WO1999004987A1

WO1999004987A1 - Displaying device for rotating elements

Info

Publication number: WO1999004987A1
Application number: PCT/IT1998/000212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide Coltro
Original assignee: Davide Coltro
Priority date: 1997-07-28
Filing date: 1998-07-28
Publication date: 1999-02-04
Also published as: IT1296524B1; AU8645598A; ITVR970070A1

Abstract

A device (10) made for supporting a displaying surface (14) oriented substantially fixed and unlinked from the rotational movement of a rotating element (13) to which said device (10) is applied. The displaying surface (14) can bear an informative message and/or advertising of figurative and/or descriptive type, also in relief. The displaying device (10) comprises a stable part (12) and a rotating part (11); said stable part (12) is housed inside of the rotating part (11) and unlinked from the rotation of the element (13) by means of suitably placed anti-friction means (18).

Description

DISPLAYING DEVICE FOR ROTATING ELEMENTS

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a displaying device which may be applied to rotating elements, advantageously to the wheels of vehicles, capable of supplying a substantially immobile oriented surface for displaying a message, in particular of advertising character, and/or design, eventually also in relief, easily and clearly readable and/or viewable for any potential observer, even during rotation of said rotating element.

The present device may be mainly applied in the automotive industry and in the advertising sector in general .

BACKGROUND ART The use of hubcaps in the automotive field, which are produced in different materials and designs and having a purely aesthetic purpose to confer to a vehicle a more elegant and refined look is well known in the art.

In the commercial field, additionally, in the hurried search of new advertising space that can easily and economically reach the largest number possible of potential clients, it is has been conceived to use the vehicle hubcaps surface for advertising purposes.

For such purpose it is known to use a panel which is directly applied on the hubcap of a vehicle, particularly on buses and heavy autovehicles whose wheels are of greater dimensions in respect of passenger car wheels and, consequently, capable of showing a larger displaying surface. However said panel, which is rigidly linked to the wheel of the vehicle, is inevitably subject to the rotational movement of said wheel behaving, therefore, in such a way that that what is figured and/or written on said panel results clearly visible and/or readable only when the vehicle is not moving.

In addition, even in the case in which the vehicle is completely immobile, since the panel is rigidly linked to the wheel, the image and/or the written part on said panel is partially or totally upside-down and, therefore, can hardly be read or watched to by an obesrver.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to avoid the inconveniences and disadvantages typical of the background art and to supply, therefore, a displaying device having a substantially fixed visible surface, whereby it is opportunely unlinked from the rotating element bearing said device.

This is achieved by means -of a device having the features described in claim 1.

The dependent claims outline some particularly advantageous forms of embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The device according to the present invention, is obtained by coupling two distinct parts, one of which being stable and substantially immobile, and the other being linked to the rotation of the rotating element to which said device is applied.

According to the invention, the stable part consists in a displaying surface upon which is figured and/or written and/or applied any type of informative and/or advertising message that one desires to make accessible to the public, whether this is in written form or a design or even a three-dimensional object. According to the present invention, the barycentre of the stable part of said device does not coincide with the geometric centre of the same stable part in such a way that the displaying surface can be maintained in a position oriented and fixed and, therefore, easily viewable and/or readable by third parties even during the movement of the considered vehicle.

According to a particular form of embodiment of the device, it is possible misalign the barycentre in respect of the geometric centre of the stable part, for example by applying a suitable weight to an end of the said stable part .

According to a further form of embodiment, it is also possible to realize the stable part in such a way as to distribute its weight in a non-homogeneous way, for example by utilizing a mould that has areas of different thicknesses .

According to the invention, the stable part of foresaid device ishoused within- the rotating part rigidly connected with the rotating element which the displaying device is applied to; said rotating part has the duty of protecting the stable part in such a way as to confer to it an optimal system for a correct functioning of the displaying device. In fact, the rotating part substantially acts as a container for the stable part to which it is connected and carries out two main functions .

