IES70918B2 - A display sign - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display sign.

Description

The present invention relates to a display sign.

Displays signs are used extensively on shop fronts, free standing and secured to structures for imparting information, for example, directions, for advertisements, and the like. Such signs, typically, comprise a framework surrounding a panel on which a message, advertisement or the like is carried. Because of the varying uses to which display signs are put, signs of different height and length are required. Unfortunately, to provide signs of different sizes, frames of different sizes are required. This, in general, requires the manufacture of frames to suit each particular size of sign. This, it will be appreciated, is time consuming and inconvenient, and where one wishes to provide signs with minimum lead time, a large stock of frames of different sizes, in general, must be carried in stock. This is undesirable. Another disadvantage of known signs is that the frames of such signs tend to be relatively large and cumbersome and difficult to store.

There is therefore a need for a display sign which overcomes these problems.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a display sign.

According to the invention, there is provided a display sign comprising a pair of spaced apart rails, each rail having a pair of spaced locating means extending longitudinally along the respective rails, a pair of spaced apart panels, at least one of which is provided with a display surface for displaying a message, advertisement or the like, the panels extending between the rails and being located therein by the locating means, each panel engaging one locating means in each rail, and an elongated securing means located between the panels and extending between the rails and secured thereto for retaining the rails fixedly spaced apart relative to each other for locating and retaining the panels in the respective locating means with the display surface of the or each panel facing outwardly.

In one aspect of the invention, the securing means is of adjustable length for retaining the rails at different fixed spaced apart distances for accommodating panels of different dimension between the rails.

Preferably, each rail comprises a receiving means for receiving the securing means. Advantageously, each receiving means comprises an elongated receiving track for slidably receiving the securing means. Ideally, each receiving track is of box section having a longitudinally extending bore and a longitudinally extending securing means accommodating slot extending along the box section for providing access to the bore of the box section for the securing means for securing the securing means to the receiving track, the securing means accommodating slot of the track of one rail facing the securing means accommodating slot of the other rail. Ideally, the securing means accommodating slot of each track extends the length of the track. Preferably, the receiving track of each rail extends along the full length of the rail.

In one aspect of the invention, the securing means comprises an elongated rod, the free ends of which are threaded, the threaded ends extending into the respective bores of the respective box section tracks through the corresponding securing means accommodating slots, a pair of nuts being provided on each end of the rod, one nut being located in the bore of the corresponding track, and the other nut securing the rod to the corresponding track by clamping a portion of the corresponding track adjacent the corresponding securing means accommodating slot between the two nuts.

In a further aspect of the invention, the securing rod is formed by a turn buckle for facilitating adjustment of the length of the securing rod. . Preferably, the turn buckle comprises a pair of axially aligned threaded rods joined by a central nut, the threads on the respective rods adjacent the central nut being of opposite hand for accommodating adjustment of the length of the securing rod. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of securing means are provided between the rails at spaced apart locations.

In another aspect of the invention, each locating means comprises an elongated locating track, and preferably, the locating tracks of each rail extend the length of the rail. In one aspect of the invention, the panels are slidable in their respective corresponding receiving tracks.

In a further aspect of the invention, at least one of the panels is of a resilient deformable material and is deformable outwardly on movement of the rails towards each other.

In another aspect of the invention, the spacing between the locating tracks on the respective rails is different.

Preferably, each rail is formed by an extrusion.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates cut-away perspective views of a portion of each of three display signs according to the invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged cut-away perspective view of any one of the display signs of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the sign of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional end elevational view of the sign of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a sign board comprising a plurality of the display signs of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the display sign of Fig. 2, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a display sign according to another embodiment of the invention, and Figs. 8(a) and (b) are cross-sectional end elevational views of details of the display sign of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, there is illustrated display signs according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The display signs 1 are similar with the exception that they are of different size, principally of different height. Referring to Figs. 2 to 6, one of the display signs 1 is illustrated and comprises a pair of spaced apart rails, namely a top rail 2 and a bottom rail 3, both of extruded aluminium, and between which are located and retained a pair of panels 5 and 6 of aluminium or plastics material. Each panel 5 and 6 defines an outwardly facing display surface 8 for carrying a message, advertisement or the like. As can be seen in Fig. 5, in this embodiment of the invention, a plurality of display signs 1 may be mounted between a pair of ground engaging uprights 9, and the display surfaces 8 carry directions to various departments of a general hospital. The rails 2 and 3 are identical, and each rail 2 and 3 is provided with a pair of spaced apart elongated locating means, namely, elongated locating tracks 10 for locating and retaining the panels 5 and 6 in the rails 2 and 3,. The tracks 10 are formed by grooves 11 which are formed in the rails 2 and 3 during extrusion.

