FR3048545A1 - DIGITAL TERMINAL FOR COMING UP AND ATTACHING TO A FLYWHEEL. - Google Patents

Abstract

Digital terminal (1) intended to be covered and fixed on a steering wheel (V), said digital terminal (1) comprising: - a shell (2) intended to clad the steering wheel (V), comprising a front wall (21) having a front face and a back face, and a flange (22) extending around the perimeter of the front wall, projecting from the dorsal ridge, the flange (22) and the front wall (21) defining between them a cavity, at least partly forming a free clearance for receiving said flywheel, - fasteners (3) to the back of the shell, secured at the dorsal face of the front wall, suitable for fixing on the steering wheel, - a graphic interface (4) such as a digital tablet, integral with the shell (2).

Description

The invention relates to the field of advertising or point-of-sale marketing and more particularly the digital terminals used in this field. The invention will find a particular application, in car dealerships, to entertain people sitting on the driver's seat of the vehicle, or even allow the collection of data via a touch screen of the digital terminal.

In the field of point-of-sale advertising, it is known to use digital terminals comprising a touch pad for commercial operations such as: - instant win game, - competition game, draw, - customer satisfaction question , field survey, survey, - presentation of products or product innovations, - collection of information and enrichment of the database ... The graphical interface of digital terminals of the state of the art is typically kept high by a tripod of the terminal, to allow people accessibility, often standing.

According to the findings of the inventor, there is a need for digital terminals whose positioning would increase the rate of passage, and especially the rate of use of such equipment by users. The object of the present invention is to achieve this objective by providing a digital terminal which can be advantageously secured in a motor vehicle presentation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a digital design terminal for the implementation of fun games. Other goals and advantages will become apparent from the following description, which is given for information only.

Also the invention relates to a digital terminal intended to cover and fix on a steering wheel, said digital terminal comprising: - a shell for dressing the steering wheel, comprising a front wall having a front face and a dorsal face, and a flange extending around the perimeter of the facade wall, projecting from the dorsal surface, the flange and the front wall defining between them a cavity, forming at least partly a free clearance for receiving said flywheel, - Fasteners on the back of the hull, secured to the dorsal surface of the front wall, adapted to allow attachment to the steering wheel, - a graphic interface such as a digital tablet, integral with the hull.

According to optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: the front wall is of circular shape, the flange being circular extending continuously over the periphery of the front wall; - The flywheel has an annular portion for gripping, said fasteners comprising hooks for cooperating with the annular portion of the steering wheel; the hooks are elastically deformable elements; the graphic interface is received in the cavity, parallel to the front face, the front wall comprising a viewing window of the screen of the graphic interface; - The terminal has a bottom wall received in the cavity, parallel and spaced from the front wall, the inter-space defined between the dorsal face of the shell and the bottom wall forming a second clearance for the reception of the graphic interface ; - The terminal comprises a wedge function element, said wedge substantially planar, preferably of thickness corresponding to that of the graphical interface, interposed in said interspace, whose periphery, if any circular, is of complementary shape the inner wall of the rim, having an opening whose periphery is complementary to the shape of the graphical interface, receiving the interlocking game near the graphical interface; - The terminal comprises a locking / unlocking system comprising a metal cable, and a key lock or code, arranged on the back of the shell, allowing the locking of the terminal on the steering wheel; the graphic interface comprises, on its edge, a control member, such as an on / off button and / or a volume adjustment knob, the bottom wall having at least one opening facing said control member, allowing access of the control member from the bottom wall; - The terminal comprises a power supply cable for the graphical interface, and a protruding compartment of the dorsal surface, where appropriate the bottom wall, for storing the power cable in its winding position ; said shell is a thermoformed plastic part; - The front of the shell supports a graphic, directly printed on the front of the hull or through a sticker on the front.

According to one embodiment: the front wall comprises a slot intended for the passage of a card bearing a barcode; - A barcode reader is positioned on the back side, arranged relative to the slot, and so as to read a barcode present on the card when inserted into the slot passage.

