CA2202077A1 - Illuminated fascia sign - Google Patents
Illuminated fascia signInfo
- Publication number
- CA2202077A1 CA2202077A1 CA 2202077 CA2202077A CA2202077A1 CA 2202077 A1 CA2202077 A1 CA 2202077A1 CA 2202077 CA2202077 CA 2202077 CA 2202077 A CA2202077 A CA 2202077A CA 2202077 A1 CA2202077 A1 CA 2202077A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cabinet
- sign
- improved
- facing material
- fascia
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
Abstract
A sign has an elongated cabinet having an open side covered with a translucent fabric stretched by a stretching apparatus joinable to the ends of the cabinet.
Point light source illuminating lamps are spaced along the cabinet and are employed in conjunction with reflectors and diffusers to provide uniform backlighting to the fascia fabric. The lamps and associated ballasts may be inserted and removed from the cabinet as a unit. The cabinet is formed to permit gross and fine incremental increases in the length of the cabinet when mounting the sign on a building or other structure. The fascia sign is maneuvered into position with a lifting device that orients the fascia sign to facilitate installation. A mounting molding and strap may be employed to position the sign on the structure to which it is mounted.
Point light source illuminating lamps are spaced along the cabinet and are employed in conjunction with reflectors and diffusers to provide uniform backlighting to the fascia fabric. The lamps and associated ballasts may be inserted and removed from the cabinet as a unit. The cabinet is formed to permit gross and fine incremental increases in the length of the cabinet when mounting the sign on a building or other structure. The fascia sign is maneuvered into position with a lifting device that orients the fascia sign to facilitate installation. A mounting molding and strap may be employed to position the sign on the structure to which it is mounted.
Description
ILLUMINATED FASCIA SIGN
Backqround of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved sign of the type having an elongated cabinet, the open side of which is covered with a facing material. Such signs are often fastened to a horizontal surface, or fascia, of a commercial establishment for advertising or other purposes.
The facing material for the sign may comprise a flexible film or fabric, a plastic sheet, or other suitable materi-al. In many applications the facing material is translu-cent and the cabinet contains lamps to illuminate the sign.
The aesthetic qualities of fascia signs of the type described above have led to their increased use in exterior signage. However, such signs have heretofore, in many cases, been expensive and difficult to assemble, install, maintain, and repair, thereby offsetting the benefits obtainable from their use. Such fascia signs of the illuminated type have suffered from poor illumination properties.
SummarY of the Present Invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fascia sign that is easy and economical to install, including retrofit installations and installations on structures that are not completely square, level or plumb. The mounting of the sign on the structure compensates for irregularities in the surface of the structure to which it is mounted. Once installed, the sign of the present invention is easy to maintain and repair.
A particular object of the present invention is to provide a fascia sign, the length of which may be varied by fine or gross incremental increases to accommodate measurement errors that may occur when specifying elongated signs of this type.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated fascia sign that provides improved, uniform illumination throughout the sign and throughout the ,~
service life of the lamps, thereby to enhance the aesthetic features of the sign.
A further particular object of the present invention is to provide a fascia sign exhibiting highly uniform illumination from spaced, point sources of light employed in the sign.
A still further particular object of the present invention is to provide a fascia sign in which uniform illumination of desired intensity can be obtained from a relatively small number of relatively widely spaced point sources of light, thereby reducing the manufacturing and operating costs of the sign.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following descrip-tion, in which same are noted in detail.
The present invention will be further understood by reference to the following described figures of the drawing, when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the fascia sign of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the fascia sign showing a sign of the illuminated type;
FIG. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing a section of a multi-section fascia sign;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a section of the multi-section sign;
FIG. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, showing disassembly of lighting elements of the sign for servicing or replacement;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a vertical, cross--sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the subject matter shown by the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a clip suitable for affixing a facing material of the sign to a cabinet of the sign;
FIG. 10 is a front view of one element of a diffuser employed in an illuminated fascia sign of the present invention;
FIG. lOA shows an additional element added to the element shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 11 shows a further element of the diffuser added to the element shown in FIGS. 10 and lOA, the added element being diagrammatically shown;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 showing another element added to the diffuser shown in FIG.
11, the element being diagrammatically shown;
FIG. 13 is a view of the diffuser from the side opposite to that shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, with a further element added thereto;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, with another element added to the diffuser;
FIG. 15 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a vertical end member employed in the fascia sign of the present inven-tion;
FIG. 17 is a front view of the stretching apparatus used to stretch flexible facing material of the sign;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the stretch-ing apparatus taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing stretching of a flexible facing materi.al;
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FIG. 20 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 17 showing the manner of mounting the stretching apparatus to the sign;
FIG. 20A is a fragmentary Pront view similar to FIG. 17 showing an alternative way of mounting the stretch-ing apparatus to the sign;
FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing an initial step in a procedure for mounting the illuminated sign on a fascia;
FIG. 22 is a vertical cross--sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 21;
FIG. 23 is a partial top view taken along the line 23-23 of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 22, but showing the sign installed on a fascia;
FIG. 25 is a partial view taken along the line 25-25 of FIG. 24, showing a fastener used to fasten the sign to the fascia;
FIG. 26 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the manner in which portions c)f the fascia sign of the present invention are joined together at corners of a fascia;
FIG. 27 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 27-27 of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is a fragmentary top view showing an alternative corner configuration for the fascia sign of the present invention;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an end section employed in the corner configuration shown in FIG. 28; and FIG. 30 is a detailed cross sectional view of the subject matter shown by the line 30-30 in FIG. 28.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The Siqn As shown in FIG. 1, fascia sign 50 of the present invention is mounted on supporting structure 52 or fascia.
The supporting structure may typically be an exterior vertical wall of a building. Or, as shown in FIG. 1, in another common application, the sign is mounted on the side wall of a canopy structure elevated over a service area.
The sign may thus form an elongated decorative trim about the edge of the canopy. Or, when the sign is of the illuminated type, it also serves to brighten and draw attention to the structure. In addition to its decorative features, sign 50 may typically provide advertising, price, or other information to the viewer.
