Patent Abstract:
A hook apparatus includes a front side and a back side. A hook extending from the front side is included for hanging objects. A shelter structure extends from the front side positioned around and apart from the hook. The shelter structure may serve as a second hook for hanging objects. A communications device extends from the body, at least a portion of which is above and spaced apart from the shelter structure. The back side of the hook apparatus is adapted to be secured to a surface. An interface adapter plate between the back side and the mounting surface may be provided to enable the securing. The communications device includes a display device that is either passive or capable of interactive communication of information. The apparatus may be operationally coupled to a remote server to alert vendors to deliver purchased products, services, and/or to provide emergency services to the user.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/058,846, filed Jun. 4. 2008, The disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirely. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a device for advertising in public venues. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a device for combining advertising, sales, service transactions, and other communication and a convenience hook in a compact apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many venues, such as stadiums and theaters, provide seating consisting of, for example, seats or backed benches. In such venues it is common for food, drink, souvenirs and other products to be offered for sale to a patron (i.e., “user”). Such sales transactions may occur directly on the venue “floor” at or near a user&#39;s seal. Such transactions, which may be available from walking vendors offering products, may be limited to what is immediately available on the venue floor at the time. Alternatively, the user must leave the seat and seek out a particular product at fixed vendor locations distributed around the venue, often out of view of the ongoing event, but without the user&#39;s foreknowledge of the location of the vendor, afterwards returning to the seat. This is an inconvenience that may deprive the user of a portion of time which could be better devoted to enjoying the event attended, e.g., a spectator sport. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, in public venues there exists a concern for safely in the event of required evacuation. The user is often not conveniently provided with instructions for evacuation or response to a situation of urgency. 
         [0005]    In addition to purchases, users often attend such venues with personal property, such as purses, bags, backpacks, outer garments, and the like. It is well known that many of such items are temporarily stored on the floor near or under the user&#39;s seat. Such items may become obstacles that impede egress/ingress for users or vendors and may even contribute to accidents, with consequences for liability and litigation. 
         [0006]    There is a need, therefore, for an apparatus that may simultaneously improve vendor services, provide critical information support in case of matters of urgency, and improve user safely and convenience. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A hook apparatus includes a support member with a front side and a back side. A hook extends from the front side of the support member for hanging objects. A shelter structure also extends from the front side of the support member and is positioned partially around but spaced apart from the hook. The shelter structure may also serve as a second hook for hanging objects. A communications device extends from the front side of the support member and has a display positioned above and spaced apart from the shelter structure. The hook and the shelter structure may each have a lip to prevent objects from slipping off. The back side of the support member is adapted to be secured to a mounting surface. An interface adapter plate may be included to enable securing between the back side and the mounting surface. 
         [0008]    The display of the communications device may be either a passive mount for receiving a removable insert with an advertising message or other information, or my be an electronic communication device with an electronic display. Communications may be via secure modes of information transmission that are well know. The apparatus may be operationally coupled to a remote server to provide emergency services, information, and coupled to interactive communications whereby a patron could order and purchase products, services, and the like, from vendors. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an exemplary advertising apparatus with hook according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0011]      FIG. 1C  is a from view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 1D  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1A  attached to a seat back. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1A  with a card holder for display of advertising and/or information. