ILLUMINATED MOBILE SIGN SYSTEM AND METHOD

An illuminated mobile sign system including a sign assembly, a charging assembly, and at least one suction-cup. The sign assembly includes a luminous-fiber-optic-fabric, and a rigid-backboard in structural and functional combination. The rigid-backboard of the sign assembly includes a front-side, a back-side, and a periphery. The charging assembly includes, and is defined by, a thin-cell-rechargeable-battery, one or more photovoltaic-cells, a male-power-connector, a female-power-connector, and a battery-connector. The rigid-backboard includes a front-side, a back-side, and a periphery. The periphery exhibits a badge-shape to provide a more formal aesthetic design. Illuminated mobile sign system is weather-resistant. The illuminated mobile sign system is structured and arranged to allow a user to display an illuminated image or illuminated-message upon a surface via the sign assembly. The illuminated image includes alphanumeric text, as well as graphics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of signage and more specifically relates to a mobile sign system.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Generally speaking, a sign is an object to display a message, image, or combination thereof. A sign can be mounted upon a sign post, independently standing, affixed to a surface, or displayed by other suitable means. Signs may include messages and/images related to political messages, safety, sports related enthusiastics, trademarks, or simply to provide aesthetic improvement.

Signs may be static, such that the images, graphics, or text are stationary and directly printed upon a rigid surface, or a sign may be based upon illuminated technology. Such illuminated technology can include the use of light-emitting-diodes, fiber optics, or a series of incandescent light bulbs in order to construct the image, graphic(s), or text. Such illuminated signs often require an electrical power source. Static signs may include reflective surfaces or material such that they are more easily viewable during low light conditions.

One such limitation with the common sign is that most are not visible without ambient or reflective light. As in the case with illuminated signs, these signs require a constant and reliable power source to remain illuminated to operate to be visible. Some illuminated signs may be connected to a municipal power source (i.e., hard-wired), or include a remote battery power supply. However, illuminated signs that are mobile, such as mounted upon a vehicle, cannot be wired and most batteries have a short power supply which requires recharging. As such, a suitable solution is desired.

Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,540 to Jacobs, U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,047 to Rodriguez, US 2009/0084009 to Vandergriff et al., US 2011/0107733 to Wells, US 2014/0363038 to Coleman et al., and US 2015/0047237 to Meza. This art is representative of signage. However, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known signage art, the present invention provides a novel illuminated mobile sign system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a powered-electronic signage device which displays illuminated messages and/or graphics with the device removably affixable to a surface. The device is powered by a thin-cell battery which is rechargeable by ambient light via a photovoltaic cell.

An illuminated mobile sign system is disclosed herein, in embodiments; embodiments include a sign assembly, a charging assembly, and at least one suction-cup; the at least one suction-cup being removable and reversible to provide a user with multiple mounting options for the illuminated mobile sign system. The sign assembly includes a luminous-fiber-optic-fabric, and a rigid-backboard, in structural and functional combination. The illuminated mobile sign system includes the sign assembly, the charging assembly, and the at least one suction-cup in functional combination.

The rigid-backboard of the sign assembly includes a front-side, a back-side, and a periphery. The charging assembly includes, and is defined by, a thin-cell-rechargeable-battery, one or more photovoltaic-cells, a male-power-connector, a female-power-connector, and a battery-connector in functional combination. In embodiments, the rigid-backboard comprises and is defined by the front-side, the back-side, and the periphery. Embodiments include the periphery which exhibits a badge-shape to provide a more formal aesthetic design. Embodiments of the illuminated mobile sign system include weather-resistance. The illuminated mobile sign system is structured and arranged to allow a user to display an illuminated image upon and/or through a surface (e.g., a transparent surface, such as a glass, plastic, etc.) via the sign assembly. Embodiments include the illuminated image which includes alphanumeric text, as well as graphics and/or a combination thereof.

The thin-cell-rechargeable-battery of the charging assembly is affixable to the front-side of the rigid-backboard, in an embodiment. Also, the one or more photovoltaic-cells are each affixable to the front-side of the rigid-backboard nearest the periphery of the rigid-backboard. The one or more photovoltaic-cells are structured and arranged to charge the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery via a light-source. Embodiments include the light-source being from ultra-violet radiation from a solar-source, or man-made light sources, as well as any other suitable light-source.

Embodiments of charging assembly are structured and arranged to provide an electrical power source to the luminous-fiber-optic-fabric, with the luminous-fiber-optic-fabric structured and arranged to cover and conceal the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery. The luminous-fiber-optic-fabric includes an on-off switch, in embodiments. Some embodiments include thin-cell-rechargeable-battery which is removable and replaceable. Embodiments of charging assembly can include a charging-port such that the user is able to recharge the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery via an electrical-current-source (e.g., household electrical, automobile electrical system, etc.).

The battery-connector provides electrical coupling between the one or more photovoltaic-cells and the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery. Together, the male-power-connector and the female-power-connector provide detachable electrical coupling between the luminous-fiber-optic-fabric and the thin-cell-rechargeable-battery.

Embodiments include the rigid-backboard constructed from a plastic material to provide durability and longevity, and to prevent damage to the surface during use. The at least one suction-cup is detachably affixable to the rigid-backboard to provide a detachable coupling to the surface. In embodiments, the surface is a window of a vehicle (e.g., car, truck, van, bus, tractor-trailer, etc.).

According to an embodiment, a kit is disclosed; the kit including a sign assembly, a charging-assembly, at least one suction-cup, and a set of user instructions.

