AU595100B2

AU595100B2 - Display sign

Info

Publication number: AU595100B2
Application number: AU12651/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Eric Burnett Grant; Roderick William Grant
Original assignee: Raby Bernand William; Raby Beverley Jane; Raby Gillian Sandra; Raby Michael Justin; Raby Peter Jullian
Current assignee: Raby Bernand William; Raby Beverley Jane; Raby Gillian Sandra; Raby Michael Justin; Raby Peter Jullian
Priority date: 1987-03-04
Filing date: 1988-03-04
Publication date: 1990-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-04
Also published as: AU1265188A

Description

i. Cp; FroAc~ P/OO/011 Form PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. CI: 5 0A0 Application Number: Lodged: e t 0 C 0 S: Crplete Specification-Lodged: c a. Accepted: s, Lapsed: Published: C 0 0 Priority: r, ,",Related Art: 0 00 w o ae o t 0^jt i- 1 i D 0 So Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT ERIC BURNETT GRANT and RODERICK WILLIAM GRANT 0O Address of Applicant: Address of Applicant: 73 BLACKWOOD TERRACE, HOLDER, A.C.T. 2611.

Actual Inventors ERIC BURNETT GRANT and RODERICK WILLIAM GRANT Address for Service: Care o. PAUL F. KILDEA, Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, 19 LOGAN STREET, NARRABUNDAH, A.C.T. 2604.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: DISPLAY SIGN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- I _r~pl 2 The invention relates to a display sign of the type generally used within a building to display information, not only for the benefit of the usual inhabitants of that area, but also to members of the passing multitude. A sign of this nature is preferably one which stands out in its enviroment and on which information is clearly displayed so as to be readily understandable to a vari(ty of people. Of particular concern is a sign where some or i: all of the information displayed thereon is subject to 10 change.

t 4 c fc ,One particular example of a sign of this type is an aisle sign used in shops and supermarkets to display the names of the goods located thereabouts. Such a sign should be eye-catching to quickly attract attention and be easily ft oI readable by customers who may be in a hurry.

Importantly, a good quality sign is desirable to enhance shop presentation.

YaSigns of this type are generally prepared with the skilled assistance of a signwriter. If information contained in the sign is to be changed, the assistance of a signwriter is generally required to safeguard the quality of the sign. This can be expensive.

Alternatively, the old sign has to be replaced by a new one; that too can be uneconomic.

i i l- ~II- 3 To meet this requirement it has been proposed to provide the variable information on removable backings such as cards which are positioned in grooves, frames or the like. Usually, the change is made by unskilled staff which gives rise to alignment problems. Handling of the cards and attempts to position them in the grooves, frames or the like may cause soiling, wear, disfigurement, etc. Generally, it is not long before an I untidy display results. It has also been proposed to 10 secure variable display items to a signboard by adhesives or by mechanical fasteners such as pins. These proposals give rise to similar sorts of problems and what was initially a quality sign of good appearance soon becomes a rather disorderly spectacle.

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o o It is an object to provide a display sign which can be economically produced and maintained, which is attractive in appearance and informative and on which changes of information displayed can be made quickly and easily Oo e without altering the overall appearance of the sign.

According to the invention, a display sign comprises a relatively rigid baseboard, a plurality of interchangeable relatively stiff backing plates adapted to be removably mounted at predetermined positions on the baseboard, each backing plate carrying at least one word -t7- ~13--OC-1~ .4 to be displayed, at least two blind bores in the baseboard at each predetermined mounting position, correspondingly placed holes passing through each backing plate, a plurality of headed plugs to hold the backing plates in position against the baseboard, each plug having a stem sized to pass through a hole in the backing plate and be frictionally retained in a bore in the baseboard.

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This construction will ensure that a replacement backing o° 10 plate is held in the same position as the original plate ogo and the appearance of the display is maintained.

a One embodiment of the invention is described in relation a..o to the accompanying drawing which shows one form of aisle •s o o sign suitable for use in a supermarket in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the display sign; and aP ra Fig. 2 is exploded part sectional view illustrating the means of holding a backing plate on the baseboard.

s* In this form of the invention, an aisle sign comprises a baseboard 1 which may be of any convenient shape such as the 4-sided figure illustrated. Baseboard 1 comprises a relatively rigid board by which is meant that it will retain its shape and does not buckle even though it is supported in a free-standing condition. The baseboard is preferably opaque and is provided on each side with a finished surface of a type which, preferably, is not prone to disfigurement due to environmental matter such as dust. In any event, the material of the surface is preferably such that it can be cleaned to restore its original condition and without leaving unsightly marks or stains on it and without affecting the shape or rigidity of the board. A plastics surface material is suitable.

