Patents
Patent Number 1
APA: Floyd, F. B., Jr. (2002, August 20). Seating Device. Retrieved October 20, 2016, from http://tinyurl.com/j8z8y8t
Patent Number: US 6,435,608 B1
Summary: this is a patent of a bench-like seating apparatus that heats up. It consists of a seat and a deck for your feet to rest upon. The bench and deck are hollow and have pressurized heated air circulating within them. The deck has perforations for the pressurized heated air to seep out of, heating the air and the legs of the individual sitting upon it.
Critique: This is essentially the heated aspect of our project. Unlike our intended project, it uses pressurized heated air whereas we intend to use heated coils running through the bench. It did give us the idea to include holes in the bench for heated air to escape since as air heats up, the pressure in a closed system also heats up.
Patent Number: US 6,435,608 B1
Summary: this is a patent of a bench-like seating apparatus that heats up. It consists of a seat and a deck for your feet to rest upon. The bench and deck are hollow and have pressurized heated air circulating within them. The deck has perforations for the pressurized heated air to seep out of, heating the air and the legs of the individual sitting upon it.
Critique: This is essentially the heated aspect of our project. Unlike our intended project, it uses pressurized heated air whereas we intend to use heated coils running through the bench. It did give us the idea to include holes in the bench for heated air to escape since as air heats up, the pressure in a closed system also heats up.
Patent Number 2
APA: Gallina, P. (1989, September 13). Heated Bench. Retrieved October 20, 2016, from https://www.google.com/patents/EP0332112A1?cl=en&dq=heated bench&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbl_7f-ebPAhUGGz4KHUpEBiQQ6AEIIzAB
Patent Number: EP0332112 A1
Patent Summary: This patent is on the use of outdoor heated seating for stadiums and sports fields especially. The product was designed to protect athletes from the cold weather and to possibly cut down or eliminate the process of warming up. The bench will heat the user's back and legs while also ventilating to make sure it doesn't get too hot.
Critique: This is a really good idea that we also had and this gives us some insight on how these should be wired and things to take into consideration.
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Patent Number: EP0332112 A1
Patent Summary: This patent is on the use of outdoor heated seating for stadiums and sports fields especially. The product was designed to protect athletes from the cold weather and to possibly cut down or eliminate the process of warming up. The bench will heat the user's back and legs while also ventilating to make sure it doesn't get too hot.
Critique: This is a really good idea that we also had and this gives us some insight on how these should be wired and things to take into consideration.
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Patent Number 3
APA: Hammerschmidt, J. (2015, June 30). Heated set, in particular for seats of benches. Retrieved October 25, 2106, from https://www.google.com/patents/US9072123?dq=heated bench&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbl_7f-ebPAhUGGz4KHUpEBiQQ6AEIHDAA
Patent Number: PCT/SK2010/050013
Patent Summary: This patent is about Various pads, rests and other accessories are made for improving sitting, while higher quality can be achieved, besides suitable selection of seating material, also by suitable heating of contact surface. HE thinks that bench type, made in particular of wood, metal, stoneware or plastics, their seating and resting parts are usually uncomfortable as for shape and cold as for feeling. SO he has created a pad for the benches that is comfortable and warm.
Critique: The idea is a really good one and it made me think about the comfort of our bench. WE might have to include something to make the bench more comfortable to sit and sleep on.
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Patent Number: PCT/SK2010/050013
Patent Summary: This patent is about Various pads, rests and other accessories are made for improving sitting, while higher quality can be achieved, besides suitable selection of seating material, also by suitable heating of contact surface. HE thinks that bench type, made in particular of wood, metal, stoneware or plastics, their seating and resting parts are usually uncomfortable as for shape and cold as for feeling. SO he has created a pad for the benches that is comfortable and warm.
Critique: The idea is a really good one and it made me think about the comfort of our bench. WE might have to include something to make the bench more comfortable to sit and sleep on.
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Existing Products
Product 1
APA: Taube, A. (2014, July 3). These Bus Benches Transform Into Homeless Shelters In A Matter Of Seconds. Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/these-bus-benches-turn-into-homeless-shelters-2014-7
Summary: In Vancouver they implemented benches that had informative backboards that folded out over the seat to protect homeless individuals who were sleeping there from rain. The billboards had information on where to find more permanent shelter. The billboards were only up for a short period of time but have caused much discussion.
Critique: The bench protects individuals from the top and one side but leaves the person exposed from 3 directions. it also lacked a heating element which could be very bad when temperatures drop below freezing on cold Canadian nights.
