AU754535B2

AU754535B2 - A back spoiler

Info

Publication number: AU754535B2
Application number: AU54074/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Swee Khee Cheong; Raja Elvin; Doshi Ketan; Jayne Kwek; Kien Lim; Edward Sunny Scully
Original assignee: CITYDREAMS Pte Ltd
Current assignee: CITYDREAMS Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-28
Filing date: 2001-06-27
Publication date: 2002-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-27
Also published as: SG94348A1; AU5407401A

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

S

S Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: A Back Spoiler The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us 1 A back spoiler The invention relates to a back spoiler for a vehicle, comprising a box-shaped spoiler structure and being suitable to carry an advertisement panel.

Generally, back spoilers for vehicles comprising a box-shaped spoiler structure are known. Such back spoilers are mountea to a rear edge of a vehicle boot to reduce the air resistance of the vehicle. Additionally, the back spoilers may carry an advertisement panel for representing pictures or advertising S. slogans. The advertisement panel is formed on the back spoiler in a rigidly predetermined position and may be changed with o. 15 another panel, so that only a single advertisement feature is visible by a person in the mounting state of the advertisement panel.

g* Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a back spoiler for a vehicle which can represent a plurality of advertisement features by a single advertisement panel, and which has a simple structure and an attractive design to give a variety of information for a person.

25 According to the present invention this is achieved by a back spoiler for a vehicle, comprising a box-shaped spoiler structure in which a flat elongated holding frame with a lenticular plate being inserted therein is pivotally mounted to be tilted around a longitudinal axis of the holding frame, wherein the holding frame is pivotable between a front tilting position and a rear tilting position.

The pivotable arrangement of the flat elongated holding frame with the lenticular plate being inserted in the holding frame allows to represent a variety of advertisement features by tilting the holding frame around a longitudinal axis thereof.

If the holding frame is positioned in a front tilting position, a predetermined advertisement feature is 2 represented. By tilting the holding frame from the front tilting position into the rear tilting position the present advertisement feature is changed to one or more other advertisement features over the tilting process thus allowing the lenticular plate to exhibit two- or three-dimensional images, so that the effect like a hologram can be achieved.

The tilting process of the holding frame from the front tilting position into the rear tilting position can be repeated to achieve an effective advertisement in that the different advertisement features are exhibited by permanently represented images for giving information to the persons viewing the back side of the vehicle spoiler. Therefore, a variety of information can be given by the lenticular plate without manipulating the spoiler by changing the spoiler 15 structure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, oo*the lenticular plate is formed of clear acrylic material and inserted into a U-shaped bar of the holding frame. The clear acrylic material of the lenticular plate allows to achieve a sufficient stiffness and transparence for effectively ooo* reflecting the two- or three-dimensional images to be viewed.

The U-shaped bar of the holding frame insures a reliable guide and attachment of the lenticular plate within the holding 25 frame. Furthermore, if necessary, the lenticular plate can be easily exchanged with another plate.

Further, pivot bolts can be provided on the longitudinal ends of the holding frame and supported by bearings arranged on the longitudinal sides of the spoiler structure. Therefore, it is possible to reliably pivot the holding frame around a longitudinal axis thereof by low actuating forces. The pivot bolts are stably supported by the bearings and can be mounted on the longitudinal ends of the holding frame by screw means to facilitate the mounting process of the pivot bolts into the bearings of the spoiler structure. Therefore, a simple connection of the holding frame to the spoiler structure is achieved.

For actuating the holding frame, driving means can be attached to the spoiler structure which move the holding frame against the force of a tension spring. The tension spring can be fixed to a front panel of the spoiler structure on the one side, and to a front surface of the holding frame on the other side.

Therefore, the holding frame is permanently urged into the front tilting position thereof causing the holding frame to be actuated only from its front side from the front tilting position by the driving means and retracted from the rear tilting position.

