GB2300959A - A sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign (10, Figure 1) comprises a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects (12, 14, 16, 87, Figure 9) secured to the mounting arrangement. The mounting arrangement comprises a rail 18, 20, a support, and a securing device 22, 24, 25 for securing the rail 18, 20 to the support. An object (12, 14, 16, 87) is attached to the rail 18, 20 by an attachment device (30, 32, 36, 40, 50, 51, 60, 72, 85, 100, 102, 106, 110). The attachment device can take the form of a C-clip 30, 32 or can be provided with a bore corresponding to the shape of a rail (18) so that an object may be attached to the rail by passing the rail through the bore (Figure 14).

Description

"A Sian" This invention relates to signs and is particularly but not exclusively useful in forming signs indicating the names and numbers of houses and the like.

To indicate a house name, the conventional practice is to have a sign made to order in the form of a board or plaque which is then secured to the wall of the house or hung from a support. This procedure takes time to produce a sign on a one-off basis, and is not generally possible on a do-it-yourself basis.

It is known to provide a sign by taking preformed letters and fixing these individually to the wall of a house or some other support. However, a degree of skill is required in achieving a good alignment and spacing of the individual letters, especially if these are to be screwed individually to a brick or rendered wall, and the average householder could not achieve a sign having a satisfactory appearance in this manner.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a sign comprising a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects secured to the mounting arrangement; the mounting arrangement comprising a rail and means for securing the rail to a support; each object having an attachment device for attachment of that object to the rail; wherein the attachment device inters its with the rail by at least partial circumlocation such that the attachment device can be engaged with the rail using only hand pressure.

Preferably, the attachment device comprises a moveable member and deformation of the attachment device moves the moveable member to permit the attachment device to be engaged with and partially around the rail.

Alternatively, the attachment device has a bore that substantially corresponds to the shape of the rail, and the object is attached to the rail by passing the rail through the bore of the attachment device.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a sign comprising a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects secured to the mounting arrangement; the mounting arrangement comprising a rail and means for securing the rail to a support; each object having an attachment device for attachment of that object to the rail, wherein the attachment device comprises a moveable member and deformation of the attachment device moves the moveable member to permit the attachment device to be engaged with the rail.

Preferably, the deformation is an elastic deformation.

In a preferred form of the invention, the attachment device of each object are clips projecting from the rear of the object. Typically, the clips are 'c'-shaped clips having an opening.

Preferably, the moveable member is elastically deformable and more preferably, the moveable member is an arm of the clip. Most preferably, there are two arms on each clip.

Preferably, the opening of at least one of the clips attached to one rail is arranged in the opposite direction to the opening of the clip(s) attached to the other rail.

Typically, the opening of at least one of the clips attached to one rail face away from the opening of the clip(s) attached to the other rail.

Alternatively, the opening of at least one of the clips attached to one rail may face toward the opening of the clip(s) attached to the other rail.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a sign comprising a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects secured to the mounting arrangement; the mounting arrangement comprising a rail and means for securing the rail to a support; each object having an attachment device for attachment of that object to the rail, wherein the attachment device has a bore that substantially corresponds to the shape of the rail, and the object is attached to the rail by passing the rail through the bore of the attachment device.

Preferably, the bore of the attachment device is formed to be in a close fit with the rail.

Alternatively, where the inner diameter of the bore is substantially greater than the diameter of the rail, a screw may be provided to force the attachment device against the rail.

Preferably, the mounting arrangement comprises a plurality of rails. Typically, there are two rails.

Preferably, the rails are substantially parallel when secured to the support.

The objects may be letters, numerals or plaques or a combination of these.

Typically, the required letters, numerals or pictures are selected and positioned to form a house name, and the support is an exterior wall of a house.

Preferably, each object is a rigid, self-supporting element. This allows a plurality of objects to be assembled with the rails to form a self-supporting unit which can be secured as a unit to the support.

Preferably, for each object, there is at least one clip provided for attachment to each rail. Most preferably there are three clips provided for attachment of an individual object to the rails, whereby two clips are provided for attachment to one rail, and one clip is provided for attachment to the other rail. This has the advantage of providing increased rigidity and stability of the object attached to the rail.

Furthermore, if two clips are provided for attachment to one rail, it is more difficult to move the object after it has been placed on the rail, due to the increase in friction between the two clips and the rail.

