Portable interactive kiosk

• US 6,289,326 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard B. Lafleur
• Original Assignee: Bernard B. Lafleur
• Inventors: LaFleur, Bernard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US08/868,659
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 312/7.2, 312/258, 312/114, 348/836, 348/838, 348/794
• US Class Current: 312/258
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0075 Computer kiosks or stands
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/065 rotationally
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A portable kiosk configured to function as an architectural component of a exhibition and present a variable visual display to customer traffic while accommodating hands-on interaction with the customers during the exhibition and serve as a housing for the electronic components of the display during transport between successive exhibitions. The kiosk is constructed with an upright main body mounted upon casters, and a plurality of pivotally mounted internal, shock absorbing shelves configured to securely mount sensitive electronic and audio-visual equipment. A pair of oppositely mounted side frames are supported by the main body, and may be rotatably deployed during set-up to support the shelves and a mount for a variable visual display and a tray for other peripheral equipment such as a keyboard and mouse. During knock-down, the shelves are rotatable into the interior of the main frame while bearing their respective items of electronic and audio-visual equipment while the mount is rotatably dropped across the front of the main frame. Other members are removable without tools and stored in the interior of the main frame, while the side frames are then folded across the front of the main frame, and the entire assembly is wheeled into a shipping container substantially smaller in volume than the erected kiosk and acceptable by competing international courier carriers for overnight delivery at the site of the next trade show.

Claims

1. A kiosk, comprising:

a rectilinear container comprised of;

a rear panel;

first and second spaced-apart side frames each comprised of front and rear structural members, with each rear member attached to a different one of opposite sides of said rear panel, with said first and second side frames extending transversely from said opposite sides of said rear panel;

a first front frame rotatably attached to said front structural member of said first side frame to rotate between a closed position extending from said front structural member of said first side frame toward said front structural member of said second side frame, and an open position extending from and lying coplanarly with said first side frame;

a second front frame rotatably attached to said front structural member of said second side member to rotate between a closed position extending from said front structural member of said second side frame toward said front structural member of said first side frame, and an open position extending from and lying coplanarly with said second side frame;

a first transverse frame transversely joining first extreme portions of said rear panel and said first and second side frames; and

a second transverse frame transversely joining second extreme portions of said rear panel and first and second side frames;

a display panel bearing a bezel, said display panel extending between said front structural members and having a major exterior surface terminated by opposite spaced-apart first and second side edges separated by a first cross member pivotally supported to rotate about an axial junction between said front structural members of said first and second side frames and said first transverse frame, with said display panel exhibiting a closed position while said major exterior surface lies alongside said front structural members, and exhibiting an opened position while said first and second side edges are supported by respective ones of said first front frame and said second front frame while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said open positions;

a visual display mounted within said bezel to present varying visual images while said display panel is in said opened position; and

said first and said second front frames lying across said major exterior surface while said display panel, said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said closed positions.

2. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper shelf having opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions; and

a lower shelf having opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions.

3. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper shelf providing an upper areal shelf space having opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions; and

a lower shelf providing a lower areal shelf space having opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position spaced-apart from said upper shelf and in between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position spaced-apart from said upper shelf with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions;

said upper shelf space and said lower shelf space being approximately equal in area.

4. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper shelf exhibiting a first length, said upper shelf having a first width orthogonal to said first length terminated by opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions; and

a lower shelf exhibiting a second length, said lower shelf having a second width orthogonal to said second length terminated by opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions;

said first length being substantially equal to said second length, and said first width being substantially equal to said second width.

5. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper shelf providing an upper shelf area having opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions; and

a lower shelf providing a lower shelf area having opposite side edges pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said upper shelf from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and a deployed position with said opposite side edges lying alongside corresponding ones of said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions.

7. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shelves each providing a separate and distinct shelf area pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between:

a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said shelves from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions, and

a deployed position with each of said shelves lying transversely between said rear panel, said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions.

8. The kiosk of claim 7, with said shelf area of one of said plurality of shelves bearing a plurality of perforations spaced-apart in an array of a plurality of parallel diagonal lines and a plurality of parallel, alternating offset columns.

9. The kiosk of claim 8, with a corner bracket retentively situate upon one of said major surfaces, said corner bracket comprising a minor surface area terminated by an edge extending transversely to said minor surface, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete apertures in said minor surface area, each of said apertures having a center aligned along a plurality of intersecting diametric lines with a plurality of others of said apertures.

10. The kiosk of claim 8, with a corner bracket retentively situate upon one of said major surfaces, said corner bracket comprising a minor surface area terminated by an edge extending transversely to said minor surface, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete apertures in said minor surface area, each of said apertures having a center aligned with a plurality of others of said plurality of apertures along either one of a pair of perpendicularly intersecting diametric lines or a pair of obliquely intersecting lines.

