Abstract:
A mobile advertising system includes a banner, a first banner anchor and a second banner anchor coupled to a vehicle. The banner is capable of being deployed by being connected at opposing ends to and suspended between the first and second banner anchors. The banner has first and second surfaces on which indicia are imprinted. Both the first and second banner surfaces are visible when the banner is deployed. An invoicing and tracking system may be included that computes an advertising charge based at least in part on a time period during which the banner is deployed and, optionally, a location of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/955,545, entitled “Vehicle Advertising System” filed Aug. 13, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, to the extent that it is not conflicting with the present application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Outdoor structures and methods are well-known in the advertising field of art to advertise and promote products and services. Some examples include billboards along roads, digital signs in urban locations, and the exterior vertical sides of truck trailers. Few other efficient and revenue generating methods for advertising in the transportation industry exist. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A mobile advertising system includes a banner, a first banner anchor and a second banner anchor coupled to a vehicle. The banner is capable of being deployed by being connected at opposing ends to and suspended between the first and second banner anchors. The banner has first and second surfaces on which indicia are imprinted. Both the first and second banner surfaces are visible when the banner is deployed. An invoicing and tracking system may be included that computes an advertising charge based at least in part on a time period during which the banner is deployed and, optionally, a location of the vehicle. 
         [0004]    A method of advertising includes providing a banner capable of being deployed by being connected at opposing ends to and suspended between first and second anchors coupled to a vehicle. The banner has first and second surfaces on which indicia are imprinted and both the first and second banner surfaces are visible when the banner is deployed. A determination of whether the banner is deployed is made and a time period during which the banner is deployed is accumulated. An advertising charge is computed based at least in part on the time period during which the banner is deployed. 
         [0005]    A system for computing an advertising charge for a given advertiser includes a banner sensor that senses if the banner is deployed and a usage timer that determines a time period during which the banner is deployed based at least in part on data from the banner sensor. A vehicle location tracker determines a location of the vehicle during the time period the banner is deployed. A cost computer computes advertising charges based at least in part on the vehicle location and time period during which the banner is deployed. An invoice generator accumulates and communicates the computed advertising charges to the advertiser. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle advertising system installed on a vehicle; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a banner assembly of the vehicle advertising system of  FIG. 1  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the banner assembly of the vehicle advertising system of  FIG. 1  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are perspective views of a front mast of the vehicle advertising system of  FIG. 1  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5A-5B  are perspective views of a rear mast of the vehicle advertising system of  FIG. 1  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A-6B  are perspective views of a rear mast of a vehicle advertising system constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6C-6D  are perspective views of a rear mast of a vehicle advertising system constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a front mast of a vehicle advertising system that shows the rear mast in a stowed position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram of a tracking and invoicing system for use with a vehicle advertising system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a method of tracking and invoicing for use with a vehicle advertising system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    This Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as described is broader than and unlimited by the embodiments described herein, and the terms used have their full ordinary meaning. 
         [0018]    According to an inventive aspect of the present application, a mobile advertising system employs hardware and data collection and transmission electronics to create a revenue generating advertising system based on implementation time and location variables. The system includes assembly hardware that is installed on a mobile transportation vehicle, and may also include system vehicle electronics that are also installed on the vehicle and/or remote electronics installed at a receiving base location. Unique software and other processing components may also be included. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1-9  illustrate exemplary embodiments of a mobile advertising system according to inventive aspects of the present application. The mobile advertising system includes a banner assembly  10  shown installed on a vehicle in  FIG. 1 . The system utilizes free time to generate advertising revenue when no obstructing load is carried by the vehicle, such as, for example, a flat bed truck. In this example, the banner assembly  10  would be positioned parallel to the length of the bed and slightly off center toward the driver&#39;s side to accommodate a winch (not shown). While a flat bed truck  15  is shown in  FIG. 1 , any vehicle that includes a surface suitable for mounting a banner can be used in practice of the invention. It should be understood that other assembly locations and other vehicle types can be utilized in the practice of this invention. For example, a barge or towed trailer could also be used to carry the banner assembly  10 . 
