US3793757A

US3793757A - Sign board

Info

Publication number: US3793757A
Application number: US00347467A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Jaquillard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-03
Filing date: 1973-04-03
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26
Also published as: CA962057A

Abstract

A double-sided display sign for use by gas stations and the like. The sign is made from a plurality of rolled metal sections. A first set of rolled metal sections are assembled to form a rectangular frame. A double-sided sign board is mounted within the frame and is fabricated from a plurality of two differently shaped rolled metal sections to provide a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal display element support members on each side of the sign board. Display elements are releasably attached to said support members by attachment clips.

Description

United States Patent [191 Jaquillard Feb. 26, I974 [5 1 SIGN BOARD 3,696,441 10/1972 Pittman 40/142 R [76] Inventor: George E. Jaquillard, 27600 Latin-up, Lathr'up v l Mich Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb 48076 Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert G. Mentag [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 347,467 57 ABSTRACT A double-sided display sign for use by gas stations and [52] US. Cl. 40/142 the like The Sign i made from a plurality f rolled [51] Int. Cl. G09f 7/02 metal Sections A first set of rolled metal Sections are [58] Field of Search 40/140, 142, 143, 63, 124 assembled to f a rectangular f A doublesided sign board is mounted within the frame and is [56] References cued fabricated from a plurality of two differently shaped UNITED STATES PATENTS rolled metal sections to provide a plurality of verti- 3,059,363 10/1962 Mack 40 140 Cally Spaced, horizontal display element pp 3,173,220 3/1965 Lachenmeir... 40/140 bers on each side of the sign board. Display elements 3,404,476 10/1968 Hoffman 40/142 R are releasably attached to said support members by 3,477,159 11 1/1969 Bank 40/l 40 atta hment c]ip 3,574,964 4/1972 Ownbe'y 40/l40 3,458,945 8/1969 Edwards 40 140 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SIGN BOARD This invention relates to display signs and more particularly to a fabricated, double-sided display sign.

Fabricated display signs have been provided heretofore, but a disadvantage of such prior art display signs is that they are costly, due to the materials employed and the structural arrangement of such signs. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved display sign which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art display signs. I

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved display sign which is simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture andefficient in use. The display sign of the present invention is economically fabricated from a small number of rolled metal sections which provides a display sign having maximum strength at a minimum cost, as compared to similar size prior art signs. The display sign of the present invention employs molded letters, and other display elements, which provide optimum use characteristics, because such molded letters will not chip and they are attached to the sign board by an efficient attachment clip means to prevent the letters from being blown off the sign board in high winds. The display elements and attachment clip means employed provides the further advantage of ease of changing signs on the sign board. The molded display elements are also weather-resistant.

It is another object to provide a display sign that includes a frame including a top horizontal frame member, a bottom horizontal frame member spaced from said top frame member and a pair of side frame members fixed to said top and bottom frame members to form a rectangular frame; a double-sided sign board mounted within said frame members and secured thereto; an upper end member having a vertical leg secured to the top frame member and the pair of side frame members and provided with an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to one side of the frame,

and said arm having 'a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge; a lower end member having a vertical leg secured to the bottom frame member and the pair of side frame members, and provided with an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to the other side of the frame, said last mentioned arm having a' horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge; and a horizontal member disposed between said upper end member and said lower end member and comprising a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken elevational view of a sign board made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first-rolled section employed in fabricating the sign board illustrated in a FIG. 1.

horizontal plate secured to the horizontal arms of said upper and lower end members to form a display element support arm' on each side of the'sign board; and said horizontal member having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof and complementary to the adjacent half-beads'formed on said horizontal arms to form a complete horizontal bead along each of the display element support arms on each side of said sign board; and, attachment clip means for releasably mounting display elements, such as letters, on each side of the sign board.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second-rolled section employed in fabricating the sign board illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a changeable letter made in accordance with the principles of the invention for mounting on the sign board illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational section view of the letter structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 5-5 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a'clip employed in the invention for mounting letters of the type illustrated in FIG. 4 on the sign board illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the letter clip structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 7--7 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a broken, enlarged, elevational section view of the sign board structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 88 thereof, and looking in the direction DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. ll,-the numeral 10 generally indicates a sign board .made in accordance'with the principles of the present invention. The sign board 10 includes a rectangular supporting frame which comprises a pair of vertical side frame members, generally indicated by the numeral 11, and a pair of horizontal top and bottom frame members, generallyindicated by the numeral 12. The ends of the

frame members

11 and 12 are mitered at a 45 angle, and they are joined to each other and welded together at the four mitered joints indicated by the numerals l3.

