Aerodynamic illuminated sign

• US 4,557,517 A
• Filed: 08/22/1983
• Issued: 12/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard M. Bolduc
• Original Assignee: Richard M. Bolduc
• Inventors: Bolduc, Richard M., Lagarde, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US06/525,180
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 40/564, 40/579, 40/591, 40/592, 40/204, 40/615, 362/61, 296/1 S
• US Class Current: 362/485
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

An aerodynamic drag-reducing air deflector adapted to be mounted on a truck serving to display indicia illuminated from the rear comprising a planar clear plastic-like member on which is screened in reverse the indicia and which is formed to aerodynamic shape, said rear being further coated with a translucent coating. Another embodiment utilized for quick indicia interchangeability has a clear dome and a member carrying the indicia insertable behind the dome and easily replaced with another member with different indicia. In a further embodiment the dome may be mounted on a housing.

Claims

1. An improved rear illuminated indicia-carrying aerodynamic deflector for mounting on a truck body comprising:

a dome member formed with a lip therearound;

a lip formed around said dome member;

indicia imprinted on the inside of said dome;

a translucent coating applied over the inside of said dome covering said indicia and the remainder of the inside of said dome;

a retaining frame positioned around the lip of said dome;

means to affix said retaining frame to the lip of said dome;

a gasket member positioned around the rear of the lip of said dome;

said retaining frame adapted to be affixed to the front of said truck body;

means to retain said retaining frame and attached dome to the front of said truck body;

illumination means comprising;

a bracket member affixed to said truck body behind said dome having an open-fronted slot defined therein;

a slide bar adapted to slide in the slot of said bracket member;

a plurality of light members, each having light bulbs therein affixed to said slide bar;

means to carry electric current to said light members;

an aperture defined in the side of said dome aligned with said slide bar; and

a covering adapted to be removably and replaceably affixed over said aperture, said slide member being adapted to slide through said aperture when said covering is removed carrying with it said light members causing them to pass out through said aperture to the exterior of said dome where said light bulbs can be replaced if desired, said slide member then being slid back in said bracket in said dome and said covering being reaffixed over said aperture.

2. An improved rear illuminated indicia-carrying aerodynamic deflector for mounting on a truck body comprising:

a clear dome member formed with a lip therearound;

a lip formed around said dome member;

a separate sheet of plastic-like material retained inside said dome;

light members;

indicia carried on said separate sheet and retained inside said dome between said dome and said light members;

a retaining frame positioned around the lip of said dome;

means to affix said retaining frame to the lip of said dome;

a gasket member positioned around the rear of the lip of said dome;

said retaining frame adapted to be affixed to the front of said truck body;

means to retain said retaining frame and attached dome to the front of said truck body;

illumination means comprising;

a bracket member affixed to said truck body behind said dome having an open-fronted slot defined therein;

a slide bar adapted to slide in the slot of said bracket member;

a plurality of light members, each having light bulbs therein affixed to said slide bar;

means to carry electric current to said light members;

an aperture defined in the side of said dome aligned with said slide bar; and

a covering adapted to be removably and replaceably affixed over said aperture, said slide member being adapted to slide through said aperture when said covering is removed carrying with it said light members causing them to pass out through said aperture to the exterior of said dome where said light bulbs can be replaced if desired, said slide member then being slid back in said bracket in said dome and said covering being reaffixd over said aperture.

3. The device of claim 2 further including a pair of clip members adapted to hold said indicia-carrying sheet inside said dome.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said indicia-carrying sheet further includes:

adhesive means on a face thereof by means of which said sheet is adhered to a face of said dome.

5. The device of claim 2 further including a housing member comprising:

an outer lip attachable to the front of said truck;

an outer side extending from said lip outward and inward from the front of said truck body;

a front member extending from said outer side inward parallel to the front of said truck body, having a recessed inner section defined therein;

an inner wall extending from said recessed inner section back to said truck;

a back wall extending from said inner wall along the front of said truck wherein said light members means are affixed to said back wall;

an aperture defined in an outer side of said housing and not in said dome for the passage of said slide bar for the replacement of light bulbs thereon;

a cover member removably and replaceably positioned over said aperture in said housing;

said dome and frame being affixable to said front member around of said recessed inner section defining a channel between said dome and said housing wherein said indicia-carrying sheet is adapted to be insertable into said channel between said dome and said housing in front of said light members; and

means to cover said channel to hold said sheet in place and seal said structure, said means being removable and replaceable when it is desired to slide said indicia-carrying sheet out of said channel.