WO1983002516A1

WO1983002516A1 - Holder for exchangeable sign

Info

Publication number: WO1983002516A1
Application number: PCT/SE1983/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jochen Kuehne
Original assignee: KÜHNE, Jochen
Priority date: 1982-01-19
Filing date: 1983-01-18
Publication date: 1983-07-21

Abstract

A holder for exchangeable signs, comprising a base portion (1) fixable in, for example, a wall, and having guides (5) for accomodating an insert member (2) and a sign (9) placed therein, the insert member being lockable in the base member by means of locking devices (10, 11). The holder is designed to permit mounting and exchange of signs by removal of the insert member without the use of loose minor fittings such as screws or the like and to permit efficient and invisible locking of the inner portion as an extremely effective protection from damage. According to the invention, the insert member (2), together with the sign (9) is shiftable along the base member (1) with edge portions of both the insert member and the sign, and preferably also engagement means (18) disposed on the insert member and provided in its guides (5), substantially planar major portions (3, 7) of the base member and the insert member, respectively, abutting against one another. The locking means (10, 11) comprise a locking flap (10) disposed on the major portion (3) of the base member, the flap being, substantially by resilient yielding action in the major portions, insertable in a recess (11) in the insert member. The recess is concealed behind the sign. For removal of the insert member, the invention further includes a release tool (14) which is insertable between the major portions into engagement with the locking flap. The major portions are forced apart and the locking flap is disengaged from the recess.

Description

HOLDER FOR EXCHANGABLE SIGN

Technical field

The present invention relates to a holder for exchangable signs, the holder being intended for retaining a sign, preferably in a public environment, and having an outer portion which is intended for fixed retention on a support such as a pole, wall or the like and which is designed for accomo- dating an inner portion in which the sign proper is disposed.

Technical background

Different types of holders for exchangable signs are known in the art for use in public areas. Many of these sign holders are also designed in such a manner that the sign may be replaced relatively easily when necessary. However, these prior art sign holders possess at least two considerable- drawbacks. First, as a rule use is made of screws, rivets, catches or si¬ milar small fittings which may easily be lost in conjunction with mounting or replacement of a sign. Secondly, it is immediately apparent on observa¬ tion, of the sign how to open the sign holder so that the sign proper becomes accessible for damage or removal. This latter circumstance must be considered as a serious drawback when the sign holder is employed in public areas where there is a constant risk that the sign holder or sign be damaged, removed or otherwise destroyed by acts of mischief.

Further drawbacks in many prior art sign holders reside in the fact that the anchorage of the sign holder proper to its support, for example, a wall, is fully visible when the sign holder is in use. As a result, it may be tempting to certain sectors ^"of society to damage the anchorage members by which the sign holder is fixedly retained.

Finally, many prior art sign holders also possess the disadvantage that those tools or equipment required for opening the sign holder on, for example, replacement of the sign are so simple that opening may be reali¬ zed by means of a conventional screw-driver, knife or the like. Since this type of tool or equipment is in common occurrence, such unauthorized tampering with a sign as has been indicated above need not be preceded by any planning of the act, in many cases such tampering taking place comple- tely on an impulse.

JUREA Problem Structure

Consequently, the present invention has for its object to realize a holder for exchangable signs which is designed in such a manner that the above mentioned drawbacks are obviated.

Problem Solution

This is attained according to the present invention by means of a holder for an exchangable sign which comprises a base member fixable in a support, in which base member an insert member may be inserted and locked by locking means, the insert member being insertable in guides disposed along opposing edges of the base memoer and. having retainer means for cooperation with a sign, the holder according to the invention being characterized in that the base member and insert member have mutually adjacent major portions which are held against one another by engagement between, on the one hand, the guides, and on the other hand, edge portions of the sign, and preferably also with engagement members provided on the insert member, and that said locking means include a projecting locking member disposed on the major portion of the base member, on the side thereof turned to face the insert member, and a corresponding recess in the insert member, the locking member under the action of the engagement means and under yield action substan¬ tially inherent in the material of the major portions, being insertable in the recess.

In one practically advantageous embodiment, both the base member and the insert member are manufactured of sheet metal material. Such an embodiment is suitably further characterized in that the base member has, between the guides, a substantially planar major portion, that the insert member has, along two opposing sides of a substantially planar major portion, edge por¬ tions which, together with corresponding edge portions of the sign, may be accommodated in the guides, the engagement means of the insert member being disposed at the ends of those edge portions of the insert member which are insertable in the guides.

