AU751253B2 - Printed display sign - Google Patents

Description

e e o* Io

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 DESIGN INTOTO PTY LTD

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Printed display sign The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- PRINTED DISPLAY SIGN Field of the Invention This invention relates to a printed display sign. In particular it relates to a printed sign for displaying information such as the types of products for sale and their prices in an establishment such as a fast food outlet. The sign may be backlit by a light box.

Background of the Invention Fast food outlets often provide a display sign comprising a menu of the 10 products available and photographs of those products behind the counter of the outlet at approximately head height. The signs are often backlit using a light box to create an illuminated display. In one existing display system, the front of the display comprises an acrylic panel which defines a series of pairs of rails or the like into which printed display panels can be inserted. The panels indicate the name of a product such as "cheeseburger". The price of that product is also printed on a panel and is also inserted between the rails aligned with the name of the product. If the price changes, the panel which displays the price can be removed and replaced with a new panel showing the new price. In some more sophisticated display systems, individual figures on the pricing panel can be removed and replaced. Thus, for example, a price of $2.30 could be amended to read $2.35 by simply removing the end and replacing it with a There are two problems with the existing display system described above. First, it is quite complex, compared with just printing a menu and is consequently expensive. Secondly, the arrangement of rails and panels is relatively bulky and occupies much of the surface area of the light box display leaving less space for the display of photographs of the products available at the outlet. This is generally undesirable as often the product photographs "sell the product" more than the printed menu and generally the more photographs displayed, the better the product sales are at a particular outlet. Also, since the display is modular, its appearance is not as uniform and smart as a simple printed panel displaying the same information would be.

Ideally, the display should be as professional looking as possible with all the names and prices horizontally and vertically aligned in correct registration to give a good impression to customers. A scruffy menu display 3 might give customers the impression that the outlet's standards, including perhaps its hygiene standards, were low.

If instead of having a display where the prices and names of products can be changed, a printed sheet displaying all the current menu information is used, the lettering takes up less surface area than the rails and panels. The same information can be displayed on a smaller surface area and the menu display can be smaller, allowing more pictures to be displayed on the light box. Justification of the product names, and horizontal and vertical alignment of the product names and prices can be more accurately controlled. The overall appearance is also more professional and smarter than having removable prices. The printed sheet menu display can be backlit more effectively by the light box. However, the problem with such a printed menu is that if the price of any of the products is to be changed, whether 0% permanently, or in the case of a special promotion temporarily, the entire 15 display sign has to be reprinted.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above and provide an improved printed display sign.

ooooe: ummary of the Invention 20 According to the present invention, there is provided a printed display sign including a sheet of transparent material defining a front face which o displays printed information and a rear face, wherein said printed information is printed on the rear face of the sign to be read from the front face and a background is printed over at least part of the rear face of the sign thus rendering the at least part of the sign non-transmissive to visible light, the printed information including at least one first indicia and wherein at least one transparent window area is defined in the background and is aligned in registration with said at least one first indicia, characterised in that a guide frame for a label is defined on the rear face of said display sign, said guide frame being spaced from and extending at least part way around the at least one transparent window area on the rear face of the sign, the frame being non-recognisable from the front of the sign, and a removable label having an adhesive front face, displaying second indicia, on said adhesive front face, and being of a relatively larger size than the at least one transparent window area, is applied to cover the at least one window area by using the guide frame as a guide so that the second indicia is aligned with the first indicia.

Typically the printed display will be a menu for a "fast food" outlet and the product names will be food items.

When the inventor originally attempted to design a printed display menu with transparent windows, behind which removable price tags could be located to enable the prices of the various products to be changed without throwing away the entire sign, the inventor discovered that when the prices were stuck on the rear face of the sign, it was impossible to ensure that the prices were correctly aligned. Viewed from the front, the printing looked uneven and the display sign was commercially unacceptable. After trying out a number of systems, the inventor discovered that the provision of a frame around the outside of the window provides a guide on the rear of the sign which can be used to ensure that each price is correctly aligned with its 15 related product name so that the appearance of the sign from the front is satisfactory.

