Abstract:
A faucet system including: a first set of faucet components including at least a water regulating device and a water dispensing device, wherein the water regulating device and the water dispensing device include advertising indicia of a first theme; a second set of faucet components including at least a water regulating device and a water dispensing device, wherein the water regulating device and the water wherein the first and second set of faucet components are configured to be interchangeably connected to a base.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority based upon previously file U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/040,484, filed on Mar. 29, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a faucet system and related method of advertising. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Faucets used to regulate and dispense water are typically mounted to a sanitary structure such as a sink, washbasin, bathtub, or the like. Faucet systems general include dispensing components that direct the flow of the water and regulating components that control the flow rate and temperature of the water being dispensed. The dispensing components and regulating components can be separately mounted to the sanitary structure or they can be integrally mounted to the sanitary structure as a single unit. 
         [0004]    Most of the prior developments in faucet systems relates to improving the overall reliability and water dispensing and regulating capabilities of such systems. Advancements have also been made relating to the installation and maintenance of such systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present disclosure provides a faucet system that is configured for advertising/promotional purposes. A related method of advertising using faucets is also provided. In some embodiments the faucet system of the present disclosure share features of quick connect faucet systems. One quick connect faucet system is described in US 20006/0185076 entitled, Faucet Assembly with Integral Water Supply Shut-Off Valve, filed on Feb. 23, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another quick connect faucet systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,059 entitled, Top Mounted Faucet Assembly, fled on Mar. 22, 2000, which is also herein incorporate by reference in its entirety. 
         [0006]    The faucet systems and methods of the present disclosure are particularly well suited for use in restrooms in commercial buildings such as hotels, sport stadiums, convention centers, restaurants, etc. In one specific embodiment, the method of advertising includes providing faucet components for a hotel where the shape of the faucet components fall within a theme (e.g., baseball, NASCAR, etc.) and wherein the components can be switched out depending on who is scheduled to stay in the room (e.g., a professional baseball team, race fans, etc.). Many other alternative embodiments are also provided which are described in detail below. 
         [0007]    The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing the claimed function. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  show a faucet system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein some of the faucet components embody advertising indicia. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2-7  further illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Traditional mediums of advertisements have been billboards, newspapers, and television. There have been developments in these traditional advertisement mediums. For example, billboard now often convert to show more than one image or even include video. However, recently new mediums and associated methods for advertisement have also been developed. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,404,159 to McAbee, which discloses a method of advertising on the windshield of a motor vehicle, U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,155 to Garberg et al., which discloses a method of advertising on a shopping cart, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,210 to Mams, which disclosure relates to yet another new medium and associated method of advertising involving faucet components. 
         [0011]    Faucets have been traditionally understood as being functional items that may have some decorative qualities. The concept described herein of using faucet components for advertising challenges this generally accepted paradigm. 
         [0012]    Faucets embody some of the most important characteristics of a good medium for advertising. The functional aspect of a faucet (water delivery) draws people to the faucet and holds them captive for periods of time that are typically long enough for the people using the faucet to recognize the advertisement thereon. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure the faucets in public or a commercial bathroom can be used as advertisement space. For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure a restaurant could receive advertising revenue from a company that has its logo, mascot, or other indicia represented on the faucets in the bathroom of the restaurant. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the faucets can be used generally for promotion as well. For example, the bathrooms in a baseball stadium can include faucets that have the mascot, logos, gear relating to baseball, or even indicia relating to the particular teams that are playing in the stadium on a particular night. In some embodiment, a stadium may include a number of different theme faucets that can be switched out depending on the event that is being hosted. For example, if the stadium is reconfigured to host a monster truck show, the faucets therein can be switched out to be representative of monster trucks or truck accessories (i.e., trucks, wheels, steering wheels, etc.). If the same stadium is used to host a football game, the faucets can be replaced with indicia representative of football generally or the specific football team (helmets, mascots, footballs, etc.). It should be appreciated that in many embodiments the faucets can be use for promotion as well as advertisement. For the purpose of the present disclosure the terms and concepts are used interchangeably herein. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, faucet configurations are intended to remain constant for an extended period of time. However, in many other contexts, the faucet configurations are intended to be changed often. Some of such embodiments are described above. In such contexts the faucets can be configured to mate with a quick connect base that allows the faucet components to be changed without accessing the under side of the sink or other sanitary structure. For a description of a quick connect base see U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,059 which has been incorporated by reference herein. In some embodiments, the faucet components can be attached to the faucet base without manually shutting off the water. For a description of a base with an integral shut off valve see US 20006/0185076, which has also been incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0016]    An example of an embodiment where it is desirable to change the faucet configuration often can be, for example, the faucets at a convention center. If the convention center is hosting a car show the faucets can include indicia relating to motor vehicles (miniature cars, car parts, manufacturer&#39;s logos, etc.). If the convention center is hosting a computer convention, the faucets can be changed to embody the corporate logos and devices of the computer manufacturers. Likewise, if the convention center is hosting a convention relating to television programs or media, the faucets may be representative of characters in the television or movie. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The system of the depicted embodiment includes a quick connect base  10 . The base is configured to mate with a number of different faucet configurations. A faucet configuration  12  includes a display  40 . In one embodiment, the display  40  is a small video screen that can be used to display digital images or video. The video content could in some embodiments be preloaded and in other embodiments be transmitted to the display  40  in real time. In another embodiment the display  40  could be a fixed image or a holographic image. In addition, three specific embodiments of faucets  14 ,  22 ,  32 , components without advertising indicia are also shown to illustrate that a faucet with advertisement and promotional indicia can be integrated with standard faucets as well. 
