Abstract:
A portable kiosk configured to function as an architectural component of a exhibition and present a variable visual display to customer traffic while accommodating hands-on interaction with the customers during the exhibition and serve as a housing for the electronic components of the display during transport between successive exhibitions. The kiosk is constructed with an upright main body mounted upon casters, and a plurality of pivotally mounted internal, shock absorbing shelves configured to securely mount sensitive electronic and audio-visual equipment. A pair of oppositely mounted side frames are supported by the main body, and may be rotatably deployed during set-up to support the shelves and a mount for a variable visual display and a tray for other peripheral equipment such as a keyboard and mouse. During knock-down, the shelves are rotatable into the interior of the main frame while bearing their respective items of electronic and audio-visual equipment while the mount is rotatably dropped across the front of the main frame. Other members are removable without tools and stored in the interior of the main frame, while the side frames are then folded across the front of the main frame, and the entire assembly is wheeled into a shipping container substantially smaller in volume than the erected kiosk and acceptable by competing international courier carriers for overnight delivery at the site of the next trade show.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to display processes and devices generally, and more particularly, to portable kiosks generating a variable visible display while accepting and responding to inquiries from viewers. 
     2. Background Art 
     The convention and trade-show industry has grown substantially over the past three decades, with municipalities each constructing large exhibition halls and competing to host several conventions and shows every year. Generally, contemporary designs for convention and trade-show booths seek to present visual displays endowed with sufficient aesthetic quality to appear as exhibits able to attract substantial customer traffic during the course of the show. The architectural components of the booths and their visual displays require substantial time for unpacking, erection and electrical wiring prior to the scheduled opening of the show, with a similar requirement of time and labor for a knockdown of the visual display by disassembly, packing and crating at the end of the show, in preparation for an expedited shipment to the site of the next show. Concomitantly, contractual requirements with municipally owned and urban located exhibition halls and centers invariably require the use of various trade crafts, including locally hired carpenters, electricians, riggers and laborers, often at union wage scale, frequently with overtime and week-end wage differentials, to complete the erection of the display. With the knock-down at the end of each show, the shock sensitive electrical equipment, including audio-visual units, computers, monitors and keyboards, must be removed from the architectural components of the display and separately packed in specialized shipping containers. 
     Not infrequently, exhibitions and trade shows are scheduled on a circuit, with the closing of an exhibition in one city followed in one or two days, by the opening of a trade show in a different city that is not infrequently, located in a different area of the country. Traditionally, transportation of trade show exhibits is arranged either by contract or specialized haulers, typically using trailer trucks, a source of additional cost as well as delay in re-erection of the exhibit at the next trade show. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore, one object to the present invention to provide an improved interactive kiosk. 
     It is another object to provide a process and portable structure capable of generating a variable visual display during interaction with pedestrian traffic within the vicinity of the structure. 
     It is still another object to provide a portable kiosk able to serve as a shipping container for delicate electronic equipment. 
     It is yet another object to provide a transportable kiosk suitable to house electronic equipment during exhibitions in a manner enabling persons attending the exhibitions to interact with the kiosk, while protecting that electronic equipment from damage during transport between exhibitions. 
     It is still yet another object to provide a portable kiosk amenable to on-site erection, and subsequent knock-down, by a single individual, with a minimum of effort. 
     It is further object to provide a self-contained portable kiosk demonstrating a substantially greater volume when in its erected state, than while in its folded state. 
     It is a still further object to provide a portable kiosk that, when collapsed, will be accepted as ordinary overnight freight by international cargo carriers and couriers, for overnight and next-day delivery. 
     It is a yet further object to provide a portable and foldable electronically interactive kiosk that when in its knocked-down, collapsed state, is able to contain all component parts used by the kiosk during its erected, unfolded state. 
     It is still a yet further object to provide a portable electronically interactive kiosk able to securely mount a wide range of different sizes of electronic equipment using corner brackets with each of the brackets able to provide three-fasterner attachment to a rotatable shelf for over ninety percent of the different sizes. 
     It is also an object to provide a portable, electronically interactive kiosk sheathed with exterior, double-sided panels. 