Typically, the sign will be screen printed with headings such as "breakfast" or "beverages" printed on the rear of the transparent medium first, followed by a dark coloured background such as black or brown, leaving 20 blank spaces defining the windows and the lettering for the products such as "cheese burger" or the like. Following that stage, a coat of white paint is applied to the rear of the screen over the previously applied paint. This white layer acts as a diffuser when the sign is placed in front of a light box and makes the display less harsh on the eye than if the transparent areas defining the lettering were left clear. The white paint is applied in such a way that it does not extend as far as the edges of the window but leaves a dark border or perimeter around the window. This border defines the frame for the window.

Ideally, the windows and the adhesive labels displaying prices will be rectangular. The labels will typically be made from vinyl and are coated with a low tack adhesive so that they can be easily removed from the display sign for replacement.

In a related aspect, the invention provides a printed display sign and label assembly comprising in combination:a) a sheet of transparent material defining a front face which displays printed information against an opaque background layer and a rear face, wherein information visible from the front face is printed on the rear face of the sign to be read from the front face, the background layer defining at least one transparent window area characterised in that a frame extends around and is spaced from the window area on the rear face of the sign, the frame being printed on the rear face of the material on the background, thus being non-recognisable from the front of the sign; and b) a removable label having an adhesive front face, displaying price indicia on said adhesive front face, and being of a size larger than that of the window, applied to the rear of the sign covering the window area located in a predetermined position by means of the frame acting as a guide.

ooof In a particularly preferred embodiment, as well as including windows for prices, the sign also includes elongate windows for product name indicia oo** and further windows for prices. Normally those windows will be blanked out 0% with plain labels the same colour as the dark background. However, it is 15 possible to add new product lines or "specials" to the sign, if desired, by removing the plain dark labels from the windows and replacing them with appropriate labels displaying the new product information.

In a related aspect of the present invention there is provided a display -sign displaying information including a single sheet of transparent material 20 defining a front face and a rear face, wherein said information is readable 0 from said front face, and wherein a background layer is printed on the rear 0*:0 face of the sign, thus rendering at least part of the rear face of the sign nontransmission to visible light, wherein at least one elongate transparent window is defined in the background and a second transparent window is defined in the background layer said second transparent window being aligned in registration with said first elongate transparent window and characterised by a first guide frame is printed on the rear face of said display sign, said first guide frame being spaced from and extending around the first elongate transparent window area on the rear face of the sign, the frame being non-visible from the front face of the sign and wherein a second guide frame is printed on said rear face, said second guide frame being spaced from and extending around the second window, said second guide frame being non-visible from the front face of the sign.

A further related aspect provides a display sign displaying information comprising a sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a rear face, wherein said information is readable from viewing said front face, and a background layer is printed over at least part of the rear face of the sign thus rendering the at least part of the sign non-transmissive to visible light, wherein a first elongate transparent window is defined in the background layer and wherein a second transparent window area is defined in the background and is aligned with said first elongate transparent window, characterised by a first printed guide frame is defined on the rear face of said display sign, said frame being spaced from and extending at least part way around the first elongate transparent window on the rear face of the sign, the frame being non-visible from the front of the sign, and whereby an elongate removable label having an adhesive front face, displaying first indicia on said adhesive front face, and being of a relatively larger size than the first elongate transparent window, is applied to cover the elongate window inside the first guide frame, and wherein a second printed guide frame is defined on the rear face of said display sign, said second frame being spaced from and extending 15 at least part way around the second transparent window, and wherein a removable label having an adhesive front face displaying second indicia on said adhesive front face, and being of a relatively larger size than said second window is applied to cover the transparent window inside the second guide frame, the second indicia being aligned with the first indicia.

