Multi-faceted, rotatable promotional display for vehicles

• US 7,877,913 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The King And All The Kings Men, Inc.
• Original Assignee: David L. King
• Inventors: King, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERAA, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US11/958,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 404/22, 404/73, 404/79, 405/91, 405/92
• US Class Current: 40/592
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/02 incorporating moving display members
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/043 supported by tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/22 for rotatably or swingably mounting, e.g. for boards adapted to be rotated by the wind

Abstract

A multi-faceted, rotatable promotional display device for being retained relative to a vehicle for enabling the perception of multiple promotional messages from a single vantage point. A display casing with multiple display surfaces is rotatably retained relative to a base structure. Promotional messages are displayed relative to the display surfaces, and a drive arrangement rotates the display casing relative. The display casing can have a square, triangular, or other cross section. The base structure can have a cup portion with a raised peripheral ridge, and a shell can envelope the display casing. The display surfaces can be electronic display screens or light transmissive panels. A light source can be disposed within the display casing. A drive motor can be powered by a battery, a photovoltaic array, or a wind turbine. A clutch or a force sensor can prevent the application of excessive rotational force.

Claims

1. A multi-faceted, rotatable promotional display device for being retained relative to a vehicle for enabling the display of multiple promotional messages, display device comprising:

a base structure;

a display casing rotatably retained relative to the base structure wherein the display casing has multiple display surfaces;

means for displaying a promotional message relative to each of the plurality of display surfaces;

a drive arrangement for rotating the display casing relative to the base structure;

wherein the base structure includes a cup portion with a raised peripheral ridge and wherein a base portion of the display casing is disposed within the cup portion;

wherein the display casing has a height and a greatest lateral dimension, wherein the peripheral ridge has an inner diameter greater than the lateral dimension of the display casing, and wherein the peripheral ridge is raised only a portion of the height of the display casing;

wherein the display device is devoid of a shell enveloping the display casing whereby the display casing can be rotated relative to the base structure and the vehicle to enable each of the promotional messages to be perceived from a single vantage point without a shell being interposed between a viewer and the display casing.

2. The display device of claim 1 further comprising a means for securing the display device relative to the vehicle.

3. The display device of claim 1 wherein the display casing has a multi-sided cross-sectional shape.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein the display casing is cube shaped with first, second, third, and fourth sidewall display surfaces.

5. The display device of claim 1 wherein each display surface comprises a light transmissive panel and further comprising a light source disposed within the display casing.

6. The display device of claim 1 wherein the drive arrangement for rotating the display casing relative to the base structure comprises a motor and a power source.

7. The display device of claim 6 wherein the power source comprises a photovoltaic array retained atop the display casing.

8. The display device of claim 7 wherein the power source further comprises a battery for receiving and retaining power harvested by the photovoltaic array.

9. The display device of claim 1 wherein the drive arrangement for rotating the display casing relative to the base structure comprises a wind turbine.

10. The display device of claim 9 wherein the drive arrangement further comprises drive gearing powered by the wind turbine for applying rotational force to the display casing.

11. The display device of claim 9 wherein the drive arrangement further comprises a generator for converting energy harvested by the wind turbine to electrical power.

12. The display device of claim 11 wherein the drive arrangement further comprises a battery for receiving and retaining power harvested by the wind turbine.

13. The display device of claim 1 further comprising a means for preventing the application of excessive rotational force by the drive arrangement for rotating the display casing.

14. The display device of claim 13 wherein the means for preventing the application of excessive rotational force comprises a clutch.

15. The display device of claim 13 wherein the means for preventing the application of excessive rotational force comprises a force sensor and a means for disengaging the drive arrangement in response to a sensing of excessive rotational forces.

16. The display device of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle for transporting the display device.

17. The display device of claim 16 wherein the vehicle is chosen from the group consisting of an automobile and a truck.