Advertising sign and method

An advertising sign includes an advertising element having a base, mounting means pivotably connected to the base for securing the advertising sign to a mounting surface, and at least one protrusion extending between the base and the mounting means such that a range of pivotal motion of the mounting means relative to the base is more limited in an area of the protrusion than in other areas.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to advertising signs, and particularly, to vehicle advertising signs that for releasably securing to vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Removably mounted vehicle advertising signs are used in many industrial and commercial enterprises, particularly where employees' personal vehicles are used in connection with the enterprise. For example, many pizzerias require drivers to use their own vehicles when making deliveries. In such instances, it is desirable that the vehicle display advertising when used in connection with the enterprise, but not display advertising when in personal use.

Examples of removably mounted advertising signs are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,918,397 and 5,711,100, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In such advertising signs, magnets are mounted to the base of the signs in such a manner that the magnets are pivotable to adjust to differences in slope along a vehicle surface, so as to enable secure mounting of the advertising signs to multiple vehicle makes and models.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an advertising sign for releasable securing to a vehicle or other surface and an associated method, which enables releasable securing of the advertising sign, while improving the ease and safety with which the sign is removed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an advertising sign includes an advertising element having a base, the base having at least one mounting point adapted to pivotably mount at least one mounting means for securing the advertising element to a mounting surface. In the area of the at least one mounting point, the base is configured to limit a range of pivotal motion of the mounting means relative to the base more in one direction than in other directions.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle advertising sign includes an advertising element having a base, a plurality of magnet assemblies pivotably mounted to the base such that the sign can be releasably secured to a curved vehicle surface, and a plurality of protrusions extending between the base and the magnet assemblies such that a range of pivotal motion of the magnet assemblies relative to the base is more limited in areas of the protrusions than in other areas.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the base includes at least one foot, the mounting means being attached to the at least one foot. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a recess is defined within the at least one foot, the mounting means is at least partially accommodated within the recess, and the protrusion is located within the recess.

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the mounting means is attached in at least one corner of the base, and the protrusion is located proximate to the apex of the at least one corner.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of removing a vehicle advertising sign from a vehicle surface includes gripping the vehicle advertising sign at a location along an edge of a base thereof, pulling the edge away from the vehicle surface to release mounting means proximate to the gripped location and pivot mounting means more remote from the gripped edge, contacting the more remote mounting means with at least one protrusion extending between the base and the mounting means, and fully removing the advertising sign by continuing to pull the edge away from the vehicle surface, thereby leveraging the more remote mounting means out of contact with the vehicle surface.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood in light of the drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle advertising sign10includes an integrally molded advertising element12defining a substantially enclosed interior. A plurality of magnet assemblies14are attached to the advertising element12, and serve as mounting means for releasably securing the vehicle advertising sign10to a vehicle surface16. An illuminating lamp assembly18is arranged within the interior of the advertising element12. The advertising element12has a base20, a front surface22, a rear surface24, and generally opposed side surfaces26. The base20is formed with a plurality of feet30, each foot30being located at a corner of the base20.

Referring toFIG. 3, each magnet assembly14includes a magnet40arranged within a metal housing42. The magnet40and metal housing42are both covered in a plastic coating44. The metal housing42has a lip46that extends past a lower surface of the magnet40. A central opening48is formed through the magnet40and metal housing42.

Each foot30has a recess50defined therein, each recess50extending into the interior of the advertising element12and serving as a receptacle for a corresponding magnet assembly14. A molded extension52, defining a threaded bore54, extends further into the advertising element12from an upper surface of the recess50, and serves as a mounting point for the magnet assembly14.

Attachment means for securing the magnet assembly14to the advertising element12include a screw56and a flexible sleeve58. The screw56is inserted through the central opening48of the magnet assembly14and threaded into the threaded bore54. The flexible sleeve58is arranged around the screw56between the magnet assembly14and the upper surface of the recess50. The flexible sleeve58establishes an offset between an upper surface of the magnet assembly14and the upper surface of the recess50, such that at least a portion of the magnet assembly14extends out of the recess50. A protrusion60is arranged within each recess50. As best appreciated inFIG. 4, the protrusion60is located along an edge of the recess50most proximate to the apex62of the corresponding corner of the base20.

Referring toFIG. 5, in the method of the present invention, the advertising sign10is positioned over and then placed on the vehicle surface16. The magnet assemblies14magnetically mate with the vehicle surface16. The screw56and flexible sleeve58allow each magnet assembly14to pivot to a limited degree within the offset between the upper surfaces of the magnet assembly14and the recess50. Accordingly, the magnet assemblies14pivot to adjust to the curvature of the vehicle surface16and ensure secure mounting by allowing for an optimal alignment between the magnet40and the vehicle surface16. The plastic coating44prevents abrasion of the vehicle surface16by each magnet assembly14. The lip46of the metal housing42prevents direct contact between each magnet40and the vehicle surface16, which facilitates subsequent removal.

