Patent Application
20230018806
The present disclosure relates to the art viewing field, more specifically to an apparatus that facilitates the paid viewing of artwork in a medium.
The real enjoyment, satisfaction and/or benefit that people derive from art is in viewing the art. People pay to enter museums and cinemas to enjoy art, but they do not pay to enter an art gallery, where they can derive the benefit of art for free. In art galleries, artwork is generally displayed for all to derive a benefit from viewing it and the gallery and/or artist is only compensated when the original artwork or a high quality copy of an original is sold. People coming through the gallery are free to view the artwork for an extended period of time without payment. Artists are only paid when their artwork is sold, even though many people may have derived the benefit of enjoying the artwork without payment. From an art gallery visitor's perspective, the artwork can be devalued if it is available for viewing, at will, by visiting the gallery.
Tower viewers (paid or coin operated binoculars) can be provided at points of interest, which allow a user to pay for their use for a set amount of time. A problem with tower viewers is that they can be easily circumvented by a person with sight and the same magnified view can be experienced by anyone with a magnification device (e.g., binoculars, a camera zoom lens, etc.). Tower viewers are not an exclusive method of having access to a particular sight. The use of tower viewers is similar to the practice of having open art galleries because the ability to obtain the view is free to all. The present invention is directed at overcoming, or at least improving upon, the disadvantages of the prior art.
The present disclosure accomplishes this goal by providing an artwork viewing apparatus that is configured to allow the viewing of artwork for a predetermined period of time after a predetermined payment has been made. The disclosure includes a motorized opaque artwork covering (hereinafter, the “covering”) with at least one opening to allow a patron to preview the artwork (hereinafter, a “preview opening”). The covering is operably connected to a controller configured to accept payment and operate the covering to allow the patron to view the artwork for a predetermine amount of time.
The value of art is mostly in the appreciation we feel or give to the product. Art is not priced using a pricing system used with regular products, which can include the costs of production and the marginal cost. Art pieces can sell for thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars based on a person's appreciation of the art. The disclosure can assist in pricing artwork by allowing people without the funds to purchase the particular artwork to derive the benefit of viewing it and it also enhances and improves the buyer's appreciation of the artwork, as not everyone can enjoy it for free.
The amount of time that a person can enjoy artwork for free in a gallery is negatively correlated with their tendency to purchase the artwork and compensate the artist for their work. People also see artwork as assets, often times purchasing expensive works of art and storing them in a secure vault without anyone viewing them. The present disclosure could encourage owners of artwork to display their work, by generating a source of income. This would benefit the public in being able to view the artwork and could possibly benefit the artist if a viewing royalty is negotiated in the sale.
The present disclosure could also reduce the “starving artist” phenomena, which occurs because artwork by living artists is rarely valuable and able to be priced. By displaying artwork for a viewing fee, artists could generate a stream of income.
The present disclosure also includes a method of viewing artwork by using a motorized covering with a preview area that is operably connected to a controller that is configured to accept payment and move the motorized covering from at least a closed position to an open position for a predetermined amount of time. The present disclosure also includes a method of viewing artwork by mounting artwork with the motorized covering and controller mounted alongside a pathway configured for vehicles with an entrance and exit.
The disclosure includes an art viewing apparatus, comprising: a motorized covering configured to be in at least a closed position and an open position; the motorized covering being fixed to a frame on one end; the motorized covering operatively connected to a controller; wherein the motorized covering comprises a preview area comprising one of a physical opening, an area of transparency or an area of semi-transparency; and the controller configured to accept a predetermined payment and direct the motorized covering to move from a closed position to an open position for a predetermined amount of time. In the art viewing apparatus, the motorized covering can be at least partially opaque or semi-opaque. In the art viewing apparatus, the controller can be fixed to the frame and configured to accept one of a credit card, cash or a mobile wallet.
The disclosed art viewing apparatus can also include: a motorized screen configured to be in at least a closed position and an open position; the motorized screen fixed to the frame on one end; the motorized screen having a preview area with an area larger than an area of the preview area of the motorized covering; the motorized screen's preview area comprising one of a physical opening, an area of transparency or an area of semi-transparency; and the controller configured to accept another predetermined payment and direct the motorized screen to move from a closed position to an open position for a predetermined amount of time. In the art viewing apparatus, the preview area of the motorized covering can overlap the preview area of the motorized screen.
The art viewing apparatus can further include a pathway with an entrance and an exit fixed within a sight distance to the art viewing apparatus. The art viewing apparatus can be fixed to a structure within a sight distance to the pathways.
