US 6,640,477 B1Granted

Multiple use automobile banner

OwnerJulienne R. Timpson, R. Brent Timpsoninventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A repositional and reusable automobile advertising banner, for attachment at the top exterior surface of the automobile windshield. The banner contains disclosure information to facilitate the sale of the car, including areas for entry of additional and varying information. When installed, the banner allows an unencumbered view of the entire width of the windshield, allowing the car to be test-driven without removal of the banner. Methods for use of the banner are also disclosed.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of promoting the sale of an automobile comprising:

(a) obtaining an automobile advertising banner, the banner comprising a display body for placing disclosure information thereon;
(b) providing as part of said banner an offer of customer satisfaction as a top priority of a seller of the automobile, in written form on said banner;
(c) providing as part of said banner an offer of credit available to potential purchasers of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(d) providing as part of said banner an offer of at least part of some terms under which an inspection of a motor vehicle is available, in written form on said banner;
(e) providing as part of said banner an offer of warranties available relating to the repair of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(f) providing as part of said banner an offer of financing options available to assist a purchase of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(g) providing as part of said banner an offer of trade-in policies available relating to a purchase of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(h) providing a bright color on a front surface of said display body;
(i) placing indicating means on the display body for indicating an area of free space on said display body on which additional information may be placed;
(j) providing the indicating means as a preexisting symbol disposed on the display body and said area of free space as an indicia-free area disposed on the display body adjacent to said symbol, said indicia-free area having a lateral length of at least 4 inches, and a vertical length of at least 1.5 inches;
(k) providing a rear surface on said display body, said rear surface comprising an attachment means for releasably attaching the banner to an automobile windshield, the attachment means comprising a repositionable adhesive disposed on the rear surface of the display body;
(l) providing the display body with at least a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge and a fourth edged opposite the third edge;
(m) providing the display body with a rectangular shape, with a long axis parallel to the first edge and opposite second edge, and a short axis parallel to the third and opposite fourth edge, said long axis having a length within a range of about 40 inches to about 60 inches, and said short axis having a length within a range of about 4 inches to about 6 inches;
(n) attaching the banner to the exterior surface of an automotive windshield, comprising attaching the banner in a laterally extending position at an upper section of the automobile windshield, such that a view of the full width of the windshield remains unencumbered;
(o) positioning the display body on the exterior surface of the windshield, such that the display body is in a lateral position such that a midpoint of the first edge resides below a top edge of the automobile windshield by a distance within a range of from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, and a point where a first corner, located at the interface between the first edge and the third edge is located from about 1.5 inches to about 5 inches from the top edge of the automobile windshield;
(p) applying pressure to the display body to cause the adhesive to hold the display body to the exterior surface of the windshield;
(q) placing additional information on the display body of the automobile banner, either prior to attachment or after attachment to the windshield, said additional information relating to transaction elements of a potential sale of a motor vehicle, wherein the additional information is placed in the area of free space, and wherein the additional information comprises a model year of the automobile, and an asking price of the automobile, and wherein the step of placing additional information on the display body further comprises writing the disclosure information by hand with an erasable writing utensil;
(r) conducting a test drive of the automobile by a potential purchaser with the banner attached to the exterior surface of the automobile windshield in said laterally extending position;
and
(s) erasing the additional information from the area of free space and placing different additional information on the area of free space pertaining to the sale of a different vehicle such that the advertising banner is used in the sale of multiple vehicles.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method of promoting the sale of an automobile comprising:

(a) obtaining an automobile advertising banner, the banner comprising a display body for placing disclosure information thereon;
(b) providing as part of said banner an offer of customer satisfaction as a top priority of a seller of the automobile, in written form on said banner;
(c) providing as part of said banner an offer of credit available to potential purchasers of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(d) providing as part of said banner an offer of at least part of some terms under which an inspection of a motor vehicle is available, in written form on said banner;
(e) providing as part of said banner an offer of warranties available relating to the repair of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(f) providing as part of said banner an offer of financing options available to assist a purchase of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(g) providing as part of said banner an offer of trade-in policies available relating to a purchase of a motor vehicle, in written form on said banner;
(h) providing a bright color on a front surface of said display body;
(i) placing indicating means on the display body for indicating an area of free space on said display body on which additional information may be placed;
(j) providing the indicating means as a preexisting symbol disposed on the display body and said area of free space as an indicia-free area disposed on the display body adjacent to said symbol, said indicia-free area having a lateral length of at least 4 inches, and a vertical length of at least 1.5 inches;
(k) providing a rear surface on said display body, said rear surface comprising an attachment means for releasably attaching the banner to an automobile windshield, the attachment means comprising a repositionable adhesive disposed on the rear surface of the display body;
(l) providing the display body with at least a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge and a fourth edged opposite the third edge;
(m) providing the display body with a rectangular shape, with a long axis parallel to the first edge and opposite second edge, and a short axis parallel to the third and opposite fourth edge, said long axis having a length within a range of about 40 inches to about 60 inches, and said short axis having a length within a range of about 4 inches to about 6 inches;
(n) attaching the banner to the exterior surface of an automotive windshield, comprising attaching the banner in a laterally extending position at an upper section of the automobile windshield, such that a view of the full width of the windshield remains unencumbered;
(o) positioning the display body on the exterior surface of the windshield, such that the display body is in a lateral position such that a midpoint of the first edge resides below a top edge of the automobile windshield by a distance within a range of from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, and a point where a first corner, located at the interface between the first edge and the third edge is located from about 1.5 inches to about 5 inches from the top edge of the automobile windshield;
(p) applying pressure to the display body to cause the adhesive to hold the display body to the exterior surface of the windshield;
(q) placing additional information on the display body of the automobile banner, either prior to attachment or after attachment to the windshield, said additional information relating to transaction elements of a potential sale of a motor vehicle, wherein the additional information is placed in the area of free space, and wherein the additional information comprises a model year of the automobile, and an asking price of the automobile, and wherein the step of placing additional information on the display body further comprises writing the disclosure information by hand with an erasable writing utensil;
(r) conducting a test drive of the automobile by a potential purchaser with the banner attached to the exterior surface of the automobile windshield in said laterally extending position;
and
(s) erasing the additional information from the area of free space and placing different additional information on the area of free space pertaining to the sale of a different vehicle such that the advertising banner is used in the sale of multiple vehicles.

17 more elements