Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ADVERTISING SIGN
Field
[0001] The subject disclosure relates to an advertising sign.
Background
[0002] Advertising signs and banners are well known in the art. Such signs
are
particularly prevalent at entrances to businesses and in the case of
restaurants and
food outlets, entrances to drive throughs. In many instances, advertising
signs of this
nature are mounted on uprights such as poles and pylons at heights sufficient
for the
advertising on the signs to be readily and prominently displayed.
[0003] These advertising signs typically display static advertising that
rarely, if
ever, changes such as company names, brands, and/or logos. Notwithstanding, in
many instances, it is desired to supplement the static advertising with
additional
advertising relating to sales, promotions and/or other events. As this
additional
advertising is often time sensitive, being able to quickly and easily
supplement
advertising signs with additional advertising, and then remove the additional
advertising
at appropriate times, is desired. To-date, conventional advertising signs have
been
found wanting in this respect. As will be appreciated, improvements in
advertising signs
are desired. It is therefore an object to provide a novel advertising sign.
[0004] This background serves only to set a scene to allow a person
skilled in the
art to better appreciate the following description. Therefore, none of the
above
discussion should necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that this
discussion is
part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge.
Summary
[0005] It should be appreciated that this summary is provided to introduce
a
selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the detailed
description. This summary is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the
claimed
subject matter.
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[0006] Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided an advertising sign
comprising: a housing assembly configured to be secured to an upright, the
housing
assembly having at least one generally planar, primary surface, and configured
to
releasably retain multiple secondary advertising pieces about the primary
surface.
[0007] In one or more embodiments, the housing assembly is configured to
releasably retain secondary advertising pieces to one or both sides of, below
and/or
above the primary surface.
[0008] In one or more embodiments, the housing assembly is configured to
releasably retain secondary advertising pieces to both sides of, below and
above the
primary surface.
[0009] In one or more embodiments, the housing assembly is configured to
releasably retain a primary advertising insert in overlying relation with
respect to the
primary surface.
[0010] In one or more embodiments, the housing assembly has a generally
planar, opposite facing primary surface, and is configured to releasably
retain multiple
secondary advertising pieces about the opposite facing primary surface. In one
form,
the housing assembly is configured to releasably retain secondary advertising
pieces at
least one of above and below the opposite facing primary surface. In another
form, the
housing assembly is configured to releasably retain secondary advertising
pieces above
and below the opposite facing primary surface. In another form, the housing
assembly
is configured to releasably retain another primary advertising insert in
overlying relation
with respect to the opposite facing primary surface.
[0011] In one of more embodiments, the housing assembly comprises a main
body having retaining assemblies on opposite sides thereof, each retaining
assembly
configured to slidably receive at least one secondary advertising piece having
forward
and rearward facing advertising surfaces. In one form, each retaining assembly
defines
spaced raceways to accommodate flanges of the at least one secondary
advertising
piece. Each retaining assembly may comprise nested channel members spaced
apart
by an interposed riser, the spacing between the nested channel members
defining the
raceways. In one form, the housing assembly comprises forward facing upper and
lower support panels extending therefrom and configured to support advertising
onserts
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thereon. In this case, the advertising onserts may be secured to the forward
facing
upper and lower support panels via quick release fasteners. In one form, the
housing
assembly comprises rearward facing upper and lower support panels extending
therefrom and configured to support advertising onserts thereon. In this case,
the
advertising onserts may be secured to the upper and lower support panels via
quick
release fasteners.
[0012] According to another aspect there is provided an advertising sign
comprising: a main housing to accommodate an upright passing therethrough and
configured to affix to the upright at a desired height, the main housing
presenting
forward and rearward facing, generally planar, primary advertising surfaces;
retaining
assemblies extending along opposite sides of the main housing, each retaining
assembly configured to releasably retain a secondary advertising insert that
presents
forward and rearward facing advertising surfaces; forward and rearward facing
upper
support panels extending upwardly from the main housing and configured to
support
forward and rearward facing advertising onserts thereon; and forward and
rearward
facing lower support panels extending downwardly from the main housing and
configured to support forward and rearward facing advertising onserts thereon.
[0013] In one or more embodiments, each retaining assembly defines spaced
raceways to accommodate flanges of the secondary advertising insert. In one
form,
each retaining assembly may comprise nested channel members spaced apart by an
interposed riser, the spacing between the nested channel members defining the
raceways.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, the advertising onserts are secured to
the
forward and rearward facing upper and lower support panels via quick release
fasteners.