As shown in FIGS. 2-8 of the drawing, the fascia sign 50 of the present invention comprises a cabinet or box 60 covered with a facing material 62.
The Cabinet Cabinet 60 has top wall 64 and bottom wall 66 extending from back structure 68. Back structure 68 will typically be a back wall formed of sheet metal and will be so described herein. However, back structure 68 may also comprise an open frame work or other suitable elements.
Top wall 64 and bottom wall 66 may include extruded compo-nents 65, 67 that are fastened to back wall 68 by rivets, screws, or the like. Back wall 68 may be stiffened by a plurality of frame members 70 placed at intervals along cabinet 60. Cabinet 60 is also stiffened by brackets 71 that are mounted between top wall 64 and back wall 68 and bottom wall 66 and back wall 68 at intervals along the interior of cabinet 60.
Top wall 64 and bottom wall ~6 also include top and bottom extruded members, 70 and 72 mounted to compo-nents 65, 67, respectively. The exact manner of mounting will depend on the specific configuration of the top and bottom elements. One manner of mounting is shown in FIGS.
9 and 19 and employs threaded fasteners 74. Extruded members 70 and 72 grip the edges of facing material 62, which spans the open, front face of cabinet 60. The manner in which facing material 62 is secured to extruded members 70, 72 is also shown in FIGS. 9 and 19, and is described in detail, below.
Depending on the length of sign 50, cabinet 60 may comprise an integral structure or may be formed of a plurality of abutting sections which are joined together to form the cabinet. One such section is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 by the reference numeral 73. The sections are construct-ed into section units prior to joinder to form the cabinet.
A typical section may be 7 to 14 ft. long. The use of pre-fabricated sections facilitates the manufacture, assembly, and installation of sign 50.
To join the sections together, lengths of square tubing, one of which is shown by reference numeral 76 in FIG. 9, are placed in sleeves 78 formed in extruded members 70, 72 of abutting sections of cabinet 60. With the lengths of tubing extending into each extruded member of the abutting sections, the tubing is fastened to sleeves 78, as with self-tapping metal screws, to fasten the sections 73 together. Square tubing 76 also serves to accurately align two adjacent sections 73 of sign 50 longitudinally. Bars may be fastened to back wall 68 adjacent its upper and lower edges to straddle the joinder of two adjacent sections 63 and assist in joining the sections together.
The joinder of the top walls 64 of two abutting sections 73 may be covered by plate 75, shown in FIG. 2.
Plates 75 are fastened to the abutting sections to streng-then the joint between the two sections of sign 50 and when caulked will prevent leakage of light out of the sign or the leakage of water into the sign at such joints.
The ends of cabinet 60 may each contain an appropriate end wall or section which has a structure similar to top and bottom walls 64 and 66. Lengths of tubing 76 are fastened normal to the end wall and inserted in sleeves so that the end wall may be affixed to the cabinet. Or, the cabinet may extend completely around the building, canopy, etc. on which it is mounted to form an essentially endless surrounding structure.
Facing Material Facing material may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, such as Lexan, having the desired strength and weather resistance properties. However, the availability of flexible materials, such as films, fabrics, fabrics coated or impregnated with p]astic, etc. have led to the increased use of flexible materials in fascia signs.
This is due to the ease of transport of such material in rolls, its ease of installation, the absence of visible seams in the sign, as well as other advantages. Flexible materials can be stretched taut to provide a smooth exterior surface without ripples. For these reasons, the use of such a material is described herein.
Suitable materials for facing material 62 are the flexible sign and awning membranes made and sold by the 3M
Company of St. Paul, MN, and others. Facing material 62 will typically be colored for aesthetic purposes and may have designs or alphanumeric indicia printed or otherwise applied to it to further improve the aesthetic and/or provide information to the viewer. For illuminated fascia signs, the facing material is typically translucent.
Material 62 is typically stretched across the open side of cabinet 60. If cabinet 60 has sections 73, these are assembled before the stretching of material 62.
A preferred technique for stretching material 62 is shown in FIGS. 17-20, and described in detail, below. The stretched material 62 may be retained on cabinet 60 in the manner shown in FIG. 9. The upper and lower edges of facing material 62 are folded over. A plurality of short bars or wedges 78 are inserted between the folds of the facing material at spaced intervals along the length of facing material 62. A plurality of clips 79 are placed on the outside of the folded facing material and aligned with the bars. One form that clips 79 can take is shown in FIG.
9A. The folded facing material 62, bars 78, and clips 79 are inserted in grooves 80 formed in top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72 and in similarly formed end .~
members. The bars 78 are then driven into grooves 80.
Bars 78 may be provided with slots 82 to receive a screw-driver or other implement used to drive the wedges into the grooves. Teeth 84 in grooves 80 engage the bent lips 85 of clips 79, as well as projection 87 to retain the clip, bar, and facing material in grooves 80. Projections 89 serve to retain bars 78 and folded facing material 62 in clips 79.
It is recognized that other fastening technique may be employed, if desired, and will be required if, for example, a rigid or semi-rigid material is used in sign 50.
After facing material 62 has been installed on cabinet 60, a trim piece 91 may be mounted on each of top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72. FIG. 9 shows trim piece 91 as used in connection with bottom extruded member 72. Trim piece 91 has a sheet portion 93 which is general-ly aligned with the top and bottom of surfaces of cabinet 60. A positioning lip 95 fits in a corresponding groove in the extruded member. Bolts 97 are inserted through holes spaced along the trim piece and threaded into slot 99 in the extruded member. Flange 101 extends from sheet portion 93 to embrace a portion of facing material 62. Flange 103 serves as dam for the trim piece mounted on upper extruded member 70 to lessen or avoid the spillage of rain water down the face of sign 50.
A piece of thin L-shaped opaque material matching the color of the trim piece is placed under adjacent ends of trim pieces 92 and spans the joint between the trim pieces. The L-shaped material piece lies in the same orientation as the generally L-shaped trim piece to block any light leaks and to give the appearance of a continuous piece of trim.
