Method of displaying advertising messages

• US 5,825,281 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Kim Mccreary
• Original Assignee: Ronald Kim Mccreary
• Inventors: McCreary, Ronald Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/889,962
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/479, 340/463, 340/464, 340/468, 340/470, 340/471, 340/472, 340/473
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• 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 message to be displayed is sent to the display device from an onboard processor, having been retrieved from memory. The message comes on with the automotive brake lights and remains on until the brakes are released. The message changes with each application of the brake lights and is a continuous loop of sequentially displayed messages. In an alternative embodiment, the display remains on in a dimmer mode until the next application of the brakes changes the message. Thus, the message may be displayed while brake lights are energized, or alternatively, once brake lights are extinguished the message goes to a tail light mode having a reduced illumination level, for example, half as bright.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having vehicle brakes triggered by brake triggering means, a method of sequentially displaying advertising messages comprising the steps of:

a) mounting a message display means on an exterior surface of said vehicle,

b) electrically cooperatively connecting said message display means to an onboard processing means mounted on board said vehicle,

c) electrically cooperatively connecting said onboard processing means to said brake triggering means,

d) initiating said brake triggering means by an initiating event and programming said processing means to sequentially retrieve from a memory unit a series of advertising messages stored within said memory unit,

e) causing said processing means to retrieve one complete message from said series of advertising messages upon said initiating event and communicating said one complete message from said series of advertising messages to said message display means for display externally of said vehicle,

f) retrieving each complete message from said series of advertising messages by said processing means is communicated to said message display means so as to sequentially completely replace a message previously communicated to said message display means,

g) programming said processing means to send a sequence of different complete messages selected by said processing means from said series of advertising messages stored within said memory unit in response to repetitions of said initiating event,

h) displaying a different complete message every time said vehicle brakes are triggered.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said message display means is a light emitting diode display.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of mounting said light emitting diode display into an advertising housing, and mounting said advertising housing onto an upper exterior surface of said vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of mounting said light emitting diode display into a rear surface of a vehicle spoiler.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of mounting said light emitting diode display onto a rear generally planar surface of said vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of editing said series of advertising messages in said processing means which is programmable.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein editing of said series of advertising messages may be edited remotely remote from said vehicle, by remote communication means communicating with said processing means.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said brake triggering means is a brake pedal and said initiating event is depressing said brake pedal.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mounting said processing means which is a computer, into said vehicle, and said memory unit is a memory device within said computer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of programming said computer to replay a selection of a stored series of advertising messages stored within said memory device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of programming new advertising messages into said computer, so as to be added to said stored series of advertising messages, by an input/output interface on said computer.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of remotely programming new advertising messages into said computer, so as to be added to said stored series of advertising messages, by remote programming means.

13. In a vehicle having vehicle brakes triggered by brake triggering means wherein said brake triggering means is initiated by an initiating event, a device for sequentially displaying advertising messages comprising:

a) a message display means mountable on an exterior surface of said vehicle,

b) an onboard processing means, electrically cooperatively connectable to said message display means, and mountable on board said vehicle,

c) said onboard processing means electrically cooperatively connectable to said brake triggering means,

wherein said processing means is programmable to sequentially retrieve from a memory unit a series of advertising messages storable within said memory unit,

and wherein said initiating event causes said processing means to retrieve one complete message from said series of advertising messages and to communicate said one complete message from said series of advertising messages to said message display means for display externally of said vehicle,

and wherein each complete message retrieved from said series of advertising messages by said processing means is communicated to said message display means so as to sequentially completely replace a message previously communicated to said message display means,

and wherein said processing means is programmed to send a sequence of different complete messages selected by said processing means from said series of advertising messages stored within said memory unit in response to repetitions of said initiating event,

whereby a different complete message is displayed every time said vehicle brakes are triggered.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said message display means is a light emitting diode display.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said light emitting diode display is mountable into an advertising housing, wherein said advertising housing is adapted for mounting onto an upper exterior surface of said vehicle.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said light emitting diode display is mountable into a rear surface of a vehicle spoiler.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said light emitting diode display is mountable onto a rear generally planar surface of said vehicle.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein said processing means is programmable so that said series of advertising messages may be edited.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein editing of said series of advertising messages may be edited remotely remote from said vehicle, by remote communication means communicating with said processing means.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein said brake triggering means is a brake pedal and said initiating event is depressing said brake pedal.