[0014a] According to another aspect there is provided an advertising sign
comprising: a housing assembly configured to be secured to an upright, the
housing
assembly having at least one generally planar, primary surface, and configured
to
releasably retain multiple secondary advertising pieces about the primary
surface,
wherein the housing assembly comprises a main body having retaining assemblies
on
opposite sides thereof, each retaining assembly configured to slidably receive
at least
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one secondary advertising piece having forward and rearward facing advertising
surfaces, wherein each retaining assembly defines spaced raceways to
accommodate
flanges of the at least one secondary advertising piece, and wherein each
retaining
assembly comprises nested channel members spaced apart by an interposed riser,
the
spacing between the nested channel members defining the raceways.
[0014b] According to another aspect there is provided an advertising sign
comprising: a main housing to accommodate an upright passing therethrough and
configured to affix to the upright at a desired height, the main housing
presenting
forward and rearward facing, generally planar, primary advertising surfaces;
retaining
assemblies extending along opposite sides of the main housing, each retaining
assembly configured to releasably retain at least one secondary advertising
insert that
presents forward and rearward facing advertising surfaces; forward and
rearward facing
upper support panels extending upwardly from the main housing and configured
to
support forward and rearward facing additional secondary advertising panels
thereon;
and forward and rearward facing lower support panels extending downwardly from
the
main housing and configured to support forward and rearward facing further
additional
secondary advertising panels thereon, wherein each retaining assembly defines
spaced
raceways to accommodate flanges of the at least one secondary advertising
insert, and
wherein each retaining assembly comprises nested channel members spaced apart
by
an interposed riser, the spacing between the nested channel members defining
the
raceways.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0015] Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with
reference to the accompany drawings in which:
[0016] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an advertising sign in
accordance
with the subject disclosure;
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[0017] Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1;
[0018] Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1;
[0019] Figure 4 is a view looking upwardly along one side of the
advertising sign
of Figure 1;
[0020] Figure 5 is another perspective view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1
showing a partially installed main advertising insert;
[0021] Figure 6 is another perspective view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1
showing the main advertising insert fully installed;
[0022] Figure 7 is a side perspective view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1
showing a partially installed side advertising insert;
[0023] Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the advertising sign
of Figure
1 showing the side advertising insert fully installed;
[0024] Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1
showing a partially installed lower advertising onsert;
[0025] Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1
showing the lower advertising onsert fully installed; and
[0026] Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the advertising sign of
Figure 1
showing side advertising inserts fully installed.
Detailed Description of Embodiments
[0027] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of
certain examples will be better understood when read in conjunction with the
appended
drawings. As used herein, an element or feature introduced in the singular and
preceded by the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not necessarily
excluding the
plural of the elements or features. Further, references to "one example" or
one
embodiment" are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of
additional
examples or embodiments that also incorporate the described elements or
features.
Reference herein to "example" means that one or more feature, structure,
element,
component, characteristic and/or operational step described in connection with
the
example is included in at least one embodiment and/or implementation of the
subject
matter according to the subject disclosure. Thus, the phrases "an example,"
"another
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example," and similar language throughout the subject disclosure may, but do
not
necessarily, refer to the same example. Further, the subject matter
characterizing any
one example may, but does not necessarily, include the subject matter
characterizing
any other example.
[0028] Unless explicitly stated to the contrary, examples or embodiments
"comprising" or "having" or "including" an element or feature or a plurality
of elements or
features having a particular property may include additional elements or
features not
having that property. Also, it will be appreciated that the terms "comprises",
"has",
"includes" means "including but not limited to" and the terms "comprising",
"having" and
"including" have equivalent meanings.
[0029] As used herein, the term "and/or" can include any and all
combinations of
one or more of the associated listed elements or features.
[0030] Reference herein to "configured" denotes an actual state of
configuration
that fundamentally ties the element or feature to the physical characteristics
of the
element or feature preceding the phrase "configured to."
[0031] It will be understood that when an element or feature is referred
to as
being "on", "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" to, "contacting" etc.
another element
or feature, that element or feature can be directly on, attached to, connected
to, coupled
to, or contacting the other element or feature or intervening elements may
also be
present. In contrast, when an element or feature is referred to as being
"directly" on,
"directly attached" to, "directly connected" to, "directly coupled" to,
"directly contacting"
etc. another element or feature, there are no intervening elements or features
present.
Similarly, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being
"directly
between" other elements, that element is positioned between the other elements
without
any intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"between" other elements, that element is positioned between the other
elements but
intervening elements may also be present.
