Traveler's accommodation

• US 6,691,475 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Traveler's Accommodation
• Original Assignee: Fast Break Inn
• Inventors: Tiongco, Antonio L., Talens, Alfred R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/563,126
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 522/34, 522/363, 52/798, 52/797, 522/364, 522/381, 52/361, 52/34, 297/229, 297/228.1
• US Class Current: 52/234
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/02 Hotels; Motels; Coffee-houses; Restaurants; Shops; Department stores

Abstract

The present invention is an accommodation for traveler'"'"'s providing an inexpensive and safe option for respite while on a journey, comprising a building including a series of connected exterior walls defining a footprint of the building. The building includes a common interior hallway located adjacent at least one of the building'"'"'s exterior walls. At least one door located in the building'"'"'s exterior walls allows entrance into the building and more particularly into the building'"'"'s common interior hallway. The building includes a plurality of rooms, each room having a door for entrance into the room from the common interior hallway. Each room'"'"'s door is lockable from the inside by the traveler renting the room. Further, the rooms are arranged and constructed to accommodate at least one recliner chair, but no bed. The present invention further includes at least one bathroom in the building having a door with an inside lock. The bathroom'"'"'s door provides access to the at least one bathroom from the common interior hallway. A control room is provided for checking the traveler into one of the plurality of rooms such that the traveler may use the at least one bathroom and the rooms at one recliner chair to relax, rest, and refresh for a few hours without having to incur the cost associated with a traditional hotel/motel, where a traveler must pay for a room for a minimum of one entire day.

Claims

1. An accommodation for travelers providing an inexpensive option for respite while on a journey, comprising:

a. a building including a series of connected exterior walls defining a footprint of the building;

b. a common interior hallway located within the building adjacent at least one of the building'"'"'s exterior walls;

c. at least one door located in the building'"'"'s exterior walls to allow entrance into the building to the common interior hallway;

d. a plurality of rooms located in the building, each room having a door for entrance into the room from the common interior hallway only, each door having a lock;

e. at least one recliner chair, but not a bed, located in each room wherein the rooms are arranged and constructed to accommodate the at least one recliner chair;

f. at least one bathroom located in the building, the at least one bathroom having a door with an inside lock, the door providing access to the at least one bathroom only from the common interior hallway; and

g. a control room for checking the travelers into one of the plurality of rooms so that travelers may use the at least one bathroom and the at least one recliner chair to relax, rest and refresh for a few hours without having to incur the costs associated with a traditional hotel/motel where the traveler must pay for a room for a minimum of one entire day.

2. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rooms further comprise at least one room that is sized to allow a single recliner chair, and at least one room that is sized to allow at least two recliners chairs.

3. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the at least one bathroom further includes means for indicating to travelers in the common interior hallway and the worker in the control room that the at least one bathroom is occupied.

4. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 further comprising means for limiting access to the building to travelers who have been checked-in only.

5. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the exterior walls include a plurality of windows.

6. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rooms includes means for alerting the control room in the event of an emergency.

7. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the at least one bathroom includes means for alerting the control room in the event of an emergency.

8. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the common interior hallway includes means for alerting the control room in the event of an emergency.

9. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 further comprising means for monitoring the common interior hallway and the exterior of the building.

10. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 further including means for alerting public authorities such as police and fire departments in the event of an emergency.

11. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the at least one recliner chair includes a disposable protective cover so that travelers will always have a clean surface covering the at least one recliner as travelers use the at least one recliner to rest and relax.

12. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the at least one recliner chair is cleaned and disinfected periodically to ensure sanitary conditions for travelers using the at least one recliner.

13. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the at least one bathroom includes at least one toilet, at least one sink, at least one mirror, and at least one shower.

14. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 wherein the at least one bathroom includes at least one toilet, at least one urinal, at least one sink, at least one mirror, and at least one shower.

15. The accommodation for travelers of claim 1 further comprising at least one utility room located in the building.

16. The accommodation for travelers of claim 3 further comprising means for indicating to travelers in the plurality of rooms that the at least one bathroom is occupied.

17. A method of providing travelers a convenient, safe and economical option to hotels and motels for acquiring a few hours of relaxation while on a journey comprising of steps:

providing an accommodation for travelers comprising a building including a series of connected exterior walls defining a footprint of the building, the building having a common interior hallway located within the building adjacent at least one of the exterior walls, at least one door located in at least one exterior wall to allow entrance into the building to the common interior hallway, a plurality of rooms located in the building, each room having a door for entrance into the room from the common interior hallway only, each door having a lock, at least one recliner chair, but not a bed, located in each room wherein the rooms are arranged and constructed to accommodate at least one recliner chair, at least one bathroom located in the building, the at least one bathroom having a door with an inside lock, the door providing access to the at least one bathroom from the common interior hallway only, and a control room wherein a worker may be located to check travelers into one of the plurality of rooms so that checked-in travelers may use the at least one bathroom and the at least one recliner chair to relax, rest, and refresh for a few hours without having to incur the costs associated with a traditional hotel/motel where a traveler must pay for a room for a minimum of one entire day; and

checking the traveler into the accommodation.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps:

providing means for checked-in travelers only to enter the building'"'"'s common interior hallway from the exterior of the building;

providing means for alerting the control room from each of the plurality of rooms, common interior hallway, and at least one bathroom in the event of an emergency;

providing means for alerting local civil authorities in the event of an emergency;

monitoring the common interior hallway and exterior of the building; and

providing means to ensure that the at least one recliner remains clean for travelers as they use the at least one recliner to rest and relax.