According to another embodiment, a method for using illuminated mobile sign system is also disclosed herein. The method for using an illuminated mobile sign system includes the steps of: providing an illuminated mobile sign system (comprising the sign assembly, the charging assembly, and at least one suction-cup), affixing the illuminated mobile sign system to a surface, charging the illuminated mobile sign system via a light-source, switching the illuminated mobile sign system into an on-mode, displaying an illuminated-message, switching the illuminated mobile sign system into an off-mode, and removing the illuminated mobile sign system from the surface.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an illuminated mobile sign system. Preferably, a sign should provide a removable device that is electrically powered to display illuminated graphics and/or messages with the capability to be rechargeable by a light source and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable illuminated mobile sign system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sign and more particularly to an illuminated mobile sign system as used to improve the mobile display of messages and graphics upon a surface where the display is rechargeable by an external light source.

Generally speaking, an illuminated mobile sign system, which may be referred to as “Vehicle Window Hawk Sign” (“Hawk Sign”), is a unique sign that may be secured to a vehicle window, thereby warning and alerting other drivers to not text while driving. The Hawk Sign insignia may include bright colors and may be placed on a luminous fiber optic fabric such that the sign may light up to become more visible during low light conditions, such as nighttime. The system may include a rechargeable battery contained within the sign which operates in conjunction with a photovoltaic-cell which absorbs ambient light and may charge the battery for easy use and long life.

The device is simple and inexpensive and may become a popular sign that consumers can use; and is intended to save lives to prevent people from texting while driving a vehicle. Texting while driving has become more dangerous than talking on the phone while driving. Many authorities have instituted educational methods of displaying such messages. The Hawk Sign device may be the new method of reminding drivers of the dangers of texting while driving.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIG. 1, illuminated mobile sign system100during an ‘in-use’ condition150, with illuminated mobile sign system100detachably coupled to surface146. Embodiments of illuminated mobile sign system100may include surface146which may include window148of a vehicle. Also shown inFIG. 1, illuminated mobile sign system100may be structured and arranged to be charged by light-source144. Light-source144may be ultra-violet radiation from a solar-source (i.e., solar radiation), or light-source144may be created by a man-made-source (e.g., light bulb, fire, etc.), in some embodiments.

At least one suction-cup138may be removable and reversible to provide the user with multiple mounting options (e.g., reversing illuminated mobile sign system100, rotating illuminated mobile sign system100, providing additional support to illuminated mobile sign system100upon surface146, etc.)

Embodiments of illuminated mobile sign system100may include an illuminated image or illuminated-message142which includes alphanumeric text, pictures, graphics, logos, and/or trademarks.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, illuminated mobile sign system100includes sign assembly110, charging assembly126, and at least one suction-cup138in functional combination. Sign assembly110may comprise luminous-fiber-optic-fabric112, and rigid-backboard116, in structural and functional combination. Rigid-backboard116may comprise and be defined by front-side118, back-side120, and periphery122. At least one suction-cup138may be detachably affixable to rigid-backboard116to provide a detachable coupling to surface146. Charging assembly126may be structured and arranged to provide an electrical power source to luminous-fiber-optic-fabric112. Illuminated mobile sign system100may be structured and arranged to allow the user to display illuminated image/illuminated-message142upon surface146via sign assembly110. Luminous-fiber-optic-fabric112may be dimmable in some embodiments such that the user may alter a brightness of luminous-fiber-optic-fiber112. Embodiments may also include luminous-fiber-optic-fabric112that also may include on-off switch156.

As can be seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, luminous-fiber-optic-fabric112may be structured and arranged to cover and conceal thin-cell-rechargeable-battery128. One or more photovoltaic-cell(s)130may be structured and arranged to charge thin-cell-rechargeable-battery128via a light-source144. One or more photovoltaic-cells130may each be affixable to front-side118of rigid-backboard116nearest periphery122of rigid-backboard116and battery-connector136may provide electrical coupling between one or more photovoltaic-cell(s)130and thin-cell-rechargeable-battery128. Thin-cell-rechargeable-battery128may be removable and replaceable in some embodiments

Referring toFIG. 4, periphery122of rigid-backboard116may exhibit a badge-shape to provide a more formal aesthetic design. Also, rigid-backboard116may be constructed from a plastic material to provide durability and longevity and prevent damage to surface146during use, in some embodiments. Embodiments may also include rigid-backboard116constructed from an aluminum alloy to be lightweight, or rigid-backboard116may be constructed from a ferrous-metallic alloy to provide increased strength, rigidity, and durability during use, depending upon user preferences and specific applications.

Illuminated mobile sign system100may be weather-resistant in some embodiments and multiple illuminated mobile sign systems100may be coupleable such that power may be shareable by and between each of multiple illuminated mobile sign systems100.

Illuminated mobile sign system100may be sold as a kit comprising the following parts: at least one sign assembly110; at least one charging-assembly126; at least one suction-cup138; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner).

Illuminated mobile sign system100may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different display combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

Referring now toFIG. 5showing a flow diagram550illustrating method of use500for illuminated mobile sign system100according to an embodiment of the present invention ofFIGS. 1-4. As shown, method of use500may comprise the steps of: step one501, providing illuminated mobile sign system100comprising sign assembly110, charging assembly126, and at least one suction-cup138; step two502, affixing illuminated mobile sign system100to surface146; step three503, charging illuminated mobile sign system100via light-source144; step four504, switching illuminated mobile sign system100into an on-mode; step five505, displaying illuminated-message142; step six506, switching illuminated mobile sign system100into an off-mode; and step seven507, and removing illuminated mobile sign system100from surface146.

It should be noted that step six506and step seven507are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use500are illustrated using dotted lines inFIG. 5so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use500.