MOVABLE PRESENTATION SYSTEM AND EXHIBITION METHOD

Abstract

For trade fair visitors, the trade fair visit should be possible in such a way as to produce less stress and use up less energy. There is therefore a need for a presentation system with which it is possible to spare the trade fair visitor (the future customer) unnecessary walking, so the trade fair visit can become a pleasantly relaxed experience. This is achieved by an exhibition or presentation at a trade fair, in which a plurality of presentation platforms (3) are coupled to one another in the manner of a train, and the coupled presentation platforms are moved at a speed of less than 5 km/h in a continuous loop on a predetermined transport path (2) and in a predetermined direction, with this taking place past stationary areas or regions (5) for visitors to the trade fair, on which they may firstly be “stationary”, without missing out on any trade fair stand.

Claims

1. System for presenting one or more of goods, exhibits, or services for customers or visitors, the system comprising: at least one stationary area (5), at least one movable transport system (2) having a plurality of presentation platforms (3), together forming a transport device, wherein the plurality of presentation platforms (3) pass the stationary area (5) one after the other, wherein: at least one presentation platform (3) is a trade fair stand manned by staff, or at least one presentation platform (3) is a goods shelf, or at least one presentation platform (3) carries at least one exhibit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stationary area (5) is a communication region and the closed spaces are one or more connected halls or a supermarket.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transport system (2) is a continuous transport system, into which the presentation platforms (3) are coupled individually and from which the presentation platforms (3) are decoupled individually.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the transport system is circular or at least in a part U-shaped.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transport system (2) is connected to a floor of a space or in an open air.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transport system (2) is driven and moves at least one of the presentation platforms (3) along the transport device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system (1) comprises at least one belt conveyor, accessible to the customers or visitors, and transports the customers or visitors in and/or counter to the running direction of the transport system (2).

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system (1) comprises a service station and/or at least one of the presentation platforms (3) comprises a storage region in/from which consumables or goods are disposed of from the presentation platforms (3) and/or replenished.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system (1) comprises a parking position for at least one presentation platform (3) when the transport system (2) is active.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stationary area (5) has at least one interactive terminal, with which the customers or visitors establish contact with each individual presentation platform (3) and/or order goods from a shelf.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein a speed of the transport system (2) is regulated externally and/or from a presentation platform (3).

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a safety device for monitoring at least one of a safety region of the stationary device (5) in the immediate surroundings of the presentation platforms (3) or a safety spacing of two directly consecutive presentation platforms (3), and the safety device brings about an emergency shutdown of the transport system (2) when a breach of the safety region is detected.

13. Method for exhibiting or presenting at a trade fair, a public exhibition, a public auction or a sales event, the method comprising: coupling together a plurality of presentation platforms (3) in the manner of a train; and moving the coupled presentation platforms at a speed of less than 5 km/h in a continuous loop, on a predetermined transport path, and in a predetermined direction past a stationary region (5) for visitors to the trade fair, the exhibition, the auction or the sales event.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a first and a last of the presentation platforms (3) coupled in the manner of a train are coupled to one another, and all the coupled presentation platforms (3) are moved as a closed chain of presentation platforms.

15. Circulating device for exhibition to a large number of distributed observers or interested parties having: a transport system (2) and a large number of presentation platforms (3), coupled to one another to form a continuous transport device, guided on the transport system (2) and is therefore movable, the presentation platforms (3) are booths of a trade fair, wherein the transport system (2) is arranged on a floor and the continuous presentation platforms (3) are movable along the transport system (2), driven by a motor.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the transport system (2) is circular or at least in a part U-shaped.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the presentation platforms (3) are coupled into the continuous transport device individually and/or are decoupled individually.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of presentation platforms (3) one after the other pass a large number of stationary devices distributed along the transport system (2).

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein a speed of the presentation platforms (3) is regulatable from outside the transport system (2) or from a presentation platform (3).

20. The system according to claim 15, having a central controller to control the longitudinally movable continuous transport device.