In order to impart a long working life to the sign and to avoid the risk that springs or similar fittings be ruined or deformed, the present inven¬ tion is further characterized in that the locking means are rigid and prestressed into engagement with one another under the action of spring forces deriving from the material of the major portions of the base member and the insert member.

In order to render unauthorized opening of the sign more difficult, for example using such a tool as a screw-driver, a comb or the like, the subject matter of the present invention is suitably characterized in that the locking member has, in its end which is located first in the direction of insertion of the insert member, an arrest surface which is approximate¬ ly transversal in relation to the direction of insertion of the insert member and the plane of the major portions, the arrest surface being disposed to prevent insertion of an unauthorized object between the major portions for separation thereof from one another.

One embodiment of the sign holder which is particularly intended for sign holders of great width transversally of the direction of insertion of the insert member is suitably characterized in that the insert member, in its edge which is located last in the direction of insertion, has a catch which, in the inserted position of the insert member, grasps an edge portion of the base member, whereby the major portions will be kept in predetermined spaced apart relationship at right angles to the face plane of the major portions.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. On the accompanying drawings, fig 1 is a perspective view of the holder according to the present invention in the dismantlable state, and a sign intended for insertion in the insert mem¬ ber of the holder. Fig 2 is a vertical section when the holder is combi¬ ned and provided with a sign. Fig 3 is a vertical section through the holder when this is in the stage of being opened for exchange of the sign. Fig 4 is a vertical section through a simplified embodiment of the sign when this is mounted in place. Fig 5 is a vertical section through a sign under dismantling in the embodiment as shown in fig 4.

Description of Preferred Embodiment

It will be apparent from fig 1 that the holder according to the present invention comprises two portions, a base member 1 and an insert member 2. In this instance, the base member may be considered as an outer member of cassette holder, whereas the insert member may be considered as an inner member or a cassette for accommodating the sign proper. Both the base mem¬ ber and the insert member are suitably manufactured of sheet metal material for example stainless steel sheeting of a thickness amounting to approxi¬ mately 1 - 2 mm.

The base member 1 has a substantially planar and panel-shaped major portion 3 which is provided with a suitable number of anchorage openings 4 for con- cealed and inaccessible accommodation of, for example, screw-heads. As is apparent from figs 2 and 3, the anchorage openings are disposed in the bottoms of punched-out portions in the major portion 3. As a result, the insert member can slide along the major portion 3 of the base member 1 without risk that the insert member catch on such screw-heads as axe disposed in the anchorage openings 4.

Along two opposing, preferably vertical edges, the base member 1 has two bent-over portions which form guides 5 for shiftable accommodation, of the insert member 2. The guides 5 are of such width at right angles to the face plane of the major portion of the base member that there may be accommodated in the guides both insert member and a sign placed therein, which may be of quite considerable thickness. Furthermore, the base member 1 has, at its upper end, a portion which is bent obliquely downwardly and forwardly, this portion constituting a roof 6 for the holder and moreover preventing upward removal of the insert member 2.

The insert member or cassette 2 is also manufactured of a sheet metal material, preferably stainless steel sheeting of an approximate thickness of the order of magnitude of 1 - 2 mm. The insert member 2 has a substan- tially planar major portion 7 and has, along its upper and lower edges, bent portions which form channels 8 for accommodating opposing edge por¬ tions of a sign 9 which, in the figure, is intimated by ghosted lines and is shifted laterally into the channels 8. The width of the channels at right angles to the face plane of the major portions 7 of the insert member is adapted in a suitable manner in relation to the thickness of the sign 9 proper, so that the sign may be fixed in the channels 8 without play. On mounting of the insert member 2 and sign 9 in the base member 1, it is merely necessary to ensure that the sign 9, in its surface extent, substantially coincides with the major portion 7 of the insert member. Thereafter, both the insert member 2 and the sign 9 are passed into the guides 5 along the side edges of the major portion 3, the rear face of the major portion 7 of the insert member abutting and sliding against the major portion 3 of the base member. Insertion of the insert member proceeds until the bottom of the channel 8 is located substantially at the same level as the lower edge of the base member 1.

On locking of the insert member 2 in the base member 1, it applies, in the most simple embodiment of the sign (please see figs 4 and 5), that the base member 1, for example along its centre line, has a punched flap or tongue 10 whose upper edge is located at a slight distance ahead of the^*" forward surface of the major portion 3 of the base member 1. Furthermore, the insert member or sign cassette 2 has a corresponding opening 11 which is placed such that the flap 10 may snap into the opening 11 when the sign cassette has been fully inserted into the outer member 1.