A plurality of securing means for securing the rails 2 and 3 fixedly spaced apart comprise securing turn buckles 14 which are located between the panels 5 and 6 and extend between and are secured to the rails 2 and 3 at spaced apart intervals. In the drawings, only one turn buckle 14 is illustrated in the display signs 1. Each turn buckle 14 comprises a pair of axially aligned rods 15 and 16 which are joined together by a central nut 17. The threads on the respective rods 15 and 16 are of opposite hand, and corresponding threads are provided in the central nut 17, so that on rotation of the central nut 17, the overall length of the turn buckle 14 may be varied, rotation of the central nut 17 in one direction shortening the turn buckle 14 and rotation of the central nut 17 in the opposition direction lengthening the turn buckle 14.

An elongated receiving means provided by an elongated receiving track 20 is provided on each rail 2 and 3 for slidably receiving the turn buckles 14. Each receiving track 20 is formed during extrusion of the corresponding rail 2 or 3 and is of box section having an elongated bore 21 extending therethrough. An elongated securing means accommodating slot 24 extends longitudinally the length of each receiving track 20, and the slots 24 of the respective receiving tracks 20 face each other for accommodating adjacent rods 15 and 16 of the turn buckle 14 into the bore 21. A nut 25 on the free end of each rod 15 and 16 slidably engages the bore 21 of the corresponding receiving track 20. Lock nuts 27 on the respective rods 15 and 16 secure the rods 15 and 16 in the corresponding receiving tracks 20 by clamping portions 29 of the receiving tracks 20 adjacent the securing means accommodating slots 24 between the respective nuts 25 and 27.

An outwardly facing groove 30 is provided in each rail 2 and 3 for slidably engaging a retaining member 31 illustrated in Fig. 6 for slidably engaging a pair of adjacent display signs 1 when mounted to form a display board as illustrated in Fig. 5 for retaining the display signs 1 together. The retaining member 31 may also be used for suspending a sign. For example, a hook may be provided in the retaining member 31 which could be suspended from a chain or the like, and typically, a sign would be suspended on a pair of chains which would engage a pair of retaining members 31.

In use, display signs 1 of different height between the top and bottom rails 2 and 3 can readily easily be assembled. The signs may be factory assembled or assembled on site. Panels 5 and 6 of the desired height between the rails 2 and 3 are selected or cut to size. The top and bottom rails 2 and 3 are secured fixedly spaced apart at the appropriate spacing by an appropriate number of turn buckles 14 for accommodating the panels 5 and 6. Initially, the turn buckles 14 with the nuts 25 and 27 located on the rods 15 and 16 are engaged in the receiving tracks 20, and are slid along the receiving tracks 20 and located at appropriate spaced apart locations. The lock nuts 27 are tightened for clamping the portions 29 of the receiving track 20 between the nuts 25 and 27. The central nut 17 of each turn buckle is then adjusted so that the top and bottom rails are parallel and at the required spacing. The panels 5 and 6 are then entered into the corresponding receiving tracks 20 in the rails 2 and 3, and slid along the receiving tracks 20 into position. End caps (not shown) are secured at the ends of the rails 2 and 3, and sealably engage the ends of the rails 2 and 3 and the ends of the panels 5 and 6 for preventing the ingress of moisture into the display sign. The message or advertisement may be preprinted on the panels 5 and 6, or if the message is on a paper or other medium, the medium may be secured to the display surfaces 8 of the panels 5 and 6 by bonding, riveting or any other suitable means. Alternatively, the message on a paper or other medium may be tightly sandwiched between a pair of panels, and the pair of panels with the medium sandwiched therebetween would form a compound panel, and a pair of compound panels would be provided, one compound panel forming the panel 5, and the other compound panel forming the panel 6.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a display sign according to another embodiment of the invention, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. The display sign 40 is substantially similar to the display sign 1, and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The main difference between the display sign 40 and the display sign 1 is in the bottom rail 3 and the panels 5 and 6. In this embodiment of the invention, the bottom rail 3 is of width greater than the width of the top rail 2, and is slightly arcuate in cross-section. Additionally, the locating tracks 10 in the bottom rail 3, by virtue of the fact that the bottom rail 3 is wider than the top rail 2, are spaced apart a greater distance than the locating tracks 10 in the top rail 2. The panels 5 and 6 are resiliently deformable, and by drawing the top and bottom rails 2 and 3 together by the turn buckles 14, with the panels and 6 engaged in the locating tracks 10, the panels 5 and 6 are deformed outwardly and are concave when viewed from outside. Additionally,, by virtue of the spacing between the locating tracks 10 of the bottom rail 3, a light means, typically, a strip light, may be located on the bottom rail 3 for illuminating the display sign 40. In which case, the panels 5 and 6 would be of a transparent or translucent material, typically, perspex or PET material. Alternatively, the strip light may be secured to the securing turn buckles 14, and a pair of turn buckles 14 would be located at an appropriately spaced apart distance for carrying the strip light.

