GB2500369A

GB2500369A - Rear windscreen wiper display

Info

Publication number: GB2500369A
Application number: GB1203738.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kieran Rice
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-04
Filing date: 2012-03-04
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Also published as: GB201203738D0

Abstract

A display for the rear window of a vehicle comprises a display device attached to the rear windscreen wiper arm or wiper blade. The display moves back and forth when the rear wiper is activated. The display device may be a word, slogan or image, e.g. a waving hand or flag, or a hammer hitting a stationary image fixed at the end of the hammers swing. The display is preferably mounted by means of a mounting attachment fixed to the wiper blade by means of a clip, clamp, etc., and a display device fixed to the mounting attachment by hook and loop fastener or peel-off adhesive to enable the display device to be changed without removing the mounting attachment.

Description

WAVING WIPER

Description

This invention provides for the attachment of images and or slogans to the wiper arm of an automobile rear window wiper enabling said wiper arm to be used as a "waving" or "swinging" wiper displaying images for novelty or promotional purposes. The rear widow wiper swings back and forth in a wide are and its sweeping motion provides an eye catching platform for displaying images and slogans to following vehicles.

This invention makes use of the rear window wipers motion for attention getting display, novelty and promotional purposes. A configuration of said waving wiper comprises a cut-out image such as the palm of a hand which is mounted upon, or fastened to, the wiper arm, and upon which a wording, logo or other visual image maybe attached, so that when the rear window wiper is turned on, the wiper arm swings backwards and forwards with the appearance of a hand waving at following vehicles. The palm of said hand may display a slogan such as "BYE" or "HI" or other wording, and may be changed by the application of stickers, Velcro, or interchangeable panels to allow the owner to choose the words or image. The waving wiper may even display different languages such as "GAO" or "ADIOS". The image or visual may be detachable from the fastening attachment on the wiper arm. Another embodiment has a substrate which is connected to or part of the wiper arm mount, upon which substrate removable and interchangeable visuals would be attached by means such as Velcro or peel off materials.

The waving display may simply be a word or slogan with no predefined shape, but may also be a "thumbs-up", a football, shamrock, valentine heart, pumpkin, or any other recognizable shape. Waving wipers are a similar concept to bumpcr stickers but the slogan or image for this invention is waving or moving, which gets peoples attention..

Another configuration of the waving wiper includes images such as national flags which appear to wave back and forth when the rear wiper is turned on. This would be popular for 4th of July and other patriotic occasions. Other configurations include waving team banners for sports, schools and clubs.

Licensed commercial logos may be included such as for sports teams The waving, or swinging motion, of the wiper arm would also provide motion to images such as a swinging hammer, in which the hammer would appear to strike a static image placed on the door or window at the end of the hammers swing, such as an opposing team mascot or to "bonk" the head of a political caricature As is the case with bumper stickers, waving wiper displays may contain political messages, commercial promotions, festive occasions and events, or any other fad or novelty such as a moving bat for Halloween. And fluorescent or day-glow colors or reflective surfaces may be used for best nighttime effects For maximize utility, a preferred configuration has the mounting attachment to the wiper blade incorporate a flat surface having an area of several square inches, the flat surface having sufficient surface area to provide a substrate upon which the waving images will be placed and supported, said substrate faces rearward from the vehicle towards following vehicles, and upon said substrate the images or visuals are detachably affixed with an easy-swap method of fixing such as Velcro or a peel-off adhesive A user may possess a wide variety of interchangeable political, holiday, sports, school, topical, seasonal, and novelty visuals which can be readily changed-out to suit an occasion. Said visual attachments may be included in a range of visual attachments which will be updated with new designs. With this configuration the attachment to the wiper arm may be more substantial as it need not be removed for image replacement and would be relatively unobtrusive with no image attached.

Many automobiles now havc rear window wipers, particularly sport utility vehicles, minivans, station wagons and hatch-backs. The location of rear window wipers is such that they are shielded from wind-buffeting. The waving wiper fixture mounted on the wiper arm is located, and of a size, so as not to interfere with the functioning of the wiper blade. Said fixture to the wiper arm may be a simple clip on, on maybe more substantial and robust for continuous usc. It may take the form of a clamp, spring loaded clip, screw on, adhesive or any other method for supporting the assembly on the wiper arm. The assembly would be made of rigid weather-poof construction. The invention may be used on most automobiles worldwide, subject to there being no impediment inherent in a particular wiper design preventing mounting of a waving wiper attachment.

Description of Drawings.

Fig 1. Waving hand with slogan. Could also be other cut out image, waving logo, or other promotional visual.

Fig 2. Waving Flag or Banner Fig 3. Swinging Hammer, appearing to strike a static image mounted on vehicle such as a mascot or caricature.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: 1. A device for visually displaying moving visual media to the rear of an automobile by making use of an automobile's rear window wiper mechanism comprising: a panel of lightweight material which provides a support surface upon which visual media in the form of images and or words is applied for displaying from the rear of the automobile, and a means of mounting and securely affixing said panel with support surface to an automobile rear window wiper arm, said wiper arm comprising part of an automobile rear window wiper assembly, such that the support surface with the visual media oscillates to and fro in an arc-like motion across the surface of an automobile's rear window when said window wiper mechanism is activated.
2. A device according to claim 1 hi which the device is attached at one or more points to said wiper arm of said rear wiper arm assembly
3. A device according to claim 1 which is permanently or demountably connected to the wiper arm of an automobiles rear window wiper assembly.
4. A device according to claim 1 hi which the oscillating visual media applied to said support surface affixed to wiper arm is displayed in conjunction with a static image or images affixed to the rear window or a rear surface of an automobile to provide a visual image comprised of moving and static elements.
5. A device according to claim I in which said panel and support surface is demountably attached to said wiper arm via an intermediary support structure which is securely attached to an automobile rear window wiper arm enabling interchangeable visual media to be connected to, and supportcd upon, said intermediary support structure which is attached to said wiper ann
6. A device according to claim 1 in which the profile of said support surface follows the outline of the visual media displayed thereon.
7. A device according to claim 1 hi which the support surface upon which the visual media is applied may be contoured.
8. A device according to claim 1 in which the method of mounting and affixing of said panel and support surface to an automobile rear window wiper arm includes a fabricated clip, clamp or fastener
9. A device according to claim I in which said panel and support surface is affixed directly to an automobile rear window wiper arm without an intermediary support structure by means of direct connection by fasteners, clips, wire, zip ties, Velcro, or cord.
10, A device according to claim i in which said panel and support surface is affixed to the wiper arm and the wiper blade oftlie rear window wiper mechanism.
11. A method of displaying oscillating visual media, including images and/or words, to the rear of an automobile by the attachment of a support surface carrying said visual media, to the wiper arm of an automobiles rear window wiper assembly comprising the steps of: the application of visual media to a support surface comprising a lightweight panel, where said panel is attached directly or via an intermediate support structure affixed to the rear window wiper arm of an automobile and said visual media swings to and fro across the automobiles rear window by the motion of said wiper arm as the wiper mechanism is activated and thereby creating an eye-catching moving image.