Abstract:
A display device for displaying informational material, preferably through a motor vehicle window. The device includes a substantially planar body that integrally forms a folder with transparent viewing windows, and a clip portion which can hang from the top edge of an open motor vehicle window and fit into the window well when the window is closed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/744,866 filed Oct. 4, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a display device for informational materials, and more particularly, to a display device adapted to be hung from a motor vehicle window. 
         [0003]    Legal requirements and common business practices dictate that certain informational material be displayed to potential customers for motor vehicle sales. This informational material lists vital statistics such as the motor vehicle&#39;s year, make, model, and gas mileage. Because this information is commonly printed on paper, the material is typically secured against the inside surface of a motor vehicle window using an adhesive such as tape to protect it from damage. 
         [0004]    Use of an adhesive against a motor vehicle window presents several problems. The adhesive can weaken when exposed to hot weather and debris on the window (e.g., dust, lint, residue left from cleaning agents) may provide a poor base for the adhesive to adhere to. In addition, the adhesive itself can often leave a residue on surfaces after removal that is difficult to clean and may even damage window tinting. 
         [0005]    Further, removing paper that has been secured to a surface using adhesive is time-consuming and frustrating and often leads to accidental destruction of the paper itself. This presents an even bigger problem in the context of motor vehicle sales because objects obstructing the motor vehicle windows need to be removed to allow prospective customers to test drive the motor vehicle. 
         [0006]    Further still, existing display solutions also fail to meet three critical needs. First, many existing solutions do not provide an effective means of storing the information material inside the vehicle; thus exposing the materials to risk of damage by inclement weather or theft by unscrupulous parties. Second, many of these solutions do not provide a means of optimizing the display of the information materials to match the curvilinear shape of both the top edge and surface of modern motor vehicle windows, which can be critical to a potential consumer&#39;s perception of quality when reviewing the information in relation to the motor vehicle and motor vehicle sales person. And third, while some solutions permit removal of the information materials, they fail to firmly secure the materials within a protective case that is suitable for immediate re-display if the vehicle is not purchased. 
         [0007]    Finally, prior vehicle information holders are generally optimized solely for the use of paper. Yet the use of paper for displaying information on a motor vehicle window creates additional inefficiencies due to the inherently static nature of the medium. 
         [0008]    Therefore, there exists a need for a vehicle information holder that can address the aforementioned shortcomings of prior solutions and accommodate both paper-based and digital screen technologies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a display device for containing and displaying informational material. The device includes a housing portion having first and second panels which converge or connect at lower portions of both panels, thereby defining a folder between the panels for receiving the informational material and holding it securely in place. At least the front panel is substantially transparent to allow viewing of the informational material through the panels. The display device also includes a clip at an upper end of the housing portion for attachment to the top of a motor vehicle window and insertion into a motor vehicle&#39;s window well. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment, the display is designed to contain and display informational material. This invention may include a substantially planar and transparent housing portion having a first panel and a second panel, each panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, where the upper edge of the second panel may extend past the upper edge of the first panel. In this embodiment, the panels are connected about the lower edges to create a folder capable of holding the materials. This clip portion is connected lengthwise along at least one length of the upper edge of the first or second panel, and sized so as to accept a portion of the top edge of an open motor vehicle window and to fit into a motor vehicle window well when the motor vehicle window is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the panels are connected about the lower edges so as to impart a clamping force between the first and second panel for holding the informational materials firmly in place if the display device is removed. 
         [0011]    In an alternate embodiment, the housing portion of the display device is designed to rotate independently of a clip portion, which consists of a clip, an elongated body portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, and a rotatable connection. Here, the clip is connected lengthwise along at least one length of the upper edge of the elongated body portion and sized to accept a portion of the top edge of an open motor vehicle window and to fit into a motor vehicle window well when the motor vehicle window is closed. The rotatable connection may be located approximately at the centroid of the first or second panel; and the elongated body portion is rotatably connected to permit the clip to rotate past each corner of the panels. 
