IP Library Granted Patent US 11,482,067
Granted Patent B2
US 11,482,067 · App. 16/788,169 · Granted Oct 25, 2022

Kiosk for evaluating and purchasing used electronic devices

Inventors: Babak Forutanpour (San Diego, CA); Jeffrey Ploetner (San Diego, CA); Robert O'Neil (San Diego, CA); Neil Vesco (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: ecoATM, LLC
G07F17/0014G06Q30/0278G06T7/0004H04N5/2253G06T2207/30108
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,482,067
App. No.
16/788,169
Granted
Oct 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Consumer operated kiosks for recycling electronic devices are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kiosk includes a rotatable inspection plate configured to receive an electronic device when the inspection plate is in a first position. The kiosk can include a camera having a field of view including at least a portion of the inspection plate. The kiosk can include a wired and/or wireless connectivity device configured to connect to the electronic device and one or more processors configured to: receive characteristic information about the electronic device via the wired and/or wireless connectivity device; cause the inspection plate to rotate to a second position; receive one or more images of the electronic device via the camera when the inspection plate is in the second position; and facilitate determination of an offer price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information and the one or more images.

Claims (20)

1. A consumer operated kiosk configured to evaluate an electronic device received from a user, the kiosk comprising:

a housing;

an inspection plate rotatable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the inspection plate is configured to receive the electronic device when the inspection plate is in the first position;

a camera having a field of view including at least a portion of the inspection plate;

a wired and/or wireless connectivity device configured to connect to the electronic device; and

one or more processors operably connected to the wired and/or wireless connectivity device, the camera, and the inspection plate, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

receive characteristic information about the electronic device via the wired and/or wireless connectivity device;

cause the inspection plate to rotate from the first position to the second position with the electronic device thereon;

receive one or more images of the electronic device via the camera when the inspection plate is in the second position; and

facilitate determination of an offer price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information and the one or more images.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the inspection plate is configured to rotate from the second position to a third position to move the electronic device from the inspection plate to a storage receptacle.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 , further comprising one or more mirrors positioned proximate the inspection plate when the inspection plate is in the second position, the one or more mirrors configured to provide the camera with one or more reflected views of the electronic device positioned on the inspection plate.

4. The kiosk of claim 3 wherein the one or more mirrors are mounted to a mirror frame configured to rotate relative to the inspection plate.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the camera is a first camera, and wherein the kiosk further comprises a second camera having a field of view including at least a portion of the inspection plate.

6. The kiosk of claim 5 , wherein the first camera is positioned above the inspection plate when the inspection plate is in the second position, and wherein the second camera is positioned below the inspection plate when the inspection plate is in the second position.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wired and/or wireless connectivity device includes an electrical connector mounted to a rotatable hub.

8. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein the electrical connector is a first electrical connector, wherein the kiosk further comprises a second electrical connector spaced apart from the rotatable hub, wherein the second electrical connector is configured to translate between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the second electrical connector is configured to electrically connect to the electronic device when in the extended position.

9. The kiosk of claim 8 , further comprising a third electrical connector spaced apart from the rotatable hub, wherein the second electrical connector is positioned to a first side of the rotatable hub, and the third electrical connector is positioned to a second side of the rotatable hub opposite the first side of the rotatable hub, wherein the third electrical connector is configured to translate between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the third electrical connector is configured to electrically connect to the electronic device when in the extended position.

10. The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

11. The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the inspection plate is transparent.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 3, 2025
From: ECOATM, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070765/0868 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 60685 FRAME: 768. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 14, 2024
From: FORUTANPOUR, BABAK; PLOETNER, JEFFREY; O'NEIL, ROBERT; VESCO, NEIL
To: ECOATM, LLC
Reel/Frame 067412/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2022
From: FORUTANPOUR, BABAK; PLOETNER, JEFFREY; O'NEIL, ROBERT; VESCO, NEIL
To: ECOATM, INC.
Reel/Frame 060685/0768 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2020
From: FORUTANPOUR, BABAK; PLOETNER, JEFFREY; O'NEIL, ROBERT; VESCO, NEIL
To: ECOATM, LLC
Reel/Frame 052423/0512 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62807153 · Feb 18, 2019
Provisional Application 62804714 · Feb 12, 2019
Related Publication 20200258343A1 · Aug 13, 2020
Cited By (20)
US 1,076,907 US 1,086,116 US 12,205,081 US 12,217,221 US 12,271,929 US 12,300,059 US 12,321,965 US 12,322,259 US 12,340,425 US 12,380,420 US 12,462,635 US 12,475,756 US 12,536,643 US 12,541,745 US 12,561,789 US 12,597,004 US 12,602,678 US 12,608,687 US 12,646,041 US 12,676,045