Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02453679 2003-12-18
ADVERTISING DISPLAY FOR BUSES AND OTHER
PUBLIC TRANSIT VEHICLES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an advertising display and more
specifically, to an advertising display for passenger assist straps which are
commonly used in buses, streetcars, trolleys, shuttles, subways, commuter
trains,
and other public transit vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The advertisement of products and services takes many forms. A distinction
can be drawn between advertisements that exist inside the home, such as those
broadcast on television, and those that exist outside the home, such as those
appearing on outdoor billboards and posters. Within the field of outdoor
advertising, there is a further subgroup that can be referred to as public
transit
advertising. Some pre-existing forms of public transit advertising are poster
media
placed inside of public transit vehicles such as buses. This type of
advertising is
effective for a number of reasons. First, a large number of people may use a
public
transit vehicle on any given day. Second, many people use the same public
transit
service many times per week and therefore can be exposed to the same
advertising
messages multiple times. Third, the passengers are a captive audience of the
advertising messages placed inside of the vehicle for the duration of their
ride.
Although such advertising is particularly effective, there are physical limits
to
the amount of space that advertising media can take up within a public transit
vehicle. Accordingly, there is a need for a novel advertising medium for the
interior
of a public transit vehicle placed in such a way so as to increase the amount
of
available space for advertising messages and make use of space within public
transit
vehicles not previously utilized for the display of advertising messages.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an improved advertising display
and method thereof for use in public transit vehicles.
In one embodiment, the invention relates to an advertising display for use in
a public transit vehicle comprising a substrate including advertising and
fastening
means attached to the substrate for attaching the substrate to a passenger
assist strap
in the vehicle.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a combination advertising
display and passenger assist strap comprising an advertising substrate and
attachment means securing the display to the strap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in greater detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the
invention,
and wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of the components of an advertising display
according to the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a side view of the advertising medium of Fig. 1 installed on a
passenger assist strap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a passenger assist strap indicated generally at
2
is a generally flexible strap which hangs at about head/eye level from the
overhead
railings (not shown) that run the length of the public transit vehicle's
interior. The
strap 2 includes a main loop 4 which passengers can hold to steady themselves
while they are standing within the public transit vehicle, a second loop 6 for
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suspending the strap 2 from the overhead railing and a neck portion 8 between
the
loops 4 and 6. The neck 8 has the opening 9. Generally, there are multiple
passenger assist straps within a single public transit vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the advertising medium is a
rectangular advertising board substrate 10 made of plastic or the like which
is
securely attachable to the passenger assist strap 2 in such a way so that the
advertising message printed on the board 10 is positioned at approximately eye-
level for standing passengers and is highly visible to many passengers within
the
vehicle. An advertising message or indicia indicated generally at 12 is
printed on or
otherwise affixed to the front of the board 10, which in the preferred
embodiment,
serves as the advertising medium. The board 10 can be rigid or flexible and
can be a
variety of shapes. The board 10 can be two-dimensional or have a three-
dimensional
relief quality. Other suitable materials which can be used for the board 10
include
vinyl, PVC, neoprene, polyethylene, foam board, laminated paper, card stock
and
any combination thereof. The board 10 is attached to the passenger assist
strap 2 by
means of a fastener indicated generally at 14.
The fastener 14 includes a U-shaped bracket 16 with arms 17 attached to the
back of the board 10 by use of an adhesive, or through the forming process,
and
clamp hardware including a front plate 18 with an opening 19, a back plate 20
with
an opening 21, a bolt 22 and a nut 24. To mount the board 10 on the strap 2,
the
plates 18 and 20 are first affixed to the front and back of a neck 8 or the
strap 2 and
held in place by passing the bolt 22 through the openings 21, 9 and 19 and
locking
the bolt 22 with nut 24. The board 10 is then attached to the strap 2 by
loosening the
plate 18 and engaging the arms 17 of bracket 16 with the plate 18, and then
tightening the plate 18 such that the arms 17 become wedged between the plate
18
and the neck 8. One portion of the fastener 14 is affixed to the board 10.
Another
portion of the fastener extends from the board 10 and attaches to the
passenger assist
strap 2.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is attached to
the passenger assist strap 2 by use of a fastener having an arm-like portion
which is
wedged between the plate 18 and/ or 20 and the neck 8 so that the arm-like
portion
of the fastener protrudes from any of: the bottom of plate 18 and/ or 20; the
top of
plate 18 and/ or 20; the left side of plate 18 and/ or 20; the right side of
plate 18
and/or 20; or any combination thereof.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is attached
to the passenger assist strap 2 by use of a fastener by inserting a portion of
a fastener
having flexible clips which are inserted, into slots cut or formed in the
clamp
hardware component of the passenger assist strap so that one or more teeth on
the
fastener clips are positioned between the clamp hardware portion of the
passenger
assist strap and the strap portion of the passenger assist strap.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is attached
to the passenger assist strap 2 by use of a fastener having flexible clips
which are
inserted, into slots cut or formed in the clamp hardware component of the
passenger
assist strap so that one or more teeth on the fastener clips are positioned
within a
cavity in the clamp hardware portion of the passenger assist strap.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is attached to
the passenger assist strap 2 by use of a fastener having one or more fixed
knobs
which are inserted, into one or more receptacles cut or formed in the clamp
hardware component of the passenger assist strap so that the fastener and
hence the
medium are attached to the passenger assist strap.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is
attached to the passenger assist strap 2 by use of a fastener by looping or
clamping
one portion of the fastener around the passenger assist strap 2 at or near the
vicinity
of the neck 8.
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In a yet further embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is attached
to the passenger assist strap 2 by attaching the board 10 directly to the neck
8 by use
of the bolt 22 and nut 24. An opening is provided in the board 10 for
receiving the
bolt 22. In this embodiment, plate 18 and plate 20 can optionally be
permanently
removed.
In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is
attached to the passenger assist strap 2 by use of a fastener by looping one
portion of
the fastener between the overhead railing of the public transit vehicle and
the
second loop 6 of the passenger assist strap 2 that encircles the overhead
railing.
In a further additional embodiment of the present invention, the board 10 is
secured directly to the overhead railing of the vehicle by means of a fastener
such as
loop or clip and is optionally attached to the passenger assist strap 2.
From the foregoing it is to be appreciated that the present invention provides
a medium for advertising and method for attaching said medium to passenger
assist
straps commonly used in public transit vehicles so that such advertising is
visible
and in plain view of passengers.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
invention is
not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.
