A releasably attachable sign display device

Abstract

This invention relates to a releasably attachable sign display device (2), comprising a holding body part (20) and a fastening body part (21) arranged to be releasably attachable to each other by means of a releasable attachment arrangement (21A, 21B) wherein said holding body part (20) is arranged with at least one sign holding member (5) arranged to securely hold a sign (6) against an outer surface (202) of said holding body part (20), wherein said fastening body part (21) includes a second gripping member (210) arranged to grip around a first horizontal edge (30) of a vehicle registration sign (3) and that said holding body part (20) includes a first gripping member (200) arranged to grip around an opposite second horizontal edge (31) of said vehicle registration sign (3), wherein said releasable attachment arrangement (21A, 20B) is arranged to securely fasten the sign display device (2) to a vehicle (1).

Description

[0001]TITLE: A RELEASABLY ATTACHABLE SIGN DISPLAY DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a releasably attachable sign display, releasably attachable to avehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are known many different kinds of releasably attachable sign displays that arereleasably attachable to a vehicle. A frequent use thereof is to temporarily fasten a “LEARNER” (ÖVNINGSKÖR) sign on a vehicle when coaching a person how to drive. Signdisplays of a magnetic kind are frequently used. However many modern cars, especially carshaving a back hatch, do not have sufficient magnetic space to securely keep the display sign fastened when driving and or does not provide sufficient magnetic force, e.g. due to dirt.Hence, it often occurs that magnetic display signs are lost, which of course is undesired, butwhich also may cause accidents due to not displaying “LEARNER”, which is supposed to alert other drivers. There are known a variety of releasably attachable sign displays, wherein mechanical meansare used to attach it to a vehicle, e.g. from US 20150128464 there is known a sign displayfastener that is releasably attachable by means of a tension clip, wherein the fastenerconfiguration forms a slide-in region, a reception pocket and the tension clip communicatingtherebetween, enabling releasable attachment to a rim of a trunk hatch or similar device of acar. Further, from GB 2382838 there is known a similar arrangement wherein releasableattachment is arranged at a registration plate. However, existing known a releasably attachable sign displays are all disadvantages for somereason, e.g. due to bulkiness and / or difficulty to attach the sign display fasteners and / ordifficulty to exchange sign of the sign display fastener.Moreover, from GB 2475691 there is a known a sign display, wherein attachment is arranged at a registration plate, in a fixed manner, i.e. not releasably. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide a releasably attachable sign display that eliminatesor at least minimizes existing problems with known sign display fasteners, which is achievedby means of a releasably attachable sign display device as defined in claim 1.Thanks to the invention there is provided a releasably attachable sign display device that iscompact in its design and easy to attach to a vehicle and wherein exchange / release / attachmentof a sign thereto is easily performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following the invention will be described with reference to some preferred embodiments shown in the enclosed figures, wherein,FIG. 1 is a perspective of a holding body part of releasably attachable sign display deviceaccording to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2 the same as Fig. 1 in another perspective,FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fastening body part of an exemplary embodiment of onereleasably attachable sign display device of the present invention,FIGS. 4 is a perspective view showing the body parts of figures 1, 2 and 3 in a connectedarrangement,FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pair of releasably attachable sign display devices withbody parts presented in figures 1, 2 and 3 having a sign attached thereto, FIG.6 shows the assembly of figure 5 attached to a registration sign in accordance with the present invention, FIG.7 shows a modified embodiment according to the invention,FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fastening body part of a secondexemplary embodiment of one releasably attachable sign display device of the presentinvention,FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a second embodiment of a holding body part ofreleasably attachable sign display device according to a second exemplary embodiment of thepresent inventionFIGS. 11 is a perspective view showing the body parts of figures 8, 9 and 10 in a connectedarrangement, andFIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a pair of releasably attachable sign display deviceswith body parts presented in figures 8, 9 and 10 having a sign attached thereto,DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.In Fig. 6 there is shown a car 1 having a registration plate 3, wherein there are two releasablyattachable sign display devices 2 releasably attached to the registration plate 3. Further, isshown that each releasably attachable sign display device 2 comprises a holding body portion202 and a fastening body portion 212, which both basically extending in a vertical plane VP.In Figs.1 and 2 there are shown different perspective views of the holding body part 20,which is arranged with holding members 5 arranged to releasably enable attachment of a sign6 (see Fig.5). The holding members 5 preferably provides a kind of snap-in function, e.g. by having a conical outer body 51 on top of a stem 50. The conical outer body 51 is preferably compressible and the sign 6 is preferably arranged with holes 60, such that the sign may easily be