Each of the

frame members

11 and 12 comprises a rolled angular channel member made from a suitable material, as for example l4-gauge cold rolled steel. As

shown in FIG. 8, each of the frame members 12 includes a horizontal leg 14, to one end of which is integrally formed an inwardly extended leg 15 disposed at an acute angle relative to the leg 14. Integrally formed on the inner end of the angular leg 15 is an integral attachment flange 16. It will be understood that each of the frame side members 11 is identical to the frame channels 12, as shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 8- and 9, the sign board structure within theframe members 11 and I2 is formed from a plurality of rolled sections, generally indicated by the

numerals

17 and 18, which are separately illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the

opposite direction at a perpendicular angle from the bottom of the leg 19. The arms and 22 are parallel to each other. Integrally formed on the outer edge of the upper arm 20 is an upwardly facing half-round bead 21. The other arm 22 is provided along its outer edge with a downwardly facing half-round bead 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second rolled section 18 includes a horizontal plate portion 24 which has a downwardly facing half-round bead 26 along one'longitudinal edge thereof, and an upwardly facing half-round bead along the other longitudinal edge thereof.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper end of the sign board is formed from one of the first rolled sections 17, but with the upper arm 20 removed. The vertical leg 19 is welded directly to the frame attachment flanges 16 of the top and side frame members. As further shown in FIG. 8, the bottom arm 22 of said upper end section 17 is seated on a horizontally disposed rolled section 18 so as to position the upwardly facing half-bead 25 in alignment with the downwardlyfacing half-bead 23 on the arm 22 to form a circular bead at the end of the arm 22. Disposed below the uppermost rolled section 18 is a complete rolled section 17, with its upper arm 20 in abutment against'the uppermost rolled section plate 24. The downwardly facing half-bead 26 on the plate 24 is aligned with the upwardly facing half-round bead 21 on the arm 20 to form a circular bead on the opposite side of the board. It will be seen, that by alternate stacking of the rolled

sections

17 and 18, a complete two-sided sign board is provided, as shown at FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, with evenly spaced apart horizontal arms that carry horizontally disposed rounded or circular beads for attachment of letters, as more fully described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lowermost rolled section 17 has the lower arm 22 removed, so that the leg 19 can be welded directly to the bottom frame member 12 and the side frame members 11. As shown in FIG. 2, each end of the

arms

20 and 22 of the rolled sections 17 is cut off short of the ends of the leg 19 to provide an extension of the leg 19 for welding to the side frame members 11. It will be understood that the rolled

sections

17 and 18 may be made from any suitable material, as for example, a 20-gauge cold rolled steel. The rolled

sections

17 and 18 are preferably spot welded together.

It will be understood that the rolled

sections

17 and 18 may be covered with any suitable paint, of any desired color. Also, any method of applying the paint may be used, as for example, the rolled

sections

17 and 18 may be coated with a baked enamel.

For decorative purposes, the

frame members

11 and 12 may be provided with decorative coverings indicated by the

numerals

27 and 29. Each of the covering sheets 27 is provided with .an integral flange 28 along the inner edge thereof which seats against the attachment flange 16 on the

frame members

11 and 12. The second set of cover strips 29 are disposed on the opposite sideof the frame members 1 1 and 12, and are each provided with an integral flange 30 that seats against the rolled section vertical legs 19. The

decorative cover strips

27 and 29 are secured to the sign board by any suitable means, as by a plurality of bolts 31 and nuts 32. The

decorative cover strips

27 and 29 may be made from any suitable material as, for example, from aluminum. The

cover strips

27 and 29 may also be colored, as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the round beads formed by the half-round beads on the rolled

sections

17 and 18 are indicated generally by the numerals 33. The beads 33 are spaces approximately 6 inches apart and form a plurality of horizontally disposed attachment members, together with their supporting arms for supporting a plurality of letters 34 on each side of the sign board.

A changeable letter 34 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and it is made from any suitable material, as for example, from a suitable molded plastic material. The illustrated letter 34 is'provided with a pair of vertically spaced apart holes 35 which are rectangular in shape and have a bounding wall surface along each side thereof which converges rearwardly from the front face of the letter. It will be understood that other letters could have more than two of the holes 35 which converge inwardly, and it is possible in some instances to have letters with only one of the converging holes 35. Each of the letters 34 is adapted to be operatively mounted on the sign board by one or more of the attachment clips shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and generally indicated by the numeral 36.

