Display Sign

Abstract

The disclosure herein describes a display sign which consists of a series of superposed slats identical in shape and supported and confined in frame members, also identical in shape; each slat includes, at its upper portion, a lengthwise groove defined by two upwardly extending resilient leg portions and, at its lower portion, a lengthwise channel having a restricted entrance portion slightly smaller than the overall distance extending between the extremities of the leg portions. Each slat further includes, on each of its front and rear faces, a longitudinally extending rail which cooperates with the rail of another slat to support indicia, such as letters, symbols and numerals. The disclosure also teaches two ways of mounting hooks on the back of these indicia in order to support them on the rails.

Description

This invention relates to a display sign; more particularly, this invention relates to an improved display sign of the type adapted to receive on both faces thereof a series of interchangeable indicia for conveying similar or otherwise information to viewers.

Briefly, such a display sign is formed by connecting a series of identical slats in a superposed fashion. The opposite faces of each slat are each provided with a longitudinally extending rail on which clips hooked to the back of characters, such as letters, symbols and numerals are received.

It is an object of this invention to provide a display sign of much improved character where the inter-connecting of the slats together is easily effected and, once assembled, the slats are tightly held in place.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display sign, the modular structure of which being such that the attachable and detachable characters are placed at the same height level on both faces of the display sign to cover the same or otherwise information to viewers.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a display sign where the attachment and detachment of letters, symbols and numerals is quickly and easily effected.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a display sign having readily attachable and detachable letters, symbols and numerals which will remain in position despite inclement weather.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a display sign constituted by a plurality of superposed slats supported and confined in appropriate slots in identical frame members where the slots and the frame members can be made economically and can be easily disassembled for transporting purposes.

The present invention relates to an interchangeable indicia display sign which comprises, in its broadest aspect, a series of identical elongated superposed slats fixed lengthwise and confined in a rigid frame wherein each slat has a front face and a rear face, an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending rails integrally mounted to the front and rear faces, respectively, and overlying the same; the upper end portion consists in a lengthwise groove defined by two upwardly extending resilient leg portions; the lower end portion consists in a lengthwise channel having a restricted entrance portion slightly smaller than the overall distance extending between the extremities of the leg portions of the upper end groove; whereby the leg portions of one slat may be tightly received in the channel of a superposed slat of similar construction; surfaces provided on the leg portions of one slat inter-engage with surfaces in the channel of a superposed slat to provide a tight inter-engagement between both slats; the rail of one slat cooperates with the rail of another slat to provide support for the indicia.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one embodiment of an improved display sign in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional cut view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective exploded view of the lower left-hand corner of a display sign in accordance with the present invention and showing the letter L;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating a preferred way of mounting an indicia on the display sign; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective side view similar in part to that of FIG. 3 but showing the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown, by way of example, the upper left-hand corner of a display sign 10 constituted by a rigid frame 12 which supports and confines a panel 13 made of a series of elongate superposed slats 14. The frame and the slats are made of metal, preferably extruded aluminum. On the panel are placed letters, such as the letters O, I and L; numerals, such as the numeral 5; and symbols, such as symbol .cent..

Referring more particularly to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, all slats 14 are identical in shape and each consists of a front face 16 and a rear face 18, of an upper portion 20 and a lower portion 22. The upper portion 20 includes a lengthwise groove 24 defined by a pair of upwardly and slightly outwardly inclined leg portions 26 and 28, the extremities of which include tapered shoulders 30 and 32, respectively. The dimensions and the material used determine the degree of resiliency in the leg portions. The lower portion 22 of each slat consists of two tapering walls 34 and 36, both defining a lengthwise channel 38, extending underneath the slat. Channel 38 has a restricted entrance portion defined by two tapering side walls 40 and 42, the inclination of which corresponds substantially to that of shoulder 30 and 32 of the leg portions. Channel 38 further includes flat portions 44 and 46 followed by inclined walls 48 and 50, respectively. The width of the entrance portion of channel 38 is slightly smaller than the overall distance between the tapered shoulders 30 and 32 of the leg portions.