Lighting System A lighting system is provided in cabinet 60 for providing illumination to the inner surface of facing material 62 when fascia sign 50 is of the illuminated type.
The lighting system includes a plurality of lamps 100 mounted at spaced intervals along cabinet 60. Lamps 100 may be of halide type. Because of the relatively small size of such lamps with respect to sign 50 they may be considered to be point sources of light.
To facilitate installation and servicing of the lamps, it is a feature of the present invention to provide the lamps and associated ballasts 102 in modular form. To this end, and as shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, an app~opriately sized opening 104 is provided in top wall 64 of cabinet 60. Opening 104 is sufficiently large to allow ballast 102, and lamp 100, to pass therethrough. A plate 106 is fastened to the top of ballast 102. Top plate 106 is larger than opening 104 and thus can abut top wall 64 of cabinet 60 when ballast 102 and lamp 100 are inserted through opening 104.
To facilitate routine maintenance of fascia sign 50, a spring loaded trap door 107 may be provided in bottom wall 66 of cabinet 60 directly below each lamp 100. The opening covered by the trap door is sufficiently large to allow commercially available lamp changers to remove and replace burned out lamps.
Strap 108 has one end fastened to top plate 106 so that the strap is suspended from top plate 106. The other end of strap 106 mounts socket 110 for bulb 100.
Insulated wires 112 connect socket 110 to ballast 102.
The mounting for socket 110 includes L-shaped plate 114. One arm 116 of L-shaped plate 114 is fastened to, or forms part of, the lower end of strap 108. The other arm 118 of L-shaped member 11~ is received in U-shaped bracket 120 mounted on back wall 68 of cabinet 60 to retain and position the lamp-ballast module in cabinet 60 when the module is lowered from the position shown in FIG.
6 to the position shown in FIG 5. See also FIG. 7. Top plate 106 is fastened to top wall 64 by fasteners 107 and sealed with a gasket, not shown.
A vent may be provided in back wall 68 proximate to each of lamps 100 to assist in removing heat generated by the lamps.
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The lighting system for fascia sign 50 also includes a reflector system for lamps 100. The reflector system includes a plurality of curved reflectors mounted in cabinet 60 between each of lamps 100. The reflectors may best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Part of the reflector comprises the portion of back wall 68 immediately behind each of the lamps. This portion is painted a light color, such as white. In a construction in which the back of sign 50 comprises framework, a partial back wall is positioned behind each of the lamps. The reflectors also comprise a plurality of bent sheets 130 of plastic or other material having a white, or other opaque reflector surface facing the open face of cabinet 60. For example, sheets of opaque white styrene plastic may be used to form reflectors 130.
15To form reflectors 130, blocks 132 and 134 having a groove or cut conforming to the desired curvature of a reflector 130 may be mounted on top and bottom walls 64 and 66, respectively. For example, a wooden board may be cut through along the desired curvature for a reflector 130.
The pieces of the cut board are then separated by an amount equal to the thickness of the reflector to form blocks 132 ~ and 134, and affixed to top and bottom walls 64 and 66.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a block 132 on bottom wall 66 of sign 50.
25The reflectors 130 commence adjacent the portions of back wall 68 behind lamps 100 and curve outwardly toward the open face of cabinet 60 intermediate the lamps and thereafter curve back toward the back wall and an adjacent lamp. A vertical member 136 is positioned between top and 30bottom walls 64 and 66. See FIGS. 3 and 4, and 8 and 9.
These members assist in positioning blocks 132, 134 and also stiffen cabinet 60 against the tension of facing material 62. As shown in FIG. 9, straps 137 may be mounted to the top and bottom of vertical member 136 so that the ends of frame member 136 may be mounted to top and bottom walls 64, 66.
While FIGS. 3 and 4 show a cabinet section 63 having a standard length, it will be appreciated that the length of one or more sections of the sign may have to be altered in accordance with the size of the fascia to which sign 50 is being applied. This will require a correspond-ing change in the reflector(s) 130 in the altered section in order to insure even illumination of facing material 62.
And, it is also possible to change the reflectivity of the reflectors 130 in certain portions of the sign by using different materials or coatings to insure the desired intensity and uniformity of illumination to facing material 62.
A diffuser 140 is provided in front of each of lamps 100. As shown in FIGS. 10-14, the diffusers 140 are formed in the following manner. Each diffuser 140 has a base substrate 142 formed of a sheet of transparent material, such as plastic, or glass. Substrate 142 preferably has an ultraviolet protective coating (not shown) applied to the side facing toward lamps 100. An opaque pattern 144 is applied, as by a silk screening of black or other colored ink, to the side of substrate 142 not facing lamps 100. Or, a film containing pattern 144 may be applied to base substrate 142. The pattern is shown in exaggerated thickness in FIG. 15. The form of opaque pattern 144 is shown in FIG. 10A. Pattern 144 is generally circular in nature. As the diameter of the pattern is greater than the height of the substrate 142, the circular pattern is, therefore, truncated at the top and bottom edges of substrate 142.
A further layer 146 is applied over the opaque pattern 144. This layer, which comprises a translucent, white layer of paint, ink, or film, is shown in FIG. 11.
Layer 146 is in the form of a rectangle superimposed on the truncated circle of pattern 142. With the diffuser oriented as shown in FIG. 11, the vertical dimension of layer 146 is the same as the vertical dimension of pattern 144 at its center.
Thereafter, an additional layer 148 is applied on top of layer 146. This pattern is shown in FIG. 12. Layer 146, which may also be a translucent, white layer, is in the form of a smaller rectangle centrally located in diffuser 140. The vertical dimension of layer 148 may be the same as that of pattern 144. The horizontal dimension is smaller than that of pattern 144.
FIG. 15 shows the orientation of diffuser 140 with respect to lamps 100 with pattern 144 and layers 146, 148 on the side of the diffuser away from lamp 100.
Screening of aluminum, or other suitable materi-al, is applied to the opposite side of diffusers 140 from pattern 144 and layers 146, 148, i.eO on the side facing lamp 100. The screening may be in the nature of typical window screening. As shown in FIG. 13, one layer 150 of screening may be dimensionally co-extensive with substrate 142. As shown in FIG. 14, a second layer of screening 152, applied over screening layer 150, is formed as a smaller, centrally located rectangle. Screening 150, 152 may be fastened to substrate 142 by suitable means, such as pop rivets.