20 The display sign is typically used with a light box and printed display sign assembly comprising in combination:a) a lightbox; b) a printed display sign positioned so as to be backlit by the light box, said printed display sign comprising a sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a rear face, information including product names being reverse printed in a first colour on the rear face of the sign so as to be readable from the front face, a background layer of a second colour, at least one transparent window defined in the background layer defining an area, said window being aligned with at least one of said product names, characterised by the rear face of the sign being coated with a diffuser layer which defines a frame spaced from and extending at least part way around said at least one window; and c) a removable label larger in size than the area of the window, displaying second indicia, reverse printed on a front face of each label, the label being applied to the rear of the sign covering the window area, the frame facilitating correct location of the label in the window such that the second indicia is aligned with the first indicia.

In a further related aspect the present invention provides a method for making a printed display sign comprising the steps of: a) taking the sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a rear face; b) printing headings or product names on the rear face of the sheet of transparent material, the headings being reverse printed such that they can be read on the front face; c) applying a contrasting background to the headings to the rear face S: of the screen, the background defining a first transparent elongate window area and in horizontal registration with that first transparent elongate window area, a second transparent window area, steps b) and c) being carried out in any order; i 15 d) applying a layer of diffusing paint over the rear of the sheet of material over the previously applied background and headings, the layer of diffusing paint being applied in such a way that it does not extend as far as the edges of the respective window areas but leaves a regular dark border or perimeter around each window; 20 e) applying removable labels having a size larger than that of the window to the window areas, using the border as a guide, the labels displaying product names and prices respectively or the like which can be read from the front of the display sign.

The present invention thus provides a low cost and flexible system that can provide professional looking signage at a much reduced cost from the adjustable signage currently available. The quality attainable is such that from the front it appears as if the entire sign has been screen printed. The provision of the frame by the rear light diffusing layer means that the actual cost of producing a frame around the window for location of the price indicia does not add to the manufacturing process since the provision of the diffusing layer is a required step in the process for making the sign.

Brief Description of the Drawings A specific embodiment of the present will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of part of a printed display sign embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the part of the sign shown in Figure 1; Figures 3a to 3h illustrate the steps involved in changing a price on a printed display sign embodying the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a light box incorporating a display sign.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, a sign 10 has a front face 10A as shown in Figure 1 and a rear face 10B shown in Figure 2.

15 The sign comprises a sheet of polycarbonate which is printed on its reverse side. Reverse side printing protects the printing from damage by contact with the front face of the sign. The front face of the sign may be coated with a protective layer. The polycarbonate is typically about a half a mil thick although other thicknesses could be used.

Turning to Figure 1, the front of the sign shows a heading "Breakfast Value Meals" 12 which is set against a rectangular background area 14.

Although the particular colours used are not critical, the lettering is blue and the background is yellow since that particular colour combination tends to attract the eye of a customer and can be easily seen. Generally speaking, the blue lettering 12 is first printed on the reverse side of the polycarbonate sheet and then the yellow background 14 is printed, subsequently, although printing the yellow first is possible. Typically, the display is screen printed using epoxy inks. After the blue and yellow areas 12 and 14 have been printed, the dark background 16 is then printed. The area covered by the background 16 is the entire rear surface of the sign but excluding the following:i) the already printed areas 12, 14; ii) areas which are left unprinted and transparent and which when read from the front provide general menu information 18 such as "includes Hash Brown and Regular Coffee"; and iii) areas which are left unprinted and transparent and which when read from the front provide product name indicia corresponding to a product, for example "Bacon and Egg Muffin" 20; and iv) aligned in registration with each product name indicia, a rectangular transparent window area 22.

Note that, although in Figure 1, it appears that there is no rectangular window area 22 aligned with the indicia "Sausage Egg Muffin", the price as will be explained below, is on a removable label/sticker and is not printed on the display sign. If the label/sticker were removed, a rectangular window similar to window 22 would be seen.

