ADVERTISING AND WATER DISPENSER STAND
Technical Field This invention relates to the field of advertising stands, and more particularly in the field of advertising and water dispenser stands. Shops, supermarkets, department stores, schools, hospitals, government buildings, railway and bus stations, airports and similar crowded places are ideal for advertising purposes. The combination of an advertisement with a water dispenser increases the influence of the advertisement. Therefore, water dispenser's manufacturers and distributors advertise themselves by gluing advertisements over water dispensers. Such advertisement is of relatively low visibility, and additionally can be damaged or even torn off during the sanitization of a water dispenser. This invention increases the visibility of an advertisement and avoids damaging or tearing the advertisement off during the sanitization of the water dispenser, while adding new functionality.
Background Art The merchandise stand with an advertisement, which is placed over the water bottle of a water dispenser is disclosed in U.S. Patent Reg. No. 5,697,505 "•Merchandise display stand" issued 16.12.1997. to D. S. Sprague. The beverage mixing apparatus with an advertisement is disclosed in U.S. Patent Reg. No. 5,927,553 "Powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus" issued 27.07.1999. to D. F. Ford. The water dispenser with an advertisement is described in patent application WO 00/68138
"Water dispenser" by M. Athol et al. published 16.11.2000. and patent application WO 03/019508 "Water cooler applied for the advertising purpose" by J. Stefanovic et al. published 6.03.2003. Advertising stands embodiments are disclosed in U.S. Patent Reg. No. 4,575,036 "Advertising stand" issued 1 1.03.1986. to H. Aiiekotte and Des. 425,938 "Reconfigurabie advertising stand" issued 30.05.2000. to M. Skog.
Covers for a vending machine, a water dispenser and a water cooler are disclosed in U.S. Patent Reg. No. 4,973,109 "Front kit for vending machines" issued 27.1 1.1990. to M. D. Diedrich, U.S. Patent Reg. No. 5,356,046 "Cover for bottled water dispenser" issued 18.10.1994. to M. Burke and U.S. Patent Reg. No. 6,478,268 Bl "Display stand for merchandising chilled products and the like" issued 12.1 1.2002. to C. C. Bidwell et al., respectively.
Disclosure of the Invention The first object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is mounted onto the stand. The second object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is illuminated by a light source. The third object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is generated by an image reproduction device. The fourth object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is generated by a sound reproduction device. The fifth object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is activated by a sensor for the detection of a passersby. The sixth object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is received by an advertisement receiving device with an interface. The seventh object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is changed by an advertisement changing device with means for an advertisement change. The eight object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand with a water cup holder. The ninth object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand with a drip tray below a water dispenser. The tenth object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand with a basket for used water cups. The eleventh object of this invention is to provide an advertising and a water dispenser stand with an automat for accepting payment means.
Brief Description of Drawings The other parts and the preferred embodiments of this invention will be further described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a 3D view of a state-of-the-art water dispenser. FIG. 2 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand of this invention, wherein an advertisement is mounted onto the stand. FIG. 3 is a 3D view of a water dispenser and an advertising and a water dispenser stand of this invention. FIG. 4 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is illuminated by a light source. FIG. 5 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is generated by an image reproduction device. FIG. 6 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is generated by a sound reproduction device. FIG. 7 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is activated by a sensor for the detection of a passersby. FIG. 8 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is received by an advertisement receiving device with an interface. FIG. 9 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, wherein an advertisement is changed by an advertisement changing device with means for an advertisement change. FIG. 10 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand, with additional elements which increase the functionality of the stand.
Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention FIG. 1 is a 3D view of a state-of-the-art water dispenser 4. The water dispenser 4 is connected to a water source 18, which can be a water bottle, a water supply or any other source known to those skilled-in-the-art. The temperature of water 19, which is dispensed from the water dispenser 4 can be lower than room temperature, the same as room temperature or higher than room temperature.
FIG. 2 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1 of this invention, wherein an advertisement 3 is mounted onto a side 2 of the advertising and the water dispenser stand 1. FIG. 3 is a 3D view of a water dispenser 4 and an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1 of this invention, wherein an advertisement 3 is placed at one side of a side panel 2, while a water dispenser 4 is placed at the other side of the side panel 2. FIG. 4 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, wherein a side panel 2 and an advertisement 3 mounted onto it partially pass through light from a light source 5, which comprises fluorescent bulbs, LED diodes, electroluminescent panels, organic polymers, incandescent bulbs or any other illumination means known to those skilled-in-the-art. FIG. 5 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, wherein a side panel 2 comprises an image reproduction device 6 for displaying a visual advertisement 3. The image reproduction device 6 typically comprises a display 7, which can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode display (LED), an organic polymer display (OLED), a plasma display (PDP), an electronic ink display (e-INK), an electroluminescent display (EL), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), a field emission display (FED), a liquid crystal on silicon display (LCOS), a digital micromirror device display (DMD), a cathode ray tube display (CRT) or a display made using any other technology known to those skilled-in-the-art. FIG. 6 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, wherein a side panel 2 comprises a sound reproduction device 8 for reproducing a sound advertisement 3. The sound reproduction device 8 typically comprises a loudspeaker 9, which can be an electrodynamic loudspeaker, an electrostatic loudspeaker, a flat panel loudspeaker (NXT), an inflated membrane loudspeaker or a loudspeaker made using any other technology known to those skilled-in-the-art. FIG. 7 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, wherein a side panel 2 comprises a sensor for the detection of a passersby 10, which can be an ultrasound sensor, an infrared sensor, an optical sensor, a floor pressure sensor, an opening water valve sensor or a sensor of any other type known to those skilled-in-the-art. FIG. 8 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, wherein a side panel 2 comprises an advertisement receiving device 11 with an interface 12, which can be a wired connection interface, a wireless interface, an optical interface or any other interface known to those skilled-in-the-art.
FIG. 9 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, wherein a side panel 2 comprises an advertisement changing device 14 with means 13 for an advertisement change, which can be a computer with the appropriate software, a state machine, a mechanical advertisement holder or any other means for an advertisement change known to those skilled-in- the-art. FIG. 10 is a 3D view of an advertising and a water dispenser stand 1, with additional elements which increase the functionality of the stand, like a water cup holder 15, a drip tray 16 below a water dispenser 4, a basket for used water cups 17, an automat for accepting payment means 20 connected to the water dispenser 4, which provides dispense of the prescribed volume of water after accepting payment means. The automat for accepting payment means 20 can be inside the advertising and the water dispenser stand 1 or inside the water dispenser 4. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated, those skilled-in-the-art can perform various modifications and design equivalents of this invention. According to the above description, the present invention is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.