AU764078B2 - Multidirectional sign - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0o11 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: MULTIDIRECTIONAL SIGN Applicant: RHAM INDUSTRIES AUST PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: IP Australia g

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Documents received on:a 0 0 7 APR 1999 Batchi No: -7 CAkWIN WORDWMARIE\RLTNODEL\CAP-DOCS .DOC -2- This present invention relates generally to signage equipment, and more particularly to signs for displaying information such as directions, warnings, advertising or the like. The invention is especially suited for use as an emergency Exit sign and it will be convenient hereinafter to describe the invention in relation to that example application. It should be understood however that the invention is intended for more general application and use.

Exit signs are provided in public buildings, factories, aeroplanes and the like so as to indicate to occupants the locations of exits. This is particularly important during an emergency evacuation. Exit signs are generally mounted on a ceiling or wall and are usually illuminated so as to be clearly visible including at night.

Existing illuminated Exit signs generally include a light source mounted within an enclosure having at leat one translucent diffuser. The diffuser typically bears the word "EXIT" and/or a pictorial symbol or pictograph together with one or more arrows so as to indicate the direction of the closest exit(s). The diffuser may be S 15 screen-printed, or a decal with the required signage may be applied over the surface of the diffuser. In either case, at least four alternative versions of signage have to be produced, for example 'no arrow', 'left arrow', 'right arrow' or 'both arrows', to facilitate use in various applications. This also means that at least four versions of the diffuser have to be carried by suppliers and installers of the equipment, leading to increased handling and storage costs, in addition to :increased manufacturing costs.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate or at least minimize these problems.

The invention provides a sign including an information bearing portion and direction indicating means for displaying a direction associated with information carried by said information bearing portion, characterized in that said information bearing portion is located on a sheet of material, said sheet being adapted to be adhered to a substrate, in that said direction indicating means is also located on said sheet, and in that said direction indicating means is constituted by a removable element of said sheet, such that said removable element, when 2a removed from said sheet, reveals a part of said substrate with which, in use, said sheet is associated.

The invention also provides a sign including an information bearing portion and direction indicating means for displaying a direction associated with information carried by said information bearing portion, characterized in that said information bearing portion is located on a sheet of material, said sheet being adhered to a substrate, in that said direction indicating means is also located on said sheet, in that said direction indicating means is constituted by at least one user selectable pointer, and in that said user selectable pointer is constituted by a removable element of said sheet, such that said removable element, when removed from said sheet, reveals a part of said substrate.

4a*tll -3- The information may include text, such as a word or phrase, or it may include a pictorial symbol or pictograph. In one application, the information may include the word "EXIT" and the direction indicating means may, in use, include a pointer showing the direction of an exit from a building or the like. In alternative applications, the sign may give directions to stairways, fire hydrants, bathrooms, telephones or the like. The information may be in the English language, in a language other than English or it may be represented by a suitable symbol such as a pictograph or the like.

In one embodiment the sign may include a self-adhesive sheet of material adapted to be adhered to a substrate. In this embodiment the sheet may provide the information bearing portion and/or the selectable pointer(s).

Preferably each selectable pointer is in the shape of an arrowhead. The or each selectable pointer may include a removable element formed from a portion of the sheet, such that the removable element exposes the substrate to which the sheet is adhered.

In one embodiment the removable element may be substantially severed from the sheet during manufacture but, in use, may be applied to the substrate together with the sheet. For this purpose, retaining links, in the form of unsevered material, may be left joining the element to the remainder of the sheet. After the sheet has been adhered to a substrate, the removable element may be peeled away so as to reveal the substrate beneath.

*In another embodiment the removable element may be completely severed from the sheet during manufacture. To facilitate application of the sheet and removable element to the substrate, adhesive tape may be applied to the outer surfaces of the sheet and removable element. The adhesive tape may be removed after application of the sheet and removable element to the substrate. This avoids the need to sever retaining links during application of the sheet/removable element.

In one embodiment the information bearing portion may be substantially transparent, so as to reveal the colour of the substrate beneath. The remainder of the adhesive sheet is preferably coloured and, more preferably is MJP C:\WINWORD'MARIE\GABNODEL\SIGN.DOC -4coloured differently to the substrate. In this way, the information appears in the colour of the substrate against a background colour of the adhesive sheet.

The coloured portion of the sheet may be translucent or it may be opaque, depending upon the application to which the sign is to be put.

In one embodiment the sign may be produced in the form of a decal having a self-adhesive top layer overlying a backing sheet. In use, the top layer becomes the self-adhesive sheet referred to above. The top layer may include the information bearing portion and the selectable pointer(s).

Preferably each selectable pointer is die-cut into the top layer such that the removable element is substantially or completely severed from the top layer but the backing sheet remains intact.

In one embodiment the sign may include an enclosure containing a light source and having a translucent diffuser. The decal may be applied to the diffuser so as to illuminate from the rear the information bearing portion and the direction indicating means. In an alternative embodiment the sign may be adhered to an opaque surface, such as a painted wall or sign board, and may be illuminated from the front.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments. Other 20 embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

el In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of an Exit sign in accordance with one embodiment 25 of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the Exit sign of Fig. 1 applied to an illuminated enclosure; and Fig. 3 is a front view of an Exit sign in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

*30 Referring to Figure 1 there is shown an Exit sign 10 including an information bearing portion 12, containing the letters EXIT, and direction MJP C:\WINWORD\MARIEGABNODEL\SIGN.DOC indicating means, in the form of two selectable pointers 14 and 16, for displaying the direction to the exit.