11. The kiosk of claim 8, with a corner bracket retentively situate upon one of said major surfaces, said corner bracket comprising a minor surface area terminated by an edge extending transversely to said minor surface, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete apertures in said minor surface area, each of said apertures having a center aligned with a plurality of others of said plurality of apertures along either a pair of obliquely intersecting said diametric lines or one of a pair of said diametric lines formed from one of a first plurality of equally spaced-apart said diametric lines and one of a second plurality of equally spaced-apart said diametric lines lying perpendicular to said first plurality.

12. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shelves each providing a separate and distinct shelf area providing a cargo-bearing major surface, with each of said shelves being pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between:

a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said shelves from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions and each said cargo-bearing major surface faces said rear panel, and

a deployed position with each of said shelves positioning a cargo-bearing major surface to lie transversely between said rear panel, said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions.

13. The kiosk of claim 1, with said visual display comprising a thin-film capacitive touch screen, and said bezel covering a periphery of said touch screen.

14. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprised of one of said first and second side frames being constructed with said front structural member being spaced-apart from said rear structural member.

26. The Kiosk of claim 1, with said visual display comprising a thin-film capacitive touch screen continuously borne by said display panel while said display panel is in said opened position and in said closed position.

6. A kiosk, comprising:

a container comprised of;

a rear panel;

first and second spaced-apart side frames each comprised of front and rear structural members, with each rear member attached to a different one of opposite sides of said rear panel, with said first and second side frames extending transversely from opposite sides of said rear panel;

a first front frame attached to said front structural member of said first side frame to exhibit a closed position extending from said front structural member of said first side frame toward said front structural member of said second side frame, and an open and spatially different position lying coplanarly with said first side frame;

a second front frame rotatably attached to said front structural member of said second side member to exhibit a closed position extending from said front structural member of said second side frame toward said front structural member of said first side frame, and an open position lying coplanarly with said second side frame;

a first transverse frame transversely joining said rear panel and said first and second side frames; and

a second transverse frame, transversely joining said rear panel and first and second side frames;

a visual display mounted between said front structural members and having a major exterior surface terminated by opposite spaced-apart first and second side edges separated by a first cross member supported at a junction between said front structural members of said first and second side frames and said first transverse frame, with said visual display exhibiting a closed position while said major exterior surface lies alongside said front structural members, and exhibiting an opened position to present varying visual images while said display panel is in said opened position, and while said first and second side edges are supported by respective ones of said first front frame and said second front frame while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said open positions; and

said first and said second front frames lying across said major exterior surface while said visual display, said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said closed positions.

15. The kiosk of claim 6, with said visual display comprising a thin-film capacitive touch screen positioned within said major exterior surface.

16. The kiosk of claim 6, further comprised of one of said first and second side frames being constructed with said front structural member being spaced-apart from said rear structural member.

17. A kiosk, comprising:

a shipping container comprised of;

a rear panel;

first and second spaced-apart rear sides being attached to a different one of opposite sides of said rear panel, and with said first and second sides extending transversely from opposite sides of said rear panel;

a trapezoid shaped first front side having a longer proximal edge rotatably attached to said first rear side to rotate between a closed position extending from said first rear side toward said second rear side, and an open position with a shorter distal edge of said first front side spaced apart from said first and second rear sides and with said first front side extending from and aligned with said first rear side and;

a trapezoid shaped second front side having a longer proximal edge rotatably attached to said second rear side to rotate between a closed position extending from said second rear side toward said first rear side, and an open position with a shorter distal edge of said second front side spaced apart from said first front side and spaced apart from said first and second rear sides and with said second front side extending from and aligned with said second rear side; and

a transverse frame transversely joining said first and second rear sides; and

a display panel extending between said first and second rear sides and having a major exterior surface terminated by opposite spaced-apart first and second side edges separated by a first cross member pivotally supported to rotate about an axial junction between said first rear side and said first front side and said second rear side and said second front side, with said display panel exhibiting a closed position while said major exterior surface lies alongside said front side members, and exhibiting an opened position while said first and second side edges are supported by respective ones of said first front side and said second front side when said first front side and said second front side are in corresponding said open positions;

said first front side and said second front side lying across said major exterior surface while said major exterior surface, said first front side and said second front side are in respective said closed positions; and

a visual display mounted within said display panel to present varying visual images while said display panel is in said opened position.

