Vehicle parking space sign system

Abstract

A parking space sign system that is placed in a parking space at the interior end and includes a U-shaped flexible bracket defining a base and two opposing arms projecting from the base, a pair of frame mounts adapted for mounting to the projecting arms, at least one sign panel having indicia thereon for placement in one of the frame mounts and an end cap for each end of each frame mount to secure the frame mounts to the flexible bracket. The flexible brackets are preferably made from a rubber-based material used for tires.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking space sign system, said system comprising: at least one flexible U-shaped bracket; at least one frame mount, said frame mount defining an open-ended sleeve; at least one end cap adapted for sliding into said open-ended sleeve; and means for mounting said end cap and said frame mount to said flexible bracket.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for mounting comprises: hardware for penetrating said end cap and said flexible bracket to support said frame mount on said flexible bracket.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a bracket aperture defined by said flexible bracket; an aperture defined by said end cap; and a first threaded fastener for inserting through said bracket aperture and said end cap aperture and a second threaded fastener for mating with said first threaded aperture.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said end cap aperture is an elongated aperture.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a panel adapted for slidably engaging said sleeve, said panel having indicia thereon.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said flexible bracket has a base and an arm projecting upward from said base.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said flexible bracket has a base, a first arm projecting upward from said base and a second arm projecting upward from said base.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising: a second frame mount having an open ended sleeve; said at least one frame being adapted for mounting to said first arm; and said second frame mount being adapted for mounting to said second arm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one end cap further comprises a light source and battery configured to illuminate said at least one frame mount.

10. A vehicle parking space sign system, said system comprising: a first flexible bracket; a second flexible bracket; at least one frame mount, said frame mount having an upper flange depending from an upper end and a lower flange projecting upward, an open-ended sleeve defined by said upper flange and said lower flange, said frame mount having a first open end and a second open end in communication with said sleeve; a first end cap adapted for sliding into said open-ended sleeve through said first open end; a second end cap adapted for sliding into said open-ended sleeve through said second open end; and means for mounting said end caps and said frame mount to said flexible brackets.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: said first flexible bracket comprising a first base and a first arm projecting upward from said first base and said second flexible bracket comprises a second base and a second arm projecting upward from said second base; and said first end cap being adapted for mounting to said first arm and said second end cap being adapted for mounting to said second arm.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising: said first flexible bracket comprising a first base and a first front arm projecting upward from said first base and a first rear arm projecting upward from said first base; said second flexible bracket comprising a second base and a second front arm projecting upward from said second base and a second rear arm projecting upward from said second base; a second frame mount having second upper flange depending from an upper end and a second lower flange projecting upward, a second open-ended sleeve defined by said second upper flange and said second lower flange, said second frame mount having a left open end and a right open end in communication with said second sleeve; a third end cap with an aperture adapted for sliding into said left open end; a fourth end cap with an aperture adapted for sliding into said right open end; said first front cap being adapted for mounting to said first arm; said second end cap being adapted for mounting to said second front arm; said third end cap being adapted for mounting to said first rear arm; and said fourth end cap being adapted for mounting to said second rear arm.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for mounting comprises: first hardwire for penetrating said first front end cap and said first arm; second hardware for penetrating said second end cap and said second front arm; third hardware for penetrating said third end cap and said first rear arm; and fourth hardware for penetrating said fourth end cap and said second rear arm.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said first end cap has a first aperture for receiving said first hardware, said second end cap has a second aperture for receiving said second hardware, said third end cap has a third hardware for receiving said third aperture and said fourth end cap has a fourth aperture for receiving said fourth hardware.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first end cap aperture, said second end cap aperture, said third end cap aperture and said fourth end cap aperture are elongated for adjusting said end caps on said flexible brackets.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein: said first flexible bracket and said second flexible bracket comprising a flexible and semi-rigid rubber.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein said first flexible bracket and said second flexible bracket comprise a tire material.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein said first flexible bracket and said second flexible bracket are reinforced by metal.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one end cap further comprises a light source and battery configured to illuminate the at least one frame mount.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the parking space advertising system in accordance with the instant invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the parking space advertising system in accordance with the instant invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the parking space advertising system in accordance with the instant invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view of cut lines on a tire for use in the parking space advertising system in accordance with the instant invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 is an elevational view of cut lines on a tire for use in the parking space advertising system in accordance with the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 depict the preferred embodiment of the instant invention which is generally referenced as a vehicle parking space sign system, parking space sign system and, or by numeric character 10. The instant invention 10 comprises a stand-alone parking space sign system for displaying parking signs or advertisements in parking spaces without parking bumpers. The parking space sign system 10 displays the panels with a name, message or advertisement from within its structure so as to protect the panel from inclement weather, bird droppings, hot automobile liquid drippings and other elements that would damage and erode the signage. Displaying the panel from within the parking space sign system 10 also helps to present or minimize theft. The instant invention 10 is also designed to accommodate interchangeable panels. The parking advertising system 10 can also display names, messages or advertisements on a front surface and back surface to provide simultaneously signage for two opposing parking spaces. The instant invention 10 is also flexible to withstand being bumped or run over by a vehicle.