     These and other objects may be achieved with an electronically interactive kiosk having an upright main body mounted upon casters, and a plurality of pivotally mounted internal, shock absorbing shelves configured to securely mount sensitive electronic and audio-visual equipment. A pair of oppositely mounted side frames are supported by the main body, and may be rotatably deployed during set-up to support the shelves and a mount for a variable visual display and a tray for other peripheral equipment such as a keyboard and mouse. During knock-down, the shelves are rotatable into the interior of the main frame while bearing their respective items of electronic and audio-visual equipment when the mount is rotatably dropped across the front of the main frame. Other members are removable without tools and stored in the interior of the main frame, while the side frames are then folded across the front of the main frame, and the entire assembly is wheeled into a shipping container substantially smaller in volume than the erected kiosk and acceptable by competing international courier carriers for overnight delivery at the site of the next trade show. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment constructed according to the principles of the present invention, in an installed configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1, in a folded configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shipping container suitable for transporting the embodiment of FIG. 1, while in the folded configuration shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a left elevational view of the structural frame for the super structure; 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the structural frame of the super structure; 
     FIG. 6 is a right elevational view showing the location of a plurality of shelves within the assembled super structure; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing the structural orientation of visual display screen; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view showing structural details of the mount for the display screen; 
     FIG. 9 is a profile view of the mount showing in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a profile view of a front panel; 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the front panel; 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the front panel; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of an access door; 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of an access door; 
     FIG. 15A is a left elevational view showing structural details of the superstructure of one embodiment; 
     FIG. 15B is a left elevational view of an alternative embodiment showing partial deployment of front panels and a display panel; 
     FIG. 15C is a left elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 15B, showing deployment of front panels, an upper shelf and a display panel; 
     FIG. 15D is a left elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 15B, showing deployment of front panels, a lower shelf and a display panel; 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevational view showing structural details of the superstructure; 
     FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of the front panel; 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of the base plates; 
     FIG. 19 is a side, cross-sectional view of the back panel and base plate; 
     FIG. 20 is an elevational view of the back panel; 
     FIG. 21 is a side of view of an upper shelf; 
     FIG. 22 is a top view of the upper shelf of FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 23 is a detailed view of a latch used in FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 24 is a side view of a lower shelf; 
     FIG. 25 is a rear view of the lower shelf; 
     FIG. 26 is a top view of the lower shelf; 
     FIG. 27 is an under-side view of a keyboard shelf; 
     FIG. 28 is an end view of a keyboard shelf; 
     FIG. 29 is a front view of a keyboard shelf; 
     FIG. 30 is a top view of a keyboard shelf; 
     FIG. 31 is a front view of a bezel covering a visual display; 
     FIG. 32 is a partial side view showing orientations of a top shelf and the bezel cover; 
     FIG. 33 is a detailed view of the bezel cover; 
     FIG. 34 is a detailed view of a structural fastener; 
     FIG. 35 is a detailed view of a structural fastener; 
     FIGS. 36 and 37 are detailed views showing key holes in the super structure; 
     FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a corner bracket; 
     FIG. 39 is a top view of the corner bracket showing in FIG. 38; 
     FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of another corner bracket; 
     FIG. 41 is a top view of the corner bracket shown in FIG. 40; 
     FIG. 42 is a side elevational view showing one set of operational positions during set-up; 
     FIG. 43 is a side elevational view showing a second set of operational positions; 
     FIG. 44 is a side elevational view showing a third set of operational positions; 
     FIGS. 45 and 46 are cross-sectional views showing details of the material used for the super structure; 
     FIG. 47 is a top view of a footman&#39;s loop; 
     FIG. 48 is a side view of the device showing in FIG.  47 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an upright kiosk  10  in its deployed state, with a keyboard shelf  30  supported by a front panel  60 , to extend substantially horizontally outwardly and support a keyboard, mouse and other peripheral equipment that may be mounted upon shelf  30 . An obliquely oriented screen mount  50  positions a visual screen  40  such as a thin film touch screen, able to provide customer traffic with a varying visual display. 
