Abstract:
A compact, collapsible, wheel-anchored display barrier is anchored to the ground via the wheel of an automobile. The barrier post is a pivotable, telescoping arm that can be swiveled then locked about a 180° arc to allow the barrier to accommodate different sized vehicles. When a barrier is positioned under each vehicle tire, a retractable lanyard extends from the top of each telescoping arm and is connect to the telescoping arm of the adjacent barrier, located at the adjacent wheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nowhere is Americans&#39; love of the automobile more enthusiastically displayed than the weekend auto show. These are not the auto shows that draw international exhibitors, or that are featured on primetime news hours. Instead, local auto clubs, whether in big cities or small towns, sponsor weekend events that showcase their members&#39; pride-and-joy, from antique automobiles, to muscle cars, to hard-to-find imports, the weekend auto show provides the opportunity for local car collectors, restorers, and car enthusiasts to display their work and generally celebrate their collective love of cars. 
     No matter how big or how small, space is often at a premium at auto shows, with organizers trying to accommodate what often amounts to too many vehicles in too little space. As a result, with such limited space, there is no chance for exhibiters to employ a protective perimeter around their vehicles leaving their hard work (and money) exposed to overzealous attendees and those attendees&#39; pets, children, and baby strollers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a wheel-anchored display barrier. The wheel-anchored display barrier is anchored to the ground via the wheel of the automobile being displayed. The barrier post are telescoping, can be swiveled and then locked about a 180° arc to accommodate different sized vehicles, and is pivotable. Additionally, the barrier lanyard is retractable, making the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, easy to store, transport, and employ. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully extended and in an upright configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully extended and is in a tilted configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention; wherein the telescoping arm has been rotated and tilted; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm has been cut (shortened) for visual clarity; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an automobile, on which the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention has been employed; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully extended; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully extended; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully retracted, rotated, and tilted; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully retracted, and in an upright position; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm is fully retracted, rotated, and tilted; 
         FIG. 12  is a back perspective view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm has been cut (shortened) for visual clarity; and 
         FIG. 13  is a back perspective, partial exploded view of the wheel-anchored display barrier of the present invention, wherein the telescoping arm has been cut (shortened) for visual clarity. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4  are perspective views, and  FIG. 3  is a top view of a wheel-anchored display barrier  2  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wheel-anchored display barrier  2  comprises a base member  4 , telescoping arm  6 , lanyard housing and refraction means  8  (See  FIG. 5 ), lanyard  10  (See  FIG. 5 ), rotation disk  12 , attachment ring  14 , and attachment fixture  16 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 12 , it can be seen that base member  4 , has a generally rectangular, planar section  5 , and a rounded section  7 . Rectangular, planar section  5  has tapered ends  9  to facilitate driving the tires of an automobile onto, or off of, the rectangular, planar section  5  of base member  4 . 
     Rounded section  7  houses lanyard housing and retraction means  8 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . Lanyard housing and retraction means  8 , is simply placed inside cavity  11  of rounded section  7  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 13  illustrates how a reel housing is secured within cavity  11  of rounded section  7 . Reel retention tab  18  could generally be described as “L-shaped,” in that it comprises two portions joined at  90 ′; although, its orientation as employed in the present invention is that of an inverted “L.” First portion  19 , of reel retention tab  18 , is designed for mating engagement with retention slot  22 . First portion  19  also contains tab orifice  20 , which aligns with edge orifice  23 , located about a peripheral edge of rounded section  7 , when first portion  19  is inserted into retention slot  22 . Mechanical fastener  24  fastens retention tab  18  via passing through edge orifice  23  and tab orifice  20 . When first portion  19 , of reel retention tab  18 , is fastened via fastener  24 , second portion  21  of retention tab  18  resides above rotation disk  12  as shown in  FIG. 12 , aiding in securing lanyard housing and retraction means  8  within cavity  11 . This is accomplished by the frictional engagement of the outer faces of the lanyard housing and refraction means  8  with the reel retention tab  18  and the faces of the rounded section  7  that define the cavity  11 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the internal chamber of lanyard housing and retraction means  8  contains a self-winding reel (not shown) of which is wound a lanyard  10 . As is well known in the