Method and apparatus for converting a rearview mirror into a dedicated information display

• US 20040107617A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Dolan, Robert A., Shoen, Mark V., Ueland, Rodger A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/593
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/049 giving information to passengers inside the vehicles

Abstract

A dedicated information display in a vehicle is provided, the display having a rearview mirror with a reflective surface. The display also includes a label having an adhesive side and a display side, and a size and a shape that covers a portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror. The adhesive side of the label is affixed to the rearview mirror such that the rearview mirror is converted into an effectively dedicated information display. The information display may also be constructed using an electronic display.

Claims

1. A method of converting a rearview mirror with a reflective surface in a vehicle into a dedicated information display comprising the steps of:

providing a label, the label being sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror; and

,

affixing the label to the rearview mirror;

whereby when the label is affixed to the rearview mirror, the rearview mirror is converted into an effectively dedicated information display.

2. The method of claim 1, where the label covers a substantial portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

3. The method of claim 1, where the step of affixing the label to the rearview mirror comprises:

providing an adhesive to a surface of the label; and

,

placing the surface of the label with the adhesive in contact with the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

4. The method of claim 1, where the rearview mirror includes a housing, and the step of affixing the label to the rearview mirror comprises:

providing an adhesive to a surface of the label; and

,

placing the surface of the label with the adhesive in contact with the housing of the rearview mirror.

5. The method of claim 1, where the step of affixing the label to the rearview mirror comprises:

providing an adhesive to the reflective surface; and

,

placing a surface of the label in contact with the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

6. The method of claim 1, where the label includes an adhesive that is a heat tolerant adhesive.

7. The method of claim 1, where the label includes an adhesive that is a cold tolerant adhesive.

8. A dedicated information display in a vehicle with a rearview mirror, the rearview mirror having a reflective surface, comprising:

a label having an adhesive side and a display side, the label having a size and a shape that covers at least a portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror;

whereby when the adhesive side of the label is affixed to the rearview mirror, the rearview mirror is converted into an effectively dedicated information display.

9. The display of claim 8, where the label covers a substantial portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

10. The display of claim 8, where the adhesive side of the label includes an adhesive that is a heat tolerant adhesive.

11. The display of claim 8, where the adhesive side of the label includes an adhesive that is a cold tolerant adhesive.

12. A dedicated information display in a vehicle with a rearview mirror, the rearview mirror having a reflective surface, comprising:

a label holder having;

an attachment means for affixing the label holder to the rearview mirror;

a bezel for enclosing a label, the bezel including an opening to display the label;

whereby when the label holder is affixed to the rearview mirror, the rearview mirror is converted into an effectively dedicated information display.

13. The display of claim 12, where the attachment means comprises a set of mounting arm with each arm having an adhesive pad.

14. The display of claim 12, where the adhesive pad comprises an adhesive that is a heat tolerant adhesive.

15. The display of claim 12, where the adhesive pad comprises an adhesive that is a cold tolerant adhesive.

16. The display of claim 12, where the attachment means comprises a set of hook-and-loop type fasteners.

17. The display of claim 12, where the attachment means comprises a set of suction cups.

18. The display of claim 12, where the label holder is removably affixed to the rearview mirror.

19. The display of claim 12, where the label holder includes an opening on an edge of the label holder through which the label is inserted.

20. A method of converting a rearview mirror with a reflective surface in a vehicle into an information display comprising the step of:

covering at least a portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror with an informational display device;

whereby when the informational display device is affixed to the rearview mirror, the rearview mirror is converted into an information display.

21. The method of claim 20, where the informational display device covers a substantial portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

22. The method of claim 20, where the step of affixing the informational display device to the rearview mirror comprises:

providing an adhesive to a surface of the informational display device; and

,

placing the surface of the informational display device with the adhesive in contact with the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

23. The method of claim 20, where the rearview mirror includes a housing, and the step of affixing the informational display device to the rearview mirror comprises:

providing an adhesive to a surface of the informational display device; and

,

placing the surface of the informational display device with the adhesive in contact with the housing of the rearview mirror.

24. The method of claim 20, where the step of affixing the informational display device to the rearview mirror comprises:

providing an adhesive to the reflective surface; and

,

placing a surface of the informational display device in contact with the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

25. The method of claim 20, where the informational display device includes an adhesive that is a heat tolerant adhesive.

26. The method of claim 20, where the informational display device includes an adhesive that is a cold tolerant adhesive.

27. A display in a vehicle with a rearview mirror comprising:

a informational display device having;

an attachment means for affixing the informational display device to the rearview mirror; and

,

a size and a shape that covers at least a portion of the rearview mirror;

whereby when the informational display device is affixed to the rearview mirror, the rearview mirror is converted into an informational display.

28. The display of claim 27, where the rearview mirror has a reflective surface and the size and the shape of the informational display device covers a substantial portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror.

29. The display of claim 27, where the attachment means comprises a set of mounting arm with each arm having an adhesive pad.

30. The display of claim 29, where the adhesive pad comprises an adhesive that is a heat tolerant adhesive.

31. The display of claim 29, where the adhesive pad comprises an adhesive that is a cold tolerant adhesive.

32. The display of claim 27, where the attachment means comprises a set of hook-and-loop type fasteners.

33. The display of claim 27, where the attachment means comprises a set of suction cups.

34. The display of claim 27, where the informational display device is removably affixed to the rearview mirror.

35. A display in a vehicle with a rearview mirror comprising:

a informational display device having;

an attachment means for affixing the informational display device to the vehicle; and

,

a size and a shape that covers at least a portion of the rearview mirror;

whereby when the informational display device is affixed to the vehicle, the portion of the rearview mirror that is covered by the informational display device is inoperable as a reflective surface.

36. A display in a vehicle with a rearview mirror comprising:

an electronic display device having;

an attachment means for affixing the informational display device to the vehicle; and

,

a size and a shape that covers at least a portion of the rearview mirror.

37. The display of claim 36 wherein the electronic display device comprises:

a display screen;

a processor coupled to the display screen; and

,

a storage device coupled to the processor;

wherein the storage device contains data and information used by the processor to cause the display screen to display a set of messages.

38. The display of claim 37 wherein the display screen comprises a liquid crystal display.

39. The display of claim 37 wherein the display screen comprises a light emitting diode display.

40. The display of claim 37 wherein the display screen comprises a field emission display.

41. The display of claim 37 wherein the set of messages includes a marketing message.

42. The display of claim 37 wherein the set of messages includes a warning message.

43. The display of claim 37 wherein the set of messages includes a vehicle status message.

44. The display of claim 37 wherein the set of messages includes a customized message.

45. The display of claim 37 wherein the set of messages includes an environmental status message.