U.S. patent application number 11/372385 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for stowable seat for wheel chair accessible kiosk.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Stephen Peter Mroz, Justin Christopher Rogers.
Application Number | 20070209293 11/372385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38477521 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070209293 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mroz; Stephen Peter ; et
al. |
September 13, 2007 |
Stowable seat for wheel chair accessible kiosk
Abstract
A stowable seating apparatus for a wheel chair accessible
electronic kiosk includes a first curved track attached to an
interior wall of the kiosk that has a horizontal portion and a
vertical portion; a second curved track attached to the opposite
interior wall of the kiosk, parallel to the first track, that has
corresponding horizontal and vertical portions; and a bench seat
that moves along the tracks on rollers between a horizontal seating
position and a vertical stowed position. The stowable seating
apparatus also includes a latch for retaining the seat in the
seating position and a tensioning spring that applies force to the
seat to assist in moving the seat from the stowed position to the
seating position. The seat in the seating position allows a
non-wheel chair user to sit in the same position relative to the
enclosure as a wheel chair user when the seat is stowed.
Inventors: |
Mroz; Stephen Peter;
(Rochester, MN) ; Rogers; Justin Christopher;
(Rochester, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IBM CORPORATION
3605 HIGHWAY 52 NORTH
DEPT. 917, BUILDING 006-1
ROCHESTER
MN
55901-7829
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
ARMONK
NY
|
Family ID: |
38477521 |
Appl. No.: |
11/372385 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/79.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 1/125 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/079.1 |
International
Class: |
E04H 6/00 20060101
E04H006/00 |
Claims
1. A stowable seating apparatus, comprising: a track having a
horizontal portion, a vertical portion and a curved portion
connecting the horizontal and vertical portions; and a seat adapted
to move along the track between the horizontal portion of the track
and the vertical portion of the track.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: rollers rotatably
mounted on the seat for moving the seat along the track.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat is in a seating
position when located along the horizontal portion of the track and
in a stowed position when located along the vertical portion of the
track.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a latching device
for retaining the seat in the seating position.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a tensioning
device applying force to the seat to assist in moving the seat from
the stowed position to the seating position.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tensioning device is a
spring which is stretched as the seat moves from the seating
position to the stowed position.
7. A stowable seating apparatus, comprising: a first track having a
horizontal portion, a vertical portion and a curved portion
connecting the horizontal and vertical portions; a second track
parallel to the first track, the second track having corresponding
horizontal, vertical and curved portions: and a seat being disposed
between the tracks and adapted to move along both the first and
second tracks between the horizontal portions of the tracks and the
vertical portions of the tracks.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the seat has a first end and a
second end opposite the first end and the apparatus further
comprises: first rollers rotatably mounted proximate to the first
end of the seat for moving the seat along the first track; and
second rollers rotatably mounted proximate to the second end of the
seat for moving the seat along the second track.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the seat is in a seating
position when located along the horizontal portions of the first
and second tracks and in a stowed position when located along the
vertical portions of the first and second tracks.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a latching device
for retaining the seat in the seating position.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a tensioning
device for applying force to the seat to assist in moving the seat
from the stowed position to the seating position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tensioning device is a
spring which is stretched as the seat moves from the seating
position to the stowed position.
13. A kiosk comprising: an enclosure having sufficient room inside
to accommodate a user in a wheelchair; and a stowable seating
apparatus within the enclosure for a non-wheel chair-bound user,
wherein the stowable seating apparatus comprises: a first track
attached to the enclosure having a horizontal portion, a vertical
portion and a curved portion connecting the horizontal and vertical
portions; a second track attached to the enclosure, parallel to the
first track and having corresponding horizontal, vertical and
curved portions; and a seat disposed between the first and second
tracks and adapted to move along the first and second tracks
between the horizontal portions of the tracks and the vertical
portions of the tracks.
14. The kiosk of claim 13, wherein the seat has a first end and a
second end opposite the first end and the seating apparatus further
comprises: first rollers rotatably mounted proximate to the first
end of the seat for moving the seat along the first track; and
second rollers rotatably mounted proximate to the second end of the
seat for moving the seat along the second track.
15. The kiosk of claim 13, wherein the seat is in a seating
position when located along the horizontal portions of the first
and second tracks and in a stowed position when located along the
vertical portions of the first and second tracks.
16. The kiosk of claim 15, further comprising: a latching device
for retaining the seat in the seating position.
17. The kiosk of claim 15, further comprising: a tensioning device
for applying force to the seat to assist in moving the seat from
the stowed position to the seating position.
18. The kiosk of claim 17, wherein the tensioning device is a
spring which is stretched as the seat moves from the seating
position to the stowed position.
19. The kiosk of claim 15, wherein the seat in the seating position
allows the non-wheel chair-bound user to sit in about the same
position in the enclosure as the user in a wheelchair sits when the
seat is the stowed position.