In the first place, due to the presence of foresaid container, the stable part is located in a quiet environment where the air is substantially immobile, thereby eliminating, or in any case limiting considerably, inevitable turbulence phenomena that are created during the rotation of the rotating element and that can hinder the obtaining of the necessary stability that the stable part must possess for achieving good final results.

Secondly, such container protects the functioning mechanism of the stable part and avoids, in addition, that dirt coming from the external environment damages the displaying surface, making it unreadable and, at times, completely unusable in respect of what which is figured and/or written and/or applied thereto.

In the case where foresaid device is positioned on the wheels of a vehicle, it is possible, for example, to join it to the rim by applying a light pressure either to the wheel or to the hubcap of the same wheel; alternately, it can completely replace said hubcap.

In any case, the stable part of the displaying device is maintained unlinked from the rotational movement of the rotating element due to the presence of antifriction means suitably placed to substantially reduce the friction.

For example, according to a form of embodiment of the present invention, the stable part is directly connected to the rotating part of the device by means of the interposition of one or more bearings, e.g. ball-bearings, or self-lubricating rings which are suitably placed in the connecting area between the stable part and the rotating part of foresaid device. According to an further form of embodiment of the invention, the stable part of the device according to the present invention is not connected to the rotating part, but rather to the wheel rim by means of the insertion of a bearing capable of rendering the stable part substantially independent, and therefore substantially fixed and immobile, relative to the rotation of the foresaid rim.

According to a further form of embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to conceive the positioning of at least two ball-bearings in a way such that foresaid ball-bearings, acting one after the other, soften the swinging movements of the stable part, thereby considerably improving the final result.

Therefore, according to present invention, thee displaying surface is held in a correct position in such a way to result clearly visible and/or readable, even during the motion of the rotating element to which the foresaid device is applied, due to the presence of said antifriction means, as well as to the presence of the rotating part that acts as a protective sheath relative to the stable part, and, finally, due to the opportune misalignment of the barycentre of said stable part.

Obviously, since the rotating part completely houses the stable part bearing the displaying surface and whatever is represented and/or applied thereto, it is necessary that the front face of the rotating part is realized in a transparent material which allows to view and/or read the underlying displaying surface.

According to a form of embodiment of the present invention, in order to allow for a still more secure and reliable operation of said device, it is possible to place one or more pairs of magnets in suitable positions .

For example, one magnet of predetermined polarity and intensity can be placed on the stable part, exactly on the opposite side in respect of the point in which the barycentre of said stable part lies, while a second magnet of the same intensity and of opposite polarity in respect of the first one can be positioned on the body part closest to the first magnet, for example on the area lying over the wheel .

In such a way, in fact, it is possible to exploit the magnetic field generated by the pair of magnets and to add, therefore, a further contribution to the stability of the part of the device bearing the displaying surface, i.e. the stable part.

The device, according to the present invention, has a principal advantage of supplying a displaying surface which is substantially fixed and immobile and in proper view at any moment and condition, above all while the rotating element to which the device is applied is moving.

In addition, since the rotating part is removable in a simple way and without any effort, it is possible to inspect the stable part in any moment, such that both the maintenance operation of the device as well as the substitution of the displaying surface and/or the cleaning operation of the transparent rotating part if necessary is extremely cheap . According to a further form of embodiment of the present invention, the stable part can advantageously be illuminated, allowing for the identification of the displaying surface even in evening and night hours .

This can be easily achieved, for example, by positioning a light diffuser, for example a neon light, in correspondence of one of the component parts of said device; foresaid diffuser is able to be powered by a small suitably placed, battery that exploits the possible energy transmission caused by the rotation of the wheel, or else it can be powered via the electrical power supply of the vehicle.

According to a further form of embodiment, the rotating part is rendered impervious, in such a way as to contain an opportune solution in which the stable part is adequately balanced according to, for example, one of the forms of embodiment decribed above.

In such a way, therefore, the stable part is completely unlinked both from the rotating part connected to the wheel of the vehicle, as well as from the rim of the same wheel .

