Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02349356 2001-04-25
[Translation from German]
Description:
The invention relates to a seat, in particular a bucket seat, having a seating
surface
and a backrest surface.
Such seats are becoming increasingly widespread in public facilities and
buildings.
In particular, bucket seats have been found to be comfortable and durable
seats at big
events. Bucket seats thus are increasingly being installed in soccer and
football stadiums.
The seat is ergonomically adapted to the seated posture that a person assumes
when
sitting in a relaxed manner. Despite this adaptation to a relaxed manner of
sitting, the
bucket seat is comparatively cheap to manufacture and assemble. In addition,
it takes up
relatively little space, so that the seats follow one another in close order.
These seats
hitherto have been made primarily of synthetic materials. They may vary in
color, and an
inviting mood is created by an aptly selected color combination. In addition,
units, for
example in blocks of seats, can be made recognizable by selection of the same
color.
However, thus far no effort has ever been made to exploit the large surfaces
provided by
seats for other purposes.
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CA 02349356 2001-04-25
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve the seat of the
type
mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the supply of surfaces provided
by it is made
commercially productive.
According to the invention, this object is accomplished in that at least one
of the two
surfaces is designed as an advertising surface. This results in a considerable
additional
supply of advertising surface. Notice is taken of this surface by users of the
seats and,
specifically, in a state in which they are especially receptive. Regardless of
where the seat
is used, as a rule the user is in a state of leisure, in which an
advertisement usually is
unconsciously associated with the pleasant experience of this leisure time. In
addition, the
advertising surface may also be selectively associated with the place at which
the seat is
located. Thus, seats located in a sports stadium are especially suitable for
the display of
advertising for sporting goods or subsequent sports events.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the advertising
[surface] is
designed as a device for the replacement of advertising vehicles. In this way,
the
advertising surface can be used in various ways for advertising activities. As
a result, on
the one hand, the advertising needs of a plurality of advertisers can be taken
into account
and, on the other, variety can be provided for the seats installed. The
respective users of
the seat can be pleasantly surprised by the various advertisements that the
seat offers on
different occasions.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the device
consists of
replaceable advertising vehicles in a transparent plate, under which an
advertising vehicle
is fastened. In this way, the respective advertising vehicle can be secured
against the wear
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CA 02349356 2001-04-25
and tear which is to be expected with varied use of the seat. Each user of the
seat will find
the advertising presented in each instance in a well preserved condition, so
that it can give
a good and favorable picture of the goods or services offered in each case.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a compartment
suitable
for accommodation of the advertising vehicle may be provided below the
transparent plate
in the line of sight. This compartment is reliably covered by the transparent
plate, so that
the advertising vehicle can be safely and considerately presented to the view
of an
interested person. In particular, care is taken to see that the advertising
vehicle is optimally
arranged in the compartment for the respective advertising purpose.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the compartment
may
be firmly connected with the plate. This ensures that no moisture can
penetrate into the
compartment and that the respective advertising vehicle cannot be stolen or
removed from
the compartment in some other unlawful way.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one part
of the
plate may be designed as a cover closing the compartment. In this way, the
cover can
easily be swung away from the plate, so that the compartment is readily
accessible and the
advertising vehicle can be optimally arranged in the compartment.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, an advertising
vehicle
may be inserted into the seating surface as well as into the backrest surface.
The
advertising surface made available is thereby considerably increased as
compared to
arrangement of the advertising surface in the region of the seating surface
alone. In
addition, the seat as a whole also offers versatility in terms of advertising.
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CA 02349356 2001-04-25
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a common cover is
provided for all compartments provided in the seating surface and in the
backrest surface.
