Patent Publication Number: US-2007109145-A1

Title: Lighted display device with user selectable message

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/731,765, filed on Oct. 31, 2005, the entire disclosure of which incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a lighted display device attachable to a motor vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to a lighted display device having a user selectable message.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The art is replete with lighted display devices for motor vehicles. Among the devices known in the art are decorative lights formed of light pipes and adapted to be installed beneath the vehicle. Apart from decorative lighting are safety lights such as the well known brake light or turn signal, which acts a message to motor vehicle operators that the vehicle is slowing or turning.  
      Apart from basic traffic signals, there is a need to warn other operators of non-traffic related emergencies. For example, in the event the operator becomes suddenly ill, such as a heart attack, there is a need to communicate this to other motor vehicle operators who otherwise would not be aware of a life threatening condition. A 911 call on a mobile phone may not result in a timely dispatch. By notifying others that a serious situation is at hand, a life may be saved.  
      The art includes basic illuminating warning devices, however these devices do not meet all situations. A static “HELP” message may only result in peril for an unknowing rescuer, as the emergency may be criminal in nature. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a user selectable message to others.  
      Additionally, the message needs to be sufficiently large in size to be visible. In the event several words are required to express the message of the user, a single light signal display may be insufficient.  
      Finally, a warning or message device should be adapted to be operated remotely, with a wireless transmitter to assure the device is as flexible as it can be for the user.  
      Thus, it is desirable to provide a lighted display device attachable to a motor vehicle that permits a user to select a message to be displayed. Furthermore, it is desirous to provide a lighted display frame that has multiple displays. And finally, a display device that may be activated remotely and/or wirelessly is further desirous.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A lighted display device for attachment to a motor vehicle comprises a frame having a display side and a mounting side. In a first embodiment hereof at least a first light emitting diode array and a second light emitting diode array are mounted on the display side of the frame. A circuit board is attached to the frame. An electrical circuit is disposed upon said circuit board for providing user selectable output signals to both of the first light emitting diode array and the second light emitting diode array, whereby a user may select a first message to be displayed on the first light emitting diode array and a second message to be displayed on the second light emitting diode array. The output signal may be controlled by a CPU. This embodiment is deployed in connection with a license plate frame and has a license plate removably secured thereto.  
      In a second embodiment hereof, the display, preferably, includes a third array and is mounted to a frame including a seat and which is removably secured to a vehicular trailer hitch.  
      Additionally, a user may select the message(s) to be displayed from a wireless device. In one embodiment, the wireless device is a key fob.  
      Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from analysis of the following written description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a first embodiment of a lighted display device according to the principles of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a frame having a lighted display device hereof and adapted to receive a vehicular license plate;  
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a second embodiment of a lighted display device according to the principles of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the lighted display device of  FIG. 2 , adapted to be secured into a vehicle trailer hitch socket;  
       FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view showing the light array being mounted to an assembly for attachment to a vehicle hitch socket;  
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary schematic diagram of the light emitting diode array circuit of the lighted display device of  FIG. 2 , and  
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary schematic diagram of the light emitting diode array and control circuit of the first embodiment hereof. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, there is shown a first embodiment of a lighted display device  10  according to the principles of the present invention. The display device  10  is provided for attachment to a motor vehicle, and comprises a frame  20  having a display side  25  and a mounting side  28 . A first light emitting diode array  30  and a second light emitting diode array  40  are mounted on the display side  28  of the frame  20  I spaced apart relationship.  
      The frame  20  is adapted to be disposed about the periphery of a vehicular license plate, by any suitable means. For example, a suitable adhesive may be used to adhere the frame to a license plate. Alternate mounting means may include fasteners which project through the frame and a license plate to secure the frame thereto as well as claw-like fingers formed on the frame and which engage suitable receptor apertures provided in the license plate.  
      Similarly, and as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, that the frame  20  comprises opposed top wall  23  and bottom wall  23 ′. An L-shaped channel member  25  is integrally formed with and projects laterally outwardly from the mounting side  28  of the frame  20  proximate top wall  23 . A similar channel member  25 ′ projects outwardly from bottom wall  23 ′. The opposed channels  26 ,  26 ′ defined by channel members  25  and  25 ′ cooperate to define a track into which a license plate may be slideably disposed. End caps (not drawn) may be used to seal off the track. It is to be understood that the track may be formed in the sidewalls  28 ,  28 ′ Of the frame  20  by forming the channel members thereon.  
      The frame  20 , per se, may be formed from any suitable material such as plastic, aluminum or other light weight material.  