Referring toFIG. 6, subsequent removal of the vehicle advertising sign10is accomplished by gripping the sign along an edge of the base20between adjacent feet30(for example, between the feet30along the edge between the base20and rear surface24) and pulling away from the vehicle surface16, as generally indicated by the arrow70. The magnet assemblies14along the edge of the base20that is gripped will then release from the vehicle surface16, while the magnet assemblies14along the opposing edge of the base20will initially pivot within the recesses50of the corresponding feet30and temporarily remain aligned with and mated to the vehicle surface16.

The upper surface of the magnet assemblies14along the opposite edge of the base20will then contact the corresponding protrusions60, further limiting the degree to which the magnet assemblies14can pivot. This engagement improves the leverage that can be applied to release the magnet assemblies14, further facilitating release of the magnet assemblies14and complete removal of the vehicle advertising sign10.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment herein shown and described, but that various modifications, and adaptations for particular circumstances, are possible within the scope of the present invention.

For example, directional terms used herein, such as upper, lower, front, rear and side, refer to the ordinary orientation of a vehicle advertising sign when mounted on the roof of a vehicle. Such directional terms are used for illustrative purposes, and do not limit the present invention to any particular mounting alignment or geometry. “Advertising” refers generically to any visible symbol or indicia, and is not necessarily limited to commercial advertising.

Also, in this application, “releasable” refers to the ability to be secured and removed from a surface without making or breaking a mechanical joint. An advantageous example of a releasable mounting means is the magnet assembly shown herein, but other releasable mounting means can be employed in connection with the present invention. For example, vacuum or suction mounting devices could be employed. The magnet assemblies, themselves, are also not limited to the magnet assemblies shown and disclosed. For example, the metal housing and plastic coating could be replaced or omitted. The present invention can also include advertising elements to which mounting means have not yet been attached.

Additionally, the advertising element shown herein, with sloped front and rear surfaces and generally triangular side surfaces, is advantageous both aerodynamically and for advertising purposes. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to an advertising element of any particular shape or dimensions. For example, an advertising element with a triangular or circular base could be also be used. Other, non-exclusive examples of other designs for advertising signs and elements suitable for use in connection with the present invention are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. D447,774, D433,454 and D429,766, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Similarly, an integrally molded advertising element is advantageous for ease of fabrication and imperviousness to the elements. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to an integrally molded advertising element, nor to an advertising element formed of any particular material(s).

Also, the vehicle advertising sign shown herein includes an illuminating lamp assembly arranged with an advertising element. The present invention does not necessarily require an illuminating lamp assembly and is not necessarily limited to any particular design or type of illuminating lamp assembly.

Additionally, the base of the present invention is shown having molded feet in which recesses forming receptacles for magnet assemblies are defined. The present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. For example, molded feet could be omitted and the recesses formed within a substantially flat base, or recesses and/or feet could be omitted and the mounting means could be attached directly to the base. Also, other attachment means for securing the mounting means to the advertising element could be used besides the flexible sleeve and screw shown and disclosed herein, while still permitting pivotal motion between the mounting means and the advertising element.

Furthermore, the protrusions are not necessarily limited to a particular shape, design or placement relative to the corresponding mounting means, as long as the protrusion is capable of contacting, and further limiting the pivotal motion of, the mounting means. However, the placement of the protrusions60proximate to an apex62of each corner of the base20(as best seen inFIG. 4) is advantageous in that, regardless of the edge or corner or the advertising element12that is initially pulled upward to remove the advertising sign10, the protrusion(s)60corresponding to the opposing mounting means will still limit the pivotal motion of the opposing mounting means during removal of the advertising sign10.

Since the large majority of vehicle surfaces to which the advertising sign would likely be mounted have a generally convex shape, adjacent feet will typically pivot towards each other when the advertising sign is mounted. Accordingly, it is also preferred that that protrusions not be located so as to inhibit such pivoting, which is another advantage of locating the protrusions proximate to the apex of each corner of the base. In an advertising element with a circular base, similar advantages are achieved by locating the protrusions more proximate to the circumference of the base than to the center.

Additionally, the protrusions can be integrally molded with the base or manufactured as separate inserts that are then attached to the base, either during initial manufacturing of the advertising sign or at a later date. For the instance, the present invention includes advertising signs retrofitted to include protrusions. Moreover, it is advantageous to locate the protrusions on the base, since their location is then readily fixed with regards to the edges and corners of the base. However, the protrusions could also be located on the mounting means. For example, referring toFIG. 7, an advertising element112has a magnet assembly114attached to a base120thereof. Rather than being located on the base120, a protrusion160is located on the magnet assembly114.

Also, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a particular shape or design of protrusion. For instance, although the protrusions shown herein are easily molded or inserted, it is not necessary that the protrusion create a step discontinuity with adjacent surfaces. The terms “extending between” do not necessarily mean extending completely between.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing is not an exhaustive list of modifications, but that these and other modifications, adaptations, and variations come within the scope of the present invention, as herein shown and described