NZ299759A - Vehicle sales display device located resiliently against vehicle window with display symbols releasably secured to body of device - Google Patents

Description

29 9 75 9 Priority Date(s): Q.:.J Comptoi* SjXv.lficiaUnr. Filed: .J.£r.i.Ui$.(o\ aw. ;•?! Q.t&a].Q2ri& 2TKPr!S3? PuDficatwn Date: P.O. Journal Ho: \M£?.

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 1 & 4: $340.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A SALES DISPLAY DEVICE I WESSEL JOHANNES VAN NIEKERK, a South African citizen of 1537 Poortsig Street, Waverley, Pretoria, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement* 2 299 759 THIS INVENTION relates to a sales display device for a vehicle. In particular, it relates to a device for displaying sales information relating to the vehicle when it is to be sold.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a sales display device for a vehicle, the device including a display body defining a display surface on which individual display symbols are releasably securable to make-up and to provide sales information related to the sale of the vehicle; and resiliently deformable engagement means for releasable location of the display body inside a vehicle cabin and against a window of the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sales display device for a vehicle, the device including a display body defining a display surface, the display surface having pre-printed matter indicating particulars of the vehicle related to its sale and blank spaces or areas associated with the pre-printed matter on which individu£r~di~splaly ^ytjibols h /. i 5 OFMCE I l MOV 1955 299 3 are releasably securable to provide sales information associated with the pre-printed matter; and resiliently deformable engagement means for releasable location of the display body inside a vehicle cabin and against < a window of the vehicle.

Typically, the display device will be used to display the make, model, price and the like of a new or used motor vehicle offered for sale.

The pre-printed matter may include any one or more of the following words: model, year, air conditioning, alarm, immobilizer, automatic, central locking, electric windows, mag wheels, power steering, radio, tape, CD player, sun roof, »tow bar; and associated areas or spaces may be provided in which display symbols are releasably securable to indicate the presence of such a particular item on or in the vehicle.

A relatively large space defined by the pre-printed matter may be provided on which the vehicle price is to be indicated by the releasable individual securing of display symbols in that space to make up the sales price.

Spaces may be provided for releasably attachment of display symbols to indicate the deposit of the monthly payment relating to the sale of the vehicle.

JH^at£NT~OFTHCf 2 2 NOV 1995 4 29 9 75 9 The display body may be of a flexible material and the resiliently deformable engagement means may include at least one resiliently deformable loop at least part of which extends along at least part of a periphery of the display body.

The display surface and the display symbols may be complementary to permit the display symbols to be removably secured to the display surface adhesively. Thus, the display surface is of a material selected so that e.g. self-adhesive display symbols can be readily adhered and cleanly removed from the display surface for re-use.

The display surface may be in the form' of a flexible sheet of a synthetic polymeric material. In a preferred embodiment, the synthetic polymeric material is a spun-bonded polyolefinic material. The polyolefinic material may be polypropylene.

Preferably, a single resiliently deformable loop which is secured to the flexible material sheet and extends along its entire periphery is provided. The loop may be of spring steel, or nylon, or any suitable resilient material.

The display body may be sized to extend over a major portion of a windscreen of the vehicle, and to permit the display body to be mounted against the windscreen such that its lower portion is positioned intermediate the windscreen and a dashboard of the vehicle. N.7... PA7' 2 2 NOV 1395 299 759 Instead, the symbols may be removably securable to the display body magnetically. For example, the display body may be, at least in part, of a magnetic material or of a material which is attracted by a magnet. The display symbols will then comprise symbol bodies in the shape of words, letters, figures, logos or the like or with words, letters, figures, logos or the like imprinted or written on them which bodies are, at least in part, of a material which is attracted by a magnet or of a magnetic material. The symbol bodies will, thus, be magnetically securable to the display body.

