AU2008203079A1 - A sign structure - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 866442

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Catalyst Engineering Pty Limited, an Australian company, ACN 097 947 647, of 23 Britton Street, Smithfield, New South Wales, 2164, Australia Terry Tisdale Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A sign structure Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: 2007903761 11Jul2007 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(1314576_1):DIB A SIGN STRUCTURE 00oo STechnical Field ZThe present invention relates to signs and more particularly but not exclusively to signs to be located adjacent a road surface.

Background of the Invention Signs are frequently employed adjacent bus stops to provide bus travellers with Mc, information in respect of bus timetables. -The signs may also include advertising material.

C The above discussed signs include a body generally formed of sheet material that oO 00 Sis elongated and extends upwardly and that is supported by a post. Signs are secured to this body by means of threaded fasteners such as screws.

The above discussed signs have a number of disadvantages including difficulty in replacing sign panels, and the cost of manufacture of the sign assembly.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at is least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a sign structure including: a post to extend upwardly from a surface; a plurality of supports fixed to the post at longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and extending outwardly from the post; a plurality of elongated members fixed to the supports and extending generally parallel to the post, the members being transversely spaced and arranged in an arc; a pair of elongated sign retainers extending generally parallel to the post but transversely spaced and located adjacent said arc, each retainer providing an abutment surface; and a plurality of sheet elements to support a sign image, the elements being located adjacent the abutment surfaces and members so as to extend along said arc and to be resiliently deformed by the members and retainers so as to be urged towards said retainers and members.

Preferably, said supports are metal sheet members.

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Preferably, said retainers are metal extrusions or rolled or pressed metal sections.

O Preferably, said members are a first set of members, and said structure includes a second set of elongated members, the second members extending along a second arc, and said abutment surfaces are a first set of surfaces, and said retainers provide a second set of abutment surfaces, with sheet elements extending between said second abutment surfaces and resiliently deformed so as to be urged toward said second set of abutment surfaces and said second set of members, with the curves being convex in an opposite directions.

Brief Description of the Drawings 00A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of 1 0 example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a sign structure; Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation of the sign structure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of the sign structure of Figure 2 sectioned along the line 3-3; and Figure 4 is a schematic exploded isometric view of a corner of the sign structure of Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a sign structure The structure 10 includes a generally upright post 11 fixed to a surface 12 so as to be supported. Typically the sign structure 10 would be located adjacent a road surface and more particularly adjacent a bus shelter so as to provide bus schedules and possibly advertising material.

Fixed to the post 11 are transverse supports 13. Typically the supports 13 would be formed of sheet metal. The supports 13 are fixed to the post 11 at longitudinally spaced locations along the posts 11. The supports 13 are generally parallel and co-extensive, with each support 13 having arcuate edges 14 and 15. The edges 14 and are arcuate so as to be convex in opposite directions. The edges 14 are generally parallel and co-extensive as are the edges 15. Accordingly the edges 14 lie within a curved plane that is convex in the opposite direction to a curved plane passing through the edges 2 1312645 I:hxa Fixed to the supports 13 are sign support members 16, which members are

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O vertically elongated and extend generally parallel to the posts 11. The members 16 by being secured to adjacent the edges 14 and 15, lie in the above discussed curved planes.

The vertical edges of the structure 10 are provided by sign retainers 17. The retainers 17 are generally vertically oriented and are elongated so as to be parallel to the posts 11. The retainers 17 each include abutment surfaces 18 and 19, with the surfaces 18 being located on one side of the structure 10, and the surfaces 19 on the other side of the Cc structure 10. The surfaces 18 and 19 are located adjacent the above described curved N, planes.

oO The structure 10 further includes sheet elements 20 that may be formed of sheet metal or sheet plastics material and extend between the pairs of surfaces 18 and pairs of surfaces 19. The elements 20 by being located adjacent the surfaces 18 and 19 and abutting the members 16, the elements 20 are resiliently deformed so as to be curved, that is to be outwardly convex. By being resiliently deformed the elements 20 are urged is toward their respective surfaces 18 or 19.

Overlaying each element 20 is a transparent sheet 21 that is also resiliently deformed and therefore urged into engagement with their respective surfaces 18 or 19 and urged towards members 16. Typically the elements 20 would have an outer face 22 provided with information advertising that may be viewed through the sheets 21.

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Claims (4)

1. A sign structure including: a post to extend upwardly from a surface; a plurality of supports fixed to the post at longitudinally spaced locations s therealong, and extending outwardly from the post; a plurality of elongated members fixed to the supports and extending generally parallel to the post, the members being transversely spaced and arranged in an arc; Cc a pair of elongated sign retainers extending generally parallel to the post but 00 transversely spaced and located adjacent said arc, each retainer providing an abutment 00 0to surface; and a plurality of sheet elements to support a sign image, the elements being located adjacent the abutment surfaces and members so as to extend along said arc and to be resiliently deformed by the members and retainers so as to be urged towards said retainers and members.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said supports are metal sheet members.

3. The structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein said retainers are metal extrusions or rolled or pressed metal sections.

4. The structure of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said members are a first set of members, and said structure includes a second set of elongated members, the second members extending along a second arc, and said abutment surfaces are a first set of surfaces, and said retainers provide a second set of abutment surfaces, with sheet elements extending between said second abutment surfaces and resiliently deformed so as to be urged toward said second set of abutment surfaces and said second set of members, with the curves being convex in an opposite directions. Dated 11 July, 2008 Catalyst Engineering Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 4 1312645 I:hxa