Preferably, the driving means include a motor having a shaft connected to a cam slideably engaged with a front surface of 15 the holding frame to be tilted. The motor can be an electrical motor for driving the shaft on which the cam is excentrically mounted. By rotating the shaft of the motor the cam causes to ""*push the holding frame against the force of the tension spring from the front tilting position into the rear tilting position. As the cam turns to half revolution, the holding frame is fully tilted in the rear tilting position by extending the tension spring. When the cam starts to turn pass the half revolution mark, the cam moves inwards causing the tension spring to pull the holding frame into its front 25 tilting position. When the cam completes its revolution, it is fully retracted causing the holding frame to be leaning fully in its front tilting position. This process allows the lenticular plate to be looked at under different viewing angles, and thereby to exhibit the two- or three dimensional images.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a light source is mounted to the front side of the spoiler structure in front of the lenticular plate. The light source can be formed as a fluorescent tube to achieve the effect of shining light through the lenticular plate. Thus, the advertisement features of the lenticular plate are clearly visible even though unsufficient light conditions are present 4 in the area around the back spoiler. The light source can emit white or color light to enhance the advertisement effect.

When the circumferential surface of the spoiler structure is partially or totally open, it is suitable to provide water drainage holes at the longitudinal ends of a bottom panel of the spoiler structure. Such water drainage holes prevent the flooding inside the spoiler structure to avoid damages to the electrical components in the spoiler structure. Additionally, even in the case where the spoiler structure is fully closed, the condensed water constituted by temperature differences is reliably discharged through the water drainage holes.

S Further, the spoiler structure can be stepped on a bottom 15 surface to be abutted on the vehicle and can be provided with a bracket for attaching to the vehicle. The stepped design of the bottom surface of the spoiler structure allows an acurate and tight attachment of the back spoiler at a rear edge of the vehicle boot in that the bottom surface of the spoiler structure can be exactly adapted to the corresponding vehicle *boot surface. Additionally, the spoiler structure is securely fixed to the rear edge of the vehicle boot by the bracket by means of clamping connections so that holes for screw or bolt attachments in the vehicle boot are avoided.

The invention is further described by way of a preferred embodiment as disclosed in the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a back spoiler according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partial view of the back spoiler of fig. 1 showing a driving means assembly; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the driving means of fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the driving means assembly of fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a holding frame of the back spoiler of fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bottom panel of the back spoiler of fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-section view of the back spoiler of fig. 1 showing the holding frame in a rear tilting position; Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-section view of the back spoiler of fig. 1 showing the holding frame in a front tilting position.

S With reference to fig. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the back spoiler comprises a boxshaped spoiler structure 1 which includes an elongated front portion having a triangular cross-section, and an elongated rear portion having a rectangular cross-section. The bottom surface of the spoiler structure 1 is formed with a stepped portion 2 adapted to the outer contour of the rear edge of a vehicle boot. A flat rectangular holding frame 3 is pivotally mounted within the spoiler structure 1 to be tilted around a longitudinal axis of the holding frame 3. For this reason, the longitudinal ends of the holding frame 3 are provided with pivot bolts 4 which are supported by bearings 5 arranged on the longitudinal sides of the spoiler structure 1. The pivot bolts 4 constituting the pivot axis of the holding frame 3 are arranged in the geometrical center of the holding frame 3 in its longitudinal direction. The lower part and, preferably, also the side parts of the holding frame 3 are provided with a U-shaped bar 6 in which a lenticular plate 7 is inserted. The lenticular plate 7 is designed with advertisement features, such as pictures and advertising slogans, and is able to generate, if viewed under different viewing angles, different two- or three-dimensional images by tilting the holding frame 3 between a front tilting position and a rear tilting position. A rectangular hollow bar 8 is mounted to the front side of the spoiler structure 1 in front of the lenticular plate 7. The hollow bar 8 is provided with holders 9 for holding a fluorescent tube 10 allowing to shine light through the lenticular plate 7. Further, a lighting ballast ii is mounted to the hollow bar 8 for operating and supplying the fluorescent tube 10 with electrical current.

As shown in fig. 2, a cam 12 and a motor 13 for driving the cam 12 are attached on a longitudinal side of the spoiler structure 1 by means of a bracket 14. The cam 12 is slideably engaged with a front surface of the holding frame 3 which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is additionally provided with a small aluminium sheet on that engaging place to prevent wearing off of the holding frame 3 over a period of time so that the maintenance costs are decreased. Furthermore, a tension spring 15 is supported to a front portion of the "".holding frame 3 on the one side and to a front portion of the spoiler structure 1 on the other side.