         [0020]    The banner assembly  10  includes a banner  40  and first and second banner anchors coupled to the vehicle, such as, for example, a front mast  20 , a rear mast  30 . When the mobile advertising system is in use, the front mast  20  and rear mast  30  are anchored to the vehicle and may also be stabilized by one or more cables  35  connected to the front and rear masts. The height of the connection point on the cable  35 , and the location of the opposing connection point of the cable  35  may vary. The banner  40  is deployed from the front mast  20  and connected to the rear mast  30 . While the banner  40  described herein is a retractable banner, any suitable type of banner may be used in practice of the invention, including a removable banner (not shown) that is hung between the front and rear masts and is completely removed from the masts when not in use. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are views of the banner assembly  10 . The front mast  20  forms a first mounting point for one end of the banner  40 . The front mast  20  is mounted to the truck bed floor by bolts or any suitable technique and can be reinforced by tie downs such as the cables  35  ( FIG. 1 ) or any structure at two other points. Alternatively, the front mast may be readily removable from the vehicle when not in use. In some embodiments, the opposite end of the banner  40  includes a hem  40   a  that is adapted to receive a hem rod  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hem rod  34  is inserted through the hem  40   a  and snapped into clips  32  located at the top and bottom of the rear mast  30 . Other structure can be employed to secure the hem rod. 
         [0022]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the banner  40  is thus deployed from the front mast  20  and is installed to the rear mast  30 . The banner can be made from vinyl or any other suitable material resistant to tearing, inclement weather, or other types of damage. Text and images can be printed on either side to create a two-sided advertisement. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are exploded perspective views of the front mast  20 . The front mast  20  includes a banner enclosure  22  in which a removable banner spool  43  is installed. A winch motor  23  engages a drive assembly  27  that forms a top portion of the front mast  20 . The drive assembly  27  includes a motor gear  61 , a toothed belt  69 , and a spindle gear  63 . When energized, the winch motor  23  drives the motor gear  61 . The toothed belt  69  drives the spindle gear  63  to deploy or retract the banner, depending on the direction the winch motor is turning. Of course, any means of translating motor rotation into spool rotation can be used. For example, the drive assembly may include, for example, a gear set that is driven by the winch motor  23  to deploy or retract the banner. A switch (not shown) on the front mast  20  or a remote control (not shown) is used to operate the winch motor. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 4B , a banner access plate  24  is removable from the enclosure  22  to provide access to the interior of the banner enclosure  22  for installation of the banner spool  43 . The banner  40  is wound around the spool  43  and the spool includes a spindle top  67  that is configured to engage a spindle receiver  64 . In the described embodiment, the spindle receiver  64  is spring loaded to maintain a compressive force on the spool  43  when it is installed. The spindle receiver  64  engages and is driven by the spindle gear  63 . The banner access plate  24  includes a slot through which the banner is fed and one or more wiper mechanisms, such as, for example, rollers  25  or brushes (not shown) on either side of the slot that remove debris from the banner prior to its being retracted into the front mast  20 . 