This embodiment is especially suitable for those cases in which the entire
advertising
surface made available by the seat is needed by the same interested
advertisers. In this
case, rapid replacement and arrangement of the respective advertising means
can be
performed by swinging away the common cover. Additional particulars follow
from the
detailed description below and the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred
embodiment of the invention is represented by way of example and wherein:
Figure 1 shows a side view of a bucket seat,
Figure 2, a side view of a bucket seat with plate raised,
Figure 3, a top view of a bucket seat with plate closed,
Figure 4, a top view of a bucket seat with transparent plate lifted,
Figure 5, a front view of a bucket seat according to line of sight I in Figure
1 with
plate folded down,
Figure 6, a front view according to Figure 5, but with transparent plate
lifted,
Figure 7, a cross section through a bucket seat according to the sectional
direction VII-VII in Figure 3,
Figure 8, a cross section through a bucket seat according to Figure 7, but
with
plate lifted,
Figure 9, a cross section through a bucket seat according to Figure 8, but
with
two separate plates for a seating surface on the one hand and a
backrest surface on the other,
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CA 02349356 2001-04-25
Figure 10, a top view of a bucket seat according to Figure 9 with plates
closed in
the seating surface as well as in the backrest surface,
Figure 11, a cross section through a bucket seat with separate compartments of
the seating surface on the one hand and the backrest surface on the
other, which are accessible via a hinged plate,
Figure 12, a cross section through a bucket seat with fixed seating and
backrest
surfaces in each instance, below which are mounted fixed
compartments, and
Figure 13, a cross section through a bucket seat with a hinged plate that is
firmly
connected with a compartment.
A bucket seat (1 ) consists essentially of a seating surface (2), a backrest
surface (3)
and a contact surface (4). The contact surface (4) of the bucket seat (1 ) is
supported on a
bottom surface (5). The seating surface (2) is smoothly converted, in the form
of a dish,
into the backrest surface (3).
Both the seating surface (2) and the backrest surface (3) are in each instance
designed as advertising surfaces. An advertising surface (6) is provided below
the seating
surface (2), an advertising surface (7) is provided below the backrest surface
(3). The
advertising surfaces (6, 7) may be connected with one another, but it is
alternatively
possible to provide a partial advertising surface (8) below the seating
surface (2) and a
partial advertising surface (9) below the backrest surface which is not in
connection with the
partial advertising surface (8). In this case, the partial advertising surface
(8) can be closed
off by a cover (10), the partial advertising surface (9) by a cover (11 ). The
two covers (10,
CA 02349356 2001-04-25
11 ) are in each instance fastened, hinged on axes of rotation (12, 13), to
the seating
surface (2) and to the backrest surface (3). In size they are designed
corresponding to the
partial advertising surfaces (8, 9). When the covers (10, 11 ) are closed,
they project into
the compartments (14, 15) assigned to them in each instance such that a space
(21 )
accommodating an advertising vehicle (20) remains between a lower surface (16,
17) of the
cover (10, 11 ) projecting into these compartments (14, 15) and a bottom
surface (18, 19)
delimiting the compartments (14, 15). If the advertising vehicle (20) is
designed for
example as a printed sheet (22), the space (21 ) is designed correspondingly
narrow, so
that the cover (11 ) presses the advertising vehicle (20) firmly on the bottom
surface (19).
There care is taken to see that the cover (11 ), at its narrow side (23)
facing the axis of
rotation (13), is provided with a locking mechanism (24) by which the cover
engages in a
recess, not illustrated, of the compartment (15).
In addition, however, a space (25) may alternatively be provided, particularly
in the
seating surface (2), that is suitable for the accommodation of large objects,
for example of
balls (26, 27). These advantageously are inserted into holders (28, 29) that
are supported
on the bottom surface (14) of the space (25).
In each case, the covers (10, 11 ) are designed transparent, for example of a
transparent synthetic material. In addition, the latter may undergo processing
by which the
transparent covers (10, 11 ) are designed as a magnifying glass through which
the details of
the advertising vehicle (20) are readily recognizable, regardless of whether
they are printed
in the form of a sheet (22) or exhibited in the form of objects, for example
balls (26, 27).
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In the case of connected advertising surfaces (6, 7), these may alternatively
be
covered by a common cover (30). The latter, in the closed state of the
advertising surfaces
(6, 7), extends over all parts of these advertising surfaces (6, 7). At the
same time, the
common cover (30) may be designed completely removable, so that it is removed
from the
bucket seat (1 ) when the advertising vehicle (20) is inserted into the
compartments (14, 15).
