid release device automatically detaches the outer mounting ring assembly in response to detecting a user contact with at least one contact point in the set of contact points for a contact threshold time.
9 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal receiver configured to receive a signal from a POS application running on a user device associated with the user, wherein the signal indicates self-release of the outer mounting ring assembly, wherein the signal receiver triggers self-release of the outer mounting ring assembly in response to receiving the signal from the user device.
10 . The detachable card reader mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the retractable set of cables comprises a set of communications cables transmitting user input from the card reader, wherein the retractor device automatically retracts the outer mounting ring assembly with the attached card reader back to a position associated with the point of attachment on the POS fixture in response to an absence of user input received from the card reader for an inactivity threshold time.
11 . A detachable mounting device for a card reader comprising:
an outer mounting ring assembly comprising a ring holder, a base plate, and a card reader device mounted to the outer mounting ring assembly;
a set of contact points associated with the ring holder, the outer mounting ring assembly removably attached to a latching mechanism coupled to a portion of a member of a POS fixture at a point of attachment, the latching mechanism configured to release the outer mounting ring assembly enabling the mounted card reader device to detach from the POS fixture in response to detecting user contact with the set of contact points for a contact threshold time;
a retractable set of cables comprising a security cable and a communications cable, the retractable set of cables comprising a first end of the security cable coupled to the mounted card reader device and a second end of the security cable coupled to a cable housing, at least a portion of the cable housing coupled to the member of the POS fixture, the security cable extending out of the cable housing as a user holding the mounted card reader device moves the outer mounting ring assembly with the mounted card reader device away from the point of attachment associated with the POS fixture; and
a retractor device configured to self-retract the security cable into the cable housing in response to the user relinquishing the mounted card reader device coupled to the outer mounting ring assembly, the retractor device returning the mounted card reader device to the point of attachment associated with the POS fixture.
12 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , wherein the ring holder is a padded ring holder comprising a set of handles.
13 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , wherein the ring holder is a urethane encapsulated ring.
14 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a connector device associated with the outer mounting ring assembly configured to removably attach to a receiver device associated with the POS fixture.
15 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a manual release control configured to initiate self-release of the outer mounting ring assembly in response to a user selection of the manual release control.
16 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , further comprising:
an RFID tag reader configured to obtain RFID tag data from an RFID tag associated with a user cart or an RFID tag associated with a user mobility aid device.
17 . The detachable mounting device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a self-release analyzer component analyzing the RFID tag data to determine whether to self-release the mounted card reader device coupled to the outer mounting ring assembly for utilization by the user, wherein the self-release analyzer component triggers self-release of the mounted card reader device on condition the RFID tag data indicates self-release.
18 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a self-release analyzer component analyzing sensor data generated by a set of sensors associated with the POS fixture to determine whether to self-release the outer mounting ring assembly, wherein the self-release analyzer component triggers the self-release of mounted card reader device on condition the analyzed sensor data indicates the user is associated with a mobility aid device, an orientation of the user includes a sitting position, a height of the user is greater than a maximum height threshold, or the height of the user is less than a minimum height threshold.
19 . The detachable mounting device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a set of tabs associated with the latching mechanism, wherein the set of tabs locks the outer mounting ring device to the POS fixture in a locked configuration, and wherein pushing down on the outer mounting ring device and turning the outer mounting ring device counter-clockwise until the set of tabs exit through a set of keyed slots detaches the mounted card reader device from the POS fixture.
20 . A detachable card reader mounting system comprising:
an outer mounting ring assembly comprising a ring holder, a base plate configured to mount a card reader device to the outer mounting ring assembly, and a latching mechanism configured to removably attach the outer mounting ring assembly to a portion of a POS fixture at a point of attachment, the latching mechanism comprising a connector component associated with the outer mounting ring assembly and a receiver component associated with the portion of the POS fixture, the latching mechanism configured to release the outer mounting ring assembly enabling the outer mounting ring assembly to detach from the POS fixture in response to rotation of the latching mechanism in a first direction until the latching mechanism releases the outer mounting ring assembly;
a cable housing configured to enclose a retractable set of security cables, the retractable set of security cables comprising a first end of at least one security cable coupled to the card reader and a second end of the at least one security cable coupled to a portion of the cable housing, the security cable extending as the detached outer mounting ring assembly moves away from the point of attachment; and
a retractor device configured to autonomously retract the at least one security cable into the cable housing on condition of relinquishment of the detached outer mounting ring assembly, the retractor device returning the detached outer mounting ring assembly to the point of attachment associated with the POS fixture, the latching mechanism configured to lock the outer mounting ring assembly to the portion of the POS fixture in response to rotation of the latching mechanism in a second direction until the latching mechanism engages.