Display Devices

Abstract

A display device for changeable signs having a transparent cover for receiving therein in upright position the changeable cards carrying suitable indicia. The cover is enclosed on all sides except the bottom, where it receives a bracket and which substantially fits in the opening to seal the latter against the entrance of foreign substances. The cover is frameless and formed of relatively thin walls which overlap the bracket at the bottom. Ears are formed on the opposite end walls at the bottom extending substantially throughout the width of the cover and in position to be seated upon the bracket. The ears are internally threaded to receive fastening screws detachably connecting the cover with the bracket and which can be inserted through openings in the bracket into the threaded openings in the ears.

Description

OBJECTS AND DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to improvements in display devices for holding changeable cards or signs.

In the merchandising of various commodities, for example gasoline, signs are employed denoting the price thereof and which are usually displayed in the open being attached to the gasoline pump or other support for observation. Inasmuch as the signs or cards are usually constructed of paper, cardboard or other printed material, it has been the practice to enclose them in suitable holder to protect them from the weather.

A mounting bracket is attached to the cover and supports the latter in secure position thereof. The mounting bracket, in turn, may be supported on a gasoline pump or other point of support.

An attempt has been made heretofore to use a frameless transparent cover for accommodating the cards. This has involved relatively thick walls with fastening members embedded in the end walls of the cover. Not only is the heaviness of construction objectionable because of the incidental thickness of the walls, but the insertion of fastenings in the walls weakens the latter and causes these to break and result in insecure attachment of the cover to the bracket.

One object of this invention is to overcome the foregoing difficulties and disadvantages in a frameless transparent cover and to improve the construction of the display holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover with relatively thin walls of uniform thickness and attaching means thereon which will securely connect the cover with a supporting bracket adapted for ready replacement when needed to change or replace the display cards.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by constructing a cover of relatively thin transparent material as a self-contained frameless structure. The cover is adapted to receive therein changeable exhibitors such as display cards which may be replaced or changed at frequent intervals. Each change would require the separation nd removal of the cover from the mounting bracket, but when in place on the mounting bracket, the cover forms a sealed connection with the bracket to exclude dust and foreign particles therefrom.

The relatively thin end walls of the cover, of uniform thickness, have formed in one integral piece therewith ears located on the outside of the cover at the bottom in positions to be seated upon the mounting bracket. Each of the ears extends substantially throughout the width of the cover and extends outwardly from the adjacent end wall a substantial distance, more than half the thickness of the cover. Each ear is internally threaded to receive a detachable screw, preferably with wings that can be turned by hand, inserted through the bracket and into the opening formed in the ear for securing the cover tightly upon the bracket.

The embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the cover and mounting bracket;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an upright section through one of the ears and a portion of the mounting bracket on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section through the sidewalls and mounting bracket on the line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

In this embodiment of the invention, we have shown suitable mounting bracket 1 for supporting the cover in an upright position, as for example, upon a gasoline pump of similar dispenser. The bracket 1 illustrated in the drawings has upper and lower arms 2 and 3 formed substantially in U-shape, the arm 3 having suitable openings 4 for securing the bracket upon the gasoline pump or other support. The arm 2 has openings 5 therein adjacent its opposite ends to receive fasteners for the cover, as hereinafter described.

The cover is indicated generally at 6. This cover is formed of a suitable transparent plastic material capable of molding or fabrication, as desired, so as to form a substantially one-piece construction.

The cover 6 includes a top wall 7, opposite end walls 8 and sidewalls 9. These walls are generally thin, ordinally less than one-eighth inch in thickness, and of uniform thickness. The sidewalls 9 are spaced apart at the lower edge of the cover a distance substantially equal to the width of the top section 2 of the bracket so as to fit snugly on opposite sides of the bracket when the cover is seated thereon. The sidewalls 9 are provided with depending flanges 10 to embrace the section 2 of the bracket in tight-fitted relation, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the end walls 8 are seated upon the top face of the bracket.

