Message display system

• US 7,142,104 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helen Blueford
• Original Assignee: Helen Blueford
• Inventors: Blueford, Helen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US10/127,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/469, 340/471, 340/472, 340/426.13, 340/426.17, 340/426.35, 340/464, 362/800
• US Class Current: 340/472
• 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: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles

Abstract

A message display system includes a main housing that is couplable to a vehicle. The main housing has bezel portion designed for encompassing a perimeter edge of a license plate. The main housing has a top display means for presenting a visual message. The top display means is medially positioned on a top portion of the main housing. A receiver portion is operationally coupled to the top display means. The receiver portion is positioned substantially within the housing. The receiver portion facilitates input of a message to be visually presented. A remote transmitter member is designed for receiving user input of a message to be visually presented. The remote transmitter member is operationally couplable to the receiver portion such that the message is communicated from the remote transmitter to the receiver portion.

Claims

1. A message display system for use in conjunction with vehicle license plates, comprising:

a main housing couplable to a vehicle, said main housing having bezel portion adapted for encompassing a perimeter edge of a license plate, said main housing having a top display means for presenting a visual message, said top display means being medially positioned on a top portion of said main housing;

a receiver portion operationally coupled to said top display means, said receiver portion being positioned substantially within said housing, said receiver portion facilitating input of a message to be visually presented;

a remote transmitter member adapted for receiving user input of a message to be visually presented, said remote transmitter member being operationally couplable to said receiver portion such that said message is communicated from said remote transmitter to said receiver portion.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lower display means positioned medially on a lower portion of said main housing, said lower display means being operationally coupled to said receiver portion, said lower display means being for displaying a second visual message.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote transmitter member further comprises:

a remote transmitter housing;

a keyboard portion positioned of a first surface of said housing, said keyboard portion being an interface for receiving said message from the user; and

a transmitter portion positioned substantially within said housing, said transmitter portion being operationally coupled to said keyboard portion, said transmitter portion being for transmitting said message to said top display means.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the keyboard portion includes a plurality of keys.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of keys includes alphanumeric keys.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lower display means positioned medially on a lower portion of said main housing, said lower display means being operationally coupled to said receiver portion, said lower display means being for displaying a second visual message;

wherein said remote transmitter member further comprises;

a remote transmitter housing;

a keyboard portion positioned of a first surface of said housing, said keyboard portion being an interface for receiving said message from the user; and

a transmitter portion positioned substantially within said housing, said transmitter portion being operationally coupled to said keyboard portion, said transmitter portion being for transmitting said message to said top display means;

wherein the keyboard portion includes a plurality of keys; and

wherein the plurality of keys includes alphanumeric keys.

7. A message display system for use in conjunction with vehicle license plates, comprising:

a main housing couplable to a vehicle, said main housing having bezel portion adapted for encompassing a perimeter edge of a license plate, said main housing having a top display means for presenting a visual message, said top display means being medially positioned on a top portion of said main housing;

a receiver portion operationally coupled to said top display means, said receiver portion being positioned substantially within said housing, said receiver portion facilitating input of a message to be visually presented;

a remote transmitter member adapted for receiving user input of a message to be visually presented, said remote transmitter member being operationally couplable to said receiver portion such that said message is communicated from said remote transmitter to said receiver portion;

a lower display means positioned medially on a lower portion of said main housing, said lower display means being operationally coupled to said receiver portion, said lower display means being for displaying a second visual message;

said remote transmitter member further comprises;

a remote transmitter housing;

a keyboard portion positioned on a first surface of said housing, said keyboard portion being an interface for receiving said message from the user; and

a transmitter portion positioned substantially within said housing, said transmitter portion being operationally coupled to said keyboard portion, said transmitter portion being for transmitting said message to said top display means and said lower display means.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said top display means being a display selected from the group of display consisting of liquid crystal display, light emitting diode array, and cathode ray tube.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said lower display means being a display selected from the group of display consisting of liquid crystal display, light emitting diode array, and cathode ray tube.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote transmitter member emitting a radio frequency signal representing said message, said receiver portion being adapted for receiving radio frequency signals, said receiver portion converting said radio frequency signal to an electrical signal representation of said message.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote transmitter member emitting an infra-red signal representing said message, said receiver portion being adapted for receiving infra-red signals, said receiver portion converting said infra-red signal to an electrical signal representation of said message.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said main housing having a height of approximately 6 inches, said main housing having a width of approximately 12 inches.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote transmitter housing having a width in the range between 2 and 3 inches inclusive, said remote transmitter housing having a length in the range between 3 and 12 inches inclusive.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein said transmitter portion and said receiver portion using a coding system for inhibiting interference and unauthorized use.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein said top display portion having a processing means for modifying a presentation of said message such that said message scrolls across said top display portion.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein said lower display portion having a processing means for modifying a presentation of said message such that said message scrolls across said lower display portion.

17. The system of claim 7 wherein the keyboard portion includes a plurality of keys.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of keys includes alphanumeric keys.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein said top display means is a display selected from the group of display consisting of liquid crystal display, light emitting diode array, and cathode ray tube;

wherein said lower display means is a display selected from the group of display consisting of liquid crystal display, light emitting diode array, and cathode ray tube;

wherein said remote transmitter member emits a radio frequency signal representing said message, said receiver portion being adapted for receiving radio frequency signals, said receiver portion converting said radio frequency signal to an electrical signal representation of said message;

wherein said main housing has a height of approximately 6 inches, said main housing having a width of approximately 12 inches;

wherein said remote transmitter housing has a width in the range between 2 and 3 inches inclusive, said remote transmitter housing having a length in the range between 3 and 12 inches inclusive;

wherein said transmitter portion and said receiver portion use a coding system for inhibiting interference and unauthorized use;

wherein said top display portion has a processing means for modifying a presentation of said message such that said message scrolls across said top display portion;

wherein said lower display portion has a processing means for modifying a presentation of said message such that said message scrolls across said lower display portion;

wherein the keyboard portion includes a plurality of keys; and

wherein the plurality of keys includes alphanumeric keys.