Entertainment device and system

• US 6,513,173 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Sykes
• Original Assignee: John Sykes
• Inventors: Sykes, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US09/743,496
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 430/1, 466/1, 431/4
• US Class Current: 4/301
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 11/12 Urinals without flushing portable urinating aids A61F5/4556; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/00 Urinals without flushing devices A47K11/00 ; Means for connecting the urinal to the flushing pipe and the wastepipe; Splashing shields for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/002 intended for use by women
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/005 Accessories specially adapted for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/005 Signs associated with a sensor

Abstract

A facility for use as entertainment and/or education wherein there is provided at least one sensor on or adjacent to a surface of the facility that is in connection with a visual display. The condition of the display changes in response to the activation of the sensor. In one embodiment, the facility is a urinal. An alternate embodiment includes a video or electronic message display mounted in conjunction with the urinal to be viewed that may or may not be activated by a sensor.

Claims

1. A urinal facility, said facility including a drain, collecting area for urine and a surface, said facility including an electric visual display for the display of material data, characterised in that said material data is received and downloaded from a location which is remote from the urinal facility, via a data communication system, said electric visual display comprising a screen mounted on the facility to display the material data to a user of the facility and the facility includes a memory facility onto which the material data for display is downloaded and stored for subsequent display to the user of the facility.

2. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the urinal includes a sensor to activate the display so as to display the material data, said sensor detecting the presence of a person at the said facility.

3. A urinal facility according to claim 2 wherein the sensor is a proximity switch which serves to sense the presence of a person at the urinal facility.

4. A urinal facility according to claim 2 wherein the sensor is a conductive sensor operated by the impact of urine on the same and used in conjunction with an a.c. detection circuit to prevent electrolysis by switching the anode and cathode conditions of the electrodes of the sensor at intervals of operation.

5. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the urinal facility includes a surface on which liquid is impacted, said facility including a system including a sensor adapted to be activated by the liquid impact and wherein the sensor is provided as part of a surface of said facility and connected to selectively activate the electric visual display and/or audio means to allow a change in condition of the same.

6. A urinal facility according to claim 5 wherein the sensor is mounted under the surface to react to pressure and which, upon detecting a change in pressure, causes a change in condition of the electric visual display.

7. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the facility is a wall mounted urinal.

8. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the facility comprises a plurality of urinal locations, each of said urinal locations including at least one sensor, said sensors connected to a common electric visual display or an electric visual display for each urinal location.

9. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the urinal facility includes a coin or token device for operation of the facility.

10. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the facility includes a memory means and processing means for analyzing and selectively saving results achieved by previous users of the facility on an up-dating basis and which can be retrieved for display.

11. A urinal facility according to claim 1 wherein the electric visual display is mounted above the surface on which the urine impacts and is electrically connected to a sensor to allow a change in condition of the display.