According to one embodiment, the barcode reader is cormected to the graphic interface, the graphical interface implementing software comprising means for implementing the following steps: - comparison of the digital information read by the barcode reader with one or more digital information pre-stored in a memory of the graphic interface, - issuing a visual and / or sound message in the event of correspondence between the information read and at least one pre-recorded information . The invention also relates to the use of said digital terminal according to the invention, said digital terminal being fixed by its fasteners to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a terminal according to the invention, in a situation, solidary on the driver's side of the steering wheel of the vehicle, - Figure 2 is a sectional view of the digital terminal, in a plane perpendicular to the front wall of the hull, - Figure 3 is a view of the dorsal face of the hull, illustrating more particularly various components of the terminal, and in particular the attachments for attachment to the steering wheel, distributed on the periphery of the dorsal surface of the hull, the locking system with cable and padlock, the barcode reader arranged near the passage slot , and openings on a bottom wall giving access respectively to the on / off buttons, and to the volume control button of the graphic interface, these command buttons being located on the edge of the graphical interface, - Figure 4 is an exploded view of a terminal according to the invention according to one embodiment.

According to the inventor's knowledge, digital terminals installed on a tripod in car dealerships have met with mixed success. The invention arose from the finding by the inventor that, and at car dealerships, customers spend a significant time sitting driver side of presentation vehicles.

Moreover, the invention arose from the will of the inventor to directly install the digital terminals driver side of the vehicle, and to significantly increase the customer participation rate on these devices.

Also the invention relates to a digital terminal 1 for this purpose, intended to cover and attach to a steering wheel V.

According to the invention, said digital terminal 1 comprises: a shell 2 intended to cover the steering wheel, comprising a front wall 21 having a front face and a dorsal face, and a flange 22 extending around the periphery of the front wall, projecting from the dorsal, the walls of the flange 22 and the front wall 21 defining between them a cavity forming at least partly a free clearance for the reception of said steering wheel V, - 3 fasteners on the back of the shell, secured to the level of the dorsal face of the front wall 21, adapted to allow attachment to the steering wheel, - a graphic interface 4 such as a digital tablet, integral with the shell 2.

The shell 2 serves to dress the steering wheel V, preferably by hiding it completely. The front wall 21 may be circular in shape, the rim 22 being circular extending continuously over the periphery of the front wall 21. For this purpose, the diameter of the front wall may be between 25 cm and 40 cm. The rim height can be between 5 cm and 8cm.

This shell 2 can be in one piece, in particular plastic, for example obtained by thermoforming, or injection molding. The front face of the front wall 21 may be the support of a graphic, for example according to a pattern of the vehicle mark and / or its commercial name, by direct printing on the front face of the front wall 21, or by adding a sticker 60, supporting the graph, and glued on the front face of the front wall 21. The graphical interface 4, for example a digital tablet, is secured to the shell 2 at the level of the facade wall, preferably centrally with respect to this wall. The graphic interface 4 extends for example substantially parallel to the front wall 21. The graphic interface 4 is preferably received in the cavity, parallel to the front face, the front wall 21 including a window 23 viewing the screen of the graphical interface 4, preferably flush with the front face.

The terminal 1 may have a bottom wall 8 received in the cavity, parallel and spaced from the front wall 21, fixed to the shell 2: the inter-space defines between the dorsal face of the shell 2 and the bottom wall 8 forms a second clearance for the reception of the graphic interface 4. The first clearance, free, for receiving the steering wheel is then defined between the inner wall of the flange 22 and the outer surface of the bottom wall 8. The digital tablet can be fixed by any suitable means (link or other) to this bottom wall 8.

The terminal 1 may comprise a shim function element, called shim 11, substantially planar, preferably of thickness corresponding to that of the graphical interface 4, whose periphery 12, if any circular, is of complementary shape to the internal wall of the flange 22. This element 11 is fitted into the bottom of the cavity of the shell 2, interposed in said inter-space defined between the dorsal face of the shell 2 and the bottom wall 8. This shim 11 has an opening 13 whose periphery, typically rectangular, is complementary to the shape of the graphical interface, and intended to receive the nesting game near the graphical interface 4.

This graphic interface 4 may comprise on its edge, a control member, such as an on / off button and / or a volume adjustment knob. According to one embodiment, the bottom wall 8 has at least one opening 9 opposite said control member, allowing access of the control member from the cavity, that is without having to remove the wall of the 8. For example, a first opening 9 provides access to the on / off button of the graphical interface 4 and a second opening 9 allows access to the volume control knob. In the case where the terminal 1 has the shim 11, one or more notches 14, can extend laterally to the complementary shape receiving opening 13 to the graphic interface 4. The or each notch 14 is positioned at the right of the opening 9 corresponding to the bottom wall 8. The opening 9 and the notch 14 corresponding allow the passage of the fingers for access to said control member on the edge of the graphical interface 4, since the bottom wall 8.