     FIG. 2 shows kiosk  10  in a folded, or knocked-down state, with upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90  (not visible in FIG.  1 ), together with the electronic and audio-visual equipment (e.g., a computer and an image projector) securely mounted upon these shelves, rotated vertically upwardly into the interior of main frame  12 . Visual screen  40  and its mount after removal and storage of the side panels sheathing within the interior of main frame  12 , and after having been rotated downwardly across the front of main frame  12  to place keyboard shelf  30  in substantial vertical alignment with mount  50  across the front of main frame  12 . Left and right side frames  100 ,  110  are rotated to lie vertically across the front of main frame  12  and screen mount  50 . When folded in the manner shown, the entire kiosk  10 , together with all of the electronic equipment (e.g., a microprocessor based computer equipped with a hard disk, and a visual image projector) mounted upon shelves  80 ,  90 , as well as visual screen  40  (which may be a touch sensitive screen in particular applications) together with a computer keyboard mounted within shelf  30 , may be placed with the interior of a standard, rigid body shipping container  20 . This size of package is then immediately acceptable by both FedEx Corporation and UPS Corporation, for overnight delivery anywhere within the contiguous United States, and alternatively, readily acceptable for shipment by commercial airlines as excess baggage. 
     FIG. 4 shows left side frame  100  pivotally mounted upon the left side of main frame  12 , while  9  in a deployed position planarly aligned with the left side  14  of main frame  12 . FIG. 5 shows the left and right side frames folded across the front of main frame  12 , either prior to deployment during set up, or after knock-down and before insertion into shipping container  20 . FIG. 6 shows upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90  pivoted into their respective vertical knock-down positions within main frame  12 . Arcs A, B of shelves  80 ,  90  are shown relative to side frame  110  while side frame  110  is in its unfolded position after being rotatably deployed outwardly from main frame  12 . Upper equipment shelf  80  is pivotally connected to a side cross member  84  of main frame  12  with a pinion  82 ; as shown in greater detail by FIG. 43, the distal end of shelve  80  follows arc A during deployment. Lower equipment shelf  90  is rotatably connected to a rear cross member  94  of main frame  12  as by a continuous, or panio hinge  92  in order to evenly distribute its load across the width of cross member  94 . Referring briefly to FIG. 44 in conjunction with FIG. 6, the distal end of lower shelf  90  traces arc B during deployment from its vertical to its horizontal position during set-up. Leveling feet  18  mounted in the lowermost structural members of main frame  12  and side frames  14 ,  16 , may be adjusted to obtain perpendicular vertical alignment between the upright kiosk  10  and the floor. 
     FIG. 7 shows keyboard shelf  30  in each of three positions: its vertical position while stored within main frame  12 , its raised position while substantially planarly aligned with the surface of mount  50  while both mount  50  and shelf  30  are raised to accommodate deployment of upper shelf  80 , as is shown in greater detail in FIG. 43, and in its normally deployed position while horizontally braced and thereby supported by the front vertical member of side frame  100 . In the last position, shelf  30  is able to position a keyboard for comfortable use by passing visitors to the kiosk. Shelf  30  is rotatably attached to the lowermost horizontal distal edge of mount  50  as with a continuous hinge  32 . The uppermost horizontal surface of mount  50  is rotatably attached with an offset continuous hinge  52  to a horizontal cross member  54 , as is shown in greater detail in FIG.  32 . In FIG. 7, both upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90  are shown in their stored, vertical positions within the interior of main frame  12 . Referring again to FIGS. 42 and 43, a gas cylinder shock absorber  86  connects upper shelf  80  to the rear vertical upright member  24  to cushion movement during storage, as well as its downward rotation deployment; a gas cylinder shock absorber  96  connects lower shelf  90  to member  24 . Shock absorbers  86 ,  96  slow, and thereby ease the descent of shelves  80 ,  90  from their stowed vertical (n. b., while in their respective stowed positions, shelves  80 ,  90  are vertical when kiosk  10  is in an upright position) positions to their horizontal deployed positions. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show mount  50  holding a thin film touch capacitive touch screen  40 . As presented to the passing visitor traffic, mount  50  orients screen  40  upwardly, at an angle easily seen by an adult human being. Digital manipulation of either touch screen  40 , or a keyboard mounted upon shelf  30 , enables a visitor to readily electronically interact with, for example, a personal computer and its stored audio-visual program, mounted upon either upper or lower shelves  80 ,  90 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 show details of a front frame  70  joining left and right side frames  100 ,  110  of main frame  12 , while accommodating rotational deployment of the distal ends of the upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90 . FIGS. 12,  13  and  14  illustrate the details of an access door  60  in the front frame  70  of main frame  12  that accommodates storage of bezel  120  covering the periphery of touch screen  40  during shipment after knock-down of the kiosk. 