The clips may be separate members secured to the object body, and may suitably have a head and a cylindrical base which are fixed in a bore in the object body, and the head may be rotatable on the base. Alternatively, the clips may be moulded integrally with the object.

The invention has the advantage over existing signs in that the objects may be attached to the rails by hand, with no extra tools being required.

In other forms of the invention, the attachment means of each object may comprise parallel grooves or holes in the object, or clips placed over the rails and screwed to the object.

Preferably, where the support is an exterior wall of a house comprising brick layers, the separation of the rails is greater than the brick layer width such that the rails fit between the brick layers.

Typically, the rails are provided in a range of colours to allow the selection of a suitable colour to match the background. Preferably, the rails are constructed from glass-fibre. Alternatively, the rails are constructed from an acrylic material.

Preferably, the means for securing each rail to the support is at least one clip in the form of a clamp.

From another aspect, the present invention provides a point-of-sale display system for use in marketing signs of the type defined above, the display system comprising a number of storage locations, one for each letter of the alphabet and each capable of holding a number of said letters, and an additional storage location for holding a number of packages each containing a pair of rails and means for securing the rails to a support.

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a sign constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention; Fig 2 is a perspective rear view of the sign of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view of a clip forming part of the sign of Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating alternative forms of attachment; Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a point of sale display for use in the present invention; Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating an alternative form of attachment; Fig. 9 is a rear view of a letter for inclusion in an alternative form of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a side view of the letter of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is detail view of one of the mounting clips shown in Fig. 2; ; Fig. 12 shows a side view of a clip forming part of the letter of Figs. 9 and 10.

Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are detail views illustrating alternative forms of attachment; Fig. 18 shows a detail view illustrating an alternative form of attachment to a non-circular rail; and Fig. 19 shows cross sections of alternative rails.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a sign 10 is formed by attaching individual letters 12, 14, 16 to a pair of parallel rails 18 and 20. The rails 18 and 20 are in turn secured to a support, such as the wall of the house, for example by means of clips such as 25, shown at one end of Figs. 1 and 2, with a front part 27 shaped to be a snap fit over one of the rails 18, 20 and secured to the wall by a screw 28 engaged in a rear part 29 forming a wall plug. An alternative form of mounting, shown at the other end in Figs. 1 and 2, makes use of P-clips such as 22 having a loop 24 passed around the rail 18 or 20 and apertures 26 for a fixing screw 28. If clips 25 are used, they may be positioned to be concealed by the letters. P-clips such as 22 may be partially concealed by the letters.

A P-clip 22, screw 28 and wall plug 23 are also shown in Fig.ll. If the support is a wall, then the wall plug 23 can be interposed between the screw 28 and the wall, in order that the P-clip 22 will be securely attached to the wall.

The letters such as 12, 14 and 16 are rigid selfsupporting elements formed for example by cutting from a solid sheet material such as wood, Perspex or medium density fibreboard, or by injection moulded plastics or by metal.

In this embodiment, each letter is attached to the rails 18 and 20 by means of a pair of clips 30, 32 projecting from its rear surface at a fixed vertical spacing. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, each clip such as 30 has a cylindrical shank 34 received in a bore in the body of the letter 12 and secured therein for example by adhesive, and a U-shaped head 36 which is a snap-fit on the rail 18.

In use, the desired letters are placed face down and one rail 18 is pressed into the clips 30, 32. This procedure can be facilitated by the clip heads 36 being rotatable on the clip shanks 34. A unitary selfsupporting assembly is thereby formed. This can be turned over and the longitudinal spacing adjusted to achieve a desired effect. The assembly is then turned back and the other rail 20 pressed into the clips. It is preferred that greater security is then provided by applying caps such as 38 over the heads 36 of the clips to hold them closed. The entire assembly can then be positioned as desired on a wall and secured to it by means of the clips 25 and screws 28.

It will be understood however, that the invention is not limited to merely the mounting of letters.

Numerals and plaques may be mounted in the same way as the letters are mounted. The letters, numerals and plaques to be mounted are intended to have a wrought iron look/effect. Larger letters, numerals and particularly pictures may need to be screwed directly to the wall in addition to, and independently from the clips and rail attachment arrangement.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the same principle but using other means of attachment between individual letters and the rails.