21. (canceled)

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport system is connected to a ceiling or a wall of a room or a hall.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one presentation platform is driven to move one or more of the plurality of presentation platforms along the transport device.

24. The system according to claim 2, wherein the communication region is provided with at least one personnel.

25. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one presentation platform comprises the trade fair stand.

26. The system according claim 11, wherein the system comprises a central controller for controlling at least one of the system or the at least one platform.

27. The system according to claim 12, wherein the safety device comprises optical sensors for monitoring the at least one of the safety region of the safety spacing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Embodiments of the system will be described in more detail below with the aid of drawings, the invention not being limited to the embodiments shown. Technical features that are essential to the invention and can only be inferred from the drawings are within the scope of the invention and can advantageously develop the invention alone or in the combination shown.

[0050] It applies to the entire description and the claims that the expression “a” is used as an indefinite article and does not limit the number of parts to a single one. If “a” is to have the meaning of “only one”, this is to be understood by a person skilled in the art from the context and is clearly disclosed by the use of suitable expressions such as, for example, “a single”.

[0051] The drawings in detail show examples of the claimed invention(s). In the drawings:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows two circulating closed systems in a hall,

[0053] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1,

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a U-shaped closed system,

[0055] FIG. 4 is a view from above of a closed system in a hall with a bridge,

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a bridge over the moving presentation platforms of FIG. 4,

[0057] FIG. 6 shows presentation platforms as goods shelves, with replacement goods on pallets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a view from above into a trade fair hall with two separate subsystems 1a, 1b of a movable goods, exhibit and service presentation system according to the invention. As the two separate subsystems 1a, 1b are substantially identically constructed, only the subsystem 1a is described in detail below for FIG. 1. This description also applies—mutatis mutandis—accordingly to the subsystem 1b. In the embodiment shown, this may, for example, be a trade fair hall, an exhibition space or the salesroom of a market for food or a bookshop.

[0059] The subsystem 1a comprises a transport system 2, which is formed as a rail mounted on or in the hall floor. This rail may be mounted especially for a trade fair, an exhibition or another event and only remain in the hall for as long as the corresponding event lasts. In other words, once the transport system 2 has been dismantled, the hall can be otherwise used again and the transport system 2 has to be constructed again when it is required again. In other words, the transport system 2 can be constructed, dismantled, temporarily stored and transported from one site to another site. In this case, the transport system 2 may be composed of individual modules, so different courses of the transport system 2 can be presented at different sites.

[0060] In particular in the case of a new build or complete renovation of halls, the rails for the goods, exhibit and service presentation system may alternatively be let into the floor or, alternatively, fastening elements for the rails may be provided. Instead of the rails, magnetic loops, known for example from industrial applications and forming part of the transport system 2, may be laid in the floor. Instead of on or in the floor, the transport system 2 may also be mounted on the hall ceiling and/or an inner wall of the hall, as was described in detail in the above general description.

[0061] A plurality of presentation platforms 3, which are arranged spaced apart from one another and moved along the rail of the transport system 2 at a low speed through the hall, are arranged on the transport system 2. The transport system 2 with the presentation platforms 3 is surrounded by at least one stationary area or region 5, in which the visitors can stay while they observe the passing presentation platforms 3, remove goods therefrom or climb thereon in particular when these are trade fair stands manned by people, as outlined in FIG. 1.

[0062] Stores are arranged in the interior of the part system 1a in the embodiment. If the presentation platforms 3 are goods shelves, these can repeatedly be filled with new goods from the store region, so the presented goods shelves always appear well filled, which encourages buying.

[0063] As the respective turning regions 4 have relatively narrow diameters, the presentation platforms 3 are mounted on turntables (not shown) which rotate the presentation platform 3 when travelling through the turning region 4, so the front 3a of the presentation platform is perpendicularly intersected centrally in each position by a straight line through the centre point of the turning circle.

