WO2012164145A1

WO2012164145A1 - Method and arrangement for converting a room

Info

Publication number: WO2012164145A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/050056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vertti Kivi
Original assignee: Dsign Space Alive Oy
Priority date: 2011-05-27
Filing date: 2012-01-23
Publication date: 2012-12-06
Also published as: FIU20114048U0; WO2012164144A1; FI9346U1

Abstract

An aspect of the invention is an arrangement for converting a room which comprises one or more movable furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28). The arrangement is characterized in that it comprises at least one control device (6, 8, 10, 12) for changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) in the room; a central processing unit (4) for controlling said at least one control device; and a user terminal (2) for giving control commands to the central processing unit (4).Another aspect ofthe invention is a method for converting a room.

Description

Method and arrangement for converting a room Technical field of invention

Present invention relates to a method and arrangement for converting a room and especially to an arrangement according to a preamble of claim 1 in which a room comprises one or more movable furnishing elements.

Background of the invention

It is known from the prior art to use various movable furnishing elements in different spaces, such as rooms, halls or other similar interiors or limited outdoor spaces. These movable furnishing elements comprise for example various curtains, doors and furniture. In addition to the movable furnishing elements fixed furnishing elements, such as lamps, are also used. Conventionally each space possesses a defined purpose of use in which case each space is furnished according to its purpose of use. However, there are many spaces which have many purposes of use depending on activity that takes place in the space. When activity changes from one to another these spaces are usually refurnished in which case furnishing elements are moved or changed. Problem in prior art solutions is that they require a lot of manual labor which is time-consuming. Prior art solutions also require changing the furnishing elements. Room's or space's atmosphere may have been altered with furnishing elements but changing of room's operational features hasn't been possible to such extent that room's purpose of use would change. And still, repeatability of such alterations has conventionally been difficult to achieve.

Summary of the invention

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method and arrangement to solve the drawbacks of the prior art. The objective of the present invention is achieved with an arrangement according to characterizing part of the first claim wherein the arrangement is characterized in that it comprises:

- at least one control device for changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements in the room;

- a central processing unit for controlling said at least one control device; and

- a user terminal for giving control commands to the central processing unit. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in dependent claims.

A first aspect of the present invention is an arrangement for changing a room which comprises one or more movable furnishing elements. The arrangement is characterized in that it comprises at least one control device for changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements in the room; a central processing unit for controlling said at least one control device; and a user terminal for giving control commands to the central processing unit.

In an embodiment the central processing unit is adapted to form and forward control parameters to a control device in order to perform one or more pre-defined control operations as a response to a control command given with a user terminal in order to change a location or position of one or more furnishing elements according to parameters of the control command given with the user terminal. In an embodiment the central processing unit is adapted to form and forward control parameters to a control device for changing locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements as a response to a single control command given with a user terminal.

In an embodiment the central processing unit comprises a programmable microprocessor, computer, server, or some other programmable logic or electronic circuit.

In an embodiment the user terminal is a remote controller, mobile telephone, user terminal of a security system, tablet device, laptop computer, computer terminal or control button.

In an embodiment the furnishing element is a wall, interior wall, curtain, lamp or fixture.

In an embodiment the control device comprises a motor for changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements.

In an embodiment a single control device is adapted to change locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements. In an embodiment each furnishing element comprises a dedicated control device.

In an embodiment the control device is adapted to move a furnishing element in a direction that is substantially horizontal, vertical or certain angle, or to rotate the furnishing element around rotating axis.

In an embodiment the control device further comprises a guide or guide bar for guiding a furnishing element during a change of a location or position.

In an embodiment the arrangement comprises at least one wall or interior wall which location or position is changeable with a control device so that a surface area of a room is dividable into two or more sub-areas with said at least one wall or interior wall. In an embodiment the arrangement further comprises a timer for automatically initiating a conversion of a room at a given time.

A second aspect of the present invention is a method for changing a room which comprises one or more movable furnishing elements and at least one control device. The method is characterized in that it comprises steps of giving control commands with a user terminal to a central processing unit; controlling said at least one control device with the central processing unit; and changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements in the room with said at least one control device.