The present invention can be applied to any circulating transport means on the road, such as passenger cars, cycles, motorcycles, with particular regard to buses and heavy vehicles that have a large available displaying surface, since they are equipped with wheels of clearly greater dimension in respect of autovehicles and/or motorcycles . In addition, the device can advantageously be applied also to other elements normally present on moving parts of any nature and type .

In the automotive field, for example, the invention provides for other forms of embodiment according to which the device that conforms to the invention is applied to the brand names in the form of small discs that the automotive houses place normally on the steering wheel, at the intersection of the cross pieces, or else on the wheel rims, above, all in the case where, alloy rims are used. ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear evident, upon reading the following description, given as a non-limiting example, with the help of the figures illustrated in the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a displaying device according to the present invention, whereby the stable part is directly connected to the rim of the wheel; - figure 2 shows the device of figure 1, wherein the stable part is connected to the rotating part, and figure 3 shows another form of embodiment of the device of figure 2. DESCRIPTION OF ONE FORM OF PRODUCTION

In the figures reference sign 10 generally indicates a displaying device according to the present invention.

According to the particular form of embodiment shown in figure 1, said device 10 is applied to the wheel 13 of a vehicle (not represented) .

Said device 10 comprises of a stable part 12, oriented and substantially immobile even during the normal conditions of the movement of the wheel 13, and of a part 11 linked to the rotation of the rotating element 13 to which such device 10 is applied.

According to the invention, the stable part 12 comprises a displaying surface 14 upon which the informative and/or advertising message that one desires to render available to the pubblic is represented or else an object of any form is applied and in relief^' relative to said displaying surface 14.

Said displaying surface 14 can have any shape, not necessarily circular, and have- ny dimensions occupying completely or only in part the inner space of the displaying device.

According to the particular form of embodiment represented in figure 1, the displaying device according to the present invention is provided with a weight 15 of opportune entity for the purpose of misaligning the barycentre of the stable part 12 in respect of the geometric centre of the same piece.

Said weight 15, in the described configuration, is positioned in correspondence of an end of the displaying surface 14 in such a way that the image and/or written representation or else which is applied to surface surface 14 is held in a fixed position and viewable to third parties even during the movement of the vehicle on which the device according to the invention is mounted. According to the invention, the stable part 12 of the displaying device 10 is housed inside of the rotating part 11, whereby said rotating part 11 is realized in transparent material. The rotating part 11 acts as a protective sheath for the stable part 12 to which it is connected, whereby it guarantees to foresaid stable part 12 an environment in which the air is substantially immobile, or almost totally deprived of the inevitable turbulence that is formed during the rotation of the rotating element 13, what avoids the achievement of the necessary stability of the stable part 12 for a correct functioning of the entire device 10.

In addition, the rotating part 11 protects the operating mechanism of the stable part 12 and prevents that dirt coming from the external environment damages the displaying surface 14.

In figure 1 it may be noted that the rotating part 11 is joined to the hubcap of wheel - 13 of the vehicle due to a light pressure in the respective areas 16 and 17.

However, it is clear that other fixing systems can be adopted such as, for example, the use of screws that allow for a quick and simple inspection of the rotating part 11 at any time. Suitable anti-friction means 18 are available in a way that they hold the stable part unlinked from the rotational movement of the rotating element 13 ; foresaid means 18 may be represented, for example, by bearings such as ball-bearings, or else by self-lubricating rings or other means available in the technique.

In the form of embodiment of figure 1, the stable part 12 is connected directly to the rim 19 of the wheel 13 by means of the interposition of one ball-bearing 18 capable of rendering the stable part 12 substantially fixed relative to the rotational movement of the rim 19.

According to a further form of embodiment (not represented) , two or more ball-bearings can be employed adjacent to each other in such a way as to reduce as much as possible the transmission of movement and/or the swingings of the stable part 12.

According to a further form of embodiment (represented in figure 2) the stable part 12 of displaying device 10 is directly connected to the rotating part 11 by means of the interposition of an anti-friction means 18; in such a way foresaid rotating part 11 coincides with the hubcap equipped with the means 19 for fixing it to the not represented wheel. In figure 2 the anti-friction means 18 are represented by ball-bearings but it is clear that any other anti-friction means can be used for the purpose of unlinking the stable element from the movement of the rotating element, thereby providing, -for example, for a roll ball-bearing, a self-lubricating ring, or similar.