[0064] Access for the visitors into the hall is possible through the normal entrance as the visitor does not have to cross the transport system 2 to arrive at the stationary region 5. Tables and chairs can be set up in the stationary region 5 so the visitor can sit down. Electronic apparatuses may be placed on or integrated in the tables, with which apparatuses the visitor can order goods seen, for example in the case of a market, receive information about the goods on the next shelf that passes the region in which he is staying, or order goods. In the case of an exhibition or an auction, he can for example retrieve information about the exhibits or their prices, etc. at the electronic apparatus. At a trade fair, he can obtain information about the exhibitors via the electronic apparatuses and, for example, establish contact with an interesting exhibitor and arrange a trade fair appointment with him.

[0065] In addition, installed in the stationary regions 5 may be wide screens, on which the goods or exhibits presented on the presentation platforms 3, or information about the businesses presented on the trade fair stands, can be shown. In this case, in particular, the information can be shown for the presentation platforms 3, which are just approaching the stationary region 5, from which the screen can be seen.

[0066] A perspective view of the system 1 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0067] FIG. 3 shows an alternative arrangement of the movable goods, exhibit and service presentation system according to the invention. The transport system 2 with the rails is configured as a closed system 1 as in FIG. 1, but in this embodiment it has a U-shape.

[0068] Otherwise, the system of FIG. 2 substantially corresponds to the system 1a, 1b of FIG. 1. In other words, the hall is freely accessible without the visitors having to cross the rails of the transport system 2 to arrive at the stationary region 5.

[0069] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a further inventive movable goods, exhibit and service presentation system which is installed in a hall. The system 1 is in turn a closed system 1 with a transport system 2 with rails and a large number of presentation platforms 3, which are movably arranged on the rails and can be moved by the transport system 2 along the rails.

[0070] In contrast to the systems 1, 1a, 1b shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stationary region 5 is arranged in the interior of the transport system 2 forming a closed circle, so the visitors have to cross the rails to reach the stationary region 5. Therefore, the system of FIG. 3 has a bridge 6, which extends over the transport system 2. The bridge 6 has a clearance height, which is higher than a predetermined permissible maximum height of structures on the presentation platforms 3. The bridge 6 can be reached by staircases 6a or by lifts 6b, so even wheelchair users or people with disabilities can easily reach the stationary region 5.

[0071] In the embodiment shown, a trade fair hall is shown, with a large number of trade fair stands, which are constructed on the presentation platforms 3. In the example shown, all the presentation platforms 3 have a size of, for example, 4 m by 8 m and a spacing from one another of, for example, 2 m. These dimensions are, however, only examples which do not in any way limit the scope of the invention. Further devices 7, 8 are arranged in the stationary region 5 and outside the system 1. These are, for example, mobile containers, which are deposited in a fixed manner in the hall during the trade fair.

[0072] The devices 8 in the stationary region 5 may, for example, be catering stations to be able to supply the visitors in the stationary region 5 with drinks and snacks. The devices 8 may also be information stands manned by staff and/or be electronic information stands. The devices 7 may, for example, be supply and disposal stations, which can supply the trade fair stands with material etc. These may be stationary first aid stations, workshops for trade fair constructors or other necessary supply stations.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view into the trade fair hall of FIG. 4. It can be seen that the trade fair stands on the presentation platforms 3 have three substantially closed sides and one open side facing the stationary region 5. Interested visitors who are interested in a consultation or intensive information can climb from the stationary region 5 onto the presentation platform 3 and travel along on the presentation platform 3. In this case, the staff of the trade fair stand can influence the movement speed of the presentation platform 3 by means of a, for example, electronic operating button to allow the visitor to climb on safely. For example, the presentation platform can be stopped when a disabled person or a wheelchair user would like to board. In this case, the stopping of the presentation platform 3 leads to the stoppage of the entire transport system 2.

[0074] In the embodiment shown, the back walls of the trade fair stands are also shown as closed walls. These walls are preferably connected to the presentation platform 3 in such a way that in the event of an emergency in the hall, they can easily and rapidly be overturned. As a result, the visitors in the stationary region 5 can reach the hall exits over the bridge 6 and via the presentation platforms 3 and through the free spaces between the presentation platforms 3 so the danger of panic owing to bottlenecks in the escape path is reduced.