On insertion of the insert member 2 into the base member 1 as has been described above, this insertion may proceed completely without appreciable resistance until the upper edge 12 of the insert member arrives at abutment against the flap 10. Thereafter, a" deformation of the holder will occur, the major part of this deformation occurring in the major portions of the base member and the insert member, while, on the other hand, the flap 10 will remain substantially undefor ed. When such insertion of the insert member 2 has proceeded so far that the upper edge of the flap 10 passes the upper edge of the opening 11, the flap 10 will snap into this opening under the action of the resilient forces which have been built up in the major portions of the base member and the insert member.

Fig 4 illustrates a vertical cross-section through the holder according to the present invention when this is in the mounted state. It will be clearly apparent from this drawing figure how the flap 10 has snapped in- to the opening 11 in the major portion 7 of the insert member. It will further be apparent that the front edge of the flap 10 may be considered as a ramp surface 13 which comes into engagement with the upper edge 12 of the insert member when this is inserted in the base member 1. It will also be apparent from the drawing figure that the outside of the sign 9 abuts against the insides of the guides 5.

In the position illustrated in fig 4, the insert member 2 is reliably re¬ tained in the base member 1. The reason for this is that the insert member is laterally guided by both of the guides 5, in a direction at right angles to the face plane of the major portion 3, the insert member is guided partly by the major portion 3 proper and partly by the insides of the guides 5. In a downward direction, movement of the insert member 2 is pre¬ vented by engagement between the flap 10 and the upper defining edge of the opening 11, while an upwardly directed shifting of the insert member 2 would result in engagement with the roof 6. Furthermore, the locking mechanism, that is the flap 10 and the opening 11, are completely con- cealed by the sign 9 proper.

It is probably quite obvious that removal of the insert member 2 from the position illustrated in fig 4 out of the base member 1 would cause consi¬ derable problems for anyone ignorant of the construction of the sign holder according to the invention. On the other hand, the insert member 2 may be quite simply removed from the base member 1 by a person provided with a requisite release tool. A part of such a release tool 14 is intima¬ ted in fig 5, from which will also be apparent the principle for release of the insert member.

Thus, when the insert member 2 is to be removed from the base member 1, a release tool is used wich is in the form of a sheet metal strip or the like which is passed into the space 15 between the forward surface of the major portion 3 on the base member and the rear surface of the major portion 7 of the insert member. The thickness of this release tool 14 Is of no great consequence, as long as the release tool may, without defor¬ mation, be passed into the above-mentioned space. In fig 5, the release tool is illustrated as partly inserted, the upper edge 16 of the tool having come into abutment against the ramp surface 13. It will be further apparent from fig 5 that both of the major portions of the base member and the insert member have been urged away from one another under the action of the release tool 14. In the position illustrated in fig 5, all that remains is an insertion of the release tool 14 a distance such that its upper edge passes the tip of the flap 10 in order thereby to render this incapable of engaging in the opening 11 thus preventing withdrawal of the insert member 2.

It will also be apparent from fig 5 how the sign holder has been deformed in order to permit insertion of the release tool 14.

In a modified embodiment, illustrated in fig 2 and 3, the insert member 2 is locked in the base member 1 by means of a locking device 10 of slight¬ ly different design which is disposed" on the side of the major portion 3 of the base member 1 turned to face the insert member 2. In this embodi¬ ment, the locking device 10 is in the form of a rectangular s.heet metal plate which is fixedly anchored to the major portion 3 by means, for example, of spot welding. The locking device 10 has, in its lower edge, that is the edge which will first be reached by the upper edge portion 12 of the insert member 2 when the insert member is passed in along the guides 5, a locking surface 20 which is at right angles both to the di¬ rection of insertion of the insert member and to the face plane of the major portion 3. The object of this locking surface 20 will be disclosed in greater detail below. At its opposite end, the locking device 10 has an outwardly bent portion 17, which in practice may consist of a right- angular bending of the upper edge portion of the locking device 10. The purpose of the outwardly bent portion is to engage with the upper edge of the recess 11 in the insert member 2 so that, as a result, the insert member is prevented from being withdrawn. Finally, the outwardly bent portion 10 is of a length which approximately amounts to twice the mate¬ rial thickness of the major portion 7 of the insert member 2.

