Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
205589~
MOBILE SIGNS
Background of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a sign used for
advertising, and more specifically to an illuminatable sign
in which plate-means bearing the subject matter of the sign
may be readily and easily changed.
Summary of the Prior Art
Mobile illuminated signs are frequently used for
roadside advertising. Typically, these signs comprise a
casing having top, bottom, side and rear walls, and
transparent front and rear walls. The front and rear walls
are used as advertising boards. Fluorescent lights are
disposed within the interior of the casing. A sheet,
having a plurality of tracks disposed thereon, is disposed
between the lights and the advertising boards. Numbers or
letters may be inserted into the tracks to form
words/phrases for advertising purposes. The advertising
boards are either hingedly attached to the casing or may be
entirely removable therefrom so that the letters/numbers
may be changed as desired. Changing the advertising
material can require a fair amount of effort, in that the
advertising boards have to either be held open, if hinged,
or otherwise completely removed prior to the changing of
the material. Additionally, in order to change one or two
letters/numbers in a particular track, a lot of the other
letters/numbers in that track may have to be removed and
then re-inserted. This is time consuming.
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Additionally, in some of the presently known signs,
the advertising boards are manufactured from a type of wire
mesh. This tends to prevent removal of the
letters/numbers, but does not prevent third parties from
moving the letters/numbers around within the tracks.
Words/phrases can therefore be altered by third parties,
rendering the advertising material essentially useless.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to
overcome some of the disadvantages of previously known
mobile illuminated signs.
The sign of the present invention comprises a box-
like casing having a top wall, a bottom wall and two side
walls. Track means are receivable in the casing in such a
manner that the track means is disposed substantially
parallel to the top and bottom walls and substantially at
right angles to the side walls. Frame means are receivable
in the track means. The frame means comprises a plurality
of plate-means-receiving compartments. These compartments
are disposed adjacent to each other and are each adapted to
receive a single plate means therein. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention the plate means are slidably
receivable in the compartments. Each plate means has
depicted thereupon a letter or number, or any other
material desired to be displayed on the sign. The plate
means are manufactured from any suitable light transparent
material.
2 0 ~
When the plate means are received within the
compartments they substantially form the front or rear wall
of the casing. The terms "top, bottom, side, front and
rear" are used for the purposes of description only, and
are not meant to infer the necessity for a particular
orientation of the sign.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the
frame means is slidably receivable in the track means and
more than one frame means may be received in the track
means. The frame means are also releasably lockable into
the track means to prevent their removal by unauthorized
personnel. When facing the front wall or rear wall of the
casing and viewing the same from above, the frame means
comprises a plurality of I-shaped members disposed between
two substantially rectangular members. The rectangular
members are parallel with and attached to the top and
bottom arms of the I of the I-shaped members, and plate-
means-receiving compartments are formed between adjacent I-
shaped members. The distance between adjacent I-shaped
members is just slightly larger than the length of the
plate means to be received therein so that the plate means
is held firmly within the compartment. The positions of
the I-shaped members may also be varied along the length
of the rectangular members so as to alter the size of the
compartments to accommodate different sizes of plate means.
The sign of the present invention may further
comprise a support means receivable in the casing, and the
track means may be mounted on this support means in such a
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manner that when the support means is received in the
casing, the track means is disposed substantially parallel
to the top and bottom walls and substantially at right
angles to the side walls. In the preferred embodiment of
the invention the support means is slidably receivable in
the casing and the support means may be releasably locked
into the casing. A plurality of track means may be mounted
on said support means, each of the track means being
substantially H-shaped in cross-section. The track means
are disposed between two substantially rectangular members,
these rectangular members being parallel with and
connectable to the side arms of the H of the H-shaped
members, and frame-means-receiving slots are formed between
adjacent track means.
1~ Illuminating means, such as fluorescent lights may
be disposed within the interior of the casing.
When it is desired to change the material
displayed, the support means is unlocked, the required
frame means is slidably withdrawn from the support means
and the required plate means are changed. The frame means
is then pushed back into th support means and is again
locked into position.
The configuration of the sign tends to allow
material to be readily and easily changed and substantially
prevents alteration of the displayed material by third
parties.
Brief Description of the Drawings
-` 20558q3
The prefelled embo~im~nt of the prest:llt invention will now be
described with the aid of the following drawings in which:
Fig.l is a perspective front view of a illllmin~te~l sign in accordance
with the present invention;
Fig.2 is a cross section through line AA of Fig.l, showing the structure
of the support frame;
Fig.3 is a partial front view of the secon-l~ry frame;
Fig.4 is a top view of the secon-l~ry frame shown in Fig.3;
Fig.5 is a cross section through line BB of Fig.4;
lo Fig.6 is a perspective view of a side wall of the present invention
showing .iet~iling of the locking m~h~ni~m used to retain the support frame and
secondary frames within the casing;
Fig.7 is a plan view of the locking mP~h~ni~m shown in Fig.6; and
Fig.8 is a plan view of the locking mP~h~nicm shown in Fig.6 in an
open position.
