This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/991,453, filed Nov. 30, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
I. Technical Field
This invention pertains to a holder for window signage, and particular to a temporary or removable window signage holder.
II. Related Art and Other Considerations
Many different types of decals or stickers are adhered to window surfaces, such as interior window surfaces of motor vehicles. For example, window decals enable students or alumni of a school to express support for their institutions. Other types of decals or stickers are adhered to other parts of a motor vehicle, such as to an auto bumper. Bumper stickers are popular ways of advertising products or ideas or simply making a statement (e.g., a political statement or a sociological statement expressed by a campaign bumper sticker).
The ease of application of an adhesive decal to an interior window of a motor vehicle varies with the contour and degree of inclination of the vehicle interior window. For example, adhesive decals are more difficult to apply and read for vehicles having a steep angled interior window surface.
The removal of an adhesive decal or sticker can be arduous and tedious. Often a sharp instrument must be employed to scrape the decal, or pieces of the decal, from the interior window surface or from a bumper. Even after a decal is removed, a gummy coating often remains on the surface where the decal or sticker previously resided.
Window display devices or automobile-related accessories having suction cups are illustrated in the following (all of which are incorporated herein by reference): US Design Patent 304,737 to Mori; U.S. Pat. No. 1,468,197 to Downing; U.S. Pat. No. 1,885,103 to Barnett; U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,315 to Romaine; and French Patent 2650104.
In its various aspects the technology disclosed herein concerns embodiments of sign holders. In an example embodiment, a sign holder comprises a display support member configured to carry a sign without adherence of the sign to the display support member; an attachment member which is connected to the display support member so that the attachment member can be oriented relative to the display support display member at a selected one of a range of maintainable pivot angles; and means for securing the attachment member to an external surface.
In an example embodiment, a sign holder comprises a display support member; an attachment member; and means for securing the attachment member to an external surface. The a display support member comprises a panel section comprising a panel display surface; a lower clip connected proximate a lower end of the panel section and which is configured at least partially to form a lower channel; an upper clip connected proximate an upper end of the panel section and is configured at least partially to form an upper channel. The lower clip and the upper clip at least partially form a track, the track being configured to receive or accommodate a sign which can be slidably inserted into or removed from the track, e.g., inserted or removed by sliding.
In an example implementation of the foregoing embodiment, the display support display member comprises a panel section comprising a panel display surface and a panel edge which is configured to form a pivot channel; and the attachment member comprises an attachment member edge which is configured for pivotal insertion into the pivot channel.
In another example embodiment a sign holder comprises a display support member configured to carry a sign; an attachment member configured to carry a second sign and connected to the display support member; and means for securing the attachment member to an external surface. In this example embodiment, the attachment member comprises an auxiliary panel; an auxiliary panel lower clip connected proximate a lower end of the auxiliary panel and which is configured at least partially to form an auxiliary panel lower channel; an auxiliary panel upper clip connected proximate an upper end of the auxiliary panel and which is configured at least partially to form an auxiliary panel upper channel. The auxiliary panel lower clip and the auxiliary panel upper clip at least partially form an auxiliary panel track, the auxiliary panel track being configured to receive or accommodate the second sign which can be slidably inserted into or removed from the auxiliary panel track (e.g., inserted or removed by sliding).
In another example embodiment, a sign holder comprises a display support member; an attachment member configured to carry a second sign and connected to the display support member; and means for securing the attachment member to an external surface. The display support member comprises: a panel section comprising a panel display surface; a lower clip connected proximate a lower end of the panel section and which is configured at least partially to form a lower channel; an upper clip connected proximate an upper end of the panel section and is configured at least partially to form an upper channel. The lower clip and the upper clip at least partially form a track, the track being configured to receive or accommodate a sign which can be slidably inserted into or removed from the track. The attachment member is configured to carry a second sign and connected to the display support member. The attachment member comprises an auxiliary panel. The auxiliary panel bears or carries a second sign. In one example implementation, the auxiliary panel has content of a second sign printed or embossed or otherwise affixed thereto. In another example implementation, the attachment member comprises, in addition to the auxiliary panel, an auxiliary panel lower clip connected proximate a lower end of the auxiliary panel and which is configured at least partially to form an auxiliary panel lower channel; an auxiliary panel upper clip connected proximate an upper end of the auxiliary panel and which is configured at least partially to form an auxiliary panel upper channel. The auxiliary panel lower clip and the auxiliary panel upper clip at least partially form an auxiliary panel track, the auxiliary panel track being configured to receive or accommodate the second sign which can be slidably inserted into or removed from the auxiliary panel track. In an example implementation, the means for securing the attachment member to the external surface comprises a pair of spaced apart suction cups positioned to preclude lateral translation of the second sticker along the auxiliary panel.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Any dimensions provided in the drawings are for an non-limiting example embodiment; in other embodiments the dimensions can differ.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
As also shown in
The panel section 26 also has curved upper clip 46 extending proximate an upper edge 47 thereof. Upper clip 46 curves symmetrically with curved lower clip 36 back toward panel display surface 28, and similarly has distal end 48. Narrow upper slit 50, or a resilient upper nip, is provided between distal end 48 of curved upper clip 46 and panel display surface 28. Collectively, the panel display surface 28, the curved lower clip 36, and curved upper clip 46 form a track into which a sign can be slidably inserted or removed (e.g., inserted or removed by sliding). In other words, the lower clip 36 and the upper clip 46 (together with panel display surface 28) at least partially form a track which is configured to receive or accommodate a sign which can be slidably inserted into or removed from the track.
