DOCUMENT COVER FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AFFIXMENT

A weatherproof document cover apparatus used to affix MSRP, Addendum Sheets and/or other documents and secure the same to a glass surface of a motor vehicle which can be used as a protective cover to preprinted documents, a printable cover which can be applied to a motor vehicle window, or an integrated device which incorporates embedded circuitry components while conforming to regulations requiring information disclosure through the process of displaying documents to windows or other glass surfaces.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the display of documents on motor vehicles, and in particular, to a document cover for covering manufacturer's pricing sheets and dealer pricing addendums sheets which are mounted to motor vehicle to comply with federal, state and local regulations.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Various federal, state and local regulations require that motor vehicles being offered for sale display disclosure information in a conspicuous manner. Some regulations, by way of illustration, but not limitation, require the display of two sheets listing sales price information. The first sheet is a manufacturer's suggested retail price (“MSRP Sheet”) also known as a Monroney. The second is a pricing addendum (“Addendum Sheet”) added by the retailer, or by the dealer, if there are dealer add-ons. Other documents may also be required either now, or in the future.

Federal regulations require that the MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet are securely affixed to the vehicle prior to sale. Prior art MSRP Sheets and Addendum Sheets have typically been placed on the inside of the windows to protect them from the elements.

The MSRP Sheets and the Addendum Sheets placed on the exterior side of a window in an exposed condition will likely not withstand weather elements and will quickly deteriorate and wear off. Also, the washing of cars speeds the deterioration when the sheets are placed on the exterior of the windows for motor vehicles.

When the MSRP Sheet and Addendum Sheet are adhesively secured directly onto windows, a tacky residue will be left when the MSRP Sheets and Addendum Sheets are removed. Buyer prep crews for automobile dealerships typically have to scrape the residue, which is much more difficult from the inside surfaces of windows than if placed on exterior surfaces. Also, if the interior side of the window has window tint film applied, affixing the documents to the inside of the window may be precluded to avoid causing damage to the window tint film when removing the documents at a later time. Improvements are desired.

The present embodiment introduces a practical solution to affixing documents or other advertisements to a window which is cost effective to apply and remove, is resilient to exposures typically found in an automotive dealership display environment, and which provides additional technological functions.

In the present embodiment, the document cover presented herein provides the user the option to present the documents by either affixing the apparatus to the interior or exterior side of a window. Furthermore, the document cover itself is configured to specifically accept the size and dimension of the industry standard documents, commonly known as the Addendum and Monroney (or MSRP) stickers, such that the integrated document cover reference marks provide for aesthetically pleasing and professionally appearing positioning and display of required information.

Considering that a typical automobile dealer desires to comply with all legal notice displays, the dealer must display these documents on an automobile which has a sales price in excess of tens of thousands of dollars. Accordingly, the display of notices requires a clean installation which does not distract the consumer during the sales process.

As mentioned above, displaying of documents is a legal requirement and the act of displaying the documents adds nothing to the price or profit a dealer might expect when selling a vehicle. However, the time and effort to affix and remove the documents is a cost the dealer must absorb, along with any resulting damage to the vehicle which might occur during the affixing or removal of the documents. Therefore, improvement are desired.

The present embodiment is designed to ensure proper alignment of paper documents, provides protection from wear and tear, improves efficiency in the initial application and subsequent removal process, and extends the longevity of documents being displayed which eliminates removal and replacement when a vehicle is displayed for extended periods of time.

Additionally, technology integrated solutions are advantageous to both the dealer and the consumer. The present embodiment anticipates the need for the document cover contemplated herein to accommodate additional technological features which include a direct print document cover where the image of the MSRP and Addendum are printed direct onto the document cover material which is applied to the window as a single integrated document; RF identification tags are positioned between the document cover, document and glass surface; RF identification chips and antenna are layered into the fabrication of the plastic film used to construct the document cover; or, magnetic properties are incorporated with the ink, adhesive, tint film layer of the plastic cover. These are but a few illustrations of how technology can be incorporated to enhance the dealer's ability to track, scan or capture information during the sales display process. These are also but a few illustrations of how technology can aid the consumer in using smart phones and other electronic means to explore online information about the dealer, manufacturer or particular model being considered.

Although there are several apparatuses which may have various functions related to document cover for motor vehicle affixments, none separately or in combination, teach or anticipate the current invention. Therefore, there remains an unmet need in the field of document covers to enable users to affix documents to windows which are resilient to weather, exposure to elements and impacts resulting from car washing, window cleaning, touching and other reasonable exposures an object may encounter when on display to the public; and, which utilize technology to enhance the sales process. The current invention will fulfill this unmet need.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An apparatus and method of use for document display provides a document cover for securing MSRP and Addendum Sheets to motor vehicles offered for sale.

