WO2000051088A1

WO2000051088A1 - Room privacy indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2000051088A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/003992
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ira Tommer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-24
Filing date: 1999-02-24
Publication date: 2000-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2001-08-24
Also published as: AU2784899A

Abstract

A room privacy indicator system having an interior control unit (1) for setting a desired privacy time (4, 5, 6). An exterior display unit (13) is selectively energized to illuminate a 'PRIVACY' sign (15) outside the door (20) of the room. A door-opening interrupt unit (23) stops the sign illumination when the door (12) is opened.

Description

ROOM PRIVACY INDICATOR

The present invention relates generally to a room privacy indicator. In

particular, the present invention relates to a room privacy indicator system whereby an

occupant of a room can activate or deactivate an electronically energized visual signal

for a selected time period to alert persons outside of the room that the occupant desires privacy.

Background of the Invention

The conventional "DO NOT DISTURB" sign has been in use in hotels and motels for many years. Such signs are subject to being crushed, crumpled, torn, lost, stolen, not hung properly, forgotten to be displayed, displayed incorrectly, not read

correctly, ignored, etc. Frequently, a room cleaning person will knock on the door or unlock and open the door, thus disturbing the room occupant, even though a

conventional "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is properly hung and displayed outside the

room door.

This problem is also applicable to restrooms, especially when another person has

urgent need to gain access to the restroom. One complicated and error-prone device

attempting to solve this problem uses an infrared sensor to detect movement in the room.

It is a desideratum of the present invention to provide reliable room privacy

indicator system which avoids the animadversions of the previous techniques and

devices. Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a room privacy indicator system, comprising first means disposed in a room for permitting an occupant of said room to select a time until

which said occupant desires privacy. The system also includes second means for

selectively presenting a first signal to persons outside of said room indicating that said occupant in said room desires privacy, or for selectively presenting a second signal to persons outside said room indicating that said room is unoccupied or that said room is

occupied but that the occupant in said room does not desire privacy. Said first means

is operably interconnected with said second means. The system also includes third

means for automatically interrupting said first signal in response to opening a

predetermined door of said room, and for causing said second means to present said

second signal. Said third means is operatively interconnected with said second means. Said first signal is presented to persons outside said room until said selected time or until said first signal is automatically interrupted by said third means in response to said

opening of said predetermined door, whereupon said second signal is presented to

persons outside said room.

An object of the invention is provide a system which alerts housekeeping

personnel in hotels that a person or persons in a room want privacy until a specific time.

Another object is to provide a system which is not likely to be misunderstood

by persons outside of the room.

Other objects, advantages and attributes of the present invention will be readily

discernable to persons skilled in this area of technology upon reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates one possible embodiment of a portion of the interior control

unit of the present invention.

FIG.2 depicts one possible embodiment of a portion of the exterior display unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevational view of a portion of a room door showing

a telescoping member which interconnects the interior control unit and the exterior display unit according to one possible embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention taken

from inside of the room.

Detailed Description of Some Preferred Embodiments

Referring to FIG.1 , there is shown first means comprising an interior control unit 1 which includes a plate 2 having an LCD clock 3 which displays the present time,

and an adjustable LCD clock 4 for selecting a time until which the room occupant or

guest desires privacy. Preferably, but not necessarily, the adjustable LCD clock 4 may be provided with a first button 5 for selecting the desired hour, and a second button 6

for selecting the desired minute.

The interior control unit 1 may be placed anywhere in the room. However, in

the embodiment of the present invention described in detail herein, the interior control

unit 1 is securely affixed with special fasteners 7, 8, 9 and 10 on and in the inside 11 of

the entrance door 12 to the room, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. With reference to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a portion of the second means which comprises an exterior display unit 13 which includes a plate 14 and a selectively

energizable electronic visual "PRIVACY" sign 15 which can be illuminated. The

exterior display unit 13 may be positioned anywhere outside of the room, for example,

in the hallway adjacent the room door 12. However, in the embodiment of the present

invention which is described in detail herein, the exterior display unit 13 is securely affixed with special fasteners 16, 17, 18 and 19 on and in the outside 20 of the entrance

door 12 of the room, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, the interior control unitl is shown interconnected both mechanically and electrically to the exterior display unit 13, preferably, but not necessarily, by means of a substantially hollow telescoping arm member 21. The

telescoping arm member 21 accommodates doors of different thicknesses. Preferably,

but not necessarily, a light bulb 22 may be threadedly secured to the exterior end portion

of the telescoping arm member 21. Electrical wires (not shown) may be disposed

within the telescoping arm member 21.

The interior control unit 1 is operably and electronically interconnected with the exterior display unitl 3. The room privacy indicator system of the present invention

may be powered by batteries, or the electrical power of the building, or a combination

of both. The system can be hard wired, or alternatively be operated electronically in a

wireless fashion.

The guest will enter into the adjustable LCD clock 4 the time at which the room

will be available for cleaning, which effectively is the time until which the guest desires privacy. The exterior display unit 13 will then be illuminated, preferably but not necessarily in a red light, and stays illuminated until the selected time. When the exterior display unit 13 is no longer illuminated, the cleaning personnel will know that

the room is ready for cleaning or that privacy is no longer desired by the guest.

The interior control unit 1 can operate on a set time basis, or a set length of time

basis. On a set length of time basis the system would operate as described hereinbelow.