In an embodiment the method further comprises steps of forming and forwarding control parameters by the central processing unit to a control device for performing one or more pre-defined control operations as a response to a control command given with a user terminal for changing a location or position of one or more furnishing elements according to parameters of the control command given with the user terminal.

In an embodiment the method further comprises steps of forming and forwarding control parameters by the central processing unit to a control device for changing locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements as a response to a single control command given with a user terminal.

In an embodiment a location or position of a furnishing element is freely choosable along the furnishing element's path from a user terminal. An advantage of the present invention is that it enables physical changes in a room in quick and simple manner so that room's purpose of use can be changed. Additionally an arrangement according to the present invention enables use of furnishing elements versatilely so that one furnishing element can be used for different purposes of use based on furnishing element's location or position in which case interchanging of furnishing elements is unnecessary. The present invention further enables accurate repeatability of room's physical changes so that a room can be changed similarly again and again for two or more purposes of use.

Brief description of drawings

In the following, the present invention is described in connection with advantageous embodiments by referring to accompanying figure 1 which is a schematic presentation of a principle of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a principle of an arrangement according to the present invention. According to figure 1, a space which may be a room, hall or similar interior or limited outdoor space is provided with furnishing elements. In this context a furnishing element should be understood to mean an element affecting to physical properties of a space or part of a space. These physical properties of a space or part of a space might be such as size, shape, dividing to different parts, fixture or illumination of a space. In other words a furnishing element may be a wall, interior wall, curtain, lamp, glass cabinet, vitrine, shelf or fixture. In an embodiment walls, interior walls, lamps, curtains, glass cabinets, vitrines, shelfs or furniture are fitted to a room so that according to the present invention their location or position can be changed without manually detaching them. Figure 1 illustrates a spotlight 14, lamp 16, curtain 20 and interior walls 24, 28 as exemplary movable furnishing elements. A furnishing element may also be a wall or curtain which is composed of two or more functionally separate parts whose location or position can be changed independently. Alternatively these functionally separate wall elements may be used to form alternative wall or interior wall arrangements for converting a room, when relative locations or positions of the wall elements are changed. The wall elements or interior wall elements may comprise a shelf structure on one side or both sides of the element.

According to the present invention an arrangement comprises at least one control device 6, 8, 10, 12 to change a location or position of one ore more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 in a space. The control device comprises motion means for changing a location or position of a furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28. The motion means may comprise a motor for providing operating power for moving a furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28. The motor is further operatively connected to a furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 for changing its location or position. In an arrangement according to figure 1 a lamp is operatively connected to a motor of a control device 8 with a support wire 18 or similar solution. Correspondingly curtain 20 is connected to a motor of control device 10 with curtain mechanism 22 and interior walls 24 to a motor of control device 12 with supports members 26.

A control device 6, 8, 10, 12 may further comprise a guide or guide bar to guide a furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 during a change of its location or position. In an arrangement according to figure 1 interior walls 24, 28 are connected to a guide bar 30 along which their location can be changed. In the arrangement of figure 1 both interior walls 24, 28 comprise their own control device 12 by and through which the interior walls are connected to the guide bar 30. Therefore the interior walls 24, 28 can be moved independently with own control device 12. Furnishing elements, especially walls and interior walls may comprise impact protection means for softening unwanted or wanted impacts to other furnishing elements or fixed structures. These impact protection means may be, for example, a resilient protrusion or area in the furnishing element which will receive possible impacts and dampen them without taking permanent damage. In some embodiments the interior walls may have a common control device 12 to change a location or position of both of the interior walls. In the arrangement of figure 1 support wire 18 may be a guide for lamp 16 and curtain mechanism 22 may be a guide for curtain 20. Furnishing element's 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 movement between different locations and positions may be controlled and guided with a guide or guide bar and additionally the guide and guide bar may define different locations and positions for the furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment wherein each furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 has its own control device 6, 8, 10, 12. In another embodiment two or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 may have a common control device 6, 8, 10, 12 wherein one control device 6, 8, 10, 12 is arranged to change locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28. The furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 which have the common control device 6, 8, 10, 12 may be similar with each other, such as spotlights, or alternatively different with each other so that for example a lamp 16 and curtain 20 may have a common control device. In other words the control device 6, 8, 10, 12 may comprise one motor for changing a location or position of one or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28.

