Advertising kiosk

• US 6,427,369 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silver Cat, LLC
• Original Assignee: Silver Cat, LLC
• Inventors: Rzeznik, Jozef, Durinzi, Dominic J. Jr., Goepel, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEVON C
• Application Number:
  US09/537,928
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 405/64, 406/60, 405/75, 405/72, 362/812
• US Class Current: 40/564
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An advertising kiosk for holding a pair of translucent sheets of advertising copy. The kiosk is particularly suited for outdoor use and has a totally enclosed housing with pair of windows in which the sheets of the advertising copy are located. Plural fluorescent lamps are mounted at equidistantly spaced locations adjacent the windows and behind each sheet of advertising copy on a movable frame. Each window of the kiosk is covered by a transparent outer panel having an inner surface behind which the advertising copy is mounted. The advertising copy is held in place by a flexible diffuser sheet hingedly connected to the housing. Each diffuser sheet is adapted to flex into engagement with the advertising copy, whereupon the advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against the inner surface of the outer panel. The lamps provide even light through the diffuser sheet, the advertising copy and the outer panel, to illuminate the advertising copy for visibility by persons outside of the kiosk. The housing is in the form of a support shell which is covered by a smooth stainless steel skin secured to the shell via plural studs capacitively-discharge welded thereto. The studs extend through aligned apertures in the shell. Plural air vents are provided at the bottom of the housing and an air outlet is provided at the top of the housing to enable air to freely flow through the kiosk.

Claims

1. A kiosk for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, said kiosk being arranged to be mounted on a surface and comprising a hollow shell having at least one window located therein, a source of illumination located within said shell and adjacent said window, and a flexible backer sheet, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted, said flexible backer sheet being connected to said shell by a hinge and being disposed opposite to said window, said flexible backer sheet being adapted to pivot away from said outer panel via said hinge to enable the sheet of advertising copy to be placed between said flexible backer sheet and said inner surface of said outer panel and to pivot toward said outer panel via said hinge to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon the sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against said inner surface of said outer panel by said backer sheet, said source of illumination being arranged to provide light through said flexible backer sheet, the sheet of advertising copy and said outer panel to illuminate the sheet of advertising copy for visibility by persons outside of said kiosk.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said source of illumination comprises plural elongated lamps mounted on a support frame within said shell, whereupon said lamps are disposed vertically at equidistantly spaced behind said window to effect the even illumination of the advertising copy sheet.

3. The kiosk of claim 2 wherein said support frame includes rungs to enable a person to climb up on said frame.

4. The kiosk of claim 2 wherein said support frame is moveable within said shell to facilitate access to said lamps.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said shell includes a bottom portion and a top portion, at least one air-intake opening in said bottom portion of said shell and at least one air-outlet in said top portion of said shell to facilitate the flow of air through said shell.

6. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said shell includes plural apertures therein, and wherein said kiosk additionally comprises an outer covering, said outer covering comprising at least one flexible panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and plural first connector elements fixedly secured to said inner surface without any trace of the securement being visible from said outer surface, said flexible covering panel being mounted on said shell by extending said plural connector elements through said apertures.

7. The kiosk of claim 6 wherein said outer covering comprises stainless steel.

8. A kiosk for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, said kiosk being arranged to be mounted on a surface and comprising a hollow shell having at least one window located therein, a source of illumination located within said shell and adjacent said window, and a flexible backer sheet, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted, said flexible backer sheet being hingedly connected to said shell and disposed opposite to said window and adapted to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon said sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against said inner surface of said outer panel by said backer sheet, said source of illumination being arranged to provide light through said backer sheet, the advertising copy sheet and said outer panel, to illuminate the sheet of advertising copy for visibility by persons outside of said kiosk, said shell including plural apertures therein, said kiosk additionally comprising an outer covering comprising at least one flexible panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and plural first connector elements fixedly secured to said inner surface without any trace of the securement being visible from said outer surface, said flexible covering panel being mounted on said shell by extending said plural connector elements through said apertures, said kiosk also including second connector elements for releasable securement to said first connector elements.

9. The kiosk of claim 8 wherein said first and second connector elements are threaded.

10. A kiosk for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, said kiosk being arranged to be mounted on a surface and comprising a hollow shell having at least one window located therein, a source of illumination located within said shell and adjacent said window, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be disposed, said source of illumination comprising plural elongated lamps mounted on a support frame within said shell, whereupon said lamps are disposed vertically at equidistantly spaced behind said window to effect the even illumination of the advertising copy sheet for visibility by persons outside of said kiosk, said support frame being moveable within said shell to facilitate access to said lamps.

11. The kiosk of claim 10 wherein said support frame includes rungs to enable a person to climb up on said frame.

12. The kiosk of claim 10 additionally comprising a flexible backer sheet, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted, said flexible backer sheet being hingedly connected to said shell and disposed opposite to said window and adapted to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon said sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against said inner surface of said outer panel by said backer sheet.

13. The kiosk of claim 10 wherein said shell includes a bottom portion and a top portion, at least one air-intake opening in said bottom portion of said shell and at least one air-outlet in said top portion of said shell to facilitate the flow of air through said shell.

14. The kiosk of claim 10 wherein said shell includes plural apertures therein, and wherein said kiosk additionally comprises an outer covering, said outer covering comprising at least one flexible panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and plural first connector elements fixedly secured to said inner surface without any trace of the securement being visible from said outer surface, said flexible covering panel being mounted on said shell by extending said plural connector elements through said apertures.

15. The kiosk of claim 14 wherein said kiosk also includes second connector elements for releasable securement to said first connector elements.

