AU748760B2

AU748760B2 - Signage frame

Info

Publication number: AU748760B2
Application number: AU53557/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dirk Stefan Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-22
Filing date: 2000-08-22
Publication date: 2002-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-04
Also published as: AU5355700A

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT SIGNAGE FRAME The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: The invention relates to planar signs and planar signage frames such as real estate i signage.

This form of signage generally only has a limited expected life. Although some parts are reusable the signage is not always recoverable for salvage or reuse by the interested parties before the signage is damaged, removed or destroyed by other ***parties.

One solution presently used in the signage industry to ameliorate the economic loss associated with the material cost of the reusable portions of the signage is to use low cost signage components and low cost construction methods. For example some existing signs include a sign fixed onto an appropriately sized planar timber rectangular frame so that it covers the front plane of the frame (central sign). This form of construction is then generally accompanied with the fixing of additional signs (covers) on the sides of the frame to hide the frame from sideward viewing when looking at the sign from the front.

While this method of construction is relatively simple it requires the use of additional signs/covers to provide a more satisfactory visual result on the finish of the sign assembly. Furthermore the visual result on the finish of the sign assembly depends on the care and skill by which the covers are appropriately sized and located before fixing.

In one aspect the invention broadly resides in an edge member for a planar signage frame wherein the edge member includes a planar mounting portion providing a surface for fixing to the frame; an abutting portion which in combination with the mounting portion locates the edge member on the frame; and a cover portion extended from the mounting portion and forming a closed loop therewith, which conceals the abutting portion when the edge member is located on the frame.

Advantageously such edge members can provide a finishing trim around the periphery of a signage frame when viewed from the side or towards the front of the frame which prevent viewing of the frame when an appropriately sized sign is mounted on the ~frame.

SFurthermore the cover portion also provides a finishing trim around the periphery of sign when the sign is viewed from the front or near front.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by the way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an edge member in accordance with the invention.

0 Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the edge member illustrated in Figure 1 detached from a cross sectional portion of a conventional sign and signage frame.

Figure 3 is a conventional planar signage frame.

Figure 4 is a front view of four edge members illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 having mitred end portions located on a planar signage frame (not visible) having a mounted sign.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of an edge member where the cover portion forms a closed loop.

Edge member 8 illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 is suitable for use with a conventional planar signage frame 4 illustrated in Figure 2 and 3.

The edge member 8 consists of a planar mounting portion 1 providing a fixing surface to the frame 4, an abutting portion 2 which in combination with the mounting portion 1 locates the edge member 8 on frame 4, and a cover portion 3 cantilevered on the mounting portion 1 which conceals the abutting portion 2 when the edge member 8 is located on frame 4.

~.Frame 4 in Figure 3 and Figure 2 typically comprise of timber members 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d arranged and fixed to each other to form a planar rectangular frame to which a substantially planar sign 6 (not shown in Figure 3) of corresponding rectangular size may be mounted and fixed.

A structural sheet 5 (as shown in Figure 2 only) made of ply-wood or some other suitable material and of corresponding rectangular size to frame 4 and sign 6 may is fixed to frame 4 prior to mounting and fixing sign 6 to frame 4.

In use it is preferred each edge member 8 is cut to a length equal to the length of the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d to which it is to be fixed, and the ends of each edge member 8 is mitred at an angle of 45 degrees prior to fixing the edge member 8 to the frame 4.

The edge member 8 is then located into a preferred position on the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d by positioning the edge member 8 onto the corresponding frame member so that the mounting portion 1 substantially abuts the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d and the abutting portion 2 abuts the sign 6, and the length of the edge member is in alignment with the length of the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d.

The embodiment of the abutting portion 2 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a flange perpendicular to planar mounting portion 1 which helps locate the edge member 8 into the preferred position.

After edge member 8 is located in the preferred position on the frame 4 the edge member 8 is fixed into position by a suitable means such as staples, tacks or nails through the mounting portion 1 into the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d.