18. The kiosk of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of shelves each providing a separate and distinct shelf area providing a cargo-bearing major surface, with each of said shelves being pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second rear sides to travel between:

a stored position between said first and second front sides while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said shelves from said first and said second front sides while said first and said second front sides are in respective said closed positions and each said cargo-bearing major surface faces said rear panel, and

a deployed position with each of said shelves positioning a cargo-bearing major surface to lie transversely between said rear panel, said first rear side and said first front side, and said second rear side and said second front side, while said first front side and said second front side are in corresponding said opened positions.

19. The kiosk of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of shelves each providing a separate and distinct shelf area providing a cargo-bearing major surface, with each of said shelves being pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between:

a stored position between said first and second front frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said shelves from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions and each said cargo-bearing major surface faces said rear panel, and

a deployed position with each of said shelves positioning a cargo-bearing major surface to lie transversely between said rear panel, said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in respective said opened positions.

20. The kiosk of claim 19, with said visual display comprising a thin-film capacitive touch screen continuously borne by said display panel while said display panel is in said opened position and in said closed position.

21. The kiosk of claim 18, further comprised of:

said shelf area of one of said plurality of shelves bearing a plurality of perforations spaced-apart in an array of a plurality of parallel diagonal lines and a plurality of parallel, alternating offset columns; and

a corner bracket retentively situate upon one of said major surfaces, said corner bracket comprising a minor surface area terminated by an edge extending transversely to said minor surface, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete apertures in said minor surface area, each of said apertures having a center aligned with a plurality of others of said plurality of apertures along either one of a pair of perpendicularly intersecting diametric lines or a pair of obliquely intersecting lines.

22. The kiosk of claim 21, with said visual display comprising a thin-film capacitive touch screen, and said bezel covering a periphery of said touch screen.

24. The kiosk of claim 22, with said visual display comprising a thin-film capacitive touch screen continuously borne by said display panel while said display panel is in said opened position and in said closed position.

25. The kiosk of claim 22, further comprised of:

said shelf area of one of said plurality of shelves bearing a plurality of perforations spaced-apart in an array of a plurality of parallel diagonal lines and a plurality of parallel, alternating offset columns; and

a corner bracket retentively situate upon one of said major surfaces, said corner bracket comprising a minor surface area terminated by an edge extending transversely to said minor surface, and a plurality of spaced-apart discrete apertures in said minor surface area, each of said apertures having a center aligned with a plurality of others of said plurality of apertures along either;

a pair of obliquely intersecting said diametric lines, or

one of a pair of said diametric lines formed from one of a first plurality of equally spaced-apart said diametric lines and one of a second plurality of equally spaced-apart said diametric lines lying perpendicularly to said first plurality.

23. A kiosk, comprising:

a rear side comprised of;

first and second spaced-apart side frames each comprised of discrete and spaced-apart front and rear structural members, with each rear structural member positioned on a different and opposite side of said rear side, with said first and second side frames extending transversely from opposite sides of said rear side;

a first front frame rotatably attached to said front structural member of said first side a frame to rotate between a closed position extending from said front structural member of said first side frame toward said front structural member of said second side frame, and an open position extending from and aligned with said first side frame;

a second front frame rotatably attached to said front structural member of said second side member to rotate between a closed position extending from said front structural member of said second side frame toward said front structural member of said first side frame, and an open position extending from and aligned with said second side frame;

a first transverse frame transversely joining first extreme portions of said rear panel and said first and second side frames; and

a second transverse frame transversely joining second extreme portions of said rear panel and first and second side frames;

a display panel bearing a visual display mounted to present varying visual images while said display panel is in an opened position, said display panel extending between said front structural members and having a major exterior surface terminated by opposite spaced-apart first and second side edges separated by a first cross member pivotally supported to rotate about an axial junction between said front structural members of said first and second side frames and said first transverse frame, with said display panel exhibiting a closed position while said major exterior surface lies alongside said front structural members and exhibiting an opened position while said first and second side edges are supported by respective ones of said first front frame and said second front frame while said first front frame and said second front frame are in corresponding said open positions;

said first and said second front frames lying across said major exterior surface while said major exterior surface, said first front frame and said second front fame are in corresponding said closed positions; and

a plurality of shelves each providing a separate and distinct shelf area providing a cargo-bearing major surface, with each of said shelves being pivotally supported by corresponding ones of said first and second side frames to travel between;

a deployed position with each of said shelves positioning each said cargo-bearing major surface to lie transversely between said rear structural members, said first side frame and said first front frame, and said second side frame and said second front frame, while said first front frame and said second front frame are in corresponding said opened positions with each said cargo-beating major surface oriented to receive and support items of cargo, and

a stored position between said first and second frames while spaced-apart from said rear panel and from said display panel with said display panel separating said shelves from said first and said second front frames while said first and said second front frames are in respective said closed positions and each said cargo-bearing major surface facing said rear structural members and continuing to support all of the items of cargo placed thereon while in said deployed position.