US20050108954A1

US20050108954A1 - Mini-cinema cabin

Info

Publication number: US20050108954A1
Application number: US10/885,627
Authority: US
Inventors: Luis Sola
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-20
Filing date: 2004-07-08
Publication date: 2005-05-26
Also published as: EP1533444B1; ES2311138T3; DE602004015392D1; EP1533444A3; ES1056101Y; ES1056101U; EP1533444A2; PT1533444E; ATE403047T1

Abstract

The mini-cinema cabin is constituted of a cabin (1) inside of which a pair of laterally adjacent seats (3) is arranged, a movie display screen (7) being situated on the opposite wall, aided by a DVD player or any other file system player (8), with which a Dolby surround sound system will collaborate, the loudspeakers (10-10′) of which will be suitably distributed inside the cabin (1), having a loader (11) enabled for storing a determined number of movies, provided with a keyboard (12) for selection thereof and a coin selector or card reader (13) allowing for putting the equipment in operation after paying, an air-conditioning equipment (14) as well as a smoke extractor (15) being arranged in the cabin (1).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a cabin especially designed for one or two people to watch movies using DVD or any other file system as a support, which cabin is intended to be implemented, with a modular and movable character, in any public establishment such as bars, cafés, shopping centers, stations, airports, etc., for private use and auto-viewing.
The object of the invention is to achieve a small isolated and duly conditioned enclosure, in which the free time or waiting time can be used for watching a movie with maximum image and sound quality, in conditions of optimum comfort and simultaneously being able to consume any type of drink and/or food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, there are two basic alternatives for watching a movie, going to a classic projection room, i.e. a cinema, or buying/renting said movie, either on magnetic support or on DVD or any other file system, for watching it at home.
There is also a possibility of watching a movie in other public places, such as in bars, cafés, etc., through the television set usually existing at this type of establishments, but obviously watching conditions leave a lot to be desired due to the environmental noise, to the lack of empty seats, to an inappropriate distance with regard to the television set, etc.
On many occasions the environment in this type of establishments is very stuffy due to the abundance of smokers or to other causes, such that remaining therein for the duration of the movie is also uncomfortable in many cases.
In waiting places, such as in bus stations, train stations, airports, etc., this possibility does not even exist, such that the users of these services have to use dead waiting times reading, walking or doing other activities which can be not the most entertaining so that the time passes without noticing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The mini-cinema cabin proposed by the invention solves the drawbacks set forth above in a fully satisfactory manner, such that, being easily implemented in any of the previously mentioned places since it requires no more than a simple connection to the power supply network, it permits one or two people to watch a movie in excellent conditions.
To that end and more specifically, said cabin is materialized in a receptacle of reduced dimensions, for example a quadrangular prismatic receptacle of 1.5 meters from side to side and 2.20 meters in height, which space occupation is not excessive in any of the previously mentioned places, with its corresponding access door, preferably provided with means for closing from inside, a receptacle in which next to one of its side walls, a pair of seats is arranged, with classic means for placing a drink container on its armrests and with a small platform acting as a table, preferably concealable, which can in turn be used for depositing small objects, such as food containers for example.
The movie display screen is situated on the opposite wall of the receptacle, preferably materialized in a flat screen, so that the space occupation is minimum, and to achieve a maximum distance between the surface to be viewed and the spectators.
A DVD player or any other file system player will be arranged in any suitable place of the cabin with Dolby surround sound system, i.e. with surround sound, for which purpose the classic loudspeaker set participating in this sound system, will be suitably distributed in the perimeter of the cabin.
The DVD reader or any other file system reader will preferably be aided by a loader having a determined number of movies stored, such that the loading thereof occurs automatically, after the selection of one of them by the user, for example by means of a keyboard with identification of the different available movies.
Setting the equipment in operation will be determined by the payment for the service, either through a coin selector or a card reader, and said service will be automatically interrupted when the movie ends.
The cabin will have its walls duly isolated from the acoustic point of view to prevent both that the sound of the movie goes out and that the surrounding noise of the establishment affects the users of the cabin, and moreover, as a safety measure, it will be made of a fireproof material.
To maintain optimum environmental conditions inside the receptacle, it has been provided that a smoke extractor and a small air conditioning apparatus are arranged on the upper area of the cabin.
Said flat screen can optionally be replaced with a mini-projector situated on the wall of the cabin against which the backs of the seats are placed, a projector complemented with the corresponding screen which will be situated on the opposite wall.
The movies will obviously have to be periodically replaced to maintain the interest of the audience.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention, according to a preferred practical embodiment example thereof, a single sheet of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, in which, in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, a mini-cinema cabin, carried out according to the object of the present invention, has been schematically shown in a perspective and partially sectioned view.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the described Figure, it can be observed how the cabin proposed by the invention is constituted of a cabin (1) which, as has already been pointed out previously, will be of a quadrangular prismatic shape, with a floor of 1.5 meters in length and with a height of 2.20 meters, although obviously these dimensions can vary positively or negatively without it affecting the essence of the invention in any manner, defining a receptacle which is entered through the corresponding door (2).
Inside the cabin (1), next to one of its side walls, a pair of laterally adjacent seats (3) is arranged, provided with classic receptacles (5) for depositing and holding a drink container, such as a soda can for example, on their armrests (4), while at the same time a small platform (6) is situated between them, acting as an auxiliary table, which is preferably concealable between the two seats (3) so that it does not constitute an obstacle when it is inoperative.
The movie display screen (7) is arranged at a suitable height on the wall opposite to that of the location of the seats (3), preferably a flat screen so that its thickness is minimum and its distance with regard to the viewing area, i.e. with regard to the seats (3), is therefore maximum.
The screen (7) will be aided by a DVD player or any other file system player (8) located on a piece of furniture (9), and a Dolby surround sound system will collaborate with said screen (7) to achieve optimum sound quality, the loudspeakers (10-10′) of which sound system will be suitably distributed inside the cabin (1) to duly carry out their function.
The DVD player or any other file system player (8) will in turn be aided by a loader (11) enabled for storing a determined number of movies, provided with a keyboard (12) for selection thereof and a coin selector or card reader (13) allowing for setting the equipment in operation after having paid the cost corresponding to the selected movie, such that this mechanism will cause the disconnection of the system when the movie ends.
As has also been stated previously, the cabin (1) will have its walls duly isolated both thermally and acoustically, and they will be obtained in a fireproof material, while at the same time a small air conditioning equipment (14) maintaining the temperature provided inside the enclosure will be arranged in the upper area of the cabin, as well as a smoke extractor (15) which in turn maintains suitable environmental conditions inside the cabin (1), particularly eliminating smoke which may be produced inside of it when the users thereof are smokers.