Once the insert member has been passed into the base member 1 as mentioned above, the locking device 10 will in its entirety, snap into the recess 11 in the insert member 2. The reason for this snap-in action is to be found in a resiliently yielding deformation substantially in the mate¬ rial of the base member and the insert member. Thus, in the mounted state, the major portion of the insert member will be urged into abutment against the major portion of the base member 1. In figs 2 and 3, the outwardly bent portion 17 has been illustrated as having a length which is slightly less than twice the material thickness of the insert member. This notwithstanding, the outwardly bent portion is of such a length that a minor deformation will be required of the sign 9 proper in order to provide room for the outwardly bent portion. Never¬ theless, this deformation of the sign proper will entail no problems, in particular not in such situations when the sign holder is of relatively great width. In particular in such cases, the outwardly bent portion 17 may be of considerably greater length than that which is apparent from the above-mentioned drawing figures.

The above-described arrangement with the locking device 10 for fixedly locking the insert member 2 in the base member 1 requires, for reliable function, that the major portion 7 of the insert member be urged into abutment against the base member 1. According to the present invention, this may be realized in at least two ways. According to the first alter¬ native, the material in the sign 9 along its edge portions engages with the insides of the guides 5 so that thereby the sign 9 and the insert member 2 are prevented from being removed from the major portion 3. This alternative functions perfectly in such situations where the sign mate¬ rial is sufficiently stable and is of well-defined thickness. However, this alternative does not function well if the material of the sign does not meet the requisite quality requirements or in such situations where no sign is mounted in the insert member. In order to obviate this dis- advantage, the insert member 2 is provided, at the ends of the guides 8, with projections 18 (please see fig 1), which may be inserted into the guides 5 so that, by cooperation between the inside of the guides and the projections 18, the major portion 7 of the insert member will be held urged against the base member .

Thanks to the presence of the projections 18 and the reliable guiding which they provide for the insert member 2 in relation to the base member 1 , the locking device 10 and, in particular, its outwardly bent portion 17, may be dimensioned in such a manner that the sign 9 is not subjected to any appreciable outward bellying in register with the locking device. Possibly, the outwardly bent portion 17 need not even extend beyond the front face of the Insert membe 2.

-SUR On mounting of the sign, the insert member 2 is, as was mentioned above, inserted in the guides 5 in the base portion 1. When the upper edge 12 of the insert member abuts, during this shifting movement, against the locking device 10, deformation will occur in the material of the base member and the insert member, at the same time as the insert member will be positionally fixed along its edges, partly under the action of the two forward projections 18 in the direction of insertion, and partly under the action of the edge portions of the sign. Towards the final phase of the insertion of the insert member, the locking device 10 will snap into the recess 11 in the insert member, which occurs just after the arrival into engagement of the two projections 18 located last in the direction of insertion of the insert member with the guides 5. In this position, the major portion 7 of the insert member will thus be urged against the major portion 3 of the base member, whereby relatively large yielding forces will be required to lift out the major portion 7' from the locking device 10, so that engagement between the locking device and the recess will cease. Consequently, the insert member 2 will rest reliably anchored and fixedly locked in the base member 1.

On removal of the insert member 2 from the base member 1 , a tool of the type intimated in fig 3 is employed. This tool may be in the form of a sheet metal strip whose material thickness coincides with or preferably slightly exceeds the material thickness of the locking device 10. Further¬ more,- the tool 14 has, at its forward end, a bevel 19 with the result that the tool will not arrest at the locking surface 20 of the locking device but will be lifted up on the side of the locking device 10 turned to face the insert member. As a result, the insert member and the base member will be further deformed in addition to that which is apparent from fig 3, so that the side of the tool turned to face the base member will slide along the side of the locking device turned to ace the insert member. Already at this position, it should be possible to draw the insert member 2 out of the guides 5, since, with normal dimensioning of the outwardly bent portion 17, this is released from the edge of the recess 11. If, on the other hand, the outwardly bent portion 17 were to be made extra long in any particular embodiment, this entails that there may still be engagement between the outwardly bent portion and.the edge of the recess 11, for which reason further insertion of the tool 14 may be necessary so that, as a

-BUR result, the bevel 19 will be lifted out on the free end of the outwardly bent portion 17. As a result, the deformation in the base member and insert member will increase further, at the same time as the tool 14 will come to rest against the free end of the outwardly bent portion so that the insert member may thereby freely be drawn out from the guides 5.

In order to render the tool 14 more comfortable to work with, it should suitably be designed in such a manner as to be provided, in its portion which is not intended to be introduced into the space 15 between the base member and the insert member, with a bent portion which snaps over the edge of the groove or channel 8 in order thereby to grasp this and permit withdrawal of the insert member 2. Naturally, the tool 14 is designed in such a manner as to realize free lifting of the insert member from the outwardly bent portion 17 before engagement with the channel.8 is estab- lished.