     FIG. 15A shows a left side elevational view with left side frame  100  in its open position forming a single planar surface with left side  14 , while both upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90  remain in their vertical stowed positions. 
     FIG. 15B shows a left side elevational view of an alternative embodiment constructed with a pair of recessed casters  19  at the lower, rear corners of the junctions between the left and right side frames  14 ,  16  and the rear panel  130  (shown in greater detail in FIG.  20 ). This embodiment is fitted with upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90  of similar configuration, having substantially equal lengths and widths, rotatably mounted upon shock absorbing pivots  82 ′,  92 ′ attached to structural members  84 ,  94  respectively, of side frames  14 ,  16 , to pivot between stowed and deployed positions. Shelves  80 ,  90  are shown as pivoted vertically upwardly while left side frame  100  is in an open position to form a single planar surface with left side  14 . Screen mount  50  is shown as rotated from its vertical stored position at one extreme to an upward, temporally intermediate position at a second extreme, and then to a spatial intermediate deployed position where the opposite side edges of screen mount  50  are supported by the oblique transverse members  102  forming the upper extremities of left and right side frames  100 ,  110 . 
     As shown in FIG. 15C, upper shelf  80  is shown in both of its operational extremes, vertically in its stowed (or knocked-down) position used during shipment of the kiosk, and horizontally in its deployed position, while FIG. 15D shows lower shelf  90  in both of its operational extremes, vertically in its stowed position, and horizontally in its deployed position. Shelves  80 ,  90  remain in their respective deployed positions during the use and display of the kiosk. As shown in FIGS. 42 and 43, gas cylinder shock absorber  86  connects upper shelf  80  to the rear vertical upright member  24  to cushion movement during storage, as well as its downward rotation deployment; gas cylinder shock absorber  96  connects lower shelf  90  to member  94 . Shock absorbers  86 ,  96  slow, and thereby ease the descent of shelves  80 ,  90  from their stowed vertical (n.b., while in their respective stowed positions, shelves  80 ,  90  are vertical when kiosk  10  is in an upright position) positions to their horizontal deployed positions. 
     Front frame  70 , show in detail in FIGS. 10 through 12,  16  and  17 , and panel  170 , shown in detail in FIGS. 19 and 20, are configured with screw patterns to be attached to the structural members forming main frame  12 . An upper door  132 , depending upon its location relative to upper and lower shelves  80 ,  90 , will when opened, enable a visual projector, such as a movie or carousel projector attached to one of shelves  80 ,  90  to project a series of varying visual images upon to a wall, or movie screen. Preferably, the projector is automatically controlled by a microprocessor based computer secured to the other shelf, ideally in response to interaction between visitors manipulating the touch screen  40  or the keyboard mounted within shelf  30 . 
     Both upper shelf  80 , shown in detail in FIGS. 21 and 22, and the lower shelf  90 , shown in detail in FIGS. 24,  25  and  26 , have floor pans that are perforated by a plurality of uniformly spaced apart holes  140  arranged in an ordered array of alternating offset rows E, F of offset holes. In one embodiment, each hole was approximately 0.1875 inches in diameter. Holes  140  along each row were positioned 0.375 inches apart, center-to-center, with a 0.375 inch center-to-center spacing between holes  140  in neighboring E and F rows. In this manner, with a particular embodiment, the center of any hole  140  was equally distantly spaced apart (e.g., by 0.375 inches) from six surrounding neighboring holes  140 , regardless of whether the neighboring holes was in the same row or along a diagonal in the next adjacent row. A pattern of vent strips  142  is centrally positioned within the floor  8  pans surrounded by interlaced rows E, F. A plurality of spaced-apart vent strips  142  perforate the floor pans of shelves  80 ,  90 , to enable thermal convection via vent strips  142  to cool electronic equipment mounted on the shelves. Shelves  80 ,  90  were constructed with 0.125 inch thick flanges. 
