Patent Abstract:
A display framing system that may be used in mobile applications, such as on tractor trailers or buses, is disclosed. The display framing system may be illuminated, and the light reflected onto a sign inserted in the framing system.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 60/679,544, filed May 10, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Many existing mobile advertising systems utilize tensioning frames that stretch a canvas over the lateral side of a tractor trailer. Other advertising systems simply paint displays directly on the vehicle or apply them as adhesive panels to the vehicle surface. All of these display methods suffer drawbacks. Signs attached to the lateral sides of trucks are exposed to high winds and they are usually viewed for a very short period of time by occupants of a passing vehicle. Advertising exposure is additionally limited to daylight hours as headlight illumination is typically insufficient for adequate viewing at night. From a mechanical point of view, tensioning systems require complex and costly frames with specialized clamps, rails, tensioners and bungee cords. The systems are also prone to mechanical failure and weather-related deterioration that could lead to loss of life and/or property. Adhesive systems and painting are somewhat safer in transit, but removal and replacement of signage can be a troublesome, time consuming and chemically-intensive process.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     In one embodiment a display framing system includes four edges disposed on the periphery of and substantially perpendicular to a back surface, the four edges include an outside edge and an inside edge, where the depth of the outside edge is less than the depth of the inside edge. A front surface is disposed planar to the back surface and includes an opening for placement of a sign therein.  
         [0004]     In one embodiment a method of displaying a sign includes providing a framing system having four edges disposed on the periphery of and substantially perpendicular to a back surface, the four edges include an outside edge and an inside edge, where the depth of the outside edge is less than the depth of the inside edge, and a front surface is disposed planar to the back surface, the front surface includes an opening for placement of a sign therein. The method includes inserting a sign into the opening of the front surface.  
         [0005]     In one embodiment, a method of displaying a sign includes providing on a rear door of a tractor trailer a framing system having a back surface, four edges disposed on the periphery of and substantially perpendicular to the back surface, the four edges include an outside edge and an inside edge, where the depth of the outside edge is less than the depth of the inside edge, and a front surface disposed planar to the back surface, the front surface includes an opening for placement of a sign therein. The method includes inserting a sign into the opening of the front surface. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates display framing systems mounted on rear doors of a tractor trailer in accordance with an embodiment.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial cut-away view of a display framing system mounted on a top posterior portion of a bus in accordance with an embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a partial cut-away view of a display framing system mounted on a bottom posterior portion of a bus in accordance with an embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a front plan view of one display framing system in accordance with an embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a front plan view of one display framing system in accordance with an embodiment.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 6-7  show top plan views of exemplary display framing systems for clockwise and counter-clockwise opening doors, respectively.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  shows a top plan view of partially and fully opened doors mounted with display framing systems.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  shows a plan view of an exemplary lighting apparatus for a display framing system according to an embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  shows one display framing system according to  FIG. 5  and incorporating a lighting apparatus according to  FIG. 9 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 11  shows a top plan view of a lighting apparatus for a display framing system according to an embodiment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 13  shows a front plan view of a display framing system incorporating a lighting apparatus according to  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 14  shows a side plan view of the display framing system of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The present disclosure relates to display framing systems and, more specifically, to systems that are mountable on doors and/or vehicles, and optionally lit. A mobile display framing system, such as described herein, may be advantageously located on the back of a tractor trailer or bus, where it can be kept out of the wind and where following vehicles can view an advertisement disposed therein for a considerable length of time. The display may be lit, especially at night, to increase the effective advertising time and thus the number of people viewing the advertisement.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, a display framing system may be used to secure a Plexiglas® sign to a surface of a door (e.g., the rear door of a tractor trailer); though it is nonetheless understood that the present systems may be used with any interior or exterior door, gate, stall or other hinged body, for example. A frame assembly retains a semi-flexible sheet-like panel or sign within a substantially rectangular frame. The frame is adapted to contain peripheral edges of the sign within an opening in the front surface of the frame system. The frame is further designed with a canted orientation that allows doors to be opened without interference from or damage to the frame system or vehicle.  
         [0021]     In another embodiment, a display framing system may be mounted on an unhinged body, e.g., a posterior portion of a bus. A canted orientation of the display framing system may allow a sign within the display framing system to be angled for improved viewing.  
