SELF-PHOTOGRAPHY BOOTH

SELF-PHOTOGRAPHY BOOTH

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to self-photography booths.

In particular the present invention has reference to the seating arrangements of such booths.

Conventional self-photography booths provide a seat at the rear of the studio area and in some instances the seat is adjustable in height to accommodate people of differing stature. Usually, the seat is in the form of a stool and the adjustment comprises a simple screw mechanism that allows the stool to be moved up and down. However, the adjustment process is laborious and time consuming and there is a practical limit on the extent of the adjustment, thus providing a constraint on the range of people who can use the booth. Thus for example a baby is of such a size that the conventional adjustable seat would not be able to give sufficient height to bring the child within the field of vision of the camera.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means of giving to the user of the booth a choice of seating arrangement dependent on height requirements.

Accordingly, a self-photography booth includes an entrance to a studio area bounded at one end by a photograph-generating module and at the other end by a background wall with a seating zone associated therewith, the zone providing at least two discrete seating supports at different levels, at least one of said supports being movable between an operative and an inoperative position.

Conveniently, at least one of the seating supports is capable of being retracted from the studio area and parked in a stowed condition when not in use, whilst one of the other supports is in use.

One of the seat supports may be static and may be permanently set at an appropriate height for, say, an adult of average stature. However, it may be also stowable into an inoperative position. The other or others of the seat supports would necessarily be disposed at a level above the static support and are adapted, for example, by a hinge arrangement to be brought from the said stowed condition into an operative position for supporting, say, a child of intermediate age. The hinged seat support is lockable in its inoperative and operative positions, and a safety harness may be provided for the occupant of the seat, usually a child, to prevent inadvertent unseating during a take.

Advantageously, a further seat support is movable into the seating zone and may when not in use be retractable and stowable in the roof of the studio area. The further seat support may be hinged in the manner of a loft ladder and may carry a baby chair suitably disposed such that in use in the operative position the child occupant is held in an upright orientation in relation to the photograph generating module. The chair may, for example, be of the kind used in automobiles for safely travelling babies suitably strapped in with a safety harness/belt arrangement. This further seat support is lockable in both its operative and inoperative positions. The locking of the seat supports may be electromagnetic, and the release from the locked positions may be effected by a suitable control, for example a button on a control console provided for the booth. The actual movement between the operative and inoperative positions may be effected manually or electro-mechanically upon command. Accordingly in this latter respect, suitable drives are provided in association with the seat supports. Manual movement of the seat supports merely requires the physical movement of the support into the locked position.

The or each movable support may advantageously be provided with dampers to cushion the movement.

A control console as indicated supra is provided for the booth, and conveniently the control for the movement of the seat supports is located externally of the booth such that the appropriate seat support can be selected before the subject to be photographed enters the studio area.

The movement of the seat supports from a locked, stowed, i.e. an inoperative, position to an operative position may be effected and completed whereby the relevant seat support is locked in the chosen position prior to the entry of the subject into the studio area.

The photograph-generating module may be of the conventional kind with appropriate controls for payment and for selection of the desired photograph type, a camera, preferably of the digital sort, and a printer with a delivery port for the developed photograph. By way of example only, one embodiment of self-photography booth according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the booth;

Figure 2 is view of the seating zone with a first static seat support and second seat support stowed in an inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing the second seat support being moved from its stowed position to its operative position;

Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 and shows the second seat support in its operative position;

Figure 5 shows an underside perspective view of the loft area of the booth;

Figure 6 shows a third seat support released from its stowed position;

Figure 7 shows the third seat support midway between its operative and its inoperative position; and Figure 8 shows the third seat support in its operative position.

Referring to the drawings, a self-photography booth is shown generally at 1 and includes an entrance 2 leading to a studio area 3 bounded at one end by a photograph-generating module 4 and at the other end by a background wall 6 with which is associated a seating zone 8. The photograph-generating module includes (but not shown) a camera, with appropriate currency operated controls and means of selecting the type and number of photographs to be taken. The seating zone 8 in this embodiment is provided with a static seat support 10 which is shown as a simple cantilever shelf usually having some degree of upholstery (not shown) for the sake of comfort.

Above the support 10 is a retractable second seat support 12 which in its stowed position is folded away flat with the plane of the wall 6 and locked in that position. When it is desired to move the support 12 from its stowed, inoperative position, it is released and moved manually as shown in Figure 3 towards its operative position shown in Figure 4 wherein the support extends horizontally in cantilever manner for the purpose of seating a child, the support being locked in its operative position. The support 12 is hinged to the back wall and a simple swinging movement brings the support into either an operative or an inoperative position.

Referring now particularly to Figures 5 to 8, there is shown a third seat support 20 which in Figure 5 is shown in its stowed and locked position in the loft of the booth 1. The support 20 is hinged to the loft area at 22 and is releasable from its locked stowed position and can be moved manually into its operative position shown in Figure 8, the intermediate position being illustrated in Figure 7, the movement being cushioned by dampers 23. In Figure 8 the support 20 can be seen to carry a safety chair 24 of the kind widely used in cars for seating a baby. In the position shown in Figure 8, a baby seated in the chair 24 would have its head level with the camera within the photograph-generating module.

The selection of the seat support to be used in any particular instance of use of the booth may be made externally with suitable controls adapted to release the relevant seat support from its locked and stowed position, whence in this embodiment it can manually be moved into an operative position. After use, the seat support can be returned manually to its inoperative, stowed position leaving the static seat support 10 ready for the next customer.

The invention thus represents a significant departure from booths currently available in that it provides an effective and yet simple means of catering for customers of differing ages and stature, and is particularly suitable for children who otherwise would be unable to assume a pose position at the right height in the studio area in front of the camera.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to the manual movement of the additional seat supports, but embraces electromechanical or equivalent means to effect the desired selection of supports upon suitable commands being transmitted from a control panel appropriately located.