The manner in which diffusers 140 are placed in front of lamps 100 is shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. A pair of upper and lower brackets 71 are provided on either side of each of lamps 100. Diffusers 140 are suspended in front of lamps 100 by chains 160, or other suitable means, having one end coupled to brackets 71 and the other end coupled to diffusers 140. The lower portions of diffusers 140 are fastened to brackets 71 by springs 162, or other suitable means, having a hook at one end connected to the diffuser and the hook at the other end connected to one of brackets 71. Diffusers 140 and lamps 100 are positioned so that lamps 100 are centered, horizontally and vertically, with respect to the diffuser.
Reflectors 130 and diffusers 140 provide a distribution of the light of point light source lamps 100 in a manner that provides uniform il]umination to facing .~
material 62. They also assist in maintaining the appear-ance of sign 50, notwithstanding the loss of light output from lamps 100 due to aging. The use of reflectors 130/
diffusers 140 enables lamps 100 to be more widely spaced along the direction of elongation of fascia sign 50, while at the same time maintaining the desired levels and uniformity of illumination. The wider spacing of lamps 100 reduces the number of lamps that are required in sign 50 and the manufacturing and operating costs for the sign.
The use of diffusers 140 and reflectors 130 also make it possible to obtain the desired uniform illumination of fascia sign 50 even though, in a typical fascia sign, the spaced lamps 100 are rather close to facing material 62. This proximity would otherwise tend to make for non-uniform illumination of the facing material. For example, a typical fascia sign of the type t:o which the present invention is concerned may be approximately 11"-12" deep.
While the foregoing description of the lighting system contemplates illumination of fascia sign 50 along its entire length, it will be appreciated that only selected portions of the sign 50 may be illuminated, if desired, by appropriate positioning of lamps 50 and modification of the reflectors 130 and diffusers 140, if necessary. Further, while specific types of light sources have been described above, other types of light sources, such as fluorescent lighting tubes may be used, if desired, with appropriate modification of the lighting system elements.
Assembly and Mountinq As noted above, the fascia sign 50 of the present invention is formed of one or more sections. The sign may be mounted on the fascia in such a section or sections.
Or, the sections may first be assembled into larger units of the sign and the larger units then mounted on the fascia. In either case, the installation of fascia sign 50 is greatly facilitated over prior art signs that are constructed piece-by-piece directly on the fascia as the sign is installed.
For a fascia sign 50 formed of plurality of sections, cabinet sections 73 may be assembled into the cabinet 60 prior to installation. Or one section 73 of the cabinet may first be mounted on the fascia and the assembly of the sections carried out as a subsequent, abutting section is being mounted to the fascia. The assembly of the sections is carried out in the manner described above in which lengths of square tubing 76 are placed in sleeves 78 formed in extruded members 70, 72 of abutting sections 73 of cabinet 60 and fastened to the sections.
A feature of the present invention is the ability to provide both gross adjustments and fine adjustments to the length of the cabinet to accommodate the often occur-ring differences between the design length of the cabinet and the length actually required for proper installation on a specific building or other fascia. Such difference may occur from difficulties in obtaining accurate measurements of large structures on which the sign is installed.
To increase the length of one or more sections up to 3-4", sections of top and bottom walls 64, 66, are cut to the desired width and slid on square tubing 76 between adjacent cabinet sections. The intermediate section of the walls may be fastened to square tubing 76 in the same manner as the cabinet sections. The joinder of the top wall and bottom wall sections to the adjacent cabinet sections may, if desired, be covered by plates 75, in the manner shown in FIG. 2, to provide strength and prevent leakage.
It will be appreciated that a size adjustment of the type described above can be provided between each pair of adjacent cabinet sections 73 of a multiple section fascia sign 50 to increase the total amount of adjustment available.
Fine adjustments to the length of cabinet 60 may be provided through the use of vertical end members ,~
provided at each end of the assembled cabinet. As noted above, when fascia sign 50 has exposed ends, the vertical end members may be resemble top and bottom walls 64 and 66 having lengths of tubing 76 fastened normal thereto. In many cases fascia sign 50 will extend entirely around a commercial establishment or other structure. Section end pieces suitable for use in fascia sign 50 at the corners of a building or other structure are shown in FIG. 16.
In applications in which an end of one cabinet section 73 abuts an adjacent cabinet section 73 around a corner of a building or other structure, the ends of each of the cabinet sections are cut away at an angle, as shown in FIG. 26. For a 90~ corner, the ends of the cabinet sections are cut away at a 45~ angle. Vertical end members 180, for use in the configuration described in FIG. 26, include an extruded vertical member 182 having a configura-tion similar to top and bottom extruded members 70, 72.
See FIG. 16. A plate 184 is fastened to each of the top and bottom of vertical member 182. A strap or length of square tubing 186 is fastened to each of plates 184 at an angle so that end members 180 may be mounted on the ends of a cabinet section in alignment with the angled cut away ends.
The use of tubing, such as tubing 186 on end section 180, permits the vertical end members to be moved outwardly from the ends of cabinet 60 by a small amount to make fine adjustments to the length of fascia sign 50. The vertical end members may also be tilted in a vertical plane normal to the direction of extension of cabinet 60 so as to cant the ends of cabinet 60 to compensate for any irregu-larities in the building or fascia structure to which sign 50 is being mounted.
The fine adjustment provided by vertical end members, such as end members 180, thus ensures that signs positioned on two orthogonal or other angularly displaced building walls may be brought into alignment or abutment to ensure a highly aesthetic appearance to fascia sign 50.
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To complete the assembly of sign 50, the lighting system installed in cabinet sections 73 in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Prior to fastening facing material 62 to the cabinet, the vertical end members 180, are removed from the cabinet. One technique by which a fabric facing material 62 may be stretched across the open side of cabinet is shown in FIGS. 17 through 2OA of the drawing. As noted above, facing material 62 is commonly provided in roll form. A length of material 62 approximating, but longer than, the length of assembled cabinet 60 is unrolled from the roll and cut off. One end of the piece of material is clamped to one end of cabinet 60, as by means of the frame 200 shown in FIGS. 18 through 20.
