SEAT OCCUPANCY INDICATOR DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A seat occupancy indicator device and method; the seat occupancy indicator device includes a housing made of a rigid material (the housing has a housing-exterior and a housing-interior-volume); a plurality of indicator lights, the plurality of indicator lights disposed on the housing-exterior, the plurality of indicator lights viewable from a location outside of the housing; a control-circuit, the control-circuit located within the housing-interior-volume, the control-circuit communicatively coupled to the plurality of indicator lights. The seat occupancy indicator is useful for indicating occupancy of a seat.

Claims

1. A seat occupancy indication device, the device comprising: a housing comprising a rigid material and having an exterior and an interior; and a control-circuit located within the interior, and having an indicator light including a colored light emitting diode viewable outside of the housing a timer connected to the indicator light and a reset switch accessible on the exterior connected to the timer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a seat-attachment member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further includes a battery coupled to the control-circuit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further includes a photovoltaic cell array coupled to the control-circuit and the battery.

5-8. (canceled)

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the timer has 30-, 60-, and 90-minute intervals.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the reset button is mounted through the housing.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is effectively waterproof.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is effectively weatherproof.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising an additional indicator light wherein the indicator lights mount in series on a face of the housing.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes diffusion windows over the indicator lights.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the face is oriented perpendicular to a substantially horizontal surface when the device is attached to the seat.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the face is outwardly oriented relative to the seat when the attachment-member is attached to the seat.

17. (canceled)

18. A method of using a seat occupancy indicator, the method comprising the steps of: providing the indicator of claim 1; initiating the timer; and attaching the device to the seat.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of resetting the device.

20. (canceled)

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat occupancy indication device attaches to a seat.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein the timer is within the interior.

23. The device of claim 1 where the control circuit has two states: a timer-off state that comprises an un-running timer and an in use indicator light; and a timer-on state that comprises a running timer and a reserved indicator light.

24. A method of reserving a seating location comprising: providing a timer device in or on the seating location; sitting in the seating location;

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a seat occupancy indicator device and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat occupancy indicator device during an in-use condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat occupancy indicator device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the seat occupancy indicator device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the seat occupancy indicator device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using seat occupancy indicator device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seat occupancy indicator device and more particularly to a seat occupancy indicator device and method as used to improve the indication of seat occupancy.

[0018] Generally, the device is to indicate that a sun lounger or deck chair (or the like) is unavailable for use or readily available for use. The device would be designed to be a small light weight plastic box which would easily attach to sun loungers and deck chairs typically used on cruise ships and vacation resorts. The device would comprise of an internal switch inside the unit casing allowing management to adjust for 30, 60, 90-minute time intervals. The adjustments may be made to the internal timer mechanism through a tool unique only to the device. An internal timer (no user display or interface), counts down from the pre-programmed time. While time is counting down, a red LED indicator light remains illuminated, indicating to a potential user that the chair is currently in use/reserved. When countdown is complete, the red LED extinguishes and an adjacent green LED illuminates. The green light indicates to a prospective user that the chair is now available or has been unoccupied for the duration of the pre-programmed time. The device may further include energy saving features that disable the device completely when left idle for a predetermined time. The device features a counter reset button allowing the immediate user of the chair to reset the counter to its pre-programmed interval. When the user wants to temporarily leave the chair for; bathroom, swimming, snacks, any other short-term absence (within the pre-programmed time interval of the unit); the user depresses the reset button which will illuminate the red light indicating to others that while there is no one physically in the chair, the user has not relinquished the chair and will return.

