GB2324190A

GB2324190A - Display apparatus for mounting on a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2324190A
Application number: GB9803480A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Dangerfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-09
Filing date: 1998-02-20
Publication date: 1998-10-14
Also published as: GB9803480D0

Abstract

A display apparatus (10) for mounting on a vehicle comprises first and second mounting members (12) each adapted for releasable engagement with an edge of a window of the vehicle, and an inter-connecting member, for example in the form of a display panel (26), extending generally between the mounting members. The mounting members each comprise a recess such as a channel or groove, which in use, is engaged over an upper margin of a respective window. The apparatus is mounted on a vehicle with, the display panel (26) extending generally over the roof of the vehicle. The display panel (26) may be mounted diagonally (Figure 3). Several such panels may be mounted to form a square arrangement (Figure 4).

Description

Title: Display apparatus for Mounting on a Vehicle Description of Invention This invention relates to a display apparatus for mounting on a vehicle, and particularly but not exclusively to a display apparatus of the type used to display information at a position generally above the vehicle.

Such display apparatus, is commonly utilised on garage forecourts and the like to provide information regarding the vehicle, such as price, and information regarding the garage, and conventionally comprise a pair of supports adapted to engage with a part of the roof of the vehicle, such as for example roof rack support tracks, or drainage gulleys, on either side of the roof, and a display element extending therebetween on which the required information is provided.

Often, the display apparatus complise hooks adapted to engage with the drainage gulleys or roof rack support tracks, with elasticated cords extending therebetween.

Such arrangements suffer fi-om the problem that the elasticated cords allow movement of the display palt if the vehicle is placed in a windy environment, and paint work on the roof may thus become damaged.

Other alTangements include the provision of suction cups on the supports, adapted to engage directly with the roof, but these often do not attach to the roof sufficiently strongly, and may thus become detached in high winds.

A still further altemative has hitherto been to provide magnetic attachments on the suppolts, but these too may provide an insufficiently strong attachment to the roof, such that movement thereof may occult in high winds, with damage to the paint work occwng as a result.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved display apparatus which at least reduces the problems outlined above.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a display apparatus for mounting on a vehicle and comprising first and second mounting members each adapted for releasable engagement with an edge of a window of the vehicle, and an inter-conllectillg member uhicll extends generally between the mounting members which comprises, or is adapted to engage with, a display element.

The mounting member preferably is folmed with a recess, such as a channel or groove, which in use is engaged over an upper margin of the window.

Thus, the mounting member may comprise a pair of downwardly extending limbs connected at upper paints thereof, which in use sit over the edge of the window.

There may be provided on inwardly facing surfaces of the limbs a material having a relatively high co-efficient of fiiction so as to enable the mounting member to grip the window securely .

The limbs of the mounting member may be resiliently biased towards each other, or there may be provided retaining means to enable the limbs to grip the window securely.

The mounting member is preferably carried by a support member which extends generally upwardly away therefrom, and which may be integral with or connected to the inter-connecting member.

Conveniently, the support member comprises a generally upwardly extending leg, one end of which is integral with or attached to the mounting member, and the other end of which is connected to the inter-connecting member.

Preferably, the support member is connected to the inter-connecting member in such a manner as to allow the inter-connecting member to be secured at any of a plurality of different positions relative to the support member. Thus, adjustment of the distance between two mounting members, connected by the interconnecting member, may be possible, allowing for "width-wise" adjustment of the display apparatus, to compensate, for example, for different widths of vehicle Conveniently, both the first and second mounting members are spaced apalt by such a distance so as to be adapted for releasable engagement with edges of different windows of the vehicle.

Each support membel- may be extensible, such that in use, the height of the inter-connecting member above the roof of the vehicle may be valied, for example to accommodate for different curvatures of the roof, or the presence of a roof rack.

Thus, the support member may comprise at least two generally elongate portions, one moveable relative to the other, and desirably, one of the elongate portions may be slidably received within the other.

There may thus be provided adjustment means to enable the elongate portions to be secured in relation to each other at one of a plurality of different relative positions, and conveniently, the adjustment means comprises a threaded collar located around one of the elongate portions.

The upper portion of each suppolt member (i.e. that palt which is remote from the mounting member) may complise an angled member whereby a telminal poltion thereof extends generally across the roof, generally towards the other mounting member.

Such upper portion may be provided with attachment means to enable the display element to be attached thereto.

The inter-connecting member may be integral with the display element, which may be in the fonn of a sign, board, or the like, or the an inter-connecting member may be adapted to cany the display element in a releasable manner, so that the display apparatus may be provided with a plurality of interchangeable different display elements.

Preferably, the display apparatus is adapted such that in use, the interconnecting member extends generally over a roof of the vehicle.

In use, the first and second mounting members are preferably releasably engaged with either the font or the rear windows of the vehicle such that the interconnecting member extends generally transversely to the length of the vehicle.