     Small and large triangularly shaped corner brackets  150 ,  160 , shown respectively in FIGS. 38 and 39, and in FIGS. 40 and 41, have flanges  156 ,  166  along their two orthogonal sides bordering webs  152 ,  162  perforated by a cooperating plurality of holes  154 ,  164  spaced apart so that when placed at each of four corners of the housing of an item of electronic equipment, three bolts will pass through holes  86 ,  96  in the floor pans as well as holes  154 ,  164  in all four corner brackets used in over 98.7% of the different sizes of electronic equipment housings. In one embodiment, ten holes  154  each of approximately equal 0.1875 inch diameter, are equidistantly stepped apart by 0.188 inches in six parallel columns M 1  through M 6 , and by 0.188 inches in six parallel rows N 1  through N 6  arranged orthogonally to the six columns. Columns M 1 , M 2 , and M 4 , and rows N 1 , N 2  and N 4  contain only one hole  140  each; while columns M 3  and M 5 , and rows N 3  and N 5  have two holes  140  each. Column M 6  and row N 6  each contain three holes  140 . The same embodiment may have large corner brackets  160  configured with eight parallel columns M 1  through M 8  arranged orthogonally to eight parallel rows N 1  through N 8 , with columns M 1 -M 4 , M 6 -M 8  and row N 1 -N 3  and N 6 -N 8  equally distantly spaced apart by 0.188 inches each as measured along their respective columns or rows, and with columns M 4 -M 5 , and rows N 3 -N 6  each spaced apart by 0.375 inches. Columns M 5 -M 6  are spaced apart by 0.563 inches each. Consequently, four of either the small corner brackets  150 , or four of the large corner brackets  160  may each be fastened to a floor pan of shelves  80 ,  90  by fasteners passing through three holes per corner bracket for any size of rectangular electronic  8  housing to be secured to the floor pan. 
     Various vertical structural members of the main and side frames may be constructed of the extruded aluminum shapes  130 ,  132  shown in FIGS. 45,  46 , with exterior kerfs  134  oppositely oriented inwardly in pairs to hold a removable panel to sheath the several exposed sides of kiosk  10  during an exhibition. The right and left side frames,  100 ,  110 , the left side  14  and the right side  16  of the main frame, and the front panel are each trimmed along their vertical and lower horizontal edges with kerfs; consequently one kiosk may hold five panels. The two pairs of side frames  14 ,  100  and  16 ,  110  may either hold individual panels decorated as one continuous scene, or alternatively, configured to each hold one larger decorated panel. These panels may be double sided, and be reversed for different shows or, alternatively, removed and replaced entirely, as desired. Typically, these panels are printed, embossed, painted or otherwise decorated with advertising material. Kerfs  134  enable these panels to be quickly, manually either removed, reversed and re-installed, or alternatively, removed and replaced with other panels. 
     Pairs of footman loops  160  shown in FIGS. 47,  48 , may be attached with, for example, threaded fasteners, to the horizontal floor pans of the perforated upper and lower equipment shelves  80 ,  90 , to accommodate straps that further secure the housing of electronic equipment tightly to those shelves. Latches  200 , each having a reciprocating bolt  202  biased by a spring  206 , may be bolted to the undersides of shelves  80 ,  90  via fasteners extending through holes  210  perforating flanges  208 , in order to hold shelves  80 ,  90  in their stowed and in their deployed positions. A thumb button  204  may be manually depressed to release bolt  202  to engage corresponding brackets mounted on structural members  86 ,  96  during knock-down, or erection of the kiosk.