The present invention relates generally to an advertisement display system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rear vehicle advertisement display system that is designed and configured to be mountable to the rear windshield wipers of a vehicle. The rear vehicle advertisement display is intended to display an advertisement, usually in the form of texts or graphics, or both, as the windshield wiper moves from one side of the windshield to the other.
The purpose of displaying a physical form media on automotive vehicles varies widely. Some common uses for displaying a physical form of media may be: delivering a commercial message or impression, asserting a personal belief or perspective, supporting and promoting an organization, school or political candidate, or simply for personal pleasure, In general, the intent of placing physical form media on an automotive vehicle is to capture the attention of other drivers and onlookers so that the text or graphic displayed delivers the intended message. For example, signs places on taxis, busses, and other forms of public transportation and typically for this purpose.
Positioning of the physical form media on an automotive vehicle may depend on the intended audience, such as pedestrians or other motorists. The desired period of observation may also be a factor in selecting both the placement and type of physical form of media used. Effectiveness of physical form media in commanding attention of observers and delivering the intended message often varies with the type of physical form media employed and its placement on the vehicle, as well as message content and format.
Magnetic signs, vehicle graphics, and decals do not provide the means for dynamic image displays on automotive vehicles. Temporary displays typically used on top of privately owned vehicles employed for pizza delivery are often not dynamic. Mounting a digital display on top of a vehicle is generally not at the eye level of an observer in a following vehicle and may require a physically larger device and message to assure capturing their attention and delivering the intended message. In addition, this type of display on top of a vehicle may be subject to high wind pressure during motion of the vehicle, requiring stronger attachment points than if less wind pressure were present, which can increase cost. Additionally, many users may not desire a complex system and would rather a simpler system which can be easily modulated between an on and off position such that the system itself is not unduly noticeable during an off state.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a solution to at least one of the aforementioned problems. For instance, a rear vehicle advertisement display system is desired. Additionally, it is desired that the advertisement display be at eye level and allow a user to modulate its use between and on and off configuration. Preferably, it is also desired that when the system is placed in an off state the vehicle is still able to maintain a strong aesthetic quality.
The present invention is directed to a rear vehicle advertisement display that allows for messaging in the form of text and/or graphics to be displayed on the rear of a vehicle when a rear windshield wiper is in use. The advertisement display system includes a base frame, a hollow vessel, a flexible panel stored within the hollow vessel, and a mounting member for attaching the system to a vehicle. The advertisement display system may further include at least one opening within the hollow vessel for storing the flexible panel or allowing the flexible panel to retract out of the vessel. The flexible panel may contain ornamental or decorative elements, such as text or graphics or a combination of both, to provide the type of messaging or advertising by the user. A method for using the advertisement display system is also provided.
The advertisement display system may solve a. number of problems currently associated with traditional advertisement found on vehicles. Firstly; the advertisement display system disclosed is dynamic, such that the advertisement is visible in certain scenarios and hidden in others. This allows a user to display the advertising when they so desire, but also allows them to, in effect, ‘turn off’ the advertising when desired as well. The dynamic effect of the display may also garner more attention and may be more noticeable on the road than stationary advertisements on vehicles. Secondly, the advertisement display system allows users to display advertisements as desired at a relatively inexpensive cost relative to other types of vehicle advertising. Lastly, the advertisement display system is able to maintain the positive aesthetic quality of a vehicle by allowing a user to keep the advertisement hidden when the rear windshield wiper is not in use.
In a first implementation of the invention, a rear vehicle advertisement display system comprises:
In a second aspect, the base frame may include a pair of sloped arms and along with the hollow vessel form a triangular shape.
In another aspect, the pair of sloped arms of the base frame may form an apex,
In another aspect, the apex of the base frame may be attached to a rear windshield wiper of the vehicle.
In another aspect, the hollow vessel may include a proximal end containing the opening.
In another aspect, the proximal end of the hollow vessel may mate to a proximal end of the base frame,
In another aspect, the opening may be sized and configured to fit the flexible panel.
In another aspect, the hollow vessel may include a second opening designed and configured to serve as an inlet and outlet for the flexible panel.
In another aspect, the hollow vessel may include a distal end which mates to a distal end of the frame.
In another aspect, the hollow vessel may be rigid.
In another aspect, the hollow vessel may have a cylindrical shape.
In another aspect, the flexible panel may be a roll-up screen.
In another aspect, the flexible panel may be wound around a spool.
In another aspect, the flexible panel may include text, graphics, or other ornamental designs.
In another aspect, the mounting member may include a top flange and a bottom flange.