attached to the by means of pressing the conical outer body 51 into and through theholes 60, such that the sign 6 is securely attached to the releasably attachable sign displaydevice 2. By having conical outer body 51 compressively the sign is thereafter easily released,if desired. As can be noted there is use of a pair of the releasably attachable sign displaydevice 2 to securely hold the sign 6, i.e. the sign having holes 60 adjacent each end thereof,preferably a pair of holes 60 interfitting with a pair of holding members 5 on each holding body part 20.Further, in Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown that the holding body part 20 comprises of three bodyportions, a holding body portion 202 that is positioned at one end thereof and a first grippingmember 200, preferably having a U-shape, that is positioned at another end and there betweenan intermediate distance body portion 201. The intermediate distance body portion 201 has itspurpose to create a distance X away outwardly from a vertical plane PA for attachment of holding body part 20. This distance X is advantageous due to facilitating a gap G (see Fig.6) between the surface of the vehicle 1 and the holding body portion 202. Preferably the distancebody portion 201 includes supporting side panels 210A and extends along a plane thatpresents an angle α between the vertical plane PA and its center plane, which angle α preferably is in the range of 30°-70°. Thanks to presenting an acute angle α, of less than 90°, there will also be achieved a distance Y between the lower edge of the holding body portion202 and the upper edge of the first gripping member 200, which preferably is in the range of10-100 mm.Moreover, it is shown that the holding body part 20 at the same level as the first grippingmember 200 includes a neighboring body portion that includes a passage 203, preferablyrectangular, that together with at least one resilient locking device 204 form a first half 20B ofa releasable locking arrangement 20B, 21A. Preferably the first gripping member 200 and the neighboring body portion form an integral body.In Fig. 3 there is shown a fastening body part 21, which forms a second body part of thereleasably attachable sign display device 2. At one end thereof there is a second grippingmember 210 which preferably also has a U-shape. The U-shape safeguards secure grippingaround an edge of the registration sign 3. At the other end there is male attachment device21A. As shown, preferably the male attachment device 21A includes a snap in and stopmember 213 intended to interact with the passage 203 to loosely keep the two body parts 20,21 connected, by providing a snap-in function of the male attachment device 21A in thepassage 203. The position of the snap in and stop member 213 is preferably arranged adjacentthe upper edge of the male attachment device 21A. The shown snap in and stop member 213includes at least one resilient leg member 213B with a protrusion 213A, which resiliently mayinteract with the passage 203, e.g. by providing a gap 214 between the leg member 213B and a central body portion 211 or merely by making the protrusion 213A resilient per se, e.g. a spring actuated ball.Further it shown that the male attachment device 21A includes at least one interactingmember 212 that may interact with the resilient locking device 204, preferably to provide anadjustable locking function, preferably merely in one direction, in interaction with theresilient locking device 204 of the female attachment device 20B. Preferably said interactingmember 212 is arranged along at least one side edge 215 of the male attachment device 21A,e.g. in the form of a serrated surface that step wise may interact with a protruding edge 204Aof the resilient locking device 204 of the female attachment device 20B. Preferably theinteracting member 212 is positioned a distance Z below the snap in and stop member 213and thereby preferably also below the upper edge of the male attachment device 21A, such that there may be obtained a greater distance between the gripping members 200, 210 in alose connected state, merely using the snap in and stop member 213, and a smaller distancebetween the gripping members 200, 210 when the resilient locking device 204 locks into theinteracting member 212. Preferably the protruding edge 204A of the resilient locking device204 and the serrated surface of the interacting member 212 will be formed such that an“automatic locking function” is achieved against movement in an opening direction, such that a desired locking function around the edges 30,31 of a registration sign is easily achieved merely by pushing the two parts 20, 21 tighter into engagement. To achieve release / openingthe resilient locking device 204 (or members) are pressed / pivoted such that the protrudingedge 204A comes out of contact with the interacting member 212 (e.g. serrated surface)whereby release / opening is easily achieved.Hence, the length L of fastening body part 21 is preferably longer than the height of aregistration sign 3, such that when the snap in and stop device 213 has connected with thepassage 203 the distance between the first gripping body portions 200 and second grippingmember 210 is such that there will be sufficient distance to easily position (hung onto theupper edge 31) the releasably attachable sign display device 2 onto the registration sign 3,whereafter the releasably attachable sign display device 2 may be locked onto the registrationsign 3 by further pushing the male attachment device 21A into the passage 203 wherebyinteraction between the interacting member 212 and resilient locking device 204 will arrangefor having first and second gripping members 200, 210 securely gripping around the edges 30,31(see Fig. 6) of the registration sign 3.In Fig 4 it is shown an example of how the two body parts 20, 21 may first be looselyconnected by means of having the snap in and stop device 213 passed through the passage213 such that the fastening