WO2003005330A2

WO2003005330A2 - Mobile information display device

Info

Publication number: WO2003005330A2
Application number: PCT/HU2002/000065
Authority: WO
Inventors: András Tamás TÓTH
Original assignee: Toth Andras Tamas
Priority date: 2001-07-04
Filing date: 2002-07-04
Publication date: 2003-01-16
Also published as: WO2003005330A3; AU2002321667A1; HU0102794D0; HUP0102794A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile information display device mainly for advertising purposes which has at least one data carrier containing the information to be displayed, a light source serving to make the information visible or to intensify it and a housing suitable for containing the data carrier, the light source and, in a given case, supplementary parts, e.g.: fixing, movign and regualtion components characterised by that the housing (3) of an extra brake lamp fitted behind the rear window (2) of motor vehicles (1), the extra brake lamp housing (3) has a transparent window (3b) that is suitable for letting through the light at least in places positioned by the rear window (2) of the motor vehicle (1), and the data carrier (5) is inserted between the light source (4) and the external surface of the rear window (2) that looks out to the environment behind the vehicle (1), and in a given case the light source (4) is connected to a sound source (7) that emits an audible signal when the light source (4) is operated.

Description

Mobile information display device

The invention relates to a mobile information display device mainly for advertising purposes. The device has at least one data carrier containing the information to be displayed, a light source serving to make the information visible or to intensify it and a housing suitable for containing the data carrier, the light source and, in a given case, supplementary parts, e.g.: fixing, moving and regulation components.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution - in other words in the last 200 years - more than the necessary amount of certain types of goods are produced which is not only as a consequence of the wide spread increase of the division of labour and the spreading of heavy industry goods production. The result of this is market competition, which is participated in by the producers of the goods frequently using the method of price self- restriction, and also they recognised early on that even good wine needs a label. As unsaleable goods means death on the market and the termination of continuous profit production. Because of this in the last two decades advertising has become extremely significant.

The instruments and methods of advertising are almost infinite. Starting from the street posters of early times and advertisements in newspapers, now they are in every area of free time activities (e.g. sport), culture (e.g. cinema) and transportation (e.g. public transport vehicles).

The possibility of advertising in transportation was recognised relatively soon. In the 19^th century there already were small posters in train compartments, and in the 20^l century the advertisements "moved" to the external side of the trains, mainly onto the walls of goods wagons, tank wagons and refrigerator wagons. Advertisements were placed on ships and even on aircraft: airships, balloons, airplanes were all used to "pull" advertisements.

Such an air-towed giant poster can be studied in Hungarian patent description registration number 213 491, in which the flat advertising surface floats in a vertical position behind the towing aircraft. Contrary to this USA patent description registration number 1, 794.828 presents a banner made of flexible textile and USA patent description registration number 5, 365.685 presents a pipe-shaped windsock. The purpose of all of these is for many people to be

able to see them at the same time. An unfavourable feature, however, is that the use of these is extremely dependent on the weather conditions, and also the advertising carriers are fragile.

As a consequence of the development of public road transportation and its almost explosion-like motorization a significant part of humanity is continuously moving. So it is only natural that travel has created numerous methods of advertising. Typical examples of this are the billboards placed next to public roads, especially motorways. An example of this may be found in Hungarian patent description registration number 217 229.

The content of the billboards set up along busy roads actually does reach a lot of people, but with these also the damaging effect of weather factors are involved (sun radiation, precipitation, wind, etc.), beside this they appear at the edge of the field of view of the drivers of the vehicles and the information they contain may possibly be acknowledged, and if they are so striking that they make you turn to them, then they endanger the safety of the road users. The same can be more or less said about the advertising board that is presented by Hungarian patent description registration number 208 795.

From the point of view of transport safety the authorities accept those advertising carriers that do not distract the attention of drivers, as they are "bombed" with information whilst travelling at not high speeds. We found ideas relating to this in USA patent description 5,058,637 presenting advertising carriers that can be placed only on uniquely formed fuel filling pump pistols and a wider sphere of application in Hungarian patent registration number 217 311. Their disadvantage is that they may only be installed in restricted numbers and so they can only address a restricted number of persons: in other words those who actually do use the fuel filling stations and the fuel filling pistols.

