Abstract:
A device for removably holding and pressing a holder or carrier, supporting a graphics or textual display, against the interior of a raisable auto window by means of a leaf spring hooked over the top edge of the window and configured to exert force against the carrier when raised.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to means for temporarily securing a textual and graphic display against the interior of an auto window that has a “raise/lower” capability, whereby such a display is easily readable from the auto exterior. It is further directed toward means for securely positioning such a display on the inside of such window. It is further directed to carrier means for holding such display and most particularly for spring means for engaging the top of such auto window while the window is partially lowered and for pressing the carrier means securely and substantially flush against the interior of the auto window when the window is fully raised. 
     BACKGROUND 
     2. Prior Art 
     Textual and graphic displays are most commonly secured against the interior of driver-side windows by adhesive applied to all or part of the periphery of the display. Another method employs adhesive tape that is positioned to engage the display around its periphery by half the tape width and the window interior by the other half of the tape width. A third method requires the insertion of the display in a clear plastic envelope held in place on the window interior by suction cups. A variation of the third method hangs the plastic envelope from the rear view mirror, thereby allowing the graphics sheet to be observed through the windshield. A variation of this method employs a textual displays printed on heavier tag-weight material adapted to be hung directly from the rear-view mirror or sun shade visor. A fourth method uses a thin specially coated plastic sheet called “static cling” that is substantially larger in each dimension than the display. The display is held against the window interior and the static cling material is applied over the display, holding the display to the window interior by the propensity of the static cling to adhere to the glass where the cling contacts the glass directly around the edges of the display. Such “Buyers&#39; Guides” or “Odometer Disclosure Statements” and several of the above described types of holder devices are available from MBR Marketing, 1-800-443-4333 as Catalog numbers BG-24, BG-2, HG-100 and BGP. 
     BACKGROUND 
     3. Discussion of Prior Art 
     While the above described first method securely holds the edges of the display material against the window interior, the center portion of the display material tends to bend away from the window, thereby rendering the textual material difficult to read. Further, when such tape-secured graphics must be removed to allow a prospective purchaser to test drive the auto, the displayed material is almost never properly resecured and eventually is damaged or destroyed, thereby making it necessary for the seller to recreate the material at additional cost, should the auto not be sold to that prospective purchaser. 
     Further, when the material so adhesive secured has remained in place for en extended period and subjected to the sun&#39;s rays, the adhesive tends to polymerize, thereby making its removal extremely difficult and requiring time-consuming action by the seller with solvent or scraper or both to remove the tape residue to the satisfaction of the purchaser. Further, when the adhesive has been applied over a tinted overlay or after-market tinting, the chance of damage to the tinted layer is especially high. Further, textual material is frequently not readable though factory or aftermarket tinted glass, and unreadability of this material may constitute a violation of state or federal laws. 
     Displays are sometimes simply left text-upwards on the dashboard of the auto but the text is difficult to read and such position may not satisfy some legal requirements. 
     Textual material hung from the rear-view mirror and intended to be read through the windshield are very difficult to read, especially since the material is not held directly against the glass of the windshield. 
     Static Cling material does not retain its dinginess for more than a few uses. Further, once removed, some skill is required to replace it properly. Further, detailers or others who clean cars frequently apply wax or silicone coatings to the windows. Neither Static Cling nor adhesives stick reliably to these contaminated surfaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     All used cars sold in the USA by automobile deals must, by law, have a “Buyers&#39; Guide” or “Odometer Disclosure Statements”. These are printed forms found on all used cars for sale at auto dealerships. These forms must generally be approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They must be placed in a conspicuous location on the car for easy viewing by a prospective purchaser. These forms typically measure 7⅜ inches wide by 11 inches high. The form must indicate the automobile make, model, VIN number and other descriptive information such as whether or not there is a warranty and if so, the nature of the warranty. The name for this form in the industry is “sticker.” 