Frame 200 includes frame member 202. Frame member 202 has square tubing sections 204 extending normal thereto. Square tubing sections ~04 are inserted in sleeves 78 in the ends of a cabinet section 73. A second frame member 206 is loosely fastened to frame member 202, as by bolts 208.
One end of the length of facing material 62 is inserted between frame members 202 and 208. A clamping means, which may be in the nature of a pair of locking pliers, pinches the end of facing material 62 between frame members 202 and 206 to retain the material at the end of the sign.
At the other end of cabinet 60, tensioning frame 210 is provided. Tensioning frame 210 includes framework 212 having square tubing sections 214 for mounting the tensioning frame at the other end of the assembled cabinet 60. A clamping frame 216, similar to clamping frame 200 is provided in conjunction with tensioning frame 210.
Clamping frame 216 includes frame members 218 and 220 and clamping means 222. Clamping frame 216 is mounted on rods 224 that extend from clamping frame 216 through a pair of movement mechanisms, such as ratchet or screw mechanisms 226.
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The other end of facing material 62 is placed in clamping frame 216 and clamped between members 218 and 220 by the locking means 222. Ratchet mechanisms 226 are then operated to draw clamping frame 216 to the right as shown in FIGS. 17 through 19, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
19, to tension facing material 62. When the desired amount of tension has been applied to facing material 62, the upper and lower edges of facing material 62 are fastened to top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of cabinet 60 by the clips 76 shown in FIG. 20 and described above in connection with FIG. 9.
When the top and bottom edges of facing material 62 have been fastened to top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of cabinet 60, ratchet mechanisms 226 are operated to move clamping frame 216 to the left as shown in FIGS. 17 through 19. Clamping frames 200 and 216 are opened and the ends of facing material 62 removed from the frames. Clamping frame 200 and tensioning frame 210 are then removed from the cabinet 60.
The vertical end members, such as members 180 are installed on the ends of cabinet 60 and fastened to the ends of the cabinet. The ends of facing material 62 may be fastened to vertical end members 180 using wedges 78, as shown in FIG. 20, at this stage of the assembly process.
Or, if desired, the ends may be fastened in the same manner at a later stage, after sign 50 has been mounted on the building or other structure. Excess facing material is trimmed from the ends of sign 50.
While the foregoing has described fastening facing material 62 to cabinet 60 prior to mounting fascia sign 50 on fascia 52, it will be appreciated that it is also possible to fasten the facing material to the cabinet after the sign has been mounted on the fascia.
It will also be appreciated that, in some cases, instead of using clamping frame 200, a vertical end member may be installed at one end of cabinet 60 and one end of the facing material fastened to the vertical end member and adjacent portion of top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72 to hold one end of facing material 62 as the material is stretched. Further, and as shown in FIG. 20A, either or both of clamping frame 200 and tensioning frame 210 may be formed so that tubing sections 204a, 214a extend along the exterior of top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72. The tubing sections may be removably attached to the extruded members by screws extending through the tubing sections and into slots 99 of extruded members 70 and 72. Such an arrangement avoids the need for sleeves 78 to be accessible in order to mount the frames. Vertical end members 180 can thus be mounted on cabinet 60 prior to stretching facing material 62, if desired. And facing material 62 can be stretched in configurations of sign 50 in which sleeves 78 are blocked due to corners formed in the sign to correspond to thQse of the struc-ture to .whiGh the fasGia sign is mounted.
The installation of the sign may proceed as follows and is shown in conjunction with a canopy 52 extending over a service area in FIGS. 21 through 26. Such a canopy 52 will typically have an exposed framework 250 to which fascia sign 50 is to be fastened. As shown in FIG.
22, the framework 250 has vertical member or members 252 supported by struts 254.
To mount fascia sign 50, a T-shaped molding 256 is employed. As shown in FIGS. 22, 24, and 25, straps 258 are fastened to molding 256 at intervals along the molding so that the straps will be aligned with vertical frame members 252 when molding 256 is placed on canopy 52. T-shaped molding 256 is preliminarily installed on canopy 52 by a small number of screws passing through the vertical leg of the T-shaped molding. Thereafter the molding 256 is secured on canopy 52 by fastening the free ends of straps 258 to vertical members 252 of canopy 52.
The use of molding 256 provides the following advantages in installing fascia sign 50. First, during the attachment of molding 256, a level may be placed on the .~
exposed horizontal flange 259 of the molding and the position of the molding adjusted, as it is attached, to insure that horizontal flange 259 on which sign 50 will rest is level. Second, the vertical flange of molding 256 ensures the sign will be mounted on a smooth surface and not be subjected to the irregularities likely to be present on the exposed surface to which the sign is being mounted.
These features are particularly advantageous when sign 50 is mounted on a structure that is uneven or out-of-square due to poor construction, settling, the removal of earlier signs, or the like. For example, the structure may present a mounting surface that is rough and irregular or which undulates in a horizontal or vertical manner.
Fascia sign 50 is then lifted into place so that a portion of bottom wall 66 rests on T-shaped molding 256.
To this end, lifting tool 260 shown in FIGS. 21-23 is employed. Lifting tool 260 is generally U-shaped having a member 262 that is generally vertical when the tool is in use and a pair of spaced arms 264 and 266 mounted at opposite ends of vertical member 262. Arms 264 and 266 are generally horizontal when the tool is in use. The spacing between arms 264 and 266 is sufficient to accommodate fascia sign 50. For example, the spacing between arms 264 and 266 may be a half inch greater than the height of the sign.
The length of lower arm 266 is less than the length of upper arm 264. The length of upper arm 264 is preferably equal to the depth of fascia sign 50 from the outer front surface of fascia sign 50 to the outer surface of back wall 68. The lesser length of lower arm 266 accommodates T-shaped molding 256. Flanges 268 on the side of lifting device 260 are fastened to top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of cabinet 60 with temporary fasteners 270 to retain the fascia sign in lifting device 260.
