Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Illuminated sign – Lamp box
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2002-08-06
Graham, Matthew C. (Department: 3613)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Illuminated sign
Lamp box
C362S812000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06427369
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to display apparatus and more particularly to kiosks for displaying sheets bearing advertising copy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One common type of advertising display apparatus is the “kiosk.” A kiosk basically comprises a self supporting structure, such as a frame, pedestal or hollow housing arranged to be mounted on some surface, e.g., the floor. The support structure serves to hold a panel in which or on which one or more sheets of advertising copy, e.g., a photograph or other graphics and/or text, may be mounted for viewing by persons passing by the kiosk.
In U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,608,773 (White) there is disclosed a kiosk display unit in the form of a pedestal consisting of plural, e.g., three, identical sheet metal panels which are secured together, to form a structure closed upon itself, by interengaging hook tabs and tab-receiving openings in flanges along edges of the panels. The kiosk is not illuminated and is particularly suitable for indoor applications where it can be readily assembled and disassembled.
In U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,959,763 (Baggott) there is disclosed a display frame which can be assembled to form a kiosk display unit. The kiosk includes posts having lengthwise slots into which the edges of sheets of advertising material can be placed to support the advertising material sheets on panels for viewing. A light fixture may be included on the kiosk to illuminate the advertising materials from above. The display unit of this patent, like the White patent appears particularly suitable for indoor applications.
In U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,453,327 (Clarke) there is disclosed an advertising display kiosk which is particularly suitable for outdoor applications. That kiosk includes an upright cylindrical housing having an open upper end. A roof is mounted on the top of the cylinder. Plural, e.g., 12, display panels are mounted about the periphery of the cylinder under the roof. Each display panel is arranged to support a respective advertising poster. The posters are transparent or translucent. The open upper end of the cylinder is covered by a transparent dome to enable sunlight to enter into the cylinder to be reflected outward through the posters to illuminate them.
Various ornamental designs for advertising kiosks exist in the following U.S. Design Pat. No.: D274,629 (Plumettaz); U.S. Pat. No. D296,221 (Kissler); U.S. Pat. No. 0,289,062 (Paulmier); U.S. Pat No. D314,014 (Decaux); U.S. Pat. No. D330,392 (Vazeille et al.); U.S. Pat. No. D331,077 (Foster); U.S. Pat. No. D357,943 (Szekely); U.S. Pat. No. D362,024 (Summa); and U.S. Pat. No. D377,197 (McKoy, Sr.).
The prior art advertising kiosks leave much to be desired from various standpoints, such as ability to protect the advertising copy from the elements, ability to enable the ready changing of the advertising copy, even illumination of the advertising copy, ready visibility of the advertising copy, convenience of servicing the kiosk, and general aesthetics, e.g., the kiosk providing a clean, uncluttered, unblemished and non-distracting appearance for the advertising copy held thereby.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an advertising kiosk which addresses the needs of the prior art.
It is another object of this invention to provide a kiosk which is particularly suitable for location outdoors to display advertising copy while protecting it from the elements.
It is another object of this invention to provide a rugged, fully enclosed internally illuminated kiosk.
It is another object of this invention to provide a kiosk which holds sheets of advertising copy in a manner to enable the copy to be replaced easily and quickly from within the kiosk by a worker.
It is another object of this invention to provide a kiosk which holds sheets of advertising copy to illuminate them from the interior of the kiosk, so that light passes evenly through it, thereby creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
It is another object of this invention to provide a kiosk which holds sheets of advertising copy illuminated from the interior of the kiosk by lamps therein, and which lamps are mounted in a manner so that they can be readily serviced by a worker within the kiosk.
It is another object of this invention to provide an internally illuminated kiosk having a convection air-flow system through the kiosk so that there is no fogging of the advertising copy by moisture intrusion.
It is another object of this invention to provide an advertising kiosk whose exterior surface is smooth and uncluttered.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an advertising kiosk having a stainless steel outer surface to render it weather resistant, yet which surface is smooth, unblemished and uncluttered, thereby resulting in an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an advertising kiosk having a stainless steel outer surface which can be readily attached to the kiosk without any exteriorly visible attachment devices, such as bolts, nuts, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of this invention a kiosk is provided for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy, the sheet of advertising copy being formed of a translucent material and bearing graphics and/or text thereon, e.g., a photograph of a professional athlete with or without text. The kiosk is arranged to be mounted on any suitable horizontal support surface, e.g, the pavement outdoors, and comprises a hollow shell having at least one window located therein, a source of illumination located within the shell and adjacent the window, and a flexible light diffuser sheet. The window is covered by a transparent, e.g,. LEXAN®, outer panel secured to the shell. The outer panel has an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be mounted.
The flexible diffuser sheet is hingedly connected to the shell and is disposed at the window behind the outer panel. The diffuser is adapted to flex into engagement with the sheet of advertising copy, whereupon the sheet of advertising copy is held tightly and evenly against the inner surface of the outer panel by the diffuser.
The source of illumination provides light through the diffuser, the advertising copy sheet and the outer panel, to illuminate the advertising copy for visibility by persons outside of the kiosk. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the diffuser is a white translucent sheet to diffuse the light passing through it, to evenly illuminate the advertising copy, whereupon the advertising copy appears to glow.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention a kiosk is provided for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy. The sheet of advertising copy is formed of a translucent material and bears graphics and/or text thereon. The kiosk is arranged to be mounted on a support surface, e.g., the pavement outdoors, and comprises a hollow shell having at least one window located therein, a source of illumination located within the shell and adjacent the window. The window is covered by a transparent outer panel secured to the shell. The outer panel has an inner surface behind which the sheet of advertising copy is arranged to be disposed
The source of illumination comprises plural elongated lamps, e.g., high intensity fluorescent lamps, mounted on a support frame within the shell so that they are disposed vertically at equidistantly spaced locations behind the window and on a substantially concentric radius therewith to effect the even illumination of the advertising copy sheet for visibility by persons outside of the kiosk.
In accordance with still another aspect of this invention a kiosk is provided for supporting at least one sheet of advertising copy. The sheet of advertising copy is formed of a translucent material and bears graphics and/or text thereon. The kiosk is arranged to be mounted on a support surface, e.g., the pavement outdoors, and comprises a sealed housing including a hollow shell adapt
Durinzi, Jr. Dominic J.
Goepel Robert
Rzeznik Jozef
Caesar Rivise Bernstein Cohen & Pokotilow Ltd.
Graham Matthew C.
Kramer Devon
Silver Cat, LLC
LandOfFree
Advertising kiosk does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Advertising kiosk, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Advertising kiosk will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2939915