Panel 13 displays on each face thereof a series of spaced-apart parallel rails 52 (front) and 53 (rear); each front and rear rails are integrally mounted at the lower portion of the slat and are both aligned in a horizontal plane. Front rail 52 includes a flange portion 54 and a rib portion 56 connecting the flange to the slat. The inclined side wall 34 and the rib portion 56 cooperates to extend the flange portion 54 a short distance away from the front face of the salt so that the flange overlies face 16. Similarly, each rear rail 53 includes a flange portion 55 and a rib portion 57 connecting the same to the slat. The inclined side wall 36 and the rib portion 57 cooperate to extend the flange portion 53 a short distance away from the rear face of the slat so that the flange overlies face 18.

Two vertically spaced front rails 52, as well as two vertically spaced rear rails 53, act as support for an indicia 58. An important object of the present invention resides in that, since each pair of rails 52 and 53 is in a horizontal plane, the same information is exactly conveyed to viewers on both faces at the same height level; the exact disposition of indicia displayed on one face of the sign may be duplicated on the other side of the panel.

In the sign partly shown in FIG. 3 where the letter L is intended to be supported by two vertically spaced rails 52, a first hook 60 and a second hook 62 are provided to secure the letter to the rails. Another hook (not shown) is preferably provided on the lower right-hand side of the letter L to further secure the letter to the lower rail; it is therefore evident that the number of hooks to be provided on a letter will depend on the size of the letter. The hooks are provided with respective slots 64 and 66 to tightly receive projections 68 and 70 respectively fixed to the back of the indicia. The upper hook 60 has an upward portion 72 which extends behind the lower edge 73 of flange 54 and the bottom hook 62 has a downward portion 74 which extends behind the upper edge 75 of another flange 54 of a lower rail. A spring 76 having the end of its upper surface 78 in contact with the lower edge 73 of the flange 54 further secures the letter in place and prevents it from rattling under inclement weather.

On each face of each slat, a sliding guide 77 extends longitudinally on the slat. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, the letter O is positioned on the display sign by first upwardly sliding the extension 72 on guide 77 until the extension 72 reaches behind the lower edge 73 which, then, is in contact with the surface 78 of spring 76. The letter is then further raised so that the extension 74 of bottom hook 62 may clear and be lowered behind the upper edge 75. As can be seen, hook 62 serves to support the letter on the lower rail while the upper hook 60 serves to maintain the letter in vertical position while spring 76 prevents it budging.

The rigid frame 12 consists of four identically-shaped support members 79 forming the top, base and sides of the frame; each member has its opposite ends sloped at 45.degree.. Referring to FIG. 3 wherein a base support member and a left-hand side support member are shown, each member 79 consists of two legs 80 and 82, and of a channel 84 extending lengthwise of the support. The channel 84 is defined by two straight walls 86 and 88 (see also FIG. 2) followed by two flat walls 90 and 92, two conveying side walls 94 and 96 and, finally, by an inner recess which is defined by walls 98, 100 and 102 which has a width sufficient to receive the two inclined leg portions 26 and 28 of a slat. The width between walls 86 and 88 should be sufficient to receive the bottom end portion of a slat such that the lower edges of the two opposite rails may sit on the flat walls 90 and 92 and preferably, contact side walls 86 and 88.

To assemble a display sign in accordance with the present invention, three support members 79 are secured together to form a U-shaped form; the joining is effected by connecting the 45.degree. end of one member with the 45.degree. end of another member by means of angle irons, such as the one shown at 103. The angle irons find support on inwardly projecting edges 104 and 106 of each member and are fastened thereto by appropriate means such as bolt 108 or the like. The length of the base member and of the side members will depend on the width and height required for displaying a desired information. Then, a first slat is dropped in the U-shaped form so that the lower portion 22 of a slat slides in respective channels 84 of the side members 79 and finally finds support on walls 90 and 92 of the base members 79. Then, a second slat is dropped in the U-shaped form until its channel 38 is brought adjacent leg portions 26 and 28 of the first placed slat where side walls 30 and 32 come into contact with tapering walls 40 and 42 of the recess. Under easy manual pressure, the two slats are axially pressed one toward the other; the tapering of walls 40 and 42 and the resiliency in leg portions 26 and 28 cooperate in effecting an inward flexing of the leg portions whereby the latter are forced into channel 38 where shoulders 30 and 32 are in abutting and locking engagement with walls 44 and 48, 46 and 50 respectively. The operation is repeated until all slats are successively engaged one above the other to form a vertical panel. Finally, a top frame member 79 is positioned over the formed panel where the recess, defined by walls 98, 100 and 102, receives the two leg portions 26 and 28 of the uppermost slat. The top frame member is also connected to the side frame members by means of angle irons and bolts. Preferably, the bolt 108 should have a non-circular head so that, once inserted in channel 109, it will not be permitted to rotate therein so that a nut 108' may be easily inserted on bolt 108.