[0019] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a device 100.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a device 100 during an in-use condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the device 100 may be beneficial for indicating seat occupancy. As illustrated, the device 100 may include a housing 110 comprised of a rigid material. The housing 110 has a housing-exterior 112 (FIG. 2) and a housing-interior-volume 114 (FIG. 2). Further, device 100 comprises a plurality of indicator lights 120, the plurality of indicator lights 120 disposed on the housing-exterior 112. The plurality of indicator lights 120 are viewable from a location outside of the housing. Further device 100 comprises a control-circuit 130 (FIG. 2), the control-circuit 130 is located within the housing-interior-volume 114. The control-circuit 130 is communicatively coupled to the plurality of indicator lights 120. The seat 5 occupancy indication device 100 is configured to attach to a seat 5 for indicating occupancy. The face 240 (FIG. 3) of the device 100 having the plurality of indicator lights 120 may be outwardly oriented relative to the seat when the attachment-member 116 (FIG. 2) is attached to the seat 5.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the device 100 may include a housing 110; the housing 110 is comprised a rigid material. The housing 110 has a housing-exterior 112 and a housing-interior-volume 114. The housing 110 includes an attachment-member 116 configured to attach the device 100 to the seat 5 (FIG. 1). The plurality of indicator lights 120 are disposed on the housing-exterior 112. The plurality of indicator lights 120 are viewable from a location outside of the housing 110. The plurality of indicator lights 120 may include at least one green light emitting diode. The plurality of indicator lights 120 may also include at least one red light emitting diode (other colors may be used). A control-circuit 130 is located within the housing-interior-volume 114. The control-circuit 130 is communicatively coupled to the plurality of indicator lights 120. The device 100 further includes a battery 200 communicatively coupled to the plurality of indicator lights 120 and the control-circuit 130. A photovoltaic cell array 210 may be configured to provide power to the plurality of indicator lights 120, the control-circuit 130 and charge the battery 200.

[0022] Further embodiments of the device 100 may comprise any conceived sizes and dimensions of the housing 110, attachment-member 116 and all corresponding components thereof. Conceived embodiments of the attachment-member 116 may include any means of fastening the device 100 to the seat 5 (FIG. 1) in a static position such that the plurality of indicator lights 120 may be readily visible. A preferred embodiment of the device 100 during an in-use condition 50 (FIG. 1) may include the attachment-member 116 configured to the housing-exterior 112 enabling the device 100 to affix to a seat 5 where the plurality of indicator lights 120 may be unobstructed. In this preferred embodiment, the attachment-member 116 may be affixed to the housing-exterior 112 in varying orientations as further illustrated.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, a front view of the seat occupancy indicator device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the device 100 includes a plurality of indicator lights 120 that are displayed in series on a face 240 of the housing 110. The housing 110 includes an attachment-member 116 configured to attach the device 100 to the seat 5 (FIG. 3). A control-circuit 130 is located within the housing-interior-volume 114 of the housing 110. The control-circuit 130 includes a timer (timing means) configured to enable, and alternatively disable, the at least one red light emitting diode, and alternatively, the at least one green light emitting diode after a predetermined time. The control-circuit 130 may further include an aperture configured for a reset-button 230; the reset-button 230 configured to enable, and alternatively, disable the timer. The housing 110 may further include diffusion windows 122 configured to diffuse the illumination provided by the plurality of indicator lights 120.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the seat occupancy indicator device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown the housing 110 of the device 100 includes an attachment-member 116 configured to attach the device 100 to a seat 5 (FIG. 1). The control-circuit 130 (FIG. 2) includes a timer configured to enable, and alternatively disable, the at least one red light emitting diode, and alternatively the at least one green light emitting diode after a predetermined time. A timer-switch 220 is accessible on the housing-exterior 112 configured to set the predetermined time. In a preferred embodiment, the timer-switch 220 may only be accessible via administrative privileges. As shown, the predetermined time includes, 30, 60 and 90-minute intervals. Other timing intervals may be used. Also shown is the reset-button 230 configured to enable, and alternatively, disable the timer.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 5 showing a flow diagram illustrating a method for using 500 a seat occupancy indicator 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for using 500 a seat occupancy indicator 100 may include one or more components or features of the device 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for using 500 a seat occupancy indicator device 100 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing a seat occupancy indicator device described herein; step two 502, setting the timer-switch to a required predetermined time; step three 503, attaching the device to the seat with the attachment-member; step four 504, resetting the device with the reset-switch to enable, and alternatively disable, the predetermined time interval countdown.

[0026] It should be noted that step 504 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of step of should not be interpreted as step for, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for using a seat occupancy indicator, are taught herein.

[0027] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.