AU2004202919B2

AU2004202919B2 - Cover and display device

Info

Publication number: AU2004202919B2
Application number: AU2004202919A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stefan GRAMMENOS
Original assignee: DDS ENTPR AUST Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DDS ENTERPRISES (AUST) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-30
Filing date: 2004-06-30
Publication date: 2010-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-30
Also published as: AU2004202919A1

Description

P/00/Ol Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Cover and Display device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Cover and display device This invention relates to a cover and display device. It particularly relates to a cover 5 of a vehicle mounted device but is not limited to such use. Electronic metering devices known under the trademark "e-TAG" are in use in vehicles in a number of cities including Melbourne Australia. These devices are mounted to the window of the vehicle and interact with a signal sent from a gantry 10 overhanging a freeway to record a metering of usage for "pay-as-you-use" or toll roads. A signal is received back at the transmitter on the gantry so the authorised organisation can debit your computer account. Credits are received by prepayment at specialised payment kiosks. 15 An aspect of the device is that it serves a functional use and must be on display usually attached to the front windscreen of the vehicle. Much thought is placed by the manufacturer of a car to coordinate the internal fittings of a vehicle as customers buy vehicles because of their internal and external looks. It 20 is therefore a detriment to the look of both the internal and external views by inclusion of a functional item that is the same for all vehicles. It is also of limited use to the user of the vehicle. Although the electronic device provides the function of ensuring payments are debited for paid road usage, this is an 25 automatic external use that becomes less relevant to the driver or user of the vehicle. 1 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a means of improving the combination of the electronic device or other vehicle mounted devices with the internal or external features of the vehicle. 5 It is another object to provide an improved functional use to the internally mounted device. In accordance with the invention there is provided a cover and display device for mounting on a device mounted in a vehicle such as an electronic metering device 10 known under the trademark "e-TAG", the cover and display device having a first display surface that can be sized to coextend with a surface of the metering device and a fitting means attached to the first display surface and able to engage at least part of the device to retain the cover and display device in position such that the attachment of the device in the vehicle mounts the cover and display device in position. 15 The attachment of the fitting means to the device can be by engagement. In another form or in combination the fitting means can include at least partial C-shaped edge means which at least partially surrounds a circumferential party of the device upon which it is mounted. 20 The cover and display device can partially or fully cover the mounted device. In one particular form the cover and display device has a body in the form of a sleeve for sliding over a protruding portion of the mounted device to allow ready replaceable mounting of the cover and display device on the device. 25 2 The cover and display device can further include a locking means to readily lock and unlock the cover and display device in position. In one form the locking means includes a protrusion which frictionally engages a portion of the device to replaceably lock the cover and display device in position. 5 The cover and display device can further include an internal cavity formed by extension of the front surface and fitting means for receipt of an air freshener or the like. The internal cavity of the cover and display device can have a protruding shelf at an outer side extending perpendicular behind the front display surface to receive the 10 air freshener or the like. The internal cavity can include protrusion means for engaging and holding the air freshener or the like. In one form of the invention there is provided a cover and display device for an electronic metering device known under the trademark "e-TAG" which has a 15 generally box-like shape with, at a central lateral side of a top surface, a mounting frame means extending therefrom and having an adhesive planar surface parallel and spaced from the top surface of the device to allow mounting of the device the cover and display device includes: a body having a first substantially planar rectangular sheet forming a first 20 display surface that is sized to substantially coextend with a top surface of the metering device, two lateral opposing C-shaped edge means forming a sleeve for replaceably sliding over the device with the edge means extending around the lateral sides of the device; the body further including a locking means in the form of a rectangular cut-out 25 at a top central edge of the planar sheet with outwardly extending rectangular collar 3 that is sized to fit around the mounting frame means electronic metering device known under the trademark "e-TAG" extending from the plane of the first display surface, the locking means including a protrusion extending from the collar to frictionally engage with frame means and releasable lock the body thereto. 5 The body can include an internal cavity formed by the extension of the planar sheet away from the top surface having the cut-out to form and with a protruding shelf extending rearwardly perpendicular to the first display surface from a bottom edge thereof to form a chamber for receiving and holding an air freshener or the like. 10 The invention also provides a cover and display device substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings attached hereto. A substantial advantage of the cover and display device is that it provides a 15 replaceable cover with at least one display surface viewable externally through the windscreen to show a displayed image or colour scheme or other matter that enhances the aesthetics of the device on which it is mounted. Further such article is replaceable so that a different image or style can be portrayed at any time. The device can also provide an immediate functional improvement by forming a receptacle for 20 concealingly holding an air freshener in an unobtrusive position without the need for further mounting means but making use of the mounting means of the device such as electronic metering devices known under the trademark "e-TAG"s attached to front windscreens of vehicles. 4 In order that the invention is more readily understood an embodiment is disclosed in the attached drawings by way of illustration only of the invention wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a cover and display device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 5 Figure 2 is a top view of the cover and display device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the cover and display device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the cover and display device of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings there is shown a cover and display device 11 having a body 10 12 with a planar substantially rectangular sheet having outer surface forming a first display surface 21 and two opposing C-shaped edge means 31, 32 at either side to form a sleeve shape that allows for sliding over the electronic metering device known under the trademark "e-TAG". The electronic metering device known under the trademark "e-TAG" has a generally box-like shape with, at a central lateral side of a 15 top surface, a mounting frame means extending therefrom and having an adhesive planar surface parallel and spaced from the top surface of the device to allow mounting of the device to the inside surface of the front windscreen. Due to the slightly larger size of the metering device at one side to the other the curvature of the C-shaped edge means 31, 32 are differently sized to accommodate this. 20 The body 12 has a first substantially planar rectangular sheet forming a first display surface 21 that is sized to substantially coextend with a top surface of the metering device. The body further includes a locking means 41 in the form of a rectangular cut out 42 at a top central edge of the planar sheet 21with outwardly extending 25 rectangular collar 43 that is sized to fit around the mounting frame means of the 5 electronic metering device known under the trademark "e-TAG" extending from the plane of the first display surface. The locking means 41 includes a protrusion 44 extending inwardly from the rectangular collar 43 to frictionally engage with frame means and releasably lock the body thereto. 5 The body also includes an internal cavity 53 formed by the extension of the planar sheet 21 away from the top surface having the cut-out 41. The bottom edge of the planar sheet 21 has a protruding shelf 51 extending rearwardly perpendicular to the first display surface 21. A separating shelf extends from the back of parallel sheet 21 10 spaced parallel to the protruding shelf to form a chamber 53 for receiving and holding an air freshener or the like. It should be understood that the above description and drawings are illustrative and not limiting. Clearly other variations which would be readily understood by a person 15 skilled in the art are included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 6

