Patent Application
20090241391
The disclosures made herein relate generally to articles, systems and/or methods for indicating maximum vehicle height information and, more particularly, to placement of an article (e.g., adhesive sticker such as for example a caution sticker) in the upper, interior, driver side of a windshield of a vehicle to inform an operator of the vehicle of an overall height (i.e., maximum vehicle height or maximum clearance) of the vehicle or attached rack or equipment.
The proliferation of roof racks and the like have increased greatly due to their ability to provide versatility in increasing cargo capacity and equipment that a vehicle normally would not be able to carry. Examples of such roof racks include, but are not limited to, racks configured for carrying sport goods (e.g., bikes, kuyaks, etc), racks configured for carrying ladders, racks configured for carrying construction materials, racks configured for carrying general cargo (i.e., luggage), and the like. Such racks can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, on a cargo bed of a vehicle or any other suitable mounting structure of a vehicle.
Unfortunately, much costly damage has been caused to vehicles, racks, cargo and/or overhanging structures as a result of being struck by vehicles, cargo and/or racks. Examples of such overhanging structures include but are not limited to, canopies, awnings, bridges, height marking structures and the like. These overhanging structures are often struck in this manner even through they have minimum clearance height clearly posted on them. The fact is that these overhanging structures are often struck simply because the driver is unaware of the overall height of the vehicle. This is especially the case where a vehicle has a rack mounted thereon and cargo or equipment attached to the rack. In many cases, cargo and equipment change occasionally such that an overall height of the vehicle changes. Overall height of a vehicle as defined herein refers to the distance from the ground to the highest point of the vehicle or any item attached to the vehicle (e.g., rack, cargo, equipment, etc). Thus, it can be seen that a vehicle that would otherwise not present clearance considerations can present clearance considerations in view of attached aftermarket equipment (e.g., a roof rack, bed rack or the like), cargo attached to or being carried on the vehicle, equipment attached to or being carried on the vehicle, or the like.
Therefore, displaying overall vehicle height information to an operator of a vehicle in a manner that allows them to readily assess such information in combination with posted signage of overhanging structures and in a manner that does not adversely draw their attention away from the road would be advantageous, desirable and useful.
One object of the present invention is to provide an information display device (e.g., a sticker) that states the maximum overhead clearance (i.e., overall height) of a motor vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle has a cargo carrying rack installed. In other embodiments, the vehicle does not have a cargo carrying rack installed. In all embodiments, the overall height is the height of the highest point of the vehicle, equipment attached to the vehicle or cargo being carried on the vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a maximum overhead clearance caution sticker that pertains directly to individual specifications (.g., original equipment manufacturer specifications) of a particular vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a maximum overhead clearance caution sticker that is disposed on the upper, interior driver's side portion of the windshield to provide a clear line of sight with an approaching maximum clearance sign of an overhang to determine if there is adequate clearance for the vehicle to pass underneath.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a maximum overhead clearance sticker set having a main faceplate caution sticker with a plurality of overlay stickers to enable a user to modify the faceplate to identify a specific structure that corresponds to the tallest portion of the vehicle (e.g., roof, rack, cargo, bike, etc).
