Abstract:
The invention described herein represents a significant improvement in the displaying of sports team logo or other meaningful indicia. A means for removably affixing indicia to a passenger vehicle is provided. Also removably affixed to the passenger vehicle is a wind powered generator in electrical communication with a plurality of LEDs. As the passenger vehicle moves, wind is captured to turn the generator to power the LEDs which illuminates the indicia. Thus the sports team logo or other indicia is observable at night without the need to run electrical wires or replace batteries.

Description:
PRIOR AND RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/593,262 filed Nov. 6, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to sports team flags, wind socks, kites or other logo or indicia displaying devices that are affixed or tethered to a passenger vehicle. Wherein wind created by the motion of the passenger vehicle actuates an electric generator which produces electric current to power illumination of the indicia or logo. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Invention 
         [0005]    Many devices that can be displayed on a moving passenger vehicle are known in the prior art. Flags displaying the indicia, colors, and logos of sports teams for display on a passenger are well known. Electric generators are well known and widely utilized for converting wind energy into electrical current. Some products have recently appeared that provide a wind driven turbine which is affixed to the exterior of a motor vehicle and where wind is converted to electric current that powers LED lights. The related prior and related application referenced above discloses wind powered illuminated indicia affixed or tethered to a motor vehicle and wherein a generator is utilized to convert wind to electricity to illuminate the indicia. Other than the prior and related application, no known prior art combines the electric generator with the passenger vehicle flag and LEDs as is described herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The invention described herein represents a significant improvement in the displaying of sports team logos and indicia to be observable at night time. In one embodiment a flag for affixing on a passenger vehicle is produced and operated when the vehicle is in motion as follows. A first sheet of indicia displays in a first field of view and a second sheet of indicia displays in a second field of view. Sandwiched between the two sheets of indicia are a plurality of LEDs that provide illumination of the first indicia and the second indicia so as to enhance the observability of the indicia when dark outside. The LEDs are powered by a wind generated electricity produced by a generator actuated by wind produced by the passenger vehicle&#39;s motion. 
       Objects and Advantages 
       [0007]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive durable means for communicating a message. It is an advantage that the flag is constructed on a pole designed to support the drag of the flag and the drag of the wind powered generator. It is an advantage that the flag is affixed or tethered to a passenger vehicle in a manner that does not pose a danger to other vehicles and ensures that the flag is not detachable from the vehicle. It is an advantage that the flag can take the form of a sign or display that can carry a message for other vehicle occupants to see. It is an object of the present invention that an illuminated indicia is made to be observable at night. It is an advantage that in the electric generator powered embodiment that the passenger compartment is free of electrical wires to the flag and that batteries are not needed to illuminate the flag. In an electrical storage embodiment, it is an advantage that wind generate electricity can be stored for use in illuminating indicia on the flag when the vehicle is not in motion. 
         [0008]    Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the enclosed figures and specifications. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a wind powered car flag bearing the sports team logo of NC State University. 
       
    
    
     NUMERALS IN FIGURES 
       [0000]    
       
