Abstract:
An interactive bed display for use in a retail setting to provide product information to a person, the interactive bed display comprising a bed including a mattress adapted to support the person, and a self-contained audio/video unit positioned to encourage the person to lie on the mattress such that the person is in a position to experience the benefits of the mattress, wherein the self-contained audio/video unit includes multiple stored audio/video segments and is adapted to receive an input generated from the person on the mattress, and wherein the self-contained audio/video unit is adapted to deliver at least one of the multiple stored audio/video segments to the person on the mattress based on the input.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to displays, and more particularly to interactive displays.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Displays are commonly used to attract potential customers to a product. Often, the general purpose of displays is to make a visual statement. The statement may involve, among other things, attracting attention, spreading information, and encouraging the purchase of a product.  
           [0003]    Most often, traditional displays often rely upon still graphics or still pictures to make their statement. However, with advancing technology and changing advertising trends, additional media has been introduced to supplement the still graphics or pictures of the traditional still displays. For example, such additional media can include audio tracks to supplement the still graphics or pictures of the traditional display, or can include some kind of graphical animation to enhance the visual aspects of the traditional displays, such as lenticular graphics or video tracks stored on a video cassette or a compact disc. However, even with the visual improvements to the traditional displays, the capabilities of the improved traditional displays are still somewhat limited in scope.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    With advanced computer video technology, it is possible to electronically store video tracks, still graphics, and audio tracks in computer memory. With this possibility, displays can now take advantage of the relatively small sizes and low costs of computers by integrating them into a display, thus enhancing the capabilities and presentation of the display.  
           [0005]    By integrating computers into displays, the possibility of interactive displays exists. Using currently available software, a video track can be configured such that a person is allowed to interact with the story, or message, presented by the video track. For example, the person may interact with the message to select different topics within the message, or the person may interact with the story by selecting different options that may alter the outcome of the story.  
           [0006]    It is the general object of this invention to provide an interactive bed display that addresses some of the problems found in the prior art. One embodiment of the interactive bed display includes a bed having a mattress to support a person, and a self-contained audio/video unit positioned to encourage the person to lie on the mattress such that the person is in a position to experience the benefits of the mattress, where the self-contained audio/video unit includes multiple stored audio/video segments and receives an input generated from the person on the mattress, and where the self-contained audio/video unit delivers at least one of the multiple stored audio/video segments to the person on the mattress based on the input.  
           [0007]    Another embodiment of the interactive bed display includes a bed having a mattress to support a person, and a self-contained audio/video unit positioned to encourage the person to lie on the mattress such that the person is in a position to experience the benefits of the mattress, where the self-contained audio/video unit includes multiple stored audio/video segments and receives an input generated from the person on the mattress, and where the self-contained audio/video unit delivers at least one of the multiple stored audio/video segments to the person on the mattress based on the input, where the self-contained audio/video unit is positioned above the person and within reaching distance of the person while on the mattress, and where the self-contained audio/video unit includes a screen and the mattress includes a top surface, where the screen substantially faces the top surface of the mattress, and where the at least one of the multiple stored audio/video segments encourages the person to remain on the mattress during the course of the at least one of the multiple stored audio/video segments.  
           [0008]    Further objects and advantages of the present invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTI 0 N OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings is illustrated by way of example only. The various elements and combinations of elements described below and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged and organized differently to result in embodiments which are still within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an interactive bed display embodying the present invention, the interactive bed display shown positioned on a bed above a person lying on the bed.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the interactive bed display of FIG. 1, illustrating a support arm connecting the interactive bed display to the bed.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 a  is a front view of an LCD touch screen of the interactive bed display of FIG. 1, illustrating a menu segment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 b  is a rear view of a touch screen LCD unit of the interactive bed display of FIG. 1, illustrating individual components.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic of an audio/video message delivered by the interactive bed display, including multiple segments therein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    One embodiment of an interactive bed display  10  is shown in FIG. 1. The interactive bed display  10  includes a bed  14  having dual, twin size mattresses  18  and box springs  22  that are supported by a frame  26 . A headboard  30  is mounted to the frame  26  using conventional fasteners at one end of the frame  26  to define a head portion  34 , thereby defining the opposite end of the frame  26  as a foot portion  38 . Alternatively, the bed  14  may include any size mattress  18  and box springs  22 , including, among others, king, queen, and double size mattresses. Also, more than two mattresses  18  may be positioned directly adjacent each other to yield a combined bedding surface. Similarly, only one mattress  18  may be used. Also, the mattresses  18  can be used with or without the box springs  22 .  
