Roof mounted vehicle topper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11893909-B2
Application number	US-202218073865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2022
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

Systems and method for vehicle top advertising are provided. Cross bars span a roof of the vehicle. A vehicle top unit with an electronic display is attached to the cross bars. One or more exterior coverings are connected to at least one of: the cross bars and the vehicle top unit. Wiring is extended from a power source located outside of the vehicle top unit, along at least one of the cross bars, and to the vehicle top unit to place the electronic display in electrical connection with the power source. The exterior coverings each cover at least a respective portion of the wiring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for vehicle top advertising, said system comprising:
cross bars;
a vehicle top unit comprising an electronic display, wherein said vehicle top unit is configured for attachment to said cross bars;
an exterior covering configured for direct connection to one of said cross bars to define a passageway; and
wiring configured for extension from a power source located outside of said vehicle top unit along one of the cross bars, within the passageway, and to the vehicle top unit to place the electronic display in electrical connection with the power source, when installed.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a securing device for securing a portion of said wiring to a portion of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:
said securing device comprises double sided adhesive tape configured for placement between a rear surface of said portion of said wiring and an outer surface of said portion of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:
said portion of the vehicle comprises a black mask area of a windshield or window.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:
said wiring comprises flat festoon cabling.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein:
said portion of the vehicle comprises a vehicle pillar.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:
said power source is located within an engine compartment of said vehicle; and
said power source comprises a battery for at least partially powering the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein:
said power source is located within a storage compartment of said vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a plug located at a distal end of the wiring;
an outlet located at said vehicle top unit configured to mate with said connector; and
an additional exterior covering configured for connection to the vehicle top unit to cover at least said outlet, said plug, and a portion of said one of said cross bars when installed.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:
said exterior covering defines a first aperture located at a left side portion or right side portion of the one of said cross bars, a second aperture located at a middle portion of the one of said cross bars adjacent to a mounting location for the housing, and the passageway, which is continuous and enclosed, between at least said first aperture and said second aperture configured to accommodate said wiring when installed.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:
said vehicle top unit comprises a second electronic display located within a housing of said vehicle top unit in a back-to-back arrangement with said electronic display.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising: additional exterior coverings, each configured for removable attachment to one of: one of said cross bars and said vehicle top unit, wherein each of the additional exterior coverings, when installed, covers a respective portion of the wiring.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:
each of said additional exterior coverings is configured for attachment to both of: one of said cross bars and said vehicle top unit.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein:
said additional exterior coverings comprise a first exterior cover piece defining a front portion of said vehicle top unit when installed and a second exterior cover piece defining a rear portion of said vehicle top unit when installed; and
the first exterior cover piece and the second exterior cover piece are attachable to the vehicle top unit.

15. A method for providing vehicle top advertising, said method comprising:
mounting a first and second cross bar to a roof of a vehicle in a spaced apart arrangement;
mounting a vehicle top unit to the first and second cross bar;
securing exterior coverings, each to at least one of: said first cross bar, said second cross bar, and said vehicle top unit, wherein installation of at least one of said exterior coverings creates an enclosed passageway; and
extending wiring from a power source located outside of said vehicle top unit, along the first cross bar, including through the enclosed passageway, and to the vehicle top unit to place one or more electronic displays of the vehicle top unit in electrical connection with the power source.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
securing the wiring to the vehicle by use of an adhesive between a rear surface of said wiring and an outer surface of said the vehicle, wherein the wiring is secured to a black mask area of a windshield or rear window of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the power source comprises a battery for the vehicle located in an engine compartment of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the enclosed passageway is provided at the first cross bar;
exterior coverings comprise multiple, individually attachable pieces;
the first cross bar comprises a metal; and
the at least one of the exterior coverings comprises a polymer.

19. A system for inconspicuously providing power vehicle top advertising, said system comprising:
cross bars mounted to a roof of a vehicle in a spaced apart arrangement;
a vehicle top unit attached to said cross bars and comprising:
electronic displays facing in opposing directions; and
a housing for said electronic displays;

exterior cover pieces, each connected to both of: a respective one of said cross bars and a respective portion of said vehicle top unit; and
wiring extending from a power source located outside said vehicle top unit, through an enclosed passageway defined, at least in part, by at least one of said exterior cover pieces and one of the cross bars, and to the vehicle top unit to place the electronic displays in electrical connection with the power source;
wherein each of the cross bars at least primarily comprise metal and structurally support the vehicle top unit, each of the exterior cover pieces at least primarily comprise polymer and provide improve aerodynamics, and each of said cross bars are located interior to at least one respective one of said exterior cover pieces.

Assignees

• Mri Inc

Inventors

• Hornsby Eric
• Dunn William
• Brown Mike
• Bennett Doug

Classifications

• G09F21/042 Primary

  the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles · CPC title

• B60R11/0235 Primary

  of flat type, e.g. LCD · CPC title

• B60R13/00

  Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes · CPC title

• B60R16/033

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• G09F21/04

  by land vehicles · CPC title