Patent Application
20120117838
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable panels used to convey a message or other information to persons in a wide variety of situations, and more particularly to such panels which can be quickly mounted to various surfaces or carried by a person.
2. Description of Related Art
A wide range of portable signs are used in many different circumstances. For example, directional devices such as arrows, signs, flash lights, signal lights, wands, strobes, or the like are often used to control the flow of traffic. These products are important safety devices when used to direct traffic during emergency situations which require police, fire fighters, medical assistance, or the like. Also, portable signs are used to convey messages to persons in commerce, such as the location of a particular retail store, the event of a sale of certain products or services, or to alert persons to activities in which they may be interested.
In the case of traffic control or emergency situations, such situations can develop quickly, and they often require trained personnel to perform multiple tasks such as triage, interviews, medical assistance, or the like, in addition to traffic control. Therefore, directional devices that must be hand-held for proper use can unnecessarily tie up essential personnel, or waste precious time. A typical version of a prior art directional device with this type of problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,679. This prior art invention describes a traffic director's stick which performs multiple functions, but must always be operated by hand.
Furthermore, many directional devices such as signs, or arrows mounted on signs, are not compact enough to be carried as standard equipment in most emergency vehicles. Consequently, such devices are often transported to the scene of an emergency long after the initial trained personnel (or “first responders”) have arrived. This also wastes time and puts essential personnel at unnecessary risk.
Additionally, portable directional devices must be capable of being used in a variety of different weather conditions, and at any time during the day or night. Such portable directional devices often require lighting to be seen properly. In order to power the lighting and preserve portability, batteries are most often used. However, batteries will run out and have to be replaced or recharged, which again takes more time, can put personnel at risk, and costs money.
For the above reasons, law enforcement personnel, first responders, stranded motorists, and other persons have a great need for directional or instructional signage that satisfies at least the following important criteria: (a) portability, (b) low cost, (c) high visibility, (d) no electrical power required, (e) versatility to create more complex, multi-message displays, and (f) ability to quickly mount on any vehicles and other surfaces.
As can be appreciated, the aforementioned qualities of such signage are also ideal for many commercial applications as well. The dynamics of business in a fast-paced economy require that business owners quickly and inexpensively announce events, such as sales or specials, to pedestrians or motorists. The ability to display such information on existing storefronts or adjacent structures without architectural modifications can present a distinct advantage when time and money are scarce.
In the past, various forms of panel systems have been proposed, and some of which might be suitable in meeting the objectives described above. However, those panel systems which carry the best promise for such purposes are the ones which employ a flexible material wrapped over the perimeter of a bendable rim. Several variants of such panels are U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,262 to Huang; U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,273 to Chan; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,635 to Zheng. While those panels are effective for their stated purposes, they lack specific functional and structural features which are ideal for use with traffic control, motorists, and other commercial applications.
Therefore, a portable message panel system is provided, comprising at least one message panel, wherein each panel includes a coilable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation; a fabric material covering selected portions of the frame member to form the panel, the fabric material held taut within the frame member when assuming the unfolded orientation of the frame member, so that the fabric material extends in a flat planar configuration when the frame member is in its unfolded orientation; and a message located on the fabric material.
In a preferred embodiment, the fabric material includes one or more hook-and-loop fastening straps extending from the panel. In another embodiment, or in addition to the fastening straps, the fabric material includes one or more reinforced holes formed into the fabric material.
To facilitate the use of two or more panels together, another embodiment of the present invention is provided wherein the fabric material includes one or more quick-release buckles adapted to engage other panels to form a multi-panel assembly.
With regard to the message on the fabric material, the message may be formed with a reflective material, and it may comprise a wide range of messages, including but not limited to alphanumeric characters, directional symbols, warning symbols, and other informational data.
Optionally, the fabric material may also include a flexible hand grip, which can be used by persons holding such panels for others to see, such as law enforcement officers, first responders, and similar personnel.
Preferably, the fabric material includes at least one slot formed therein, and an attachment strap adapted to engage the slot, wherein the attachment strap comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein each of the first end and the second end are shaped to prevent the attachment strap from inadvertently being removed from the slot.
For the purpose of mounting the panels to a desired location, the panels may include one or more mounting brackets, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a base having one or more suction devices adapted for adhering to a surface; and a clamping device adapted to grip the panel.
More preferably, the clamping device on the mounting base pivots relative to the base, and it may further include means for biasing the panel to a predetermined position.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements.
Before the subject invention is further described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments of the invention described below, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the present invention will be established by the appended claims.
In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
Turning now to
A message 5 is located on the fabric material 4, and will usually be formed of a material that is attached to the fabric material 4 either by adhesive or stitching. The message 5 may comprise alphanumeric characters, directional symbols, warning symbols, or any other indicia capable of providing information or direction to a person viewing the panel 2. For example, typical traffic control symbols such as directional arrows, stop signs, yield signs, and the like would be ideal for law enforcement or other personnel in a variety of situations. Likewise, a stranded motorist would find much use for messages such as “Need Tow”, “Need Gas”, or similar messages. A range of other messages, symbols, or icons may also be employed for a range of commercial uses, such as a coffee cup for a coffee shop, the word “Sale” for sale items or other specials in a retail store, or an “Open” or “Closed” phrase.
Particularly in the case of nighttime use with vehicle traffic or emergency situations, it is preferred that the message 5 be formed of a reflective material, so that maximum visibility is achieved.
Having described the basic construction of the panels 2, a number of other novel features will be described which relate to how the panels 2 can be mounted or used in a practical situation. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric material 4 includes one or more hook-and-loop fastening straps 6 extending from the panel 2. In a typical configuration, at least two such fastening straps 6 are located near the top of the panel 2, while another two such fastening straps 6 are located near the bottom of the panel 2, best shown in
Optionally, as shown in
In a more preferred embodiment, the fabric material 4 includes one or more flexible hand grips 10 attached to the rear side of the panel 2, best shown in
To permit convenient mounting of the panel 2 to a vehicle window or door, the fabric material 4 may also include at least one slot 11 formed therein. Preferably, at least two such slots 11 are provided, one horizontal and one vertical, in the center of the fabric material 4. These slots 11 function as “button holes” which can receive an attachment strap 12 adapted to engage the slot 11. The attachment strap 12 includes a first end 13 and a second end 14, and wherein each of the first end 13 and the second end 14 are flexibly attached to the strap 12, and are shaped to resist being inadvertently being removed from the slot 11 after insertion. For example, in operation of this mounting method, first end 13 is laid flat against the strap 12 and inserted through slot 11 until the first end 13 is completely on the opposite side of the panel 2 from the side of its insertion. Now that the strap 12 is held within the slot 11, the first end 13 (if present on the rear side of the panel 2) can be captured between a vehicle window 25 and the door frame 26, as shown in
To achieve more complex, multi-panel messages, the fabric material 4 may also include one or more quick-release buckles or similar fasteners 8, as shown in
Optionally, and as best shown in
Finally, an alternative means for mounting the panel is also provided, including one or more mounting brackets 20, as shown in
All references cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as though each reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The citation of any reference is for its disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such reference by virtue of prior invention.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
