Message board with work lights for vehicles

• US 20020175830A1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ed Hudson
• Original Assignee: Ed Hudson
• Inventors: Hudson, Ed
• Granted Patent: US 6,809,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/662 mounted on vehicles, e.g. service vehicles; Warning vehicles travelling along with road-maintenance, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable

Abstract

A deployable message display and work light structure for attachment to a vehicle. Said structure comprises an anchor assembly attachable to the front or rear end of a vehicle, a message display panel support frame having parallel arms hingedly secured at their lower end to the anchor assembly, and a message display panel secured to the upper end of said arms. Said support frame may be rotated between a stored position, in which said arms follow the upper surface contour of the vehicle, and a substantially vertical raised display position whereby said message display panel is viewable to oncoming motorists. Work lights secured to the frame below said panel shine downward to illuminate the site without spilling glare in the eyes of motorists. Preferaby the display panel displays in alternative flashes a one word message and a graphical representation of open and closed travel lanes.

Claims

1. A deployable message display structure attachable to a vehicle and comprising:

(a) anchor means attachable to a vehicle;

(b) a message panel supporting frame having two parallel arms hingedly attachable at their lower end to said anchor means whereby said frame is rotatable between a storage position and a substantially vertical message display position;

(c) a message display panel disposed between said arms at the end of said arms distal from said frame'"'"'s attachment to said anchor means.

2. The deployable message display structure of claim 1 further comprising at least one work light attached to said frame at a point below said display panel when said frame is in the raised message display position.

3. The deployable message display structure of claim 2 in which said frame further comprises at least one cross-member joining said arms at right angles to said arms.

4. The deployable message display structure of claim 3 where said cross-member is tubular and houses at least one rod, having an end outwardly extractable from an end of said cross-member, for securing said at least one work light.

5. The deployable message display structure of claim 1 wherein said arms are shaped to follow the contours of the upper surface of said vehicle when said structure is in the stored position, whereby said message display panel may then rest substantially flat on the roof of said vehicle.

6. The deployable message display structure of claim 5 wherein each of said arms further comprises hub means whereby said message display panel may selectively be positioned in a vertical viewing position when said structure is in the stored position.

7. The deployable message display structure of claim 1 further comprising powered means for rotating said frame between a storage position and a substantially vertical message display position.

8. The deployable message display structure of claim 7 wherein said powered means comprise a rotatably powered axle positioned longitudinally within a beam forming a part of said anchor means and operatively connected to each of said arms.

9. The deployable message display structure of claim 1 wherein said message display panel comprises means to display at least one alphanumeric message.

10. The deployable message display structure of claim 1 wherein said message display panel comprises means to display a graphical representation of open and closed travel lanes.

11. The deployable message display structure of claim 8 wherein said message display panel further comprises means to display alternatively, in brief flashes, a single word message and a graphical representation of open and closed travel lanes.

12. The deployable message display structure of claim 2 wherein the attachment of at least one work light to said frame comprises a rod having one end pivotally attached to an arm of said frame and having a work tight attached to its opposite end.

13. The deployable message display structure of claim 2 comprising at least one work light secured to said frame by electro-mechanical means for selectively directing the light from said work light in a plurality of directions.

15. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 further comprising at least one work light attached to said frame at a point on said frame below said display panel when said display panel is in a viewable position.

16. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 in which said frame further comprises at least one cross-member joining the upper section of said arms at right angles to said arms.

17. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 having a tubular cross-member housing at least one rod, said rod having an end outwardly extractable from an end of said cross-member, for securing a work light at said rod end.

18. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 wherein each of said first, second and third hubs may be angularly set and locked at angles respectively selected so that the arm assembly generally follows the upper surface contour of said vehicle when said structure is in the stored position, whereby said message display panel then rests substantially flat on the roof of said vehicle.

19. The deployable message display structure of claim 18 wherein, in each of said arms, at least one complementary elongate section comprises telescoping means for adjusting the length of said section.

20. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 further comprising powered means for rotating said frame between a storage position and a substantially vertical message display position.

21. The deployable message display structure of claim 20 wherein said powered means comprise a rotatably powered axle positioned longitudinally within a beam forming a part of said anchor means and operatively connected to each of said arms.

22. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 wherein said message display panel comprises means to display at least one alphanumeric message.

23. The deployable message display structure of claim 14 wherein said message display panel comprises means to display a graphical representation of open and closed travel lanes.

24. The deployable message display structure of claim 23 wherein said message display panel further comprises means to display alternatively, in brief flashes, a single word message and a graphical representation of open and closed travel lanes.

25. The deployable message display structure of claim 15 wherein at least one said work light is secured to said frame by electro-mechanical means for selectively directing the light from said work light in a plurality of directions.

14. A deployable and adjustable message display structure attachable to a vehicle and comprising:

(d) anchor means attachable to the front or rear of a vehicle;

(e) a message panel supporting frame having two parallel arms each having at least four elongate sections including a lower section, a lower-middle section, an upper-middle section and an upper section, whereby one end of said lower section is hingedly attachable to said anchor means, a first angularly adjustable hub joins the other end of said lower section to an end of said lower-middle section, a second angularly adjustable hub joins the other end of said lower-middle section to an end of said upper-middle section, and a third angularly adjustable hub joins the other end of said upper-middle section to said upper section;

(f) a message display panel disposed between the upper elongate section of said arms;

whereby said message panel supporting frame is rotatable between a storage position in which said elongate sections of said frame are substantially aligned with the upper surface of said vehicle and a substantially vertical message display position.