      Although not shown, a circuit board associated with each array is attached to the frame  20  on the mounting array  30  and  40 . The device  10  is powered by any suitable means including a battery or may be wired into the vehicular power system by any suitable means known to the skilled artisan.  
      Referring now also to  FIGS. 2, 3  and  3 A there is shown a plan view of a second embodiment of a lighted display device  110  according to the principles of the present invention. A frame  220  supports a first light emitting diode array  130  and a second light emitting diode array  140 . At least one additional array  150  may also be mounted onto the frame  120 .  
      The device  110  is adapted to be secured into a vehicle trailer hitch socket (not shown). In accordance with the embodiment, the device  110  hereof is shown in association with a standard  4  way flat end connector  115  powered by the vehicle power system (not shown).  
      The display device  110  includes a hitch cover lamp unit  205  having supported by the frame  220 . The frame  220  supports at least a first and second light emitting diode array  130 ,  140 , respectively, and, preferably, a third array  150 , on a display side  225  of the frame  220 . The frame  220 , also, includes an opposite mounting side  228 .  
      According to this embodiment, the device  110  is mounted to a hitch socket mounting assembly  210 . The mounting assembly  210  includes a seat  212  which is dimensioned to seat the device  110  therewithin.  
      The seat  212  includes a bottom wall  214  and, perimetral integrally formed side walls  216 ,  218 ,  222  and  224  extending outwardly and normally from the seat  212 , as shown, and which cooperate to define a curvilinear sidewall. The walls  216 ,  218 ,  222  and  224  have a height equal to the width of the frame  220 , to enable a flush seating for the device  110  within the seat  212 .  
      As shown, a post  229  extends outwardly from the bottom wall  214  of the seat  212 . The post  229  is dimensioned to be insertable into the interior of a standard vehicular hitch socket and is removably affixed therewithin via suitable means such as a bolt (not shown) insertable through a mounting aperture  241 . The mounting of the assembly  210  to a vehicular hitch is well known to the skilled artesian. In the present embodiment, a plurality of electrical conductors  260  extend from the device  110 , through the frame  220 , and exit from the seat via aperture  242  and are, then, electrically coupled to the connector  115  to provide electrical power, from the motor vehicle to the light emitting diode arrays  130 ,  140  and  150 .  
      A cover may be disposed over the display side  225  to protect the device from inclement weather conditions.  
      Although the device  110  is depicted as ovular, it is to be understood that other configurations, such as rectangular, triangular and the like may be used herein.  
      Although vehicle power is shown, those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that any suitable power source may be substituted for vehicle power, including, for example, battery, solar, fuel cell and the like.  
      Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary schematic diagram of the light emitting diode array circuit of the lighted display device of  FIG. 2  is shown. A CPU  165  is employed to control the flow of output signals to the light emitting diode arrays  130 ,  140  and  150 .  
      The CPU may be stored within a frame  220  or in the seat as at  243  and electrically coupled to the arrays. Although a CPU  165  is disclosed, it should become apparent to those skilled in the art that any suitable substitute known in the art, such as a resistor/capacitor timer or an op amp may be substituted for the CPU  165 .  
      Referring now also to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary schematic diagram of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , revealing light emitting diode arrays  30 ,  40  and control circuit  60  according to the principles of the present invention is shown. The electrical circuit  60  is disposed upon the circuit board (not shown) for providing user selectable output signals to both of the first light emitting diode array  30  and the second light emitting diode array  40 , whereby a user may select a first message to be displayed on the first light emitting diode array  30  and a second message to be displayed on the second light emitting diode array  40 . In the present example, the circuit  60  includes an FR Module  61  for receiving wireless signals from a user and an HT658 decoder for interpreting the received signals. As such, in the preferred embodiment, the device  10  may receive a command from a user by a wireless device (not shown). A transmitting device (not shown) may be disposed in a key fob, for example. As such, a user may select pre-programmed messages to be displayed on either or both of the first light emitting diode array  30  and the second light emitting diode array  40 . In displaying the present device, each light array may not be pre-programmed to independently transmit a message such as “Help”; “911” or simply intermittently emit a light signal. Furthermore, the pre-programmed CPU may be changed or altered to change the message or signal.  
      Thus, the present invention provides means for visually displaying a distress signal, warning or other message. Because of the intensity of the LEDs within each array, the message or signal may be viewed from a distance remote from the vehicle as well as activated remote from the vehicle. The remote device, such as a key fob (not shown), may be used to select the message to be displayed.  
      The foregoing discussion discloses and describes the preferred structure and control system for the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.