As shown in FIG. 21, a pair of lifting devices 260 are typically used to raise fascia sign 50 into position. A lifting lug 272 is provided on the upper .~
surface of upper arm 264 of each of lifting devices 260.
Lifting lug 272 includes one or more holes 274 for receiv-ing a hook, shackle pin, or the like fastened to the lift strap 276 leading to a crane or other elevating device.
The hole 274 to be used is selected, with respect to the center of gravity of fascia sign 50, such that when fascia sign 50 is positioned in lifting device 260 with facing material 62 generally adjacent vertical member 262, fascia sign 50 will be tipped in the manner shown in FIG. 22 in which the corner of bottom wall 66 and back wall 68 is positioned closer to fascia framework 250 than the corner of top wall 64 and back wall 68.
With the sign so positioned, sign 50 is lowered toward T-shaped molding 256 mounted on framework 250. The above described tipping of sign 50 enables the corner of bottom wall 66 and back wall 68 to be conveniently placed on T-shaped molding 256. The reduced length of lower arm 266 of lifting device 260 also facilitates this placement.
With cabinet 60 of fascia sign 50 resting on the exposed horizontal flange 259 of T-shaped molding 256, the cabinet is fastened to the molding, as by self-tapping metal screws, blind rivets, or other suitable fasteners 276 extending through flange 259 of T-shaped molding 256 and bottom wall 66 of the cabinet.
Attachment straps 280 are fastened along the upper edge of back wall 68 of cabinet 60 at locations aligned with struts 254 of framework 250. The free ends 282 of straps 280 are fastened to struts 254 to complete the mounting of fascia sign 50 on canopy 52.
The use of straps 280 allows the vertical plumb of fascia 50 to be established notwithstanding irregulari-ties of canopy 52 since the mounting position of the straps with respect to struts 254 is adjustable so that, for example, sign 50 is mounted in a vertical position, even if canopy 62 is not. This feature, when combined with the leveling features provided by the use of T-shaped moldings 256, provides for particularly advantageous mounting of fascia sign 50.
With fascia sign 50 mounted on canopy 52, fasteners 270 may be removed from flanges 268 to release lifting tool 260 from the sign. The lifting tool is then pulled away from sign 50.
It will also be appreciated that, in some cases, instead of lifting an entire assembled fascia sign, the appropriate sections may be lifted in place one at a time and assembled one to another as described previously and fastened to the supporting structures as described below.
With this approach it would be possible to lift the sections into place on a scissors lift or similar device without the use of lifting brackets or a crane.
FIG. 26 shows a fascia sign 50 in which sections 73 of cabinet 60 abut at corners of the structure to which the fascia sign is mounted. As noted above, when sections 73 of cabinet 60 abut at a corner, the ends of the sections are cut away. For the 90~ corners shown in FIG. 26, the ends of the sections are cut away at a 45~ angle slanting toward the center of the sign from front to back. End pieces 180 shown in FIG. 16 may be mounted at the ends of the abutting sections.
At a "outside" corner as shown in FIG. 27, such as corner 52A of structure 52, a small gap is provided between the abutting sections. This permits the fastening of facing material 62 to vertical end pieces 180 of sections 73. Trim piece 300 covers the gap to maintain the aesthetics of the sign. A cover plate 302 is fastened to top walls 64 of sections 73 of the cabinet to provide strength and prevent the leakage of light out of the sign or water into the sign.
Instead of fastening facing material 62 to the end pieces of the adjacent sections, it is also possible to wrap an extended length of facing material around a corner of sign 50. The facing material is held in place by affixing it to the top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of the .~
adjacent, abutting sections. This provides a continuous piece of facing material around the corner.
At "inside" corner 52B, the adjacent sections of the sign are brought into abutment. With the ends of the cabinet sections 73 cut away at a 45~ angle slanting toward the center of the cabinet, front to back, there will be sufficient space to allow a worker to insert the ends of facing material 62 into end pieces 180 of the abutting sections by means of wedges 78. The abutting portions of section 73 are covered with plate 304 to strengthen the joinder and prevent leakage at the corner.
FIGS. 28-30 show an end member 350 that may be used in place of end member 180 shown in FIG. lG. End member 350 may be used when it is desired to provide a more rigid structure at the ends of fascia sign 50. End member 350 is formed of top and bottom walls 352, 354, respective-ly, that may be of the same construction as top and bottom walls 64, 66 of cabinet 60. Post-like members 356, 358 extend between top and bottom walls 352, 354. Extruded vertical member 360, which may be formed similar to extruded vertical member 182, is fast:ened to post 358, as by bolts 362.
End member 350 is fastened to the end of cabinet 60 in the same manner in which the sections 73 of the cabinet are fastened together. That is, lengths of square tubing 76 are placed in sleeves 78 of end member 350 and end section 73 of cabinet 60 and fastened with screws 79.
Other modifications and alternatives will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alternatives should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.
Backqround of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved sign of the type having an elongated cabinet, the open side of which is covered with a facing material. Such signs are often fastened to a horizontal surface, or fascia, of a commercial establishment for advertising or other purposes.
The facing material for the sign may comprise a flexible film or fabric, a plastic sheet, or other suitable materi-al. In many applications the facing material is translu-cent and the cabinet contains lamps to illuminate the sign.
The aesthetic qualities of fascia signs of the type described above have led to their increased use in exterior signage. However, such signs have heretofore, in many cases, been expensive and difficult to assemble, install, maintain, and repair, thereby offsetting the benefits obtainable from their use. Such fascia signs of the illuminated type have suffered from poor illumination properties.
SummarY of the Present Invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fascia sign that is easy and economical to install, including retrofit installations and installations on structures that are not completely square, level or plumb. The mounting of the sign on the structure compensates for irregularities in the surface of the structure to which it is mounted. Once installed, the sign of the present invention is easy to maintain and repair.
