Apparatus and method for sequential viewing of performances
An apparatus for enabling sequential viewing of performances by a plurality of performers includes first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface; a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces; a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces; and a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces.
This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/774,965, filed Feb. 16, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an apparatus for enabling the sequential viewing of a plurality of performances, and to methods for viewing and providing performances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe exotic dancing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. One very important profit center for gentlemen's clubs and other exotic dance establishments is the providing of so called “lap dances” or “table dances”. Lap dances customarily involve an exotic dancer, in a clothed, semi-clothed or nude condition, performing a dance in partial or full contact with a patron who is usually seated. Table dances are customarily performed by an exotic dancer in a nude or semi-nude state at close proximity to the patron.
In the typical gentlemen's club, a patron views a table dance or receives a lap dance from one performer at a time. If the patron desires a performance by another exotic dancer, he must contact the exotic dancer and arrange with her for the desired performance. This procedure is somewhat inefficient, however. An exotic dancer whom the patron desires to contact may be performing for a different patron; in extreme situations there may be no exotic dancers available at the time the patron desires a performance.
A need exists for a procedure by which a patron at a gentlemen's club or other exotic dance establishment, for example, or at another venue at which performers perform, can view performances by more than one performer without the need for leaving the first performer in order to arrange for performances by another performer.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSIn accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for enabling sequential viewing of performances by a plurality of performers. The apparatus includes first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface; a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces; a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces; and a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces.
Any number of viewing stations and performance stations can be provided according to various particular embodiments of the inventive apparatus. In specific embodiments, the number of viewing stations is greater than the number of performance stations. Such embodiments facilitate the entrance and exit of viewers from the apparatus.
The first and second surfaces of particular embodiments of the inventive apparatus can be provided in various configurations and in various spatial relationships. Thus, in one specific embodiment, the first surface is a disk having a center and the second surface is an annulus having a center. In more specific embodiments, the first surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the center of the first surface, the second surface is fixed, and the center of the second surface is collinear with the axis of rotation of the first surface. In this configuration, a rotating disk is configured within an annulus. The two surfaces can be displaced vertically (e.g., the annulus can be disposed in a plane above the plane in which the disk is disposed), or in particular embodiments, the first and second surfaces can be substantially coplanar.
Conversely, in another specific embodiment, the second surface (the annulus) is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the center of the second surface, the first surface (the disk) is fixed, and the center of the first surface is collinear with the axis of rotation of the second surface.
According to still another particular embodiment, the first surface is fixed and the second surface comprises a plurality of movable segments. Thus, in one specific embodiment, the second surface surrounds the first surface and is movable around the first surface, in the manner of an airport luggage carousel. In another specific embodiment, the first surface is extended along an axis and the second surface is disposed adjacent the first surface such that a portion of the second surface adjacent the first surface is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the first surface. In these embodiments, the motion of the carousel-like structure conveys viewing stations on a portion of the second surface along a parallel sequence of performance stations on the fixed first surface.
In various embodiments of the inventive apparatus, the performance stations are defined on a moving surface and the viewing stations are defined on a fixed surface. In other embodiments, the viewing stations are defined on a moving surface and the performance stations are defined on a fixed surface.
According to additional specific embodiments, partitions are provide that separate the performance stations and/or the viewing stations. Additionally, partitions are provided in further specific embodiments that separate the performance stations from the viewing stations.
Embodiments of the inventive apparatus are beneficially employed in methods of sequentially viewing performances by a plurality of performers. Thus, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided that include the steps of: entering a viewing station of an apparatus as described herein; viewing a performance at a performance station when relative motion is produced between the first and second surfaces of the apparatus such that the viewing station initially entered and the performance station are positioned adjacent each other, and repeating the previous step for at least one additional performance station.
Similarly, other embodiments of the inventive apparatus are beneficially employed in methods of providing performances sequentially to a plurality of viewers. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, therefore, methods are provide that include the steps of: entering a performance station of an apparatus as described herein; providing a performance to a viewer at a viewing station when relative motion is produced between the first and second surfaces of the apparatus such that the performance station initially entered and the viewing station are positioned adjacent each other; and repeating the previous step for at least one additional viewing station.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSTurning now to
In operation, performers enter each of the performance station 18. A viewer enters a viewing station 14 via entry/exit area 20. Motive device 32 then rotates first surface 12 so that the viewing station occupied by the viewer is aligned with a first performance station 18 (typically the performance station immediately adjacent entry/exit area 20). The viewer then views a performance by the performer in the performance station. While this is taking place, another viewer enters the viewing station now positioned adjacent entry/exit area 20. Upon completion of the performance, motive device 32 again rotates first surface 12 so that the first viewer is enabled to view a performance by the next performer, while the second viewer is enabled to view a performance by the first performer. This procedure continues until all viewing stations have been occupied. Finally, motive device 32 rotates the viewing station occupied by the original viewer back to the position adjacent entry/exit area 20, and the original viewer exits the apparatus after having viewed performances at all performance stations 18.
In
The first and second surfaces of embodiments of the inventive apparatus can be configured such that they are vertically displaced from each other (e.g.,
In
Turning to
Claims
1. An apparatus for enabling sequential viewing of performances by a plurality of performers, the apparatus comprising
- a) first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface,
- b) a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces,
- c) a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces, and
- d) a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the number of viewing stations is greater than the number of performance stations.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first surface is a disk having a center and the second surface is an annulus having a center.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the center of the first surface, wherein the second surface is fixed, and wherein the center of the second surface is collinear with the axis of rotation of the first surface.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second surfaces are coplanar.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the viewing stations are defined on the first surface and the performance stations are defined on the second surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the center of the second surface, wherein the first surface is fixed, and wherein the center of the first surface is collinear with the axis of rotation of the second surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first and second surfaces are coplanar.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the performance stations are defined on the first surface and the viewing stations are defined on the second surface.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first surface is fixed and the second surface comprises a plurality of movable segments.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second surface surrounds the first surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first surface is extended along an axis and wherein the second surface is disposed adjacent the first surface such that a portion of the second surface adjacent the first surface is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the first surface.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the performance stations are defined on the first surface and the viewing stations are defined on the second surface.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions separating the performance stations.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions separating the viewing stations.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions separating the performance stations from the viewing stations.
17. A method of sequentially viewing performances by a plurality of performers, the method comprising the steps of:
- i) entering an apparatus comprising a) first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface, b) a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces, c) a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces, and d) a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces, wherein a viewing station of the apparatus is entered,
- ii) viewing a performance at a performance station when relative motion is produced between the first and second surfaces such that the viewing station entered in step (i) and the performance station are positioned adjacent each other, and
- iii) repeating step (ii) for at least one additional performance station.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one performance is at least partially performed at a viewing station.
19. A method of providing performances sequentially to a plurality of viewers, the method comprising the steps of:
- i) entering an apparatus comprising a) first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface, b) a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces, c) a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces, and d) a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces, wherein a performance station of the apparatus is entered,
- ii) providing a performance to a viewer at a viewing station when relative motion is produced between the first and second surfaces such that the performance station entered in step (i) and the viewing station are positioned adjacent each other, and
- iii) repeating step (ii) for at least one additional viewing station.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one performance is at least partially performed at a viewing station.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 1, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2007
Inventors: Gregory A. Piccionelli (Westlake Village, CA), Michael M. Gerardi (Menifee, CA)
Application Number: 11/701,732
International Classification: E04H 3/10 (20060101);