The disclosure includes a method of viewing artwork, steps comprising: providing a motorized covering configured to be in at least a closed position and an open position over a piece of artwork, wherein the motorized covering is operatively connected to a controller and the motorized covering comprises a preview area comprising one of a physical opening, an area of transparency or an area of semi-transparency; accepting payment, through the controller, for a predetermined amount; directing, through the controller, the motorized covering to move to an open position for a predetermined amount of time; and directing, through the controller, the motorized covering to move into a closed position after the predetermined amount of time expires. The method of viewing artwork can further include: providing a second motorized screen between the motorized covering and the piece of artwork, the motorized screen having a larger preview area than the motorized covering, and wherein the preview area of the motorized screen overlaps the preview area of the motorized screen; having the controller accept another payment; directing, through the controller, the motorized screen to move into an open position for a predetermined amount of time; and directing, through the controller, the motorized screen to move into a closed position after the predetermined amount of time expires.
The method of viewing artwork can further include: providing a pathway configured for the passage of vehicles with an entrance and an exit; placing the artwork, motorized covering with a preview area and controller within a sight distance of the pathway; having a vehicle pass through the entrance and stopping within a sight distance of the artwork, motorized covering and controller; having the controller accept payment and open the motorized covering; after a predetermined amount of time, having the controller close the motorized covering; and the vehicle moving along the pathway and out of the exit. The method of viewing artwork can also include: providing a second motorized screen between the motorized covering and the artwork, the motorized screen having a larger preview area than the motorized covering; having the controller accept another payment; directing, through the controller, the motorized screen to move into an open position for a predetermined amount of time; and directing, through the controller, the motorized screen to move into a closed position after the predetermined amount of time expires.
Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with a reading of this specification in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals are applied to like elements and wherein:
Illustrative embodiments are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The leveraged spring clamp disclosed herein boasts a variety of inventive features and components that warrant patent protection, both individually and in combination.
The present disclosure relates to a motorized artwork covering with a preview opening, the covering operably connected to a controller configured to accept payment and open the covering for a predetermined period of time.
In
The wired controller 13 is configured to accept a predetermined payment from a user and once payment is made, configured to open the covering 11 for a predetermined amount of time. The wired controller 13 can include a plurality of buttons 16 to coordinate the acceptance of payment and a payment acceptance area 17 for accepting payments using a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, credit cards, mobile phone transmitted payments and mobile wallets. The predetermined payment can be any reasonable amount for viewing the full artwork 14, based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the artistic qualities of the artwork and the artwork's location. The predetermined amount of time can be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the size of the artwork 14 and the amount of time needed to take in the detailed features of the artwork 14. The wired controller 113 is useful to display artwork in uncontrolled environments.
In controlled areas, it can be beneficial to give each user a wireless controller 113 configured to accept a predetermined payment from a user and once payment is made, configured to open the covering 11 for a predetermined amount of time. The wireless controller 113 can include a plurality of buttons 116 to coordinate the acceptance of payment and a payment acceptance area 117 for accepting payments using a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, credit cards, mobile phone transmitted payments and mobile wallets. The predetermined payment can be any reasonable amount for viewing the full artwork 14, based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the artistic qualities of the artwork and the artwork's location. The predetermined amount of time can be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the size of the artwork 14 and the amount of time needed to take in the detailed features of the artwork 14. In some embodiments, the wireless controller 113 can be configured to control multiple coverings 11.
The art viewing apparatus 10, can also have lights 20 mounted towards the bottom of the frame 15 and pointed in the direction of the artwork 14 to illuminate the artwork 14, when the covering 11 is in an open position. In
In
The opening 22 in the intermediate screen 21 is larger than the opening 12 in the screen 11 and also located within the bounds of the opening 12 in the screen 11, so that they overlap.
The controller 113 is configured to accept a predetermined payment from a user and once payment is made, configured to open the covering 111 for a predetermined amount of time. The controller 113 can be operably connected to the covering 111 using a wireless technology, including, but not limited to, short range UHF radio waves in the ISM bands, a shared connection to a wireless access point, near field communication (hereinafter “NFC”), infrared waves, radio waves and cellular radio waves. The controller 113 can include a plurality of buttons 116 to coordinate the acceptance of payment and a payment acceptance area 117 for accepting payments using a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, credit cards, mobile phone transmitted payments and mobile wallets. The predetermined payment can be any reasonable amount for viewing the full artwork 14, based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the artistic qualities of the artwork and the artwork's location. The predetermined amount of time can be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the size of the artwork 14 and the amount of time needed to take in the detailed features of the artwork 14. A single controller 113 can accept payment and direct more than one covering 11 to move into an open position for a predetermine amount of time. In
The disclosed exemplary artwork viewing apparatus 10 can also be used in a drive-through setting, such as in
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What has been described is an art viewing apparatus to accept payment for the viewing of artwork. In this disclosure, there are shown and described only exemplary embodiments of the invention, but, as aforementioned, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.
From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it is also apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