body part 21 hangs loosely below the holding body 20, whereafter locking at a registration sign 3 may easily be achieved by activating the locking arrangement21A, 21B. Moreover, it is shown that the holding members 5 are positioned such that a majorpart of the sign 6 may not cover the registration sign 3, i.e. reading of the letters / numbers on the registration sign 3 is not hindered. In Fig.5 there is shown two releasably attachable sign display devices 2 being attached to alearner sign 6 by means of having the holding members 5 pushed into holes 60 of the sign andreleasably locked to the outer surface 22 of each releasably attachable sign display devices 2. In this situation the unit may be securely attached onto a registration sign 3, by first havinghanged an upper gripping portion 200 positioned onto the upper edge 31 of the registrationsign 3 in a non-locked state, but merely connected by the snap in and stop mechanism 213,203 and thereafter locked onto the registration sign 3 by pushing the fastening body part 21and holding body part 20 closer to each other to thereby reduce the distance between the firstgripping member 200 and the second gripping member 210 and arrange for the resilientlocking device 204 to lock into the interacting member 212 whereby it will safely be attachedonto the registration sign 3. In Fig.6 there is shown a view where the 2 with the 6 have been securely attached to aregistration sign 3 whereby the second gripping member 210 of the fastening body part 21locks around the lower edge 30 of the registration sign 3 and the second first gripping member200 locks around the upper edge 31 of the registration sign 3. It shows that preferably thebody of fastening body part 21 is transparent, such that the letters / numbers of the registrationsign 3 may be seen through the body of fastening body part 21. Further, it is shown that thedistance body portion 201 may extend outwardly to achieve a desired gap G.In fig.7 there is shown a side view of a modified embodiment according to the invention, wherein most features are the same as described above and in the following therefore there will be a focus on modified aspects. Firstly it can be noted that the releasable attachmentarrangement 21A, 20B is different. Here the interacting member 212 is in the form of a withholding device, e.g. in form of a button like device, that is fixated onto the fastening body part21 and that with holds one part of a resilient locking device 204, in the form of a resilientstring (e.g. rubber band). The other part of the resilient locking device 204 is anchored adjacent the upper end of the gripping member 200 adjacent the female attachment device20B at an anchoring device 201A, e.g. anchored within a groove. The anchoring device 201Ais preferably arranged in a body portion that is integral with the gripping member 200. As isevident the function of the modified releasable attachment arrangement 21A, 20B is basicallysimilar to what is described above, i.e. the interaction of the resilient locking device 204 and the interacting member 212 will create a resilient force urging to diminish the distance between the gripping members 200, 210, such that once in place onto a registration sign 3 itwill urge to keep each releasably attachable sign display device 2 in place. To detach thereleasably attachable sign display devices 2 a pulling force is to be applied, e.g. to thefastening body part 20, whereby one of the gripping members will be moved out of contact with the edge of the registration sign 3. Further, it is shown that the distance body portion 201may extend a distance X outwardly without any angle to achieve a desired gap G. Moreover,it is shown that the holding members 5 are positioned such that a major part of the sign 6 maynot cover the registration sign 3, i.e. reading of the letters / numbers on the registration sign 3 isnot hindered.It is evident for the skilled person that the arrangement of male attachment device 21A andfemale attachment device 21B may be inverted i.e. that the passage 203 instead of being fixedto the holding body part 20 may instead be fixed to the fastening body part 21 and in acorresponding manner having one end of the holding body part 20 forming male attachmentdevice intended for introduction through the passage 203 arranged at the fastening body part21. Likewise it is foreseen that instead of having the holding body part 20 positioned abovethe registration sign 3 it may instead be positioned below the registration sign whereby noother change is needed than to turn the sign 6180° when attaching it to the two releasablyattachable sign display devices 2. However, mostly a position of the sign 3 above is morepreferred than below since normally there may be parts of the vehicle 1 that protrude belowand therefore it mostly more suitable to have it positioned above the registration sign 3. In order to release the releasably attachable sign display devices 2 with the sign 6 from theregistration sign 3 it is easily achieved by pressing the resilient locking device 204 wherebythe interacting edge 204A of the resilient locking device 204 will pivot out of contact with theinteracting member 212 whereby it may easily be detached from male attachment device 21Aand then a sufficient distance between the first gripping body member 200 and secondgripping member 210 will be achieved to loosen the releasably attachable sign display devices2 from the registration sign 3.As mentioned above, thanks to preferably having resilient legs 214 with knobs 214A at theupper end of the male attachment device 21A the fastening body part 21 and holding bodypart 20 may be connected without interaction of the locking arrangement 21A, 21B, toprovide a distance that is sufficient for easily attaching and taking off the releasably attachablesign display devices 2 from the registration sign 3, respectively, since the knobs 214A provideresilient stop members that will facilitate that the holding body part 