AU2006279248B2 - An improved driving ability indicator - Google Patents

Description

- 1 AN IMPROVED DRIVING ABILITY INDICATOR Technical Field 5 An improved driving ability indicator is disclosed, particularly though not exclusively, a vehicle mountable driving ability indicator with embellishment to e.g. enhance aesthetics and visual effect. Background 10 Driving ability indicators are often required by the law of a particular jurisdiction to be displayed on vehicles driven by drivers. Known driving ability indicators may consist of a symbol on a sheet of material. The symbol may be a composition of types of indicia. Many such symbols are well known and have been 15 used for many years. Driving ability indicators are intended to achieve improved safety for the driver displaying the driver ability indicator by alerting other motorists to be considerate of the driver and to treat the driver with special care. However, drivers can be reluctant to undertake acts which highlight their status as drivers with some form of performance 20 handicap and, therefore, tend not to clearly display, or regularly use, driving ability indicators when driving. Summary In a first aspect there is provided a driver ability indicator comprising: 25 a body adapted for displaying a symbol that is indicative of the driving ability of the driver; and an embellishment associated with the body additional to the symbol, wherein the body is adapted for mounting to a vehicle to be driven by the driver and the embellishment frames the body on at least one side and is positioned so as not to 30 visually obscure the symbol. In such a driving ability indicator the embellishment can encourage and promote the regular use of driving ability indicators by drivers, thereby assisting the safety of the driver displaying the plate and other drivers. The embellishment can 532409_3 (GHMatters) -2 visually appeal to new drivers, who are generally of an age where appearances are very important. Such drivers can also individualise/personalise items that they use, such as vehicles. Thus, the embellishments can, if desired, be easily swapped with alternative embellishment designs and styles depending on the current fashion trends and or the 5 individual taste or personal preference of the new driver. Furthermore the embellishment can be such as to be reusable. The symbol may comprise indicia indicative of ability and/or a speed limit for the driver. In an alternative form the symbol may comprise indicia indicative of the number of passengers that the driver is allowed to have in the car whilst he/she is 10 driving or some other condition on the licence of the driver. In one embodiment the body comprises a sheet of material or a 3-D body. In one embodiment the embellishment comprises 2 or 3-D graphical image(s) embossed, impressed, printed or adhered onto a frame or border surrounding the body, etc. 15 Typically the embellishment is positioned so as not to visually obscure the symbol, For example, in one embodiment, the embellishment and/or the body provides see through visibility. In one embodiment the body is adapted for detachable mounting to a vehicle to be driven by the driver. In another embodiment the driving ability indicator further includes a frame that is adapted for receiving the or each 20 embellishment, with the frame also being adapted for receiving the body therein or thereon. The driving ability indicator can be provided at its point of use with the desired graphical images not previously selected or fitted to the body and assembled on site. In this regard, in a second aspect there is provided a kit which when assembled provides a 25 driving ability indicator. The kit can comprise a body according to any form defined above in the first aspect, and an embellishment that is adapted for being associated with the body in a manner that is additional to the symbol, according to any form defined above in the first aspect. In one embodiment the or each embellishment may be received onto a frame 30 and the kit can thus further comprise a frame that is adapted for receiving the or each embellishment. In one form the frame can receive the body in a manner that provides a border therearound. In a third aspect there is provided a support for a driving ability indicator, the 5324093 (GHMatters) -3 support being adapted for having mounted thereto a body according to any form defined above in the first aspect, so as to display the symbol. The support can be further adapted for having an embellishment according to any form defined in the above first aspect displayed in addition to the symbol on the body. In an alternative form the 5 support may be the frame according to any form defined in the first or second aspect. In a fourth aspect, there is provided an embellishment adapted for association with a body for displaying a symbol that is indicative of the driving ability of the driver, wherein the embellishment frames the body on at least one side and is positioned so as not to visually obscure the symbol. The embellishment of the fourth aspect may be 10 otherwise as defined in the first aspect. There is also disclosed a driver ability indicator comprising a body adapted for displaying a symbol that is indicative of the driving ability of the driver; and an embellishment on or associated with the body additional to the symbol. In an alternative form, the driving ability indicator of the fourth aspect may be the driving 15 ability indicator according to any form defined in the first aspect. The present driving ability indicator, or the kit (when assembled), or the support, can each be adapted to facilitate the positioning of the symbol so that the symbol is less likely to be dislodged from the vehicle whilst the driver is driving. Many known driving ability indicators are held in position on a motor vehicle by the lodging of the indicator between the motor 20 vehicle and another object, such as the motor vehicle number plate. Therefore, such indicators can dislodge out of position as a result of road vibrations or simply be blown off in the wind. The present driving ability indicator, or the kit (when assembled) or the support can also be used to present (i.e. by making use of the embellishment) a message 25 or display information such as words, slogans, symbols, or a favourite brand, music, hobby, idol, etc. of the driver. Brief Description of the Drawings 30 It is convenient to herein describe some embodiments of the present driver ability indicator with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of the drawings and the related description is to be understood as not superseding the generality of the preceding broad description. 532409_3 (GHMatters) - 3a In the drawings: Fig. I is a plan view of a known driving ability indicator. Fig. 2 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows one 5 form of an embellishment. Fig. 3 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows another form of an embellishment. Fig. 4 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows an embellishment of Fig. 2 when framing an alternative type of symbol indicative of 10 driving ability. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an assembled kit providing a driving ability plate when framing an alternative type of symbol. Fig. 6 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows another form of an embellishment. 15 Fig. 7 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows another form of an embellishment when framing an alternative type of symbol. 532409.3 (GHMattes) WO 2007/016730 PCT/AU2006/001112 -4 Fig. 8 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows another form of an embellishment. Fig. 9 is a plan view of an improved driving ability indicator which shows another form of an embellishment. 