Patent Application
20220254283
Embodiments of the invention relate to a signage system, in particular street signs for advertisements. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a digital signage system.
Street signs are often used by shopkeepers to display messages in front of their businesses or in aisles within stores. Although many signage stands are known, most do not allow for multiple advertisements to be presented at once. What is needed is a better process for displaying multiple advertisements in a versatile way. A known standard sign has one or two sides where information can be provided. Known signs may receive a paper/board insert therein or may include a chalkboard or whiteboard where a user may write a temporary message. What is presented herein is a versatile signage system for having a unique mount presenting multiple faces for displaying information. Additionally, the present invention can include digital monitors for allowing content to be changed frequently and remotely. Additionally, the present invention can be utilized as a charging station for devices and/or electric vehicles.
The invention describes an improved signage system for advertising and a method for using the same. The unique construction of the signage mount allows for multiple displays to be presented on the same stand.
Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a signage system and method for providing diverse advertising content.
A first embodiment of the invention is directed to a signage system comprising a stand and at least one display mounted on the stand. The stand comprises a base adapted to be placed on the ground; an extension having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end connected to the base; an A-frame mount having an A-frame base, a first face, and a second face, wherein the first face extends at a first angle from a top surface of the A-frame base and the second face extends at a second angle from the top surface of the A-frame base, wherein the A-frame mount is connected to the top end of the extension. The at least one display comprises at least a first digital monitor mounted on the first face. The at least one display may comprise a second digital monitor mounted on the second face.
Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to method of presenting advertising to customers comprising providing a signage system, including a signage stand and at least one digital display, and receiving information wirelessly to be displayed on a first digital monitor and/or a second digital monitor.
Another embodiment is directed to a signage stand comprising a base adapted to be placed on the ground; an extension having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end connected to the base; and an A-frame mount connected to the top end of the extension. The A-frame mount comprises an A-frame base, a first face, and a second face, said first face formed by a first frame leg, a second frame leg, a top frame leg, and an intermediate arm, said first face extending at a first angle from a top surface of the A-frame base, said second face formed by a first frame leg, a second frame leg, a top frame leg, and an intermediate arm, and said second face extending at a second angle from the top surface of the A-frame base, wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle, and wherein the first face and the second face are each configured to receive a display thereon.
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a signage system and method for providing information wirelessly to the signage system for display on digital monitors. The signage system includes a stand and at least one display mounted on the stand. The stand includes a base, an extension, and an A-frame mount connected to the top of the extension, the A-frame mount having a first face and a second face each extending upwards at an angle from the A-frame base. The first face and the second face are configured to receive digital monitors thereon. The signage system further includes additional faces on both the top and bottom portions for receiving multiple additional advertising boards.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.
The following detailed description references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
In some embodiments, extension 20 may be a hollow cylindrical pole having a circular cross-section. In other embodiments, extension 20 may be a hollow rectangular pillar having a square cross-section. In other embodiments, extension 20 may be a hollow planar rectangular support having a rectangular cross-section. In other embodiments, extension 20 may be solid for providing additional support. In some embodiments, two or more spaced apart extensions 20 may be provided to provide additional support for the A-frame base 32 of the A-frame mount 30. In embodiments where extension 20 is hollow, one or more electrical wires may be provided within the lumen for connecting monitors 200 to a battery 16 or other power source that may be housed within the base 10. In some embodiments, one or more communication cables may be provided in the lumen for providing data to the monitors 200.
In some embodiments, the base 10 is a substantially planar square platform, as seen in
In some embodiments, the base 10 may include at least one rechargeable and/or replaceable battery 16 housed therein, as will be explained further below, for charging the monitors 200 or other devices. In some embodiments, base 10 may include an electrical cord and plug (not shown) for recharging a battery 16 and/or for providing power directly to the monitors 200. Electrical cord and plug may be stored in a waterproof sealed compartment in the base 10 when not in use. In some embodiments, the stand may include solar panels for recharging the battery 16 or other power source. Solar panels (not shown) may be located anywhere on the stand 100, preferably in locations which will receive the most amount of sunlight. In some embodiments, solar panels are provided on at least a top surface of the stand 100.
In some embodiments, the stand 100 may also act as a charging station. The stand may include at least one power outlet (not shown) for receiving a power plug or a USB cable for charging a user's device, such as a cell phone. In some embodiments, the stand may also include a power receptacle (not shown) for charging a user's electric vehicle. In some embodiments, the power source may be designed to provide at least a boost charge to an electric vehicle to enable a user to reach another electric vehicle charging station. In some embodiments, the stand is configured to be connected to a known power adapter for providing a station for electric vehicle charging.