Regarding the apparatus, the document cover is a plastic a document cover, which can accept either paper documents applied or in the alternative, direct application of ink as a printable surface, which serves as a base layer defined by a sheet of plastic material having a tacky surface and an exterior side, which face in opposite directions providing tamper resistant, weather resistant and fading resistant protections to documents or printed material. This document cover is applied to documents or printed material which are to be displayed in compliance with regulatory requirements of information disclosures.

The document cover is designed to be durable and suitable for continuous use and exposure to friction, weather, direct sunlight and stresses associated with windows; and, to be easily removable after the duration of time which the information disclosure is required. The document cover with integrated technology as envisioned, can also function as an interactive display; which, by way of illustration, represents an electronic document cover which can retrieve and display information from databases utilizing wireless networking, accommodate time and date criteria to control promotional adjustments to content being displayed, and maintain document version control and archival processes to store document history with enhanced version control recorded by GPS location in additional to date and time.

The apparatus has dimensions specific to industry requirements for information disclosures so as to result in a professional and aesthetically pleasing display on the vehicle; and, the document cover has predefined sectional areas confined within the total surface area which can be printed or have multiple documents individually applied to the tacky surface of the document cover, at different times, while maintaining the integrity of the document cover and the utility of the document cover when applied to a glass surface.

The document cover can also integrate with embedded circuitry components capable of visual, optical, radio frequency, magnetic or chemical response to external stimuli or observation; and, embedded circuitry components capable of stimuli response suitable for use in proximity determination, access control, inventory control, time duration or visual cues.

Regarding the method of use, the document cover is first preferably laid on a flat surface with a tacky surface up. The MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet are then laid face-down on the tacky surface of the document cover, with a border provided by the document cover preferably extending fully around each of the MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet and a center space disposed between the MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet. The MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet are then each pressed against the document cover to adhesively secure the MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet to the tacky surface of the document cover, preferably by working from the inside of each sheet outward with a squeegee, hard card, or other application tool.

Then the document cover is picked up, with the MSRP Sheet and Addendum Sheet secured to the document cover, and the document cover is aligned for display and placed against the glass surface of a window of the vehicle, typically provided by either a windshield or a side window. The center space provides a midpoint for keeping the MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet off the glass surface of the windshield or window, as the center spaced is pressed against the glass surface.

The center space is preferably pressed against the glass surface by working the inside outward, that is, working upward and downward to adhesively secure the center space to the glass surface. The wider sheet, typically the MSRP Sheet, is then worked to press the border space of the document cover adjacent to the MSRP Sheet against the glass surface, working from the midpoint of the center space outward to the exterior of the document disposed between the MSRP Sheet and edge of the document cover. Then, the narrower sheet, typically the Addendum Sheet, is worked to press the border space of the document cover adjacent to the Addendum Sheet against the glass surface, working from the fold line of the center space outward to the exterior of the document disposed between the Addendum Sheet and the peripheral edge of the document cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident; however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.

The apparatus and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated affixing documents to windows. Specifically, the apparatus and method of use of the present embodiment provides rapid and effective means to deploy legal notice documents, disclosures, advertisements and other documents under applicable situations discussed above. These and other unique features of the apparatus and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, the apparatus and method of use are illustrated.

FIG. 1is a broadside elevation view of a document display10for mounting to a glass surface of a window for a motor vehicle. Typically, the window will be either a side window or a windshield. The document display10has a document cover12extending across the entire surface preferably defined by a sheet of plastic having an exterior side42,FIG. 2which is a smooth surface and an interior side44,FIG. 2which provides a tacky surface46,FIG. 2. The document cover has a center portion32and a peripheral edge34which is defined to extend entirely around the document underneath the document cover12.

The document cover12can accept direct application of ink as a printable surface, which serves as a base layer in lieu of affixing a printed paper documents such as a manufacturers sales retail pricing sheet (“MSRP Sheet”)14and an automobile dealer's price addendum sheet (“Addendum Sheet”)16to the document cover12.

Additionally, the document display10which has border space18and center space20which are suitable for embedded circuitry components capable of visual, optical, radio frequency, magnetic or chemical response to external stimuli or observation. Such stimuli response is suitable for use in proximity determination, access control, inventory control, time duration or visual cues. External database networking functionality and, version control with archiving functionality is enabled by embedding antenna within the border space18or center space20. Alternatively, such electronic devices may be layered between the MSRP Sheet14or the Addendum Sheet16when these documents are applied to the document cover12.