Claims

1.- A mini-cinema cabin which, being especially designed to be implemented with a modular and mobile character in any public establishment such as bars, cafes, shopping centers, stations, airports or the like, is characterized in that it is constituted of a cabin (1) of reduced dimensions, duly air-conditioned, inside of which a pair of seats (3) and an image display equipment, with its corresponding screen (7) and audio system, are arranged, such that in an isolated enclosure and one of reduced dimensions, one or two people can watch a movie, after paying the corresponding amount.

2.- A mini-cinema cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that said seats (3) are situated adjacent to one another and adjacent to one of the side walls of the cabin (1), have classic means (5) for placing a drink container or the like on their armrests (4), and a small, preferably concealable, platform (6) acting as a table is situated between them.

3.- A mini-cinema cabin according to the previous claims, characterized in that the means for showing the movie consist of a DVD reader or any other file system reader (8), aided by a flat screen (7) and by a Dolby surround sound equipment, the loudspeakers (10-10′) of which are suitably distributed in the perimeter of the cabin (1).

4.- A mini-cinema cabin according to claim 3, characterized in that the DVD reader or any other file system reader (8) is aided by a loader (11) capable of storing a predetermined number of movies, it has a keyboard (12) for selecting the chosen movie and a coin or card reader (13) allowing for putting the equipment into operation, which will automatically be interrupted when the selected movie ends.

5.- A mini-cinema cabin according to the previous claims, characterized in that the display screen (7) is situated on the side wall of the cabin (1) opposite to that of the location of the seats (3).

6.- A mini-cinema cabin according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on the wall against which the seats (3) are situated, a projector is arranged above said seats, projecting the images on a screen (7) situated on the opposite wall of the cabin (1).

7.- A mini-cinema cabin according to the previous claims, characterized in that an air-conditioning apparatus (14) is incorporated in the upper area thereof.

8.- A mini-cinema cabin according to previous claims, characterized in that a smoke extractor (15) is incorporated in the upper area thereof.