Referring now to the other embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be understood that the same reference characters are applied where appropriate to represent the same or similar components appearing in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The principal difference resides in that hook members 110 and 112 extend respectively over and under two vertically spaced parallel rails. In this case, the indicia finds support on the upper rail whereas the lower hook and its spring 114 together operate to maintain the indicia in a vertical position and to prevent it from budging. It has been realized that, with this preferred arrangement, increased fixedness of the indicia on the rails has been obtained.

While the invention as been described above only in relation to two specific forms, persons skilled in the art will be aware that it may be refined and modified in various ways without departing from its scope. It is therefore wished to have it understood that this invention is not to be limited in interpretation except by the terms of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An indicia display sign comprising a rigid frame, a series of identical elongate superposed slats fixed lengthwise, said slats being supported and confined in said rigid frame, each of the slats having a front face and a rear face, an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion including a lengthwise groove defined by two upwardly extending resilient leg portions; said lower end portion including a lengthwise channel having a restricted entrance portion slightly smaller than the overall distance between the extremities of said leg portions whereby said resilient leg portions of one slat may be inwardly flexed and tightly received in the channel of a superposed slat of similar construction; said leg portions of one slat and said channel of a superposed slat having inter-engaging walls to provide a locking engagement between said slat and superposed slat; each slat including a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending rails integrally mounted to the lower portion of said front and rear faces; each rail including indicia support means providing upper and lower portions said upper portion having an upwardly extending extremity thereof and said lower portion having a downwardly extending extremity thereof, each of said upwardly extending extremities cooperates with a downwardly extending extremity to provide support for an indicia, said slat having at an upper portion thereof an upwardly and outwardly protruding guide extending longitudinally along said slat and which cooperates with said downwardly extending extremity of a superposed slat to provide a guide for an indicia.

2. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 1, wherein the rails on each slat are in horizontal alignment with one another; the rails on each face of the display sign being vertically spaced apart at equal intervals.

3. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 2, wherein each indicia supported on said rails includes at least two projections fixed to the back thereof and hook means, each having one end receiving one of said projections and another end extending behind one of said indicia support means.

4. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 3, wherein said hook means include an upper hook and a lower hook; wherein said lower hook extends over said upper portion of said indicia support means of one slat and wherein said upper hook extends under said lower portion of said indicia support means of a superposed slat.

5. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 4, wherein said guide guides said upper hook under said lower edge of said indicia support means; wherein said upper hook has spring means for preventing said indicia to budge when supported on said rails.

6. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 3, wherein said hook means include a lower hook an an upper hook; wherein said lower hook extends under said upper portion of said indicia support means of one slat and wherein said upper hook extends over said lower portion of said indicia support means of a superposed slat.

7. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid frame consists of four identically-shaped support members including top, base and side members interconnected at their ends, each of said members having a channel portion being defined by walls adapted to receive said lower portion of said slat and by a recess in said channel adapted to receive said upper portion of said slat.

8. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 7, wherein said slats and said members are made of extruded aluminum.

9. An indicia display sign as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicia support means comprises a single flange overlying the respective face of said slat, said flange having upper and lower edges, said upper edge of one slat being adapted to receive therebehind the lower part of an indicia, said lower edge of said slat being adapted to receive therebehind the upper part of another indicia.