art, one end of the lanyard  10  is connected to the reel periphery, while the free end terminates through the peripheral edge of the reel housing  8  in an attachment fixture  16 . The self-winding reel includes a spiral spring, which allows the lanyard  10  to be extended away from the housing and rapidly retracted back into to the housing upon its release. Although not illustrated, a locking mechanism to stop the self-winding reel, as is well known in the art is also within the housing. Lanyard housing and retraction means  8  is cylindrical in shape as is common for reel or spool housings to reflect the cylindrical shape of the reel or spool they house. While a self-winding reel is illustrated herein as the retraction means, it is well known that other retraction means could be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a reel with a hand-crank for winding the lanyard could be employed. Additionally, while “lanyards” are typically thought of as “ropes” or “cords,” a fabric or plastic ribbon could also be employed as the attachment means. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , positioning peg  26  extends normally from the top face of lanyard housing and retraction means  8 . Position peg  26  engages the 180° arced slot  28 , which extends through disk  12 . Position peg  26 , 180° arced slot  28 , and rotation disk  12  work in concert to form a rotation means about which telescoping arm  6  can be rotated or swiveled. Disk orifice  32  extends through disk  12  allowing for the passing of lanyard  10  therethrough (See  FIG. 4 ). Lanyard  10  extends from the reel (not illustrated) through reel housing orifice  30 , and then through disk orifice  32  (see  FIG. 11 ), before extending though telescoping arm  6  and terminating in an attachment fixture  16 . It should be understood that different mechanical configurations could achieve the function of the “rotation means” without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Extending normally from the top face of disk  12  and residing adjacent to both disk orifice  32  and arced slot  28  is disk first mounting member  34 . First mounting member  34  is designed for toothed-mating engagement with second mounting member  36  extending from telescoping arm  6 . First mounting member  34  and second mounting member are designed to work together as a pivot means, allowing telescoping arm  6  to be locked at an appropriate angle depending on the circumstances of use. For example as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , if a large car is being barricaded, the telescoping arm  6  will need to be fully extended and locked at an acute (or obtuse) angle as measured from base  4 . Should a small car require barricading such as a Fiat (not illustrated), the telescoping arm  6  might be locked in an upright (90°) position. 
     Angle adjustment of telescoping arm  6  is achieved through mounting teeth  38  located on both first mounting member  34  and second mounting member  36 , illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As is well known in the art mounting teeth  38  lock together in an overlapping sunburst pattern. Once an optimal angle has been selected, bolt  40  is inserted through first mounting orifice  42  and second mounting orifice  44 , and finally first wingnut  46  is engaged onto bolt  40  to lock the angle, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . It should be understood that different mechanical configurations could achieve the function of the “pivot means” without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Looking at  FIG. 11 , it can be seen that rotation disk is locked on position peg  26  via second wingnut  48 . Also visible in  FIG. 11  is the locking tab  50  located on each section of telescoping arm  6  as, in well know in the art. As telescoping arm  6  is extended locking tab  50  automatically locks. When the user is ready to retract telescoping arm  6  for storage, he simply presses on locking tab  50 , while sliding arm  6  towards base  4 . Telescoping arm terminates in an attachment ring  14 , which is designed for engagement with attachment fixture  16 . 
       FIG. 6  shows wheel-anchored display barrier  2  in use. For best results, four wheel-anchored display barriers  2  are placed in front (or behind) each wheel of a car. The car is then driven onto the barriers  2 , such that each wheel of the car resides on top of rectangular, planar section  5  of base  4 . Telescoping arm  6  is locked into the appropriate angle via bolt  40  and first wingnut  46 . Telescoping arm  6  is then extended and lanyard  10  is extending to and locked on, via attachment fixture  16 , to attachment ring  14  of the adjacent telescoping arm  6  of the wheel-anchored display barrier  2  located at the adjacent car wheel. Ideally, the user will determine the ideal positioning of the rotation disk  12  for his car before attending an auto show to eliminate the need to assemble display barrier  2  before each use. The user should not have to insert the reel housing  8  into cavity  11 , position rotation disk  12  over reel housing  8 , and secure disk  12  via position peg  26  and second wing nut  48 , and secure housing  8  via retention tab  18 , prior to each use. Designed for ease of use, wheel-anchored display barrier  2  is designed that lanyard housing and retraction means  8  and disk  12  only need to be secured to base  4  once. After the initial positioning, the user only needs to contend with telescoping arm  6 , when he is ready to barricade his car. Obviously, should the user decide to barricade a different car, he may have to reposition (reassemble) the reel housing  8  and rotation disk  12  to base  4  as previously discussed. 
     Although a specific embodiment has been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.