The final coating on the rear of the sign, shown in Figure 2 is a layer of "'white epoxy paint which acts as a diffuser. This layer coats the entire rear surface of the sign apart from a series of rectangular areas 24, of slightly greater size than the transparent windows 22. The layer of white paint acts 15 as a diffuser and makes the sign less harsh to view, when the sign is placed in front of a light box. As can be seen the light diffusing layer is printed such that it leaves a rectangular boundary or frame 24 around the window 22. A similar boundary 24A can be seen around the window associated with the *...*"Sausage Egg Muffin" indicia. Note that, because the diffuser layer is white 20 and thin it is possible to discern the previously printed darker layers of paint "*and lettering through the diffuser layer when viewing the rear of the sign.

The labels displaying the price information 26, are made of vinyl and the front of the labels which is stuck against the window is coated with a low tack adhesive so that the labels can be easily peeled off. The use of a frame around the window enables every label to be correctly aligned and justified with the other prices in the display. For best results, each label should ideally be stuck in an identical fashion to the other labels, for example each label 26 may be stuck flush with the upper surface of the windows 22 so that a thin uniform black line can be seen between the rear surface of the label 26 and the diffusing layer.

Each label 26 is also preferably coated with a layer of white paint as a diffuser. When the price has to be changed, the label is simply peeled off and replaced with a new label. The labels should be larger than the windows 22 but are preferably slightly smaller than the frame perimeter so that they fit inside the frame perimeter leaving a dark rectangular perimeter around the label.

It is also possible using the principle of the present invention to provide elongate rectangular windows (not shown) which would normally be covered with a plain black label matching the dark background of the sign but which can be peeled off to enable an extra product name to be added to the list of products available. A corresponding aligned window is also "provided for the price of that product.

*ooo Figures 3a to 3h, illustrate a step by step process for changing the price of one of the menu items. In the first step illustrated in Figure 3a, the sign *o* oooeo eoooo •ego •i e ooo* ooo *oo eooeo is placed face down on a clean flat surface with the rear 10B of the sign facing upwards.

Figure 3b is an enlarged view of a corner of the sign and a restaurant worker observing the rear of the sign will notice a white background with certain areas having attached stickers or labels 26 already in place.

Turning to Figure 3c, the worker then has to determine which label or labels are to be changed, say sticker 26A.

With reference to Figure 3d, the worker 40 then simply peels off the label 26A which it is desired to remove. The front face of the label is the 10 colour of the background of the sign, aside from the numbering appearing on the label.

S"Next the worker takes a replacement label 42. In order to protect the label a white paper cover 46 protects the sticky front face of the label and a clear plastic cover 44 protects the rear of the label. The clear plastic cover 44 also helps prevent the label 42 deforming or stretching when it is applied to 'the rear of the display sign. After selecting a label displaying the correct price, the paper cover 46 is removed as shown in Figure 3e and the label is carefully placed in the middle of the exposed frame on the rear of the sign using the frame defined by the white border of the diffuser layer as a guide.

Typically, thin dark rectangle would be defined around between the label and the edge of the diffuser layer which will indicate to the operator that the label is evenly applied.

Finally as illustrated in Figures 3g and 3h, the label is rubbed to ensure that there are no air bubbles trapped between the label and the rear of the display sign and the clear plastic cover 44 is peeled off.

The operation is repeated for any other labels/stickers which have to be changed and the sign is then replaced in the light box.

Figure 4 is a view of a lightbox 100 illuminating a printed display sign 110 embodying the present invention.

Thus the present invention provides a system in which a sign which appears to be entirely screen printed, such is the quality of the justification/registration which is possible, can in fact be simply and cheaply amended to alter the prices of the product, and the product name.

Although the above description refers to the use of the signage of the menu for fast food outlets and particularly with lightboxes, the sign could 9 also be used with printed display signs displaying other information which may need to be altered over time.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

*o.