20 and fastening bodypart 21 still are connected to each other when the opening distance is achieved, i.e. facilitatingeasy removal and attachment. Once detached from the registration sign it is easy to just pullthe holding body part 20 and fastening body part 21 apart from each other to arrange forcompact storage thereof. However, it is evident for the skilled person that the basic function of the invention is fulfilled without the snap in and stop mechanism 213, i.e. merely having the interacting member 212 in cooperation with a resilient locking device 204, e.g. by having a serrated surface extendingfrom adjacent the end of the male device arranged with the locking arrangement 21A andextending a sufficient distance in a direction against the gripping member 210, such that a locking function may be achieved for registration signs 3 of varying heights.When using the invention preferably the two releasably attachable sign display devices 2 mayfirstly be releasably attached by means of the holding members 5 to the sign 6. Thereafter thereleasably attachable sign display devices 2, with the sign 6, may easily be attached to theregistration sign 3. Taking off the releasably attachable sign display device 2 with the sign 6 issimilarly easy to achieve and thanks to easy releasable attachment between the releasablyattachable sign display device 2 and the sign 6 the releasably attachable sign display device 2can thereafter form a very compact assembly that may be easily stored in the car 1. In Figs.8-11 there is shown a second embodiment according to the invention which basically has the same function as described above, but where it is shown that the arrangement may beinverted such that the sign 6 may be positioned below the registration sign 3.In Fig.8 there is shown a fastening body part 21 according to a further embodiment according to the invention. A basic principle of the fastening body part 21 is the same as has been described above. And therefore merely different features will be described. One difference to be noted is that the end part with the 210 is arranged with a gripping device 210A in order to make it easier to pull the fastening body part 21 into a position wherein the gap betweensecond gripping member 210 and the first gripping member 200 are expanded.In Figs.9 and 10 there are shown perspective views of a holding body part 20 intended to cooperate with the fastening body part 21 presented in Fig.8. Also the basic principle of the holding body part 20 shown in this further embodiment is the same as has been described above and therefore merely differing features will be focused on below. One evident difference is that the holding member 5 instead of being a protruding member protruding from 202 is in the form of a passage intended to cooperate with a male device 60 of a sign 6 (seeFig. 12) Further it is shown that the first gripping member 200 is arranged with a rib 200A,which may provide the advantage that signs 6 of different thickness may be gripped in a stable manner. Moreover, it is foreseen that the passage 203 is arranged by means of atransversal plate 209, which preferably also forms support base for at least one anchoringdevice 201A, e.g. in the form of a hook. As shown, there are preferably two anchoring devices201A which provides the advantages that two separate resilient members 4 may be usedproviding extra security. Further it is shown that supporting side panels 201B, 202B are usedhaving L-shape that run along the sides of both the distance body portion 201 and the holdingbody portion, which may improve strength and stability of the holding body part 20.Preferably, the width w of the said side panels 201B, 202B are many times larger than thethickness t, preferably at least w > 2t. In Fig.11 there is a perspective view where the holding body part 20 and the fastening body part 21 have been connected and also presenting that the holding body part 20 may be positioned below the registration plate.Further, Fig. 12 shows a perspective view where a sign 6 has been attached to the holdingbody part 20 by means of a snapping in male device 60 of the sign 6 into the passages 5 of the holding body part 20.It is evident that the releasably attachable sign display device 2 may be produced in manydifferent materials to fulfil the purpose of the invention. However it is foreseen that it ispreferred to use some kind of polymeric material and that the production may be achieved byform molding. It is also foreseen that different polymers may be used (reinforced orunreinforced) that may produce suitable resiliency and rigidity to optimize and to adapt todifferent needs. It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A releasably attachable sign display device (2), comprising:a holding body part (20) and a fastening body part (21) arranged to be releasably attachable toeach other by means of a releasable attachment arrangement (21A, 21B, wherein said holdingbody part (20) is arranged with at least one sign holding member (5) arranged to securely holda sign (6) against an outer surface (22) of said holding body part (20),wherein said fasteningbody part (21) includes a second gripping member (210) arranged to grip around a firsthorizontal edge (30) of a vehicle registration sign (3) and that said holding body part (20)includes a first gripping member (200) arranged to grip around an opposite second horizontaledge (31) of said vehicle registration sign (3), wherein said releasable attachmentarrangement (21A, 20B) is arranged to securely fasten the sign display device (2) to a vehicle(1), characterized in that the said fastening body part (21) is transparent and arranged tovisibly extend across the front side of said registration sign (3) and that said holding bodyportion (202) extends upwardly arranged to position a major part of said sign (6) above saidregistration sign (3) or extends downwardly arranged to position a major part of said sign (6)below said registration sign (3).

