Patent Publication Number: US-7896307-B2

Title: Method of and system for stanchion-based advertising

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority from, and incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/605,459, filed on Aug. 30, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to advertising associated with stanchions used for crowd control. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a cover adapted to be placed over a stanchion base and containing advertising or other indicia. 
     2. History of Related Art 
     In an increasingly-busy society, it has become more and more necessary for public places such as banks, airports, stores, and movie theaters to control a flow of people in order to maintain an orderly environment. For example, in banks there are often a large number of customers awaiting service, making it necessary to maintain a single line or series of lines of customers so as to permit servicing of the customers in an orderly fashion, as well as in the appropriate order. Similar situations include travelers at airports waiting to see an airline representative. However, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to maintain an orderly line of people without using physical barriers to maintain the people in a desired line or lines. 
     Stanchions are typically used at public places such as banks, airports, stores, and movie theaters to control a flow of people in order to maintain an orderly environment. Organizations around the world have tried to advertise to customers waiting in confined spaces. Advertisements may include signage that may incorporate information relating to addresses, party identification, directions, product information, etc. Advertising in such areas has been traditionally limited to printing on belts stretched between the stanchions. The belts on which the advertisements are printed are often expensive to print and difficult to replace. Therefore, there is a need for an improved means for advertising on stanchions that is easy, efficient, and affordable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system comprising a stanchion, the stanchion including a pole and a base supporting the pole. A cover adapted to display visible indicia, the cover defining an opening and a discontinuity extending from an exterior boundary of the cover to an interior boundary of the cover, the interior boundary bounding the opening. The discontinuity permits the pole to be positioned within the opening. 
     A method of advertising includes displaying visible indicia on a cover adapted to be positioned on top of a base of a stanchion. The cover defines an opening and a discontinuity extending from an exterior boundary of the cover to an interior boundary of the cover, the interior boundary bounding the opening and wherein the discontinuity permits a pole of the stanchion to be placed within the opening. 
     A cover adapted to be placed over a base of a stanchion, the cover including an exterior boundary, an interior boundary, and a first edge and a second edge together defining a discontinuity extending from the exterior boundary of the cover to the interior boundary of the cover, the interior boundary bounding an opening. The discontinuity permits a pole of the stanchion to be positioned within the opening and wherein the cover is adapted to display visible indicia. 
     A system comprising a stanchion, the stanchion including a pole and a base supporting the pole, a cover adapted to display visible indicia, the cover defining an opening, a first discontinuity, and a second discontinuity. The first discontinuity and second discontinuity extend from an exterior boundary of the cover to an interior boundary of the cover, the interior boundary bounding the opening and wherein the first discontinuity and the second discontinuity permit the pole to be positioned within the opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments of the Invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a stanchion having a circular base; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of a flexible cover; 
         FIG. 2B  is a top view of a cover according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 2C  is a top view of the cover of  FIG. 2B  illustrating a first and a second portion thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the stanchion and the flexible cover; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view in which the flexible cover is placed over a base of the stanchion; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a stanchion having a cone shaped base; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of a flexible cover according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 6B  a top view of the flexible cover according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 6C  is side view in which the flexible cover is placed over a base of the stanchion; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view in which the flexible cover is placed over a cone shaped base of the stanchion; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a stanchion having a square base; 
         FIG. 9  is a view of a stanchion having a rectangular base; and 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a flexible cover having a square shape. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiment(s) of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying Drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment(s) set forth herein. The invention should only be considered limited by the claims as they now exist and the equivalents thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a stanchion  100  is illustrated. The stanchion  100  includes a supporting pole  102 , a headpiece  104 , and a horizontal base  108 . The headpiece  104  illustrated is a generally cylindrical fixture that can be mounted on or integrally formed with the stanchion  100 . Those having skill in the art will recognize that the particular shape or design of the base  108 , the supporting pole  102 , and the headpiece  104  are not critical to the present invention. 
     The headpiece  104  can be formed of any suitable material having the required structural and dimensional stability. The headpiece  104  is typically formed of a metal such as, for example, brass, chrome, steel, or aluminum, which can be painted or coated with other materials. In addition, the headpiece  104  can be formed of wood or a dimensionally-stable plastic such as, for example, high-density polyethylene. 