The fasteners 3 on the back of the shell 2 are secured at the dorsal face of the front wall 21, adapted to allow the fixing of the terminal 1 on the flywheel, removably. The steering wheel V having an annular portion for gripping, said fasteners 3 may include hooks 30 for cooperating with the annular portion of the steering wheel. The fasteners 3, (in particular the hooks 30) are distributed over the periphery of the dorsal face, located for example on the same diameter, in particular near said flange 22 of the shell. The positions of the fasteners 3 relative to each other are typically obtained by rotations centered on the center of the circle on which the various fasteners 3 are positioned. The hooks of the various fasteners 3 are all oriented in radial directions to this circle. for example, directed internally to the center. The fasteners 3, in particular the hooks 30, are fastened at their base, for example directly on the shim 11, through notches 83 on the periphery of the bottom wall 8. For this purpose, the fasteners 3 may present at their base of the screws 31 intended to cooperate by screwing with corresponding holes of the shim 11. The active portions of the hooks 30 are projecting in said free clearance for receiving the steering wheel V.

The hooks 30 may be elastically deformable elements, for example plastic in one piece. Fixing on the steering wheel V is obtained by opening the hooks on the annular portion of the flywheel, during the insertion of the annular portion, and until the elasticity of the fasteners closes the hooks 30 on the annular portion of the steering wheel. in a stable holding position.

The digital terminal 1 may include a locking / unlocking system with anti-theft function. This system comprises a cable 6, for example metal, and a padlock 7 key or code, arranged on the back of the shell, allowing the locking of the terminal on the steering wheel. This cable 6 is secured to the terminal 1 and has end loops which can be secured to one another, both crossed by the padlock handle 7. For locking, the cable is tied around the steering wheel and locks the two free ends of the cable by closing the padlock whose handle passes through the two loops at said ends of the cable.

According to one embodiment, the digital terminal 1 may comprise: - a slot 24 on the front wall 21 intended for the passage of a card carrying a barcode, - a barcode reader 5 positioned at the level of the dorsal surface, arranged with respect to the slot 24, and so as to be able to read a barcode present on the card when inserted in the passage slot.

Bar code means a standard barcode or a 2D barcode such as QR code, Datamatrix, Flashcode ...

The infrared reading beam is directed towards the slot 24, and so as to allow the reading of a barcode present on a card, when the card is inserted into the slot 24, from the front face of the card. front wall 20. Where appropriate, the barcode reader 5 can be received in a dedicated opening 15 of the shim 11.

Where appropriate, the shim 11 and the bottom wall 8, have slots 16, 84, located in the extension of the slot 24 of the shell 2, and are also intended to be traversed simultaneously by the card bearing the barcode .

The barcode reader 5 is connected to a connector input of the graphic interface 4. This graphical interface 4 can implement software including means for implementing the following steps: - comparison of the digital information read by the barcode reader with one or more digital information pre-stored in a memory of the graphic interface, - transmission of a visual and / or audible message in the event of correspondence between the information read and at least one pre-recorded information.

For example, such software may make it possible to implement a game, some of the cards distributed to users being "winning" cards bearing specific barcodes, the other cards being losing cards.

When inserted in the slot 24, reading the barcode of a "winning y" card allows the emission of a first visual and / or sound message of the "winner" type. Conversely, reading the bar code of a "losing" card makes it possible to send a second visual and / or sound message, distinct, of the "loser" type.

The terminal 1 may further comprise a power supply cable for the graphic interface 4, as well as a compartment 10 projecting from the dorsal surface, in particular protruding from the bottom wall 8 (in the free clearance), for the storage of the power cable in its winding position. The power cable is maintained in this compartment when the digital terminal 1 is fixed to the steering wheel V, the positioning of this compartment being judiciously chosen to be housed in a recessed portion of the steering wheel when the terminal 1 is fixed by its fasteners 3 to the annular portion of the steering wheel. The screen of the graphical interface 4 is preferably a touch screen allowing the collection of data, such as for example user data (identity, physical address, email address, telephone number, etc.) which are stored in a memory of the graphical interface 4.

The bottom wall 8 can still provide access to a connector (for example RJ45) of the graphical interface allowing the recovery of the data collected by the graphical interface, and the updating of the graphical interface, and without having to remove the bottom wall 8.