The clips 36 are formed from any suitable material, as for example, a suitable molded plastic material of the same type as used for the letters 34. Each of the letter attachment clips 36 includes abody portion 37 which has an integral contoured, rectangular head on one end thereof, as indicated by the numeral 38. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the four side surfaces of the rectangular head 38 converge rearwardly so as to mate with and be seated in gripping engagement with the converging surfaces of a contoured hole 35in one of the letters 34. The front face of the head 38 is flat, so as to be disposed parallel with the front face of a letter 34, as shown in FIG. 8.

The clip body 37 is provided at the rear end of the head upper and lower converging surfaces 39 with a raised portion or rib 40. It will be seen that an attachment clip 36 may be extended through an opening 35 in a letter 34, and that the ribs 40 will snap through the inner edge of the hole 35 and then protrude upwardly along the rear face of the letter to releasably hold the letter on the attachment clip 36.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the attachment clips 36 is provided with a pair of integral spaced apart legs 41 which have flat outer ends 43 that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the attachment clip. Each of the legs 41 is provided with a substantially halfround transverse recess 42 on the inner surface thereof, at a point spaced inwardly from the end 43. As shown in FIG. 8, the clips 36 are adapted to be mounted over the circular beads 33 so that a head 33 is seated in the circular pocket formed by the two half-round recesses in the legs 41. Thelegs 41, due to their inherent resiliency, provide an inwardly directed clamping force on a head 33 and the supporting arm of the sign board. The clip legs 41 are formed to a predetermined length so that the ends 43 abut the rolled section vertical legs 19.

In use, the letters 34 may be made to any desired height, as for example, 7% inches. The vertical distance between the centers of the holes 35 on a 7% inches letter would be 6 inches. The method of attaching the letters 34 to the sign board by means of the attachment clips 36 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Letters, like the letter M, may be provided with a plurality of holes 35 for employing a plurality of attachment clips 36. The sign board may be mounted on any suitable supporting structure, as for example, on a pair of suitable posts having their lower ends fixedly mounted in the ground, or any other supporting structure.

It will be understood that other display elements may be mounted on the sign board of the present invention, as for example, numbers to indicate the price of a product being advertised for sale. The term display element as used hereinafter in the claims is meant to include letters, numbers, symbols, characters, designs and all other items that may be incorporated in a display sign.

It will be understood that a sign board of the present invention may be made to any desired size and with any number of horizontal circular beads 33 on each side thereof. For example, a sign board of the type used by a service station to advertise various services, may be one that is five feet high and eight feet long within the frame portion of the sign board. It will be understood that a sign board made in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be made with only one circular bead 33 on each side of the sign, or with a plurality of circular beads 33 on each side of the sign. In the first instance a sign with only one circular bead would comprise an upper rolled section member 17 with the upper arm removed, a lower rolled section member 17 with the lower arm 22 removed, and an intermediate rolled section member 18 mounted between the two partial rolled section members 17. The

frame members

11 and 12 would be mounted around such structure which would provide one horizontal circular bead 33 on each side thereof.

A sign board made in accordance with the principles of the present invention could be formed with two horizontal circular beads on each side of the sign board by adding to the last described structure at least one more rolled section 17 and at least one more rolled section 18. The addition of a predetermined number of rolled

sections

17 and 18 to the aforementioned single bead structure would add a corresponding predetermined number of horizontal circular beads to each side of a sign board made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display sign thecombination comprising:

a. a frame including a top horizontal frame member,

-a bottom horizontal frame member spaced from said top frame member and a pair of side frame I members fixed to said top and bottom frame mem bers to form a rectangular frame;

' b. a double-sided, sign board mounted within said frame members and secured thereto and including,

1. an upper end member having a vertical leg secured to the top frame member and the pair of side frame members, and provided with an intergral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to one side of the frame, and said arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge,

a lower end member having a vertical leg secured to the bottom frame member and the pair of side frame members, and provided with an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to the other side of the frame, said last mentioned arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge, and,

3. a horizontal member disposed between said upper end member and said lower end member and comprising a horizontal plate secured to the horizontal arms of said upper and lower end members to form a display element support arm on each side of the sign board, and said horizontal member having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof and complementary to the adjacent half-beads formed on said horizontal arms to form a complete horizontal bead along each of the display element support arms on each side of the sign board.