[0032] It will be understood that spatially relative terms such as
"bottom", "under",
"below", "lower", "over", "upper", "top", "front", "back", "side" and the
like, may be used
herein for ease of describing the relationship of an element or feature to
another
element or feature as depicted in the figures. The spatially relative terms
can however,
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encompass different orientations in use or operation in addition to the
orientation
depicted in the figures.
[0033] As used herein, the terms "approximately", "about", "generally",
"substantially" etc. represent an amount or characteristic close to the stated
amount or
characteristic that still performs the desired function or achieves the
desired result. For
example, the terms "approximately" and "about" in reference to a stated amount
include
amounts that are within engineering or design tolerances of the stated amount
that
would be readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art. Similarly, for
example, the
term "substantially" in reference to a stated characteristic of an element
includes
elements that nearly completely provide the stated characteristic, and the
term
"generally" in reference to a stated characteristic of an element includes
elements that
predominately provide the stated characteristic.
[0034] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first", "second" etc. are
used herein
merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or
hierarchical
requirements on the elements to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference
to a
"second" element does not require or preclude the existence of a lower-
numbered
element (e.g., a "first" element) and/or a higher-numbered element (e.g., a
"third"
element).
[0035] In the subject disclosure, an advertising sign is described that
comprises a
housing assembly configured to be secured to an upright, the housing assembly
having
at least one generally planar, primary surface, and configured to releasably
retain
multiple secondary advertising pieces about the primary surface. The multiple
pieces of
secondary advertisment are retained in a manner that facilitates quick
installation and
change outs as will be described.
[0036] Turning now to Figures 1 to 4, an exemplary advertising sign is
shown and
is generally identified by reference numeral 100. In this embodiment, the
advertising
sign 100 is configured to be attached to an upright such as a pole, pylon or
the like in an
outdoor environment and is configured to support numerous advertising pieces
that can
be changed out quickly and easily as will be described.
[0037] In this embodiment, the advertising sign 100 comprises a hollow,
generally
rectangular housing assembly 102 that is configured to surround the upright. A
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mounting bracket (not shown) is provided within the interior of the housing
assembly
102 that cooperates with band clamps to affix the housing assembly 102 to the
upright
at a desired height so that advertising pieces in the form of inserts and
onserts can be
prominently displayed.
[0038] The housing assembly 102 comprises a main housing 108 formed of
durable structural material such as aluminum or other metal that is resistant
to rust and
weathering. In this embodiment, the main housing 108 comprises a pair of
opposite
side walls 110, a peripheral front wall 112 extending between front edges of
the side
walls 110 and a peripheral rear wall 114 extending between rear edges of the
side walls
110. The peripheral front wall 112 comprises upper, lower and side portions
120, 122,
and 124, respectively. The peripheral front wall 112 surrounds a window or
opening
130. The side portions 124 of the peripheral front wall 112 are notched near
the bottom
or lower end of the main housing 108 as indicated by reference numeral 132.
[0039] The main housing 108 accommodates a backer panel 134 that is
positioned behind the peripheral front wall 112 to close off the window 130.
In this
embodiment, the backer panel 134 is made of an aluminum composite and is
secured
to the main housing 108 via suitable fasteners such as steel nuts and bolts.
The backer
panel 134 presents a forward facing, generally planar major or primary surface
136
configured to bear indicia in the form of more permanent or static advertising
such as a
company name, brand and/or logo.
[0040] Although not shown, the peripheral rear wall 114 has basically the
same
configuration as the peripheral front wall 112 and comprises upper, lower and
side
portions. The peripheral rear wall 114 surrounds a window or opening. The side
portions of the peripheral rear wall 114 are notched near the bottom or lower
end of the
main housing 108. A backer panel is accommodated by the main housing 108 and
is
positioned behind the peripheral rear wall 114 to close off the window.
Similarly, the
backer panel is made of an aluminum composite and is secured to the main
housing
108 via suitable fasteners such as steel nuts and bolts. The backer panel
presents a
rearward facing, generally planar major or primary surface configured to bear
indicia in
the form of more permanent or static advertising such as a company name, brand
and/or logo.
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[0041] The housing assembly 102 further comprises a pair of side insert
retaining
assemblies 140 configured to receive and retain side advertising inserts as
will be
described, with each side insert retaining assembly 140 extending along a
respective
side wall 110 of the main housing 108. In this embodiment, the side insert
retaining
assemblies 140 are also formed of durable structural material such as aluminum
or
other metal that is resistant to rust and weathering.