20. The kiosk of claim 13, wherein the first and second tracks are
spaced sufficiently far apart to accommodate the user in a
wheelchair between them.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a compact stowable seat, and
specifically to a stowable seat for use in a wheel chair accessible
electronic kiosk.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] An electronic kiosk is a small enclosure equipped with a
computer terminal, video camera or the like. Such a private
enclosure might be useful, for example, in video recording an
individual's candid recollections about persons or events. In order
to allow for the widest range of potential users, it is desirable
that the enclosure have ample room inside for a user in a
wheelchair as well as integrated seating for a non-wheel
chair-bound user, but without any increase in the size of the
enclosure beyond that which is necessary just for the wheel
chair.
[0005] Since floor space is at a premium in any such facility, it
its critical that the enclosure have the smallest footprint
possible. Further, the smallest possible enclosure naturally uses
the least amount of material, therefore saving cost. Both footprint
size and cost are critical competitive factors for such
enclosures.
[0006] While it is possible to provide a stowable seat inside the
enclosure that simply pivots or folds up on hinges, such a seat
would obstruct wheel chair access even in the stowed position,
thereby necessitating the overall size of the enclosure to be
increased to accommodate both the stowed seat and a wheel chair.
Another possibility would be to remove the seat from the enclosure
entirely so that a person in a wheel chair enter. However this
alternative is not practical because the removal of the bench would
be an extremely difficult task for a person in a wheel chair to
perform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is, therefore, a principle object of this invention to
provide a stowable seat for a wheel chair accessible kiosk.
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a stowable
seat for a wheel chair accessible kiosk that solves the above
mentioned problems.
[0009] These and other objects of the present invention are
accomplished by the stowable seat for use in a wheel chair
accessible kiosk that is disclosed herein.
[0010] In a first aspect of the invention, a stowable seating
apparatus comprises a track having a horizontal portion, a vertical
portion and a curved portion connecting the horizontal and vertical
portions; and a seat adapted to move along the track between the
horizontal portion of the track and the vertical portion of the
track. Preferably the seat moves along the track on rollers
rotatably mounted on the seat. The seat is in a seating position
when located along the horizontal portion of the track and in a
stowed position when located along the vertical portion of the
track. The seating apparatus may also include a latching device for
retaining the seat in the seating position and a tensioning device
applying force to the seat to assist in moving the seat from the
stowed position to the seating position. Preferably the tensioning
device is a spring that is stretched as the seat moves from the
seating position to the stowed position.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a stowable seating
apparatus comprises a first track having a horizontal portion, a
vertical portion and a curved portion connecting the horizontal and
vertical portions; a second track parallel to the first track, the
second track having corresponding horizontal, vertical and curved
portions; and a seat disposed between the tracks and adapted to
move along both the first track and the second track. Preferably
the seat moves along the tracks on first rollers rotatably mounted
proximate to one end of the seat for moving the seat along the
first track; and second rollers rotatably mounted proximate to the
opposite end of the seat for moving the seat along the second
track. As in the first aspect of the invention, the seat is in a
seating position when located along the horizontal portions of the
first and second tracks and in a stowed position when located along
the vertical portions of the first and second tracks.
[0012] In a further aspect of the invention, a wheel chair
accessible electronic kiosk includes an enclosure having sufficient
room inside to accommodate a user in a wheel chair and a stowable
seating apparatus within the enclosure for a non-wheel chair-bound
user. The stowable seating apparatus includes a first track
attached to the enclosure, the first track having a horizontal
portion, a vertical portion and a curved portion connecting the
horizontal and vertical portions; a second track attached to the
enclosure, parallel to the first track, and having corresponding
horizontal, vertical and curved portions; and a bench seat disposed
between the tracks that moves along the tracks on rollers between a
horizontal seating position and a vertical stowed position. In
addition, the stowable seating apparatus preferably includes a
latch for retaining the seat in the seating position and a
tensioning spring that applies force to the seat to assist in
moving the seat from the stowed position to the seating position.
The first and second tracks are spaced sufficiently far apart to
accommodate the user in a wheel chair between them. The seat in the
seating position allows a non-wheel chair user to sit in the same
position relative to the enclosure as a wheel chair user sits when
the seat is stowed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of an exemplary
kiosk enclosure.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the kiosk enclosure of FIG. 1
showing the position of a wheel chair inside.
[0015] FIGS. 3A through 3C are perspective views of the seat within
the kiosk enclosure interior according to the present invention,
showing how the seat moves from a horizontal seating position to a
vertical stowed position.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a simplified side view of the seating apparatus
according to the present invention, showing how the seat moves from
a horizontal seating position to a vertical stowed position.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a simplified side view of the seating apparatus
according to the. present invention, showing the use of a tension
spring to assist the motion of the seat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of
example with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying
figures. It should be kept in mind that the following described
embodiments are only presented by way of example and should not be
construed as limiting the inventive concept to any particular
physical configuration.