16. The kiosk of claim 15 wherein said first and second connector elements are threaded.

17. The kiosk of claim 14 wherein said outer covering comprises stainless steel.

18. A kiosk for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, said kiosk being arranged to be mounted on a surface and comprising a sealed housing including a hollow shell adapted to have a person enter the shell for maintenance of the kiosk whereupon the person is protected from the ambient conditions outside of the kiosk, said shell including a bottom portion, a top portion, at least one window located in said shell, said bottom portion of said shell comprising a skirt having plural, equidistantly spaced air-intake openings, said shell also including an air-outlet in said top portion of said shell extending about the periphery thereof to facilitate the flow of air through said shell, said kiosk also including a source of illumination located within said shell adjacent said window, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be disposed, said source of illumination being arranged to effect the illumination of the advertising copy sheet for visibility by persons outside of said kiosk.

19. The kiosk of claim 18 wherein said source of illumination comprises plural elongated lamps mounted of a support frame within said shell, whereupon said lamps are disposed vertically at equidistantly spaced behind said window to effect the even illumination of the advertising copy sheet.

20. The kiosk of claim 19 wherein said support frame includes rungs to enable a person to climb up on said frame.

21. The kiosk of claim 19 wherein said support frame is moveable within said shell to facilitate access to said lamps.

22. The kiosk of claim 19 wherein said shell includes plural apertures therein, and wherein said kiosk additionally comprises an outer covering, said outer covering comprising at least one flexible panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and plural first connector elements fixedly secured to said inner surface without any trace of the securement being visible from said outer surface, said flexible covering panel being mounted on said shell by extending said plural connector elements through said apertures.

23. The kiosk of claim 22 wherein said kiosk also includes second connector elements for releasable securement to said first connector elements.

24. The kiosk of claim 23 wherein said first and second connector elements are threaded.

25. The kiosk of claim 22 wherein said outer covering comprises stainless steel.

26. The kiosk of claim 18 additionally comprising a flexible backer sheet, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted, said flexible backer sheet being hingedly connected to said shell and disposed opposite to said window and adapted to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon said sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against said inner surface of said outer panel by said backer sheet.

27. A kiosk for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, said kiosk being arranged to be mounted on a surface and comprising a sealed housing including a hollow shell adapted to have a person enter the shell for maintenance of the kiosk whereupon the person is protected from the ambient conditions outside of the kiosk, an outer covering for said shell, a window and a source of illumination located within said shell adjacent said window, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be disposed, said source of illumination being arranged to effect the illumination of the advertising copy sheet for visibility by persons outside of said kiosk, said shell also including plural apertures therein, said outer covering comprising at least one flexible panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and plural first connector elements fixedly secured to said inner surface without any trace of the securement being visible from said outer surface, said flexible covering panel being mounted on said shell by extending said plural connector elements through said apertures, said kiosk also including second connector elements for releasable securement to said first connector elements.

28. The kiosk of claim 27 wherein said first and second connector elements are threaded.

29. The kiosk of claim 27 wherein said outer covering comprises stainless steel.

30. The kiosk of claim 29 wherein said first connector elements are secured to said covering sheet by electro-capacitive discharge bonding.

31. The kiosk of claims 27 wherein said source of illumination comprises plural elongated lamps mounted of a support frame within said shell, whereupon said lamps are disposed vertically at equidistantly spaced behind said window to effect the even illumination of the advertising copy sheet.

32. The kiosk of claim 31 wherein said support frame includes rungs to enable a person to climb up on said frame.

33. The kiosk of claim 31 wherein said support frame is moveable within said shell to facilitate access to said lamps.

34. The kiosk of claim 27 additionally comprising a flexible backer sheet, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted, said flexible backer sheet being hingedly connected to said shell and disposed opposite to said window and adapted to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon said sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against said inner surface of said outer panel by said backer sheet.

35. The kiosk of claim 27 wherein said shell includes a bottom portion and a top portion, at least one air-intake opening in said bottom portion of said shell and at least one air-outlet in said top portion of said shell to facilitate the flow of air through said shell.

36. A kiosk for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, said kiosk being arranged to be mounted on a surface and comprising a hollow shell having at least one window located therein, a source of illumination located within said shell and adjacent said window, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be disposed, said source of illumination being mounted on a support frame within said shell, said support frame being movable within the shell to enable a person to enter into the shell to service the kiosk from within, said source of illumination being arranged to effect the even illumination of the advertising copy sheet for visibility by persons outside of said kiosk.

37. The kiosk of claim 36 wherein said support frame includes rungs to enable a person to climb up on said frame.

38. The kiosk of claim 36 additionally comprising a flexible backer sheet, said window being covered by a transparent outer panel secured to said shell, said outer panel having an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted, said flexible backer sheet being hingedly connected to said shell and disposed opposite to said window and adapted to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon said sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against said inner surface of said outer panel by said backer sheet.

39. The kiosk of claim 36 wherein said shell includes a bottom portion and a top portion, at least one air-intake opening in said bottom portion of said shell and at least one air-outlet in said top portion of said shell to facilitate the flow of air through said shell.

40. The kiosk of claim 36 wherein said shell includes plural apertures therein, and wherein said kiosk additionally comprises an outer covering, said outer covering comprising at least one flexible panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and plural first connector elements fixedly secured to said inner surface without any trace of the securement being visible from said outer surface, said flexible covering panel being mounted on said shell by extending said plural connector elements through said apertures.

41. The kiosk of claim 40 wherein said kiosk also includes second connector elements for releasable securement to said first connector elements.

42. The kiosk of claim 41 wherein said first and second connector elements are threaded.

43. The kiosk of claim 40 wherein said outer covering comprises stainless steel.

44. The kiosk of claim 36 wherein said kiosk includes at least one track coupled to said support frame and along which said support frame is arranged to move.