In Fig. 4, the letters are secured to the rails by means of U-shaped clips 40 passed over the rails and secured by screws 42.

Fig. 5 illustrates an arrangement in which the rails clip into wedge shaped grooves 50 formed in the letters, or otherwise moulded.

Fig. 13 illustrates an arrangement similar to that of Fig. 5, but where the inner position of the back of the object 12 is hollow. A groove 51 is cut or moulded into the sides 52 of the object 12, and corresponds to the shape of the rail 18.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the letters are provided with through apertures 60 and are passed over the rails 18 and 20. This alternative embodiment employs the use of a close fit between the object 12 and the rail 18, 20.

Fig. 7 illustrates a point of sale display for use in marketing signs of the foregoing type. The display comprises a framework 70 with a number of projecting fingers 72, one for each letter of the alphabet (and numerals, if desired); only some of the fingers 72 are shown in Fig. 7. Each finger 72 holds a number of items of the appropriate letter, each letter being packaged in a plastic sleeve 74 with a card closure 76 apertured to hang on the finger 72. An additional finger 78 provides a location of sufficient size to hold a number of packets 80, each of which holds a mounting kit consisting of a pair of rails 18, 20 and mountings and screws.

Thus, a purchaser can easily select the required letters for a desired sign plus a mounting kit, and can readily assemble the sign and secure it in the desired location with a minimum of skill and effort.

In the foregoing embodiment, the rails 18, 20 are of circular cross-section and may be of metal rod or glass-reinforced plastics or glass-fibre rods or an acrylic material. Other forms of rail may be used.

For example, as seen in Fig. 8 by using a square or rectangular cross-section rail 70 and suitable clips 72 it is possible to mount characters 74 with sufficient rigidity onto a single rail. In other applications it may be desirable to use more than two parallel rails.

The rails 18, 20 may be coloured to match the cement/grout or the brick of the support. Where the support is composed of layers of bricks, the separation of the rails 18, 20 can be greater than the brick layer width, so that one or each of the rails 18, 20 runs parallel to, and at the same height as a cement/grout layer.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, there are three 'c'-shaped clips 85 attached to the back of an object 87 which in this case is the letter 'F'. The 'c'-shaped clips 85 comprise jaws 89 which form an opening 91. The openings 91 of the clips 85 intended to be attached to one rail 18, face in the opposite direction to the clips 85 intended to be attached to the other rail 20.

In this embodiment, the openings 91 face away from each other. Accordingly, if the object 87 is to be attached to, or removed from the rails 18, 20 the rails 18, 20 must be pulled apart. Therefore, the likelihood of unintentional removal of the object 87 from the rails 18, 20 will have been reduced.

To further prevent unintentional removal of the object 87 from the rails, two clips 85, may be used to attach the object 87 on one of the rails 18, 20, and one clip 85 may be used on the other rail 18, 20. If two clips 85 are used on one of the rails 18, 20 then there will be an increase in the stability and rigidity of the object attached on the rails 18, 20. Furthermore, once the object 87 is attached on the rails 18, 20, the object is less likely to move from the intended position if two clips 85 are used on one of the rails 18, 20, due to the increase in friction between the two clips 85 and the rail 18, 20.

Fig. 12 shows an individual clip 85 having a body 95 for insertion into a suitably placed hole (not shown) on the object 87. Ribs on the body 95 help secure the clip 85 to the object 87. If required, a suitable adhesive can also be used to further secure the clip 85 to the object 87.

Fig. 14 shows an alternative attachment arrangement whereby, the rail 18 is passed through a bore located on the head of a clip 100. The inner surface of the head of the clip 100 is in a close fit relationship with the rail 18. Hence, the clip 100 must be pushed onto and along the rail 18. The object 12 to which the clip 100 is attached is in a far more stable position on the rail 18 due to the close fit between the clip 100 and the rail 18. One clip 100 may be used for each object in combination with other forms of attachment described herein, or alternatively, a number of clips 100 may be used to provide the attachment of the object 12 to the rails 18, 20.

Fig. 15 shows a clip 102 similar to the clip 100 of Fig. 14, but additionally having a screw 104 to provide the close fit relationship. The clip 102 and screw 104 can be fitted on a wider range of rail 18 sizes, on the basis that the screw can be adjusted to correspond to the rail 18 size.