[0042] Figures 3 and 4 better illustrate one of the side insert retaining
assemblies
140. As can be seen, the side insert retaining assembly 140 comprises an
elongate
inner channel member 142 that extends along the respective side wall 110 of
the main
housing 108, an elongate outer channel member 144 received by and nested
within the
inner channel member 142 and an elongate riser 146 interposed between the
inner and
outer channel members 142 and 144, respectively. Fasteners 148 such steel nuts
and
bolts pass through the inner and outer channel members 142 and 144, the riser
146 and
the side wall 110 at spaced locations along the length of the side insert
retaining
assembly 140 to secure the side insert retaining member 140 to the main
housing 108.
[0043] The elongate riser 146 is narrower than the base 150 of the outer
channel
member 144 and spaces the base 150 of the outer channel member 144 from the
base
152 of the inner channel member 142 to provide relief between the bases 150
and 152
and define slots 154 on opposite sides of the elongate riser 146. The outer
channel
member 144 is also narrower than the inner channel member 142 and is
configured so
that the inwardly angled arms 156 of the outer channel member 144 are inwardly
spaced from the arms 158 of the inner channel member 142 to define passageways
160
that are contiguous with the slots 154 and define raceways to receive portions
of a side
advertising insert as will be described. In this embodiment, the elongate
riser 146 is
dimensioned to space the base 150 of the outer channel member 144 from the
base
152 of the inner channel member 142 by a distance of approximately 6mm. Those
of
skill in the art will however appreciate that the dimensions of the elongate
riser 146 may
varied to adjust the spacing between the bases 150 and 152 as needed.
[0044] The housing assembly 102 further comprises a plurality of support
panels
or extensions adjacent the top and bottom of the main housing 108. Similar to
the main
housing 108 and side insert retaining assemblies 140, the support panels are
formed of
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durable structural material such as aluminum or other metal that is resistant
to rust and
weathering. In particular, a bottom support panel or beard 170 is attached to
the interior
surface of lower portion 122 of the peripheral front wall 112 and extends
downwardly
from the main housing 108. Likewise, a bottom support panel 172 is attached to
the
interior surface of the lower portion of the peripheral rear wall 114 and
extends
downwardly from the main housing 108 A top support panel or header 174 is
attached
to the interior surface of the upper portion 120 of the peripheral front wall
112 and
extends upwardly from the main housing 108. Likewise, a top support panel 176
is
attached to the interior surface of the upper portion of the peripheral rear
wall 114 and
extends upwardly from the main housing 108. Each of the support panels 170,
172,
174, and 176 has a plurality of holes 180 formed therein that are positioned
adjacent
their peripheral edges at spaced locations.
[0045] The advertising sign 100 is configured to receive and hold multiple
advertising pieces in a manner that allows the advertising pieces to be easily
installed
and removed. This allows promotional and other time sensitive advertising to
be
installed on the advertising sign 100 as needed to supplement more permanent
advertising and then be readily changed out when required.
[0046] As can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, the front and rear of the main
housing
108 are configured to receive and retain primary advertising inserts 200 in
the form of
sheets or panels formed of weather resistant material such as plastic, coated
paperboard etc. For example, to install a primary advertising insert 200 on
the front of
the main housing 108, opposite ends of the top edge of the primary advertising
insert
200 are inserted behind the side portions 124 of the peripheral front wall 112
at the
notches 132 and then the primary advertising insert 200 is slid upwardly (see
Figure 5)
until the primary advertising insert 200 fully overlies the backing panel 134
(see Figure
6). Installing a primary advertising insert on the rear of the main housing
108 is
performed in a similar manner. As will be appreciated, the provision of the
notches 132
in the side portions 124 of the peripheral front and rear walls 112 and 114,
respectively,
facilitates quick installation of primary advertising inserts 200. Also, by
spacing the
notches 132 above the lower end of the main housing 108, access to the bottom
edges
of installed primary advertising inserts 200 is facilitated allowing them to
be easily
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-28
grasped. This of course allows installed primary advertising inserts 200 to be
quickly
removed by pulling the primary advertising inserts 200 downwardly until the
top edges
of the primary advertising inserts clear the side portions 124 of the
peripheral front and
rear walls 112 and 114 at the notches 132.
[0047] The side insert retaining assemblies 140 are configured to receive
and
retain side advertising inserts 220 formed of weather resistant material such
as plastic,
coated paperboard etc. as best shown in Figures 7, 8, and 11. In this
embodiment, the
side advertising inserts 220 resemble triangular prisms and comprise front and
rear
panels 222 and 224 that are joined along a common edge 226 and that angle away
from one another. An inturned flange or lug 228 is provided at the opposite
edge of
each panel 222 and 224. The front panel 222 has a forward facing, generally
planar
surface 230 on which secondary advertising such as a promotion, event etc. is
presented. The rear panel 224 has a rearward facing, generally planar surface
232 on
which secondary advertising such as a promotion, event etc. is presented.