The holding frame 3 is actuated by the cam 12 driven by the motor 13 against the force of the tension spring 15 so that the holding frame 3 can be tilted between a front tilting position and a rear tilting position around the longitudinal axis of the holding frame 3 constituted by the pivot bolts 4 supported by the bearings 5. By such a driving means assembly, as described above, the lenticular plate 7 is tilted to generate two- or three dimensional images.

Fig. 3 shows a schematical view of the driving means as described above. The motor 13 has a shaft 16 which is connected to the cam 12 through a hole which is excentrically formed in the cam 12. Two electrical poles are provided to the side of the motor 13 facing away from the side of mounting the cam 12.

As shown in fig. 4, the motor 13 is integrally formed with a flange 17 which is fixed to the bracket 14 by means of four screws. The bracket 14 is attached to the spoiler structure 1 by means of screws through two holes 18 formed in the bracket 14.

Fig. 5 shows the holding frame 3 of the spoiler structure 1.

The pivot bolts 4 are mounted to the longitudinal ends of the holding frame 3 by means of countersunk screws 19 threaded in a axial direction of the pivot bolts 4 thereto. The lenticular plate 7 is inserted into the U-shaped bar 6 formed at the lower part of the holding frame 3.

**Fig. 6 shows a bottom panel 20 of the spoiler structure 1. The longitudinal ends of the bottom panel 20 are provided with water drainage holes 21 for discharging rain water or 15 condensed water. By such water drainage holes the flooding inside the spoiler structure 1 are prevented to avoid damages to the electrical components in the spoiler structure i.

With reference to figs. 7 and 8, the operation of the driving means assembly in cooperation with the holding frame 3 of the back spoiler according to the present invention is explained.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the cam 12 after half revolution of the shaft 16 of the motor 13. In this state, the cam 12 o pushes the holding frame 3 against the force of the tension 25 spring 15 into the rear tilting position to be fully tilted, wherein the tension spring 15 is extended in the same time.

Fig. 8 shows the position of the cam 12 after full revolution of the shaft 16 of the motor 13, In this state, the cam 12 is moved inwards causing the tension spring 15 to pull the holding frame 3 into its front tilting position. When the cam 12 completes its revolution, it is fully retracted causing the holding frame 12 to be leaning fully in its front tilting position. This process allows the lenticular plate 7 to be viewed at different viewing angles and thereby to exhibit different two- or three dimensional images.

It is noted that the spoiler structure 1 can be provided with a bracket (not shown) for attaching to the vehicle. The 8 bracket can be formed with a rubber lining installed on the side of the bracket facing the vehicle boot to avoid corrosion due to the constant contact between the bracket and the vehicle boot under pressure.

e e s*

Claims

1. A back spoiler for a vehicle, including a box-shaped spoiler structure in which a flat elongated holding frame with a lenticular plate being inserted therein is pivotally mounted to be tilted around a longitudinal axis of the holding frame, wherein the holding frame is pivotable between a front tilting position and a rear tilting position.

2. The back spoiler according to claim 1, wherein the lenticular plate is formed of clear acrylic material and being inserted into a U-shaped bar of the holding frame.

3. The back spoiler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein pivot bolts are provided on the longitudinal ends of the holding frame and being supported by bearings .*arranged on the longitudinal sides of the spoiler structure.

4. The back spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein driving means are attached to the spoiler structure to actuate the holding frame against the force of a tension spring.

The back spoiler according to claim 4, wherein the driving means include a motor having a shaft connected to a cam slideably engaged with a front surface of the holding frame to be tilted.

6. The back spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a light source is mounted to the front side of the spoiler structure in front of the lenticular plate.

7. The back spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spoiler structure has a bottom panel provided with water drainage holes at its longitudinal ends.

8. The back spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the spoiler structure is stepped on a bottom surface to be abutted on the vehicle and is provided with a bracket for attaching to the vehicle. DATED this 27th day of September 2002 CITY DREAMS PTE LTD WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA S. MCQ/MSE/JAM o* 00.