Those advertisements are seen more widely that may be noticed by drivers whilst travelling slowly or while stationary. A typical example of this is the danger warning triangle appearing in Hungarian patent registration number 204 727. In this triangle the advertising carrier is best placed in the area surrounding its so-called reflective bands, which advertising carrier is best if illuminated by a light source. Its advantage is that in its proximity vehicles progress slowly, its disadvantage, however, is that it draws attention away from the source of danger. Beside

this in theory and for ethical reasons only information relating to the emergency services may be placed displayed (ambulance, fire service, police).

The purpose of the invention is to develop an information display device that overcomes the deficiencies of the devices known at the present, in other words a device that get information to a large proportion of public road users, that does not distract their attention, that has a long life span, is not fragile and, beside all this, can be used and noticed independently of the weather conditions.

The basis of the thought behind the invention is that if the information carrier is placed in the field of view that is looked at by drivers anyway, and at the same time we make sure that the information appears while creating a changing visual effect, then the task can be solved.

In accordance with the set aim the mobile information display device, mainly for advertising purposes - which has at least one data carrier containing the information to be displayed, a light source serving to make the information visible or to intensify it and a housing suitable for containing the data carrier, the light source and, in a given case, supplementary parts, e.g.: fixing, moving and regulation components - is set up in such a way that the housing is the housing of an extra brake lamp fitted behind the rear window of motor vehicles, the extra brake lamp housing has a transparent window that is suitable for letting through the light at least in places positioned by the rear window of the motor vehicle, and the data carrier is inserted between the light source and the external surface of the rear window that looks out to the environment behind the vehicle. A further criterion of the mobile information display device according to the invention may be that the data carrier is positioned between the light source and the transparent window and is favourably fixed to the internal side of the transparent window, e.g. glued to it. In another case the data carrier is a card positioned along the transparent window in such a way that it may be replaced, which is fixed in its position, for example, by releasable clicking in or by sliding into guides.

In a practical construction example of the device the data carrier has one or more light emitting surfaces of a shape and size that conforms to the information to be displayed. The

light emitting surfaces are cut outs which, in a given case, are supplemented with elements that determine the intensity of the light to be emitted, e.g. film. It is also possible that the whole of the data carrier is light emitting, which contains the information to be displayed in textual and/or numerical and/or graphical form.

In the case of another different construction form the data carrier is a cylinder that is light emitting at least in places, which in a given case is combined with driving components positioned in the extra brake lamp housing suitable for changing its position. In a further construction example the data carrier is affixed to the transparent window and/or to the rear window, e.g. glued to it. In a further case the data carrier appears in the material of the transparent window and/or the rear window, e.g. burnt or engraved into it.

In any construction example a light source is built in to the extra lamp housing that shines to a degree proportionate with the degree of braking force. It is also possible, furthermore, that the data carrier has a part that is capable of movement in a way that conforms with the degree of intensity of the light source.

A unique construction version is when the information to be displayed is unified with the extra brake lamp housing, e.g. it forms the extra brake lamp itself.

It is also possible that the information to be displayed consists of the sum total of the light sources. It may be advantageous at such a time if the supplementary switching components determining the lighting sequence of the light sources and/or their intensity are fitted with the light sources unit. In a further practical construction form the extra brake lamp housing is split up into separate chambers, in some of the chambers there are continuously shining light sources and in the rest of the chambers there are light sources built in that only shine during braking.

In any case it is possible for the vehicle to have a supplementary energy source that is independent of the vehicle's original electric system that is suitable for supplying the information to be displayed.

In comparison with the previous, known solutions the mobile information display device according to the invention has numerous advantageous characteristics. Among them the most important is that it may be fitted to almost all vehicles using the public roads, so it is able to carry out a wide ranging advertising activity. The advertisement is mobile as it is fitted to a vehicle, so the same vehicle can make the same advertisement known in places that are at a large distance from one another, and due to it being placed on a vehicle it does not distract the attention of the other drivers. Beside this it is not sensitive to environmental effects, that is the weather conditions, and its effectiveness does not depend on the time of day, either.

Another favourable aspect is that over and above the technical, psychological and transport technology advantages listed it is also economic as with a minimum of investment an earlier single-purpose vehicle component is turned into a multipurpose component; and the life time of this component is almost unlimited, and at the same time the information to be displayed may be changed easily. Its transportation safety value is increased by the fact that a way is provided for the display to be at an intensity that is proportionate with the degree of the braking force.