"In a preferred form, baseboard 1 is in the form of a 1 i0 laminate. One relatively rigid laminate which has been found to be suitable for this purpose is known as lamiboard. This board has a core of kraftwood and is provided on its opposed major surfaces with a very ,o.

resistant laminex covering. This provides a high quality baseboard with a durable and scratch resistant surface of good appearance. To protect the edges of the baseboard o from accidental knocks, the edges may be enclosed in a Ga# plastic U-shaped channel member or members (not shown).

ae 6 A plurality of similar relatively stiff backing plates 2 are mounted on baseboard 1, each backing plate 2 carrying a word or words which are to be displayed. For example, backing plates 2 may have a product name printed thereon.

The product name is preferably printed by using any known technique which insures clear lettering. A silk-screen -6process of printing has been found to be very satisfactory. Preferably, all backing plates belonging to one sign are printed in the same format so that interchange of the backing plates will not be noticable. The backing plates may be formed of plastics material such as laminex, formica, PVC, or similar materials. A polystyrene with a satin finish has been found satisfactory and attractive. The backing plates 2 are relatively stiff so that they will retain shape and are 0 not subject to sagging. Each of the backing plates on which product names are displayed are preferably identical in shape and construction. They are formed with C t V Crr two or more holes 5 for the reception of stem 3 of headed plugs 4. The holes in all of the backing plates associated with one display are in identical positions.

.9 .4 In the display sign illustrated, backing plates 2 are in

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the form of rectangular strips or slats on which the name of a product found in the vicinity is displayed. There are eight similar backing slats mounted in two vertical columns, each having four slats. Clearly, the number and shape of the backing plates 2, and their relative positioning, is a matter for the individual display.

The backing plates are mounted at predetermined positions on the baseboard. For this purpose, the baseboard is 7 provided with blind bores 6 at each mounting position and match with the holes 5 in the backing plate 2. Bores 6 in baseboard 1 are depth-drilled to a depth slightly less than the thickness of the board so that the bores do not pass therethrough. In the case of a double sided sign, blind bores on the opposite sides of the board are slightly displaced from one another. This arrangement permits similar displays to be formed on each side of the m display sign.

4 tslO The means for attaching backing plates 2 to the baseboard at, 1 comprise a plurality of headed plugs 4 each with a knurled stem 3 projecting therefrom. To attach a backing plate 2 to the baseboard i, the stem 3 of a plug 4 is eo o apassed through a hole 5 in a backing plate 2 and into a a bore 6 in the baseboard 1. The external diameter of the a a stem 3 is almost the same, but slightly less than, the diameter of bore 6 so that there is no play therebetween.

The stem 3 is held in bore 6 in the baseboard by friction a Q and will not be displaced even when the backing plates are subjected to slight knocks or drafts. To compensate for any inaccuracy in the manufacture, the diameter of the holes 5 in the backing plate is made slightly larger than the diameter of the bores in baseboard i. This ensures that backing plates 2 can be mounted flush on backing board 1 without any buckling of the backing plates.

8 By forming the core of the baseboard of strong material such as kraftwood, and providing a strong plastic coating of its surface, there is substantially no wear at the mouth of the bore caused by repeatedly inserting and withdrawing the stem of the attaching plugs. Attaching plugs 3 may be made of any suitable plastics material, the stem being knurled to assist its frictional retention within the bore.

An additional large backing plate 7 may be provided to o 0, goooi0 carry other information or advertisements such as the S" store's logo. In the embodiment illustrated, backing a plate 7 is attached to baseboard 1 by similar headed plugs 4 at each corner thereof. Alternatively, that V 1 additional advertisement may be printed directly onto baseboard i. The aisle number 8 may also be printed on baseboard i. Suspension holes may be provided near the top edge of baseboard.

0 Employing the concepts described, there may be provided a high quality sign on which information can be changed while maintaining a quality appearance. The display sign may take any of a variety of forms, shapes and sizes and may serve a wide variety of applications, particularly in those cases where items of the display are frequently changed. Thus the invention may be employed in the 9manufacture of a menu board. Items on the menu may be frequently changed and the invention ensures that the replacement items are displayed in the same position as the originals to retain the overall quality appearance of the menu board.

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Claims

3. A display sign as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the laminate has a core provided on each side with a durable, o scratch resistant surfacing material.
4. A display sign as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the surfacing material is a plastics material. A display sign as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each backing plate is a rectangular slat with a hole therethrough at each end. r C CC C P C (C( t C C C A~ 0) 00 oc o aB a 11
6. A display sign as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein each backing plate is formed of plastics material.
7. A display sign as claimed in any preceding Claim, which is a double-sided sign and having backing plates mounted in the same way on each side of the sign.
8. A display sign as claimed in Claim 7, whereein the bores in one side of the backing board are slightly offset to those on the other side.
9. A display sign as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the stem of each headed plug is knurled to increase the friction thereof. A display sign substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 24th. day of FEBRUARY 1988. ERIC BURNETT GRANT RODERICK WILLIAM GRANT By their Patent Attorney PAUL F. KILDEA.