In such cases when the sign holder according to the present invention is of great width transversally of the direction of insertion of the insert member 2, it would be a relatively simple matter, using a screw-driver or the like, to force apart the insert member and the base member so as there¬ by to cancel out engagement between the locking device 10 and the recess 11. However, to permit such effect on the sign holder, the screw-driver or tool must be passed in from beneath into the space 15, whereby the necessary deformation to the base member and insert member would be con- siderable. In order to prevent this type of action on the sign, the insert member 2 is suitably provided, at its lower edge, with a bent-over edge portion which Is not shown on the drawings but which is bent in the oppo¬ site direction to the channel 8. This bent-over edge portion grasps the major portion 3 of the base member 1 in its lowermost edge and is located at such a distance from the rear face of the major portion that only the tool 14 may be inserted in the space 15 but, on the other hand, no object which is thicker than the tool 14. In a practical embodiment, the bent- over, rearwardly facing edge portion may be designed by making a recess in the channel 8, whereafter the material from the recess will be turned rearwardly in an opposite direction to that which is the case of the channel 8. Suitably, the bent-over, rearwardly facing portion may be provided straight beneath the locking device 10 so that, as a result, the tool 14 must be inserted slightly obliquely from the side, which would render opening of the sign by unauthorized persons more difficult.

The invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, it is possible according to the present invention, to use, in such embodiments as are of great width or are of large dimensions in general, to use more than one locking device and more than one recess. If this alternative is selected, the locking devices and recesses should, naturally, be placed closer to the sides of the sign holder so that, as a result,--, urging of the insert member against the major portion of the base member will be sufficient. Naturally, for opening a sign of this construction, the simultaneous use two separate tools will be required.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A holder for exchangable signs comprising a base member (1) fixedly retainable in a support, and in which an insert member (2) is insertable and fixedly lockable by locking means (11, 10), said insert member being insertable in guides (5) disposed along opposing edges of said base member and having retainer means (8) for cooperation with a sign (9), c h a r a t e r i z e d in that said base member (1) and said insert member (2) hav mutually adjacent major portions (3, 7, respectively), which are held - against one another by engagement between, on the one hand, said guides (5 and, on the other hand, edge portions of the sign (9), and preferably also by engagement members (18) disposed on said Insert member, and that said locking means (10, 11) include a projecting locking device (10) disposed o the major portion of the base member on ito side turned to face said inser member, and a corresponding recess (11) in said insert member, said lockin device, under the action of said engagement means and resilient yieldable action substantially in the material of the major portions, being insertab in said recess.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1 , and in which both said base member ( and said insert member (2) are manufactured of sheet metal material, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said base member (1) has, between said guides (5), a substantially planar major portion (3), that said insert member (2) has, along two opposing sides of a substantially planar major portion (7), edge portions which, together with corresponding edge portion of the sign (9) may be accommodated in said guides (5), said engagement means (18) of said insert portion being disposed at the ends of those edge portions of said insert member which are insertable in the guides.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking means (10, 11) are rigid and pretensioned into engagement wit one another under the action of resilient yieldable forces deriving from the material in the major portions (3, 7, respectively) of the base member (1) and the insert member (2).

-_BU E

4. The holder as claimed in claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking means (10, 11) further comprise a locking device which is in the form of a projection (10) which is ramp-shaped in the direction of insertion of said insert member (2) and is punched out of the material of the major portion (3) of said base member (1) and which - is disposed, with a portion, to snap into a corresponding recess (11) in the major portion (7) of said insert member, that said locking device is releasable from said recess under the action of the rounded edge por- tion (16) of a release tool (14), the end portion being slidably insert- able along the- ramp-shaped projection, and the tool being inserted between the major portions of the base member and the insert member.

5. The holder as claimed in claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking device (10) is provided, at its end located first in the direction of insertion of said insert member (2), with an arrest surface (20) which is approximately transversal in relation to the direction of insertion of said insert member and to the planes of said major portions (3, 7), the arrest surface being disposed to prevent insertion of unautho¬ rized objects between the major portions for separation thereof from one another.

6. The holder as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking device (10) is provided, at its end located last in the di¬ rection of insertion of said insert member, with a ramp surface (17) which is operative, in cooperation with a release tool (14) bevelled at its forward end, to separate, against resilient yielding action, the major portions from one another so that said locking means is disengaged from said recess (11 ).

7. The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and primarily a sign holder of great width transversally of the direction of insertion of said insert member (2), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said insert member (2) is provided, at its edge located last in the direction of insertion, with a catch which, in the inserted position of said insert member, grasps an edge portion of said base member (1), whereby said major portions (3, 7) are held at predetermined spaced apart relationship from one another.