Claims (11)

1. A printed display sign including a sheet of transparent material defining a front face which displays printed information and a rear face, wherein said printed information is printed on the rear face of the sign to be read from the front face and a background is printed over at least part of the rear face of the sign thus rendering the at least part of the sign non- transmissive to visible light, the printed information including at least one first indicia and wherein at least one transparent window area is defined in the background and is aligned in registration with said at least one first indicia, characterised in that a guide frame for a label is defined on the rear face of said display sign, said guide frame being spaced from and extending at least part way around the at least one transparent window area on the rear face of the sign, the frame being non-recognisable from the front of the sign, i" and a removable label having an adhesive front face, displaying second 15 indicia, on said adhesive front face, and being of a relatively larger size than the at least one transparent window area, is applied to cover the at least one window area by using the guide frame as a guide so that the second indicia is aligned with the first indicia. A printed display sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one first indicia is a product name and wherein the at least one second indicia is .:Goa: a price indicia. S3. A printed display sign as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sign is screen printed with at least one heading reverse printed on the rear face of the transparent material in a first colour; and wherein the background is a dark coloured layer, and defines non printed areas in the form of blank spaces defining alphanumeric lettering for the product names; and wherein a layer of white paint partly coats the rear of the sign which covers over the alphanumeric lettering and part of the background, but does not extend as far as the edges of the transparent window area as defined by the dark coloured background, a boundary between the layer of white paint and a part of the background surrounding the at least one transparent window area defines the guide frame.

4. A printed display sign as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the at least one transparent window area and the removable label are rectangular, and wherein the adhesive on the labels is a low tack adhesive. A printed display sign as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the removable label is a price label displaying price details and wherein the sign further includes at least one elongate window having an associated printed frame means for receiving at least one second type of removable label distinct from the price label, said second type of label showing either product name indicia or a plain label of the same colour as the dark background.

6. A light box and printed display sign assembly comprising in combination:- a) a lightbox; b) a printed display sign positioned so as to be backlit by the light box, said printed display sign comprising a sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a rear face, information including product names being reverse printed in a first colour on the rear face of the sign so as to be :readable from the front face, a background layer of a second colour, at least 15 one transparent window defined in the background layer defining an area, said window being aligned with at least one of said product names, characterised by the rear face of the sign being coated with a diffuser layer which defines a frame spaced from and extending at least part way around said at least one window; and 20 c) a removable label larger in size than the area of the window, displaying second indicia, reverse printed on a front face of each label, the label being applied to the rear of the sign covering the window area, the frame facilitating correct location of the label in the window such that the second indicia is aligned with the first indicia. 25 7. A light box and printed display sign assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sign further defines an elongate window and a further window for prices in registration with the elongate window, a frame extending around and spaced from the elongate window on the rear face of the sign.

8. A light box and printed display sign assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the elongate windows are blanked out with plain labels of the second colour whereby they are substantially non-distinguished from the background when viewed from the front of the light box.

9. A light box and printed display assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein a label located behind the elongate window displays product lines. A printed display sign and label assembly comprising in combination:- a) a sheet of transparent material defining a front face which displays printed information against an opaque background layer and a rear face, wherein information visible from the front face is printed on the rear face of the sign to be read from the front face, the background layer defining at least one transparent window area characterised in that a frame extends around and is spaced from the window area on the rear face of the sign, the frame being printed on the rear face of the material on the background, thus 15 being non-recognisable from the front of the sign; and b) a removable label having an adhesive front face, displaying price S"indicia on said adhesive front face, and being of a size larger than that of the window, applied to the rear of the sign covering the window area located in a predetermined position by means of the frame acting as a guide. 20 11. A display sign displaying information including a single sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a rear face, wherein said oinformation is readable from said front face, and wherein a background layer 0 is printed on the rear face of the sign, thus rendering at least part of the rear face of the sign non-transmission to visible light, wherein at least one •:ei 25 elongate transparent window is defined in the background and a second transparent window is defined in the background layer said second transparent window being aligned in registration with said first elongate transparent window and characterised by a first guide frame is printed on the rear face of said display sign, said first guide frame being spaced from and extending around the first elongate transparent window area on the rear face of the sign, the frame being non-visible from the front face of the sign and wherein a second guide frame is printed on said rear face, said second guide frame being spaced from and extending around the second window, said second guide frame being non-visible from the front face of the sign.