         [0018]    One embodiment of a faucet  36  with unique artistic qualities absent advertising indicia is also shown to illustrate that the system of the present disclosure can be used with non-standard faucets that are not necessarily designed for advertisement. The faucet  36  may be used in context where new and changing faucet components are desirable for other reasons other than for traditionally advertisement purposes. For example, artistic faucets like faucet  36  may be desirable in an art museum where the faucets can be changed to complement the displayed exhibits. 
         [0019]    Embodiments of faucets  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  34  that included indicia representative of television or movie characters are also shown. In the faucet configuration referenced by numbers  16 ,  18 , and  20  represent a set of faucet components that are configured to work together. Faucet component  16  controls the flow of hot water, faucet component  20  controls the flow of cold water, and faucet component  18  dispenses the water. The depicted embodiments can, for example, be particularly desirable at a child care facility, a retail store selling Disney related merchandise, or a theater featuring a Disney movie. As illustrated above, the same faucets used in different context can have different effects. The method of advertising described herein is intended to encompass a method of general promotion. It should also be appreciated that the system and apparatus provided herein are intended to be directed at the devices notwithstanding the context or purpose for which the faucets are used. 
         [0020]    Sports related faucet embodiments  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are also illustrated. The embodiment of the set of faucet components  24 ,  26 ,  28  are intended to work together. Faucet components  24 ,  28  regulate flow and temperature and faucet component  26  directs the flow. In the depicted embodiment the theme is broadly sports, more narrowly baseball, and even more narrowly baseball equipment. It should be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the theme could also be team specific, for example, it could represent the mascot and colors of the team or even a representation of key players on the team. In should be appreciated that many other alternative embodiments are also possible. For example, an alternative embodiment may embody a golf theme where the faucet is in the shape of a driver and the regulating component(s) are in the shape of putters or other golf related equipment. 
         [0021]    The faucet  30  illustrates yet another embodiment that is sports related. The depicted embodiment can be desirable, for example, in a restroom at the race track or hotel in the areas that are hosting the race. In one embodiment of the present disclosure the faucet systems are use in a hotel. The hotel collects information regarding the expected guests and customizes the faucets in the room based on the collected information of the guest&#39;s characteristics. For example, the hotel may determine that players from a particular professional basket ball team will be staying in particular rooms of the hotel. The hotel can customize the faucets component in those rooms to include basketball related indicia. In some embodiment, the indicia can include team specific indicia (e.g., team colors, team numbers, or team mascots). The hotels could alternatively identify that it will be hosting a group of doctors who are in town for an annual convention. The hotel could sell the advertisement space of its faucets to medical device or pharmaceutical companies who want their advertisements to be displayed on the faucets in the hotel rooms. 
         [0022]    It should be appreciated that similar custom promotion and advertisement can be applied in many other contexts outside of the hotel context. In some embodiments the faucets can include an audio context as well. For example, the faucet could be configured to provide a message to the faucet users such as instruction to a child to brush his or her teeth. The audio content could be an advertisement/promotional in nature. For example, the faucets in a casino may announce wins at certain slot machines in real time. In should also be appreciated that some embodiments may include more than one theme in a single set of faucet components (e.g., baseball regulator components with a coca cola bottle shaped dispenser). 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-7  additional views and alternative embodiments are illustrated.  FIG. 2  shows an embodiment where the faucets embody indicia relating to beer.  FIG. 3  shows an embodiment where the faucets embody indicia relating to a particular type of soft drink.  FIGS. 4-5  show embodiments including indicia relating to golf equipment (irons/woods) as well as corporate logos. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 6 and 7  further illustrate an embodiment include indicia relating to a race car. It should be appreciated that many other embodiment are also possible. 
         [0025]    The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above in the Drawings and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.