     In recent years auto dealers have been offered by vendors a so-called “Customized Buyers&#39; Guide.” or sticker. This custom sticker is a computer printout in an attractive format designed to resemble a New Car Buyers&#39; Guide. This Buyers&#39; Guide has clearly imprinted on one half its face all the FTC required information plus, on the other half, one or more sales blurbs plus a listing of most of the options with which the car is equipped. Since most new car buyers do not retain the original sticker listing these options which came with their new car, the information must be searched out by the sticker vendor when the original car owner sells his car to a dealer years later. These vendor functions save the dealer much time and he pays the vendor for preparing each custom sticker. The custom buyers&#39; guide is approximately 14½ inches wide by 11 inches high. Dealers have found the custom “sticker” to provide the required information in an attractive format and have almost universally adopted it. 
     Typically a dealer places a hand written required FTC form on each “new” used car when it is placed on his lot for sale. The vendor of the custom sticker regularly visits each dealer, removes the handwritten FTC form, types out the required FTC information on one side of the sticker and the relevant merchandising information on the other. 
     The sticker is substantially always attached to the inside surface of a driver&#39;s side window by a pressure sensitive adhesive or tape positioned on the perimeter of the sticker. In hot weather the adhesive softens and the sticker often drops off onto the car floor. Sometimes dealers&#39; efforts to clean a used car result in wax that has been deposited on the window interiors. Such wax provides a poor base for adhesive, preventing reliable attachment of the sticker. 
     Further, the adhesive method of attachment is badly flawed and costs the auto dealer frustration, time, and costs of replacement stickers as described above. A prospective purchaser must remove the sticker before test driving the auto or s/he will be in violation of the law that requires windows to be unobstructed. She cannot lower the window without the high possibility of damaging the sticker or, worse, getting it stuck in the window elevator mechanism, thereby imposing substantial repair cost on the dealer. 
     Removing the sticker almost always results in its destruction. Further, even if the sticker is not destroyed on removal, it cannot be successfully glued back neatly and intact on the inside surface of the window. Therefore, after a single demonstration ride the sticker may wind up wrinkled, torn and laying on the car seat or the floor or simply destroyed or lost. 
     Sometimes a cautious prospective buyer requests a copy of the sticker, imposing on the dealer the requirement for spending time to remove it undamaged. Finally, the sticker with integral pressure sensitive adhesive costs more than a plain paper “sticker.” 
     The present invention totally and simply solves the problem of instantly attaching and removing both the Buyers&#39; Guide and the Customized Sticker flush to any lowerable side auto window, such as the driver&#39;s side window, and does so with reusable apparatus that is simple to fabricate and low in initial cost and does not employ any adhesive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Means for holding a paper display securely against an auto window, the display having a length dimension and a height dimension, the window having an interior side, an exterior side, an upper edge and a lowered and a raised condition, and further providing a channel into which the upper edge of the window enters when in its raised position, said means comprising: 
     a plastic carrier having a length dimension and a height dimension substantially the same as or larger than the dimensions of the paper display, 
     means attached to the carrier for grasping the paper display and holding an edge of the paper against the carrier, said carrier being positioned against the window whereby the paper display is positioned between the carrier and the window, 
     leaf spring means for engaging the upper edge of the window and for providing tension against the carrier when the window is in its raised position with the upper edge of the window positioned within the channel, thereby holding the carrier against the window interior side whereby the display is held securely against the window interior between the carrier and the window interior. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide means for holding a textual or graphics paper display securely against the interior of an auto window without the use of any adhesive. 
     It is a further object to provide such means comprising a substantially flat carrier sheet for holding the display together with spring means for engaging the top edge of the window and for applying force against the carrier for holding it against the window interior. 
     It is a further object to provide such spring means in the form of a leaf spring having a hook at one end for engaging the window edge when lowered and a shape which is substantially relaxed when the window is in its lowered position and its upper edge is not positioned within the channel, further providing that the spring shape is substantially stressed when the window is in its raised position, thereby forcing the hook end of the spring into the window channel, thereby applying force to the carrier and to the paper display whereby the display is held securely against the window interior. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows an auto window slightly lowered with the plastic carrier broken away to show the paper graphic sheet sandwiched between it at the window and the stressed leaf spring hooked over the top window edge. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric projection showing in broken away views the auto window, the stressed leaf spring of the invention hooked over the top edge of the raised window while pressed into the upper window channel and the carrier for the graphic sheet positioned between the cushioned end of the stressed leaf spring and the window. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the relative placements of the raised auto window, the window channel, the stressed leaf spring and the carrier. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the preferred shape of the unstressed leaf spring, 
     FIGS.  6 , 7 , 8  and  9  show modifications of the end of the leaf spring for securing the carrier in position. 
