SINGLE-PART, WATERTIGHT WALL COVERING DEVICE WITH A SCREEN

Abstract

A single-part, watertight wall covering device for dynamically displaying changing images on a wall surface on which the wall covering device is attached, includes a panel-type main body made of a transparent plastic having a front side and a rear side. At least one image generation element with a matrix-type pixel assembly is arranged on the rear side of the main body in such a way that an image generated by the image generation element/s is visible through the main body for an observer of the wall surface.

Claims

1. A single-part, watertight wall covering apparatus for dynamically presenting changing images on a wall surface on which the wall covering apparatus is mounted, comprising a panel-shaped main body made of a clear-as-glass plastic, having a front side and a rear side, wherein at least one image generation element having a matrix-type pixel arrangement is arranged on the rear side of the main body in a manner such that an image generated by the image generation element(s) is visible through the main body for a viewer of the wall surface.

2. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one image generation element is applied directly to the rear side of the main body in a thin-film process.

3. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one two-dimensional touch sensor is arranged on the rear side of the main body.

4. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the at least one two-dimensional touch sensor is applied directly to the rear side of the main body in a thin-film process.

5. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a control device is connected wirelessly or with wires to the image generation element for generating a static or dynamic image using the at least one image generation element.

6. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the control device is configured to connect wirelessly or with wires to a data network or/and to at least one external device.

7. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the control device is configured to reproduce on the at least one image generation element the content of a display device of an external device or/and of operating elements for external devices or/and of colors or color gradients or/and of geometric patterns or/and of web contents or/and of films or/and of electronic messages or/and of weather forecasts.

8. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the control device is configured for controlling at least one loudspeaker or/and a mixer faucet for setting a water temperature or/and an illumination device or/and an infrared source.

9. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which at least one loudspeaker driver is arranged on the rear side of the main body in a manner such that the main body is caused to oscillate for the purpose of reproducing acoustic signals.

10. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 3 to 8, in which a touch of the main body in the region of the two-dimensional touch sensor brings about a visual presentation of an operating element for operating an external device using an image generation element.

11. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which a plurality of image generation elements are arranged in the manner of a matrix on the rear side of the main body and are embodied with a common control device for generating an image, wherein each image generation element generates one part of the image and the arrangement of all image generation elements generates the entire image.

12. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the main body has at least one opening, in which no image generation element is arranged.

13. The wall covering element as claimed in claim 12, in which the opening serves for guiding through a water armature or a shower head or for letting through a waterfall.

14. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the control device is connected to a microphone, or the wall covering apparatus or the control device as a microphone, wherein the control device is configured to be operated using voice commands.

15. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which at least one two-dimensional touch sensor is arranged on the rear side of the main body.

16. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which a control device is connected wirelessly or with wires to the image generation element for generating a static or dynamic image using the at least one image generation element.

17. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the control device is configured for controlling at least one loudspeaker or/and a mixer faucet for setting a water temperature or/and an illumination device or/and an infrared source.

18. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which at least one loudspeaker driver is arranged on the rear side of the main body in a manner such that the main body is caused to oscillate for the purpose of reproducing acoustic signals.

19. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 18, in which a plurality of image generation elements are arranged in the manner of a matrix on the rear side of the main body and are embodied with a common control device for generating an image, wherein each image generation element generates one part of the image and the arrangement of all image generation elements generates the entire image.

20. The wall covering apparatus as claimed in claim 19, in which the main body has at least one opening, in which no image generation element is arranged.

Description

[0036] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and associated drawings, in which

[0037] FIG. 1A shows a shower enclosure in which two walls are covered by a proposed wall covering apparatus,

[0038] FIG. 1B shows exemplary operating elements, and

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a fitted kitchen, in which the wall above the kitchen block is covered with a proposed wall covering apparatus.

[0040] The shower enclosure illustrated in FIG. 1A has two single-part, watertight wall covering apparatuses for dynamically presenting changing images, which are mounted on the walls that connect in a corner of a room. Each of the two wall covering apparatuses has a panel-shaped main body 1 made of a clear-as-glass plastic. A full-area image generation element is arranged on the rear side of each main body 1. In other words, two walls of the shower enclosure are embodied in the form of large monitors that occupy the entire surface area of the respective wall. The glass walls, which are usually used for forming a shower enclosure, are not illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0041] A control device 6 for generating images is connected wirelessly to the image generation elements of the two wall covering apparatuses and to a data network and to an external device 7. The control device 6 acquires data optionally from the data network or from the external device 7 and controls the two image generation elements for presenting images, for example a movie with underwater recordings.

[0042] The control device 6 additionally controls loudspeakers, which are arranged behind the main bodies 1 of the wall covering apparatuses and emit sounds.

[0043] If the main body 1 is touched, a visual presentation of operating elements 5 is displayed. In FIG. 1B, exemplary embodiments of such operating elements 5 for a mixer faucet for selecting a water source (shower head 53 or waterfall 54), for setting the amount of water 51 and for setting the water temperature 52 are shown.

[0044] In the case of the wall covering apparatus arranged on the left-hand side in the selected illustration, the main body 1 has an opening 2, in which no image generation element is arranged and which serves for letting through a waterfall 4.

[0045] In the wall covering apparatus arranged on the right-hand side in the selected illustration, the main body 1 has an opening 2 that serves for guiding through the supply line for a shower head 3.

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a fitted kitchen, in which a large-area single-part, watertight wall covering apparatus, which is likewise configured for dynamically presenting image contents, is arranged in a region above the countertops and below wall cabinets that are secured to the walls.

[0047] The main body 1 of the wall covering apparatus protects the wall against wetness and soiling. At the same time, the image generation element arranged behind the main body 1 can be used to dynamically present a plurality of different image contents, which can be positioned freely by being dragged to a desired location using touch and swiping gestures. For example, it is thus possible to display above the cooktop an Internet browser, in which a recipe is displayed. At the same time, it is possible at different locations of the main body 1 for, for example, a weather forecast, a clock, a media player and the like to be displayed. Using loudspeakers arranged behind the main body, music can be emitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0048] 1 Main body [0049] 2 Opening [0050] 3 Shower head [0051] 4 Waterfall [0052] 5 Operating element [0053] 51 Operating element—amount of water [0054] 52 Operating element—water temperature [0055] 52 Operating element—water source shower head [0056] 52 Operating element—water source waterfall [0057] 6 Control device [0058] 7 External device