GB2314191A - Sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign (1) comprises a substrate (2) having one surface (3) which bears permanent indicia (4) and another (5) on which indicia (6) may be provided temporarily. The sign (1) is particularly useful when the permanent indicia (4) display an emergency message, such as "HELP" or "SOS". The other surface (5) may be an easy-wipe surface. The sign may be attached to the window of a vehicle by suitable means, such as a suction cup (9).

Description

SIGN DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a sign.

The sign of the present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, intended as an emergency sign, that is for displaying messages in any one of a number of emergency situations, and more particularly is intended for use by vehicle operators or drivers.

The present invention is based on the realisation that, in emergency situations, a vehicle occupant, especially a lone driver, is particularly vulnerable.

It is, thus, desirable that such a person should have available to them means for communicating the nature of their plight, and which may readily be used without exposing them to any undue risk such as might be the case if they were to have to leave the vehicle, or even open a window.

The sign of the present invention addresses this need in providing a safe and convenient means whereby a vehicle occupant, without leaving the vehicle or even opening a window thereof, may readily communicate with the outside world in order to gain any necessary assistance.

Thus, a sign according to the present invention comprises a substrate having one surface which bears permanent indicia and another surface on which indicia may be provided temporarily.

Preferably the other surface for bearing indicia temporarily, is an easy-wipe surface.

An easy-wipe surface in the context of this specification is any surface from which inscribed indicia may readily be removed to leave the surface ready and available for inscription of further indicia. Preferably, resort to special solvents to clean indicia from the other surface is to be avoided, if at all possible. More preferably, the easy-wipe surface is a dry-wipe surface material of known type.

Preferably, the permanent indicia are arranged to display an emergency message.

Preferably also, means are provided whereby the sign may be releasably attached to a support surface.

Preferably, the attachment means is arranged such that the sign may be reversibly attached to the support surface, whereby either the one surface of the sign bearing permanent indicia, or the other surface of the sign, which may be an easy-wipe surface, bearing temporary indicia may be displayed for viewing.

Advantageously, the attachment means is arranged to permit and facilitate attachment of the sign to a glass support surface, such as a glass panel (window) typically provided in a vehicle driver or passenger compartment.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprises one or more apertures through the substrate of the sign, and one or more cooperable securing means. The securing means may comprise a known type of suction cup.

Two such apertures and two such securing means are preferably provided, the apertures being spaced apart and disposed towards one edge of the sign such that the sign may, thereby, be releasably attached to a support surface in a normal orientation in which the permanent indicia will be displayed correctly for viewing and interpretation.

Preferably, the substrate is of generally planar and/or elongate form, having two long edges and two short edges, in which case the apertures may be are spaced apart longitudinally and arranged adjacent one long edge. Preferably also,the permanent indicia are arranged to extend longitudinally in such a manner that the normal orientation of the sign for viewing and interpretation of the permanent indicia is, a horizontal orientation; that is with the or each long edge of the substrate disposed generally horizontally.

The substrate may be of a rigid plastics material. Preferably, the one surface which bears permanent indicia is a brightly coloured surface and/or comprises one or more reflective portions.

Such reflective portions may be of the well known type which reflect strongly when illuminated, for example by vehicle headlights.

The reflective portion or portions may be afforded by one or more of the permanent indicia.

Preferably, each of the permanent indicia affords a said reflective portion.

Preferably also, the easy-wipe surface is a generally white, non-porous surface on which indicia may be inscribed using a dry-wipe marker pen.

The present invention may extend to a set of signs comprising a plurality of signs as aforesaid, each bearing permanent indicia arranged to display a message which differs from the message of any other such sign.

The present invention will now be described in detail by way only of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a set of signs.

Referring to the drawing, a sign according to the present invention and generally indicated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a substrate 2 having one surface 3 which bears permanent indicia 4 and having another surface 5 which is a dry-wipe surface on which indicia 6 may be inscribed temporarily.

The substrate 2 is of elongate, generally rectangular form, having an upper long edge 7, an opposing lower long edge and two opposing short side edges. The substrate 2 is manufactured of a rigid plastics material, but this may possess sufficient resilience to enable the sign to bend slightly.