[0075] The front and the sides of the presentation platforms 3 have claddings 3b projecting to or just above the floor of the stationary region 5 to prevent visitors, in particular when climbing onto the presentation platform 3, from being able to reach with their toes below the presentation platform 3. The presentation platform 3 preferably has a cladding 3b of this type all the way around.

[0076] The spacing between two consecutive platforms can be predetermined by the transport system 2 on the rails. If the transport system 2 is a rail-free transport system, sensors can continuously check the spacing of two consecutive presentation platforms 3 and keep it substantially constant via a controller or regulator. The space between the opposing sides of two consecutive presentation platforms 3 may be free, as shown. The space between the opposing sides of two consecutive presentation platforms 3 may, however, also be covered, for example, in the case of conductive rails. The covering (not shown,) has to be designed in such a way here that it can resiliently deform on journeys around curves (bellows principle) or can partially, for example, pivot below the presentation platforms 3. The covering in this case should be stable such that in the event of panic, people can walk over the coverings without the danger of the coverings collapsing under their weight.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a salesroom for, for example, supermarket goods, books, clothing etc. The salesroom has a region with the system 1, a stationary area or region 5 and a cash desk region with the known conventionally arranged goods shelves. Arranged on the presentation platforms 3 are goods shelves, on which the goods are arranged as in the normal supermarket. The visitor can now remove the desired goods from the shelves and place them in a shopping cart. Together with the shelves, pallets of goods are stored on the presentation platforms 3 so as to be able to rapidly replace the goods removed from the goods shelf. Shop employees can climb onto the presentation platforms from the side remote from the stationary region 5 and replace goods removed from the goods shelves.

[0078] The customer can thus comfortably wait at a site such that the entire, or at least the most important part, of the goods selection is moved past him on the presentation platforms 3. For goods and/or promotions that are less often requested, stationary shelves, for example as shown in the cash desk region, may also be present. As the shelves move with the presentation platforms 3 through the transport system 2 along the stationary region 5, numerous customers can remove goods simultaneously or consecutively from the shelves without any jostling occurring.

[0079] To indicate to the shop staff that the goods shelf on a presentation platform 3 has to be filled, the shelves may have sensors which indicate to the shop staff, for example on a stationary computer or a mobile apparatus, such as a mobile telephone or similar, that at least one goods item on the goods shelf has fallen below a predetermined minimum piece number. The sensors may be local weight sensors, which detect on the basis of the weight when there are few goods on one position on the goods shelf, or optical sensors, which for every goods item separately record each time the goods shelf is reached into to remove the goods and by simple subtraction of the number of removed goods from the number of the same goods arranged in the goods shelf, establish that a supply of these goods in the goods shelf has fallen below the predetermined minimum piece number. Alternatively, the sensors may also switch on a light signal at the presentation platform when it is necessary to reload at least one goods item.

[0080] As already described above, the goods may also be books and other printed articles and/or games, cards, pens/pencils, etc., in other words every type of article to be found, for example, in a DIY store, a garden centre, a health food store, a drugstore, a haberdashery, a perfumery, or any other retail or wholesale business. The scope of the invention is not determined by the trade fair stands, goods or exhibits transported on the presentation platforms 3.

[0081] Although the movable goods, exhibit and service presentation system according to the invention has been shown in the drawings exclusively as a system 1 installed in a single hall, it is again explicitly pointed out that this system 1 can advantageously also be installed between the halls in a plurality of halls and/or over a plurality of storeys and/or in the open air. In this case, all the essential elements of the system 1, such as the transport systems 2 with the presentation platforms 3, can be constructed on site, or the system can, in particular in new halls or plants, be at least a partially fixed component of the building or plant. The system 1 may consist of as many subsystems 1a, 1b as desired, which are monitored by a central controller or local subcontrollers for each subsystem 1a, 1b.