Magnetic Bumper Attachment

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a bumper sticker comprises an underlying magnetic substrate of an appropriate thickness together with magnetic indicia which, because of the thickness of the underlying magnetic substrate, are magnetically affixed to an object such as an automobile bumper or other vehicle portion. The present invention, the magnetic field lines of the magnetic indicia coupled to an object such as a vehicle bumper.

Claims

1. A device for attachment to an external, magnetically susceptible surface of a motor vehicle, said device comprising: a magnetic substrate for affixation to said external, magnetically susceptible motor vehicle surface; and a plurality of magnetic indicia disposed on said substrate, said magnetic substrate being sufficiently thin to allow magnetic attachment of said magnetic indicia directly to said external magnetically susceptible motor vehicle surface.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said magnetic indicia comprise language elements selected from the group consisting of numbers, alphabetic characters and punctuation marks.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said indicia comprise language elements from an alphabet.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said magnetic substrate comprises a sheet of powdered ferrite.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said magnetic indicia comprise material made from a sheet of powdered ferrite.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said magnetic substrate is no more than 0.02 inches thick.

7. The device of claim 1 in which said magnetic indicia is approximately 0.03 inches thick.

8. The device of claim 1 in which said magnetic indicia is pictorial.

9. The device of claim 1 in combination with an external, magnetically susceptible surface of a motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a bumper sticker, constructed in accordance with the present invention and displaying the particular message EXPRESS YOURSELF HERE.

[0033] FIG. 2 constitutes a sample display of some of the alphabetic and punctuation characters that may be employed in conjunction with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the underlying magnetic substrate for the bumper stickers is cut from a roll of thin magnetic stock that is composed of ferrite powder. The stock for the bumper sticker substrate is preferably about 0.02 in thickness. This is a critical dimension that is, unfortunately, not visible in FIG. 1, for obvious reasons. However, the notion of thickness of an underlying substrate is an unambiguous concept. Similarly, letters, numerals, and punctuation marks (and generally the secondary objects referred to above) are cut from similar stock. However, this latter stock is preferably about 0.03 in thickness. The text or other pictorial information present on the underlying magnetic substrate is changeable at will. This is done by changing the magnetic letters, numerals, punctuation, characters or pictorial objects in accordance with the user's desires or needs. These secondary objects are movable on and removable from the underlying magnetic substrate. However, and importantly for an understanding of the present invention the underlying magnetic substrate is sufficiently thin that the magnetic properties of the secondary objects allow these objects themselves to also be magnetically attached to the vehicle.

[0035] While preferred embodiments of the present invention employ underlying magnetic substrate having a thickness less than 0.02 inches, certain environments (for example, indoors) present themselves with the opportunity to employ thicker underlying magnetic substrates. The relevant factor is the ability of the magnetic field of the movable magnetic letters (generally, indicia) to penetrate the underlying magnetic substrate so as to be able to create a magnetic attachment between the magnetic surface (for example, car door) to which the underlying magnetic substrate is to be attached. Likewise, variation in thickness for the movable magnetic letters is also possible without departing from the inventive aspects described herein. The relevant factor in this choice is providing sufficient magnetic material to produce sufficient magnetic coupling through the all the way through to the object to which it is to be attached.

[0036] The present invention includes a ruled magnetic bumper sticker kit that includes interchangeable letters, numbers, and punctuations in English, Spanish or any desired language. By using this magnetic bumper sticker with interchangeable magnetic letters, numerals, and punctuation marks, one can change both position and content.

[0037] It is noted that since the present invention is easily affixed to a ferrous portion of a vehicle, it is just as easily removed. Advantageously for the present invention this removal is accomplished without any damage to the underlying vehicle finish. However, it should be noted that certain content might not be welcome viewing for all readers. Such individuals might be tempted to change the content expressed. Such individuals might also be tempted to remove this bumper sticker themselves and possibly to depart with it. Accordingly, users of the present invention are advised to remove it from their vehicle in those situations where interference with the content of the expression is suspected to occur. It is to be particularly noted that the present invention provides an advantage in that removal of the bumper sticker may be accomplished without disturbing the pattern of secondary object placed thereon.

[0038] In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention it is provided in the form of a magnetic bumper sticker kit. This kit comprises at least one substrate and a plurality of secondary objects for attachment thereto. Typically such a kit comprises one or more underlying magnetic substrates together with a mixture of alphabetic characters occurring in a frequency which is consistent with the language of the user. For example, with the English language the characters E, T, A, O, I and N are the most frequently employed. The well-known word board game Scrabble provides a good indication of desirable letter frequency. The kit is conveniently packaged in a box sized to hold the underlying magnetic substrate and a plurality of characters. A sample set of such characters for the English language is shown in FIG. 2.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 1, magnetic bumper sticker 100 is placeable on a car or any ferrous surface. The magnetic letters (for example, letters X, Y, and E, numerals 101, 102 and 103 respectively), or other secondary objects are arranged in any order to display any message. For convenience, lightly dashed rulings 110 and 120, as shown, are preferably placed on the underlying magnetic substrate for purposes of more easily aligning a set of characters. The characters may comprise any letters, in any font, or any size with the most desirable quality being readability. The magnetic bumper sticker is placed on any metal part of one's car. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the underlying magnetic substrate is first applied to the vehicle and then the secondary objects are affixed thereto to form any desired message or image. The underlying magnetic substrate is preferably flexible, particularly in those contexts where it is required to more closely conform to the curves of a vehicle on which it is to be disposed.

[0040] The magnetic substrate employed herein for affixation to a vehicle surface along with the magnetic indicia may be made of a material comprising any desired color. Clearly, it is not desirable that they be of the same color but rather of contrasting colors for ease of visibility. In particular, neon colors may be employed as well as substrate or indicia material that include reflective coatings or surfaces, for example, for ease of viewing at night time or at other periods of lesser visibility. Magnetic substrate and the magnetic indicia employed herein may be of any desired height consistent with vehicle placement. For example, substrate and indicia in accordance with the present invention may assume larger sizes when placed on a vehicle side doors as opposed to vehicle bumpers or to their rear trunk lids or other rear parts. It is noted that the message display device of the present invention my even be disposed on the sides of vehicles without being adversely affected by wind conditions, even at highway speeds.

[0041] In addition to the display device of the present invention, there is associated therewith a corresponding method. This is a method for attaching message display devices to an underlying surface which is susceptible to magnetic materials. The first step in this method is to provide an underlying magnetic substrate which is of sufficient thinness. The second step of the method is to provide magnetic indicia having a sufficiently strong magnetic field to penetrate the underlying magnetic substrate surface and to thus form a magnetic linkage with the object to which the message device is to be attached.

[0042] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0043] Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless explicitly so stated, but rather one or more. All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase means for.

[0044] While the invention has been described in detail herein in accordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.