Instead, the symbols may be removably securable to the display body by means of hook and loop fasteners. Thus, at lQast part of the display body may be, or may be covered by, a hook or eye material such as "VELCRO" (trade name) or by a material, such as a felt material, which is securable to a hook material. At least part of each symbol body may then be, or be covered by, a hook or eye material or by a material such as felt which is securable to a hook material.

Typically, the display device further includes a separate sheet on which a plurality of display symbols in the form of at least numbers are provided, which, in use, are transferable from the separate sheet and removably securable to the display surface, and which can be transferred back to the separate sheet from the display surface. r fj. i ~ - I 2 2 Noy 1998 I * 29 9 75 • 6 The display symbols may be separate and removably adhesively secured to the separate sheet.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, i with reference to * the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a sales display device in accordance with the invention for displaying information in relation to a motor vehicle; Figure 2 shows the sales display device of Figure 1 mounted 10 in a vehicle, in use; Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of a sales display device in accordance with the invention; k Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of another sales ^5 display device in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 shows the sales display device of Figure 4 mounted in a motor vehicle, in use; Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of another sales •display device in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 shows a plan view of still another sales display device in accordance with the invention; and Figure 8 shows a separate sheet having numerals removably secured thereon.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 25 generally indicates a sales display device in accordance with the invention.

N.Z PATcN'T p T OFFICE 2 2 NOV 1995 nEcrvf.,;, 7 2§ 9 75 The device 10 includes a body in the form of a flexible sheet 12 of a plastics material having a generally elongate rectangular shape which approximates the shape of a front windscreen of a motor vehicle 13 as can be seen in Figure 2. Resiliently deformable engagement means in the form of two flexible spring steel loops 14, 16 in a side-by-^ide arrangement are sewn into seams (not shown) in the sheet 12 so that they extend adjacent a substantial part of the periphery of the sheet 12 as can be seen, in particular, in Figure 1. sheet 12 is partly covered by a rectangular shaped sheet 18 of a felt material which is sewn to the flexible sheet 12 leaving an exposed border around the periphery of the sheet 12. fcSix symbols, each indicated generally by reference numeral 20, and which together read R19 945 which for the sake of example indicates the price of the vehicle when for sale, are removably secured to the sheet 18. Each symbol 20 is in the shape of a number or letter and each is of felt, and each is releasably secured to the sheet 18 by a number of strips (not shown) of "VELCRO" (trade name) fastened to the rear faces of the symbols 20. In other embodiments (not shown), the symbols 20 are of a plastics material or the like.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown) the sheet 18 covers only a portion, for example a middle portion, of the flexible sheet 12 and the surrounding portions of the sheet One side, which functions as the display side, of the 299759 8 12 are imprinted, for example with the logo or name of the used car dealer, the logo or name of the vehicle or the like.

In still other embodiments of the invention (not i shown), strips of a magnetic material are embedded in, or sewn to the rear face of, the sheet 12 and similar strips are secured to the rear faces of the symbols 20.

Referring to Figure 3, reference numeral 30 generally indicates another embodiment of a sales display device in accordance with the invention.

The device 30 is similar to the device io and the same reference numbers have been used to indicate the same or similar features of the devices 30 and 10. The flexible sheet 12 of the device 30 is also generally rectangular in shape and is optionally of a plastics material or a fine mesh material. The device 30 differs from the device 10 in that the circular spring steel loops 14, 16 are absent and, instead, a loop (not shown in Figure 3) generally rectangular in shape is enclosed in a generally rectangular shaped seam 32 extending around the periphery of the sheet 12. Further, the device 30 has resiliently deformable engagement means in the form of a centrally positioned sucker 34 with a disc shaped suction part 35 projecting from the display side of the sheet 12 by which the display 30 can be releasably attached to a windscreen or other window of a vehicle. The sucker 34 includes a handle formation 36 integral with the disc-shaped part 35 which projects -from-tb-e^-. 2 2 NOV 1995 fr 29 9 7 9 opposite side of the sheet 12. The sucker 34 is loosely mounted in a hole 38 in the sheet 12.

