WO2002071147A2

WO2002071147A2 - Photo booth with a child seat

Info

Publication number: WO2002071147A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/000914
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald Wilson Mcdonald; Thomas Rhodes
Original assignee: Inc TECHNOLOGIES (HOLDINGS) Ltd
Current assignee: Inc TECHNOLOGIES (HOLDINGS) Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-02
Filing date: 2002-03-01
Publication date: 2002-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2003-09-02
Also published as: GB0105152D0; WO2002071147A8; WO2002071147A3; AU2002237403A1

Abstract

A photography seating arrangement suitable for an instant photobooth is described. The seat is pivotally mounted on a pivoting lateral arm, and is suitable for use as a child seat.

Description

Photography seating arrangement

The present invention relates to photography seating arrangements, and more specifically to seating arrangements within photobooths .

Photobooths for automatically taking photographs of a subject have been known for many years. Such photobooths are generally used for taking photographs of a subject's head and shoulders, for use with passports, driving licenses or other forms of photo-identification. The photobooth typically comprises an instant camera positioned behind a glass plate, a seat, a changeable background, a coin slot for receiving payment, and means for distributing the photographs. The seat in the booth is typically a circular stool positioned on a vertical pin that fits within a vertical stem attached to the floor of the booth. The vertical pin of the stool and the stem are provided with a cooperating wide thread, so that rotation of the stool top reduces or raises its vertical height. This simple height adjustment facility allows a subject to align his/her eye level with an alignment marker on the glass plate to ensure that the head is approximately central in the final photograph. On payment, the camera takes a number of photographs of the subject, which are processed on instant film of the type developed by Polaroid ®.

More recently, photobooths have incorporated digital cameras. This offers a user the opportunity to view the image on a display before the image is printed, thereby enabling the user to select an image that he or she considers to be satisfactory.

Scan and tilt cameras have also been used in photobooths in recent times. These types of cameras are able to detect the positioning of the subject by scanning a beam across the field of view. The camera is subsequently able to position the subject within the centre of the image by adjusting the optical axis of the ^• camera by a tilting mechanism.

Changes in legislation in some territories have required individual photographs of babies and small children on passports. The photographs must be taken against a clear background and must not include or partially include the parent. Conventional photobooths are not appropriate for taking photographs of small children or babies, firstly because the range of height adjustment of the seat is not large enough to raise the eye level of a child to the alignment point. Secondly, the stool is not suitable for a small child or baby to sit upon, without risk of falling.

It would therefore be desirable to obviate, or at least substantially mitigate the disadvantages associated with the prior art. It is one object of the invention to provide a seating arrangement that is suitable for taking photographs of small children or babies.

Further aims and objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the description below.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a photography seating arrangement comprising: photography equipment including a camera; an arm extending laterally from a support means; and a first seat; wherein the seat is pivotally mounted on a first end of the arm, and a second end of the arm is pivotally mounted to the support means .

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a photobooth comprising the photography seating arrangement of the first aspect.

The seat may be constructed from a mild steel frame, and may be covered to provide additional comfort and support. The covering may be a moulded plastic material or a polystyrene foam compound. The seat may additionally be provided with a harness for securing a child or baby thereto.

In a preferred embodiment, the arm extends laterally from support means on a wall at the front of the seating arrangement. More preferably, the arm extends laterally from support means mounted within a recess in the wall. The support means may be provided with a pin extending through a hole at the second end of the arm. There may be provided a pair of vertical stops mounted in the recess, one positioned at each side of the arm to limit the angular rotation of the arm.

The vertical stops may be mounted in the recess at a distance of around 10cm from the wall surface.

The seating arrangement may also be provided with a second seat for an adult, positioned at least partially outside of a field of vision of the camera.

In one embodiment, the second seat is positioned at the rear of the seating arrangement.

The photography equipment may include display means for attracting the attention of a child. The display means may comprise a flashing light, a pattern of lights, or a more complicated display arrangement, such as a video display.

The camera is preferably a digital camera. The camera may be a scan and tilt camera for centring the subject in the field of vision. A display means may be provided for displaying an image captured by the camera prior to printing the image.

An example embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which:

Figure la is a perspective view of a photobooth according to an embodiment of the invention from a rear corner. Figure lb is a perspective view of a photobooth according to an embodiment of the invention from a front corner.