According to the particular form of embodiment represented in figure 2, the displaying device 10 is provided with a weight 15 placed on stable element 12 at one end of the displaying surface 14, in such a way as the barycentre of stable element 12 does not coincide with its geometric centre.

It is possible to adopt any solution in order to misalign the barycentre, for example by realizing a non- homogeneous distribution of the weight by means of a mould having areas of different thicknesses.

In addition, in figure 2 the fixing means 19 are represented as traditional pressure fixing means, but it is clear that other means, for example screws and/or nuts, can be employed, above all in the case in which one considers the buses and heavy vehicles equipped with hubcaps of considerable dimensions .

In figure 3 a further form of embodiment is represented, in which the stable element 12 is coupled to the rotating element 11 by means of the interposition of one or more anti-friction means 18 positioned perimeterally to the foresaid stable element 12, possibly providing for suitable seats on the stable part 12 and/or on the rotating part 11 for the correct housing of the foresaid anti-friction means 18.

According to a further form of embodiment, the device 10 can be provided with one or more pairs of magnets (not represented) , the magnetic field of which is capable of giving a further contribution to the stability of the stable part 12.

For example, a first magnet of predetermined polarity and intensity can be positioned on the stable part 12 in an opposite position with respect to- the point in which lies the barycentre of the foresai-d stable ^" part 12 , and a second magnet of the same intensity and of opposite polarity relative to the first can be positioned on the body part most adjacent to the first magnet.

According to a further form of embodiment (not represented) of the present invention, the stable part 12 can advantageously be illuminated by means of any lifght diffuser suitably placed in one of the parts 11 or 12 of the foresaid device 10 and/or externally to it.

According to a further form of embodiment (not represented) of the present invention, the rotating part 11 is rendered impervious and is filled with a suitable solution in which the stable part 12 is completely unlinked from both the same rotating part 11 connected to the wheel 13 of the vehicle and the rim 19 of the wheel The invention has been previously described with reference to some particular forms of embodiment.

For example, in addition to the described forms of embodiment, the displaying device 10 can be applied also to other elements normally present on moving parts, for example on steering wheels of cars .

Claims

1. Device (10) for holding a displaying surface (14) substantially oriented, fixed and unlinked from the rotational movement of a rotating element (13) to which said device (10) is applied, said displaying surface (14) bearing an informative and/or advertising message of figurative and/or descriptive type, even in relief, characterized in that said device comprises a stable part (12) and a rotating part (11), said stable part (12) being housed inside of the rotating part (11) and being unlinked from the rotation of said element (13) by means of suitable anti-friction means (18) .

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the barycentre of the stable part (12) does not coincide with the geometric center of the^' said stable part (12) .

3. Device (10) according to claim 2- , characterized in that the displaying surface- 14) ^ΓÇó is provided with a weight (15) of opportune entity and positioned at an end of the said displaying surface (14) .

4. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the front face of the rotating part (11) is realized in transparent material.

5. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating part (11) is connected to the rotating element (13).

6. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating element (13) is the wheel of a vehicle.

7. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-friction means (18) are ball-bearings or self-lubricating rings.

8. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stable part (12) is connected to the rim (19) of the wheel (13) through anti-friction means (18) .

9. Device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that two or more ball-bearings are placed adjacent to each other in order to reduce the transmission of movement and/or swingings of the stable part (12) .

10. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stable part (12) is connected to the rotating part (11) by means of the interposition of one or more anti-friction means (18) .

11. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with one of more pairs of magnets in order to increase the stability of the stable part (12) bearing the displaying surface (14) .

12. Device (10) according to any- of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the stable part (12) is illuminated by means of a luminous diffusor placed internally and/or externally with respect to the the foresaid device (10) .

13. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating part (11) is impervious and contains a solution in which the stable part (12) is drawn and unlinked from both the rotating part (11) and the rotating element (13).

14. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is applied to the steering wheels of vehicles .