Detailed Description of the Plefelled Embodiment of the rnvention
Referring to the Figures, there is shown an illuminated sign in
accordance with the pres~nt invention.
The sign coll~l;ses a casing 10, a track 11 receivable within
the casing 10, and a secondary frame 12 receivable within or on the track
11. The seco~ ry frame 12 cQmrri~eS a plurality of plate-lect:ivillg
compartments 13, into each of which a light Ll...~ g plate 14 is
,~ ,.
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receivable. The secondary frame 12 is slidably receivable
on the track ll, and the plates 14 are slidably receivable
within the secondary frame 12.
Referring to Figs.1&2, the box-like casing 10 has a
top wall 1~, bottom wall 16, and two side walls 17,18. The
side walls 17,18 are manufactured with a substantially 90
angle at their uppermost ends so that the side walls slot
under the top wall 15. This substantially prevents rain
water and the like from entering the casing at this point.
Fluorescent light fixtures 19 (or any other
suitable illuminating means) are mounted within the casing
10. While the light fixtures l9 are shown mounted between
the side walls 17,18 they may of course be mounted at any
suitable point within the interior of the casing. The
1~ light fixtures l9 are connected to a plug 20 proximate the
bottom of the casing 10 and wires 37 connect the sign to an
appropriate power source (not shown). The light fixtures
1~ and plug 20 are wired to either a single ballast (not
shown) or to more than one ballast.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a
plurality of tracks 11 are mounted into a support frame 21
which may be slidably receivable into the casing 10. Each
track 11 is substantially H-shaped in cross section. When
the support frame 21 is slidably received into the casing
10, the tracks 11 are so disposed as to lie substantially
parallel to the top and bottom walls 1~,16 and
substantially at right angles to the side walls 17,18 of
the casing. Both the top and bottom walls 1~,16 are
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formed with a lip 22 proximate their edges to engage the
support frame 21. An L-shaped bracket 38 is disposed a
spaced distance from the lip 22 to secure the support frame
21. If a support frame 21 is to be disposed on both the
front and back of the sign, the top and bottom walls 1~,16
are each formed with lips 22 proximate both edges as shown
in Fig.2. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,
the support frame 21 is slid inside the lips 22 and
brackets 38 when moving it either into or out of the casing
10. The support frame 21 may, however, be connectable to
the casing 10 in any other suitable manner or the tracks 11
may be directly mounted onto the casing 10.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, when
the support frame 21 is viewed in cross-section (as in
Fig.2), the tracks 11 are substantially H-shaped and are
connected to each other by connector members 23. The
connector members 23 are parallel with each other and with
the side arms of H of the H-shaped tracks 11. The
connector members 23 are connected to the ends 24 of the
side arms. Secondary-frame-receiving slots Z~ are formed
between vertically adjacent tracks 11. The secondary
frames 12 are slidably insertable into and removable from
the slots 2~.
If the sign is of a relatively substantial length,
2~ a cross-brace 9 is provided to assist in supporting the
support frame 21. The cross-brace 9 and connector members
23 lie substantially perpendicular to the tracks 11 and to
the top and bottom walls 1~, 16 of the casing.
2~S589~
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, seven
tracks 11 are mounted into the support frame 21, thereby
forming six secondary-frame-receiving slots 25 when viewed
in cross-section as in Fig.2. The uppermost track lla
slidably engages with the lip 22a and bracket 38a on the
top wall 15 of the casing 10, and the lowermost track llb
slidably engages with the lip 22b and bracket 38b on the
bottom wall 16 of the casing 10.
Secondary frames 12 are slidably receivable in the
slots 25 of the support frame 21. Each secondary frame
comprises a lower shaft 26 which has a plurality of I-
shaped members 27 disposed along its length. The members
27 are I-shaped when viewed from above when facing the
front of the casing 10. The I-shaped members 27 are
disposed substantially at right angles to the shaft 26. A
supporting strip 28 is attached to the I-shaped members 27
proximate their free ends as is shown in Fig.3. When
facing the front or rear of the casing 10 and viewing the
secondary frame 12 from above, the I-shaped members 27 are
disposed between two substantially rectangular members (the
shaft 26 and strip 29), and these rectangular members are
parallel with and attached to the top and bottom arms of
the I of the I-shaped members 27. The compartments 13 are
formed between adjacent I-shaped members 27. The I-shaped
members 27 may be fixedly attached to the shaft 26 by
welding or the like, or alternatively may be releasably
attached by any suitable method. The releasable attachment
allows the user to move the I-shaped members 27 to various
2055~93
positions along the length of the shaft 26 so as to vary
the size of the compartments 13 and thereby accommodate
different sizes of plates 14.