[0048] To install a side advertising insert 220 on a side insert retaining
assembly
140, the upper end of the side advertising insert 220 is brought into
alignment with the
lower end of the side insert retaining assembly 140 so that the intumed
flanges 228 are
aligned with the slots 154 and the angled panels 222 and 224 are aligned with
the
passageways 160 between the arms 156 and 158. The side advertising insert 200
and
is then slid upwardly along the raceways with the slots 154 receiving the
inturned
flanges 228 and the passageways 160 receiving the panels 222 and 224 (see
Figures 7
and 8) until the side advertising insert 220 is fully installed (see Figure
11). Removing
installed side advertising inserts 220 is a simple task and simply requires
sliding of the
side advertising inserts downwardly along the raceways until the upper ends of
the side
advertising inserts 220 clear the lower ends of the side insert retaining
assemblies 140.
[0049] The bottom and top support panels 170, 172, 174, and 176 are
configured
to support upper and lower, generally planar advertising panels sometimes
referred to
as Onserts TM 240 formed of weather resistant material such as plastic, coated
paperboard etc. as best shown in Figures 9 and 10. In this embodiment, the
advertising
panels 240 have a shape that generally matches the shape of the support panels
and
have holes 242 formed therein that are arranged in a pattern that matches the
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arrangements of holes 180 formed in the support panels. Each advertising panel
240
has a major, generally planar surface 244 on which secondary advertising such
as a
promotion, event etc. is presented.
[0050] To install an advertising panel 240 onto one of the support panels,
the
advertising panel 240 simply needs to be placed over the support panel with
the holes
242 in the advertising panel 240 in alignment with the holes 180 in the
support panel.
Quick release fasteners such as Viking screws can then be inserted through the
aligned
holes and fastened thereby to secure the advertising panel 240 to the support
panel.
Removing installed advertising panel simply requires the quick release
fasteners to be
released.
[0051] As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art will
appreciate, the
dimensions of the advertising sign 100 with the advertising pieces may vary
depending
on the environment in which the advertising sign is deployed. In one
embodiment, the
long dimension of each support panel is 393/8" and the short dimension of each
support
panel at its maximum point is 8%". The height of the advertising sign 100 from
the top
support panel 174, 176 to the bottom support panel 170, 172 is 8514". The side
advertising inserts 220 have a length dimension of 48" and a width dimension
of 11"
giving the advertising sign 100 a width dimension of 67%".
[0052] Although the main housing 108, side insert retaining assemblies 140
and
support panels 170, 172, 174, and 176 have been described as being formed of
durable
structural material such as aluminum or other metal, those of skill in the art
will
appreciate that other materials may be employed especially dependent on the
environment in which the advertising sign 100 is deployed. For example, if the
advertising sign 100 is to be employed in protected or indoor environments,
less-
durable structural material may be used.
[0053] In the embodiments described above, the housing assembly 102
comprises upper and lower support panels at both its front and rear sides.
Those of
skill in the art will appreciate that different arrangements of support panels
170, 172,
174, and 176 are possible. For example, the housing assembly 102 may comprise
only
upper support panels or only lower support panels. Alternatively, only one
side of the
housing assembly may be provided with one or more support panels or one side
of the
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housing assembly may be provided with an upper support panel and the opposite
side
may be provided with a lower support panel.
[0054] In the embodiments described above, a side insert retaining
assembly is
provided on each side of the main housing 108. Those of skill in the art will
appreciate
that only one side of the main housing 108 may be provided with a side insert
retaining
assembly 140.
[0055] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the side advertising
inserts 220
need not be in the form of triangular prisms and make take other geometric
shapes (e.g.
rectangular parallelpipeds).
[0056] Although the backer panels 134 and side insert retaining assemblies
140
have been described as being secured to the main housing 108 via steel nuts
and bolts,
those of skill in the art will appreciate that other suitable fasteners such
as rivets, welds
etc. may be employed. Also, other quick release fasteners or fastening
mechanisms
may be employed to retain the advertising onserts on the support panels 170,
172, 174,
and 176.
[0057] Although the housing assembly 102 is described as being generally
rectangular, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the housing
assembly may take
other suitable geometric shapes. Depending on the geometric shape, additional
side
insert retaining assemblies 140 may be employed.
[0058] Although embodiments have been described above with reference to
the
accompanying drawings, those of skill in the art will appreciate that other
variations
modifications may be made.
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