         [0016]    A lenticular sign  42  is flush-mounted on the headboard  30  using conventional methods, such as using adhesive bonding or fasteners. The lenticular sign  42  displays multiple different images, depending on a person&#39;s viewing angle of the sign  42 . The images generally depict different views of satisfied customers lying on the mattress  18  and experiencing the comfort and other advantages provided by the mattress  18 . As the person walks by the bed  14 , the displayed image changes depending on the viewing angle of the person. The images convey a message designed to entice the person to walk over to the bed  14  and lie on the mattress  18 . It should be understood that “lying” on the mattress may also include sitting on the mattress, and any inclined position therebetween. Pillows  46  are further provided to enhance the person&#39;s comfort while on the mattress  18 .  
         [0017]    The lenticular sign  42  is not limited to the mounting illustrated in FIG. 1. The sign  42  may be mounted to the frame  26  of the bed  14 , among other places, and may also be mounted to a separate structure from the bed  14 . Also, the sign  42  may be positioned adjacent the bed  14  or above the bed  14 . As a further alternative, the sign  42  may be cantilevered from the headboard  30 , and may use any satisfactory structure to position the sign  42  relative to the headboard  30 . Although the sign  42  is shown in the illustrated embodiment, the sign  42  is not required in all embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0018]    As shown in FIG. 1, an interactive, touch screen LCD unit  50  is coupled to the headboard  30  via a support arm  54  such that the LCD unit  50  is positioned above the person when the person is lying on the mattress  18 . As shown in FIG. 2, the support arm  54  includes a headboard connecting end  58  that engages a bracket  62  mounted to the rear of the headboard  30  using conventional fasteners  66 . The bracket  62  allows the support arm  54  to swivel about a central axis  70  and to vertically adjust along the central axis  70 . Upon assembly to the headboard  30 , the headboard connecting end  58  of the support arm  54  is vertically positioned in the bracket  62  such that the person lying on the mattress  18  can substantially reach the LCD unit  50  without sitting up. The fasteners  66  are then tightened, therefore affixing the vertical position of the support arm  54  within the bracket  62 . However, the support arm  54  is still allowed to swivel within the bracket  62 .  
         [0019]    The support arm  54  further includes an LCD unit connecting end  74  having a multiple-degree of freedom joint  78  that connects with a receiving bracket  82  on a rear surface  86  of the LCD unit  50 . A ball joint, among other types of joints  78  known to those of ordinary skill in the art, can be used as the multiple-degree of freedom joint  78 . The joint  78  allows the LCD unit  50  to swivel about a first axis  90 , rotate about a second axis  94 , and tilt about a third axis  98 . Swiveling, rotating, and tilting of the LCD unit  50  about the respective axes  90 ,  94 ,  98  and additionally swiveling the support arm  54  about the central axis  70 , allows the person lying on the mattress  18  to adjust the position of the LCD unit  50  relative to the mattress  18  for ease of viewing.  
         [0020]    As shown in FIGS. 3 a - 3   b , the LCD unit  50  includes a touch screen  102 , which delivers the video portion of an audio/video message. In one embodiment, the touch screen  102  is about 6.4 viewable inches. The LCD unit  50  further includes a speaker module  110  which accordingly, delivers the audio portion of the audio/video message. As shown in FIG. 2, a power cord  114  supplies 12-volt DC current to the LCD unit  50 , whereby the power cord  114  is routed through the support arm  54  and exits the support arm  54  at the headboard connecting end  58 . The 12-volt DC current originates from a converter box  118 , which is electrically connected to the power cord  114  and transforms the 10-volt AC line current into the 12-volt DC current that powers the LCD unit  50 . The AC line current is carried to the converter box  118  via another power cord  122 , which plugs into the converter box  118 .  
         [0021]    As shown in FIG. 3 b , the power cord  114  plugs into a 12-volt DC input terminal  126  via an appropriate electrical terminal (not shown). An “on/off” power switch  130  activates and deactivates the LCD unit  50 , while a power indicator LED  134  displays whether the LCD unit is “on” or “off.” When illuminated, the LED  134  indicates that the LCD unit  50  is “on.” A headphone jack  138  allows the person to listen to the audio portion of the audio/video message through headphones, rather than through the speaker module  110 . When a pair of headphones or multiple pairs of headphones are plugged into the headphone jack  138 , the speaker module  110  is deactivated. Accordingly, the volume of the speaker module  110  is adjustable to match the noise level of the display&#39;s environment.  