     FIGS. 10 and 10A show the carrier and a detail of the clip employed to hold the paper graphics sheet in position. 
     FIG. 11 shows the carrier with cavities or perforations intended to cooperate with the leaf spring construction of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a carrier construction with a hook/loop overlay, provided to cooperate with the leaf spring construction of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the application of the invention to the assembly  20  of a partially lowered auto window  22  in its channel  24 . Graphics display  38  is shown sandwiched between auto window  22  and carrier  36 . Carrier  36  is formed of a thin flexible plastic sheet of the material known as PETG. This material has been selected for its properties of transparency, flexibility, impact strength, and light weight. Other materials with similar properties would be suitable. Carrier  36  has a typical thickness of 0.040 inches and typical length of 15 inches and height of 11½ inches. The dimensions of the carrier  36  are not primary characteristics of the invention and other materials, thicknesses and overall dimensions may be selected to meet the requirements of the graphics sheet  36  to be displayed, and the auto window. Across the top of carrier  36  are positioned substantially equally spaced clips  40  provided for the purpose of initially holding graphics sheet  38  in position on carrier  36 . The preferred shape of clip  40  may be observed better by reference to FIG.  10 A. The clip is a commercially available device model 847-CL secured from the Outwater Corporation at http://www.outwater.com. 
     Leaf spring  26  is formed with U-bend  29  at one end, thereby providing a shorter straight portion  28  and a longer substantially straight portion  27  adjacent the U-bend  29 . The U-bend  29  is positioned snugly over the upper edge  23  of window  22 . 
     The substantially straight portion  27  of leaf spring  26  terminates at its end distal to the U-bend  29  in a kink  52 , a bend of relatively small radius, which provides the transition to curved portion  30  terminating at spring end  32 . A line, tangent to the end of curved part  30  that is adjacent straight part  27 , forms an angle with the straight portion  27  between 18 and 25 degrees. Spring end  32  has a slight reverse curvature  44  (shown more clearly in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 ) provided for the purpose of increasing the spring area in contact with carrier  36 , thereby providing greater friction between the spring end  44  and carrier  36 . A friction pad  34  composed of soft rubber or plastic is optionally provided to improve resistance to carrier slippage. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, window  22  is shown substantially fully raised and seated within channel  24 . Channel  24  typically is formed of a soft material such as felt to allow the window  22  to be properly raised and seated while allowing for minor variations in the shape and thickness both of channel  24  and window  22 . Stressed spring  26  is shown with its U-bend  29  positioned over the top edge  23  of window  22 . U-bend  29  has been forced upwards fully into and seated into channel  24  by the upper edge  23  of window  22 , thereby squeezing the straight portions  27 ,  28 . This forceful seating process provides substantially rigid support and alignment for the substantially parallel straight portions  27  and  28  adjacent to U-bend  29  of the leaf spring  26 . A portion of carrier  36  is shown sandwiched between the soft pad  34  fastened to the end  32  of spring  26  and window  22 . 
     In FIG. 3 there are shown the major elements of the invention in orthogonal cross-section. Window  22  is shown in raised position within felt-like channel  24 . The top edge  23  of the window  22  has forced U-bend  29  securely into channel  24 , thereby forcing the longer portion  30  of leaf spring  26  to assume a bent, highly stressed position  30 , thereby applying significant force to carrier  36  through friction pad  34 . While friction pad  34  is positioned at the end  32  of spring  26 , the pad may be omitted where the force of spring  26  is sufficient to hold carrier  36  in place. 