Figure lc is a plan view of a photobooth according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the seat according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional representation of the arm according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a three-dimensional representation of the arm with the seat mounted thereto.

Figure 5 is a close-up of safety means provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure β is a plan view of a seating arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figures la, lb and lc respectively show perspective and plan views of a seating arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention. Here, the arrangement is provided in a photobooth generally depicted as 10, although it will be appreciated that the arrangement could be provided in any suitable space, e.g. a small area within a shopping centre or railway station etc.

Photobooth 10 comprises sidewall 12a, rear wall 12b, front wall 12c and entrance area 12d. Area 14 is separated from the main area of the booth 16 by division 15. Area 14 houses the photographic equipment necessary for taking and developing photographs of a subject. The division 15 comprises a glass sheet 15a through which the photograph of the subject is taken. Equipment situated behind the glass plate includes camera, illuminating means, and display means (not shown) .

The photobooth is provided with a first seat 18 mounted on a first end of arm 20. The seat is mounted on the first end of the arm so that it may pivot about a vertical axis .

In this embodiment, a second end of the arm 20 is attached to support means 21 mounted within a recess 22 within the division 15. Again, the arm is mounted so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis.

A second seat 24 is provided within the photobooth 10. This seat is provided for the occupancy of an adult, e.g. the parent of the child, and extends into a region outside the view of the camera. In this embodiment, the adult's seat 24 is provided across the back of the booth, so that the adult may slide across to corner 13b, ensuring that he or she does not form part of the background of photograph.

In use, an adult and child enter the booth via entrance 23, and the adult sits in seat 24. The arm is swung towards the adult's seat 24, and the child's seat 18 is turned towards the adult. The child is lifted into seat 18 and secured thereto by an adjustable safety harness (not shown) . The adult sitting in the seat has easy access to the child in this position, and is therefore able to easily adjust the straps of the harness, alter the child's appearance, or comfort the child.

The adult has access to a panel 26 which includes payment receiving means, e.g. a coin slot or card receiving slot, and an activating button for beginning the photographing process. When payment has been made, the arm 20 is swung back towards the central area of the photobooth, and the seat is turned to face the glass plate 15a. When the photography process is activated, a display means attracts the attention of the child, the adult moves away from the field of view of the camera, and the first photograph is taken.

If necessary, the camera may be aligned so that its optical axis points towards corner 13a, to allow additional room for the adult at corner 13b.

Corner 13a and/or back wall 12b are provided with means for changing the colour of the background, such as a number of curtains (not shown) .

In this embodiment, the camera is a digital camera, and the photobooth additionally comprises a display (not shown) for showing an image of the field of view of the camera. This may be a cathode-ray display, but ideally would be a flat screen display such as liquid crystal display. The display may show a streaming image so that a suitable time for taking the photo is chosen by the adult, and/or can show a still image after a photograph has been taken. The adult has the option of printing out copies of the image, or reactivating the photographing process if the image is unsatisfactory. It will be noted that this embodiment of the invention does not include means for adjusting the height of the child's seat. This height adjustment feature is not required as the selected photographic equipment will use scan and tilt technology, as is well known in the art. The camera includes means for detecting the height of the child's head automatically, and the camera is then tilted so that the child is positioned approximately centrally within the final image.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the child's seat according to an embodiment of the invention. The base of the seat 40 has attached to it an outer tube 42, a rivet pin 43 and a base stop 45. The sides of the seat base 40 and the seat back 41 are provided with raised edges 44.

The seat is manufactured from any suitable metal or plastic material, for example mild steel. All sharp edges are removed from the seat's base, back and edges, and the seat is covered with additional padding and support to add comfort (not shown) . Such padding may be a polystyrene foam compound or a moulded plastic.

The seat will additionally be provided with a harness for securing a child to the seat.

Figure 3a shows a detailed three-dimensional view of arm 20. The arm is comprised of a straight arm portion 30a and a curved arm portion 30b securely fixed together by rivets, bolts, or welding. The first end of the arm is provided with a raised tube 32 with a flange 34 and hole 36 for receiving a pin on the chair. The second end of the arm is provided with a vertical hole 38 for receiving a pin on the support means .

The arm may be manufactured from any suitable material, such as metal or reinforced plastic. All sharp edges are removed from the arm by filing or polishing.