However, in use, one of the mounting member may be releasably engaged with a front window of the vehicle, and the other mounting member may be releasably engaged witll a rear window, such that in use the inter-connecting member extends generally diagonally of tlie roof of the vehicle Altematively, tlle mounting member, in use, may be releasably engaged with two windows on the same side of the vehicle, such that in use the interconnecting member extends generally axially in relation to the length of the vehicle. Ftuthermore, there may be provided three, possibly foul; mounting members each adapted for releasable e10gagemeit witll a different window of the vehicle, such that in use, the inter-connecting member defines a generally triangular or square configuration respectively.

The invention will now be described by way of example only by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective, and partly broken away view of one embodiment of display apparatus in accordance with the present invention as mounted on a vehicle, FIGURE 2 is a detail of a support member foiling paint of the display apparatus, FIGURE 3 shows the display apparatus of Figure 1 in a different orientation relative to tlle roof, and FIGURE 4 shows further embodiment of the display apparatus.

Refening firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a display apparatus, generally indicated at 10, mounted at the top of a vehicle 11. The display apparatus comprises first and second mounting members generally indicated at 12 for securing the display apparatus in place on the windows of the vehicle in order to obviate the disadvantages of known display apparatus.

Each mounting member 12 comprises a pair of generally downwardly extending inner and outer limbs 13 and 14, defining a channel 15 therebetween, which in use is engaged over an upper margin 16 of a window 17 of the vehicle 11.

The limbs 13 and 14 are resiliently biased towards each other such that the mounting member grips securely the window 17, and may be coated intemally of the channel with a material having a high co-efficient of fiction.

A support member 18, is attached to the outer surface of the limb 13, and comprises firstly a generally upwardly extending leg 19, of which at least an upper paint 20 is hollow, and secondly a slidably moveable element 21, which is generally L-shaped, having a tel-tninal part 22 which in use extends generally across the roof 23 ofthe vehicle towards the other mountiny member 12.

The moveable element 2 1 is slidable within the leg 19, and may be retained at ally of a plurality of different positions relative to the leg 19 by an intenlally threaded collar 2A, wllicll co-operates with all exten1al thread 25 provided on the upper part 20 of the leg 19 As shown in Figure 2, an upper paint 20 of the leg 19 is provided with an external thread configniation 25, and cut away portions are formed therein to define tongues 30 to enable the upper part to grip the moveable element 21 received slidably thelein by the action of a rotatable collar 24, with an internally threaded configuration, which in use located around the external tllread 25 such that screwing the collar down onto the extemal thread 25 causes the upper part 20 to tighten onto the moveable element 21 and thus lock the moveable element in position relative to the leg 19.

The moveable element 21 supports an inter-connection member, in this embodiment in the folm of a display panel 26, which in use extends generally fully across the roof 23. It will be appreciated that the display panel 26 may comprise a frame adapted to receive at least one of a plurality of inter-changeable display cards and the like The display panel 26 is provided with guides 27 which in use receive the horizontally extending terminal parts 22, and the guides may be provided on their inner surfaces with high fiiction material so as to prevent rotation of the display panel 26 about an axis defined by the terminal palts 22. It will be appreciated that the guides 27 may move axially of the terminal parts 22 so as to compensate for different widths of vehicles. Altematively, the guides may complise a row of apertures through one of which a retaining peg may pass to prevent such rotation, or an external suiface of the telmillal part 22 may be provided with splines, and an internal surface of the guide 27 similarly provided.

The height of the display panel 26 attached to the terminal part 22 relative to the roof may be adjusted as desired by adjustment of the legs 19.

As shown in Figure 1, in use, the mounting members 12 can be located on the upper edges of two front windows of tulle vehicle, whilst these windows are somewhat open relative to the door fiame, and preferably the windows are then wound up as far as possible to trap the mounting;, members against the door fame.

As can be seen, the display panel then extends gellelally t-ansversely across the roof of the vehicle.

Referring now to Figure 3, the embodiment shown in Figure 1, can be ananged with one of the mounting members engaged with a rear window of the vehicle, and the other mountin member engaged with a front window of the vehicle, so that the display panel 26 is angled generally diagonally relative to the length of the vehicle, which may be desirable in situations where it is not possible to align the vehicle in a direction in which it is desired to present the information.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment wherein the display apparatus is secured to four windows of a vehicle, the construction of the display apparatus being generally similar to that shown in Figures 1-3, with the exception that there are four mounting member 12 and the moveable elements 21 are each provided with two, mutually perpendicular tenninal portions 22, each of which is associated with one end of a respective display panel 26 so that in this case there a total of four such display panels formed into a generally square display.

Whilst in the embodiments described and illustrated the display panel 26 also serves to inter-col1nect the support members 18, there may be a separate inter-connecting member which canoes a display panel, preferably releasably.