Otherwise, the display sign 40 is similar to the display sign 1 and is assembled in similar fashion.

It is also envisaged that by further tightening or loosening the turn buckles 14 the transverse crosssection of the display sign 40 may be varied, by varying the amount of curvature on the panels 5 and 6.

Indeed, it will be appreciated that the transverse cross-section of the display sign 1 may also be altered by further tightening of the turn buckles 14 for causing the panels 5 and 6 to bow outwardly.

While in both embodiments of the invention, the display signs have been described as comprising a securing means provided by turn buckles for retaining the top and bottom rails fixedly spaced apart so that the spacing between the rails is adjustable, it will be appreciated that other suitable securing means may be provided. For example, it is envisaged that in certain cases, the securing means may not be adjustable in height, in which case, rigid unadjustable rods would provide suitable securing means, and typically, such rods would be threaded over their entire length, or alternatively, may be threaded at the ends only. An advantage of providing fully threaded rods is that the rods could be cut to the desired length to accommodate panels of different heights between the top and bottom rails.

It will also be appreciated that other suitable receiving means for receiving the securing means may be provided, as may other suitable locating means.

While the rails have been described as being of aluminium material, they may be of any other suitable material, and likewise, panels of other materials than those described may be provided.

While the display signs have been described for use in imparting direction information, the signs may be used for any other purpose, for example, advertising, display signs over shop fronts, which would carry the / name of the shop, as road signs, and these and many other uses will he readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

DERMOT P CUMMINS & CO

Claims (5)

1. A display sign comprising a pair of spaced apart rails, each rail having a respective similar pair of spaced-apart panel locating means extending along the rail, a pair of spaced-apart panels of equal width, at least one of which panels is provided with a display surface for displaying a message, advertisement or the like, each panel extending between the rails and being located in each rail by one member of the respective pair of panel locating means, and elongated rail securing means located between the panels and extending between and secured to the rails for retaining the rails in mutually spaced apart fashion to locate and retain the panels in the respective panel locating means with the display surface of the or each panel facing outwardly.

2. A display sign as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rail securing means are of adjustable length for retaining the rails at selectable spacings apart for accommodating between the rails a pair of panels selected from a stock of pairs in several widths.

3. A display sign as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each rail comprises a receiving means for receiving the rail securing means, said receiving means being an elongate track of box section for slidably positioning and thereafter fixedly locating the rail securing means, said track having a longitudinally extending slot for admitting the rail securing means to the box section track and for permitting said means to slide therein.

4. A display sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securing means comprise an elongated rod, the ends of which are screw-threaded, the threaded ends extending through the corresponding securing means—accommodating slots into the bores of the respective box section tracks , a respective pair of nuts being provided on each end of the rod, one nut being located in the bore of the corresponding track, and the other nut securing the rod to the corresponding track by clamping a portion of the corresponding track adjacent the corresponding securing means~accommodating slot between the two nuts.

5. A display sign as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.