Alternatively the arm is covered in a soft material such as a plastic or rubber compound, as shown in figure 3b.

Figure 4 shows the seat 18 mounted on the arm 20. Hole 36 receives the rivet pin 43 of the seat, and base stop 45 abuts the flange 34. The seat is secured on the arm, but is allowed to pivot about a vertical access.

Figure 5 is a close up of support means 21. A recess 22 in the wall 12a is provided with a means for clamping second end of the arm 18. A pin 50 extends through the hole 38 in the arm, so that the arm may pivot about a vertical axis.

On either side of the arm are provided vertical stops 52a, 52b, which form an additional safety feature. These stops restrict the angular rotation of the arm 18 by abutting the arm, preventing the side of the arm from abutting the edge of the recess 54 at the wall surface. The vertical stops are provided within the recess 22 at a distance of around 10cm or greater. The distance must be such that the stops are out of the reach of a child's fingers. The stops ensure that when the arm 18 is fully rotated, a gap is left between the arm 18 and the edge of the recess 54. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that although the embodiment described above uses digital photography technology, conventional instant photography can be used.

In this case, if a series of photographs are to be taken, then a suitable interval may be provided between each shot, so that the adult may swing the child's seat back towards them to adjust the appearance of the child or comfort the child if necessary. Alternatively, the adult may activate the equipment before each individual shot, when the child is positioned appropriately.

Further, the arrangement depicted in figures la to lc may be altered within the scope of the invention. For example, the arrangement of figure 6 may be used. In this embodiment, the adult sits in seat 24 in the corner 13b of the booth, and the arm is mounted on a sidewall 12a. The arm is swung towards the corner of the booth that faces the adult's seat 24, and the child's seat 18 is turned towards the adult. The child is lifted into seat 18 and secured thereto by an adjustable safety harness (not shown) . As before, the adult sitting in the seat has easy access to the child in this position.

The panel 26 which includes payment receiving means, e.g. a coin slot or card receiving slot, and an activating button for beginning the photographing process may be positioned closer to seat in corner 13b as shown. When payment has been made, the arm 20 is swung back towards the central area of the photobooth, and the seat is turned to face the glass plate 15a. When the photography process is activated, a display means attracts the attention of the child, and the first photograph is taken.

Alternative configurations are also envisaged. For example, the adult's seat may be positioned towards the front corner of the booth, and the entrance may be in corner 13b.

The pivoting arm and seat assembly need not necessarily be attached by support means in a recess. For example, the arm may extend laterally from support means on a vertical post.

The seating arrangement described herein provides an improved arrangement for taking photographs of small children. The pivoting arm and chair assembly allows photographs of a child to be taken against a clear background, with the close presence of an adult to activate the photographing process and attend the child. In addition, the child's seat provides a secure and safe position for the child during the photographing process.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.

Claims

1. A photography seating arrangement comprising: photography equipment including a camera; an arm extending laterally from a support means; and a first seat; wherein the seat is pivotally mounted on a first end of the arm, and a second end of the arm is pivotally mounted to the support means.

2. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the seat is constructed from a mild steel frame.

3. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the seat is covered to provide additional comfort and support.

4. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the covering is a moulded plastic material or a polystyrene foam compound.

5. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the seat is provided with a harness for securing a child or baby thereto.

6. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the arm extends laterally from support means on a wall at the front of the seating arrangement.

7. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the arm extends laterally from support means mounted within a recess in a wall .

8. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the support means is provided with a pin extending through a hole at the second end of the arm.

9. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 7 or 8, wherein a pair of vertical stops is mounted in the recess, one positioned at each side of the arm to limit the angular rotation of the arm.

10. A photography seating arrangement as claimed Claim 9, wherein the vertical stops are mounted in the recess at a distance of around 10cm from the wall surface.

11. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the seating arrangement is provided with a second seat for an adult, positioned at least partially outside of a field of vision of the camera.

12. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the second seat is positioned at the rear of the seating arrangement.

13. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the photography equipment includes display means for attracting the attention of a child.

14. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the display means comprises one or more or the following: a flashing light, a pattern of lights, or a video display.

15. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the camera is a digital camera .

16. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the camera is a scan and tilt camera for centring the subject in the field of vision.

17. A photography seating arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a display means is provided for displaying an image captured by the camera prior to printing the image.

18. A photobooth comprising the photography seating arrangement of any preceding Claim.