A particular object of the present invention is to provide a fascia sign, the length of which may be varied by fine or gross incremental increases to accommodate measurement errors that may occur when specifying elongated signs of this type.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated fascia sign that provides improved, uniform illumination throughout the sign and throughout the ,~
service life of the lamps, thereby to enhance the aesthetic features of the sign.
A further particular object of the present invention is to provide a fascia sign exhibiting highly uniform illumination from spaced, point sources of light employed in the sign.
A still further particular object of the present invention is to provide a fascia sign in which uniform illumination of desired intensity can be obtained from a relatively small number of relatively widely spaced point sources of light, thereby reducing the manufacturing and operating costs of the sign.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following descrip-tion, in which same are noted in detail.
The present invention will be further understood by reference to the following described figures of the drawing, when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the fascia sign of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the fascia sign showing a sign of the illuminated type;
FIG. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing a section of a multi-section fascia sign;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a section of the multi-section sign;
FIG. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, showing disassembly of lighting elements of the sign for servicing or replacement;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a vertical, cross--sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the subject matter shown by the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a clip suitable for affixing a facing material of the sign to a cabinet of the sign;
FIG. 10 is a front view of one element of a diffuser employed in an illuminated fascia sign of the present invention;
FIG. lOA shows an additional element added to the element shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 11 shows a further element of the diffuser added to the element shown in FIGS. 10 and lOA, the added element being diagrammatically shown;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 showing another element added to the diffuser shown in FIG.
11, the element being diagrammatically shown;
FIG. 13 is a view of the diffuser from the side opposite to that shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, with a further element added thereto;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, with another element added to the diffuser;
FIG. 15 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a vertical end member employed in the fascia sign of the present inven-tion;
FIG. 17 is a front view of the stretching apparatus used to stretch flexible facing material of the sign;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the stretch-ing apparatus taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing stretching of a flexible facing materi.al;
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FIG. 20 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 17 showing the manner of mounting the stretching apparatus to the sign;
FIG. 20A is a fragmentary Pront view similar to FIG. 17 showing an alternative way of mounting the stretch-ing apparatus to the sign;
FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing an initial step in a procedure for mounting the illuminated sign on a fascia;
FIG. 22 is a vertical cross--sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 21;
FIG. 23 is a partial top view taken along the line 23-23 of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 22, but showing the sign installed on a fascia;
FIG. 25 is a partial view taken along the line 25-25 of FIG. 24, showing a fastener used to fasten the sign to the fascia;
FIG. 26 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the manner in which portions c)f the fascia sign of the present invention are joined together at corners of a fascia;
FIG. 27 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 27-27 of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is a fragmentary top view showing an alternative corner configuration for the fascia sign of the present invention;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an end section employed in the corner configuration shown in FIG. 28; and FIG. 30 is a detailed cross sectional view of the subject matter shown by the line 30-30 in FIG. 28.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The Siqn As shown in FIG. 1, fascia sign 50 of the present invention is mounted on supporting structure 52 or fascia.
The supporting structure may typically be an exterior vertical wall of a building. Or, as shown in FIG. 1, in another common application, the sign is mounted on the side wall of a canopy structure elevated over a service area.
The sign may thus form an elongated decorative trim about the edge of the canopy. Or, when the sign is of the illuminated type, it also serves to brighten and draw attention to the structure. In addition to its decorative features, sign 50 may typically provide advertising, price, or other information to the viewer.
As shown in FIGS. 2-8 of the drawing, the fascia sign 50 of the present invention comprises a cabinet or box 60 covered with a facing material 62.
The Cabinet Cabinet 60 has top wall 64 and bottom wall 66 extending from back structure 68. Back structure 68 will typically be a back wall formed of sheet metal and will be so described herein. However, back structure 68 may also comprise an open frame work or other suitable elements.
Top wall 64 and bottom wall 66 may include extruded compo-nents 65, 67 that are fastened to back wall 68 by rivets, screws, or the like. Back wall 68 may be stiffened by a plurality of frame members 70 placed at intervals along cabinet 60. Cabinet 60 is also stiffened by brackets 71 that are mounted between top wall 64 and back wall 68 and bottom wall 66 and back wall 68 at intervals along the interior of cabinet 60.
Top wall 64 and bottom wall ~6 also include top and bottom extruded members, 70 and 72 mounted to compo-nents 65, 67, respectively. The exact manner of mounting will depend on the specific configuration of the top and bottom elements. One manner of mounting is shown in FIGS.
9 and 19 and employs threaded fasteners 74. Extruded members 70 and 72 grip the edges of facing material 62, which spans the open, front face of cabinet 60. The manner in which facing material 62 is secured to extruded members 70, 72 is also shown in FIGS. 9 and 19, and is described in detail, below.
Depending on the length of sign 50, cabinet 60 may comprise an integral structure or may be formed of a plurality of abutting sections which are joined together to form the cabinet. One such section is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 by the reference numeral 73. The sections are construct-ed into section units prior to joinder to form the cabinet.
A typical section may be 7 to 14 ft. long. The use of pre-fabricated sections facilitates the manufacture, assembly, and installation of sign 50.
To join the sections together, lengths of square tubing, one of which is shown by reference numeral 76 in FIG. 9, are placed in sleeves 78 formed in extruded members 70, 72 of abutting sections of cabinet 60. With the lengths of tubing extending into each extruded member of the abutting sections, the tubing is fastened to sleeves 78, as with self-tapping metal screws, to fasten the sections 73 together. Square tubing 76 also serves to accurately align two adjacent sections 73 of sign 50 longitudinally. Bars may be fastened to back wall 68 adjacent its upper and lower edges to straddle the joinder of two adjacent sections 63 and assist in joining the sections together.
The joinder of the top walls 64 of two abutting sections 73 may be covered by plate 75, shown in FIG. 2.
Plates 75 are fastened to the abutting sections to streng-then the joint between the two sections of sign 50 and when caulked will prevent leakage of light out of the sign or the leakage of water into the sign at such joints.
