User interface protector and protected user interface

Abstract

Protectors for user interfaces having a perimeter and having a substantially-planar display board disposed about their perimeter, the protector comprising a framework dimensioned sufficiently to protect the user interface from sustaining damage from moving objects, the protector having a plurality of attachment fixtures, and wherein the framework comprises vertical beams having end portions that are permanently affixed to the attachment fixtures. The instant protectors are useful, inter alia, for user interfaces disposed at locations at which they are susceptible to sustaining damage from moving objects, including motorized vehicles, which includes trucks and automobiles.

1 ) An interface protector comprising:
 a) a substantially-linear first horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   b) a substantially-linear second horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   c) a substantially-linear first vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   d) a substantially-linear second vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   e) a substantially-linear third vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   f) a substantially-linear fourth vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,   
       said first end portion of said first vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said first end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said second vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said second end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first vertical beam and second vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said first horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said first horizontal beam, 
       said first end portion of said third vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said first end portion of said second horizontal beam, said first end portion of said fourth vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said second end portion of said second horizontal beam, said third vertical beam and fourth vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said second horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said second horizontal beam;
 g) a first substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, 
 
       said first end portion of said first support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said first vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about  90  degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said first vertical beam, 
       said second end portion of said first support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said third vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said third vertical beam;
 h) a second substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, 
 
       said first end portion of said second support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said second vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said second vertical beam, 
       said second end portion of said second support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said fourth vertical beam, said second support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said fourth vertical beam;
 i) a first attachment fixture, said first attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said first vertical beam and said second end portion of said third vertical beam; and 
 j) a second attachment fixture, said second attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said second vertical beam and said second end portion of said fourth vertical beam. 
 
     
     
         2 ) An interface protector according to  claim 1  wherein said first attachment fixture has a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a wall portion. 
     
     
         3 ) An interface protector according to  claim 2  wherein said second attachment fixture has a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a wall portion. 
     
     
         4 ) An interface protector according to  claim 1  wherein said attachment fixtures each comprise a section of an angle iron. 
     
     
         5 ) An interface protector according to  claim 1  wherein all elements of said interface protector comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: iron, steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. 
     
     
         6 ) An interface protector according to  claim 1  wherein said support beams are disposed to be oriented so that their longest length dimensions are substantially parallel to the longest length dimension of said attachment fixtures. 
     
     
         7 ) An interface protector according to  claim 3  wherein said support beams are disposed to be oriented so that their longest length dimensions are substantially parallel to the longest length dimension of said attachment fixtures. 
     
     
         8 ) A terminal at which information transfer is effected, comprising:
 a) a substantially-planar display board comprising at least one menu of information;   b) a user interface disposed on said display board, said user interface protruding upwardly from said substantially-planar display board; and   c) an interface protector removably attached to said display board and disposed within sufficient proximity to said user interface so as to effectively shield said user interface from sustaining damage from a moving object present in the proximity of said user interface.   
     
     
         9 ) A terminal according to  claim 8  wherein said user interface includes a magnetic card reader. 
     
     
         10 ) A terminal according to  claim 8 , wherein said user interface is disposed such that to be accessible by the driver of a motorized vehicle. 
     
     
         11 ) A terminal according to  claim 8  wherein said interface protector is dimensioned sufficiently so that at least one of its elements is disposed at a greater distance from said display board than is disposed any portion of said user interface distanced from said display board. 
     
     
         12 ) A terminal according to  claim 8  wherein said interface protector comprises:
 a) a substantially-linear first horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   b) a substantially-linear second horizontal beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   c) a substantially-linear first vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   d) a substantially-linear second vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   e) a substantially-linear third vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion;   f) a substantially-linear fourth vertical beam having a first end portion and a second end portion,   
       said first end portion of said first vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said first end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said second vertical beam being attached to said first horizontal beam at said second end portion of said first horizontal beam, said first vertical beam and second vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said first horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said first horizontal beam, said first end portion of said third vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said first end portion of said second horizontal beam, said first end portion of said fourth vertical beam being attached to said second horizontal beam at said second end portion of said second horizontal beam, said third vertical beam and fourth vertical beam each forming an angle of about 90 degrees with said second horizontal beam at their points of attachment to said second horizontal beam;
 g) a first substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, 
 
       said first end portion of said first support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said first vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said first vertical beam, said second end portion of said first support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said third vertical beam, said 
       first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said third vertical beam;
 h) a second substantially-linear support beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, 
 
       said first end portion of said second support beam being attached to said first horizontal beam substantially at the location where said first horizontal beam is attached to said second vertical beam, said first support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said first horizontal beam and said second vertical beam, 
       said second end portion of said second support beam being attached to said second horizontal beam substantially at the location where said second horizontal beam is attached to said fourth vertical beam, said second support beam forming an angle of about 90 degrees with both of said second horizontal beam and said fourth vertical beam;
 i) a first attachment fixture, said first attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said first vertical beam and said second end portion of said third vertical beam; and 
 j) a second attachment fixture, said second attachment fixture being attached to said second end portion of said second vertical beam and said second end portion of said fourth vertical beam. 
 
     
     
         13 ) A terminal according to  claim 8 , wherein said terminal is disposed at a drive-through restaurant. 
     
     
         14 ) A protector for a user interface having a perimeter and having a substantially-planar display board disposed about its perimeter, said protector comprising a framework dimensioned sufficiently to protect said user interface from sustaining damage from moving objects, said protector having a plurality of attachment fixtures, said framework comprising four vertical beams having end portions that are permanently affixed to said attachment fixtures, said attachment fixtures being configured to be removably attached to said substantially-planar surface, said attachment fixtures comprising a first attachment fixture that is attached to the end portions of two of said vertical beams, and a second attachment fixture that is attached to the end portions of the remaining vertical beams to which said first attachment fixture is not attached. 
     
     
         15 ) A protector according to  claim 14  wherein said attachment fixtures comprise angled stock, each of said attachment fixtures having a floor portion comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, and a vertical wall portion. 
     
     
         16 . A protector according to  claim 15  wherein said vertical beams are affixed to said attachment fixtures at said vertical wall portion of said angled stock.