Wall-Mounted Transaction Workstation With Vertical Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Financial transaction interfaces, such as ATMs and kiosks, often lack accessibility for individuals of varying statures and those in wheelchairs due to inflexible designs, leading to poor user experience and non-compliance with accessibility standards like the American Disabilities Act.

Innovation Solution

A wall-mounted and vertically movable transaction workstation with a modular design, incorporating a user interface, display, and flexible attachments that can be adjusted to accommodate different user heights, allowing for easy installation in various locations and providing ADA-compliant access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional ATMs and kiosks are designed with fixed heights to accommodate standing adults, then the device structure is simple and stable, but accessibility for shorter individuals, children, and wheelchair users is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for different user staturesVSAvoidkiosk design flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing vertically moveable components including a moveable display screen and moveable keyboard tray that can be adjusted to different heights. This allows the kiosk to adapt its interface height to accommodate users of various statures and wheelchair users, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that responds to different user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by designing a kiosk system that serves multiple user types (standing adults, shorter individuals, children, and wheelchair users) through a single unified platform. The vertically adjustable components enable one device to fulfill the needs of diverse user groups, eliminating the requirement for multiple fixed-height kiosks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If ATMs and kiosks are designed with large footprints to accommodate all interfaces and instructions, then all transaction functionalities are accessible, but the floor space required increases making location problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of transaction interfaceVSAvoidfloor space footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by transitioning from a horizontal expansion of the kiosk footprint to a vertical utilization of space. Instead of spreading interfaces horizontally across a large floor area, the patent stacks components vertically and uses vertical adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining complete transaction functionality while minimizing the horizontal footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nesting by integrating multiple functional components (display screen, keyboard tray, instruction panels) into a compact vertical arrangement. The moveable components are nested within the kiosk structure, allowing them to be adjusted vertically without requiring additional horizontal space, thus consolidating multiple functions into a space-efficient configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If financial transaction interfaces are separated into multiple locations or devices, then each interface can be optimized for its specific function, but accessibility and user convenience decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiddiffusion of interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the merging principle by consolidating all essential transaction interfaces (display screen, keyboard, instruction panels, and transaction components) into a single integrated kiosk unit. This unified design allows users to access all transaction functionalities from one location, eliminating the need to move between separate devices or interfaces, thereby improving ease of operation and user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7766224B2Money transfer wall unit

Publication Date: 2010.08.03 WESTERN UNION CO

AI summary

A financial transaction wall unit workstation is provided which may be configured to attach to a vertical support and may comprise include at least one display face, a transaction interface for communicating between the financial transaction wall unit workstation and a financial services provider, and a consumer display with instructions for using the financial transaction wall unit workstation to transact a financial transaction with the financial services provider. In certain aspects, the financial transaction wall unit workstation may be attached to a vertical support using a flexible attachment mechanism. Attachment of the financial transaction wall unit workstation to a vertical support using flexible attachment mechanisms may provide for vertical movement of the financial transaction wall unit workstation and may allow for accessibility of the financial transaction wall unit workstation by people of different statures and people in wheel chairs.