A-frame mount 30 includes an A-frame base 32, a first face 40, and a second face 50. A-frame base 32 may be a rectangular base having a bottom surface 34, a top surface 36, two short sides 37, two long sides 38, and four corners 39. Bottom surface 34 is mounted on the extension 20, such as by welding, gluing, mechanical fasteners, or other attachment means. First face 40 and second face 50 extend at an angle R from the top surface of A-frame base 32. In some embodiments, angle R may be about 30-60 degrees. In some embodiments, angle R may be about 40 degrees. First face 40 and second face 50 are each attached to a long side 38 of A-frame base 32. In some embodiments, the first face 40 and the second face 50 are spaced apart by about 25-35 inches. In some embodiments, the first face 40 and the second face 50 are spaced apart by about 27 inches.
In some embodiments, first face 40 is substantially rectangular and includes a first frame leg 42, a second frame leg 44, a top frame leg 46, and an intermediate arm 48. A first end 41 of first frame leg 42 is attached to base 32 near a first corner 39 and a first end 43 of second frame leg 44 is attached to base 32 near a second corner 39. A second end 45 of first frame leg 42 and a second end 47 of second frame leg 44 are attached to top frame leg 46. Intermediate arm 48 extends across the rectangular opening formed between first frame leg 42 and second frame leg 44. In some embodiments, intermediate arm 48 includes holes or openings 49 for receiving an attachment means therein for attaching a display to the first face 40. In some embodiments, intermediate arm 48 includes an attachment means for attaching a display, such as monitor 200, to the first face 40. In some embodiments, top frame leg 46 includes holes or openings 49 for receiving an attachment means therein or includes an attachment means. In some embodiments, the attachment means may be bolts, screws, or other removable mechanical fasteners.
Second face 50 may be substantially similar to first face 40. In some embodiments, second face 50 is substantially rectangular and includes a first frame leg 52, a second frame leg 54, a top frame leg 56, and an intermediate arm 58. A first end 51 of first frame leg 52 is attached to base 32 near a third corner 39 and a first end 53 of second frame leg 54 is attached to base 32 near a fourth corner 39. A second end 55 of first frame leg 52 and a second end 57 of second frame leg 54 are attached to top frame leg 56. Intermediate arm 58 extends across the rectangular opening formed between first frame leg 52 and second frame leg 54. In some embodiments, intermediate arm 58 includes holes or openings 59 for receiving an attachment means therein for attaching a display, such as monitor 200, to the second face 50. In some embodiments, intermediate arm 58 includes an attachment means for attaching a display to the second face 50. In some embodiments, top frame leg 56 includes holes or openings 59 for receiving an attachment means therein or includes an attachment means. In some embodiments, the attachment means may be bolts, screws, or other removable mechanical fasteners.
In some embodiments, first face 40 may receive a digital monitor 200 thereon. In some embodiments, second face 50 may include a different type or size of display. In some embodiments, second face 50 may receive a second digital monitor 200 thereon. In some embodiments, a first monitor 200 may be attached to the intermediate arm 48 and/or the top frame leg 46 of the first face 40. Additionally, a second monitor 200 may be attached to the intermediate arm 58 and/or the top frame leg 56 of the second face 50. In some embodiments, the display may be the same size or larger than the first face 40 or the second face 50. In some embodiments, monitor 200 may have a width of about 10-20 inches. In some embodiments, monitor 200 may have a width of about 12-14 inches. In some embodiments, the monitor 200 may have a height of about 35-45 inches. In some embodiments, the monitor 200 may have a width of about 13 inches and a height of about 38 inches. In some embodiments, the monitor 200 may have a thickness/depth of about 2-4 inches. In some embodiments, the monitor 200 may be 37.0 inch (diagonal) color monitor with a 1920×540 pixel resolution display. In some embodiments, the total height of the stand 100 with a display attached is between about 5-6 feet. In some embodiments, the total height of the stand 100 with a display attached is about 66 inches.
As seen in
As seen in
In addition to the first face 40 and second face 50 for receiving displays, the stand 100 is designed such that additional advertising may be provided thereon. In some embodiments, an advertising board 62 may be provided on a third face 60 of the A-frame mount 30 between first frame leg 42 and first frame leg 52 as seen in
Advertising board 62 may be a planar board of a thickness of about 0.25 inch to about 0.5 inch. In some embodiments, advertising board 62 may be substantially V-shaped with a flat bottom 64, a first side 66, a second side 68, and a top edge 67, s seen in
In some embodiments, advertising board 62 may be substantially Y-shaped having a first side 66 and a second side 68 and a top edge 67, and a bottom rectangular stem 63, as seen in
In some embodiments, an additional advertising assembly 80 is provided on a bottom portion of stand 100 surrounding the extension 20. Advertising assembly 80 includes a fifth face 82, a sixth face 84, a seventh face 86, and an optional eighth face 88.
With reference to
In some embodiments, all or part of base 10, extension 20, and A-frame mount 30 may be comprised of any suitable material, such as metal or polymers. In some embodiments, some or all components are made of stainless steel or aluminum. In some embodiments, all or part of frame 220 may comprise a metal material, such as aluminum. In some embodiments, back cover 230 may comprise sheet metal. In some embodiments, front protector 240 may be comprised of a transparent material such as acrylic, Plexiglas®, Lexan®, polycarbonate resin thermoplastic, or another polymer.