In connection with construction examples the invention is explaining in more detail on the basis of drawings. On the appended drawings

Figure 1 the position of the mobile information display device on a vehicle, Figure 2 the extra brake lamp house in front view, Figure 3 the same in vertical cross-section. On figure 1 the vehicle 1 can be seen in rear view on the road surface 10. The extra brake lamp housing 3 can be found "behind" the rear window 2 of the vehicle 1, in other words on the inside of the useful space la (passenger or load) of the vehicle 1. The light source 4 is contained inside the extra brake lamp housing 3. In every case when the friction between the tyres lc of the vehicle 1 and the road surface 10 increase - when the brake pedal or hand brake is operated, not shown - not only do the rear brake lamps lb of the vehicle 1 shine, but also the light source 4 contained in the extra brake lamp housing. In a given case at such a time a sound source 7 placed on the outside of the vehicle may operate.

The illumination of the light source 4 signals the operation of the brakes and the extra brake lamp with them, and also signals to other road users the continuous reduction of speed of the vehicle 1 - in a given case continuous until stopping. This phenomenon - in other words the illumination of the light source 4 - is used by placing the data carrier 5 between it and the area behind the vehicle 1, which, in this way, during the illumination of the light source 4, becomes visible.

Figures 2 and 3 show the extra brake lamp housing 3, which contains the light source 4 in its internal space 3a, at a greater scale than the previous figure. In the given construction example the case has been shown when the data carrier 5 formed as a thin card is in a position parallel with the transparent window 3b of the extra brake lamp housing inserted between the transparent window 3b and the light source 4.

It is practical if the larger part of the data carrier 5 is the light emitting surface 5a a part of which has information 6 with different light emitting ability to it - or is in a given case completely opaque. In this way when the light source 4 is illuminated the information 6 appears in a visible form on the data carrier 5. In theory, naturally, this may be imagined the other way around, in other words the light emitting surface 5a "draws out" the letters, numbers or graphics to be displayed, while the rest of the data carrier 5 is, for example, opaque.

In general the light emitting surface(s) 5a are simply cut outs in the data carrier 5. It is also possible for these cut outs to be supplied with transparent film or film inserts. The film inserts may be of varying thickness, possible multi-layered in the interest of emitting more or less of the light from the light source 4.

It is also possible that using some method or other (painting, gluing, burning, etc.) lines, forms, coverings are positioned on the extra brake lamp housing 3, e.g. on the transparent window 3b or even on the rear window 2 itself, which may be made parts of the information to be displayed - advertised - individually or grouped with each other.

Furthermore, it is also possible that the information 6 to be displayed forms part of the extra brake lamp housing 3, or that the extra brake lamp housing 3 itself forms the information 6. In

another case the information 6 is formed by the light source 4 or by a group of several light sources 4. When using several light sources 4 supplementary switches, not shown on the figures, may be associated with them that are able of influencing the switching order and/or light intensity of the light sources 4.

The extra brake lamp housing 3 may also consist of several chambers, individual light sources 4 may operate in the individual chambers in such a way that some of them are illuminated only on braking and the others are illuminated continuously. The continuously illuminated light sources 4 display the information 6. Through this it is also possible for the continuously illuminated light source(s) 4 to shine continuously from when the ignition key is turned.

In the case of an extra brake lamp housing 3 with several chambers the light sources 4 shining on braking result in a uniform appearance with the continuously shining light sources 4 illuminating the extra brake lamp housing 3 uniformly. The continuously shining light source(s) 4 may even be switched on when the ignition is not switched on, for example, when parked, so that the vehicle 1 is easily visible also during bad light conditions. In such a way in all places where the use of dipped lights may be compulsory, and this makes the vehicle 1 always visible from the front, the continuously shining light sources 4 also realise at the same time the visibility from the rear. In any construction form, but mainly in the latter cases, it is practical to use a supplementary energy source that is independent of the own electrical system of the vehicle 1 , which in the case of long-term parking would not affect the operability of the vehicle 1 if it runs down.

A construction form is also possible in which a moving data carrier 5 is built into the extra brake lamp housing 3. In such a case the data carrier 5 may be, for example, cylindrical in form, and with the rotation of it around its own axis the periodically changing emission of the light of the light source 4 may be attained, and the periodical light emission itself may carry some sort of advertising information.