12. A display sign as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the rear face of the sign is at least partly coated with a layer of diffusing white paint and wherein for at least one of the windows the boundary between the layer of white paint and a part of the background layer surrounding at least one of the transparent windows defines the guide frame for a label.

13. A printed display sign as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the sign is screen printed with at least one heading reverse printed on the rear of the transparent material in a first colour; and wherein the background is a dark coloured layer, and defines a number of non printed areas in the form of blank spaces; and wherein a layer of white paint partly coats the rear of the sign which covers over the alphanumeric lettering and part of the background layer, but does not extend as far as the edges of the transparent window area as defined by the dark coloured background, a boundary between the layer of white paint and the background surrounding the at least one transparent window area .g defining the frame means.

14. A display sign displaying information comprising a sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a rear face, wherein said S"information is readable from viewing said front face, and a background layer is printed over at least part of the rear face of the sign thus rendering the at least part of the sign non-transmissive to visible light, wherein a first 20 elongate transparent window is defined in the background layer and wherein a second transparent window area is defined in the background and is aligned with said first elongate transparent window, characterised by a first printed guide frame is defined on the rear face of said display sign, said frame being spaced from and extending at least part way around the first 25 elongate transparent window on the rear face of the sign, the frame being non-visible from the front of the sign, and whereby an elongate removable label having an adhesive front face, displaying first indicia on said adhesive front face, and being of a relatively larger size than the first elongate transparent window, is applied to cover the elongate window inside the first guide frame, and wherein a second printed guide frame is defined on the rear face of said display sign, said second frame being spaced from and extending at least part way around the second transparent window, and wherein a removable label having an adhesive front face displaying second indicia on said adhesive front face, and being of a relatively larger size than said second window is applied to cover the transparent window inside the second guide frame, the second indicia being aligned with the first indicia. A printed display sign as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first indicia is a product name.

16. A printed display sign as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sign is screen printed with at least one heading reverse printed on the rear of the transparent material in a first colour; and wherein the background is a dark coloured layer; and wherein a layer of white paint partly coats the rear of the sign which covers over part of the background layer, but does not extend as far as the edges of the transparent windows defined by the dark coloured background, a boundary between the layer of white paint and the background surrounding each transparent window area defining the each respective frame means.

17. A display sign as claimed in claim 14 wherein the transparent windows and the adhesive labels are rectangular, and wherein the adhesive o. on the front of labels is a low tack adhesive. S* 15 18. A method for making a printed display sign comprising the steps of: a) taking the sheet of transparent material defining a front face and a S"rear face; b) printing headings or product names on the rear face of the sheet of transparent material, the headings being reverse printed such that they can 20 be read on the front face; c) applying a contrasting background to the headings to the rear face of the screen, the background defining a first transparent elongate window S"area and in horizontal registration with that first transparent elongate window area, a second transparent window area, steps b) and c) being carried S* 25 out in any order; d) applying a layer of diffusing paint over the rear of the sheet of material over the previously applied background and headings, the layer of diffusing paint being applied in such a way that it does not extend as far as the edges of the respective window areas but leaves a regular dark border or perimeter around each window; e) applying removable labels having a size larger than that of the window to the window areas, using the border as a guide, the labels displaying product names and prices respectively or the like which can be read from the front of the display sign.

19. A printed display sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method for making a printed display sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this eighteenth day of October 2001 Design Intoto Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. S fft*