         [0022]     If a sign contained within the framing system is lit, lighting provides evenly distributed light by use of reflector panels. Power for the lighting may be provided by an independent battery or by the power system of a vehicle. It will be understood that converters and/or inverters that form part of the existing electrical system of the vehicle may be used to manipulate power for the display framing system. Alternatively, converters and/or inverters may be incorporated into the display framing system.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates two display framing systems  100  mounted on the rear doors  102  of a tractor trailer  104 , which includes a motor truck  106  and a semi-trailer  108  rigged thereto. Systems  100  include a frame assembly  110 , a sign  112  and, optionally, lighting apparatus (not shown). Each framing system  100  may be fixedly attached to the door of the tractor trailer using hardened steel bolts or other suitable means known in the art.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate partial cut-away views of display framing systems  100  mounted to posterior portions of a bus  200 . Display framing system  100  of  FIG. 2  is positioned on a top portion  202  of bus  200 . It may be desirable in such an orientation for top edge  204  of framing system  100  to have a greater depth than bottom edge  206 . A downward canting may, for example, enable better viewing from passenger cars.  FIG. 3  illustrates a framing system  100  positioned on a bottom portion  302  of bus  200 , where it may or may not be necessary to cant display framing system  100  for better viewing.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a front plan view of one display framing system  400 . System  400  is generally a three-dimensional rectangular frame having a substantially flat and rectangular back surface. The back surface may be a pre-existing body (e.g., door  102  of truck  104 ) to which framing system  400  attaches. Four edges disposed on the periphery of and substantially perpendicular to the back surface form approximate right angles at four corners  404  of framing system  400 . The edges form a depth of the framing system of about 2-3 inches. A front surface  406  of similar dimension and disposed planar to the back surface includes an opening  408  where a sign (not shown) may be inserted. The dimensions of the back surface may be approximately 70″×34″ with an opening of approximately 64″×32″ for a framing system used on the rear door of a tractor trailer. In one embodiment, at least one portion  410  of the front surface is of sufficient depth to enclose optional lighting apparatus (not shown in  FIG. 4 ; see  FIGS. 9-14 ). In the present embodiment, the lighting system portion  410  is shown on the bottom of the sign. However, the lighting system portion  410  could alternatively be located at the top or side of the sign. More than one lighting apparatus may be accommodated within the framing system. The framing system  400  also includes two longitudinal reflector panels  412 ,  414  that are angled toward the center  416  of the framing system. Reflector panels may be planar or curved into an approximately parabolic shape. In one embodiment, the reflector panels do not touch and the back surface  418  may be observed in a gap formed there between. The framing system and/or reflector panels may be fabricated from white powdercoated aluminum, polished or unpolished metal, a mirrored material or rigid materials that efficiently reflect light from a lighting system.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a front plan view of one display framing system  500 , which includes three reflector panels  502 ,  504 ,  506 . Two of the reflector panels  502 ,  504  are longitudinal, while the third reflector panel  506  forms a substantially triangular segment disposed near a top  508  of the framing system  500 . Third reflector panel  506  may be desirable when a lighting apparatus is incorporated at a bottom  510  of the framing system. Light shined upward by the lighting apparatus may be reflected downward and forward by reflector panel  506 . Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to three reflector panels, it is contemplated that a framing system  500  may incorporate one or a plurality of reflector panels. A framing system may also include mounting panels  512 ,  514  containing holes for receiving hardened steel bolts  516  or other suitable securing means.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 6-7  show top plan views of display framing systems for clockwise and counter-clockwise opening doors, respectively. Referring first to  FIG. 6 , a back surface  602  is perpendicular to two edges  604 ,  606  of framing system  600 . The outside edge  604  located nearest a hinge  608  has a depth  607  of about 2″ while the inside edge  606  has a depth  609  of about 3″. Channels  610 ,  612  are formed between portions of the front surface  614 ,  616  and longitudinal reflector panels  618 ,  620  to hold a sign (not shown) in place. A sign may be inserted or removed from channels  610 ,  612  by slightly bending the sign to secure, or free, at least one edge thereof. Alternatively, a top edge or one or both of side edges  604 ,  606  of display framing system  600 , may open to allow insertion of a sign into framing system  600 . In one embodiment, it may be desirable to have the edge(s) lock after the sign has been inserted to prevent theft.