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus with a display, a data entry keypad, a transceiver, a debit/credit card reader and a printer. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the apparatus configured for interactive communication. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    A hook apparatus providing a combination of a hook and information/advertising/communication is disclosed. The hook apparatus may be attached to the back of a seat in front of a patron at a venue, such as, for example, a theater or stadium, or otherwise mounted on any other selected surface. For example, the apparatus may also be placed on doors, walls and in other locations where such apparatus is convenient and beneficial. For example, the hook with advertising may be placed in passenger transportation systems, waiting rooms, and any location where persons may pass through or spend an interval of time, may be in temporary need of safely placing personal property, and would be in a position to receive information, advertising, and the like. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1A to 1D  and  2  illustrate various views of an exemplary hook apparatus  10  with a hook  21 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The hook apparatus  10  includes a support member  1  that has a front side  20  and a back side  25 .  FIG. 2  is an exemplary illustration of how apparatus  10  is adapted to attach the back side  25  of the hook apparatus  10  to a surface (such as a seat back  27  or a wall) and provides for supporting a parcel hung from the hook  21  while preventing the hook from causing injury or property damage. If the seat back  27  is curved, attachment may be accomplished in a variety of ways, either generically or by customized adaptation to conform to the seal back  27 . For example, the shape of the back side  25  of the hook apparatus  10  may be contoured to conform to the shape of the seat back  27  of a venue chair ( FIG. 2 ). Alternatively, the hook apparatus  10  may include an adaptor plate  31  to interface and attach the back side  25  to the seat back  27  ( FIG. 2 ). Attachment mechanisms to secure the hook apparatus  10  to the interface adaptor plate  31  and/or the seat back  27 , and to attach the interface adaptor plate  31  to the seat back  27  may include screws, nails, bolts, clips, adhesives, flanges, hooks, and the like. The hook apparatus  10  may be placed on the seat back  27  in various locations, as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, where the benefit of placement may include minimizing interference with user comfort, to share the hook apparatus  10  between two users, and the like. In more generic cases, where the surface is flat, for example, the interface adaptor plate  31  may not be needed. 
         [0019]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1A-1D , the hook apparatus  10  includes the hook  21  extending from the front side  20  of the support member  1 , on which a purse, parcel, garment, or other articles, may be hung. The hook apparatus further includes a display device portion  16  of a communication device to provide information. The display device portion  16  extends from the support member  1  preferably above and spaced apart from a shelter structure  22  (described below). 
         [0020]    The hook  21  may include a hook protrusion  11  (e.g., a rod) extending from the front side  20  of the hook apparatus  10  of support member  1 , the protrusion also having a distal end  23 . The hook protrusion  11  may have a hook retention lip  12  at the distal end  23  to prevent hanging articles from slipping off the hook  21 . Articles and objects placed on the hook  21  hang downward. A shelter structure  22  “tents” the hook  21  by extending from the front side  20  of the support member  1  as a shelter hook protrusion  13  having a distal end. The shelter structure  22  is in a spaced relationship apart from the hook  21 . In an embodiment, the hook  21  may not extend from the front side  20  beyond the extent of the shelter structure  22  in a manner that can cause injury to a person, or damage, such as hooking, snagging and/or tearing clothing as a person passes by. The shelter structure  22  is placed apart and preferably below the display device portion  16 . 
         [0021]    The shelter structure  22  is preferably curved, having no sharp edges or corners. The shelter structure  22  preferably surrounds the hook  21  on three sides (e.g., above and laterally) to prevent casual or unintended snagging by contact with the hook  21 . The shelter structure  22  is configured so that the bottom side of the hook  21  is exposed, enabling objects hung from the hook  21  to hang down freely. The shelter structure  22  may also be shaped to have a shelter hook retention lip  14  at the shelter hook protrusion  13  distal end to provide an additional second hook capability on which to hang additional articles safely while preventing slippage, as described above. 