     The headpiece  104  is adapted for engagement with a first end portion  105  of flexible material  106 . The flexible material  106  generally includes an elongated length of nylon or polypropylene webbing material, although other flexible materials, including velvet, leather, rubber or rubberized materials, plastics, and other synthetic and natural materials may also be suitable for use as the flexible material  106 . The headpiece  104  is attached to the supporting pole  102 , which in turn is connected to the horizontal base  108 . The horizontal base  108  as illustrated has a generally circular shape; however, the base  108  can be any shape that provides stability to the stanchion  100  when in an upright position (e.g., square, rectangular, cone, triangle, hexagon, octagon, etc). 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a flexible cover  200  having a generally circular shape. As used herein, the term “cover” refers to any device for covering all or part of the base  108  of the stanchion  100  such as, for example, a coaster, a washer, a disk, etc. As used herein, the terms “coaster”, “washer”, and “disk” all refer to a mat to be placed over the base  108  for covering all or part of the base  108 . The flexible cover  200  includes an exterior boundary  201  and an interior boundary  203  forming an opening  202  towards the center of the flexible cover  200 , the opening  202  being sized and shaped to accommodate the supporting pole  102  of the stanchion  100 . The opening  202  is bounded by the interior boundary  203 . 
     The flexible cover  200  is shaped so that it covers at least a portion of the base  108  of the stanchion  100 . The flexible cover  200  further includes a discontinuity  204  from a point  208  of the exterior boundary  201  to a point  206  of the interior boundary  203 . For example, the discontinuity  204  may be a slit. As used herein, the term “slit” refers to a long narrow opening from a point  208  of the exterior boundary  201  to a point  206  of the interior boundary  203 . A top surface  220  of the flexible cover  200  may include advertising, graphics, or other indicia. The flexible cover  200  may be of virtually any shape. The discontinuity  204  creates a first edge  212  and a second edge  214 . 
     The flexible cover  200  can be formed of any suitable material having the required durability. The flexible cover  200  is typically formed of one or more of a variety of materials such as, for example, paper, cardboard, plastic, vinyl, rubber, ceramic, or any other material on which advertising, graphics, or other indicia can be placed. The flexible cover  200  may include magnetic strips attached to an underside (not shown) of the flexible cover  200  for adhering the flexible cover  200  to the base  108 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a cover  200 ′ having a generally circular shape. The cover  200 ′ includes an exterior boundary  201  and an interior boundary  203  forming an opening  202  towards the center of the cover  200 ′, the opening  202  being sized and shaped to accommodate the supporting pole  102  of the stanchion  100 . The opening  202  is bounded by the interior boundary  203 . 
     The cover  200 ′ is shaped so that it covers at least a portion of the base  108  of the stanchion  100 . The cover  200 ′ includes a first discontinuity  204  and a second discontinuity  204 ′, proceeding respectively from a point  208  and a point  208 ′ of the exterior boundary  201  to a point  206  and a point  206 ′ of the interior boundary  203 . For example, the discontinuities  204  and  204 ′ may be a slit. As used herein, the term “slit” refers to a long narrow opening from a point  208 ,  208 ′ of the exterior boundary  201  to a point  206 ,  206 ′ of the interior boundary  203 . The plurality of discontinuities  204  and  204 ′ create a first portion  240  and a second portion  242  of the cover  200 ′ as shown in  FIG. 2C . The plurality of portions  240  and  242  of the cover  200 ′ are adapted to be placed over the base  108  of the stanchion  100  and to be joined using, for example, adhesive tape, hook-and-loop fastener, a magnet, staples, or the like. A top surface  220  of the of the cover  200 ′ may include advertising, graphics, or other indicia. 
