GB2343981A - Novelty themed promotional product to display on a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A novelty promotional product consisting of a miniature three dimensional shape which is specifically designed to be variously and temporarily attached securely to the outside of a vehicle and which has coloured streamers or other flowing materials indicative of an organisation, a movement, a cause, a product, a brand, or any theme. The product may be in the form of a ball 1 which may be attached to an aerial 2, with a wind sock 7 attached thereto. The product may also be secured to the top edge of a wind down window by means of a centrally disposed flange (10, Figure 6).

Description

NOVELTY IHEMED PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT TO DISPLAY ON A VESSIE This invention relates to a novelty product which can be attached to a vehicle as a promotional device to promote awareness of an organisation, movement, cause, a product, a brand, or any theme.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION There are many diverse goods amailable to promote companies, products, political parties clubs, events and the like which are either sold or donated to the public to help keep these various activities, organisations, etc. front of mind.

Such products are made available to the public in a variety ouf formats to enable them to display their interest or support in various everyday situations. Examples are functional items like clothing, stationery items, furniture, food and luxury gift items such as rosettes, toys, mascots, badges, adhesive'bugs', bridge magnets.

There is an opportunity for a luxury promotional gift item which can be displayed by fixing it securely to the outside of a vehicle so that support for an organisation, mouvement, cause, product, brand or any other theme can be indicated prominently on a travelling vehicle. This invention futfils this requirement in a safe, secure, reusable, convenient and relatively inexpensive way.

The invention consists of a miniature shaped piece, typically a ball or part ball, for secunng to a radio aerial or window and attached streamers or other flowing members, these two main components clearly indicating and therefore promoting a brand, organisation, cause, product, etc.

SUMMARY OF TE INVENTION This invention combines several desirable design features for the traveller to enable him/her to clearly demonstrate support for or allegiance to an organisation, cause, brand, product and so on: -a miniature shaped 3-dimensional moulded piece, which can be in the form of a ball or any other shape which may help to skate the brand or organisation.

-streamers, nimbons or other flowing marials or members, the design and colours of which again may help to illustrate or suggest a brand or organisation.

-a simple and rapid means of attaching securely to, and removing said miniature shaped piece from the outside of a vehicle such as a car, a bus, bicycle, motor bike and so on. In particular there are tko principle mechanisms and designs or securely fixing : (i) to the extended radio aerial or other protrusion by means of a slit or channel through or partly through the material itself from which the piece is constructed.

Alternatively the piece may be fixed by means of a simple silicon or rubber valve set within or at the entrance to a channel through the piece.

(ii) to the top edge of a window by means of an extended, centrally disposed extension to the inner faces of two sections of the shaped piece.

Other fixe= and designs are feasible and included within the scopc of the invention but do no offer all the benefits, e. g. sfiicky-backed shaped piece fixed to the top inside edge of the window such that the coloured streamers can protrude through the window.

The features and promotional benefits of the invention win be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of three embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative but not limitative, drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying illustrative, but not limitative drawings in which : Figure 1 shows the elevation of the invention indicating the principe and one method of fsmg to a car radio aerial.

Figure 2 iBustrates the cross sectional elevation of the design shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an alternative method of fixing the invention to a radio aerial or the like whereby the ball is comprise of a solid foam material such as styrene. It also illustrates an attractive flowing member attached to the three dimensional moulded piece, in this case centrally to the'equator'.

Figure 4 illustrates the cross sectional elevation of the design shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the elevation, in perspective, of the invention indicating the same principle but designed for fixing to a wind down window on a vehicle.

Figure 6 illustrates the cross sectional elevation of the design shown in Figure 5, showing how it fits over the top edge of a window.

Referring to the drawing of the invention represented in Figures 1 and 2 for fixing to a radio aerial or similar accessory/protrusion, the miniature shaped three dimensional moulded piece consists of an upper and a lower section joined together by means of a friction fit and/or glued and has a suitabty sized aperture 4 to receive the aerial 2. This aperture, which may be converging to locat the aerial more fnnly, is formed by the inner annulus or tubular portions of the two sections 6 and has, at the same point along its length, a valve 5; in Figure 2 the valve is shown centrally disposed and held in place by the inner ends of the tubular portions in each section. The valve could alternatively be located toward the end or even on the surface of the sections.

The valve 5 has a cas y disposed slit at its centre to receive the acrial, hold it in position and prevent the shaped piece from becoming detached accidentally whilst enabling its removal by applying slight force.

The coloured steamers) 3 or other flowing members are shown secured between the two sections. Ahematively, the streamers could be secured to, or even from a structural part of the valve or they may be secured to other parts of the said inner tubular portions or to the outside of the shaped three dimensional moulded piece.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the aerial 2 or other protuberance passes through a slot or narrow channel vertically and fully or partially through the diameter of a miniature shaped piece constructed of a spongey material such as styrene, foam rubber. This fixing method may be secured more firmly by means of a simple valve at one end of the slot or it may rely solely on the frictional force of the spongey material.

The ribbons or streamers or other flowing materials exemplificd by a miniature kitc or windsock 7 which can also be printed in colours or other designed indicative of a particular organisation or brand and so on. The windsock could be of a more elaborate construction and many other designs are possible for the flowing materials.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the invention is separately designed for fixing to the top edge of a wind down window 8. The soft plastic three dimensional shaped member is shown divided into two pieces 9, separated by a Range of thin plastic 10, which is a continuation of the inner faces of the two pieces and which join to enable them to fit over the top edge of the window without interfering with the closure of the window. The plastic flange 10 is sufliciently thin and long to enable the window to fully close.

The inner piece is an optional feature with this manifestation of the invention because the essential feutres of the chosen three dimensional shaped fixture coupled with coloured flowing members are met without it.

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1. A novelty promotional product for the traveller to fix to the outside of a vehicle comprising a miniature three dimensional shaped piece providing the means of temporary but secure fixing to the vehicle and coloured streamers or other flowing members attached to it to indicate support or interest in an organisation, movement, cause, product, brand or any theme.
2. 2. A novelty promotional product as claimed in Claim 1 wherem the miniature three dimensional shaped piece is secured to an aerial by means of a friction fit with an enclosed channel, possi61y augmented by a simple valve or merely by means of the nature of the material from which the piece s constructed.
3. 3. A separate novelty promotional product as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the miniature three dimensional shaped piece is alternatively secured to the top edge of a wind down window by means of a centrally disposed flange.
4. 4. A novelty promotional product substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to to of the accompanying drawings.