In some embodiments, the monitor 200 may comprise a processor 255 and/or a memory 260 for receiving and storing data. Monitor 200 is configured to be attached to a power source, such as a battery 16 or an electrical cord to be plugged into a standard outlet, via port 234. Monitor 200 is also configured to be attached to a computing device 702, via port 236. Monitor 200 may also be configured to receive data from a computing device 702 or other peripheral device wirelessly or through a wired data connection, such that the advertising content or information displayed can be updated easily and frequently.
Also attached to system bus 704 is graphics card 710. In some embodiments, graphics card 710 may not be a physically separate card, but rather may be integrated into the motherboard or the CPU 706. In some embodiments, graphics card 710 has a separate graphics-processing unit (GPU) 712, which can be used for graphics processing or for general purpose computing (GPGPU). Also on graphics card 710 is GPU memory 714. Connected (directly or indirectly) to graphics card 710 is computer display 716 for user interaction. In some embodiments no display is present, while in others it is integrated into computing device 702. Similarly, peripherals such as keyboard 718 and mouse 720 are connected to system bus 704. Like computer display 716, these peripherals may be integrated into computing device 702 or absent. Also connected to system bus 704 is local storage 722, which may be any form of computer-readable media, and may be internally installed in computing device 702 or externally and removably attached.
Finally, network interface card (NIC) 724 is also attached to system bus 704 and allows computing device 702 to communicate over a network such as network 726. NIC 724 can be any form of network interface known in the art, such as Ethernet, ATM, fiber, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi (i.e., the IEEE 802.11 family of standards). NIC 724 connects computing device 702 to local network 726, which may also include one or more other computers, such as computer 728, and network storage, such as data store 730. Local network 726 is in turn connected to Internet 732, which connects many networks such as local network 726, remote network 734 or directly attached computers such as computer 736. In some embodiments, computing device 702 can itself be directly connected to Internet 732.
The computer program of embodiments of the invention comprises a plurality of code segments executable by a computing device for performing the steps of various methods of the invention. The steps of the method may be performed in the order discussed, or they may be performed in a different order, unless otherwise expressly stated. Furthermore, some steps may be performed concurrently as opposed to sequentially. Also, some steps may be optional. The computer program may also execute additional steps not described herein. The computer program, system, and method of embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof, which broadly comprises server devices, computing devices, and a communications network.
The computer program of embodiments of the invention may be responsive to user input. As defined herein user input may be received from a variety of computing devices including but not limited to the following: desktops, laptops, calculators, telephones, smartphones, smart watches, in-car computers, camera systems, or tablets. The computing devices may receive user input from a variety of sources including but not limited to the following: keyboards, keypads, mice, trackpads, trackballs, pen-input devices, printers, scanners, facsimile, touchscreens, network transmissions, verbal/vocal commands, gestures, button presses or the like.
The monitor 200, server devices, and computing devices 702 may include any device, component, or equipment with a processing element and associated memory elements. The processing element may implement operating systems, and may be capable of executing the computer program, which is also generally known as instructions, commands, software code, executables, applications (“apps”), and the like. The processing element may include processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays, and the like, or combinations thereof. The memory elements may be capable of storing or retaining the computer program and may also store data, typically binary data, including text, databases, graphics, audio, video, combinations thereof, and the like. The memory elements may also be known as a “computer-readable storage medium” and may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash drive memory, floppy disks, hard disk drives, optical storage media such as compact discs (CDs or CDROMs), digital video disc (DVD), and the like, or combinations thereof. In addition to these memory elements, the server devices may further include file stores comprising a plurality of hard disk drives, network attached storage, or a separate storage network.
The computing devices may specifically include mobile communication devices (including wireless devices), workstations, desktop computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers, tablet computers, portable digital assistants (PDA), smartphones, and the like, or combinations thereof. Various embodiments of the computing device may also include voice communication devices, such as cell phones and/or smartphones. In preferred embodiments, the computing device will have an electronic display operable to display visual graphics, images, text, etc. In certain embodiments, the computer program facilitates interaction and communication through a graphical user interface (GUI) that is displayed via the electronic display. The GUI enables the user to interact with the electronic display by touching or pointing at display areas to provide information to the monitor 200.
The communications network may be wired or wireless and may include servers, routers, switches, wireless receivers and transmitters, and the like, as well as electrically conductive cables or optical cables. The communications network may also include local, metro, or wide area networks, as well as the Internet, or other cloud networks. Furthermore, the communications network may include cellular or mobile phone networks, as well as landline phone networks, public switched telephone networks, fiber optic networks, or the like.
The computer program may run on computing devices or, alternatively, may run on one or more server devices. In certain embodiments of the invention, the computer program may be embodied in a stand-alone computer program (i.e., an “app”) downloaded on a user's computing device or in a web-accessible program that is accessible by the user's computing device via the communications network. As used herein, the stand-alone computer program or web-accessible program provides users with access to an electronic resource from which the users can interact with various embodiments of the invention.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.
Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:
