US2681030A - Portable sign structure - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1954 P. B. HOGE 3 PORTABLE SIGN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR PHILIP B. H065 BY W ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 HOGE 2,681,030 PORTABLE SIGN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR' ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 P. B. HOGE 2,681,030

PORTABLE SIGN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19', 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR Fwy}? B. Hoes ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 F2, HOGE 2,681,030 I PORTABLE SIGN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19', 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR PHILIP .8 H065 BY 67:01., fla-y/ud M1206 ATTORNEYS Patentecl June 15, 1954 UNITED STATEE Z ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting structures for signs and the like, and more particularly to portable collapsible structures, adapted ito be set up along a highway.

The general object of the invention is to devise a structure or" this character so light, simple and compact that it may be carried in the car of the average motorist and set up on the roadway in case of breakdown or when changing a tire, to warn other motorists to drive carefully.

Another object is to provide a device of this character incorporating a flag, and having means for supporting a source of light, as for example an ordinary flashlight, in such manner as to illuminate the flag at night.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to devise a supporting structure comprising a plurality of legs and an upwardly extending mast all pivotally connected with an improved head so designed that the legs and mast may all be swung about their pivots into substantial parallelism, whereby the structure may be folded into a compact package similar to an ordinary umbrella.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of one form of my improved supporting structure when used to support a highway sign;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section therethrough substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, the flag being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one form of head to which the legs and mast are pivoted;

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary side elevation of the middle portion of the supporting structure itself illustrating the use of wooden members in place of steel;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective conventional view of my improved supporting structure as it appears when erected for use;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating the parts in the position which they occupy when being folded to collapsed position;

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the sheet metal blank from which the head illustrated in Fig. 3 is formed;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a somewhat different form of head, the legs and mast being illustrated in dotted lines;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing a still further modified construction of head;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showing still a different form of head;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section substantially on the line |2l2 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the complete structure shown in Figs. 11 and 12, when folded into collapsed position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have illustrated my improved supporting structure as made either of wood or metal, and I have also shown a number of different forms of head, some of which are equally applicable to either wood or metal supporting legs and mast.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, my improved supporting structure comprises a tripod composed of three legs l, and a vertically extending mast 2. These legs and mast are pivotally mounted at {a and 2 respectively, on a head designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 3.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that this head is formed of sheet metal and comprises three pockets or sockets a, b and c disposed at angles to each other. This head may conveniently by formed from a sheet metal blank such as shown in Fig. 8. In this blank the panels 10 form the sides of the sockets, while the panels a: form the edges thereof, the material being bent along the dotted lines as will be obvious. Projecting from the inner panels 10 are a pair of tabs y and 2 which, when the blank is folded into the completed head, shown in Fig. 3, extend toward each other in abutting relation, thus serving as spacers and providing a latch member 3 illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The outer edges of the end panels may be welded or soldered to the sides of the inner panels to secure them in position, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

A spring catch is provided, as illustrated in Fig. 2, but best shown in Fig. 5. This is formed of a piece of resilient wire having a pair of arms 4 and i extending at right angles to each other, the ends of the arms 1 being anchored to the mast 2. Between the arms 4 and I the wire is given a turn around a pin 8 carried by the mast, as indicated at I. At the ends of the arms 4, the wire is formed into loops 5 connected by a cross-bar B, which cross-bar is adapted to engage the latch member .s when the mast is swung to upright position.

To the upper end of the mast is secured a cross-arm 9 by means of a pivot III, and a flexible sheet II is secured at its upper edge to this cross-arm. A preferred method of attaching the flexible sheet to the cross-arm is by means of ornamental studs or buttons I2, which may be of a reflecting character. Similar studs or buttons I3 secure the lower corners of the flexible sheet to two of the legs I, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus the flexible sheet is held stretched in extended position so that it is well adapted to display any sign or lettering which may be placed thereon, and at the same time the sheet serves to hold the cross-arm in horizontal position.