Summary: In Vancouver they implemented benches that had informative backboards that folded out over the seat to protect homeless individuals who were sleeping there from rain. The billboards had information on where to find more permanent shelter. The billboards were only up for a short period of time but have caused much discussion.
Critique: The bench protects individuals from the top and one side but leaves the person exposed from 3 directions. it also lacked a heating element which could be very bad when temperatures drop below freezing on cold Canadian nights.
Product 2
APA: Jones, A., & Jones, M. (2012). Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://galanterandjones.com/
Summary: This line of products is designed to keep you warm while you sit on your bench outside. The founders said that they wanted to make it feel like you were sitting in a hot tub without actually having to get wet. These benches and chairs have a cast stone surface and have to be plugged in to a standard 120 volt outlet. There are electric coils throughout the bench that warm the stone around it. They can also change their temperature through built-in controls. These seats are really stylish with the option to have 5 different colors of paint for the stone and 4 different colors of stainless steel frame. There are 5 different styles ranging from couch-like seats to one person chairs.
Critique: This product is so aesthetically pleasing and it's a really great idea, however it's not really practical. My group is looking for a public approach to this and these products are thousands of dollars. These products are handmade and made from quality materials, so I can see why they are so expensive, but we are looking to take an entirely different approach.
Summary: This line of products is designed to keep you warm while you sit on your bench outside. The founders said that they wanted to make it feel like you were sitting in a hot tub without actually having to get wet. These benches and chairs have a cast stone surface and have to be plugged in to a standard 120 volt outlet. There are electric coils throughout the bench that warm the stone around it. They can also change their temperature through built-in controls. These seats are really stylish with the option to have 5 different colors of paint for the stone and 4 different colors of stainless steel frame. There are 5 different styles ranging from couch-like seats to one person chairs.
Critique: This product is so aesthetically pleasing and it's a really great idea, however it's not really practical. My group is looking for a public approach to this and these products are thousands of dollars. These products are handmade and made from quality materials, so I can see why they are so expensive, but we are looking to take an entirely different approach.
Product Number 3
APA: D. (2015, August 17). Urban Park Bench Transforms Into Temporary Homeless Shelter (K. Wan, Ed.). Retrieved October 25, 2016, from http://dornob.com/urban-park-bench-transforms-into-temporary-homeless-shelter/
Summary: The function of this product is to act like a bench by day and then transform into a homeless shelter at night . The objects are low park benches in daylight hours; later, their tops lift up creating a small sleeping space inside. People who need shelter for the night can climb into the bench. This product isn't heated but it does provide some shelter from the elements.
Critique: This is a very interesting product but it is not heated and people are very vulnerable to be harassed, abused, or stolen from as they sleep in the door-less chamber.
Summary: The function of this product is to act like a bench by day and then transform into a homeless shelter at night . The objects are low park benches in daylight hours; later, their tops lift up creating a small sleeping space inside. People who need shelter for the night can climb into the bench. This product isn't heated but it does provide some shelter from the elements.
Critique: This is a very interesting product but it is not heated and people are very vulnerable to be harassed, abused, or stolen from as they sleep in the door-less chamber.
Potential Market
Our potential market would be governments and more specifically, the parks and recreation portion of these governments. We have emailed the head of parks and recreation for Ocean City, MD, Berlin, MD, Salisbury, MD, Worcester County, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and Wilmington, DE, but have not received any responses except for one from Worcester County. We are setting up a meeting with John Azzolini, the Worcester County Economic Development deputy director for November 9, 2016 at 2:30 and we will discuss our project in detail with him. This will, however, be the only response we actually receive and the only information we are able to provide. We also received a response from Ocean City's Director of Recreations and Parks, Susan Petito. She expressed concern about liabilities and told us that she would contact their Risk Manager and Excess Liability carrier. We also received a response from William M. Rodriguez, the Park Superintendent of Worcester County. He talked about how while he likes the idea of the bench they don't really want homeless individuals in the parks.
Summary
During part B we did a lot of research. We looked at existing patents and products to get an idea of what was already out there and also how we could design our product in the long run while ensuring that we don't copy anyone else's idea. We tried contacting the parks and recs departments but most of them have not yet responded or they used bots to respond. One person did respond, John Azzolini, and he has set up a meeting with us to discuss our product. Hopefully it will give us a better understanding of who our potential market is. Our meeting is not until Wednesday the 9th of November which is unfortunate since this segment is due the 28th of October. We have heard back from other individuals as well who would like to hear more from us. Finding our market is fairly difficult since the people our product benefits are homeless individuals.