In a way that is known in itself it may be also realised that the light intensity of the light source 4 changes in relation with the degree of the braking force and also that the change in the light intensity involves the movement of a part or the whole of the data carrier 5. From the

point of view of road safety a possible feature may be that on emergency braking the illumination of the extra brake lamp 3 is coupled with a sound signal, and even that conforming to the duration of the braking the sound signal and/or the information 6 to be advertised is emitted several times - in an intermittent way and so in a way that calls increased attention to it.

The safety of pedestrians is served if the sound signal automatically sounds off when the brake pedal is suddenly depressed and/or when it is depressed with a large force (emergency braking). In other words the driver does not have to operate it separately.

Naturally the mobile information display device according to the invention may not only be used on motorcars, but also on other vehicles, like, for example, buses, goods vehicles, plant machinery whilst on public roads, for example on tractors, etc., and the subject of the information may be anything.

Claims

1. A mobile information display device mainly for advertising purposes which has at least one data carrier containing the information to be displayed, a light source serving to make the information visible or to intensify it and a housing suitable for containing the data carrier, the light source and, in a given case, supplementary parts, e.g.: fixing, moving and regulation components characterised by that the housing is a housing (3) of an extra brake lamp fitted behind the rear window (2) of motor vehicles (1), the extra brake lamp housing (3) has a transparent window (3b) that is suitable for letting through the light at least in places positioned by the rear window (2) of the motor vehicle (1), and the data carrier (5) is inserted between the light source (4) and the external surface of the rear window (2) that looks out to the environment behind the vehicle (1), and in a given case the light source (4) is connected to a sound source (7) that emits an audible signal when the light source (4) is operated.

2. The mobile information display device according to claim 1 characterised by that the data carrier (5) is positioned between the light source (4) and the transparent window (3 b) and is favourably fixed to the internal side of the transparent window (3b), e.g. glued to it.

3. The mobile information display device according to claim 1 characterised by that the data carrier (5) is a card positioned along the transparent window (3b) in such a way that it may be replaced, which is fixed in its position, for example, by releasable clicking in or by sliding into guides.

4. The mobile information display device according to any of claims 1-3 characterised by that the data carrier (5) has one or more light emitting surfaces (5a) of a shape and size that conforms to the information to be displayed.

5. The mobile information display device according to claim 4 characterised by that the light emitting surfaces (5a) are cut-outs which, in a given case, are supplemented with elements that determine the intensity of the light to be emitted, e.g. film inserts.

6. The mobile information display device according to claim 4 characterised by that the whole of the data carrier (5) is light emitting material, which contains the information to be displayed in textual and/or numerical and/or graphical form.

7. The mobile information display device according to claim 1 characterised by that the data carrier (5) is a cylinder that is light emitting at least in places, which in a given case is combined with driving components positioned in the extra brake lamp housing (3) suitable for changing its position.

8. The mobile information display device according to claim 1 characterised by that the data carrier (5) is affixed to the transparent window (3b) and/or to the rear window (2), e.g. glued to it.

9. The mobile information display device according to claim 1 characterised by that the data carrier (5) appears in the material of the transparent window (3b) and/or the rear window (2), e.g. burnt or engraved into it.

10. The mobile information display device according to any of claims 1-9 characterised by that a light source (4) is built in to the extra lamp housing (3) that shines to a degree proportionate with the degree of braking force.

11. The mobile information display device according to claim 10 characterised by that the data carrier (5) has a part that is capable of movement in a way that conforms with the degree of intensity of the light source (4).

12. The mobile information display device according to claim 1 characterised by that the information (6) to be displayed is unified with the extra brake lamp housing (3).

13. The mobile information display device according to claim 12 characterised by that the information (6) to be displayed forms the extra brake lamp (3) itself.

14. The mobile information display device according to any of claims 1-13 characterised by that the information to be displayed (6) consists of a group of light sources (4).

15. The mobile information display device according to claim 14 characterised by that the supplementary switching components determining the lighting sequence of the light sources and/or their intensity are fitted with the light sources (4) unit.

16. The mobile information display device according to claims 1-15 characterised by that the extra brake lamp housing (3) is split up into separate chambers, in some of the chambers there are continuously shining light sources (4) and in the rest of the chambers there are light sources (4) built in that only shine during braking.

17. The mobile information display device according to any of claims 1-16 characterised by that the vehicle (1) has a supplementary energy source that is independent of the vehicle's (1) original electric system that is suitable for supplying the information (6) to be displayed.