RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/190,117, entitled “MOBILE BILLBOARD SYSTEM” filed on Nov. 12, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,850.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for displaying an advertisement or similar graphic on a moving object such as a truck, van or trailer and for a medium for displaying the advertisement wherein the advertisement may be changed periodically without having to remove the display, repaint the display or use another similarly cumbersome and/or expensive process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are currently a great variety of different types of displays that can be used to exhibit advertising on the sides of moving vehicles such as vans, buses or trucks. The deficiencies inherent in many of the current display means are the lack of permanency of them. Many are fabricated by painting the advertisement directly on the surface of the vehicle, or by applying sign panels to the vehicle using adhesives. These displays are expensive, difficult to install, and difficult to change in a timely fashion. In addition, their useful life is limited by constant exposure to the elements even when not in use. A painted display may fade or the paint can fleck off. Rigid signs or signs with protective enclosures are more impervious to the elements, but are cumbersome and limited in size and can often be prohibitively heavy, weighing down the vehicle on which they are installed.

There are also prior means for displays using tensioning panels which may be adapted for use on mobile surfaces. These systems offer the ability to change the display in a more timely manner, and the ability to roll up the panel for storage helps reduce environmental wear. However, the tensioning frames are typically complex to assemble and often quite costly. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,361 to Hillstrom et al. discloses a tensioning frame which employs edge rails with integral spring tensioners to apply tension to the periphery of an advertising panel. This system, however, is complex to assemble and prone to mechanical failure after prolonged environmental exposure. Moreover, the edge rails protrude significantly from the mounting surface and may be unusable with some vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an advertising medium with the benefits of mobility and non-permanent display which can be quickly and easily changed when different products or services are desired to be promoted.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a mobile advertising medium with a long useful life.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mobile advertising medium with a display that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a mobile advertising system including a vehicle and a support structure. The support structure extends substantially from the cab of the vehicle to the rear end of the vehicle and houses at least one light source. At least one translucent display panel is mounted to the support structure so that the light source illuminates the display panel from behind.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a side view of a truck utilizing the mobile advertising system of the present invention.

FIG. 2A

is a rear view of the truck shown in FIG.

1

.

FIG. 2B

is a top view of the truck shown in FIG.

1

.

FIG. 2C

is a front view of the truck shown in FIG.

1

.

FIG. 3A

is a more detailed drawing of a display panel for the mobile advertising system which is mounted on the side of the motor vehicle.

FIG. 3B

is a more detailed drawing of the display panel of the mobile advertising system which is mounted the rear of the motor vehicle.

FIG. 4A

is a side view of the interior of the truck showing the backlighting used to light a side display panel.

FIG. 4B

is a top view of the interior of an alternate embodiment of the truck with a mounting structure having a trapezoidal cross-section.

FIG. 4C

is a rear view of the interior of the truck showing the lighting used to backlight a rear display panel.

FIG. 4D

illustrates mounting brackets used to mount the lighting assemblies.

FIG. 5

is a front perspective view of a vehicle embodying an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6

is a rear perspective view of the vehicle of FIG.

5

.

FIG. 7A

is rear view of the vehicle of FIG.

5

.

FIG. 7B

is a rear view of the interior of vehicle of FIG.

5

.

FIG. 7C

is a perspective view of a mounting bracket for holding display panels in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements.

The mobile advertising system of the present invention overcomes the deficiencies inherent in prior designs for mobile advertising in that the medium is such that it will not deteriorate due to exposure to the outside environment, it is relatively easy to change the message on the display by changing the back-lighting, and once the display panels are mounted on the motor vehicle, there is no further assembly required.

FIG. 1

illustrates a side view of a truck with a side display panel

10

A of the mobile advertising system of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 3A

illustrates the side display panel

10

A. As shown, each side display panel

10

A can be comprised of a plurality of individual sections of panel material

10

A′. Each individual panel section

10

A′ can measure up to a maximum of 48 inches in width. Using four panel sections

10

A′ of 41 {fraction (3/16)} inches width each allows a side display panel

10

A to be divided into four sections, of equal dimension with the entire side panel

10

A having a 91 inches by 163 inches visible area dimension. Each side panel

10

A also includes a 1¾ inch border around all four sides. A rear display panel

10

B, as shown in

FIGS. 2A and 3B

, may also be mounted on a truck. Preferably the dimensions for such rear display panel

10

B measure 24 inches by 81 inches for the visible area with a 1½ inch border around each side of the rear display panel

10

B. The display dimensions for both display panels

10

A and

10

B may be varied depending upon the dimensions of the chassis for the vehicle onto which such display panels are to be mounted.

The visible area for both the side display panel

10

A and the rear display panel

10

B is comprised of lexan, plexiglass or other similar transparent or translucent, but resilient material. Each display panel

10

A and

10

B is mounted on top of support boxes, or frames, which are affixed to the vehicle.

The support boxes are attached to a support structure, which is attached to the bed or chassis of the vehicle. The support structure may be a box composed of a plurality of vertical and horizontal supports extending from the bed or chassis of the vehicle and defining first and second side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, and a roof. Each wall supports one or more of the display panels. The roof may incorporate an opaque roof panel, rather than a display panel and may include a plurality of support ribs extending between the top of the first side wall and the top of the second side wall to provide additional structural integrity. In one embodiment, the support structure may have angled side walls such that the support structure is comparatively narrow near the cab of the vehicle and the width of the support structure increases as it nears the rear of the vehicle, defining a trapezoidal cross section (See FIG.

