Patent Application
20210100358
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The disclosure relates to interactive table devices and more particularly pertains to a new interactive table device for remotely placing an order in a restaurant.
The prior art relates to interactive table devices.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a table that is positionable in a restaurant. A plurality of proximity sensors is provided and each of the proximity sensors is coupled to the table. Each of the proximity sensors is turned on when a patron moves within a trigger distance of the proximity sensors. A plurality of touch screens is each of the touch screens is coupled to the table. Each of the touch screens displays menu of the restaurant thereby facilitating the patron to order from the menu. A transceiver is coupled to the table and the transceiver is in communication with each of the touch screens for receiving the patron's order from each of the touch screens. The transceiver is in wireless communication with a central computer system of the restaurant thereby facilitating restaurant employees to receive the patron's order.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A plurality of proximity sensors 22 is provided and each of the proximity sensors 22 is coupled to the table 12. Each of the proximity sensors 22 is aligned with a respective one of a plurality of seating locations 24 around the table 12 and each of the proximity sensors 22 senses motion. In this way each of the proximity sensors 22 can sense a patron 26 sitting at the respective seating location. Each of the proximity sensors 22 is turned on when the patron 26 moves within a trigger distance, which may be less than approximately 5.0 feet, of the proximity sensors 22. Each of the proximity sensors 22 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 18 and each of the proximity sensors 22 has a respective one of the actuate inputs being associated therewith. The control circuit 18 receives an actuate input when the associated proximity sensor 22 senses the patron 26. Each of the proximity sensors 22 may comprise an electronic motion sensor, an infra-red sensor or any other electronic sensor that can sense the patron 26.
A plurality of touch screens 28 is provided and each of the touch screens 28 is coupled to the table 12. Each of the touch screens 28 is aligned with a respective one of the seating locations 24 around the table 12. In this way each of the touch screens 28 is visible to the patrons 26 sitting at the respective seating locations 24. Each of the touch screens 28 displays indicia 29 comprising a menu of the restaurant thereby facilitating the patron 26 to order from the menu. Additionally, each of the touch screens 28 is positioned on the top surface 14 of the table 12 thereby enhancing the patron 26's ability to interact with the touch screens 28. Each of the access panels 21 on the bottom surface 15 of the table 12 is aligned with a respective one of the touch screens 28 for servicing the respective touch screen 28.
Each of the touch screens 28 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 18 and each of the touch screens 28 has a respective one of the actuate inputs being associated therewith. Additionally, each of the touch screens 28 are turned on when the control circuit 18 receives the associated actuate input. Each of the touch screens 28 may comprise an LCD or other type of electronic touch screen. A plurality of card readers 30 is provided and each of the card readers 30 is coupled to the table 12. Each of the card readers 30 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 18 and each of the card readers 30 reads a credit card for payment processing.
A plurality of hearing ports 32 is each coupled to the table 12. Each of the hearing ports 32 may have a hearing aid plugged therein for assisting a hearing disabled patron 26. Each of the hearing ports 32 is aligned with a respective one of the seating locations 24 and each of the hearing ports 32 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 18. A plurality of power switches 34 is each coupled to the table 12 and each of the power switches 34 is aligned with a respective one of the seating locations 24 around the table 12. Each of the power switches 34 is electrically coupled to a respective one of the touch screens 28 and each of the power switches 34 turns the respective touch screen 28 on and off. Moreover, each of the power switches 34 is positioned on the bottom surface 15 of the table 12.
A transceiver 36 is provided and the transceiver 36 is coupled to the table 12. The transceiver 36 is in communication with each of the touch screens 28 for receiving the patron's 26 orders from the touch screens 28. Additionally, the transceiver 36 is in wireless communication with a central computer system 38 of the restaurant thereby facilitating restaurant employees to receive the patron's 26 orders. The transceiver 36 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 18 and the transceiver 36 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like. Additionally, the transceiver 36 may employ a LAN signal for communicating with a computer network in the restaurant.
A power cord 40 is coupled to and extends away from the table 12. The power cord 40 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 18. The power cord 40 has a distal end 42 with respect to the table 12 and a male plug 44 is electrically coupled to the distal end 42. The male plug 44 engages a power source 46 comprising a female electrical outlet.
In use, the touch screen at each of the seating locations 24 is turned on when the proximity sensor 22 associated with the seating location 24 senses the patron 26. In this way the patron 26 can begin browsing the menu as soon as the patron 26 sits down. Additionally, the patron 26 can order from the menu on the touch screen 28. In this way the patron 26 can order without waiting for a server to take their order. Additionally, the patron 26 can pay for their order using the card readers 30 at the table 12. In this way the patron 26 can order food and pay for their food without having to wait for a server. Additionally, the transceiver 36 facilitates the patron 26's order to be immediately communicated to the kitchen to begin making the order.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
