Abstract:
Seating structures having ( 1 ) an internal image projector for projecting images on the exterior surface of such seating structures and ( 2 ) an internal source of illumination with color changing capability, the effect of which is visible on the exterior surface of the seating structures are disclosed. The image projection technology is powered by a standard AC outlet and operated by remote control. The illumination technology is powered by either an AC outlet or battery and is operated by remote control. An internal or external DVD or other data source may be incorporated for image projection.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/973,905, filed Oct. 25, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. ______. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     Embodiments described herein are directed to seating structures that incorporate an internal image projection and an internal source of illumination.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     Many professionals such as, for example, event planners, exhibitors, hospitality professionals, and retail designers, employ furniture-rental as a key business activity. A lack of unique, high-quality designs available in the furniture-rental market causes industry professionals to reuse the same rental items, miss the opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competitors, and disappoint their clients by producing stale results. The embodiments described herein aim to compensate for the lack of outstanding, inventive, and unique furniture design currently available in the marketplace.  
       SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0006]     Embodiments described herein aim to compensate for the dearth of superior and distinctive furniture design currently available in the stream of commerce. The principle object of the present invention is to incorporate non-traditional visual stimuli into the design of seating structures such as, for example, chairs, sofas, and ottomans. Another object of this invention is to incorporate an internal source of projected images visible on the exterior surface of such seating structures (“VIEW”). An additional object of the present invention is to incorporate an internal source of illumination, with color changing capability, the effect of which is visible on the exterior surface of the seating structures (“GLOW”).  
         [0007]     The seating surfaces of the present invention feature internally housed projection or illumination technologies. For illustration purposes, the upholstered surface of the seating may include a rigid or flexible, semi-opaque material, to maximize the VIEW or GLOW effects.  
         [0008]     VIEW technologies may be powered by a standard AC outlet and be operated by remote control. The GLOW technologies may be powered by either an AC outlet or battery and be operated by remote control. An internal or external DVD or other data source may be incorporated into the invention to enable the VIEW technology.  
         [0009]     The housing of the projection source within the seating is engineered for maximum image throw and quality. The internal construction of the seat, along with the selection of materials for the seat-back, function in concert to achieve a high-quality projected image and to maintain comfortable sitting conditions. The housing of the internal light source, along with the interior construction of the seating and selection of materials for the seat cushion and seat-back, function in concert to achieve a high-impact lighting effect. A feature of the invention includes the application of mini-coolant fans mounted in the back or bottom panel of the seating, the purpose of which is to maintain a low temperature within the interior of the seating surface. The foregoing objects, features, and advantages, as well as others, will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description read with reference to the drawing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]     A detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawing.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seating structure having an internal image projector and an internal source of illumination, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The following paragraphs describe view and glow seating structures that incorporate an internal image projection and an internal source of illumination. The seating structures incorporate a moving or a static image via projection. In addition, the seating structures have an internal source of illumination that allows the exterior surface of the seating structures to glow. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a seating structure  100  is shown. The seating structure  100  is primarily used for sitting, lounging, and resting. The seating structure  100  may be a sofa, sofa bed, chair, ottoman, chaise longue, recliner, dining chair, cushion, pillow, or an inflatable for outdoor use, for example. The seating structure  100  may be air-pressured or vacuum-formed amorphous shapes. Furthermore, the seating structure  100  may have one or more seats.  
         [0013]     The seating structure  100  does not have to conform to a normative furniture function. The seating structure  100  can instead be a series of soft glowing spheres on a horizontal surface or multiple cubes, rectangles, or pillows, for example, arranged in a specific pattern, with a design intent, or with the intention of creating some form of lounge, seating, sleeping, or resting surface or surfaces that can be joined together.  
         [0014]     The seating structure  100  may be constructed of various materials but is not limited to a substructure or an internal structure. Internal structures may be constructed of different types of wood, plywood, high density wood, and fibrous wood of various types. The seating structure  100  may be constructed of steel, aluminum, brass, or copper, for example. The seating structure  100  may further be cast in various materials such as plastic, acrylic, or corrugated acrylics such as polygal, for example.  