         [0022]    The touch screen LCD unit  50  utilizes a solid state storage device, such as a compact flash card  142 , to electronically store the audio/video message. Alternatively, any PCMCIA-type memory cards may be used to electronically store the audio/video message. Advantages of using the compact flash card  142  versus a hard disk, which is usually available with a higher storage capacity at a lower cost, include that the compact flash card  142  is noiseless (since there are no moving mechanical parts). Also, the compact flash card  142  allows faster access to the stored data. Physically, the compact flash card  142  is smaller and lighter in size when compared to a hard disk. These advantages allow the touch screen LCD unit  50  to deliver the audio/video message without any noise interference from the LCD unit  50  itself, as the data comprising the message is accessed. Also, the compact flash card  142  allows rapid access of the stored data, so that the audio/video message is delivered without lengthy pauses caused by data access. If a hard disk were used in place of the compact flash card  142 , the excess noise emitted by the hard disk during operation might distract the person when viewing the audio/video message. Additionally, the lengthy pauses of data access associated with a hard disk may be longer than the attention span of the person viewing the audio/video message, thus distracting the person from concentrating on the message itself. As shown in FIG. 3 b , the compact flash card  142  is positioned within the LCD unit  50  and protected by a security cover  146 . Further, mounting holes  150  in the LCD unit  50  allow the receiving bracket  82  to be affixed to the LCD unit  50 .  
         [0023]    After the person has decided to lie on the mattress  18  and the LCD unit  50  is adjusted to suit the person, the person interacts with the touch screen LCD unit  50  to access the audio/video message, which is scripted to maintain the person lying on the mattress  18 . As shown in FIG. 4, the audio/video message is structured having multiple segments  154 . The first segment is an “attract loop,” which includes multiple images and text messages therein, where the images and text messages utilize a combination of scrolling, fading, and layering techniques to seize the person&#39;s attention once the person lies on the mattress  18 . The attract loop plays continuously once the LCD unit  50  is turned on, and serves as the opening segment of the audio/video message. A text prompt within the attract loop instructs the person to proceed with the audio/video message by touching the screen  102 .  
         [0024]    Once the person touches the screen  102 , the attract loop fades and the “introduction” segment begins. The introduction segment includes two individuals in dialogue that lasts between about five to ten minutes. The dialogue is scripted to convince the person to remain lying on the mattress  18  and to relax so that the person is able to receive all the benefits associated with the mattress  18 . The dialogue also includes a portion explaining the technology and materials that provide the benefits of the mattress  18 . This portion of the dialogue is delivered to the person while the person is experiencing the benefits of the mattress  18 , so that the person learns and understands the technology and materials used in the mattress  18 .  
         [0025]    After completion of the introduction segment, or when the person interrupts the introduction segment by touching the screen  102  (thereby bypassing the balance of the introduction segment), the introduction segment fades and the “menu” segment appears. The menu segment is similar to the attract loop in that the menu segment includes multiple images therein, where the images utilize a combination of scrolling, fading, and layering techniques to present images of others experiencing the benefits of the mattress  18  and related products, such as pillows  46 , lumbar supports, leg supports, and so forth. Generally, the menu segment is shown and depicted in FIG. 3 a . A menu bar area  158  is shaded toward the bottom of the screen  102  to provide a distinct separation between the displayed image and the menu bar area  158 . Multiple menu bars  162  are disposed within the menu bar area  158 , whereby each menu bar  162  is operable to access a specific topic  166  within the audio/video message. The menu bars  162  include a brief text description of the respective specific topics  166  covered within the audio/video message. The LCD screen  102  will display the menu segment for about sixty seconds without any interaction from the person. After sixty seconds have past, and the person has not selected any of the menu bars  162 , the audio/video message defaults back to the attract loop segment. If, however, the person does select one of the menu bars  162 , the portion of the audio/video message that covers the specific topic  166  advertised by the respective menu bar  162  is accessed.  
         [0026]    As shown in FIG. 3 a , three menu bars  162  exist in the menu bar area  158  that correlate to the specific topics  166  shown in the schematic of FIG. 4. It should be understood that the specific topics  166  stated in FIG. 4 are only examples of such specific topics  166 , and may include a plurality of specific topics  166  different from those stated in FIG. 4. To access one of the specific topics  166  within the audio/video message, the person lying on the mattress  18  touches one of the menu bars  162  on the LCD screen  102 . Like the other segments  154 , each specific topic  166  within the audio/video message is scripted to maintain the person lying in the mattress  18 . After the portion of the audio/video message that covers the specific topic  166  is completed, or if the portion of the audio/video message is interrupted by the person touching the screen  102  (thereby bypassing the balance of the portion), the audio/video message defaults back to the menu segment. From the menu segment, the person lying on the mattress  18  may select any of the menu bars  162  on the LCD screen  102  to access the respective portions of the audio/video message. The person may choose to view the remaining specific topics  166 , or may choose to repeat the previously viewed topic  166 . When the person gets up from the mattress  18 , without any user interaction for a pre-determined duration, the audio/video message defaults back to the attract loop, awaiting the next person to lie on the mattress  18  and view the message.  
         [0027]    After viewing the audio/video message, the person should be more informed and educated regarding the technology and materials used in the mattress  18 , and this knowledge, in combination with other factors, may help convince the person to purchase the mattress  18  in question.