SIGN FOR ON-BOARD USE IN RIDE SHARING VEHICLES

A sign for on-board use in ride sharing vehicles comprising a case having front and rear portions and the case is configured to be removably coupled to an inside of a windshield. The sign also includes at least one visual display carried by the front portion of the case, and a power supply coupled to the at least one visual display. In addition, the sign includes a plurality of electronic components coupled to a remote application, the power supply, and the at least one visual display. The electronic components are configured to receive a name of a rider from the remote application and to display the name on the at least one visual display.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of ride sharing, and, more particularly, to a sign for on-board use in ride sharing vehicles.

BACKGROUND

A ride sharing driver is typically screened by a ride sharing company such as Uber or Lyft. Once the driver has passed the initial screening and is authorized to provide transportation, the driver can log into an application using a smartphone that determines the current location of the driver and vehicle. Accordingly, when a rider logs into the application and requests transportation, the application determines which ride sharing vehicles are nearest the location and available to provide the requested transportation to the rider. The rider (or the application) selects one of the available vehicles to provide the transportation. The application displays the type of vehicle and name of the driver to the rider. Thus, the rider can be on the lookout for a particular vehicle that will be providing the transportation.

However, recently riders have been getting into the wrong vehicle and nefarious characters have taken advantage of the rider due to the confusion and can be difficult at night or in crowded airports or city streets to locate the specific type of car picking you up. Accordingly, there is a need in the art to increase safety to riders using ride sharing services.

SUMMARY

A sign for on-board use in ride sharing vehicles is disclosed. The sign includes a case having front and rear portions and the case is configured to be removably coupled to an inside of a windshield. The sign also includes at least one visual display carried by the front portion of the case, and a power supply coupled to the at least one visual display. In addition, the sign includes an electronic component coupled to a remote application, the power supply, and the at least one visual display. The electronic component is configured to receive a name of a rider and/or the driver name from the remote application and to display the name(s) on the at least one visual display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, a sign for on-board use in ride sharing vehicles is shown and generally designated100. The sign100includes a case102for housing electronics for first and second visual displays106,108. In particular, the first visual display106includes an array of LEDs110that is configured to light up to display a name of the rider and/or driver.

For example, as shown inFIG. 1the name “THOMAS” is displayed on the first visual display106. The second visual display108also includes an array of LEDs112and is configured to display the name of the ride sharing company such as “LYFT”, for example, as shown inFIG. 1. As those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the first and second visual displays106,108may comprise any suitable type of display screen and is not limited to an array of LEDs as described herein. The LEDs can be multiple colors, brightness can be adjusted, LEDs can flash alternately “LYFT” or “USER” then “RIDERS” name or one or both.

The case102is removably secured to the inside of a windshield using a suction cup104, adhesive, magnets, or other suitable fasteners. The case102is suspended from the suction cup104by an adjustable arm114. The arm114is configured to adjust an angle of the case102so that the first and second visual displays were easy to read from outside the vehicle.

A power switch120is positioned on a side of the case102in order to power on electronic components125and turn on the first and second visual displays106,108. The power source121may be an independent power source such as a battery, for example, housed within the case102and coupled to the visual displays106,108and the electronic components125. As those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the sign100may also be powered by a power source of the vehicle.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, a USB port122may be located on the bottom of the case102and may be used to power the sign100and/or to program the electronic components (e.g., memory, processor). As explained above, the electronic components125are coupled to the first and second visual displays106,108and can be programmed to display a desired name, for example, on the first visual display108.

The arm114may adjusted using a top adjustment wheel116to adjust an angle of the suction cup104to the inside of the windshield. A bottom adjustment wheel118may similarly be used to adjust the angle of the visual displays106,108to the rider standing outside the vehicle. A bolt124may be used to secure the case102to the arm114.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a block diagram of a system200of the sign100is depicted. The case102houses the electronic components125that may include a processor123and a memory127that stores data to display and firmware to operate the first visual display106and the second visual display108. The sign102may include an antennae129for receiving wireless signals138transmitted using an antenna132from a computing device130such as a smartphone.

The computing device130may have an application140stored thereon or that is otherwise accessible using a user interface136of the computing device130. The computing device130may have a port134that provides a wired connection to the port122of the sign102.

In operation, the application140stored on the computing device (e.g. smartphone)130of the driver connects via Bluetooth (or USB port, for example) to the sign100. The driver can manually type the name of the rider to display on the first visual display106, or the application can transmit directly to sign100(via Bluetooth or USB port, for example) and automatically display the name of the rider. The name of the driver can also be displayed on the first visual display106(or second visual display108). Accordingly, the rider can visually determine which vehicle is the correct vehicle by reading the visual display106. The name of the company (and/or driver) may also displayed on the second visual display108to further confirm to the rider that she is getting into the correct vehicle.