         [0015]     The seating structure  100  consists of a light penetrable surface  110  that captures projection output or illumination. Examples of such light penetrable surfaces  110  that capture projection output include, but are not limited to, acrylic, plastic, and fabric. Examples of such light penetrable surfaces  110  that capture illumination include, but are not limited to, translucent foam, translucent rubber, and inflatables. Indeed, the light penetrable surface  110  may be any material through which images and light can pass. The light penetrable surface  110  of the seating structure  100  can be soft or hard. Moreover, the light penetrable surface  110  can be various types of rubber, neoprene, lexan, vinyl, polypropylene, polyurethane, or latex-all in various degrees of density. The light penetrable surface  110  of the seating structure  100  may further be created using injection molded plastics, cast acrylic, and fiber glass, which can be semi-translucent or transparent.  
         [0016]     The seating structure  100  need not be horizontal. Instead, it can have angles, be skewed, flat, concave, or convex. The same holds true for the seat-back, provided that the seating structure  100  has such a seat-back. The seating structure  100  can be comprised of many glowing pieces, such as for example, balls of light or cubes of light that may be soft or hard. The seating structure  100  may have pillows that are inflated or are filled with foam or other type of substrate or fibrous materials such as polyester. Pellets of foam, rubber pellets, and transparent or translucent tubes, all of which may glow, may be included in the seating structure  100 . Moreover, the light penetrable surface  110  of the seating structure  100  can be constructed with the use of fiber optic lights or a type of fabric that inherently glows.  
         [0017]     The light penetrable surface  110  of the seating structure  100  may have fabric attached to an inflatable, stretch fabric, such as for example, lycra, textured fabrics, foam with no fabric, fiber glass, or rubber of various types and densities, such as latex, a stretchable rubber. Semi-opaque foam or acrylic may be used as well.  
         [0018]     Inside the seating structure  100  is a chamber  120  that houses a projection mechanism  130 , such as but not limited to a single projector, multiple projectors, image sources such as mirrors or prisms, and various types of light instruments that are capable of throwing images and patterns. The projection mechanism  130  may be mounted with a bracket to allow for adjusting the resulting projection angle. Projection may occur in one area of the seating structure  100  or in various areas such as, for example, horizontal and vertical surfaces including, but not limited to, the seat, the seat-back, and inside pillows.  
         [0019]     A retractable cable  140  is used for plugging the seating structure  100  into an AC electrical outlet. The retractable cable  140  provides the added benefit of moving the seating structure  100  in various positions throughout a room while only displaying as much of the cord of the retractable cable  140  as necessary. In an alternative embodiment, the seating structure  100  may also be battery operated.  
         [0020]     The seating structure  100  has an internal mechanism that affects a glow using various types of light sources  150  such as but not limited to different types of fluorescent lights, different types of incandescent lights, white light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), colored LEDs, LEDs that have color changing capabilities through remote control, tube lights, xenon lights, phosphorous tubes of light through chemical reaction, fiber optics, strobe lights, image projectors, or moving light sources that cause the light objects to glow. Light stemming from within the seating structure  100 , through the seating structure  100 , or as inherently being a part of the fiber of the seating structure  100 , may change color via various types of manipulation such as different colored light bulbs, color changing light sources, color changing light bulbs, light gels, glass gobos, or transparencies, such as slides.  
         [0021]     A feature of the invention includes the application of one or more mini-coolant fans  170  mounted in the back or bottom panel of the seating structure  100 . The mini-coolant fans  170  maintain a low temperature within the interior of the seating structure  100  and generate the circulation of air. Ventilation  160  is provided to enable the air circulation from the mini-coolant fans  170 .  
         [0022]     The interior of the seating structure  100  incorporates a reflective surface  180  that captures images from the projection mechanism  130  and projects such images to a desired surface. The reflective surface  180  aids in magnification and correction of image sources such as mirrors, prisms, or other materials, including but not limited to clear acetate or reflective acetate. Internal or external cameras are used to record and playback real time movement with respect to the image projection.  
         [0023]     The seating structure  100  may further house an audio source incorporated within the glowing function. In addition, the seating structure  100  may have an external light source or be designed within channels to emit light onto the seating structure. An audio-video source may further be housed within the seating structure  100 . DVD players, laptop computers, or an Internet source of image projection may be included. Finally, the seating structure  100  may also have an external source for projection such as a DVD player. The seating structure  100  may operate with a remote control.  
         [0024]     While the above description refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover any such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0025]     The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.