System for displaying a motor vehicle, apparatus and related methods

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided to elevate, tilt and rotate, simultaneously if desired, an item such as a motorized vehicle for display. The apparatus includes a rotatable surface operatively connected to a lift, which is connected to a moveable platform such as a trailer or a flat bed in order to transport such device, or a plurality of such similar devices, for display or presentation at various facilities.

Description

PRIORITY INFORMATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 515,177 filed on Oct. 28, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to an display system, e.g. the display and advertisement of motorized vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, boats, motorcycles and the like and other items that may be desirable to display. Specifically, the present invention relates to displaying an item by utilizing a device for lifting, rotating and tilting an item such as a vehicle to be displayed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various types of apparatus exist for presenting or displaying an item inside a showroom or outside a facility such as a car dealership. The outside facility item displays are utilized to attract attention from passing vehicles and passing pedestrian traffic and generally must be elevated in order to be seen from a distance. [0004] There are three generally major categories of these item displays whic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] An apparatus of embodiments and method of the present invention are able to elevate, tilt and rotate simultaneously if desired an item such as a motorized vehicle for display and comprise a rotatable surface operatively connected to a lift, which is connected to a moveable platform such as a trailer or a flat bed in order to transport such device, or a plurality of similar devices, and which provides a mobile item display or presentation at various facilities. A system for displaying an item such as a motorized vehicle includes a rotatable surface which may comprise a platform connected to a turntable and adapted to support and secure an item for display. The item may be secured by a plurality of locking devices commonly known in the art to securely couple and lock the item to the rotatable surface. The rotatable surface is adapted to tilt and rotate about an axis and be able to support the weight of the item such as a motorized vehicle or multiple motorized vehicles and be selectively raised or lowered by expanding or retracting a lift, which is operatively connected to a moveable platform. The rotatable surface is operatively in communication with a rotatable surface motor which is adapted to selectively rotate the rotatable surface about its axis. The rotatable surface motor may additionally be operated remotely. The lift may raise or lower the rotatable surface by a lift motor operatively connected to the lift and that is adapted to selectively expand or retract the lift. The lift motor may additionally be operated remotely. The rotatable surface may be tilted by a tilt motor operatively in communication with the rotatable surface and adapted to effect tilting the rotatable surface at a predetermined angle. The tilt motor may additionally be operated remotely. The rotatable surface motor, lift motor and tilt motor may be electrically powered by a power source which can normally be found in the art such as a hydrocarbon fueled electric generator, fuel cell or the like.

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage with all three previous types of item display or presentation devices are that they are difficult to relocate and require some sort of structural mounting with either the flooring or the ground.

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