The document display has dimensions specific to industry requirements for information disclosures so as to result in a professional and aesthetically pleasing display on the vehicle; and, the document cover has predefined sectional areas confined within the total surface area which can have multiple documents individually applied to the tacky surface of the document cover, at different times, while maintaining the integrity of the document cover12and the utility of the document display10when applied to a glass surface.

The document cover12can also integrate with embedded circuitry components capable of visual, optical, radio frequency, magnetic or chemical response to external stimuli or observation; and, embedded circuitry components capable of stimuli response suitable for use in proximity determination, access control, inventory control, time duration or visual cues.

The MSRP Sheet14and Addendum Sheet16are adhesively secured to the interior side44of the document cover12by means of an adhesive coating. The document cover12, the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16are configured to define a border space18of the document cover12which preferably extends entirely around the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16, adjacent to a peripheral edge34of the document cover12. The border space18preferably extends adjacent to the entire peripheral edge34of the document cover12, and is preferably at least one-half inch wide.

The MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16are preferably spaced apart by at least one-half inch to define a center space20which extends between a peripheral edge24of the MSRP Sheet14and a peripheral edge28of the Addendum Sheet16. A midpoint22is preferably provided by a vertical line which extends centrally between the peripheral edge24of the MSRP Sheet14and the peripheral edge28of the Addendum Sheet16in the center space20. The midpoint22can be offset to accommodate other document dimensions as desired. Centrally disposed within the peripheral edge24of the MSRP Sheet14is a center portion26of the MSRP Sheet14. Similarly, centrally disposed with the peripheral edge28of the Addendum Sheet16is a central portion30of the Addendum Sheet14.

FIG. 2is an edge view of the document display10showing the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16secured to the document cover12by an adhesive coating of the tacky surface46of the interior side44. The adhesive coating is disposed on the interior side44and preferably extends across the entire interior side44to define a tacky surface46for the document cover12.

The MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16each have respective faces38and40, which are the front portions on which the readable text is displayed to convey the pricing information for each. The faces38and40are pressed directly against the interior side44of the document cover12to secure the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16to the document cover12. In the preferred embodiment, the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16are made of paper and are permanently secured to the document cover12.

FIG. 3is an edge view of the document display10after it is secured to the surface of a glass window36of a motor vehicle. The glass window36may be provided by a windshield, side window or other clear glass surface of the motor vehicle. The adhesive on the interior side44of the document cover12located along the border space18and the center space20will secure the document cover12with the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16to the surface of the glass18of a motor vehicle windshield or a side window.

As noted above, the border space18preferably extends entirely around the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16, adjacent to the entire peripheral edge34of the document cover12, and the center space20is disposed between the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16.

FIGS. 4A and 4Btogether comprise a flow chart showing a method for affixing a document display10to the exterior surface of a glass window36of a motor vehicle. The document display10provides an affixment to the motor vehicle, and includes the document cover12with the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16.

The process starts at step62. Then in step64a protective backing is removed from the tacky surface46on the interior side44of the document cover12. In step66the document cover12is then placed on a flat surface with the adhesive or tacky surface46facing upward. In step68the top and bottom edges of the MSRP Sheet14are aligned approximately one-half inch from the upper and lower peripheral edge34of the document cover12, with face38of the MSRP Sheet14facing downward.

In step70the right peripheral edge24of the MSRP Sheet14is disposed approximately one-half inch from the right peripheral edge34of the document cover12, as viewed when looking toward the interior surface44of the document cover12and the backside surface, opposite the face38, of the MSRP Sheet14.

Once the MSRP Sheet12is aligned with the document cover12, then in step72a central portion of the right side of the peripheral edge24of the MSRP Sheet14is pressed downward and onto the tacky surface46of the interior side44of the document cover12, adhesively securing the central portion to the document cover12. In step74a longitudinally extending centerline of the MSRP Sheet14which extends through the central portion26is pressed downward onto the tacky surface46of the interior side44of the document cover12to adhere the centerline to a central section of the document cover74.

In step76the entire MSRP Sheet is pressed onto the tacky surface46of the interior side of the document cover12using a squeegee and pressing first in cross pattern with a vertical line and a horizontal line intersecting in the central portion26of the MSRP Sheet14, and then pressing with the squeegee from the central portion26to the respective edges on the four corners of the MSRP Sheet14, to adhesively secure the MSRP Sheet14to the interior side44of the document cover12.