While the example illustrated embodiment shows curved lower clip 36 and curved upper clip 46 as being means for retaining the sign on panel display surface 28, in other embodiments other types of sign retaining mechanisms and sign retaining mechanisms of other configurations can be provided. Alternatively, an adhesive-backed sticker, placard, or the like can be secured to panel section 26 by activation (e.g., exposure) of the sticker's adhesive backing.
As shown in
Thus,
As shown in
Hinge edge 70 of attachment member 24 is curved to travel around in the direction of auxiliary panel rear surface 78 and back on itself in an essentially “C” shape. Hinge edge 70 is sized and configured for friction fit insertion into pivot channel 64 in the manner shown in
Concerning the pivoting capabilities of display support display member 22 and attachment member 24,
The pivotal connection of the attachment member 24 relative to the display support display member 22 is such that the two members can be pivoted through a range of angles relative to one another, so that a desired orientation of the display support display member 22 can be achieved and maintained relative to an external surface (e.g., an automobile window interior) to which the attachment member 24 is secured. That is, the pivotal connection is such that, once pivoted, a desired angular relationship between attachment member 24 and display support display member 22 can be maintained without significant further slippage. Thus, the pivotal connection of the attachment member 24 relative to the display support display member 22 is configured to provide a range of maintainable angular positions. In other words, the attachment member 24 can be oriented relative to the display support display member 22 at a selected one of a range of maintainable pivot angles. In an example implementation, the range of maintainable pivot angles is achieved through the friction fit of hinge edge 70 and pivot channel 64 in the manner essentially described above.
Auxiliary panel 72 carries two suction cups 80. Although shown in various other figures, suction cups 80 are not shown in
The auxiliary panel 72 also serves as an auxiliary or alternative display member, thus providing a second display member in addition to primary display member 22. The auxiliary panel 72 bears or carries a second sign. In one example implementation, the auxiliary panel has content of a second sign printed or embossed or otherwise affixed thereto. In another example implementation, auxiliary panel 72 comprises lower auxiliary clip 82 and upper auxiliary clip 84. The auxiliary panel lower clip 82 and auxiliary panel upper clip 84 have analogous structure to curved lower clip 36 and curved upper clip 46 of display support display member 22, respectively. An auxiliary display region 86 extends between auxiliary panel lower clip 82 and auxiliary panel upper clip 84 in the direction of first axis 34.
As shown in
Thus, attachment member 24 comprises auxiliary panel lower clip 82 connected proximate a lower end of the auxiliary panel 72 and which is configured at least partially to form an auxiliary panel lower channel, as well as auxiliary panel upper clip 84 connected proximate an upper end of the auxiliary panel 72 and which is configured at least partially to form an auxiliary panel upper channel. The auxiliary panel lower clip 82 and the auxiliary panel upper clip 84 at least partially form an auxiliary panel track, the auxiliary panel track being configured to receive or accommodate the second sign 88 which can be slidably inserted into or removed from the auxiliary panel track.
As stated previously, suction cups 80 each have cup base 90 which is insertable into respective cup holes 81 for anchoring suction cups 80 into auxiliary panel 72 of attachment member 24. When auxiliary panel 72 serves as an auxiliary display panel, the bases 90 of one or both of the cups 80 can be squeezed or otherwise deformed so that the cup 80 can be removed from cup holes 81. Removal of the cup(s) 80 allows for slidable insertion of the second sign 88 onto auxiliary display region 86 and (if desired) beneath the clip edges of lower auxiliary clip 82 and upper auxiliary clip 84. After slidable insertion of the second sign 88, the bases 90 of cup(s) 80 can be pressed back into cup holes 81. The cups 80 are then ready for securing the entire assembly to a window surface. Moreover, when pressed back into cup holes 81, the cups 80 (e.g., the annular lips of suction cups 80) protrude beyond a plane of the auxiliary panel 72 and thus also serve for precluding lateral translation or shifting of second sign 88 along the first axis 34.
Thus, as understood from the foregoing and accompanying figures, in an example embodiment sign holder 20 comprises display support display member 22 and attachment member 24 which are pivotally hinged to one another for adjustable angular positioning of a sign borne by panel section 26. The display support display member 22 facilitates selective display of different signs by virtue of allowing a sign 60 to be easily slid into and subsequently removed from a track formed by a panel display surface 28 as secured therein by curved lower clip 36 and curved upper clip 46. The sign holder 20 can be secured to a window surface such as an interior surface of an automobile window using suction cups 80 carried by the attachment member 24. As an optional variation, the attachment member 24 can be configured to have an auxiliary panel 72 which provides a auxiliary display region 86 for an additional or alternative indicator.
The display support display member 22 and attachment member 24 are hinged for pivotal movement by virtue of an upper edge of display support display member 22 being configured to form pivot channel 64. An essentially “C” shaped hinge edge 70 of the attachment member 24 fits into and travels along an interior wall of the pivot channel 64 to facilitate pivoting of display support display member 22 and attachment member 24 relative to one another, and thus adjustment of a display angle for the sign 60 carried by display support display member 22.
Various non-exhaustive embodiments illustrated herein show a hinged arrangement for effecting pivotal movement between the display support member 22 and attachment member 24. Yet in other embodiments the pivotal action between display support member 22 and attachment member 24 can be achieved by other structures.
In the non-exhaustive embodiments thus far described, suction cups 80 have been illustrated as the particular means employed for securing the attachment member 24 to an external surface such as an interior surface of a glass window (e.g., an automobile window). In other embodiments, the means for securing the attachment member 24 to an external surface can take other forms.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
Number | Date | Country | |
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60991453 | Nov 2007 | US |