ADVERTISING SIGN FOR VEHICLES

Abstract: A vehicle display sign mounted laterally across the roof of a vehicle. The sign has two visible display surfaces (13) when the vehicle is stationary and a third surface (12) visible to following traffic when the vehicle is in motion. The display sign is of a selected aerodynamic shape which enables the air flow resulting from the vehicle movement to angularly displace the sign to expose the third surface. The two display surfaces which are visible when the vehicle is stationary may either be made of rigid material and pivoted about a rod (10) to enable angular displacement, or, may be made of a flexible material without the need for such pivoting.

Description: ADVERTISING SIGN FOR VEHICLES " This invention relates to vehicular display signs particularly those adapted for mounting on the roof of vehicles. Vehicular signs are usually painted onto the vehicle body or are rigidly mounted onto the body. For a sign mounted onto the roof of a vehicle two surfaces are provided. When these are arranged transversely of the vehicle body these two surfaces can display advertising material to oncoming traffic on one surface and to following traffic on the other surface. It is an object of this invention to provide an eye catching display device. It is also an object of this invention to provide more than two display surfaces on a sign. Australian patent 497,975 discloses a sign for use on vehicles which incorporates a swinging sign to be mounted on a vehicle. A frame is mounted onto the roof of the vehicle so that the sign stands out above the roof. The sign consists of two display surfaces. However, the support structure for the sign as disclosed in patent 497,975 is not intended for use on moving vehicles but is primarily intended for use in vehicle sale yards. The present invention provides a display sign for use on a vehicle comprising a support frame mountable on a vehicle body and a display means supported by said support frame wherein the display means has at least two display surfaces oriented approximately at right angles to each other and is aerodynamically shaped so that air movement over the display means caused by vehicular motion results in angular displacement of the display means. Preferably the display means has two opposed display surfaces which are visible when the vehicle is stationary and a third display surface located at one end of said two display surfaces and oriented at approximatly 90 to said two surfaces the third display surface becoming visible to following traffic when the vehicle is in motion. In a preferred form the display sign comprises a support frame mountable on a vehicle body said support frame including an upright vertical support member, a display means extending out from said support member and pivotally mounted thereon wherein the shape of the display means and the location of the pivot point is such that air flow over the display means results in the display means being displaced angularly by about 90 Perferably two upright members are utilized so that the display means extends across the width of the vehicle. It is preferred that the display members an aerodynamic cross section and two exposed display surfaces in its initial position. Vehicle movement or air flow over the display means angularly displaces it by 90° and exposes to view a third display surface lying between the first two display surfaces. The " display means preferably comprises a body having three rectangular display surfaces with pivot points located in each of the two triangular end faces. By careful location of the pivot points the display means can be pivoted so that when the vehicle is stationary only two surfaces of the display means is visible, but when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined magnitude the display means swings up so that the apex of the triangular display means points in the driving direction while the third face of the display means is visible to following vehicles. Preferably this change of orientation is facilitated by pivoting the sign so that wind created by the vehicles forward movement tilts the sign and then maintains it in a stable orientation with the third surface facing rearwardly. The display means is preferably made from a light-weight material. Aluminium is a suitably light material that enables wind pressure to orientate the sign so that a face displays to the following vehicles. However the display means can also be fabricated from plastic, timber or cardboard . The support frame can be one lateral bar of a vehicle roof rack with the upright supports bolted thereto. It is not necessary for the display means to be pivotted. If a flexible sheet material such as canvas or plastic is used to provide the display surfaces when the vehicle is stationary, the tird surface can be provided at the base of the suspended sheet material in the form of an aerodynamically shaped bar or rod having a sufficiently large base to provide a display surface. A perferred form of this invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which figure 1 is a perspective view of the sign of this invention, figure 2 is an end view of the sign and figure 3 is a schematic view of the movement of the sign when a vehicle is in motion. Figure 4 is a cross section at view of a further embodiment of the display means. The embodiment of figures 1 to 3 comprises two vertical supports 7 mounted by brackets 8 to the cross bar 5 of a roof rack mounted on the roof of a vehicle 6. The display panel 11 is triangular in end section and is adapted to carry advertising material on its two large faces 13 as well as on the base 12. The panel is made of light weight aluminium and- is pivoted at points 14 by the pivot rods 10 mounted on the vertical supports 7. In an alternative arrangement the supports 7 can be separately mounted onto the support bar or roof rack. The pivot points 14 are selected to ensure that during motion of the vehicle a speed in excess of a predetermined value will create sufficient air pressure on the panel 11 to move it into the position shown in figure 3 which exposes the base 12 to following traffic. A suitable vehicle speed to create this result is 20k.p.h. In one embodiment the two major display -s-urfaces are 900 mm by 340 mm and the base display panel-- is 100 to 120 mm by 900 mm. Figure 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of another embodiment of this invention in which a rod 20 is suspended between two uprights mounted on a vehicle roof. The display means suspended from the rod 20 comprises a panel 21 having two opposed surfaces and a beaded lower end 22. Attached to the lower end of the panel 21 is a triangular cross sectioned bar 24 having a display surface 26 which is disposed at right angles to the surfaces of panel 21. The slot 25 accommodates the bead 22 of panel 21. If the panel 21 is of rigid material such as plastic or aluminium the display means can be manufactured in two parts panel 21 integrally with rod 20 and the bar 24. These can be manufactured in lengths and cut to suitable sizes. In this case, the rod 20 needs to be * ivotally mounted on the upright supports. However ' , if the panel is made from fabric or flexible sheet material the rod 20 can be rigidly mounted on the upright supports and the display means when angularly displaced by air movement simply bends at the junction of panel 21 with rod 20. The weight and shape of the bar 24 can be selected in this case to ensure that the_ fabric panel 21 is properly tensioned. From the above description it can be seen that this invention provides an unique and attractive display sign for vehicles.

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A display sign for use on a. vehicle comprising a support frame mountable on a vehicle body and a display means supported by said support frame wherein the display means has at least two display surfaces oriented approximately at right angles to each other and is aerodynamically shaped so that air movement over the display means caused by vehicular motion results in angular displacement of the display means. 2. A display sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display means has two opposed display surfaces which are visible when the vehicle is stationary and a third display surface located at one end- of sa d two display surfaces and oriented at approximately 90 to said two surfaces the third display surface becoming visible to following traffic when the vehicle is in motion. 3. A display sign as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the display means is arranged to provide display surfaces extending laterally across the vehicle body. 4. A display sign for use on a vehicle comprising a support frame mountable on a vehicle body said support frame including an upright verticle support member a display means extending out from said support member and pivotally mounted thereon wherein the shape of the display means and the location of the pivot point is such that air flow over the display means results in the display means being displaced angularly by about 90°. 5. A display sign as claimed in claim 4, in which the display means comprises a body having two opposed generally rectangular display surfaces opposed in its initial position and an aerodynamic cross section which enables the display means to assume a stable position displaced 90 from its initial position to expose a third display surface located between said generally rectangular display surface. 6. A display sign as claimed in claim 5 in which the display means is a body of triangular cross section having three rectangular display surfaces. 7. A display sign as claimed in claim 4 in which the display means extends between two support members on which it * is pivotally jmounted such that said display means extends across the vehicle body at right angles to the direction of travel. 8. A display sign as claimed in claim 6 in which the display means is fabricated from aluminium.

Inventors: BOADLE SIMON HUGH, BOADLE, SIMON, HUGH
Applicants: SOMER SOLAR PTY LTD, SOMER SOLAR PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G09F21
IPC codes: G09F21