4

B).

The backlighting used to light the display panels, such as

10

A and

10

B, is illustrated in

FIGS. 4A through 4D

. A side view of the backlighting used for a side display panel

10

A is shown in FIG.

4

A. As shown, a side display panel

10

A, such as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3A

, is backlit by use of a plurality of long double-tube fluorescent lights

15

. In the current example, 12 eight feet long fluorescent lights are used. They are mounted on a light mounting body

20

which is comprised of a rectangular frame and which includes a plurality of mounting brackets

30

, shown in

FIG. 4D

, for securing the light mounting body

20

to the chassis frame of the vehicle. The light mounting body

20

may be spaced from the support structure holding the display panels. Preferably, the mounting brackets

30

are comprised of ABS steel and suitable insulation material because the mounting brackets

30

should be insulated from the aluminum of the vehicle chassis for safety reasons. The light mounting body

20

includes a plurality of aluminum support channels

25

into which each fluorescent light

15

is to be secured. In one embodiment, channels

25

may comprise a plurality of rigid vertical members, as shown. An angle clip is welded to structure

20

and bolted to each support channel

25

to provide additional support for maintaining the position of each fluorescent light

15

. A single flat bar support

27

is welded in a diagonal manner to each light support channel

25

. A top view of the interior of a vehicle which haw tow side display panels

10

A and a rear display panel

10

B mounted therein is shown in FIG.

4

B. Alternate backlighting configurations are possible (See FIG.

7

B).

A rear view showing the backlighting used for a year display panel

10

B is shown in FIG.

4

C. The rear backlighting assembly

40

comprises a bar assembly which is bolted to the two side light mounting bodies

20

. Assembly

40

includes a plurality of aluminum support channels

25

into which each fluorescent light

15

is to be secured. Assembly

40

also includes a plurality of angle clips similar to those discussed above with respect to structure

20

to support the channels

25

.

The interior of the vehicle will also house the generator which will supply current to power the fluorescent lights. The power supply for such generator can be a typical 110 volt DC alternator power supply or a 24 volt battery.

FIGS. 5 and 6

show an alternate embodiment of the invention having a support structure with a trapezoidal cross-section. This variation in support structure provides greater visibility for the side display panels to viewers in front of the vehicle. Vehicle

50

has a cab

50

A and a bed

50

B. Support structure

51

is anchored to the bed

50

B or the vehicle chassis

50

C. Support Structure

51

is comprised of four vertical support posts

51

A,

51

B,

51

C, and

51

D and six horizontal cross members,

51

E,

51

F,

51

G,

51

H,

51

I, and

51

J. The vertical support posts and horizontal cross members define a plurality of rectangular frames for supporting display panels

52

A,

52

B, and

52

D. The horizontal cross members also define a roof panel (not shown). Support Structure

50

may also include a door

53

including a rectangular frame

53

A supporting a display panel

52

C. The door

53

may be hinged to vertical support post

51

C and latch to vertical support post

51

B.

FIG. 7A

shows a rear view of the vehicle with door

53

closed and

FIG. 7B

shows a rear view of the vehicle with door

53

in an open position (door

53

is only partially shown).

FIG. 7B

shows an interior view of the vehicle including an alternate backlighting configuration. A plurality of light fixtures

60

are attached to ceiling

54

. In one embodiment, light fixtures

60

include fluorescent light bulbs disposed in aluminum support channels. The light fixtures

60

are arranged to provide backlighting for the various display panels, the backs of which are shown in FIG.

7

B. In one configuration, three fixtures are arranged parallel and adjacent to display panel

52

B, three fixtures are arranged parallel and adjacent to display panel

52

D, one fixture is arranged parallel and adjacent to display panel

52

A, and one fixture is arranged parallel and adjacent to door

53

(in its closed position). The interior surfaces, such as ceiling

54

, floor

55

, and half wall

56

may be reflective or lightly colored in order to reflect the light generated by light fixtures

60

. The space defined within support structure

51

may house a power source

59

for light fixtures

60

and/or may be used for general storage transport, such as for spare display panels.

FIG. 7C

shows a bracket for detachably affixing the display panels to support structure

51

. While a single bracket is shown, a plurality of brackets lining horizontal cross beams and/or vertical support posts. As shown, display panel

70

includes a display area

70

A and a frame

70

B. Frame

70

B fits into the space defined by the vertical support post

71

A and horizontal cross beam

71

B of support structure

71

. Bracket

72

may be a spring loaded plunger designed to apply force to the frame

70

B and hold it against a lip (not shown) on support structure

71

. Bracket

72

may include a shaft

72

A, with a handle

72

B, a stop

72

C, a spring

72

D, and a contact member

72

E. The shaft

72

A is placed through a bracket guide

72

F with the stop

72

C and handle

72

B on one side and the tensioned spring

72

D and contact member

72

E on the other side. Plunger

72

A may be drawn back from display panel

70

by pulling handle

72

B so as to overcome the force applied by the spring

72

D. Bracket

72

provides a simple way to rapidly release and remove the display panel

70

. Other types of brackets or other connectors are feasible, such as threaded fasteners, clamps, clips, magnetic fasteners, adhesive fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, and other releasable connectors.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the mobile advertising system of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the invention cover such modifications and variations of the invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their legally entitled equivalents.