         [0012]    In this alternate embodiment, the rotatable connection may be designed to impart friction between the clip portion and the second panel, thus permitting rotation of the housing portion to be fixed at any angle relative to the clip portion. Similar to above, the panels may also be connected about the lower edges so as to impart a clamping force between the first and second panels for holding the informational materials firmly in place if the display device is removed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the display device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the display device in accordance with the present invention focusing on the clip. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another embodiment of the display device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   a  is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of the lower fold of the display device shown in  FIG. 1  with information materials placed between the panels. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   b  is an enlarged side view of another embodiment of the lower fold to be utilized in the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   c  is an enlarged side view of another embodiment of the lower fold to be utilized in the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   d  is an enlarged side view of another embodiment of the lower fold to be utilized in the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of another embodiment of the display device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the display device shown in  FIG. 6  with the clip portion rotated independently past the corner of the housing portion. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a section view of the rotatable connection depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the display device shown in  FIG. 1  with the clip portion attached to the top of a motor vehicle window 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the display shown in  FIG. 1  with the clip portion engaged with a closed motor vehicle window. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment display device for displaying electronic media engaged with a closed the motor vehicle window. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    As used throughout this application, the term “Information Material(s)” broadly means any medium for communicating information, including, without limitation, information contained and display on printed paper comprised of pulp, paper, board, or other cellulose-based paper product, and information contained and displayed within rigid or flexible digital screen technologies or similar electronic devices. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a front and side view, respectively, of one embodiment of display device  10  according to the present invention. Display device  10  includes two panels and  12  connected at a fold  20 , with panel  11  preferably extending vertically from fold  20  beyond an upper edge  13  of panel  12 . 
         [0029]    The embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are preferably constructed of a single sheet of clear polymeric material that allows panels  11  and  12  to move away from one another about fold  20 . This construction makes display device  10  sufficiently pliable to allow panels  11  and  12  to become temporarily separated from each other; thus permitting the placement of information materials between those two components as discussed below. In addition, and in compliment to the other features discussed below, this construction also works to capture the information materials within display device  10 . In a preferred embodiment, device  10  is constructed of polycarbonate, but other embodiments may employ different materials to achieve similar results. Preferably, such materials would have an elastic nature that acts to move the panels back together as discussed. 
         [0030]    As shown particularly in  FIG. 2 , display device  10  includes a clip  30  having a rectangular profile comprised of a fold  31 , which, as discussed further below, is designed to accept a portion of a motor vehicle window. In a preferred embodiment, clip  30  includes a top portion  32  of clip  30  that extends forward from panel  11  an interior distance equivalent to at least the sum of the width of a motor vehicle window plus the width of panel  12 ; and a fold  33 , which extends a face portion  34  of clip  30  downward from top portion  32 . In this embodiment, face portion  34  preferably extends past upper edge  13  of panel to secure the face of panel  12  firmly against the motor vehicle window when the window is open, although similar results may be achieved even if face portion  34  is nominal or omitted in an alternate embodiment. Preferably still, fold  31  or fold  33  may be formed at an acute angle to further secure the information materials between panels  11  and  12  by biasing device towards the motor vehicle widow when the window is closed, although similar results may be achieved even if fold  33  is nominal or omitted in an alternate embodiment. 
         [0031]    An alternate embodiment device  110  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Device  110  is similar to device  10 , with like elements being labeled with like reference numerals within the  100 -series of numbers. For instance, device  10  includes a clip  130 . However, unlike the rectangular profile of clip  30 , clip  130  exhibits a curvilinear profile comprised of an interior arc  135 . Nonetheless, in a similar fashion to clip  30 , clip  130  is designed to accept a portion of the top edge of an open motor vehicle window and to fit into a motor vehicle window well when the motor vehicle window is closed. In this embodiment, interior arc  135  may have a measure that exceeds 90 degrees and a diameter equivalent to at least the sum of the width of a motor vehicle window plus the width of panel  112  so as to bias panel  112  towards the motor vehicle widow when the window is closed. Alternatively still, as also shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , clip  130  may have a face portion  134  that extends downward from the open end of interior arc  135  to secure the face of panel  12  firmly against the motor vehicle window when the window is open. 