Secured to one end of the cross-arm 9 is a bracket 14 to which is pivoted, as at 16, one end of a flag pole l 5, from which is suspended a suitable fiag, preferably red. From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be observed that the flag pole is so constructed that this flag is supported at an angle to the plane of the cross-arm, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Referring now to Figs 6 and 7, I have conventionally shown in these figures merely the frame members of my improved structure, the flexible sheet and flag being omitted for the sake of clearness. When the structure is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 6, the three legs I are extended, and the mast 2 projects vertically upward from the head 3. The arm 9 and flag pole 15 are in horizontal position.

When it is desired to fold or collapse the structure, however, the iiag pole i is folded upon the arm 9, and the arm 9 itself is swung about the pivot l9 into parallelism with the mast 2, as shown by the arrows and as illustrated in Fig. l. The mast itself is then swung downwardly about its pivot 2 (see Figs. 2 and 4) into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The legs I are then swung into substantially parallel relation with each other and with the mast. Thus, when folded to collapsed position, the three legs, the mast, the cross-arm and the flag pole all lie substantially parallel with each other and form a small compact bundle, similar to an umbrella. The length of the mast in relation to that of the cross-arm is preferably so chosen that when the cross-arm is folded to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the combined length of the mast and projecting end of the cross-arm in substantially no greater than that of the legs. In Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the legs and mast as formed of channel-shaped metal strips or bars. Such bars are also clearly illustrated in ll. Substantially the same form of head, illustrated in Fig. 3, is, however, equally suitable for use with legs and mast formed of wood. This is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the wooden legs are designated l and the wooden mast 2'. The head is designated 3 in these figures because, when used with wooden legs of rectangular section, the outer edge panels of the sockets are flat, as shown in Fig. 5, instead of rounded as illustrated in Fig. 3. Except for the substitution of wooden legs and mast for the corresponding steel members, the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is exactly the same as that already described in connection with l, 2 and 3.

Instead of forming the head of sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 3, it may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 9. In this figure the head is illustrated as formed of two metal stampings i8 and i9, placed back to back and united as by riveting or welding. The combined structure then presents a pair of wings 18 and I8 corresponding to the pockets at and c of Fig. 3, and a double walled receptacle i9 corresponding to the socket b of Fig. 3. In the upper edge of the piece [9 is formed a transverse notch 20 having at its rear side rounded edges 20*. Thus, when employed in connection with a spring catch similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cross-bar 5 of such a catch, when the mast is swung to upright position, rides up over the rounded edges 20 and snaps into the notch 20. In this Fig. 9, the legs and mast are shown as formed of channel-shaped metal bars, and two of the legs are illustrated as straddling and enclosing the wings lE and H8 Wooden legs, such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, can however, equally well be used, and would be pivoted to the wings. The third leg, whether wood or metal, fits between the Walls of the receptacle [9 In Fig. 19 I have illustrated a slight modification of the structure shown in Fig. 9, which may be formed of cast metal. This form of head, designated in its entirety by the numeral 2 E, has the two wings 2H and 25, similar to w and 13 of Fig. 9, but instead of the receptacle 19 of Fig. 9, it is provided with a single wing 2110. This wing has a notch 29 in the upper edge thereof to receive the spring catch. In connection with Fig. 10, it will be understood that channel-shaped legs are employed which embrace all three wings.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have illustrated an en tirely diiierent form of head. lhis comprises a plate designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 22. It is of triangular shape and the lower corners constitute wings 22 and 22, similar to the wings 2 i and 2 i in Fig. 10. The third leg is carried by a special bracket 22* This is shown as formed of folded sheet metal bent to form an inner U-shaped portion 22, the ends of the legs of which rest against the plate 22, and the bracket is secured thereto by means of a bolt or rivet 22 At its upper end the plate 22 is formed with an upwardly projecting tongue 22 preferably ofiset from the plane of the plate as shown, and the upper portions of the plate, at either side of this tongue, are rolled over as shown at 22 to receive a hinge pin 23. A second hinge member 25 has its lower edge 24 rolled around the central portion of this pin. This member 25 is rigidly secured to the mast 2 as by rivets 27, and is provided with a rearwardly extending latch portion 25 having its outer edge beveled on one side as indicated at 26 in Fig. 11. This latch member is also formed with a transversely extending notch 28 in which freely works the upper end of a spring catch 29 formed of a piece of resilient wire. At the lower end of this catch, the wire is given a turn 36 around the bolt or rivet 22 and the extreme end is anchored to the plate 22, as indicated at 3!. It will thus be seen that when this catch member 29 is swung laterally so as to disengage it from the notch 28, the mast and hinge member 25 can be swung downwardly about the pin 23 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 while, as the mast is swung upwardly toward vertical position, the latch 25 snaps over the catch member 29 and locks the mast in position.