           22  rotation 
           25  second printed substrate 
           26  second indicia 
           27  vehicle window 
           30  circuit substrate 
           31  first LED 
           32  second LED 
           33  propeller 
           35  generator 
           37  battery 
           41  generator hardware 
           45  connecting substrate 
           67  wind 
           98  first printed substrate 
           100  adhering substrate 
           303  first indicia 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a wind powered car flag bearing the sports team logo of NC State University. The wind powered car flag is assembled from components comprising a first printed substrate  98  which is a thin flexible translucent substrate that is colored according to colors of a sports team or other message including a first indicia  303 . A second printed substrate  25  which is a thin flexible translucent substrate that is colored according to colors of a sports team or other message including a second indicia  26 . The first printed substrate  98  faces in a first direction to be readable from a first side and the second printed substrate  25  faces in a second direction to be readable from a second side. As is common with flags the first and second indicia may be identical but adjoined together back to back to show the indicia properly on both sides of the flag. Sandwiched between the first printed substrate  98  and the second printed substrate  25  is a circuit substrate  30  which is a thin transparent or translucent flexible material such as fabric or plastic onto which is affixed a plurality of LEDs including a first LED  31  and a second LED  32 . The LEDs are white or another suitable color to illuminate the logo and indicia of a specific message or sports team. In fact a multitude of LED colors can be used in an individual flag. The LEDs are electrically connected in series and to a generator  35 . During assembly, the first printed substrate  98 , the circuit substrate, and the second printed substrate  25  are sewed together to form a flag including LED illumination lights in the middle layer between the two printed substrates and affixed in a predetermined position relative to the indicia on the printed substrates. In operation, the flag can flex in the wind similar to flags commonly utilized on automobiles. A connecting substrate  45  is a fabric material which is sewed to the flag in a sleeve like configuration such that it can be slipped over an adhering substrate  100  to adhere the flag thereto. The adhering substrate is a rigid plastic flag pole that supports the flag in operation while being removably affixed to a vehicle window  27  or another part of a passenger vehicle which when the vehicle is in operation is exposed to a wind  67 . As is common with automobile flags of the prior art, the flag pole is molded plastic and comprises a configuration on one end that can be closed in the automobile window as a means to secure it to the vehicle and to remove the flag from the vehicle one needs only to open the window to release the flag pole. In operation, as the motor vehicle travels the wind  67  causes a rotation  22  in a propeller  33  or turbine which is affixed to the shaft of the generator and turns elements within the generator  35  such that the generator produces electricity to power the plurality of LEDs. A battery  37  or a capacitor can be added into the circuit along with the generator and LEDs to achieve benefits such as illumination of the LEDs/indicia when the vehicle is not in motion. When a battery or capacitor is used, when the passenger vehicle is in motion, electricity from the generator recharges the battery or capacitor, thus the battery never needs to be replaced. The generator  35  can be any of a wide variety of motors, a suitable example being a Buhler Motor GmbH, #1.16.011.532, 12 volt dc which when driven by wind of greater that 50 miles/hr has suitable current output voltage and amperage to illuminate 5 LEDs from Homer TLC, Inc. product 613 980 (distributed by Home Depot). The generator  35  together with the propeller  33  are affixed to the adhering substrate  100  using a generator hardware  41  set including a clamp and screws such that the generator and propeller are not able to fly off from the adhering substrate  100  even as they are subjected to high wind speeds created by high passenger vehicle velocity. During prototyping, the propeller  33  comprised a turbine removed from a PC computer fan and then affixed to the shaft of the Buhler motor, the turbine having the right scale and properties to capture wind to drive the motor to produce suitable electrical current and voltage to power the LEDs when the passenger vehicle traveled at suitable speeds. Indicia for the purposes of this application comprises a combination of color and shape combinations that convey meaningful information including for example images, letters, numbers, logos, or other symbols. 
       Operation of the Invention 
       [0027]    Operation of the invention has been discussed under the above heading and is not repeated here to avoid redundancy. 
       Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope 
       [0028]    Thus the reader will see that the Wind powered illuminated flag of this invention provides an inexpensive, novel, unanticipated, highly functional and reliable means for illuminating indicia on a moving passenger vehicle. 
         [0029]    While the above description describes many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of a preferred embodiment thereof Many other variations are possible for example: 
         [0030]    As discussed in the prior related application, the generator can be affixed to the surface of the passenger vehicle instead of being affixed to the flag pole as described herein. 
         [0031]    Other embodiments are anticipated wherein wind power generates electricity to power illumination of indicia. For example, a sign or bumper sticker comprising indicia can be affixed to the surface of the passenger vehicle and be in electrical communication with an electrical generator which is also affixed to the passenger vehicle and which captures wind to illuminate LED elements to illuminate the indicia. OLEDs are an emerging illumination technology that can be manufactured to take the form of a bumper sticker and affixed to a motor vehicle then powered by a wind powered generator as described herein to provide meaningful illuminate indicia as described herein. Also, a kite and a wind sock can comprise the components herein and be operated identically as described herein. 
         [0032]    LEDs or OLEDs can be configured such that they themselves form the indicia which is illuminated by the wind powered generator without the need for the indicia substrate referenced herein. 
         [0033]    Many other electrical components and configurations are possible for incorporation with the components described herein. For example a photo diode can be added such that the flag only is illuminated at dark, switches can be added to the circuit to enable a user to turn the flag off manually, a switch can be added to the circuit to enable current to be directed to the LEDs or the battery depending upon circumstances to achieve desired effects. LEDs can be wired parallel, the battery can be wired in series with the LEDs. 
         [0034]    Airplanes, jets, helicopters, gliders, blimps, kites, and balloons, for example can all use elements described herein to be flown by vehicle passengers and used to display words and images comprising indicia. 
         [0035]    The elements and processes described herein in connection with a passenger vehicle can also be incorporated with a wide variety f other moving vehicles such as boats or aircraft for example. 
         [0036]    Elements described in the related prior application are incorporated herein by reference.