Advertising sign for automobiles

May 14, 1940.

2,201,002

J G. THERIAULT

ADVERTISING SIGN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 24, 1939

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Patented May 14,1940

2,201,002

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,201,002 ADVERTISING SIGN FOB AUTOMOBILES Joseph G. Theriault, Milton, Mass, Application Joly 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,123 3 Claims. (CL 40—129)

My present invention relates to signs, and more particularly to advertising signs for automobile doors.

The principal object of my invention is an ad6 vertising sign for automobile doors and the like;

Another object is an advertising sign for doors of vehicles which is self adjusting in its Clamping means between the edges of such doors;

Still another object is a clamping means for 10 signs adapted to fit automobile doors which is not only self adjusting but which is held in adjustment in a resilient manner;'

And still another object is a sign of the above character which is easily attached or detached 15 without the aid of tools, and

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and operation of my device will be apparent as the description of the same progresses.

go In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile door with my sign attached;

Fig. 2 shows the detached sign illustrated in 2o Fig. 1 but turned over showing the back side;

Fig. 3 is a greatly exaggerated enlargement showing a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another enlargement showing a frag30 mentary cross-section taken on the line 4—4 of Mg. 1,

Fig. 5 Is a further enlargement showing a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 6—3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the slide with particular reference to the bracket members.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, it is to be understood that the scale and proportions have been greatly exaggerated in certain places 45 in order to make the apparatus and its functions clear. The material used is preferably sheet metal in the body of the sign and therefore difficult to illustrate in its actual proportions.

indicates the upper portion of an automo45 bile door having the usual side edges Ii and 12.

The front of the sign is cdmposed of a flat sheet metal member 13 the long horizontal edges of which are folded over at 14 and 15 to form horizontal channels 14α and 15α. These channels 14α 50 and J 5α provide a slide-way at one end in which is adjustably engaged a slide member 16 which is cut away on one side to provide a clearance for the door hinge IT. In some cases where the hinge 17 is high or low such that the extensions 18 of 55 the slide interfere, the extension on the top or bottom, as the case may be, may be positioned nearer the center of the slide. These extension portions 18 are curved at their ends to form hooks for the purpose of engaging around the edges 11 of the door 10. Felt strip 19 is glued or other- o wise attached to the inner face of the extension hooks 18 to prevent the door edges from being marred.

On the other end of the body 13 of the sign are similar hook extension members 20 which 10 are adapted to engage over the opposite door edge 12. In a like lAanner the hooks 20 are protected by felt strips to prevent marring of the door finish. Along the back surface of the channel members 14 and IB are also felt strips 14b and 15 15b. On the same end of the body 13 of the sign I have provided a cut-away recess 22 to provide clearance for the door handle 23, lock, etc.

On the back side of the slide 10 and the body 13 I have provided brackets 25 and 20 the open 20 ends of which are oppositely disposed to each other. A heavy rubber band 27 is provided having a pin 20α passing through one end of the band and engaging with its extended ends against brackets 26. The other end of the band 27 is 25 similarly provided with a pin 25α which is adapted to engage against the brackets 25.

In Fig. 6,1 have shown a slightly modified form of slide bracket in which bracket members 25d are punched up from the body 16 through which 30 anchor means ar£ inserted in suitable openings, said anchor means being pins similar to 25 α.

On the top edge of the body portion 13,1 have provided a hanger strap 30 which is bent to form a hook and engages over the window sill 31 35 of the door 10, the end of which may extend down between the sill and the glass 32 of the door. The under side of this strap is also felted, as shown at 33 to prevent damage to the door finjsh.

Tn operation, the hook 30 is shaped to the 40 window sill and the hooks 18 are engaged over the door edge II. The body 13 is drawn away from the slide 18 until the hooks 20 are engaged over the door edge 12. As the slide recedes from the body 13 a tension is placed on the rubber *45 band 27 clamping the sign firmly to the door in a strong resilient manner. The pins 25α and 26α cannot slip out of place while the tension on the band is present but when the sign is removed they can easily be removed and a new 50 band inserted in a matter of seconds thereby making it possible to renew the band easily at any time.

It will be quite apparent that the heavy tension on the rubber band will at all times hold the sign 55 . 3,301,003 firmly in place and at the same time prevent rattling as all contacting parts on the door are felted.

It should also be understood that I do not S necessarily limit myself to the use of a rubber band as a tension spring in its place would be the full equivalent therefor.

In the mounting of the brackets and rubber band members to the slide and sign body, it is 10 preferable that the point of attaching of the brackets 26 to the body 13 be located at a position adjacent one side of the vertical center of the sign body corresponding to the end of the sign body which carries the slide member 16. U The reason for this is to prevent any tendency to bow out the sign body due to considerable tension in the rubber band as would be the case if these brackets were to be mounted adjacent the further end of the sign body. In positioning these brack20 ets as above described, the'sign body 13 always hugs the door surface snugly.