The interior control unit 1 has an LCD display and control buttons 5 and 6

which allow the guest to set a length of time in the display. Once the length of time is

set in the display, the clock 4 begins to count down in one-minute increments from the total amount of time input or set, down to zero. During the timed countdown the exterior display unit 13 displays or illuminates "PRIVACY", or "DO NOT DISTURB",

or some other alerting word, either constantly illuminated or flashing.

With reference to FIG. 4, the interior control unit 1 is shown mounted on the side of the entrance door 12 to the room on the inside 11 thereof. Third means which

comprises a door-opening interrupt unit 23 is preferably, but not necessarily, mounted

next to the edge of the door 12 and adjacent to the interior control unit 1. The door-

opening interrupt unit 23 will automatically interrupt the illumination of the exterior

display unit 13 in response to the door 12 being opened. Thus, if the guest leaves the

room before the time selected for privacy, then the exterior display unit 13 will not be

illuminated. This condition indicates to persons outside of the room that the room is

unoccupied, or that privacy is no longer desired or required.

When the door-opening interrupt unit 23 interrupts the illumination of the exterior display unit 13, it also generates a signal to alert the guest who returns to the room or enters the room for the first time that the exterior "PRIVACY" sign 15 is not illuminated. This signal may take various forms. Preferably, but not necessarily, this signal may take the form of causing the adjustable LCD clock 4 to alternately flash

"ON" and "OFF" until a selection for privacy time is made by the guest.

The door-opening interrupt unit 23 may preferably, but not necessarily, include components which are similar to those used on doors and windows in homes protected

by burglary alarm systems. The door-opening interrupt unit 23 may be electrically

interconnected with the interior control unit 1 and the exterior control unit 13 by a

wired system or by a wireless system.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the interior control unit 1 and the exterior display

unit 13 are securely affixed with theft-deterrent fasteners 7 - 10 and 16 - 19, respectively.

Optionally, the system may be connected to the hotel communications system

to alert the control desk which guests desire privacy, and which do not.

Optionally, the first means may take the form of a telephone in the room. In such an embodiment the exterior display unit 13 may be accessed by the telephone in

the room. The guest would dial one or more predetermined codes to activate or

deactivate the exterior display unit 13.

Optionally, the interior control unit 13 may include only one LCD clock which

contains circuitry combining the functions of the two clocks 3 and 4 described

hereinabove. Optionally, the interior control unit may contain or be part of an alarm clock, so

that the guest may set a time for wake-up alarm, and a separate time for privacy as

indicated by the activated exterior display unit.

The foregoing description and drawings of certain embodiments of the present

invention are set forth for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in this area of technology.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited or restricted

to the embodiments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any and all alternatives, equivalents, modifications, and rearrangement of elements falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

- 1 -

A room privacy indicator system, comprising:

first means disposed in a room for permitting an occupant of said room to select a time until which said occupant desires privacy;

second means for selectively presenting a first signal to persons outside of said

room indicating that said occupant in said room desires privacy, or for selectively presenting a second signal to persons outside said room indicating that said room is unoccupied or that said room is occupied but that the occupant in said room does not

desire privacy;

said first means being operably interconnected with said second means; third means for automatically interrupting said first signal in response to

opening a predetermined door of said room, and for causing said second means to

present said second signal;

said third means being operatively interconnected with said second means; and

said first signal being presented to persons outside said room until said selected time or until said first signal is automatically interrupted by said third means in response

to said opening of said predetermined door, whereupon said second signal is presented

to persons outside said room. A system according to claim 1, wherein: after an automatic interruption of said first signal by said third means, and after

said predetermined door of said room has been re-closed, said first signal may again be

presented in response to the occupant in said room again selecting a time until which

said occupant desires privacy.

- 3 -

A system according to claim 1, wherein:

a third signal is presented to an occupant of said room to alert said occupant that

said automatic interruption of the first signal has occurred, and action must be taken by

said occupant to re-activate said first signal.

- 4 -

A system according to claim 2, wherein:

said occupant to re-activate said first signal.

A system according to claim 1 , wherein: said first means includes at least one clock. A system according to claim 2, wherein: said first means includes at least one clock.

- 7 - A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said first means includes at least one clock.

- 8 -

A system according to claim 4, wherein: said first means includes at least one clock.

- 9 -

A system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said first means comprises a telephone in said room; and

said second means may be accessed by said telephone in said room, whereby said

occupant of said room dials one or more predetermined codes by said telephone to

selectively activate or deactivate said first or second signals. - 10 - A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a

second clock which is adj ustable by said occupant of said room to permit said occupant

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 11 - A system according to claim 2, wherein: said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a

second clock which is adjustable by said occupant of said room to permit said occupant

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 12 -

A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a second clock which is adjustable by said occupant of said room to permit said occupant

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 13 -

A system according to claim 4, wherein:

said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a second clock which is adjustable by said occupant of said room to permit said occupant to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 14 -

A system according to claim 5, wherein:

said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 15 -

A system according to claim 6, wherein: said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 16 -

A system according to claim 7, wherein: said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy. - 17 - A system according to claim 8, wherein:

said first means includes a first clock which displays the present time, and a second clock which is adj ustable by said occupant of said room to permit said occupant

to select said time until which said occupant desires privacy.

- 18 -

A system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said third means is operably interconnected with said predetermined door of said

room.

- 19 - A system according to claim 1, wherein: said first signal includes an electronically activated visual signal.

- 20 -

A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first and second signals are connected to a hotel communications system.