The sheet of felt material (indicated by reference » numeral 18 in Figure 1) and the symbols are not shown in the Figure 3. In this embodiment, the rectangular shaped loop is smaller than the loop 14 of the embodiment 10 and serves merely to hold the sheet 12 in an extended state.

In use, appropriate symbols 20, for example indicating the price of a used vehicle as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are removably secured to the sheet 18 and the device 10 is then mounted adjacent the front windscreen of the vehicle, as indicated in Figure 2, in the case of the device 10. It will be appreciated that the resilient loops 14, 16 serve resiliently to wedge the device 10 in a position against and adjacent the windscreen of the vehicle 13. If the display is to be used on a different vehicle, it is removed, the symbols 20 are removed and i-eplaced with different symbols and the device 10 is then mounted adjacent the front windscreen of the different vehicle in the same way.

Similarly, in the case of the device 30, symbols are removably secured to the device 30 and the device 30 is attached to the windscreen by means of the sucker 32 with the sheet 12 held in an extended state by the loop 14. 299759 Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, another device 110 in accordance with the invention includes a flexible sheet 112 of a spun-bonded polypropylene material sold as TYVEK (trade name) by Du Pont having a generally elongate rectangular i shape which approximates the shape of a front windscreen of a motor vehicle 113 as can be seen in Figure 5. Two flexible spring steel loops 114, 116 in a side-by-side arrangement are sewn into seams (not shown) in the sheet 112 so that they extend adjacent a substantial part of the periphery of the sheet 112 as can be seen, in particular, in Figure 4. Two struts (not shown) are sewn into elongate longitudinally extending pockets 119 positioned approximately in the middle of the sheet 112 adjacent its upper and lower edges and between the loops 114, 116.

% One side of the sheet 112 (the side facing outwardly in Figure 5 of the drawings) functions as the display side. On one side (the left hand side) of the display side of the sheet 112, the name of a motor vehicle finance company together with the words "Make", "Model", "Price", "Deposit" and "36 months" are printed. On the other side (the right hand side) of the display side of the sheet 112, the name of the finance company together with the name of the vehicle, the model, the price, the deposit and the monthly payment appear. These words and numbers are each printed on a separate self-adhesive vinyl strip 120 sold in South Africa as VYNACAL SELF ADHESIVE VINYL (trade name) by Vynide (Pty) Ltd, which is adhesively and removably secured to the surface of the sheet 112. I !. r OFFICE j I 2 2 HOY 1995 & 299 75 11 In another embodiment of the invention (not shown) , the words and numbers are printed on separate pieces eg rectangular strips of SPX45 foam sheet from Sondor Industries Limited. The strips of sheet are about 1,5 mm thick. In this embodiment, each t strip of foam sheet is first wetted with a soap-water or detergent-water mixture and is then urged against the surface of the sheet 112 to which it adheres and the soap-water or detergent-water mixture is allowed to dry so that the strip adheres to the sheet 112 but can readily be peeled from its surface.

In another embodiment, the rear side of the strip of foam sheet is coated with a layer of wet soap by rubbing the rear side against a cake of wet soap before the strip is urged against the sheet 112. In still another embodiment, the strips 120 are replaced by individual letters and numbers (not shown) cut from a piece of SPX45 foam sheet and each letter and number is individually wetted with the soap-water or detergent-water mixture or is coated with a layer of wet or moist soap and individually caused to adhere to the sheet 112 as described above.

Referring, now, to Figure 6, reference numeral 210 generally indicates a further embodiment of a sales display device in accordance with the invention. The device 210 resembles the device 10, 110 and the same numbers have been used to indicate the same or similar features of the device 210 in relation to the devices 10, 110. N.Z. PA Of 21 NOV 1395 P 299759 12 The device 210 differs from the devices 10, 110 in that the flexible spring steel loops 14, 16, 114, 116 are absent and a single spring steel loop 215 which is generally oval in shape is provided and extends adjacent the periphery of the flexible sheet 212 as can be seen in the drawing. In this embodiment of the invention, the elongate longitudinally extending pockets 119 are replaced by a pair of laterally extending pockets 219. A laterally extending support strut 221 also of spring steel extends between and is sewn into the pockets 219 and helps to hold the flexible sheet 212 in an extended state adjacent the windscreen of a vehicle.