     To further facilitate an understanding of the flexible cover  200 , its assembly onto the base  108  of the stanchion  100  and use of the flexible cover  200  will be described in connection with  FIGS. 3-4 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the flexible cover  200  just prior to being placed on top of the base  108 . The discontinuity  204  facilitates placement of the flexible cover  200  on the base  108  and around the supporting pole  102 . After the flexible cover  200  has been placed on the base  108 , a first edge  212  and a second edge  214  formed due to the discontinuity  204  may be joined using, for example, adhesive tape, a hook-and-loop fastener, a magnet, staples or the like. The top surface  220  of the circular flexible cover  200  may include advertising, graphics, or other indicia.  FIG. 4  illustrates the flexible cover  200  placed over the base  108  of the stanchion  100 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a portion of a stanchion  500 . The stanchion  500  includes a supporting pole  502  and a base  508 . In this example, the base  508  is generally cone-shaped; however, the base  508  can be any shape that provides stability to the stanchion  500  in an upright position (e.g., square, rectangular, triangle, hexagon, octagon, etc). 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a flexible cover  600  having a generally circular shape. The flexible cover  600  includes an exterior boundary  601  and an interior boundary  603  forming an opening  602  towards the center of the flexible cover  600 , the opening  602  being sized and shaped to accommodate the supporting pole  502  of the stanchion  500 . The opening  602  is bounded by the interior boundary  603 . The flexible cover  600  further includes a discontinuity  604 . For example, the discontinuity  604  may be a cutout portion within the flexible cover  600  creating a gap. The cutout portion within the flexible cover  600  is bounded by a first edge  606  and a second edge  608 . The cutout portion allows the flexible cover  600  to be placed over the cone shaped base structure  508 . Once the flexible cover  600  is placed over the cone shaped base structure  508 , the first and second edges  606  and  608  are pulled together such that the first and second edges  606  and  608  are in contact with one another, causing the flexible cover  600  to take on a cone-shape to mate with, for example, the cone-shaped base  508 . After the flexible cover  600  is placed on the cone-shaped base structure  608 , the first and second edges  606  and  608  may be joined using, for example, an adhesive tape, a hook-and-loop fastener, a magnet, staples, or the like. The first and second edges  606  and  608  may also overlap an area adjacent to the first edge  606  and an area adjacent to the second edge  608  relative to one another. The flexible cover  600  includes indicators  622  on a top surface  620  of the circular flexible cover  620  for performing the overlapping function. The indicators  622  may be positioned so as to allow a suitable fit of the cover  600  onto a particular stanchion design by selection of the appropriate indicator  622 . The top surface  620  of the circular flexible cover  600  may include advertising, graphics, or other indicia. 
     The flexible cover  600  may be of any shape desired to cover all or part of a corresponding base (e.g., the base  508 ). The flexible cover  600  can be formed of any suitable material having the required durability. The flexible cover  600  may typically be formed of a variety of materials such as, for example, paper, cardboard, plastic, vinyl, rubber, ceramic, or any other material on which advertising, graphics, or other indicia can be easily placed. 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a top view of the flexible cover  600  in which the first and second edges  606  and  608  are in contact with one another. The contact between the first edge  606  and the second edge  608  causes the flexible cover  600  to take on a cone shape.  FIG. 6C  illustrates a edge view the flexible cover  600  placed over the base  508  (not shown) of the stanchion  500 . The contact between the first edge  606  and the second edge  608  causes the flexible cover  600  to take on a cone shape to mate with, for example, the cone-shaped base  508  (not shown).  FIG. 7  illustrates the cover  600  placed over the base  508  of the stanchion  500 . The cover  600  is indicated by dashed lines. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a portion of a stanchion  800 . The stanchion  800  includes a supporting pole  802  and a base  808 . hi this example, the base  808  is generally square-shaped.  FIG. 9  illustrates a portion of a stanchion  900 . The stanchion  900  includes a supporting pole  902  and abase  908 . hi this example, the base  908  is generally rectangular-shaped. The base structure can be any geometric shape that provides stability to the stanchion in an upright position (e.g., square, rectangular, circle, triangle, hexagon, octagon, etc). 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a flexible cover  1000  having a generally square shape. The flexible cover  1000  includes an exterior boundary  1001  and an interior boundary  1003  forming an opening  1002  towards the center of the flexible cover  1000 , the opening  1002  being sized and shaped to accommodate the supporting pole (not shown). The opening  1002  is bounded by the interior boundary  1003 . 
     The flexible cover  1000  further includes a discontinuity  1004  from a point  1008  of the exterior boundary  1001  to a point  1006  of the interior boundary  1003 . For example, the discontinuity  1004  may be a slit. A top surface  1010  of the flexible cover  1000  may include advertising, graphics, or other indicia. The flexible cover  200  may be of any shape. The discontinuity  1004  creates a first edge  1012  and a second edge  1014 . The discontinuity  1004  facilitates placement of the flexible cover  1000  on a base structure of a stanchion (not shown). After the flexible cover  1000  is placed on the base structure (not shown), the first edge  1012  and the second edge  1014  may be joined using, for example, an adhesive tape, a hook-and-loop fastener, a magnet, staples, or the like. 
     The flexible cover  1000  can be formed of any suitable material having the required durability. The flexible cover  200  is typically formed of one or more of a variety of materials such as, for example, paper, cardboard, plastic, vinyl, rubber, ceramic, or any other material on which advertising, graphics, or other indicia can be placed. The flexible cover  1000  may include magnetic strips attached to an underedge (not shown) of the flexible cover  1000  for adhering the flexible cover  1000  to the base (not shown). 
     The previous Detailed Description is of embodiment(s) of the invention. The scope of the invention should not necessarily be limited by this Description. The scope of the invention is instead defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.