2. A display sign as defined in claim it, including:

a. at least one vertical member disposed between said upper end member and said first memtioned horizontal member;

b. at least one additional horizontal member disposed between said upper end member and said last mentioned vertical member and comprising a horizontal plate having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof;

c. said last mentioned vertical member having a vertical leg and an integral horizontal upper arm extended outwardly to said other side of the frame at the upper end of its vertical leg and an integral horizontal lower arm extended outwardly to said one side of the frame at the lower end of itsvertical leg, and said last mentioned arms each having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge; and,

d. said additional horizontal member being secured to the horizontal arm of said upper end member and to said upper arm on said last mentioned vertical member, and said first mentioned horizontal member being secured to said lower arm on said last mentioned vertical member and to the horizontal am on said lower end member, whereby said arms and horizontal members form at least a pair of display element support arms on each side of the sign board, and the half-beads formed on the respective adjacent members form a complete horizontal bead along each of the display element support arms on each side of the sign board. I

3. The sign board as defined in claim 2, wherein:

a. a plurality of said additional vertical members and additional horizontal members are included to provide' a plurality of display element support arms and complete horizontal beads along each side of said sign board.

4. The sign board as defined in claim 2, including:

a. at least one display element; and,

b. means for detachably' mounting said display element on at least one of said display element support arms and horizontal beads.

5. The sign board as defined-in claim 4, wherein:

'a. said means for detachably mounting said display element comprises an attachment clip having means on one endfor supporting said display element and means on the other end thereof for releasably securing the clip to one of said display element support arms and horizontal beads.

6. The sign board as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. said display element is provided with a contoured opening, and said means on said one end of. the attachment clip comprises a contoured head which is releasabiy mounted in said display elementcontoured opening for releasably supporting the display element on the attachment clip.

Patent No, 3,793,757 Dated February 26, 1974 Inventor) George E. Jaquillard It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the drawings, "Sheet 1 of 3" should be Sheet 1 of 2 "Sheet 2 of 3" should be Sheet 2 of 2 "Sheet 3 of 3" should be eliminated. On the Abstract page under "References Cited," before "Ownbey," "4/1972" should be 4/1971 Column 4, line 4, "spaces" should be spaced Signedland sealed this 9th day of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M} GIBSONQJR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer: Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (IO-69) I USCOMM-DC 60876-1 69 w u.s. sovzmmsm' manna OFFICE Ian o-ass-au.

Claims

1. In a display sign the combination comprising: a. a frame including a top horizontal frame member, a bottom horizontal frame member spaced from said top frame member and a pair of side frame members fixed to said top and bottom frame members to form a rectangular frame; b. a double-sided sign board mounted within said frame members and secured thereto and including, 1. an upper end member having a vertical leg secured to the top frame member and the pair of side frame members, and provided with an intergral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to one side of the frame, and said arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge, 2. a lower end member having a vertical leg secured to the bottom frame member and the pair of side frame members, and provided with an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to the other side of the frame, said last mentioned arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge, and, 3. a horizontal member disposed between said upper end member and said lower end member and comprising a horizontal plate secured to the horizontal arms of said upper and lower end members to form a display element support arm on each side of the sign board, and said horizontal member having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof and complementary to the adjacent half-beads formed on said horizontal arms to form a complete horizontal bead along each of the display element support arms on each side of the sign board.

2. a lower end member having a vertical leg secured to the bottom frame member and the pair of side frame members, and provided with an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to the other side of the frame, said last mentioned arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge, and,

2. A display sign as defined in claim 1, including: a. at least one vertical member disposed between said upper end member and said first memtioned horizontal member; b. at least one additional horizontal member disposed between said upper end member and said last mentioned vertical member and comprising a horizontal plate having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof; c. said last mentioned vertical member having a vertical leg and an integral horizontal upper arm extended outwardly to said other side of the frame at the upper end of its vertical leg and an integral horizontal lower arm extended outwardly to said one side of the frame at the lower end of its vertical leg, and said last mentioned arms each having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge; and, d. said additional horizontal member being secured to the horizontal arm of said upper end member and to said upper arm on said last mentioned vertical member, and said first mentioned horizontal member being secured to said lower arm on said last mentioned vertical member and to the horizontal arm on said lower end member, whereby said arms and horizontal members form at least a pair of display element support arms on each side of the sign board, and the half-beads formed on the respective adjacent members form a complete Horizontal bead along each of the display element support arms on each side of the sign board.

3. The sign board as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. a plurality of said additional vertical members and additional horizontal members are included to provide a plurality of display element support arms and complete horizontal beads along each side of said sign board.

4. The sign board as defined in claim 2, including: a. at least one display element; and, b. means for detachably mounting said display element on at least one of said display element support arms and horizontal beads.

5. The sign board as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. said means for detachably mounting said display element comprises an attachment clip having means on one end for supporting said display element and means on the other end thereof for releasably securing the clip to one of said display element support arms and horizontal beads.

6. The sign board as defined in claim 5, wherein: a. said display element is provided with a contoured opening, and said means on said one end of the attachment clip comprises a contoured head which is releasably mounted in said display element contoured opening for releasably supporting the display element on the attachment clip.