Patent Application
20230023381
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The disclosure relates to signage assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new signage assembly for communicating messages to persons proximate to a vehicle. The present invention discloses a signage assembly comprising a messaging unit mountable to a rear window of a vehicle. A message on the sign can be controlled by a driver either by selection of a preprogrammed message using a control unit mounted to a steering wheel of the vehicle or by dictation using an electronic device, such as a cellphone.
The prior art relates to signage assemblies for communicating messages between occupants of vehicles. The prior art comprises displays positionable to be viewable through rear windows of vehicles and on which can be displayed preprogrammed messages. What is lacking in the prior art is a signage assembly comprising a messaging unit mountable to a rear window of a vehicle, wherein a message on the sign can be controlled by a driver either by selection of a preprogrammed message using a control unit mounted to a steering wheel of the vehicle or by dictation using an electronic device, such as a cellphone.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a messaging unit and a control unit. The messaging unit is configured to be mountable to a first substrate that is positioned within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The messaging unit comprises a receiver and a screen. The screen is visible through a window of the vehicle and is operationally engaged to the receiver. The control unit is configured to be mountable to a second substrate that is positioned within the passenger compartment so that the control unit is accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The control unit comprises a transceiver and a selector. The transceiver is in wireless communication with the receiver. The selector is configured to permit selection by the driver of a respective preprogrammed message from a plurality of preprogrammed messages. The transceiver is positioned to communicate the respective preprogrammed message to the screen. The screen is configured to display the respective preprogrammed message to persons proximate to the vehicle.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The messaging unit 12 also comprises a display housing 30, which defines an interior space 32. The receiver 24 is engaged to the display housing 30 and is positioned in the interior space 32. The screen 26 is engaged to a first face 34 of the display housing 30. The display housing 30 may be substantially cuboid shaped, as shown in
A display power module 36 and a display microprocessor 38 are engaged to the display housing 30 and are positioned in the interior space 32. The display microprocessor 38 is operationally engaged to the receiver 24, the display power module 36, and the screen 26. The display power module 36 comprises a battery 40.
A fastener 42 is engaged to the display housing 30 and is configured to engage the first substrate 16 so that the display housing 30 is mounted to the first substrate 16. The fastener 42 may comprise suction cups, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and the like.
The control unit 14 is configured to be mountable to a second substrate 44 that is positioned within the passenger compartment 18 so that the control unit 14 is accessible to a driver of the vehicle 20. The control unit 14 may be configured to be mountable to a steering wheel 46 of the vehicle 20, as shown in
The control unit 14 also comprises a controller housing 54, which defines an internal space 56. The transceiver 48 is engaged to the controller housing 54 and is positioned in the internal space 56. The controller housing 54 may be substantially circularly shaped and substantially concentric with the steering wheel 46, as shown in
A control power module 58, a data storage module 60, and a control microprocessor 62 are engaged to the controller housing 54 and are positioned in the internal space 56. The control microprocessor 62 is operationally engaged to the selector 50, the transceiver 48, the control power module 58, and the data storage module 60. The control power module 58 may comprise a wired connection 64 to a battery 66 of the vehicle 20, although the present invention also anticipates the control power module 58 comprising a battery (not shown) engaged to the controller housing 54 and positioned in the internal space 56. The plurality of preprogrammed messages 52 is positioned on the data storage module 60.
The selector 50 may comprise a plurality of buttons 68, which is engaged to a first surface 70 of the controller housing 54. The buttons 68 are depressible. Each button 68 is configured to be selectively depressed to signal the control microprocessor 62 to actuate the transceiver 48 to communicate an associated preprogrammed message 52 to the screen 26 via the receiver 24. The selector 50 also may comprise other selection means, such as, but not limited to, touch screens, slide switches, and the like.
A fastening element 72 is engaged to a second surface 74 of the controller housing 54 and is configured to engage the second substrate 44 so that the controller housing 54 is mounted to the second substrate 44. The fastening element 72 may adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, and the like.
The electronic signage assembly 10 also may comprise programming code 76, which is selectively positionable on an electronic device 78 of the driver. The programming code 76 enables the electronic device 78 to translate a dictated message into text 80 and to communicate the text 80 to the control unit 14. The transceiver 48 is positioned to communicate the text 80 to the screen 26 via the receiver 24. The screen 26 is configured to display the text 80 to the persons proximate to the vehicle 20. The present invention also anticipates the text 80 being communicated directly from the electronic device 78 to the messaging unit 12.
In use, the messaging unit 12 and the control unit 14 are mounted to the rear window 22 and steering wheel 46 of the vehicle 20, respectively. When required, the driver can select a respective preprogrammed message 52 from the plurality of preprogrammed messages 52 and have it displayed on the screen 26 for viewing by another driver to a rear of the vehicle 20.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