The sign 10 is produced as a decal having a top layer of self-adhesive sheet material 18, which overlies a backing sheet (not visible). The letters EXIT are transparent and the remainder of the sheet is coloured, preferably green.

The selectable pointers 14 and 16 are provided in the form of removable arrow-shaped elements which have been die cut from the sheet 18. During manufacture of the decal, die cutting is performed such that the pointers 14, 16 are substantially or completely severed from the sheet 18 but the backing sheet is not cut. In one form the pointers 14, 16 may not be completely severed from the sheet 18 and small links of unsevered material (not shown) may be left in place. These links may facilitate removal of the sheet 18 as a whole from the backing sheet with the pointers 14, 16 remaining attached, as well as facilitating subsequent application of the decal to a substrate.

Figure 2 shows the Exit sign 10 of Figure 1 applied to a translucent diffuser (not shown) of an illuminated enclosure 20. The sign 10 may be applied to the enclosure 20 at the factory or, depending upon the materials used, may be applied on site by the installer.

20 In either case, the installer is provided with the ability to customise the sign 10 on site, by selecting the pointer 14 or 16 which indicates the direction S•to the exit. One pointer, both pointers or neither pointer may be selected.

To select pointer 16 a corner 22 may be grasped and peeled away so *as to expose the surface of the diffuser beneath the sheet 18. If the letters 12 25 are transparent and the sheet 18 is coloured, the exposed arrow-shaped portion of the diffuser takes the same appearance as the letters 12. A light source within the enclosure 20 makes the letters and exposed arrow stand out from the background colour of the sheet 18.

Figure 3 shows an exit sign 30 including an information bearing portion 32 containing a pictograph of a human form in flight to an exit and direction indicating means, in the form of two selectable pointers 34 and 36 for MJP C:\WINWORD\MARIEGANOOEL\SIGN.DOC -6displaying the direction to the exit. As in the embodiment of Figure 1, sign is produced as a decal having a top layer of self-adhesive sheet material 38 which overlies a backing sheet. The pictograph is transparent and the remainder of the sheet is coloured. Selectable pointers 34, 36 are provided in the form of removable elements which have been die cut from sheet 38 such that pointers 34, 36 are substantially or completely severed from sheet 38 whilst the backing sheet is left intact.

It will be appreciated that a sign produced in accordance with the present invention provides advantages for the manufacturer because only one version of the sign needs to be produced. The sign is also advantageous for suppliers because they need only stock one item, instead of at least four. The sign is particularly advantageous for installers because they can customise it on site, thereby eliminating the need to carry a number of different versions for different positions within a building or other site.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

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Claims (19)

1. A sign including an information bearing portion and direction indicating means for displaying a direction associated with information carried by said information bearing portion, characterized in that said information bearing portion is located on a sheet of material, said sheet being adapted to be adhered to a substrate, in that said direction indicating means is also located on said sheet, and in that said direction indicating means is constituted by a removable element of said sheet, such that said removable element, when removed from said sheet, reveals a part of said substrate with which, in use, said sheet is associated.

2. A sign according to claim 1, characterized in that said direction indicating means is constituted by at least one user selectable pointer.

3. A sign according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said removable element is substantially severed from the remainder of said sheet, and in that said removable element includes retaining links connecting said 15 removable element with said remainder of said sheet.

4. A sign according to claim 3, characterized in that said removable element is completely severed from the remainder of said sheet.

A sign according to claim 5, characterized in that adhesive tape is applied to said sheet between said removable element and said remainder of said sheet.

6. A sign according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said sheet has an inner surface to which an adhesive has been applied to render the sheet self-adhesive, and an outer surface to which adhesive has not been applied.

7. A sign according to claim 6, characterized in that said sign is in the form of a decal, said decal being constituted by said sheet and a backing sheet, said sheet overlying said backing street.

8. A sign according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that said outer surface has a colour which contrasts with the colour of said substrate.

9. A sign according to claim 8, characterized in that the colour of said substrate is green.

A sign according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said information bearing portion includes text such as a word or phrase.

11. A sign according to claim 10, characterized in that said information bearing portion includes the word "EXIT".

12. A sign according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said information bearing portion includes a symbol or pictograph.

13. A sign according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said information bearing portion is substantially transparent. a

14. A sign according to claim 13, characterized in that said information bearing portion is transparent.

A sign according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said information bearing portion is translucent.

16. A sign according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said sheet is adhered to said substrate.

17. A sign according to any preceding claim, including means for illuminating the information bearing portion and the direction indicating means.

18. A sign according to claim 17, characterized in that said illumination is from the rear.

19. A sign including an information bearing portion and direction indicating means for displaying a direction associated with information carried by said information bearing portion, characterized in that said information bearing portion is located on a sheet of material, said sheet being adhered to a substrate, in that said direction indicating means is also located on said sheet, in that said direction indicating means is constituted by at least one user selectable pointer, and in that said user selectable pointer is constituted by a removable element of said sheet, such that said removable element, when removed from said sheet, reveals a part of said substrate. A sign substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 4 June 2003 JOHN CHRISTIANSEN Member, F~d6ration Internationale des Conseils en Propri6te Industrielle (International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys) Patent Attorney for the Applicant: RHAM INDUSTRIES AUST PTY. LTD. 6