         [0032]    In  FIGS. 1-3 , clip  30  and clip  130  are shown extending lengthwise along the entire length of upper edges  13 ,  113 , respectively. In the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a device  210  includes a clip  230  that extends lengthwise along only a portion of the length of an upper edge  213 . Although shown as being of a particular length in  FIG. 4 , it is to be understood that clip  230  may be of any length along edge  213 . 
         [0033]    Similar to the construction of fold  20  noted above, any of the foregoing clips may be formed from a single sheet of polymeric material. Contrary to fold  20 , however, the clips preferably exhibit a larger width or radius that, in turn, produces a correspondingly larger space between the clip and the other components of display device. This space, as discussed herein, is what allows clip  30  to accept a portion of the top edge of an open motor vehicle window. Likewise, the outer dimensions of the clips are preferably such that the device can fit into a motor vehicle window well when the motor vehicle window is closed, as best shown in  FIGS. 9 through 11 , which are discussed further below. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1 and 2  depict device  10  as including a fold  20  having a curvilinear profile, which is better shown in the enlarged views of  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b.  As shown, fold  20  has a curvilinear profile comprised of an interior arc  21 . Arc  21  preferably has a measure that exceeds 180 degrees and a diameter of at least two centimeters so as to impart a clamping force between panels  11  and  12  for securing the information materials  14  in a fixed position between the panels. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, as best shown in  FIG. 5   c , a fold  320 , similar to fold  20 , may have a rectangular profile. Like fold  20 , fold  320  may be also designed to impart a clamping force between panels  311  and  312  when either corner of the rectangular profile of fold  320  is formed at an acute angle. Alternatively still, as shown in  FIG. 5   d , a fold  420 , also similar to fold  20 , may have an angular profile comprising an acute angle between the lower edges of a panel  411  and a panel  412 . Similar to above, fold  420  preferably permits sufficient space between the panels for containing and displaying the informational materials, while also imparting a clamping force between the panels. 
         [0036]    In any embodiment, fold  20  is preferably constructed by folding a single sheet of clear polymeric material so as to allow panels  11  and  12  to move away from one another about fold  20 , and to impart a clamping force between the panels, regardless of whether its profile is angular, rectangular or curvilinear. However other methods of constructing fold  20  are also contemplated, such as, for example, heat sealing the lower edges of separate panels  11  and  12 , or other means appropriate to the selected material type and embodiment. 
         [0037]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an upper edge  513  of a panel  512  and an upper edge  514  of a panel  511  may extend upward an equal distance opposite of a fold  520 . In this embodiment, the holding portion formed between panel  511  and panel  512  is attached to the motor vehicle window by a clip portion  536 , which may comprise a clip  530  (having any of the profiles described above), an elongated body portion  537 , and a rotatable connection  540 . Clip  530  is connected lengthwise along at least one length of an upper edge  538  of the elongated body portion  537  and sized so as to accept a portion of the top edge of an open motor vehicle window and to fit into a motor vehicle window well when the motor vehicle window is closed. 
         [0038]    Here, rotatable connection  540  is preferably located at the intersection of longitudinal axis Y-Y and a transverse axis X-X of panel  512 , a point also known as the centroid of panel  512 . But of course, connection  540  may be located at any point of display device  510 . 
         [0039]    As shown particularly in  FIG. 7 , clip portion  536  may be rotatably connected by rotatable connection  540  to panel  512  proximate to a lower edge  539  of elongated body portion  537 , and sized so as to permit the interior face of clip  530  to rotate about rotatable connection  540  past each corner of the panels  511  and  512 . Such a design may allow for device  510  to not only allow for display in portrait, but also in landscape. To achieve this result, as best shown in  FIG. 7 , elongated body portion  537  preferably has a minimum length L that extends outward from rotatable connection  540  towards upper edge  538  a distance greater than the hypotenuse of the right triangle formed by bisecting the largest quadrant of either panel  511  or panel  512 . 
