Seat occupancy indicator and seating area display system

• US 6,140,921 A
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herbert Eduard Baron, Russell Mistretta Abbott
• Original Assignee: Herbert Eduard Baron, Russell Mistretta Abbott
• Inventors: Baron, Herbert Eduard, Abbott, Russell Mistretta
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/306,629
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/540, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/00 Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

An indicator and display system for theaters, auditoriums and the like provides information regarding occupancy on individual seats and a display providing information relating to seat occupancy and relating to the seating area. The system includes multi-colored lights mounted on the tops of the seats for indicating the occupancy thereof. The lights are controlled by sensors mounted in the seats and manual switches mounted on the seats. The system also includes a display panel located in the lobby or near the theater or auditorium which shows which seats are occupied and which are vacant. The display panel also numerically shows the seat availability and also shows in hologram form the seating arrangement and the location of restrooms, refreshment counter, etc. relative to the seating area as well as aisles and other information of use to the patrons.

Claims

1. A seat occupancy indicator system for an assemblage of seats, comprising:

means for visually indicating seat occupancy mounted on the seat, said means for visually indicating including a plurality of LEDs each directing light in only one direction and oriented to be mutually perpendicular in order to direct light therefrom in different desired directions;

control means mounted on the seat and responsive to user occupancy thereof, said control means electrically connected to said means for visually indicating.

2. The seat indictor system of claim 1 wherein said means for visually indicating includes an LED mounted on a top portion of a seatback of the seat, said LED having an output including a color selected to facilitate recognition by a prospective user of seat occupancy status of the seat.

3. The seat indicator system of claim 1 wherein said means for visually indicating includes a manual switch electrically connected to said LED for operational control thereof and a seat sensor mounted on said seat and responsive to user occupancy of the seat, said sensor electrically connected to said LED for operational control thereof.

4. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said display panel providing a view of the assemblage of seats, said means for visually displaying electrically connected to said electric circuitry.

5. The seat occupancy system of claim 4 wherein said display panel provides a view including the assemblage of seats and including selected artifacts in area of the assemblage of seats for providing selected information relating to the seat occupancy status and relating to the area of the assemblage.

6. The seat occupancy system of claim 4 wherein said display panel provides a realistic view of the assemblage of seats and the area thereof from a selected vantage point at area of the assemblage of seats.

7. The seat occupancy system of claim 6 wherein the selected vantage point is an entrance to the area of the assemblage of seats.

8. The seat occupancy system of claim 6 wherein the realistic view includes a holographic image.

9. The seat occupancy system of claim 8 wherein said display panel includes an edge lit hologram decal.

10. The seat occupancy system of claim 4 wherein said display panel provides a digital readout of seat availability in the assemblage of seats with real time update.

11. The seat occupancy system of claim 4 further including a viewer thermal sensor mounted on said display panel and electrically connected to said electric circuitry for activating said display panel in response to a viewer approaching said display panel.

12. The seat occupancy system of claim 4 wherein said means for visually indicating includes an LED mounted on a top portion of a seatback of the seat, said LED having an output including a color selected to facilitate recognition by a prospective user of seat occupancy status of the seat.

13. The seat occupancy system of claim 4 wherein said means for visually indicating includes a manual switch electrically connected to said LED for operational control thereof and a seat sensor mounted on said seat and responsive to user occupancy of the seat via activation thereof in response to heat or pressure produced by a user positioned on the seat, said sensor electrically connected to said LED for operational control thereof.

14. The seat occupancy system of claim 13 further including a timer connected to said manual switch for reactivating said LED to show vacancy of the seat after said manual switch has been activated for a selected period of time so that the LED shows occupancy of the seat after the selected period of time.

15. A method for indicating seat occupancy status of an assemblage of seats and displaying information related thereto, comprising:

passively determining seat occupancy, said means for passively determining having an electrical output;

providing a means for seat occupant control of said visual seat occupancy status;

visually indicating seat occupancy of said assemblage of seats in response to passive determination of seat occupancy and in response to actuation of said manual switch;

visually displaying a view of the assemblage of seats.

16. The method of claim 15 further including displaying a hologram view of the assemblage of seats and selected artifacts in area of said assemblage.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said visually indicating seat occupancy includes utilization of selected colors.

18. A seat occupancy indicator system for an assemblage of seats, comprising:

means for visually indicating seat occupancy mounted on the seat;

control means mounted on the seat and responsive to user occupancy thereof, said control means electrically connected to said means for visually indicating;

an electrical cable for connection to an electrical power source for supplying power to said means for visually indicating and said control means, said electrical cable positioned in a conduit for carrying electrical wiring for a seat row lighting system.

19. A seat occupancy indicator system for an assemblage of seats, comprising:

means for visually indicating seat occupancy mounted on the seat;

control means mounted on the seat and responsive to user occupancy thereof, said control means electrically connected to said means for visually indicating;

a manual switch electrically connected to said means for visually indicating for operational control thereof;

a timer connected to said manual switch for reactivating said means for visually indicating to show vacancy of the seat after said manual switch has been activated for a selected period of time so that the means for visually indicating shows occupancy of the seat after the selected period of time.

20. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said display panel electrically connected to said electric circuitry, said display panel providing a view including the assemblage of seats and including selected artifacts in area of the assemblage of seats for providing selected information relating to the seat occupancy status and relating to the area of the assemblage.

21. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said display panel electrically connected to said electric circuitry;

an electrical cable for connection to an electrical power source, said electrical cable positioned in a conduit for carrying electrical wiring for a seat row lighting system.

22. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said display panel electrically connected to said electric circuitry, said display panel providing a realistic view of the assemblage of seats and the area thereof from a selected vantage point at area of the assemblage of seats.

23. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch, said electric control circuitry including logic circuitry, an enable circuit, a clock circuit, an encoder, a decoder and a transceiver;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said means for visually displaying electrically connected to said electric circuitry.

24. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said display panel electrically connected to said electric circuitry, said display panel providing a digital readout of seat availability in the assemblage of seats.

25. A seat occupancy indicator and area display system for use in a facility having an assemblage of seats, comprising:

a means for visually indicating seat occupancy;

means for passively determining seat occupancy connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

a manual switch for mounting on the seat, said manual switch connected to said means for visually indicating for activation thereof;

electric control circuitry electrically connected to said means for passively determining and to said manual switch;

a display panel for visually displaying seat occupancy, said display panel electrically connected to said electric circuitry;

a viewer sensor mounted on said display panel and electrically connected to said electric circuitry for activating said display panel in response to a viewer approaching said display panel.

26. A method for indicating seat occupancy status of an assemblage of seats and displaying information related thereto, comprising:

passively determining seat occupancy, said means for passively determining having an electrical output;

providing a means for seat occupant control of said visual seat occupancy status;

visually indicating seat occupancy of said assemblage of seats in response to passive determination of seat occupancy and in response to actuation of said manual switch;

displaying a view of the assemblage of seats and selected artifacts in area of said assemblage.

27. A method for indicating seat occupancy status of an assemblage of seats and displaying information related thereto, comprising:

passively determining seat occupancy, said means for passively determining having an electrical output;

providing a means for seat occupant control of said visual seat occupancy status;

visually indicating seat occupancy of said assemblage of seats in response to passive determination of seat occupancy and in response to actuation of said manual switch;

numerically displaying the seat availability.