[0019] Further, if used and unless otherwise stated, the terms
"upper," "lower," "front," "back," "over," "under," and similar
such terms are not to be construed as limiting the invention to a
particular orientation. Instead, these terms are used only on a
relative basis.
[0020] The present invention is directed to a compact stowable seat
suitable for use in a wheel chair accessible electronic kiosk.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows an exterior perspective view of an exemplary
kiosk enclosure 10 having a sliding, pocket door 1 through which a
user can enter and exit. FIG. 2 is a top view of the same kiosk
showing the interior with a wheel chair 2 inside the enclosure when
the integrated seat (not shown in this view) is stowed out of the
way. In the embodiment shown, the kiosk is equipped with a touch
screen 3 to provide a computer interface for a user seated in front
of it. The kiosk may also be equipped with a video camera (not
shown), also positioned in front of the user, for capturing the
user's image and speech. In the embodiment shown, a fluorescent
fixture 4 at the rear of the kiosk, on the rear wall of the
enclosure behind the user position, provides indirect lighting. The
enclosure's dimensions are just large enough to allow maneuvering
the wheel chair inside.
[0022] FIGS. 3A through 3C are perspective views of the kiosk
enclosure interior according to the present invention, showing how
the seat 5 for a non-wheel chair bound user moves from a horizontal
seating position to a vertical stowed position when not needed. As
shown in FIG. 3A, the seat initially moves horizontally toward the
back of the enclosure. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the seat 5
follows a curved track, discussed below, in order to begin facing
vertically downward. Finally, as shown in FIG. 3C, the seat 5
continues its motion until it is oriented vertically and in the
exemplary embodiment, is stowed unobtrusively beneath the lighting
fixture 4 on the rear wall of the enclosure.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a simplified side view of the seating apparatus of
the present invention, showing how the seat 5 moves along a track 6
from the horizontal seating position to the vertical stowed
position. In the exemplary embodiment, the bench-like seat 5 moves
along two parallel tracks, with the seat between them. Each track 6
has a horizontal portion to accommodate the seat in the seating
position, a vertical portion to accommodate the seat 6 in the
stowed position and a curved portion connecting the horizontal and
vertical portions. In the exemplary embodiment, the tracks are
mounted near or on the side walls of the kiosk enclosure so as not
to obstruct the motion of the wheelchair when the seat is stowed.
Preferably, rollers 7 are provided on the seat 5, and mounted near
each end of the seat, in order to facilitate smooth motion of the
seat along the tracks.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a simplified side view of the seating apparatus of
the present invention, showing the use of a tension spring 8 to
assist the user in moving the seat 5. In the exemplary embodiment
having two tracks, it may be preferable to incorporate a tension
spring at each end of the seat 5. As the seat 5 moves from the
seating position to the stowed position, the springs 8 elongate and
allow for the controlled movement of the seat 5, preventing the
seat 5 from crashing down under its own weight into the stowed
position. Also, as the seat 5 is raised up from the stowed
position, the springs 8 assist in lifting the seat 5 up the curved
portion of the track 6 into the horizontal position. It is also
preferable to incorporate a latching device (not shown) in the
seating apparatus to secure the seat 5 in the horizontal position,
so that it does not move when sat upon.
[0025] The inventive seating apparatus allows a disabled person to
easily and conveniently stow the seat at the back of the kiosk
enclosure and use the facilities of the kiosk without leaving his
or her wheel chair or the need for assistance. An important benefit
of the seating apparatus disclosed in this application is that the
user in a wheel chair and the user who is not in a wheel chair are
able to sit in substantially the same position in the enclosure.
This means that virtually all users of the exemplary kiosk can
comfortably reach the touch screen monitor, for example, and be
viewed in the video camera, for example, without having to adjust
the position of the monitor or the camera. A person in a wheel
chair cannot sit right up against the back wall of the enclosure
because, as shown in FIG. 2, a major portion of the wheel chair
wheels extends behind the wheel chair. The seating apparatus of the
present invention, by sliding the seat in a curved track, assures
that the seat can move sufficiently far forward from the back of
the enclosure to be in the same relative position as a wheelchair
seat would be, all without any need to increase the size of the
enclosure over that required for the user in a wheel chair.
[0026] It should be understood that the invention is not
necessarily limited to the specific process, arrangement, materials
and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to
numerous variations within the scope of the invention. For example,
although the above-described exemplary aspects of the invention are
believed to be particularly well suited for an electronic kiosk, it
is contemplated that the concepts of the presently disclosed
seating apparatus can be used in other applications as well, such
as stowable seating for trains, buses, campers and recreational
vehicles.
[0027] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the
manner of making and using the claimed invention has been
adequately disclosed in the above-written description of the
preferred embodiments taken together with the drawings.
[0028] It will be understood that the above description of the
preferred embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to
various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
equivalents of the appended claims.
* * * * *