Patent Application
20170092165
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of signage and more specifically relates to a mobile sign system.
Generally speaking, a sign is an object to display a message, image, or combination thereof. A sign can be mounted upon a sign post, independently standing, affixed to a surface, or displayed by other suitable means. Signs may include messages and/images related to political messages, safety, sports related enthusiastics, trademarks, or simply to provide aesthetic improvement.
Signs may be static, such that the images, graphics, or text are stationary and directly printed upon a rigid surface, or a sign may be based upon illuminated technology. Such illuminated technology can include the use of light-emitting-diodes, fiber optics, or a series of incandescent light bulbs in order to construct the image, graphic(s), or text. Such illuminated signs often require an electrical power source. Static signs may include reflective surfaces or material such that they are more easily viewable during low light conditions.
One such limitation with the common sign is that most are not visible without ambient or reflective light. As in the case with illuminated signs, these signs require a constant and reliable power source to remain illuminated to operate to be visible. Some illuminated signs may be connected to a municipal power source (i.e., hard-wired), or include a remote battery power supply. However, illuminated signs that are mobile, such as mounted upon a vehicle, cannot be wired and most batteries have a short power supply which requires recharging. As such, a suitable solution is desired.
Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,540 to Jacobs, U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,047 to Rodriguez, US 2009/0084009 to Vandergriff et al., US 2011/0107733 to Wells, US 2014/0363038 to Coleman et al., and US 2015/0047237 to Meza. This art is representative of signage. However, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known signage art, the present invention provides a novel illuminated mobile sign system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a powered-electronic signage device which displays illuminated messages and/or graphics with the device removably affixable to a surface. The device is powered by a thin-cell battery which is rechargeable by ambient light via a photovoltaic cell.
An illuminated mobile sign system is disclosed herein, in embodiments; embodiments include a sign assembly, a charging assembly, and at least one suction-cup; the at least one suction-cup being removable and reversible to provide a user with multiple mounting options for the illuminated mobile sign system. The sign assembly includes a luminous-fiber-optic-fabric, and a rigid-backboard, in structural and functional combination. The illuminated mobile sign system includes the sign assembly, the charging assembly, and the at least one suction-cup in functional combination.
The rigid-backboard of the sign assembly includes a front-side, a back-side, and a periphery. The charging assembly includes, and is defined by, a thin-cell-rechargeable-battery, one or more photovoltaic-cells, a male-power-connector, a female-power-connector, and a battery-connector in functional combination. In embodiments, the rigid-backboard comprises and is defined by the front-side, the back-side, and the periphery. Embodiments include the periphery which exhibits a badge-shape to provide a more formal aesthetic design. Embodiments of the illuminated mobile sign system include weather-resistance. The illuminated mobile sign system is structured and arranged to allow a user to display an illuminated image upon and/or through a surface (e.g., a transparent surface, such as a glass, plastic, etc.) via the sign assembly. Embodiments include the illuminated image which includes alphanumeric text, as well as graphics and/or a combination thereof.
The thin-cell-rechargeable-battery of the charging assembly is affixable to the front-side of the rigid-backboard, in an embodiment. Also, the one or more photovoltaic-cells are each affixable to the front-side of the rigid-backboard nearest the periphery of the rigid-backboard. The one or more photovoltaic-cells are structured and arranged to charge the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery via a light-source. Embodiments include the light-source being from ultra-violet radiation from a solar-source, or man-made light sources, as well as any other suitable light-source.
Embodiments of charging assembly are structured and arranged to provide an electrical power source to the luminous-fiber-optic-fabric, with the luminous-fiber-optic-fabric structured and arranged to cover and conceal the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery. The luminous-fiber-optic-fabric includes an on-off switch, in embodiments. Some embodiments include thin-cell-rechargeable-battery which is removable and replaceable. Embodiments of charging assembly can include a charging-port such that the user is able to recharge the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery via an electrical-current-source (e.g., household electrical, automobile electrical system, etc.).
The battery-connector provides electrical coupling between the one or more photovoltaic-cells and the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery. Together, the male-power-connector and the female-power-connector provide detachable electrical coupling between the luminous-fiber-optic-fabric and the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery.
Embodiments include the rigid-backboard constructed from a plastic material to provide durability and longevity, and to prevent damage to the surface during use. The at least one suction-cup is detachably affixable to the rigid-backboard to provide a detachable coupling to the surface. In embodiments, the surface is a window of a vehicle (e.g., car, truck, van, bus, tractor-trailer, etc.).
According to an embodiment, a kit is disclosed; the kit including a sign assembly, a charging-assembly, at least one suction-cup, and a set of user instructions.
According to another embodiment, a method for using illuminated mobile sign system is also disclosed herein. The method for using an illuminated mobile sign system includes the steps of: providing an illuminated mobile sign system (comprising the sign assembly, the charging assembly, and at least one suction-cup), affixing the illuminated mobile sign system to a surface, charging the illuminated mobile sign system via a light-source, switching the illuminated mobile sign system into an on-mode, displaying an illuminated-message, switching the illuminated mobile sign system into an off-mode, and removing the illuminated mobile sign system from the surface.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an illuminated mobile sign system. Preferably, a sign should provide a removable device that is electrically powered to display illuminated graphics and/or messages with the capability to be rechargeable by a light source and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable illuminated mobile sign system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present disclosure, illuminated mobile sign systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sign and more particularly to an illuminated mobile sign system as used to improve the mobile display of messages and graphics upon a surface where the display is rechargeable by an external light source.
Generally speaking, an illuminated mobile sign system, which may be referred to as “Vehicle Window Hawk Sign” (“Hawk Sign”), is a unique sign that may be secured to a vehicle window, thereby warning and alerting other drivers to not text while driving. The Hawk Sign insignia may include bright colors and may be placed on a luminous fiber optic fabric such that the sign may light up to become more visible during low light conditions, such as nighttime. The system may include a rechargeable battery contained within the sign which operates in conjunction with a photovoltaic-cell which absorbs ambient light and may charge the battery for easy use and long life.
The device is simple and inexpensive and may become a popular sign that consumers can use; and is intended to save lives to prevent people from texting while driving a vehicle. Texting while driving has become more dangerous than talking on the phone while driving. Many authorities have instituted educational methods of displaying such messages. The Hawk Sign device may be the new method of reminding drivers of the dangers of texting while driving.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in
At least one suction-cup 138 may be removable and reversible to provide the user with multiple mounting options (e.g., reversing illuminated mobile sign system 100, rotating illuminated mobile sign system 100, providing additional support to illuminated mobile sign system 100 upon surface 146, etc.)
Embodiments of illuminated mobile sign system 100 may include an illuminated image or illuminated-message 142 which includes alphanumeric text, pictures, graphics, logos, and/or trademarks.
Referring now to
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Illuminated mobile sign system 100 may be weather-resistant in some embodiments and multiple illuminated mobile sign systems 100 may be coupleable such that power may be shareable by and between each of multiple illuminated mobile sign systems 100.
Illuminated mobile sign system 100 may be sold as a kit comprising the following parts: at least one sign assembly 110; at least one charging-assembly 126; at least one suction-cup 138; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner).
Illuminated mobile sign system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different display combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.
Referring now to
It should be noted that step six 506 and step seven 507 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112 (f). Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/284,349, filed Sep. 28, 2015, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62284349 | Sep 2015 | US |