2. The releasably attachable sign display device of claim 1, wherein said releasableattachment arrangement (21A, 20B) includes a male attachment device (21A) arranged at one end of one of the body parts (20, 21) and an interfitting female attachment device (20B) arranged at one end of the other body part (20, 21), wherein preferably the length (L) of said body part (20, 21) including said male device (21A) is arranged to be sufficient to maintain connection between said male and female devices (21A, 20B) when passing said gripping members (200, 210) past the edges (30, 31) of a registration sign (3).

3. The releasably attachable sign display device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said male attachmentdevice (21A) is in the form of an at least partly solid end body part (211, 213) interacting witha passage (203) of said female attachment device (20B) and said at least partly solid end bodypart (211, 213) is arranged with at least one interacting member (212) arranged to interactwith at least one resilient locking device (204).

4. The releasably attachable sign display device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said maleattachment device includes snap in and stop device (213) interacting with said passage (203) arranged to provide connection between the two body parts (20, 21) providing a large distancebetween the gripping members (200, 210) and that said resilient locking device (204) maylockingly interact with said interacting member (212) to obtain a smaller distance between the gripping members (200, 210), wherein preferably said second gripping member (200) andsaid passage (300) are integrated in one integral body part.

5. The releasably attachable sign display device of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said holdingbody portion (202) is arranged with said at least one sign holding member (5) at a positionarranged to position a lower edge (6A) of said sign (6) adjacent or above an upper edge (3B) of said registration sign (3) and / or to position an upper edge (6B) of said sign (6) adjacent or below a lower edge (3A) of said registration sign (3).

6. The releasably attachable sign display device of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said holdingbody part (20) includes a holding body portion (202) at an opposite end thereof in relation to said second gripping member (200) and also a distance body portion (201) in between said holding body portion (202) and said second gripping member (200), wherein said distancebody portion (201) is arranged to provide a positioning of the holding body portion (202) at ahorizontal distance (X) outwardly from the plane of attachment (PA) of said releasable attachment arrangement (21A, 20B), wherein preferably said horizontal distance (X) is provided having said distance body portion (201) extending at angle (α) in relation to a plane (VP) of said holding body portion (202), wherein more preferred said angle (α) is acute, even more preferred in the range of 30-70°.

7. The releasably attachable sign display device of claim 1,2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein saidholding body portion (202) extends upwardly arranged to have its lowest edge positioned adistance (Y) above an upper edge of an upper gipping member (200) or to have its uppermostedge positioned a distance (Y) above an upper edge of an upper gipping member (200),wherein preferably Y is at least 10 mm, more preferred at least 20 mm, even more preferredwithin the range of 30 -100 mm.

8. The releasably attachable sign display device of any preceding claim, wherein said grippingmembers (200, 210) present a U-shape.

9. The releasably attachable sign display according to any preceding claim, wherein the maximum width (W) of said sign display device (2) is less than 50%, preferably less than 40%, more preferred 30% or less, of the length (L, H) of any of said holding body part (20) orsaid fastening body part (21), wherein preferably the length (L) of said holding body part (20)is within the range of +- 30%, preferably within the range of +- 20% of the length (H) of saidfastening body part (21).

10. The releasably attachable sign display according to any preceding claim, wherein said atleast one sign holding member (5) comprises a body (51,50) including an outer snap-in bodymember (51) that protrudes out from said outer surface (22), wherein preferably there are arranged at least two such sign holding members (5).

11. A sign holding arrangement including at least two releasably attachable sign displaydevices (2) according to any of claims 1-9, wherein preferably said releasably attachable signdisplay devices (2) when put into position are arranged to form a gap (G) between an innersurface (23) of the holding part (20) and an outer surface of the vehicle.

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