Control device 6, 8, 10, 12 may be provided for moving a furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 in a direction that is substantially horizontal, vertical or certain angle, or to rotate a furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 around rotating axis or connection point. The movement and rotation of the furnishing element can take place simultaneously. For example, the furnishing element may rotate while descending or ascending. In an embodiment of figure 1 the control device 6 is provided for turning a spotlight 14 around connection point of the spotlight 14 to directions indicated by an arrow A in order to aim light to desired direction. A control device 8 is provided for moving a lamp 16 in substantially vertical direction indicated by an arrow B in order to raise or lower the lamp 16. Similarly a control device 10 is provided for moving curtain 20 through curtain mechanism 22 in or to raise or lower curtain 20 as indicated by an arrow C. According to figure 1, control devices 12 are provided for moving interior walls 24, 28 in substantially horizontal direction along a guide bar 30 and for rotating interior walls 24, 28 around substantially vertical rotating axis to a desired location and position. It is worth noticing that in some cases two or more control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 may be connected to a single furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 if a location or position of the furnishing element 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 can be changed in several different ways such as moving and rotating. Alternatively a single control device 6, 8, 10, 12 may be arranged to perform multiple different controlling movements to change the location or position. According to figure 1 control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 are controlled with a central processing unit (CPU) 4. The CPU 4 may comprise a programmable microprocessor, computer, server or some other programmable logic or electronic circuit which can be used for controlling control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 either together or separately. The CPU 4 is connected to control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 in order to form and forward control parameters to control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 to perform control operations to change a location or position of one or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28. CPU 4 may be connected to control devices with electrical cord, signal wire, optical fiber or similar communication means. Alternatively CPU 4 comprises a transmitter or transceiver for forwarding control parameters wirelessly to control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 wherein the control devices correspondingly comprise a receiver or transceiver.

An arrangement according to the invention further comprises a user terminal 2 which a user may use to send control commands to CPU 4 which forms, defines or calculates control parameters and forwards them to control devices in order to change a location or position of furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28. The user terminal 2 may be a remote controller, mobile telephone, user terminal of a security system, tablet device, laptop computer, computer terminal, control button or control panel which a user may use to give control commands. The user terminal 2 may be equipped with a programmed control application which a user may use to form and send desired, pre-defined or programmed control commands. The user terminal 2 may comprise for example a graphical user interface which makes it easy for a user to control and define control commands. The user terminal may be connected to a CPU 4 with electrical cord, signal wire, optical fiber or similar communication means. Alternatively the user terminal 2 comprises a transmitter or transceiver for forwarding control parameters wirelessly to the CPU 4 wherein the CPU 4 correspondingly comprise a receiver or transceiver. In an embodiment of the present invention the wireless communications may be realized with for example wireless local are network, Bluetooth, infrared, radio signals or any other known wireless communication means. Alternatively the communications may be routed via the Internet.

In an embodiment of the present invention a CPU 4 may be arranged to form, define or calculate and forward control parameters to a control device 6, 8, 10, 12 to perform one or more pre-defined control operations as a response to a control command given with a user terminal 2 in order to change a location or position of one or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28. In other words, the user terminal 2 may be ready provided for two or more different control commands based on which a CPU 4 sends pre-defined control parameters to control devices 6, 8, 10, 12 for changing locations or positions of one or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 in a predetermined manner or to predetermined locations or positions. Alternatively the CPU 4 may be arranged to change a location or position of one or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 based on parameters of a control command given with a user terminal 2. In other words a user may use the user terminal 2 to control one or more furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 to a desired location or position for example steplessly. The CPU 4 may also be arranged to form, define or calculate and forward control parameters to a control device 6, 8, 10, 12 to change a location or position of two or more mutually similar or different furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 as a response to a single control command given with a user terminal 2.

Additional features for altering characteristics of a space may also be provided in an embodiment according to the present invention. These additional features may comprise, for example, changing luminosity of a lamp, changing color of illumination, changing or arranging music or other background sounds, producing a scent to the space, or arranging other visual effects such as images or videos. Also furnishing elements 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 may comprise additional features such as LED lights, display panels, motion sensors and the like which may also be controlled through a user terminal 2 and a CPU 4. An embodiment of the present invention enables conversion of a certain room for different purpose of use. For example, a hotel lobby may be converted into a restaurant and a restaurant into a nightclub. These conversions may be preprogrammed and the conversions may be initiated with a timer or timer circuit at a given time. For example, the hotel lobby could be set to convert into a restaurant at 21 :00 and the restaurant to convert into a night club at midnight. Possibilities are numerous.