In step78, with the Addendum Sheet16facing downward, the top and bottom edges of the Addendum Sheet14are aligned one-half inch from upper and lower edges of document cover12. In step80the left edge of the Addendum Sheet14is aligned one-half inch from left edge of document cover12, with the face38of the Addendum Sheet16facing downward toward the interior surface44of the document cover12and to the side of the MSRP Sheet14. In step82the right side of a backside of the peripheral edge30of Addendum Sheet14is aligned one-half inch from the left side of the backside of the peripheral edge28of the MSRP Sheet12.

In step84the center of the Addendum Sheet is pressed downward on the tacky surface46of the document cover12. In step86the entire Addendum Sheet is pressed onto the tacky surface46of the interior side of the document cover12using a squeegee and pressing on the central portion30to the top of the Addendum Sheet16and then from the central portion30to the bottom of the Addendum Sheet16, adhesively securing the Addendum Sheet16to the interior side44of the document cover12.

After the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16have been secured to the document cover12by the adhesive on the interior side44, it is ready for installation onto an surface location48on the glass window36of a motor vehicle. In step88the surface location48of the glass window36is located and then cleaned. In step90the document cover12is aligned with exterior surface location48, with the exposed portions of the tacky surface46of the interior side44of the document cover facing the surface location48.

The exposed portions of the interior side44of the document cover preferably comprise those portions not covered by the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16, namely the center space20and the border space18which extends adjacent to the peripheral edge34of the document cover12. Then in step92the document display10is bent along the midpoint22between the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16. In step94the document cover12is pressed along the fold line22into the exterior surface location48of the glass window36, which secures the exposed tacky surface46of the center space20to the glass window36.

In step94the center space20is pressed by starting at a central portion, and then pressing from the center portion to the top of the center space20and then from the central portion to the bottom of the center space20.

Then in step96the exposed surfaces of the left side of the document cover12are secured to the glass window36by holding the left side off the glass window36, and pressing downward with the squeegee moving from the midpoint22across a central portion26of the face38of the MSRP Sheet14, which is underneath the document cover12, and pressing downward with the squeegee or other installation device by alternate pressing from the central portion26to the top and then the bottom of the document cover12while moving across the left side of the document cover12, from the fold line22to the left side of the document cover12.

In step98the left corners of the document cover12are then pressed onto the glass window36, working outward to each of the respective left-side corners from the central portion26of the MSRP Sheet14, which is secured beneath the document cover12.

Then in step100the exposed surfaces of the right side of the document cover12are secured to the glass window36by holding the right side of the document cover12off the glass window36, and moving from the midpoint22toward right edge of the document cover12while pressing downward with the squeegee.

Then in step102the corners of the right edges of the document cover12are pressed onto the glass window36, working from a central portion30of the Addendum Sheet16, which is secured beneath the document cover, outward to each of the respective corners. The process ends in step104.

In some embodiments, the MSRP Sheet14and the Addendum Sheet16may be formed of paper, plastic, paper coated with plastic, or paper covered with plastic. As an illustration, but not a limitation regarding materials utilized to form the apparatus, the document cover10is illustrated by a plastic sheet provided by a 3 mil thick sheet of PVC film, covered with a water based adhesive that can be removed with little or no residue for up to 4 years or longer. The document cover10preferably has a matte finish to suppress unwanted reflection.

The document cover12as illustrated, but not limited to, preferably measures approximately twenty-one and one-quarter inches by eleven and one-quarter inches, with either rounded or square corners. Other types of documents may also be protected for display on surfaces, including for other industries other than automotive retail sales.

The present invention has several advantages over prior art MSRP Sheet and Addendum Sheet displays. The document display of the present invention provides a clear protective cover for the MSRP Sheet and the Addendum Sheet so that they may be applied to glass surfaces of motor vehicles. This document display easily peals away from the glass surface requiring minimal clean up if any at all. The document display may be run through a car wash, washed multiple times, and be exposed to all types of weather, and still remain on the glass surface protecting MSRP and Addendum Sheets. The document display also preferably inhibits UV light damage to the documents.

The present embodiment overcomes a common objection to affix the documents to the interior side of glass that has window tint applied. In such circumstances, window tint itself is an applied film to the surface of the glass. To affix the document to the inside of the glass to protect the document from external exposure would require the document to be affixed to the interior exposure of the window film. Accordingly, the materials utilized and the application process and subsequent removal process applied are relevant to ensure damage does not occur to the tint film. The present embodiment meets the requirements to properly affix the documents to the window without damaging tint film.