Method for automatically altering a theme associated with a room or similar space

• US 9,224,319 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick L. Smith, Jean Labadie, Murphy Gigliotti, Rick Gray, Stephen A. Sywak, William B. Gorlin
• Original Assignee: Frederick L. Smith, Jean Labadie, Murphy Gigliotti, Rick Gray, Stephen A. Sywak, William B. Gorlin
• Inventors: Gray, Rick, Gorlin, William B., Sywak, Stephen A., Gigliotti, Murphy, Smith, Frederick L., Labadie, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): WILENSKY, MOSHE K
• Application Number:
  US12/986,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 294/011
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 method for changing a theme of a space comprising:

selectively sliding a first rigid wall panel of a series of individual, separate rigid wall panels along two guide rails receiving and guiding opposite edges of said first rigid wall panel such that a wall design on said first rigid wall panel resides in a viewable area associated with said space, said series of individual, separate wall panels sharing said two guide rails or being received and guided by separate guide rails;

storing all but a viewable wall panel outside of and proximate to said viewable area;

selectively interchanging said first rigid wall panel with a second rigid wall panel among said series of individual, separate rigid wall panels by sliding said first and second rigid wall panels along at least said two guide rails such that wall designs on each of said first and second rigid wall panels forming the series of individual, separate rigid wall panels reside in said viewable area for an established time period; and

providing an audio cue prior to selectively interchanging said rigid wall panels wherein said audio cue comprises altering or changing ambiance music.

2. A method for changing a theme of a space comprising:

selectively sliding a first rigid wall panel of a series of individual, separate rigid wall panels along two guide rails receiving and guiding opposite edges of said first rigid wall panel such that a wall design on said first rigid wall panel resides in a viewable area associated with said space, said series of individual, separate wall panels sharing said two guide rails or being received and guided by separate guide rails;

storing all but a viewable wall panel outside of and proximate to said viewable area;

selectively interchanging said first rigid wall panel with a second rigid wall panel among said series of individual, separate rigid wall panels by sliding said first and second rigid wall panels along at least said two guide rails such that wall designs on each of said first and second rigid wall panels forming the series of individual, separate rigid wall panels reside in said viewable area for an established time period; and

providing a visual cue prior to selectively interchanging said rigid wall panels wherein said visual cue comprises altering or changing a lighting scheme.