     It should be noted that the relatively sharp bend or kink  52  immediately adjacent the straight portion  27  of spring  26  is of the essence in providing the proper stressed shape to springy portion  30  of spring  26 . Note also that straight portions  26  and  27  that adjoin U-bend  29  are also important to the spring function because they provide the anchor for the springiness of the longer springy portion  30  of spring  26  the end  32  of which bears directly or indirectly on carrier  36 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show a preferred shape of leaf spring  50  while it is unstressed. The same spring is referred to as element  26  in earlier figures where it is shown having a different contour under stressed conditions. Spring  50  is formed of mild cold rolled annealed steel spring 0.032 inches thick, 1 inch wide and 10 inches long before being fabricated into its finished unstressed shape. The spring is hardened by heating, carburizing and quenching by processes which are well known to metallurgists and heat treaters, thereby providing the required springiness. Alternately a hardenable alloy requiring a slower or oil quench can be substituted. The heat treating process optionally can produce a black oxide film over the entire body of the spring which provides a measure of rust resistance. Within the limits described, the spring may be formed of other materials, ferrous or non-ferrous or non-metallic, and may have other widths and lengths. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the U-bend  29  is formed so that dimension  66 , the distance between the short leg  28  and the long substantially straight leg  27  is about ¼ inch. This opening accommodates substantially all standard window glasses. Somewhat greater distances for dimension  66  are tolerable, keeping in mind that a sufficient length of the portions  28 ,  27  must be seated within the interior of channel  24  to stabilize and force kink  52  into a stress producing position closer to window  22 . 
     Typically shorter straight leg  28  has a length  28  between one half inch and about 1 inch. The longer, substantially straight, leg  27  has a length between 1¾ and 2½ inches. The length of the curved flex portion  54 , upon which the spring depends for the stress or tension required to hold carrier  36  in position, is typically about 6 inches. That length is the difference between 10 inches, the initial flat length of the spring and the other dimensions. Reverse bend  56 ,  58 , terminating in the end  32  of spring  50 , has a length of about (0.5) inch. The angle of the bend between the straight leg  27  and a tangent to the adjacent curved portion  54  is typically between 19 and 23 degrees though angles as small as 15 degress and as great as 25 degrees may be required in certain circumstances. The greater the angle, the more stress is applied to the carrier. 
     FIG. 7 shows a friction enhancing coating, typically of a rubberized material, which is applied by dipping the end portion  58  of spring  50  into the latex or similar material. This coating  60  enhances friction between the spring end and the carrier. 
     FIG. 8 shows in somewhat greater detail the friction enhancing pad  34  (shown also in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 ). Pad  34  is generally secured with an integral pressure sensitive adhesive coating, though other means of attachment may be employed. 
     FIG. 9 shows one portion of a hook-loop assembly applied as a fabric strip  62  to the convex part of the spring end. This hook/loop strip is intended to coact and provide secure but variable positioning of carrier  36  by engaging and securing to its loop/hook mate  80  shown in FIG.  12 . 
     In FIG. 6 the end of spring  50  is formed into upturned lip or edge  64 . This edge  64  is turned upward in the same direction as straight leg  28 . The upturned edge  64  is intended to engage one of slots  76 , which have a straight bottom edge and curved upper edge. Alternatively upturned edge  64  may engage one of slots  78  which have similarly curved upper and lower edges. 
     In FIG. 10 there is shown carrier  36  in which the relative positions of clips  40  are displayed. FIG. 10A is an end view of carrier  36  showing clip  40  secured to carrier  36  by adhesive  72 . The paper bearing the text or graphics is secured between leg  74  of clip  40  and carrier  36 . 
     In an optional construction, no carrier is employed and element  36  is the graphic or textual material to be displayed and the spring  26  bears directly on it. In this alternate construction the material  36  is formed or is printed on a heavier more resilient material than ordinary 20 pound paper. In still another embodiment of the invention the graphic material to be displayed is printed directly on the carrier  36 . 
     From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present invention comprises a simple device for positively but removably securing a textual or graphics display to the inside of an auto window that can be raised and lowered. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described in the foregoing description without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims, its elements and equivalents thereof. In all uses within this specification and claims the terms graphics display and textual display are synonymous and interchangeable.