(8) With reference to FIGS. 1-4, in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention the vehicle parking space sign system 10 comprises two flexible brackets 40, at least one and preferably two frame mounts 12 and an end cap 30 for each end of each frame mount 12. Referring to FIG. 1, the flexible brackets 40 preferably comprise a U-shaped rubber based material, similar to that found in tires, which can bend without breaking while storing potential energy went bent such that it returns to its original position when released. The U-shaped flexible brackets 40 may be reinforced with a bendable steel or other metal embedded in the rubber, as is known with conventional tires. The flexible brackets 40 may be made from tires. The rubber used for the flexible brackets 40 are also soft or pliable enough so as to not cause damage to a vehicle if it runs over the parking space sign system 10. The flexible brackets 40 may also be semi-rigid yet flexible.

(9) With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the frame mount 12 has a lower upward projecting flange 15 and upper depending flange 16 wherein the lower flange 15 and upper flange 16 define a sleeve for receiving a sign panel 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The frame mount 12 and panel 20 assembly is mounted to the flexible brackets 40 using end caps 30, as shown in FIG. 1. Each end cap 30 comprises a flat plate 32 with a flange 34 projecting upward from the plate 32 and a lip 36 formed at the interior end of the flange 34 for catching the side of the frame mount 12. A slot 38 extends across the plate 32 and into the flange 34 for receiving a fastener, such as a screw or bolt, and lining it up with an aperture in the frame mount 12 and bracket 40. The lip 36 defines a recessed groove 37 for receiving the edge of the frame mount 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The sign panel 20 displaying the name, message or advertisement, slides into the sleeve of the frame mount 12 formed by flanges 15, 16. An end cap 30 is inserted into each end of the frame mount 12 into the frame sleeve creating a friction fit that secures the sign panel 20 in the frame mount 12 while sealing off the end of the frame mount 12 from moisture. The frame mount 12 is attached to a bracket 40 by passing a threaded fastener 42, such as a screw or bolt, through the slotted aperture 38 of the end cap and a corresponding aperture in the flexible bracket 40 and securing it to the bracket 40 with a corresponding threaded fastener, such as a nut 44. The fasteners 42, 44 may not be threaded in an alternative embodiment.

(10) With reference to FIG. 2, the panel 20 is interchangeable wherein the panel 20 can be removed and replaced with a new panel 20 at any time. To replace a panel 20, the parking space sign system 10 is first detached from the U-bracket 40 by removing the fasteners 42 and 44. Then at least one end cap 30 is removed from the frame mount 12. Due to the friction fit provided by the end caps 30, both end caps 30 may have to be removed to release the panel 20. Once one or both end cups 30 are removed, the panel 20 is simply slid out from the sleeve formed by the frame mount 12. A new panel 20 is then slid into the sleeve of the frame mount 12 and then secured in place by reinserting the end caps 30.

(11) With reference to FIG. 3, the parking space sign system 10 is secured in a parking space by securing the brackets 40 to the parking space surface. The bracket 40 is secured to a parking space ground surface, such as concrete or asphalt, with a preferred fastener 46 adapted for concrete or asphalt, such as those sold under the trademark Tapcon, that is passed through an aperture 47 in the base of the bracket 40 directly into the surface or into a predrilled hole in the surface. Alternatively, an anchor may be placed in the hole drilled in the ground surface for receiving the fastener 46. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the parking space sign system 10 is flexible and provides a sign on both sides to provide signage for opposite parking spaces facing each other. The flexibility of the park space sign system 10 is also shown in FIG. 3, where a vehicle is shown deflecting the brackets 40. This method of securing the sign system 10 to a ground surface allows for convenient movement or replacing the sign system 10.

(12) With reference to FIG. 4, the U-brackets 40 are preferably made from a tire. However, the U-brackets 40 may also be molded from flexible rubber or rubber-like material. The U-brackets 40 are made by making a plurality of diagonal cuts, such as along lines A-A to D-D, through the tire as it is positioned horizontally on a flat support surface. The number of diagonal cuts may be decreased or increased to increase and decrease the size of the brackets 40, as shown in FIG. 4. Once all the cuts have been made, there exists a plurality of U-shaped brackets 40.

(13) With reference to FIG. 5, in an alternative embodiment the bracket 40 may comprises an L-shaped or J-shaped bracket wherein the U-shaped bracket is cut in half by making a vertical cut along lines E-E of the tire. The L-shaped or U-shaped bracket made by cutting the U-shaped bracket 40 in half may be used for presenting a sign in a single parking space, such as those against a wall, rather than two opposing parking spaces. Once all the cuts have been made, there exists a plurality of L-shaped or J-shaped brackets.

(14) It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.