Formed in one integral piece with the cover 6 are a pair of ears 11 disposed outwardly of the end walls 8 at the lower ends of the latter. Each of the ears 11 is preferably molded in one integral piece with the body of the cover 6 when the latter is molded so as to form a one-piece construction with a secure connection between the ear and the cover. Each ear 11 preferably is of a size which extends throughout the width of the end wall 8 and may be semicircular in cross section. The ear 11 projects outwardly from the adjacent end wall 8 a distance greater than one-half of the width of the ear and the width of the end wall so as to form a substantial projection on the outer face thereof at its lower end. The length of the ear 11 should be sufficient for secure connection of the adjacent side of the cover 6 to the bracket 1.

The ear 11 is internally threaded, as indicated at 12, to receive therein a screw fastening 13 which extends through an orifice 5 in the section 2 of the bracket into threaded connection at 12 with the ear 11. Wings 14 on the screw 13 enable the screw to be turned by thumb pressure, thereby facilitating the insertion and removal of the threaded fastening.

We have illustrated a conventional display card or changeable exhibitor at 15 located within the cover 6. This is preferably of the type usually employed for displaying the price of gasoline, having indicia thereon in terms of whole numbers and fractions as ordinarily employed for this purpose. Any other suitable or desired form of changeable exhibitor may be employed within the cover.

The display cards or exhibitor 15 will need to be replaced or changed whenever there is a change in the price of gasoline. This necessitates the removal of the detachable fastenings 13 and the separation of the cover 6 from the bracket 1. When that is done, the cover can be lifted off and the required changes made in the display cards 15. Then the cover, with the changed display cards, can be replaced on the bracket.

Inasmuch as these changes occur at considerable frequency, the screw fastenings must be replaced each time a change is made in the display material. This invention makes it possible for the fastenings to be removed readily by hand and yet can be screwed up into tight relation with the ears 11 so as to secure the cover effectively upon the bracket 1. The size and character of the ears 11 and the means of connection therewith by screw fastenings extending through holes in the bracket, not only provides an effective and secure mounting of the cover on the bracket, but it retains the connection with little danger of damage or breakage in repeated use.

At the same time, the body of the cover is relatively thin and transparent, which not only effects a saving in expense, but it also makes a more attractive display holder which is entirely frameless, but is effective for the purpose.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A display device comprising a one-piece cover for enclosing indicia display means, said cover including opposite end and opposite sidewalls of relatively thin transparent material and a top, said cover having the bottom thereof open between the sidewalls, a bracket member extending in said open bottom between the sidewalls and lengthwise beyond the end walls outwardly of the cover, ears formed in one integral piece with the end walls laterally outside of the outer faces thereof and elongated vertically from the lower end part way only of the length of the end walls, and wherein each of said ears extends substantially throughout the width of the end wall, and detachable fastenings connected with the bracket member and extending into the lower ends of the ears interconnected with the ears laterally outside of the end walls and spaced outwardly therefrom, the upper ends of the ears being closed about the upper ends of the fastenings.

2. a display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the ears extends laterally away from the adjacent end wall at least one-half the width of the ear.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the detachable fastenings extend through the bracket member and have threaded connections with the ears.

4. A display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the screw fastenings has wings rigidly secured to the lower end portion thereof below the bracket member for manually turning the detachable fastening into and out of threaded connection with the ear.

5. A display device comprising a one-piece cover for enclosing indicia display means, said cover including opposite end and opposite sidewalls of relatively thin transparent material of uniform thickness and a top, said cover having the bottom thereof open between the sidewalls, a bracket member extending in said open bottom between the sidewalls and lengthwise beyond the end walls outwardly of the cover, said end walls extending in abutting relation at their lower ends against the bracket member, the sidewalls having depending flanges embracing the bracket member, and ears formed in one integral piece with the end walls laterally outside of the outer faces thereof, each of the ears extending upwardly along said end walls outer face part way only of the length thereof from the lower end of said outer face, and wherein each of said ears extends substantially throughout the width of the end wall, each ear being substantially semicircular in cross section and having an internally threaded recess extending upwardly therein from the lower end thereof part way only of the length thereof and spaced outwardly from the outer face of the adjacent end wall, each ear having an imperforate top portion above the recess joined in one piece to the adjacent end wall, and detachable screw fastenings extending through the bracket member into threaded connection with the recesses in the ears for securing the cover on the bracket member.

6. A display device according to claim 5, wherein each of the screw fastenings has wings rigidly secured to the lower end portion thereof below the bracket member for manually turning the detachable fastening into and out of threaded connection with the ear.