The embodiment of the cover portion 3 illustrated is a resilient arcuate wing having a °10 free straight edge 7 which preferably presses against the sign 6 when the edge member !.is located in the preferred position. The resilient arcuate wing will accommodate to an extent for imperfections and irregularities in the thickness of sign 6, the optional sheet 5, and the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d.

Advantageously in use when mounting portion 1 of edge members 8 are sized to correspond to the thickness of the corresponding frame members 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d, edge members 8 provide a finishing trim around the periphery of frame 4 having sign 6 mounted or fixed thereon, when viewed from the side or towards the front of the frame preventing viewing of frame 4.

o.i Furthermore the cover portion 3 also provides a finishing trim around the periphery of sign 6 similar to a picture frame when the sign is viewed from the front or near front (front viewing only is illustrated in Figure 4).

Advantageously edge members in accordance with the invention may be manufactured in extrusion form as a plastics or metal material and cut to length as required.

As will be understood from the previous description variations exist in the signage arrangement to which edge members 8 may be applied. For example it is not essential sign 6 correspond in rectangular size to the frame 4. Sign 6 may be partially undersized and edge members will visually cove the under-sizing to a degree.

In such cases edge member 8 will be located in the preferred position on the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d by positioning edge member 8 onto the corresponding frame member so that mounting portion I substantially abuts the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d and abutting portion 2 abuts the respective frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d or the optional sheet 5 as the case may be, and the length of the edge member is in alignment with the length of the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d.

°10 In such an embodiment cover portion 7 overlaps sign 6 (provided sign 6 is not too !.undersized) and will visually cover the undersized periphery of sign 6, while the resilient arcuate wing will compensate to an extent for imperfections or irregularities in the thickness of sign 6, the optional sheet 5, and the corresponding frame member 4a, 4b, 4c or 4d when the edge member 8 is located in the preferred position.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Fig 5, the cover portion forms a closed loop in cross sectional view extending from the mounting portion 1. The closed loop includes •the cover surface 3 that has been described above and is used to conceal the abutting portion 2. In this embodiment the cover portion also includes an additional inner 20 surface 9 connecting the mounting portion 1 to the free edge 7 to complete the loop.

o.i For the embodiment shown in Fig 5, the inner surface 9 extends from the mounting portion 1 in the region between the cover surface 3 and the abutting portion 2 and is then concealed in use by the cover surface 3. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the inner surface 9 may incorporate the abutting portion 2 as part of the loop, provided that the abutting portion is concealed by the outer surface 3 of the cover portion.

Claims

1. An edge member for a planar signage frame wherein the edge member includes: a planar mounting portion providing a surface for fixing to the frame; an abutting portion which in combination with the mounting portion locates the edge member on the frame; and a cover portion extended from the mounting portion and forming a closed loop therewith, which conceals the abutting portion when the edge member is located on the frame.

2. An edge member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the abutting portion is a flange extending from the mounting portion.

3. An edge member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cover portion includes an outer surface which conceals the abutting portion when the edge member is located on the frame and an inner surface extending between the mounting portion and the cover portion outer surface.

4. An edge member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the cover portion inner surface incorporates said abutting portion.

A sign including a plurality of frame members fixed to each other to form a frame, a sign sheet mounted on said frame and at least one edge member mounted on a frame member, said edge member including a planar mounting portion affixed to said frame member, an abutting portion substantially abutting at least a portion of said frame member and a cover portion extending from said mounting portion and forming a closed loop therewith and substantially concealing said abutting portion.

6. A sign according to claim 5 including a said edge member mounted on each frame member around a periphery of said sign.

7. A sign according to claim 6 wherein said edge members substantially conceal said frame when said sign is viewed from a side.

8. A sign according to claim 5,6, or 7 wherein said frame includes a structural sheet mounted on said frame members and wherein said sign sheet is mounted on said structural sheet.

9. An edge member for a signage frame substantially as herein described with 10 reference to the accompanying drawings. A sign substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 22nd day of August 2000 DIRK STEFAN WILLIAMS By his Patent Attorneys HALFORD CO.