Fig. 16 shows a one piece clamping attachment device 106, which can be tightened or loosened around the rail 18 by adjusting nut and bolts 108.

Fig. 17 shows a two piece clamping attachment device 110 which can be tightened or loosened around the rail 18 by adjusting screws 112. Fig. 18 shows a similar device 114, but preferably for use with a square shaped rail 18.

Fig. 19 shows a range of rail 18 cross sections, each of which would be suitable for use with a correspondingly shaped attachment device.

Other modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (27)

CLAINS

1. A sign comprising a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects secured to the mounting arrangement; the mounting arrangement comprising a rail and means for securing the rail to a support; each object having an attachment device for attachment of that object to the rail, wherein the attachment device comprises a moveable member and deformation of the attachment device moves the moveable member to permit the attachment device to be engaged with the rail.

2. A sign comprising a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects secured to the mounting arrangement; the mounting arrangement comprising a rail and means for securing the rail to a support; each object having an attachment device for attachment of that object to the rail; wherein the attachment device interfits with the rail by at least partial circumlocation such that the attachment device can be engaged with the rail using only hand pressure.

3. A sign according to claim 2, in which the attachment device comprises a moveable member and deformation of the attachment device moves the moveable member to permit the attachment device to be engaged with and partially around the rail.

4. A sign according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the deformation is an elastic deformation.

5. A sign according to claim 4, wherein the elastic deformation is an elastic deformation of the moveable member.

6. A sign according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment device comprises a clip having an opening through which the rail may be inserted.

7. A sign according to claim 6, wherein the clip is 'c'-shaped.

8. A sign according to either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the moveable member is an arm of the clip.

9. A sign according to claim 8, wherein there are two arms on each clip.

10. A sign according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a number of rails and each object has at least a corresponding number of attachment devices for attachment of the object to each rail.

11. A sign according to claim 10, wherein there are two rails and each object has at least two attachment devices to permit the object to be attached to both rails.

12. A sign according to either claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the rails are substantially parallel when secured to the support.

13. A sign according to claim 11 when dependent on any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the opening of a clip for attachment to one rail faces in the opposite direction to the opening of a clip for attachment to the other rail.

14. A sign according to claim 13, wherein the opening of the clip attached to one rail faces away from the opening of the clip attached to the other rail.

15. A sign according to any of claims 11, 13 or 14, wherein there are three clips provided for attachment of an individual object to the rails, whereby two clips are provided for attachment to one rail, and one clip is provided for attachment to the other rail.

16. A sign comprising a mounting arrangement and a plurality of individual objects secured to the mounting arrangement; the mounting arrangement comprising a rail and means for securing the rail to a support; each object having an attachment device for attachment of that object to the rail, wherein the attachment device has a bore that substantially corresponds to the shape of the rail, and the object is attached to the rail by passing the rail through the bore of the attachment device.

17. A sign according to claim 2, in which the attachment device has a bore that substantially corresponds to the shape of the rail, and the object is attached to the rail by passing the rail through the bore of the attachment device.

18. A sign according to either of claims 16 or 17, wherein the bore of the attachment device is formed to be in a close fit with the rail.

19. A sign according to either of claims 16 or 17, where the inner diameter of the bore is substantially greater than the diameter of the rail, a screw is provided to force the attachment device against the rail.

20. A sign according to claim 2 or to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a number of rails and each object has at least a corresponding number of attachment devices for attachment of the object to each rail.

21. A sign according to claim 20, wherein there are two rails and each object has at least two attachment devices to permit the object to be attached to both rails.

22. A sign according to either of claims 20 or 21, wherein the rails are substantially parallel when secured to the support.

23. A sign according to claim 21, wherein there are three attachment devices provided for attachment of an individual object to the rails, whereby two attachment devices are provided for attachment to one rail, and one attachment device is provided for attachment to the other rail.

24. A sign according to claim 2 or to any of claims 16 to 23, wherein the attachment device is a separate member secured to the object body, and has a head and cylindrical base which is fixed in a bore in the object body.

25. A sign according to claim 2 or to any of claims 16 to 22, wherein the attachment device is formed integrally with the object.

26. A sign according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the objects are letters, numerals or plaques or a combination of these.

27. A sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.