         [0022]    Display of information may be passive or electronically active. In one embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3 , a passive display  35  of hook apparatus  10  may contain a card holder  37  for holding an information card  39 . The information card  39  may include advertising, safely information, or the like. In an embodiment, multiple instances (e.g., pages) of information may be provided in the passive display  35 , wherein the pages may be changed, as desired, or may be permanent. The passive display may be located in substantially the same location as display device portion  16  of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0023]    An active display device portion  16  (e.g., see  FIG. 1A ) may be provided having an electro-optically active display screen such as, for example, a liquid crystal display, plasma display or the like, and electronics to drive the display screen and interface to a transceiver  19  for communication with a remote server. Electro-optic display devices are well known in the display arts. The transceiver  19  may be located within the active display device portion  16  or, alternatively, elsewhere in the hook apparatus  10  support member  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 D, and  4 ). The active display device portion  16  is preferably located above and spaced apart from the shelter structure  22 . The active display device portion  16  may further include audio output capability, coupled to the transceiver, to present information audibly. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a hook apparatus  50  may further include a keypad  51  comprising, but not limited to, a “hard” typewriter-like keyboard, and/or a “soft button” or “soft-key” touch screen keyboard. Touch screens are also well known in the art of electronic display. Using the keypad  51 , a patron (e.g., user) may select from a displayed menu any of a plurality of screens providing information. The keypad  51  is coupled to the display device portion  16  and the transceiver  19 . 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, power to operate the hook apparatus  10  may be supplied by directly wired power lines (e.g., low voltage, provided from a grid throughout the venue). In another embodiment, the hook apparatus  10  may be powered by batteries. 
         [0026]    If the user desires, for example, to find the location of a nearest restroom or food vendor, an interactive menu provided on the display device portion  16  can be navigated via the keypad  51  to direct the user to a nearest location, where the direction may be provided by a map, written and/or audio instructions. For direction/location types of information, it is useful for the hook apparatus  10  to be equipped with self-location capability. In one embodiment, this may be, for example, a hard-wired connection that identifies the location of the hook apparatus  10  at the venue. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the transceiver  19  may be wireless and transmitting a unique signal from which the location can be determined. Additionally, in an embodiment, a global positioning system (GPS), or the like, that locates each apparatus within the venue may perform the same function. Thus, a mapping capability to route the user from his/her seat location to a selected destination is enabled. Examples of wireless communication systems include, but are not limited to. Wi-Fi local area networks, wide area networks (WAN), and broadband wireless networks. In a wireless position location system, location identification data transmitted as a coded transmission by the transceiver  19 , and/or triangulation from GPS-type data, or the like, may be used to identify the user location and/or a destination. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the user may be able to place a menu order for particular foods, beverages or products, which can be delivered to the user&#39;s seat. The transaction may be completed, for example, by cash upon delivery, or by credit card transaction, in which case, such transactions may be transmitted securely. Secure communication is a well known field of art (see, for example “Secure Communication”.” Wikipedia, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure communication). 
         [0028]    A receipt confirmation record of the transaction can be provided, for example, through a credit card transaction, and/or an email. Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a hook apparatus  50 , the debit/credit card transaction may be executed via the keypad  51 . Alternatively, the hook apparatus  50  may comprise a debit/credit card reader  53  coupled to the transceiver  19 . In an embodiment, a printer  55  may be coupled to the hook apparatus  50  to provide a hardcopy record  57  to the purchaser. The printer may be included in hook apparatus  50  or may be remotely coupled to the hook apparatus  50  by a communications link via the transceiver  19 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the hook apparatus  10  engaged in interactive communication. Data entered via the display device portion  16  and the keypad  51  is transmitted from the transceiver  19  to a remote server  61 . A mobile vendor may be equipped with a wireless vendor communications device  63  to be alerted by the server  61  that a user at a particular location desires a product supplied by the vendor. The communications device  63  may be equipped with position location capability. A vendor so equipped (preferably nearest to the user) and carrying (or able to obtain) the product, may then receive the order from the server  61  and advance to the identified hook apparatus  50  location to fulfill the transaction request. This may beneficially reduce the wait time for the user to receive the product or service, enable the user to continue enjoying the venue activity (e.g., a spectator sport) with only minor interruption, and reduce the delays a vendor may encounter to identify and fulfill sales opportunities. Such capability enables vendors to achieve faster response to user requests, thereby improving sales volume and user satisfaction. 
         [0030]    In addition to being menu-driven, advertising or other information may periodically change and be presented on the display to inform the user of the range of services and products available. In the case of an interactive display, emergency response may also be provided to the seat location when the display is suitably operated, or in emergency situations. For example, first-aid, emergency alert, and evacuation procedures may be displayed for contingency benefit to the user. 
         [0031]    Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8