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of a display framing system suitable for a counter-clockwise opening door. The inside edge  606 ′ has a depth of about 3″, while the outside edge  604 ′ has a depth of about 2″. The canted nature of the framing system allows for opening of vehicle doors without interference from or damage to the framing system or the vehicle. See  FIG. 8 . Partially and fully opened doors  622 ,  624  mounted with framing systems  600  are, for example, attached with hinges  608 ,  626  to semi-trailer  628 . In one embodiment, the corner formed by outside edge  606  and front surface  616  ( FIG. 6 ) may be coated with a protective, cushioning material, such as rubber, to prevent damage to framing system  600  and semi-trailer  628  when door  622  is opened.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a plan view of exemplary lighting apparatus  900  for a display framing system. Lighting apparatus  900  includes a scaffolding  902  with a base plate  904  for mounting to the framing system with nuts  906  and bolts  908  or other means. Scaffolding  902  may also be anchored to the reflector panels using rivets (not shown) to reduce vibrations. The scaffolding  902  further includes extension arms  910 ,  912  that each have a top surface  914 , a bottom surface  916  and a hole (not shown) therethrough. Transformers  918  may be mounted on the bottom surfaces of extension arms  910  and  912  beneath the holes. Light bulbs  920  may be inserted into the transformers  918  through the holes so that the light bulbs  920  are disposed above the top surface  914 . Wires  922  from the transformers  918  may exit the framing system through a rubber grommet  924 . Power for the lighting apparatus may be supplied by an independent battery or by connection to the vehicle power system, as discussed above.  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows one display framing system  1000  incorporating lighting apparatus  900  according to  FIG. 9 . Lighting apparatus  900  is disposed in a bottom  1004  of framing system  1000  with light  1006  from the light bulbs radiated upward. Framing system  1000  may include stoppers  1016  that prevent a sign from resting directly upon lighting system  900 . Reflector panels  1008 ,  1010  and  1012  help to distribute bright and even light through a sign (not shown) inserted in opening  1014 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows a top plan view of another lighting apparatus  1100 , which has a reflector cradle  1102  that is sized and shaped to conform to light bulb  1104 . A base portion of reflector cradle  1102  is bent at positions  1106  to effectively surround light bulb  1104  when combined with rear wall  1108  and side walls  1200 , which are visible in the cross-sectional view taken along plane  12 - 12 ,  FIG. 12 . Light bulb  1104  has a base  1110  that attaches to transformer  1112  through rear wall  1108 . Wires  1114  supply power from a battery or vehicle power system to light bulb  1104 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  shows a front plan view of a display framing system  1300  incorporating lighting apparatus  1100 . Framing system  1300  includes reflector panels  1302 ,  1304  as well as lighting apparatus  1100  that contain reflector cradles  1102 .  FIG. 14  is a side plan view of display framing system  1300 , where it can be observed that reflector cradles  1102  direct light toward opening  1306 .  
         [0033]     Additional embodiments of the lighting apparatus are contemplated; for example, the lighting apparatus may incorporate one or a plurality of light bulbs or LEDs, wired in series or parallel, emitting various wavelengths of radiation at constant, pulsed or sequential intervals. The plurality of light bulbs or LEDs may be positioned around the periphery of opening  1014 ,  1306 , for example. In one embodiment, a two-dimensional light emitting device may be disposed on one or more reflector panels or back surface  418  to provide backlighting for signs inserted into opening  1014 ,  1306 . A suitable two-dimensional light emitting device is manufactured by CeeLite™ of Lansdale, Pa.  
         [0034]     Each display framing system may include a single lighting apparatus, or more than one lighting apparatus where the multiple apparatus are either of the same type or different types in relation to one another. Additionally, the lighting apparatus may be turned on/off using manual switches, timing devices or light sensing devices that are known in the art.  
         [0035]     A sign suitable for use with a display framing system may be made of a plastic polymer, such as Plexiglas® or Lexan®, or materials that are semi-flexible, resistant to shock, vibration and impact and at least partially transparent to light.  
         [0036]     Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departing from the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6