Naturally other embodiments could have been envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

NOMENCLATURE 1. Digital terminal, 2. Shell, 21. Facade wall, 22. Edge, 23. Housing (Graphical interface). 24. Slot (Barcode Card) 3. Ties, 30. Hooks, 4. Graphical Interface (GUI). 5. Bar code reader, 6. Cable (locking / unlocking system) 7. Locking / unlocking system lock) 8. Bottom wall 81, 82. Two parts of the bottom wall 8, 83. Notches in the wall of the wall bottom (crossed by the fasteners 3), 84. Slot (bottom wall 8) intended to be traversed by a card bearing a barcode, 9. Openings (GUI controls). 10. Power cable compartment, 11. Wedge.

12 Perimeter (shim 11), 13. Aperture (shim 11) with slot function for graphical interface; 14. notches (shim 11) with function for the passage of fingers, 15. notch (shim 11) with a housing function for a bar code reader, 16. slot (shim 11) to be traversed by a code-bearing card. bars, 60. Sticker. V. Flying

Claims (15)

1. Digital terminal (1) intended to cover and fix on a steering wheel (V), said digital terminal (1) comprising: - a shell (2) intended to clad the steering wheel (V), comprising a front wall ( 21) having a front face and a back face, and a flange (22) extending around the perimeter of the front wall, projecting from the dorsal, the flange (22) and the front wall ( 21) defining between them a cavity, at least partly forming a free clearance for receiving said flywheel, - fasteners (3) to the back of the shell, secured at the dorsal face of the front wall, adapted to allow fixing on the steering wheel, - a graphic interface (4) such as a digital tablet, integral with the shell (2). 2. Terminal according to claim 1, wherein the front wall (21) is circular in shape, the flange (22) being circular extending continuously over the periphery of the front wall (21). 3. Terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steering wheel (V) having an annular portion for gripping, said fasteners (3) comprising hooks (30) for cooperating with the annular portion of the steering wheel. 4. Terminal according to claim 3, wherein the hooks (30) are elastically deformable elements. 5. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the graphical interface (4) is received in the cavity, parallel to the front face, the front wall (21) comprising a viewing window (23). of the GUI screen (4). 6. Terminal according to claim 5, having a bottom wall (8) received in the cavity, parallel and spaced from the front wall (21), the inter-space defined between the dorsal face of the shell and the wall of bottom (8) forming a second clearance for receiving the graphic interface (4). 7. Terminal according to claim 6, comprising a shim function element, called shim (11), substantially planar, preferably of thickness corresponding to that of the graphical interface (4), interposed in said interspace, of which the periphery, if necessary circular, is of complementary shape to the inner wall of the flange (24), having an opening (13) whose periphery is complementary to the shape of the graphic interface (4), receiving the set of nesting near the graphical interface (4). 8. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: - the front wall comprises a slot (24) for the passage of a card carrying a barcode, - a barcode reader (5). ) is positioned on the dorsal surface, arranged with respect to the slot (24), and so as to be able to read a barcode present on the card when inserted in the passage slot. 9. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a locking / unlocking system comprising a wire rope (6) and a padlock (7) key or code, arranged on the back of the shell, allowing locking the terminal (1) on the steering wheel. 10. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the graphic interface (4) comprises on its edge, a control member, such as an on / off button and / or a volume control knob. , the bottom wall (8) having at least one opening (9) facing said control member, allowing access of the control member from the bottom wall (8). 11. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a power supply cable of the graphical interface (4), and a compartment (10) projecting from the dorsal surface, where appropriate projecting the wall of bottom (8), for storing the power cable in its winding position. 12. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said shell (2) is a thermoformed plastic part. 13. Terminal according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the front face of the shell (2) supports a graphic directly printed on the front face of the shell (2) or via a sticker (60 ) attached to the front panel. 14. Terminal according to claim 8, the barcode reader (5) being connected to the graphical interface, the graphical interface (4) implementing software comprising means for implementing the following steps: comparing the digital information read by the barcode reader (5) with one or more digital information pre-stored in a memory of the graphic interface, - issuing a visual and / or sound message in case of correspondence between the information read and at least one pre-recorded information. 15. Use of said digital terminal according to one of claims 1 to 14, said digital terminal being fixed by its fasteners (3) to the steering wheel (V) of a motor vehicle presentation.