The display apparatus may be constructed primarily from a plastics material, although it will be appreciated that, particularly in the case of the interconnecting membelldisplay panel 26 any suitable material could be utilised.

The invention not only provides advantages in telms of versatility, in that the height of the of the display panel 26 relative to the vehicle may be adjusted, and also in that the display panel may be positioned relative to the vehicle at a plurality of different relative positions, but also, since in the preferred embodiment the display apparatus is engaged with both front, or both rear, windows of the vehicle, opening of the associated doors is prevented.

In use therefore, the two mounting members, separated from the interconnecting member are located over upper edges of the windows, conveniently on each side of the vehicle, and the windows are then wound up to lock the mounting members between the windows and an upper part of the door frames. The interconnecting member is then located between the mounting members and attached thereto, thus restlicting access to the vehicle even if the doors should be unlocked.

Furthennore, it will be understood that whilst the invention is directed towards a "display apparatus", the anangement described herein could alternatively or additionally be used to support alticles other than displays, such as, for example, loudspeakers or the like.

The features disclosed in the foregoing descliption the following claims or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for perfolming the disclosed function may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for mounting on a vehicle and comprising first and second mounting members each adapted for releasable engagement with an edge of a window of the vehicle, and an inter-connecting member extending generally between the mounting member, which complises or is adapted to engage with a display element.

2. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mounting member is formed with a recess, such as a channel or groove, which in use, is engaged over an upper margin of the window.

3. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the mounting member comprises a pair of downwardly extending limbs connected at upper parts thereof, which in use sit over the edge of the window.

4. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein inwardly facing surfaces of the limbs are provided with a material having a relatively high coefficient of fiiction so as to enable the mounting member to grip the window securely.

5. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the limbs of the mounting member are resiliently biased towards each other.

6. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein retaining means a e provided to enable the limbs to grip tlle window securely.

7. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the mounting member is candied a support member which extends generally away therefrom.

8. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the support member is integral with the inter-connecting member.

9. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the support member is adapted to receive the inter-connecting membel releasably.

10. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein the support member comprises a generally upwardly extending leg, one end of which is integral with or attached to the mounting member, and the other end of which is connected to the inter-connecting member.

11. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the support member is connected to the inter-connecting membel- in such a manner as to allow the inter-connecting member to be secured at one of a plurality of different positions relative to the support member.

12. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein both the first and second mounting member are spaced apart by such a distance so as to be adapted for releasable engagement with edges of different windows of the vehicle.

13. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support member is extensible, such that in use, the height of the interconnecting member above the roof of the vehicle Inay be valied.

14. A display apparatus as claimed iii Claim 13 wherein the support member complises at least two generally elongate poltions, one moveable relative to the other.

15. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 wherein one of the elongate portions is slidably received within the other.

16. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 wherein adjustment means are provided to enable the elongate portions to be secured in relation to each other at one of a plurality of different relative positions.

17. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 wherein, the adjustment means comprises a threaded collar located around one of the elongate portions.

18. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 17 wherein the upper part of each port member (ie that part which is remote from the mounting member) comprises an angled segment whereby a terminal portion thereof extends generally across the roof, generally towards the other mounting member.

19. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 18 wherein said upper part is provided with attachment means to enable the display element to be attached thereto.

20. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the inter-connecting member is integral with the display element.

21. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 20 wherein the display element is in the form of a sign, board, or the like,

22. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 19 wherein the inter-connecting member is adapted to receive the display element, so that the display apparatus may be provided with a plurality of different display elements.

23. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims and mounted on a vehicle with the illter-collnectiI1g Inelnbel extending generally over a roof of the vehicle.

24. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 wherein the first and second mounting members are releasably engaged with either the front or the rear windows of the vehicle such that the inter-connecting member extends generally transversely to the length of the vellicle.

25. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 wherein one of the mounting members is releasably engaged with a fi-ont window of the vehicle, and the other mounting member is releasably engaged with a rear window, such that the an inter-connecting member extends generally diagonally of the roof of the vehicle.

26. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim any one of Claims 1 to 22 wherein the mounting members are releasably engaged with two windows on the same side of the vellicle, such that the inter-connecting member extends generally in the direction of the length of the vehicle.

27. A display apparatus as claimed in aiw one of Claims l to 2 l wherein a tllird mounting member is provided, each of the three mounting members being adapted for releasable engagement with a different window of the vehicle, such that in use, the an inter-connecting member defines a generally fliangular configuration.

28. A display apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 22 wherein two further mounting members are provided, teach of the four mounting members bering adapted for releasable engagement itll a different window of the vehicle, such that in use, the an inter-conlecting mslnbel- define a generally square configuration.

29. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as showI1 in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompallylng drawlllgs.

30. A display apparatus as claimed in Claim I and substantially as hereinbefore desclibed with reference to and as shown ill Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.