Of course, the cover (30) may be mounted hinged in the region of the backrest
surface (3)
(Figure 2) or in the region of the seating surface (2) via an appropriately
arranged axis (31 ).
In these cases, the common cover (30) is swung away from the seating surface
(2) and the
backrest surface (3) about the axis (31 ) extending along a transverse edge,
so that the
compartments (14, 15) are opened for insertion of the respective advertising
vehicle (20).
The common cover (30) is then swung back, so that it engages in a
corresponding recess
(33) of the seating surface (2) or backrest surface (3). This recess (33) then
is provided
with a seal (34), so that when the cover (30) is closed, any water collecting
on the seating
surface (2) cannot penetrate into the compartment (14).
The seal (34) has a U-shaped cross section, between the two arms of which is
inserted an edge (35) surrounding the common cover. The common cover (30) is
swung in
the direction of the seating surface (2) with this installed seal (34). Then
the seal (34)
engages in the recess (33), so that the arm of the seal (34) projecting into
the seating
surface (2) presses on a surface (36) of the common cover (30) forming the
seating surface
(2) and, in this way, prevents the penetration of water into the compartment
(14).
The covers (10, 11 ) are alternatively designed transparent. They close off
the
compartments (14, 15) watertight with seals (37, 38). The respective
advertising vehicles
CA 02349356 2001-04-25
(20) lie within these compartments (14, 15).
To minimize sealing problems, the seating surface (2) and the sealing surface
(3)
may consist of a common dish (39) which delimits the bucket seat (1 ) on its
side opposite
the contact surface (4). Then either the entire dish (39) or the regions of
the seating
surface (2) and backrest surface (3) lying in the region of the compartments
(14, 15) may
consist of a transparent material (40, 41 ). Below this dish (39), in the
region of the
transparent material (40, 41 ), the compartments (14, 15) are firmly
integrated into the
bucket seat, for example are fastened to the dish (39). They may be opened and
closed by
doors (42, 43) hinged below the dish (39). There, locks (44, 45) are
integrated into the
doors (42, 43). The doors (42, 43) have seals that close off the compartments
(14, 15)
watertight.
After the doors (42, 43) are opened, the respective advertising vehicles (20)
can be
inserted into the compartments (14, 15). For this purpose, insertable
supporting racks,
which are not represented, are provided within the compartments (14, 15).
Another possibility for a watertight seal of the compartments (14, 15) is
provided in
that a compartment (46) accommodating the advertising vehicles is fastened to
a door (48)
mounted hinged in the seating surface (2). This door (48) consists of a
transparent material
(40), providing a view into the compartment (46). At its end (49) opposite the
axis of
rotation (47), the compartment (46) is closed off by a closure (50). In the
turned-up state of
the closure (50), advertising vehicles may be inserted into the compartment.
Then, the
closure (50) is actuated, so that the compartment (46) is closed. After that,
the door (48) is
swung about the axis of rotation (47), so that the compartment (46) projects
into a recess
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CA 02349356 2001-04-25
(51 ), which is closed off by the door (48) at its upper edge lying in the
seating surface (2).
In addition, the recess (51 ) in the region of the upper edge (52) may be
sealed off by an
additional seal, not represented, which extends to the edges delimiting the
door (48).
A similar fastening for a corresponding compartment is possible in the region
of the
backrest surface (3).
Instead of hinged covers (10, 11 ) and a hinged door (48), in each instance
coverings that can be completely removed from corresponding recesses (33) may
alternatively be used. In addition, sliding closures, which can be displaced
within the
seating surface (2) and backrest surface (3) in order to be able to open the
compartments
(14, 15), may alternatively be used.
According to another embodiment, it is alternatively possible to design the
device for
the replacement of advertising vehicles (20) as a boxlike slide-in element
that
accommodates removable advertising vehicles. A typical embodiment consists in
that the
boxlike element may be designed as a holder, open toward the top and
transparent at least
in regions, which is mounted by its back to a back of the bucket seat. Here
the advertising
vehicles may be designed as individual printed elements that are alternatively
called flyers.
These advertising elements may be removed and taken along by a respective
user.
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