In another aspect, the top flange and the bottom flange of the mounting member may be connected by a cylindrical rod.
In another aspect, the cylindrical rod may have a cross-sectional diameter than less than the top portion and the bottom the portion of the mounting member.
In another aspect, the first configuration may be the default position for the rear vehicle advertisement display system.
In another aspect, the second configuration may occur when the rear windshield wiper is in use:
In another aspect, the flexible panel may be weatherproof
In another implementation of the invention, a method of installing and operating the rear vehicle advertisement display system comprises:
In another aspect; the second opening may be a vertical groove.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description, ft is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a rear vehicle advertisement display system that is designed and configured to display an advertisement, message, text, and/or graphics on the rear of a vehicle. In particular, the advertisement, message, text, and/or graphics may be visible when a rear windshield wiper of the vehicle is in use and may be hidden when the rear windshield wiper of the vehicle is not in use, The rear vehicle advertisement display system may include a base frame, a hollow vessel, a flexible panel, and a mounting member configured to mount the system to the rear of the vehicle.
Referring initially to
With continued reference to
Referring now to
With continued reference to
Referring back to
Referring back to
The illustrations of
Referring now to
Upon affixing the base frame 104 to the rear of the vehicle 136, the mounting member 116 may then be mounted to the rear of the vehicle 136 as well. Because the mounting member 116 generally represents the distal end 102 of the advertisement display system 100, it may be mounted to the vehicle 136 at some point right of the base frame 104. The distance between the base frame 104 and the mounting member 116 may vary based on the size of the flexible panel 100. The mounting member 116 may be mounted by a fastening mechanism (not shown) found on the cylindrical post 172, as shown in
Upon affixing both the base frame 104 and the mounting member 116 to the rear of the vehicle 136, the advertisement display system 100 may be placed in a first configuration. The first configuration may be achieved by extending the roll-up screen 144 out of the hollow vessel 108 and latching it onto a portion of the cylindrical post 172 of the mounting member 116, as best shown in
Alternative embodiments are contemplated to those shown or described herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments are contemplated in which the material of flexible panels vary. Another alternative embodiment considered is the attachment mechanism found of the mounting member. For instance, some embodiments are envisioned in which the snap in or get screwed into a rear portion of the vehicle. In other embodiments, in may be envisioned that an adhesive may be applied to act as the fastening mechanism. Lastly, it is contemplated that the how the advertisement display system integrates with the vehicle may vary. For instance, a system is envisioned which may not utilize the rear windshield wiper.
In summary, the rear vehicle advertisement disclosed herein provides a system that creates a dynamic display on the exterior of a vehicle. The dynamic display is shown at eye level for other drivers such that the desired text, graphic, or other images that make up the advertisement are visible without being distracting. The flexible panels can easily be configured to adopt a first configuration wherein they are simply stored within the hollow vessel or a second configuration in which the panels are extended.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/137,032, filed on Jan. 13, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2561188 | Ferguson | Jul 1951 | A |
4953315 | Romaine | Sep 1990 | A |
5463973 | Tait | Nov 1995 | A |
5715620 | Walker | Feb 1998 | A |
5860466 | Kao | Jan 1999 | A |
5933991 | Gaul | Aug 1999 | A |
6922929 | Schramek | Aug 2005 | B1 |
7154383 | Berquist | Dec 2006 | B2 |
7316087 | Smith | Jan 2008 | B1 |
8104820 | Browne et al. | Jan 2012 | B2 |
8383213 | Clarke | Feb 2013 | B1 |
8701320 | Gold et al. | Apr 2014 | B2 |
9260056 | Strout et al. | Feb 2016 | B2 |
20080005942 | Harney | Jan 2008 | A1 |
20080169664 | Dampier et al. | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20090272832 | Gantzer | Nov 2009 | A1 |
20100055661 | Hegwood | Mar 2010 | A1 |
20100065232 | Browne | Mar 2010 | A1 |
20100263245 | Bowser | Oct 2010 | A1 |
20130333142 | Shenk | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20140047744 | Bates, II | Feb 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
109466285 | Sep 2021 | CN |
102013013857 | Feb 2014 | DE |
202017004276 | Jan 2018 | DE |
2526569 | Nov 1983 | FR |
2500369 | Sep 2013 | GB |
200481999 | Jul 2015 | KR |
WO2012027621 | Mar 2012 | WO |
WO2014125196 | Aug 2014 | WO |
Entry |
---|
English Translation of Foreign Patent KR-200481999-Y1 to Kim (Year: 2015). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63137032 | Jan 2021 | US |