In Fig. 13, I have shown a structure made in accordance with Figs. 11 and 12 as it appears when in its completely folded or collapsed position. Here it will be seen that the legs and mast lie in substantially parallel relation with each other and that the cross-arm 9, in alinement with the mast, does not project substantially beyond the ends of the legs. No attempt has been made to illustrate the third leg in Fig. 13 since this lies behind the head and mast, and to in-- clude it would be confusing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, in all of the modifications, and whatever the exact form the head may take, the same general principle is present, namely, that my improved structure comprises a head to which are pivotally connected three legs and a mast carrying a crossarm, the construction being such that the legs and mast may be folded into collapsed position in which they are substantially parallel, and that the combined length of the mast and cross-arm is preferably not substantially greater than the length of the legs, so that the whole structure, when collapsed, forms a compact bundle or package.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, I preferably provide means for illuminating the flag I! at night so that it may be clearly seen by approaching motorists. For this purpose, I provide a pair of flexible loops 32 which may normally lie behind and be concealed by the flexible sheet H, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, but which may be thrown over to the front of such sheet at night, and placed in such position to support a flashlight 33. This light is so placed as to direct its beam toward the flag ll, and the flag pole I5 is bent so that the flag is disposed at an angle to the flashlight so that it may be effectively illuminated thereby.

While I have described the several forms of my improved tripod head as made of sheet or cast metal, I also contemplate making the head of sheet or molded plastic, or even of a block of wood. In the latter case, the head would be of the general form shown in Fig. 9, but, of course, with the Walls thicker, and using wooden legs and mast, as in Fig. 4.

What I claim is:

l. A collapsible supporting structure comprising a head, a plurality of legs pivoted at one end thereto, a mast also pivoted at one end to said head, a cross-arm pivoted adjacent its middle to the other end of said mast, and a flag pole pivotally attached to one end of said cross-arm and normally forming an extension thereof, said flag pole being foldable back upon said crossarm into a position parallel therewith, said legs, mast and cross-arm carrying said flag pole be ing foldable about their respective pivots into substantial parallelism, and means for locking said mast into a position in which it extends upwardly from said head.

2. A device of the character described comprising a head, a plurality of downwardly diverging legs attached thereto, a mast also secured to said head and extending upwardly therefrom, a substantially horizontal cross-arm carried by said mast, near the top thereof, a flexible display sheet secured along its upper edge to and depending from said cross-arm, and means for attaching the lower end of said sheet to two of said legs, with said sheet in stretched condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 364,991 Cross June 14, 1887 611,672 Beecher Oct. 4, 1898 631,602 Wood Aug. 22, 1899 816,268 Steindori Mar. 27, 1906 1,280,923 Whiteside Oct. 8, 1918 2,059,996 Goldberg Nov. 3, 1936 2,064,232 Tepper Dec. 15, 1936 2,090,783 Chinn Aug. 24, 1937 2,164,985 Cardarelli July 4, 1939 2,187,870 Veccia Jan. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,471 Great Britain of 1908 750,562 France Aug. 12, 1933

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