Electronic floor display cleaning system and protective cover
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic display associated with a floor. The electronic display is provided with a sturdy protective cover to prevent damage to the display due to foot traffic or other factors. The protective cover in turn is provided with a device for at least one of preventing damage to the protective cover and for removing dirt from over the electronic display that may obscure the display.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an electronic display associated with a floor, the electronic display device configurable to display an electronically modifiable verbal message;
a protective cover for the electronic display; and
a device associated with the protective cover, for at least one of preventing damage to the protective cover and removing dirt from over the electronic display.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a sheet formed from a protective material.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sheet is configured to adhere to the protective cover.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the material is plastic.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises continuous roll of protective material arranged over a surface of the protective cover.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the device is configure to advance at least a portion of the material.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the device is configure to automatically advance the material.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein device is configured to enable manual advancement of the material.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a contact sensor to detect the presence of a person in contact with the apparatus.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the device is configure to inhibit automatic advancement of the material when the contact sensor detects a person in contact with the apparatus.
11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the material is plastic.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a dirt sensor for measuring a degree of dirtiness associated with the electronic display.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the dirt sensor comprises a transmission device for measuring a dirt accumulation.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device is an automated cleaning mechanism.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanism comprises a cleaning member.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member is formed as a thin, elongated member.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member includes at least one of a brush, a sponge, paper, cloth and a squeegee.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member is configured to be received within a recess in a floor covering.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member is arranged between tensioning members for moving the cleaning member across the protective cover.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the tensioning members are coupled to a motor for moving the tensioning members.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 , further including tracks configured to engage the cleaning member, to guide the cleaning member as it is moved across the protective cover.
22. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanism is configured to move a cleaning member from a resting position across the protective cover to a predetermined point.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the mechanism is further configured to return the cleaning member to the resting position.
24. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanism is configured to automatically activate a cleaning operation comprising moving a cleaning member across the protective cover.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a person near or on the apparatus, to prevent the mechanism from automatically activating the cleaning operation.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a processor for controlling the mechanism to perform the cleaning operation at predetermined times.
27. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a dirt sensor for measuring a dirt accumulation associated with the electronic display.
28. The apparatus of claim 1 , the device comprising:
a loop of protective material arranged to at least partly encircle the electronic display and the protective cover;
a cleaning member arranged to contact a section of the loop below the electronic display; and
a mechanism for causing the loop to rotate, to clean the section by passing it across the cleaning member.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the mechanism is configured to automatically rotate the loop to position the cleaned section over the protective cover and clean a different section by passing it across the cleaning member.
30. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the mechanism is configured to automatically rotate the loop at predetermined time intervals.
31. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of separable sheets formed from a protective material.