The permanent indicia 4 is arranged to extend longitudinally along the one surface 3 so as to form a message, preferably related to an emergency situation.

The sign 1 further comprises attachment means enabling it to be attached releasably to any suitable support surface, preferably a glass surface of a vehicle passenger or driver compartment. The attachment means may take any suitable form, but as particularly shown herein comprises one or more apertures 8 externally through the substrate 2 and a cooperable securing means in the form of a well known suction cup device 9.

The or each aperture 8 is of generally keyhole shape, having a lower, relatively large diameter portion and an upper, relatively small diameter portion. The suction cup device 9 comprises a large diameter suction base 9' with a spigot portion 9'' projecting therefrom. The spigot portion 9'' is sized to fit readily through the relatively large diameter portion of the aperture 8 and has a slightly narrowed neck receivable as a close fit within the relatively small diameter portion of the aperture 8.

The substrate 2 of the sign 1 may thus, by appropriate attachment to the securing means 9, be reversibly and releasably secured to a support surface in order that the permanent indicia may be displayed or the easy-wipe surface with its temporary indicia 6 displayed.

The sign 1 is intended to form part of an emergency kit of a vehicle user so that, should an emergency situation occur, the user may readily display the sign, with its permanent or temporary indicia, safely from within a driver or passenger compartment of the vehicle.

To this end, using the securing means 9 fitted through the apertures 8, the substrate 2 may be releasably attached to an inner glass surface of the vehicles driver or passenger compartment. It may be arranged with either its one surface 3 bearing the permanent indicia 4, or its other surface 5, bearing the non-permanent indicia 6, exposed for viewing from outside the vehicle, as desired.

Preferably, the sign 1 according to the present invention forms part of a set of such signs, wherein each sign of the set bears, on its one surface 3.

permanent indicia arranged to display a message which differs from the messages of the other signs in the set. Typical of the messages which may be provided by the permanent indicia on the signs of the set are those illustrated in the accompanying drawing, namely, "HELP11, "SOS", "ON TOW, ' PETROL"/ "ACCIDENT", AND "BROKEN DOWN".

Clearly, in any emergency situation one or more of the signs of the set may be arranged with their permanent indicia displayed to the outside world, whilst if desired one or more remaining signs of the set may be arranged such that one or more further messages comprising the non-permanent indicia 6 on the easy-wipe surfaces 5 may be displayed to the outside world to communicate further information on the circumstances for which assistance is required.

Alternatively, if none of the messages afforded by the permanent indicia on any sign is relevant to the circumstances, a user may readily inscribe on one or more of the easy-wipe surfaces such message or messages as he desires. Clearly, because the easywipe surface may readily be cleaned of its indicia 6, the nature of the indicia and, hence, the message conveyed, may readily be altered, whereby the surfaces 5 of the signs may be reused many times in different situations.

It will readily be apparent that a sign according to the present invention, or a set of such signs, will greatly benefit vehicle users, particularly lone drivers, in that they may use one or more of the signs to summon help and, if necessary, convey additional information by displaying the sign or signs on the inside of the vehicle without having to open a window or door or to leave the vehicle.

The sign(s) of the present invention is easy and convenient to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Although the present invention has been described herein in specific detail, its scope is not intended to be limited thereby, but extends to all such variants are encompassed within the broadest of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A sign comprising a substrate having one surface which bears permanent indicia and another surface on which indicia may be provided temporarily.

2. A sign according to claim 1, wherein the other surface for bearing indicia temporarily is an easywipe surface.

3. A sign according to claim 2, wherein the easywipe surface is a dry-wipe surface.

4. A sign according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the permanent indicia display an emergency message.

5. A sign according to any preceding claim including means arranged to attach, preferably releasably, the sign substrate to a support surface.

6. A sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is generally planar and the permanent indicia are borne on one major surface thereof and the other surface on which temporarily indicia may be provided is constituted by the other opposite major surface of the substrate.

7. A set of signs each according. to any preceding claim, wherein the permanent indicia on the respective substrates is different.

8. A sign or set of signs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference. to the accompanying drawing.