The plates 14 are manufactured from any suitable
light-transmitting material and are adapted to be slidably
received within the compartments 13. The compartments 13
are sized so as to be only slightly larger than the plates
14 to ensure that the plates are held relatively firmly
therein. The plates 14 themselves form the front or rear
wall of the sign. The plates 14 have letters, numbers,
symbols or any other desired designs marked thereupon, and
may be manufactured so that only the letter/number area of
the plate is light transmitting.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the
1~ support frame 21 is capable of holding eighty four plates
(i.e. six rows of fourteen plates each). For ease of use,
each track 11 carries two secondary frames 12 of seven
plates each. (It may of course carry more than two
secondary frames.) These secondary frames 12 can be
withdrawn from opposite sides of the casing 10. When two
secondary frames 12 carried on a track 11 are butted
together, they and the cross-brace 9 form a light-tight
seal. The cross-brace 9 assists in achieving the
tightness required so that light is substantially prevented
from escaping from the casing other than through the plates
14. This assists in eliminating the necessity of having a
transparent glass or plastic covering disposed over the
plates 14.
. -- 9
2~S5~93
Because the plates 14 are firmly held in individual
compartments 13, it is very difficult for unauthorized
persons to move the letters/numbers about without breaking
the locks which secure the secondary frames 12 into the
casing.
As the support frame 21 is slidably receivable in
the casing 10 it is easier for the user to take down and
put up messages in the support frame 21; and it is also
easier to repair the support frame 21. The support frame
21 can also be made in a variety of sizes, and can be
manufactured with more or fewer tracks 11 to receive
different numbers of secondary frames 12. The secondary
frames 12 may also be manufactured with more or fewer
compartments 13. This allows the user to use different
sizes of lettering on the mobile sign by using a different
support frame 21 and secondary frames 12.
The support frame 21 may also be manufactured from
a variety of materials, such as plastic or aluminum, and
may be manufactured in a variety of different colors. This
allows the user to alter the appearance of the sign quickly
and easily.
A drainage hole (not shown) is provided in the
bottom wall 16 of the casing 10 to allow any accumulated
moisture to drain out of the casing.
The various components of the sign are configured
so as to fit snugly with each other to substantially
prevent water from leaking into the casing. Additionally,
the support frame 21 and secondary frames 12 are preferably
2055893
all aluminum extruded to prevent rusting. All hinges 33,
bolts and screws are manufactured from stainless steel.
The casing 10 and legs (if present) are also preferably
manufactured from thick gage metal and are painted with a
high gloss paint to reduce then tendency to rust.
The device of the present invention is used in the
following manner.
When it is desired to create or change the material
contained in the sign, the user unlocks the support frame
21 and/or unlocks the secondary frames 12 so that the
secondary frames are free to slide upon the tracks 11. It
is obviously not essential to have separate locks for both
the support frame 21 and the secondary frames lZ; one lock
may be used to secure both the support frame 21 and
secondary frame 12 and substantially prevent withdrawal of
either from the casing 10.
Once the secondary frames 12 are free to slide, the
user selects which of the secondary frames require plates
12 to be inserted into them or withdrawn from them. The
relevant secondary frame 12 is slidably removed from the
support frame 21 and the relevant plates 14 are slidably
inserted into or withdrawn from the compartments 13. The
secondary frame is then slidably returned to its original
position, and the next relevant secondary frame is changed
as desired. Once all secondary frames have been changed as
desired, the secondary frames are returned to their
original positions and are locked into place by virtue of
the locking into place of the support frame 21.
205589~
Referring to Figs.6&7, the locking mechanism
comprises substantially L-shaped hinges 29 pivotally
mounted to either the side walls 17,18 or to a mounting
plate 30 which is fixedly connected to the side walls 17,18
by screws 31 or any other suitable means. The hinges 29
pivot to either cover or allow withdrawal of the support
frame(s) 21 and secondary frames 12 from the casing. A
rotatable locking bar 32 is mounted on the mounting plate
30 by a pin 33. The locking bar 32 extends beyond the ends
of the mounting plate 30 so as to selectively prevent the
hinges 29 from pivoting when it is substantially
horizontally oriented as shown in Fig.6. A hole 34 is
disposed in the locking bar 32 and is alignable with an
eyebolt 35 extending from the mounting plate 30. The
hooked section of a padlock 36 is receivable through the
hole 34 and the eyebolt 35.
When the user wishes to withdraw a support frame 21
from the casing 10, the padlock 36 is removed, and the
locking bar 32 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in
Fig.6. The hinges 29 are then rotated in the direction of
arrows B or C as shown in Fig.7 and the support frame 21
can then be withdrawn from the casing. When the user has
altered the sign as required, the support frames 21 are
pushed back into the casing, the hinges 29 and the locking
bar 32 are rotated back to their original positions. The
padlock 36 is then secured.
Any other suitable locking mechanism may be used
with the present invention.
20558~3
While the present invention is described for use
in association with a mobile roadside sign, it can of
course be utilized in any type of illuminated sign.
While the invention has been described in
conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is
evident that many alternatives, modifications, and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in
the light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications
and variations, as fall within the spirit and broad scope
of the appended claims.
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