5 Fig. 10 is a plan view of an assembled kit with a frame, providing an improved driving ability plate. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments 10 Referring to the drawings, one form of known driving ability indicator 10 with symbols specific 12a and 12b is shown in Fig. 1. The body 14 is shown in the shape of a rectangular sheet of material, however may be formed using alternative shapes which may be prescribed by the particular authority responsible for issuing of licences to 15 drivers and determining of driver ability. The symbols 12a, 12b are shown with indicia in the form of an alphanumeric letter 12a and also a numeric item 12b enclosed in a circle, which respectively signify that the driver of the vehicle has a restricted driving license and has the status of a learner, and the driving speed limit for the driver of the vehicle. The term "indicia" includes alphanumeric letters, such as ' or 'P' or 'M' etc. 20 with or without a numeric item enclosed in a circle, colours or other symbols indicative of the driving ability of the driver as prescribed by the particular authority responsible for issuing of licences to drivers. For the particular symbols 12a, 12b shown in Fig. 1, when displayed in NSW, Australia, they indicate that when the driving ability of the driver is that of a driver who 25 is learning how to drive and that holds a learner licence. However, the symbol may also be indicative of the driving ability of the driver by reference to their driving licence conditions, or their training, or their experience, or their age, or some other form of driving ability handicap that requires the display of a symbol, etc. An embodiment of an improved driving ability indicator 100 is shown in Fig. 30 2. The embellishment 102 is shown associated with the body 104 of the driving ability indicator 100, which is in the form of a sheet of material. The embellishment additional to the symbols 102 is 106a, 106b. The embellishment 102 shown is a graphical 2-D image which frames the sheet of material, in the form of a decorative border, thereby WO 2007/016730 PCT/AU2006/001112 -5 surrounding the symbols106a, 106b. The embellishment 102 can also include a graphical 2-D object, a 3-D image and/or object and can comprise word(s), picture(s), sign(s), pattern(s) or any other image(s) and/or combinations of all or any of these produced by a photograph and/or painting and/or drawing and/or a computer generated 5 image and/or screen printing embossing, co-moulding, bi-moulding, etc. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the embellishment 102 is printed onto the body 104 of the driving ability indicator 100 and thus becomes integral with the body 104. Further variations of associating the embellishment 102 with the body 104 may involve embossing, impressing, printing or adhering, etc of the embellishment 102 onto 10 the body 104. Alternatively, the border of 102 can be connected to the body by frangible connections disposed around the peripheral edge of the body. Frangibility can be achieved by, e.g. perforating the sheet. This feature enables the driver to separate the embellishment from the body, which may be required from time to time for example when the driver needs to change the symbol displayed on his/her car. 15 A desirable feature of embellishment 102, as shown in Fig. 2, is that it does not visually obscure the symbol 106a, 106b. In further embodiments of the improved driving ability indicator 100 the body 104 is 3-Dimensional and the embellishment 102 is associated with the body 104 in addition to the symbols 106a, 106b. In other embodiments, the body and the symbols 20 are each discrete objects which can be positioned in a proximate relationship. Furthermore, the body 104 may have the ability to hold the symbols 106a, 106b in position or vice versa. The body 104 shown in Fig. 2 is in the form of a generally square sheet of material, however may be formed using alternative shapes which may be prescribed by 25 the particular authority responsible for issuing of licences to drivers and determination of driver ability. As mentioned above, further variations of the body may be in the form of a 3-Dimensional shape. In the embodiment shown in Fig 2. the body 104 is adapted for detachable mounting to a vehicle to be driven by the driver. For example, the symbols 106a, 106b 30 and the embellishment 102 can have been printed onto a printable plastic sheet of material with a smooth surface which can be applied to the desired surface of a vehicle (e.g. simply attaching via static forces). In other forms the body 104 is adapted for detachable mounting without the requirement for a method of mounting associated with WO 2007/016730 PCT/AU2006/001112 -6 the body 104 or the symbol 106a, 106b. Further variations of detachable mounting may require the use of tacky adhesives, suction cups, magnetic material, or the use of frames, holders and brackets for the body 104 etc, or combinations of some or all of these, either on the body 104 or on the symbol 106a, 106b, in order to position the body 104 5 and symbol 106a, 106b in a proximate relationship. In other embodiments shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 9, there is shown an embellishment 200 which comprises a 2-D picture and e.g words (see Fig 3). The embellishment 200 in these Figs. is again provided on the body 202 without visually obscuring the symbols 204a, 204b. 10 Refering to Fig. 4, further variations on the symbols are shown as symbols 300a, 300b, again indicative of driving ability, and shown, together with an embellishment 302 in a similar location and construction to Fig. 2. Turning to Fig. 5, a variant of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is shown. Consistent with the earlier embodiment, the embellishment 502 is shown associated with the body 15 504 of the driving ability indicator 500. The main distinction between the driving ability indicator 500 and the previous embodiment 100 is that the indicator has now been assembled from a kit. In this embodiment the embellishment 502 and the body 504 are discrete objects which can be positioned in a proximate relationship to form the appearance of a border. The embellishment 502 is shown in the form of a number of 2 20 D graphical cartoon characters which can each be provided in a stick-on format. The body shown in Fig 5 can be in the form of a perforated plastic sheet of material. Further variations of the contents of the kit are possible. For example, as best seen in Fig 10, the kit may further include a frame 1008 upon which the embellishments 1002 can be positioned. The frame may be clear and the embellishment can adopt the 25 appearance of a frame or border or image etc., to the side of the body, or surrounding the body. The frame can then receive the body (504, 1004) therein or thereon ( e.g. via slide-on or slide-in grooves, channels etc.). The kit enables a driver to select and customise the graphical images displayed to suit his/her preferences and personal tastes. Turning to Figs. 7 and 8, related variants of the embellishment of the 30 embellishment of Fig. 3 are shown. Consistent with the embodiment of Fig. 3, the embellishments (702, 802) are shown as 2-D pictures and e.g. words (see Fig 8), however the symbol (706, 806) in this case the same as Fig 4. While the driving ability indicator has been described with reference to a WO 2007/016730 PCT/AU2006/001112 -7 number of specific embodiments it should be appreciated that the indicator can be embodied in many other forms. It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the 5 common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence 10 or addition of further features in various embodiments of the driving ability indicator.