According to an arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention surface area of a room or division of a room may be changed either in predetermined or desired manner. An arrangement of an embodiment comprises at least one wall or interior wall 24, 28 whose location or position may be changed via a control device 10, 12 in such way that a surface area may be divided into two or more sub-areas. In this case for example, a hotel lobby desk with accompanying elements can be hid by moving interior walls and correspondingly a bar can be opened to the lobby by exposing the bar by moving interior walls. At the same time low-level tables of the lobby can be raised to a higher level to fit better in a bar ambience. With these changes room can be changed physically to serve a different purpose and also an ambience of the room can be converted. In other words the present invention enables using a room to multiple purposes of use easily and changes in the room are quickly reproducible.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that when technology develops, a basic concept of the present invention may be realized in various ways. The present invention and its embodiments are therefore not limited to foregoing example but they can vary within a scope of protection of claims.

Claims

1. An arrangement for converting a room which comprises one or more movable furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) wherein the arrangement is characterized in that it comprises:

- at least one control device (6, 8, 10, 12) for changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) in the room;

- a central processing unit (4) for controlling said at least one control device; and

- a user terminal (2) for giving control commands to the central processing unit (4).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the central processing unit (4) is adapted to form and forward control parameters to a control device (6, 8, 10, 12) in order to perform one or more pre-defined control operations as a response to a control command given with a user terminal (2) in order to change a location or position of one or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) according to parameters of the control command given with the user terminal (2).

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the central processing unit is adapted to form and forward control parameters to a control device (6, 8, 10, 12) for changing locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) as a response to a single control command given with a user terminal (2).

4. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the central processing unit (4) comprises a programmable microprocessor, computer, server, or some other programmable logic or electronic circuit.

5. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the user terminal (2) is a remote controller, mobile telephone, user terminal of a security system, tablet device, laptop computer, computer terminal or control button.

6. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the furnishing element is a wall, interior wall (24, 28), curtain (20), lamp (14, 16) or fixture.

7. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the control device (6, 8, 10, 12) comprises a motor for changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28).

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that a single control device (6, 8, 10, 12) is adapted to change locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28), or that each furnishing element (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) comprises a dedicated control device (6, 8, 10, 12).

9. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the control device (6, 8, 10, 12) is adapted to move a furnishing element (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) in a direction that is substantially horizontal, vertical or certain angle, or to rotate the furnishing element (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) around rotating axis (26).

10. An arrangement according to any one of claims 7-9, characterized in that the control device (6, 8, 10, 12) further comprises a guide (18, 22) or guide bar (30) for guiding a furnishing element (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) during a change of a location or position.

11. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the arrangement comprises at least one wall or interior wall (24, 28) which location or position is changeable with a control device (10, 12) so that a surface area of a room is dividable into two or more sub-areas with said at least one wall or interior wall (24, 28).

12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the arrangement further comprises a timer for automatically initiating a conversion of a room at a given time.

13. A method for converting a room which comprises one or more movable furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) and at least one control device (6, 8, 10, 12), characterized in that the method comprises steps of:

- giving control commands with a user terminal (2) to a central processing unit (4);

- controlling said at least one control device (6, 8, 10, 12) with the central processing unit (4); and

- changing a location or position of said one or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) in the room with said at least one control device (6, 8, 10, 12).

14. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the method further comprises steps of forming and forwarding control parameters by the central processing unit (4) to a control device (6, 8, 10, 12) for performing one or more pre-defined control operations as a response to a control command given with a user terminal (2) for changing a location or position of one or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) according to parameters of the control command given with the user terminal (2).

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the method further comprises steps of forming and forwarding control parameters by the central processing unit (4) to a control device (6, 8, 10, 12) for changing locations or positions of two or more furnishing elements (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) as a response to a single control command given with a user terminal (2).

16. A method according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized in that a location or position of a furnishing element (14, 16, 20, 24, 28) is freely choosable along the furnishing element's path from a user terminal (2).