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a maximum overhead clearance sticker that is intended to prevent or limit the potential for damage to vehicles, vehicle cargo, overhangs and the like.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle height display system comprises an information displaying sheet, pre-printed indicia disposed on the information displaying sheet and a variable information field immediately adjacent the variable information field indicia. The information displaying sheet is made of a flexible material and has a front side and a rear side. The rear side is configured in a manner causing the information displaying sheet to adhere to a windshield of a vehicle when the rear side of the information displaying sheet is brought into contact the windshield. The pre-printed indicia is readable from the front side of the information displaying sheet, specifies non-variable information associated with designating an overall height of a vehicle and includes variable information field indicia configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therewith. The variable information field is immediately adjacent the variable information field indicia and is configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therein.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle height sticker system having information thereon for allowing an operator of a vehicle to assess at least one of a maximum overall height of the vehicle and a clearance height of an overhanging structure comprises an information displaying sheet, a bonding agent, a protective backing sheet, pre-printed indicia disposed on the information displaying sheet and a variable information field. The information displaying sheet is made of a flexible transparent material and has a front side and a rear side. The bonding agent is disposed on the rear side of the information displaying sheet. The protective backing sheet is releaseably bonded to the bonding agent in a manner allowing the protective backing to be selectively released from the bonding agent without causing the bonding agent to become detached from the information displaying sheet. The pre-printed indicia is readable from the front side of the information displaying sheet, specifies non-variable information associated with designating an overall height of a vehicle and is configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therewith. The variable information field is configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therein.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for displaying an overall height of a vehicle on a windshield of the vehicle comprises providing a flexible information displaying sheet having at least one side thereof configured in a manner causing the information displaying sheet to adhere to a windshield of a vehicle when the rear side of the information displaying sheet is brought into contact the windshield, determining an overall height of the vehicle, denoting the overall height in a variable information field of the flexible information displaying sheet in a manner allowing the overall height to be readable from a front side of the information displaying sheet; and adhering the flexible information displaying sheet to an interior, uppermost, driver-side portion of a windshield of the vehicle by engaging the rear side of the flexible information displaying sheet with the windshield. Providing the flexible information displaying sheet has pre-printed indicia disposed on the information displaying sheet and readable from the front side of the information displaying sheet and has a variable information field immediately adjacent the variable information field indicia. The pre-printed indicia include variable information field indicia configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therewith. The pre-printed indicia specify non-variable information associated with designating an overall height of a vehicle. The variable information field indicia are configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therewith and the variable information field is configured for having the overall height of the vehicle displayed therein.
These and other objects, embodiments, advantages and/or distinctions of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification, associated drawings and appended claims.
Embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome various shortcomings by providing a removable windshield sticker that is placed on the sunscreen portion of the windshield (e.g., upper, interior driver's side portion) directly ahead of the driver. The sticker has pre-printed caution indicia and a blank field for writing the maximum clearance of a rack, equipment or vehicle structure that defines an overall height of the vehicle. It is disclosed herein that the embodiments of the present invention can be employed to state the maximum clearance of cargo that is carried on the rack of vehicle. For instance, this is particularly useful to contractors that typically carry a certain number of ladders and pump jacks on the roof of their truck. They would measure the height from the top of the cargo to the ground and write that measurement in the appropriate place on the caution sticker. When the driver is approaching an overhang that states its clearance, the sticker is aligned with the driver's line of sight (vision) and he can determine if it is safe to continue.
Turning now to discussion of the drawing figures,
The “MAX HT” portion of the pre-printed indicia 16 is variable information field indicia. Preferably, such variable information field indicia include at least one of one words and an abbreviation communicating the context of information provided within the variable information field. Example of indicia that communicating the context of information provided within the variable information field includes at least one of one of words denoting the term “Maximum Height”, an abbreviation denoting the term “Maximum Height”, words denoting the term “Maximum Clearance Height”, an abbreviation denoting the term “Maximum Clearance Height”, words denoting the term “Clearance Height”, and an abbreviation denoting the term “Clearance Height”.
The overlay stickers 33 each include respective structure-specific pre-printed text disposed thereon that specifies a respective structure (i.e., vehicle structure) defining the maximum overall height of a vehicle on which the faceplate sticker 32 is to be affixed. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to overlay stickers 33 designative any particular vehicle structure. As shown in
It is disclosed herein that a user of a vehicle height display sticker or vehicle height display sticker set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can use different criteria for determining the overall vehicle height depending upon the application and/or structure-specific considerations. For example, an empty bike rack on a vehicle rarely poses a clearance hazard. However, a bicycle mounted on the bike rack clearly could be a hazard. Therefore, in this example, the measurement posted in the maximum height field 18 would be from the ground to the highest point of the mounted bike, providing no other vehicle or cargo structure was higher than the bike.
Referring now to
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In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, chemical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of such inventive disclosures. To avoid unnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