Claims (16)

1. A driver ability indicator comprising: a body adapted for displaying a symbol that is indicative of the driving ability 5 of the driver; and an embellishment associated with the body additional to the symbol, wherein the body is adapted for mounting to a vehicle to be driven by the driver and the embellishment frames the body on at least one side and is positioned so as not to visually obscure the symbol. 10

2. An indicator as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the body comprises a sheet of material or a 3-D body.

3. An indicator as claimed in Claim I or 2 wherein the embellishment comprises 15 2 or 3-D graphical image(s) embossed, impressed, printed or adhered onto a frame or border surrounding the body.

4. An indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the embellishment frames the body on all sides. 20

5. An indicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the frame is adapted for receiving the or each embellishment, with the frame also being adapted for receiving the body therein or thereon. 25

6. An indicator as claimed in claim4 or claim 5, wherein the frame is adapted for detachable mounting to a vehicle.

7. An indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the symbol comprises indicia indicative of ability and/or a speed limit for the driver. 30

8. An indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is adapted for detachable mounting to a vehicle to be driven by the driver. 532409_3 (GHMatters) -9

9. An indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a frangible connection is formed between the embellishment and the body.

10. A kit which when assembled provides a driving ability indicator, the kit 5 comprising: a body as defined in any one of the preceding claims; and an embellishment that is adapted for being associated with the body in a manner that is additional to the symbol, as defined in any one of the preceding claims. 10

11. A kit according to Claim 10, the kit further comprising a frame that is adapted for receiving the or each embellishment, with the frame also being adapted for receiving the body therein or thereon.

12. A kit according to Claim 11, wherein the frame receives the body in a manner 15 that provides a border around the body.

13. A support for a driving ability indicator, the support being adapted for having mounted thereto a body as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 9 so as to display the symbol, and being adapted for having an embellishment as defined in any one of claims 20 1 to 9 displayed in addition to the symbol on the body.

14. A support according to Claim 13 that is comprised of the frame as defined in any one of Claims 3, 8, 9, 11 or 12. 25

15. An embellishment adapted for association with a body for displaying a symbol that is indicative of the driving ability of the driver, wherein the embellishment frames the body on at least one side and is positioned so as not to visually obscure the symbol.

16. An embellishment as claimed in claim 15 that is otherwise as defined in any 30 one of claims 2-9. 532409_3 (GHMatters)