Claims

1. A cover and display device for mounting on a mounted device mounted in a vehicle such as an electronic metering device known under the trademark "e TAG", the cover and display device including: a body having first display surface that is sized to substantially coextend with a surface of the mounted device, with the body in the form of a sleeve for sliding over the mounted device to allow ready replaceable mounting of the cover and display device on the mounted device; the body further including a locking means in the form of a rectangular cut-out at a top central edge of the display surface with outwardly extending rectangular collar that is sized to fit around the mounted device, the rectangular collar extending from the plane of the first display surface; the locking means including a protrusion extending from the collar which frictionally engages a portion of the mounted device to replaceably lock the cover and display device in position; with the body having an internal cavity formed by the extension of the first display surface away from the top surface having the cut-out to form and with a protruding shelf extending rearwardly perpendicular to the first display surface from a bottom edge thereof to form a chamber for receiving and unobtrusively holding an air freshener or the like.

2. A cover and display device according to claim 1 wherein two lateral opposing C-shaped edge means form the sleeve for replaceably sliding over the mounted device with the edge means extending around the lateral sides of the mounted device. 2107614_014.DOC 7

3. A cover and display device according to claim 1 with the internal cavity of the cover and display device having a protrusion means for engaging and holding the air freshener or the like.

4. A cover and display device according to claim 1, with the cover and display device at least covering one side of the mounted device.

5. A cover and display device according to claim 1, with the cover and display device substantially fully covering the mounted device.

6. A cover and display device for an electronic metering device known under the trademark "e-TAG" which has a generally box-like shape with, at a central lateral side of a top surface, a mounting frame means extending therefrom and having an adhesive planar surface parallel and spaced from the top surface of the device to allow mounting of the electronic metering device to an inside surface such as a windscreen of a vehicle, the cover and display device includes: a body having a first substantially planar rectangular sheet forming a first display surface that is sized to substantially coextend with a top surface of the metering device, two lateral opposing C-shaped edge means forming a sleeve for replaceably sliding over the metering device with the edge means extending around the lateral sides of the metering device; the body further including a locking means in the form of a rectangular cut-out at a top central edge of the planar sheet with outwardly extending rectangular collar that is sized to fit around the mounting frame means of the 2107614_014.DOC 8 electronic metering device, the rectangular collar extending from the plane of the first display surface, the locking means including a protrusion extending from the collar inwardly of the rectangular cut-out to allow frictional engagement with mounting frame means and releasably lock the body thereto.

7. A cover and display device according to claim 6 with the body including an internal cavity formed by the extension of the planar sheet away from the top surface having the cut-out to form and with a protruding shelf extending rearwardly perpendicular to the first display surface from a bottom edge thereof to form a chamber for receiving and unobtrusively holding an air freshener or the like.

8. A cover and display device substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings attached hereto. 2107614_014.DOC 9