Patent ID: 6975207
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: G06Q,G08B

Abstract:
1. A waiter calling apparatus to advise that a patron at a given table needs the waiter, comprising: a. a structure including a base having a lower surface, an upper surface and a base sidewall surrounding the upper surface of the base, and a hollow cover having a top surface and a sidewall configured in the same shape as the base, the cover removably attached to the base adjacent to and internally of the base sidewall to thereby form a hollow chamber bounded by the top surface of the base and the interior of the sidewall and interior of the top surface of the cover; b. a circuit board supported on said base within said hollow chamber, the circuit board including a push switch, a multiplicity of illumination means, and electrical connection means connected to a transmitting device also housed within said hollow chamber; c. at least one advertisement supported by said sidewall of said cover, the advertisement being illuminated by said illumination means when the illumination means is activated; d. a call button supported within said top surface of said cover and coming into contact with said push switch when the call button is depressed; e. when said call button is depressed, said circuit board is activated to concurrently cause said illumination means to become activated for a period of time and concurrently illuminates said advertisement and also concurrently said transmitter is activated to send a signal; f. a display panel having a multiplicity of table numbers with each table number illuminated by a respective illumination means when activated, the display panel also housing a receiver which receives a signal from said transmitter; and g. said transmitter and receiver electrically coupled so that when said transmitter sends a signal, it is accepted by the receiver which determines from which table the transmitter generated the signal and causes the corresponding table number to be illuminated on the display panel.