System and method for automatically altering a theme associated with a room or similar space

• US 8,025,582 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WYNN Resorts Holdings LLC (Wynn Resorts Limited)
• Original Assignee: WYNN Resorts Holdings LLC (Wynn Resorts Limited)
• Inventors: Labadie, Jean, Gigliotti, Murphy, Gorlin, William B., Sywak, Stephen A., Gray, Rick, Smith, Frederick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman; Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US12/341,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 52/6, 52/9, 52/64, 52/67, 52/68, 52/71, 522/041, 523/111, 523/112, 523/113, 52210-213, 52/70, 52/72, 359/443, 359/461, 160/197, 160330-341, 160/377, 472/57, 472/75, 472/77, 404/11, 404/27, 404/36, 404/60
• US Class Current: 472/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/02 Scenery; Curtains; Other decorations; Means for moving same fireproof curtains A62C2/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A system and method for changing a theme associated with a given space (e.g., restaurant). A wall system includes a wall panel having multiple themes depicted thereon or multiple wall panels each having a theme depicted thereon. Using a series of winches, chain drives, cables and pulleys or the like, the wall panels are moved to change the theme of the space. A ceiling system includes two ceiling panels movable via a series of winches, chain drives, cables and pulleys. Once separated the ceiling panels expose a theme different than that depicted while closed. Audio and/or visual cues may be provided to alert patrons to a theme change.

Claims

1. A system for changing a theme of a space comprising:

one or more moving wall systems, each said moving wall system having a wall panel wherein said wall panel depicts or supports at least two different wall designs each wall design dimensioned to reside in a viewable section associated with said space;

means for moving said wall panel to selectively position one of said at least two different wall designs depicted or supported by said wall panel into said viewable section and simultaneously moving other wall designs depicted or supported by said wall panel out of said space; and

a computer for;

(i) controlling said means for moving said wall panel at a user-selected rate of theme change; and

(ii) controlling visual and/or audio cues associated with selectively positioning said wall designs.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said wall panel comprises one or more of the following:

winch, cable, pulley and chain lift.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said wall panel moves said wall panel vertically.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein wall designs not in said viewable section are out of view above or below said viewable section.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more brakes for controlling said wall panel.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more guide rails for guiding said wall panel during movement.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a barrier positioned to distance foreign objects from the one or more wall panels.

8. A system for changing a theme of a space comprising:

one or more moving wall systems, each said moving wall system having two or more wall panels wherein each said wall panel depicts or supports a different wall design with each wall design dimensioned to reside in a viewable section associated with said space;

means for moving each of said wall panels to selectively position one of said wall panels into said viewable section and moving others of said wall panels to a position not visible from said viewable section; and

a computer for;

(i) controlling said means for moving said wall panel at a user-selected rate of theme change; and

(ii) controlling visual and/or audio cues associated with selectively positioning said wall panels.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for moving said wall panels comprises one or more of the following:

winch, cable, pulley and chain lift.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for moving said wall panel moves said wall panel vertically.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein wall designs not in said viewable section are out of view above or below said viewable section.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising one or more brakes for controlling said wall panel.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising one or more guide rails for guiding said wall panel during movement.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said two or more wall panels are positioned adjacent to one another.

15. The system of claim 8 further comprising a barrier positioned to distance foreign objects from the wall panels.