         [0040]    As also shown in  FIG. 8 , rotatable connection  640  may be comprised of a rivet  641 , or similar fastening mechanism, that extends through panel  612  and elongated body portion  637  to rotatably connect clip portion  636  to panel  612 . In this embodiment, rotatable connection  640  preferably secures clip portion  636  to panel  612  with sufficient force about a longitudinal axis Z-Z to impart friction between the interior face of elongated portion  637  and the exterior face of panel  612 . Such friction being capable of holding either axis X-X or axis Y-Y of panel  612 , and thus the reading axis for the information materials contained between panels  611  and  612 , in a fixed position at any angle relative to the longitudinal axis of clip portion  636  without an additional fixation means. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 9 and 10  depict one particular use for display device  10 . In  FIG. 9 , clip  30  is shown placed over open motor vehicle window  750 , while  FIG. 10  depicts device  10  placed on a fully closed window  750  so that clip  30  is at least partially disposed within window well  751 . In both figures, information materials  714  are inserted between the panels  11  and  12 , whereupon a combination of the material of display device  10  and the interactions of its components with window  750  impart a clamping force for securing the information materials in a fixed position. 
         [0042]    Although  FIGS. 9 and 10  depict one particular car window  750 , it is noted that different window designs may dictate the need for different embodiment display devices, which may incorporate any of the variations discussed above. For example, the panels of the display device may be formed to match the curvature of the interior face of a given window, or the clip may be formed to match to curvature of the top edge of a given window. As another example, the length of a particular clip may be reduced (like in clip  230  of  FIG. 4 ) where the corresponding window has less of a straight top edge. As yet another example, more curvilinear or angular window designs may require the embodiments of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , where the rotatability of clip portion  536  about rotatable connection  540  preferably allows for the display of the information materials in a portrait or landscape fashion. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , clip  730 , or its numerical equivalent, is not only preferably sized and shaped to accept a portion of the motor vehicle window, but also to be accepted within the upper portion of the window well  751  upon closure of motor vehicle window  750 . This of course may require differently sized devices to be provided in order to properly interact with differently sized motor vehicles and motor vehicle windows. But in all cases, the result of device  10  is the prominent display of information materials, much like information stickers often found on new motor vehicles, without the use of adhesive or similar fixable connection. 
         [0044]    Finally,  FIG. 11  depicts another embodiment display device  810  configured to display informational materials  814  in the form of digital screen technologies For instance, the informational materials may be displayed in an electronic device such as a tablet computer or the like. In this embodiment, display device  810  is preferably constructed to properly and safely hold display screen  814  in a fixed position. In certain instances, this may simply be the result of varying the dimensional relationships among the various components of the display device. However, in other embodiments, the device structure may be modified to better capture the electronic device. 
         [0045]    Although various embodiments are depicted in the figures and described above, design variations are possible and contemplated. For instance, although discussed in connection with a motor vehicle and its windows, it is noted that other embodiment display devices in accordance with the present invention can be constructed so as to cooperate with other external components, such as windows of dwellings and the like. Moreover, although discussed in the context of motor vehicle sales, the present invention may be useful in other contexts as well. For instance, a device in accordance with the present invention may be useful in holding material sheets designed to provide daily assignments to truck drivers and the like. It is also contemplated to utilize more than one device on a given vehicle. In this instance, one device may contain a material sheet conveying the specs of the vehicle, while another device may contain a material sheet conveying the current offers and/or promotions being provided. Of course, any number of devices may be employed in a given instance. 
         [0046]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments and manufacturing methods, it is to be understood that these embodiments and methods are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and methods, and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.