In use, appropriate symbols 220, for example indicating the price, make, model, deposit and monthly payment of a used vehicle as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, are removably secured to the sheet 112, 212 and the device 110, 210 is then mounted adjacent the front windscreen of the vehicle, as indicated in Figure 5. If the device is to be used on a different vehicle, it is removed, the symbols 120, 220 are peeled from the surface 112, 212 and replaced with different symbols and the display 110, 210 is then mounted adjacent the front windscreen of the other vehicle in the same way. Thus, the device 110, 210 is reusable and the relevant sales information can be made up to suit the vehicle offered for sale.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the sales display device in accordance r I >'< ■' PAT 2 2 m 1395 * 2 9 P 7 g g 13 with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 310.

The sales device 310 is typically supplied in the form of a kit which includes a separate sheet 400 of said VYNACAL SELF-ADHESIVE VINYL on which separate symbols in the form of numerals 320 are removably secured adhesively, as indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

As can best be seen with reference to Figure 7, the device 310 includes a display surface 312 of a flexible sheet 10 material. The display surface 312 is of said TYVEK material. The display surface 312 is pre-printed as indicated. Accordingly, two opposed tables 314 are provided which indicates certain features which are normally optionally included in a vehicle, namely: air conditioning, alarm immobilizer, automatic, ^ central locking, electric windows, mag wheels, power steering, radio-tape, CD player, sun roof and tow bar. The pre-printed matter further includes a relatively large frame 316 defining a space 318 on which the sales price of the vehicle can be indicated. The frame 316 further includes the words, and 20 associated spaces, indicating the model of the vehicle, the year of the vehicle, and, if the vehicle is to be purchased on a monthly instalment basis, the deposit, and the required monthly payment.

The device 310 differs from the previous sales devices, in that only a single loop 320 is sewn around the periphery of N.Z. PATENT OFFICE | i 2 2 MOV 1995 ! 14 2 9fi 7 *5 q the surface 312. The loop 320 can be of nylon, or spring steelr * or the like.

In use, when a vehicle is to be sold, the price of the vehicle is made up' 'from the numerals 320 of the separate sheet 400 shown in Figure 8. These numerals are then releasably attached adhesive-fashion, in the space 318 to indicate the price. Furthermore, the model can be indicated in the associated space next to the word model and in the same way the relevant information can be made up and removably secured next to the words year, deposit, and monthly instalments to indicate this information. The tables 314 are used in the following way: If the vehicle has any of the items listed in the tables 314, an appropriate marker e.g. a dot as indicated by reference numeral 321 in Figure 8, is removably secured in the associated boxes 314.1 to indicate the presence of such an optional feature in the vehicle.

Once all the information has been put on the device 310, the device is located adjacent the windscreen and dashboard of a vehicle to display the sales information through its windscreen. It will be appreciated that the resilient loop 320 wedgingly locates the device 310 resiliently in a position against a windscreen of the vehicle, its lower portion being located between the windscreen and a dashboard of the vehicle. Optionally, the device 310 can be provided with resilient extensions (not shown) should the windscreen have a relatively large height. These resilient extensions can jbe-in■ thp fnrm_sf_ N.Z. PATENT 0r;:>cr 11 NOV 1996 29 9 75 9 invert U-shaped members connectable to the upper portion of the device 310.

