Display device with adjustable attachment means

• US 4,052,806 A
• Filed: 01/12/1976
• Issued: 10/11/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vango Media Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vango Media Incorporated
• Inventors: George, James Rembrandt
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, E. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/648,275
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 40/129 C, 40/129 R, 240/7.1, 240/8.1-8.12, 240/7.1 C
• US Class Current: 40/572
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/045 with indicating means on the outside of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/10 using transparencies
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles

Abstract

A display device for displaying information bearing material having a side portion for supporting the material for viewing by the general public. The device includes an illuminating means located behind the side portion so that the information bearing material can be illuminated from a direction opposite to that from which the material will be viewed by the public.

Claims

1. A display device for displaying information bearing materials for viewing comprising:

a. a first end member defining a front end;

b. a second end member defining a rear end, each said first and second end members including a surface for supporting said information bearing materials, sections of which cooperate with end illuminating means for illuminating said sections independently of each other such that as one section is illuminated, another section is generally unaffected by the section which is illuminated;

c. a pair of side members supported between said first and second end members, said side members disposed at an angle one to the other and also having a surface for supporting said information bearing materials, and each said side surface between an upper and lower end being generally outwardly convex;

d. a bottom member secured to each said side member and to said first and second end member;

e. a top portion likewise secured thereby defining a substantially closed member in said display device;

f. illuminating means disposed in said chamber comprising a substantially continuous source of illumination extending substantially from said front end to said rear end and located substantially midway between said other members and top portion for rear illumination by substantially an equal amount of lumens every portion of said side surfaces for ease in viewing the same and said information bearing materials thereon from a multitude of attitudes; and

g. attachment means for attaching said display device to the roof of a vehicle, said attachment means being carried by said bottom member.

2. The display device according to claim 1 wherein said end illuminating means includes at least two chambers located behind and adjacent to said front and rear ends, respectively, said chambers being so configured so that illumination of one chamber occurs without affecting the adjacent chamber.

3. The display device according to claim 1 wherein said end illuminating means includes three chambers generally cubical in configuration having five sides and being open along each information bearing surface, one chamber being substantially larger than the other two smaller chambers and located between the smaller chambers.

4. The display device according to claim 3 wherein the chambers are carried by a bracket having sockets for light bulbs to illuminate each information bearing surface, each said socket adapted to be connected to remote control power sources for operating the light bulbs independently of each other.

5. The display device according to claim 4 wherein a vertical bracket is attached to the back of the one chamber of each end illuminating means for supporting a socket, said sockets providing support for a fluorescent tube comprising said side illuminating means.

6. The display device according to claim 5 wherein the vertical bracket and the three chambers are of a single unitary construction secured to the bottom member of the display device.

7. The display device according to claim 6 wherein a skirt member extends vertically from the bottom member of the display device and is configured to conform to the shape of the roof of said vehicle such that the display device can be attached to any vehicle.

8. The display device according to claim 7 wherein a flexible gasket member extends downwardly from said skirt member for snugly engaging the roof surface of the vehicle when said display device is attached thereto for preventing moisture from entering into the device along the areas of engagement between the gasket member and the roof.

9. The display device according to claim 8 wherein a bottom plate is supported on said bottom member and extending toward said skirt member, and a second flexible gasket member, said second flexible gasket member supported on the bottom plate between the bottom plate and the skirt member for further preventing moisture from entering into the display device.

10. The display device according to claim 9 wherein said bottom plate has an upper surface and a lower surface, said means for attaching said display device to the roof of the vehicle including a U-clamp member which defines a convex portion and vertical portions which extend downwardly from said convex portion defining at their ends a horizontal flange portion, each said flange portion having a rubber cushion attached thereto between said flange and the roof of the vehicle, said flange portion having bolt means for securing the U-shaped clamp member to the roof of the vehicle, and means for attaching the U-clamp to the lower surface of the bottom plate.

11. The display device according to claim 10 wherein the front end and the rear end of the display device define shields which extend outwardly from the display device and protect the information bearing surfaces from extraneous reflections so that they can be more easily read.

12. The display device according to claim 11 wherein said rear end, said front end, said side members, and said skirt member are of a unitary structure made of a polyvinyl chloride, said unitary structure is secured to said bottom plate and cooperates with said second flexible gasket member to isolate internal elements of the display device from the external elements when the display device is secured to the roof of said vehicle.

13. A display device for displaying advertising information comprising:

a. a front end member of a generally triangular configuration;

b. a rear end member of a generally triangular configuration displaced from said front end member;

c. two side portions being supported and extending between said front and rear end members, said side portions being generally convex in configuration and having a surface for supporting advertising materials for viewing;

d. said display device defining a top portion and a bottom portion, said side portions being joined to each other at the top portion of the display device and sloping generally away from each other toward the bottom portion of the display device;

e. said display device having a skirt which depends from the bottom portion and extends entirely around the display device and configured to conform with the roof of a vehicle to which the display device can be secured;

f. a fluorescent tube supported midway between the side portions and the top portion and the bottom portion of the display device and extending substantially the entire length of the display device;

g. said fluorescent tube being supported by a bracket having a vertical support member which defines a socket for receiving ends of the fluorescent tube;

said bracket further comprising three chambers, each chamber being open along information bearing surfaces of the front and rear end members and each chamber having a socket for receiving a light bulb along a wall opposite the information bearing surface;

each said socket adapted to be connected to a power source and control means for operation of the light bulbs;

h. said bottom portion of said display device defining a plate having edges which are adjacent and parallel to the internal surface defined by said skirt, said skirt having depending therefrom a flexible gasket for engagement with the roof of the vehicle to prevent moisture and other materials from entering into the display device through the interface defined by the roof and flexible gasket, a second gasket being attached to the edges of said plate and engaging the internal surface of said skirt to further prevent moisture and other materials from entering into the display device;

i. said display device having attaching means for allowing said display device to be secured to the roof of any vehicle, said attaching means including U-clamp members having a convex surface which is secured at any desired location to a bottom surface of said plate, said U-clamp members defining vertical sides from which extend horizontal flanges, said horizontal flanges having a rubber cushion attached thereto between said horizontal flange and the roof of said vehicle, each said horizontal flange having means securing the U-clamp member to the roof of the vehicle; and

j. said front end member, said rear end member, said side portions, said top portion and bottom portion and said skirt being of a unitary configuration formed of a polyvinyl chloride.