         [0025]    A front mast base  21  is fixed to the vehicle. The front mast base  21  is configured to accept a spindle bottom  72  such that the spindle bottom can rotate with respect to the front mast base. The front mast  20  provides tension to the entire banner, impeding movement by wind or motion. Any tension mechanism may be used in the practice of the invention, such as for example, a spring loaded mechanism (not shown) or operation of the winch motor to draw and maintain the banner taut upon installation. In using the system, a system owner or operator will on occasion need to change the banner because of a new advertiser. The banner spool  43  can be removed from the front mast  20  through the banner access plate  24 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a perspective views of the rear mast  30 . The rear mast  30  includes the clips  32  that accept the hem rod  34  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and maintain the banner in the deployed position. The rear mast  30  includes a pole  31  that is removably fixed to a rear mast base  34 . In the described embodiment, the pole  31  includes a mounting flange  36  that is configured to rest on a keyed mounting boss  37 . To fix the pole  31  to the rear mast base  34  the pole is inserted into a key slot  37   a  in the keyed mounting boss  37 . Once the pole  31  is installed in the keyed mounting boss  37 , a key  33  is anchored to the rear mast base  34  with a pin  39  to prevent movement of the pole  31  out of the key slot  37   a . The banner tension tends to keep the pole  31  in the key slot of the keyed mounting boss  37 . Three point loading of the pole  31 , such as by cables  35  ( FIG. 1 ) can also be used. When the vehicle is empty of any load that forms an obstruction, the banner can be displayed by placing the rear mast  30  in position and attaching it to the key slot in the keyed mounting boss  37 . When a load is on the vehicle, the banner  40  is retracted and the rear mast  30  is in a stowed position attached to the front mast (see e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0027]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of an alternative rear mast  30 ′. In this embodiment, the rear mast  30 ′ does not include clips to accept a hem rod. Instead, the rear mast  30 ′ includes a removable pole  31 ′ that serves the same purpose as the hem rod. The removable pole  31 ′ has a key groove  38  near its bottom. The removable pole  31 ′ is sized to be inserted in the hem  40   a  of the banner  40 . The key groove  38  is configured to be removably installed in a key slot  37   a  in a keyed mounting boss  37 ′. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 6C and 6D  are perspective views of an alternative rear mast  30 ″. Like rear mast  30 ′, rear mast  30 ″ does not include clips to accept a hem rod. Instead, rear mast  30 ″ includes a removable pole  31 ″ that serves the same purpose as the hem rod. The removable pole  31 ″ has a key groove  38 ′ near its bottom. The removable pole  31 ″ is sized to be inserted in the hem  40   a  of the banner  40 . In this embodiment, the key groove  38 ′ is configured to be removably installed in a key slot  37   a ″ in the bed of a flat bed  34   a″.    
         [0029]    The system is designed to collect and transmit data regarding the time and location of the vehicle during periods in which the banner  40  is deployed to a fully extended position, i.e., time the vehicle acts as a piece of advertisement.  FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram of a tracking and invoicing system  100  that can be used with the mobile advertising system. The tracking and invoicing system includes a banner sensor  110  that provides a signal that indicates whether the banner is deployed or not. The banner sensor may be for example, a proximity switch that senses the presence of the banner in the fully extended position or a position of a drive assembly component. Alternatively, the banner sensor may be a manual switch operating by the user of the system. A Global Positioning System (GPS) real time location tracker  120 , such as for example, the SAGEQUEST™ system, is incorporated into the system to track the vehicle&#39;s location during deployment of the banner. It will relay information to a usage timer  130  that collects data regarding vehicle location, actual date and time, and whether or not the banner is deployed. The information can be relayed at any interval, such as for example, 1, 2, or 5 minutes. The data from the timer  130  of one or more vehicles is be collected by a cost computer  140 . The cost computer provides data regarding advertiser charges to an invoice generator  150  that accumulates and communicates the advertising charges to the advertiser by generating invoices or updating cost information in some manner that will be accessible by the advertiser, such as, for example, an encrypted website. Based on advertising contracts, the collected data can be used to determine rates for billing cycles or determine future rates. It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that any or all of the vehicle location tracker  120 , the timer  130 , the cost computer  140 , and the invoice generator may be located in a remote central server or on each vehicle. 
         [0030]    The use of a GPS tracking components in the advertising system electronics can be utilized for other purposes, such as for example, by a fleet operator to determine location of individual trucks. This can eliminate the need for a stand-alone GPS system in a vehicle when a fleet operator desires a real time location system. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart that illustrates one exemplary method  200  of operating the mobile advertising system. At  210 , the status of the banner is determined. If the banner is deployed at  220 , the location of the banner (and the vehicle it is mounted on) is determined. In addition, the location tracker may determine whether or not the vehicle is in motion. The region through which the vehicles travels may be divided into zones, with each zone having its own billing rate. At  230 , an incremental cost to the advertiser is computed based at least in part on the time of deployment and the zone in which the banner is located and, optionally, whether the vehicle is in motion. At  240 , an invoice is generated at some predetermined interval based on accumulated cost data. The invoice may be in the form a periodic statement or in an update of billing information on a website that is accessible to advertisers. 
         [0032]    While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.