It will be appreciated that after the vehicle is sold, the reference numerals and dots can be removed from the surface 312 and be replaced on the sheet 400 shown in Figure 8, and the information on the surface 312 can be made up once again to correspond with a next vehicle which is to be made available for sale. The TYVEK material is especially suitable for the display surface because it permits the self-adhesive display symbols to be readily adhered and cleanly rremoved for re-use. It will be appreciated that e.g. a cloth-like material of natural fibres is less suitable in practice since adhesively-bonded display symbols cannot be cleanly removed for re-use. «■ It is an advantage of the invention illustrated that the symbols 20, 120, 220, 370 are easily secured to and removed from the device 10, 110, 210, 310 and that the device 10, 110, 210, 310 can readily be mounted adjacent the windscreen of a vehicle and removed. A single display 10, 110, 210, 310 may thus be used, successively, to indicate the make, price and the like of a variety of different vehicles offered for sale, for example in a used car lot or in a dealer's showroom. * i 2 2 NOV 19S5

Claims (16)

29 9 7 16 TOAT T IM IS

1. A sales display device for a vehicle, the device including a display body defining a display surface on which individual display symbols are releasably securable to make up and to provide sales information related to the sale of the vehicle; and resiliently deformable engagement means for releasable location of the display body inside a vehicle cabin and against LO a window of the vehicle.

2. A sales display device for a vehicle, the device including t a display body defining a display surface, the display ^ surface having pre-printed matter indicating particulars of the K vehicle related to its sale and blank spaces or areas associated with the pre-printed matter on which individual display symbols are releasably securable to provide sales information associated ^ with the pre-printed matter; and resiliently deformable engagement means for releasable 20 location of the display body inside a vehicle cabin and against a window of the vehicle.

3 . A sales display device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the pre-printed matter includes any one or more of the following words: model, year, air conditioning, alarm, immobilizer, 25 automatic, central locking, electric windows, nag wheels. power N.2. PATENT OFF'C 2 2 MOV 1S96 29 9 75 9 17 steering, radio, tape, CD player, sun roof, tow bar; and associated areas or spaces are provided in which display symbols are releasably securable to indicated the presence of such a particular item on or in the vehicle. *;

4. A sales display device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim;3, in which a relatively large space defined by the pre-printed matter is provided on which the vehicle price is to be indicated by the releasable individual securing of display symbols in that space to make up the sales price.;

5. A sales display device as claimed in Claim 4, in which spaces are provided for releasable attachment of display symbols to indicate the deposit and the monthly payment relating to -the sale of the vehicle.;

6. A sales display device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the display body is of a flexible material and the resiliently deformable engagement means includes at least one resiliently deformable loop at least part of which extends along at least part of a periphery c" the display body.;

7. A sales display device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the display surface and the display symbols are complementary to permit the display symbols to be removably secured to the display surface adhesively.;H.Z PATENT OFFICE |;2 2 NOV 103B !;29 9 7 5 9;18;

8. A sales display device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the display surface is in the form of a flexible sheet of a synthetic polymeric material.;i;

9. A sales display device as claimed in Claim 8, in which the synthetic polymeric material is a spun-bonded polyolefinic material.;

10. A sales display device as claimed in Claim 9, in which the polyolefinic material is polypropylene.;

11. A sales display device as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 10 inclusive, which includes a single resiliently deformable loop which is secured to the flexible material sheet and extends along its entire periphery.;

12. A sales display device as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 11 inclusive, in which the or each resiliently deformable loop is made of spring steel.;

13. A sales display device as claimed in any one the preceding claims, in which the display body is sized to extend over a major portion of a windscreen of the vehicle, and to permit the display body to be mounted against the windscreen such that its lower portion is positioned intermediate the windscreen and a dashboard of the vehicle.;19;29 9 75 9;

14. A sales display device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a separate sheet on which a plurality of display symbols in the form of at least numbers are provided, which, in use, are transferable from the separate sheet i;and removably securable to the display surface, and which are transferable back to the separate sheet from the display surface.;

15. A sales display device as claimed in Claim 14, in which the display symbols are removably adhesively secured to the separate sheet.;

16. A new sales display device for a vehicle, substantially as herein described and illustrated. <-;VESSEL JOHANNES VAN NIEKERK By its Attorneys;TAMES & WELLS;END OF CLAIMS*