View and glow seating

• US 7,303,304 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethos Design LLC
• Original Assignee: Ethos Design LLC
• Inventors: Gharabegian, Armen Sevada
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US11/491,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 362/127, 362/131, 362/253, 362/294, 362/373, 362/234, 362/483, 362/96, 353/57, 353/61, 297/217.6, 297/452.41, 297/DIG.3, 297/188.04
• US Class Current: 362/131
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072

Abstract

Seating structures having (1) an internal image projector for projecting images on the exterior surface of such seating structures and (2) an internal source of illumination with color changing capability, the effect of which is visible on the exterior surface of the seating structures are disclosed. The image projection technology is powered by a standard AC outlet and operated by remote control. The illumination technology is powered by either an AC outlet or battery and is operated by remote control. An internal or external DVD or other data source may be incorporated for image projection.

Claims

1. A seating structure of internal image projection, comprising:

a projector housed within a chamber of the seating structure that generates images; and

a light penetrable outer surface covering the seating structure to capture and display the images generated from the projector.

2. The seating structure of claim 1, further including a DVD player to generate the images for the projector.

3. The seating structure of claim 1, further including a laptop computer to generate the images for the projector.

4. The seating structure of claim 1, further including an Internet source of image projection to generate the images for the projector.

5. A seating structure of internal image projection, comprising:

a projector housed within a chamber of the seating structure to generate images;

a light penetrable outer surface covering the seating structure; and

a reflective surface, within the seating structure, that captures the images generated by the projector and reflects the captured images to a designated area of the light penetrable outer surface.

6. The seating structure of claim 5, wherein the designated area is the seat.

7. The seating structure of claim 5, wherein the projector is mounted on a bracket to allow for adjusting a projection angle of the generated images.

8. The seating structure of claim 5, wherein the images are moving images.

9. The seating structure of claim 5, further including a DVD player to generate the images for the projector.

10. The seating structure of claim 5, further including a laptop computer to generate the images for the projector.

11. The seating structure of claim 5, further including an Internet source of image projection to generate the images for the projector.

12. A seating structure of internal illumination, comprising:

a light source housed within a chamber of the seating structure to generate light; and

a light penetrable outer surface covering the seating structure to capture the light and produce a glowing effect over an entire surface of the light penetrable outer surface.

13. The seating structure of claim 12, further including internal structures to provide support for the seating structure.

14. The seating structure of claim 13, wherein the internal structure is made of one of a group of materials, the group of materials including one of a group of wood, plywood, high density wood, steel, aluminum, brass, and copper.

15. The seating structure of claim 13, wherein the internal structure is made of a group including one of the following materials:

plastic, acrylic, or corrugated acrylic.

16. The seating structure of claim 12, wherein the light penetrable outer surface is made of one of a group of materials, the group of materials including acrylic, plastic, fabric, translucent foam, translucent rubber, injection molded plastics, cast acrylics, and fiber glass.

17. The seating structure of claim 12, wherein the light penetrable surface is constructed of a fabric that inherently glows.

18. The seating structure of claim 12, wherein the light source is one of a group of lights, the group of lights including fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, white light emitting diodes, colored LEDs, tube lights, xenon lights, phosphorous tubes of light through chemical reaction, fiber optics, strobe lights.

19. The seating structure of claim 12, wherein the light source can change colors.

20. The seating structure of claim 19, wherein the light source changes color through one of a group of techniques, the group of techniques including different colored light bulbs, color changing light sources, color changing light bulbs, light gels, glass gobos, or slide transparencies.

21. A seating structure of internal illumination, comprising:

a light source housed within a chamber of the seating structure to generate light; and

a light penetrable outer surface covering the seating structure to capture the light and produce a glowing effect over the light penetrable outer surface, wherein the light penetrable surface is constructed using fiber optic lights.

22. An inflatable seating structure, comprising:

a light source housed within an interior of the inflatable seating structure to generate light; and

a light penetrable outer surface covering the seating structure to receive the light and to produce a glowing effect over an entire surface of the light penetrable outer surface.

23. The inflatable seating structure of claim 22, further including a fabric attached to the inflatable.

24. The inflatable seating structure of claim 23, wherein the fabric is one of a group of lycra, textured fabrics, foam, fiber glass, rubber, semi-opaque foam, or acrylic.

25. An amorphous shaped seating structure, comprising:

a light source housed within an interior of the amorphous-shaped seating structure to generate light; and

a light penetrable outer surface covering the amorphous-shaped seating structure to receive the light and to produce a glowing effect over an entire surface of the light penetrable outer surface.

26. The amorphous shaped seating structure of claim 25, wherein the seating structure is air-filled to maintain the amorphous shape.

27. The amorphous shaped seating structure of claim 25, wherein the seating structure is vacuum-formed to maintain the amorphous shape.