Vehicle-mounted electronic display system

• US 5,132,666 A
• Filed: 09/17/1990
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Travel Caddy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Travel Caddy Incorporated
• Inventors: Fahs, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popovici, Dov
• Application Number:
  US07/583,408
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/472, 340/470-473, 40/592, 40/550, 40/606, 248/231.4, 224/329, 224/325, 224/324, 224/321, 224/309
• US Class Current: 340/468
• 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 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• 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: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

The invention features a system for displaying information upon a vehicle. An electronic display is connected to a processor which generates character and graphics information. A power supply is connected to the electronic display and to the processor for providing operative power thereto. A programming device is connected to the processor for providing routines, which contain different messages for the electronic display. The screen of the display is mounted on the vehicle by means of an adjustably slidable mounting bracket. The display comprises a variable information section and a fixed information section. The fixed information section is mounted to the top of the variable information section.

Claims

1. A display and mounting deck combination, comprising:

a) a rectilinear, adjustable mounting deck adapted to connect to a roof portion of a vehicle, including slidably adjustable side arms for adjusting a center mounting area of said mounting deck to fit different sizes of displays, and wherein each of said adjustable side arms further include two slidable frames having hollow track sections slidable upon a middle bar;

b) tensioning means attached to said adjustable side arms to provide slidable adjusting tension to said adjustable side arms, said tensioning means including an adjustable tensioning spring disposed therein;

c) a variable information display supported by said mounting deck; and

d) a fixed information display mounted to said variable information display.

2. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fixed information display comprises illumination means for illuminating fixed information.

3. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said variable information display comprises light emitting diodes.

4. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

d) sound generating means operatively connect to said fixed information display.

5. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, further comprising securing means attached to said adjustable side arms for fixing said adjustable side arms in a set portion.

6. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said middle bar comprises means defining a slot, wherein a fastener passing through said slot can permanently affix said middle bar to said frames in a desired slidable position.

7. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pair of clawtype brackets mountable to a roof portion of a vehicle, said claw-type brackets having means for securing respective ones of said adjustable side arms thereto.

8. The display and mounting deck combination, in accordance with claim 1, further comprising dash mounted programming means under control of a driver of said vehicle, said programming means operatively connected to said variable information display for providing a selected message to said variable information display.