Vehicle communication device

Claim 1

A vehicle communication device for use in combination with a self-propelled vehicle which includes a rear window, side windows, and forwardly oriented dash board within said vehicle, said apparatus comprising, a message display unit defined by a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a matrix, said light emitting diodes selectively illuminated to indicate a message, and said display unit including mounting means for selectively mounting said display unit adjacent said rear window, or secured to one of said windows of said vehicle, and a message control unit for selectively energizing said light emitting diodes, said message control unit being operatively interconnected to said light emitting diodes within said display unit and being operative upon actuation of one of a plurality of switches to energize said light emitting diodes in any one of a plurality of preselected patterns, said preselected patterns forming messages for viewing exteriorly of said vehicle, and wherein said display unit is mounted in a first vertical position and operative to receive a signal generated by said control unit, and said display unit when mounted in a second horizontal position being automatically deactivated relative to said control unit, and said display unit including a longitudinally aligned rear face, and a first and second support bracket mounted to the rear face wherein each said first and second support bracket includes respective first and second planar flanges, each said first and second planar flange includes a respective first and second support flange integrally and orthogonally mounted to a lowermost edge of each planar flange, each planar flange including a respective first and second elongate hinge each orthogonally oriented relative to each respective said first and second support flange, and each said first and second elongate hinge mounted to the rear face of the display unit, the first and second elongate hinges arranged parallel to one another, and each said first and second planar flange extends below a lower edge of the rear face and each said first and second support flange includes a respective first and second hook and loop fastener patch mounted to a bottom surface of each said first and second support flange, and further including a hook and loop fastener strip securable to said support shelf and cooperative with the first and second hook and loop fastener patch of each said first and second support flange.