The ends of cabinet 60 may each contain an appropriate end wall or section which has a structure similar to top and bottom walls 64 and 66. Lengths of tubing 76 are fastened normal to the end wall and inserted in sleeves so that the end wall may be affixed to the cabinet. Or, the cabinet may extend completely around the building, canopy, etc. on which it is mounted to form an essentially endless surrounding structure.
Facing Material Facing material may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, such as Lexan, having the desired strength and weather resistance properties. However, the availability of flexible materials, such as films, fabrics, fabrics coated or impregnated with p]astic, etc. have led to the increased use of flexible materials in fascia signs.
This is due to the ease of transport of such material in rolls, its ease of installation, the absence of visible seams in the sign, as well as other advantages. Flexible materials can be stretched taut to provide a smooth exterior surface without ripples. For these reasons, the use of such a material is described herein.
Suitable materials for facing material 62 are the flexible sign and awning membranes made and sold by the 3M
Company of St. Paul, MN, and others. Facing material 62 will typically be colored for aesthetic purposes and may have designs or alphanumeric indicia printed or otherwise applied to it to further improve the aesthetic and/or provide information to the viewer. For illuminated fascia signs, the facing material is typically translucent.
Material 62 is typically stretched across the open side of cabinet 60. If cabinet 60 has sections 73, these are assembled before the stretching of material 62.
A preferred technique for stretching material 62 is shown in FIGS. 17-20, and described in detail, below. The stretched material 62 may be retained on cabinet 60 in the manner shown in FIG. 9. The upper and lower edges of facing material 62 are folded over. A plurality of short bars or wedges 78 are inserted between the folds of the facing material at spaced intervals along the length of facing material 62. A plurality of clips 79 are placed on the outside of the folded facing material and aligned with the bars. One form that clips 79 can take is shown in FIG.
9A. The folded facing material 62, bars 78, and clips 79 are inserted in grooves 80 formed in top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72 and in similarly formed end .~
members. The bars 78 are then driven into grooves 80.
Bars 78 may be provided with slots 82 to receive a screw-driver or other implement used to drive the wedges into the grooves. Teeth 84 in grooves 80 engage the bent lips 85 of clips 79, as well as projection 87 to retain the clip, bar, and facing material in grooves 80. Projections 89 serve to retain bars 78 and folded facing material 62 in clips 79.
It is recognized that other fastening technique may be employed, if desired, and will be required if, for example, a rigid or semi-rigid material is used in sign 50.
After facing material 62 has been installed on cabinet 60, a trim piece 91 may be mounted on each of top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72. FIG. 9 shows trim piece 91 as used in connection with bottom extruded member 72. Trim piece 91 has a sheet portion 93 which is general-ly aligned with the top and bottom of surfaces of cabinet 60. A positioning lip 95 fits in a corresponding groove in the extruded member. Bolts 97 are inserted through holes spaced along the trim piece and threaded into slot 99 in the extruded member. Flange 101 extends from sheet portion 93 to embrace a portion of facing material 62. Flange 103 serves as dam for the trim piece mounted on upper extruded member 70 to lessen or avoid the spillage of rain water down the face of sign 50.
A piece of thin L-shaped opaque material matching the color of the trim piece is placed under adjacent ends of trim pieces 92 and spans the joint between the trim pieces. The L-shaped material piece lies in the same orientation as the generally L-shaped trim piece to block any light leaks and to give the appearance of a continuous piece of trim.
Lighting System A lighting system is provided in cabinet 60 for providing illumination to the inner surface of facing material 62 when fascia sign 50 is of the illuminated type.
The lighting system includes a plurality of lamps 100 mounted at spaced intervals along cabinet 60. Lamps 100 may be of halide type. Because of the relatively small size of such lamps with respect to sign 50 they may be considered to be point sources of light.
To facilitate installation and servicing of the lamps, it is a feature of the present invention to provide the lamps and associated ballasts 102 in modular form. To this end, and as shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, an app~opriately sized opening 104 is provided in top wall 64 of cabinet 60. Opening 104 is sufficiently large to allow ballast 102, and lamp 100, to pass therethrough. A plate 106 is fastened to the top of ballast 102. Top plate 106 is larger than opening 104 and thus can abut top wall 64 of cabinet 60 when ballast 102 and lamp 100 are inserted through opening 104.
To facilitate routine maintenance of fascia sign 50, a spring loaded trap door 107 may be provided in bottom wall 66 of cabinet 60 directly below each lamp 100. The opening covered by the trap door is sufficiently large to allow commercially available lamp changers to remove and replace burned out lamps.
Strap 108 has one end fastened to top plate 106 so that the strap is suspended from top plate 106. The other end of strap 106 mounts socket 110 for bulb 100.
Insulated wires 112 connect socket 110 to ballast 102.
The mounting for socket 110 includes L-shaped plate 114. One arm 116 of L-shaped plate 114 is fastened to, or forms part of, the lower end of strap 108. The other arm 118 of L-shaped member 11~ is received in U-shaped bracket 120 mounted on back wall 68 of cabinet 60 to retain and position the lamp-ballast module in cabinet 60 when the module is lowered from the position shown in FIG.
6 to the position shown in FIG 5. See also FIG. 7. Top plate 106 is fastened to top wall 64 by fasteners 107 and sealed with a gasket, not shown.
A vent may be provided in back wall 68 proximate to each of lamps 100 to assist in removing heat generated by the lamps.
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The lighting system for fascia sign 50 also includes a reflector system for lamps 100. The reflector system includes a plurality of curved reflectors mounted in cabinet 60 between each of lamps 100. The reflectors may best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Part of the reflector comprises the portion of back wall 68 immediately behind each of the lamps. This portion is painted a light color, such as white. In a construction in which the back of sign 50 comprises framework, a partial back wall is positioned behind each of the lamps. The reflectors also comprise a plurality of bent sheets 130 of plastic or other material having a white, or other opaque reflector surface facing the open face of cabinet 60. For example, sheets of opaque white styrene plastic may be used to form reflectors 130.
15To form reflectors 130, blocks 132 and 134 having a groove or cut conforming to the desired curvature of a reflector 130 may be mounted on top and bottom walls 64 and 66, respectively. For example, a wooden board may be cut through along the desired curvature for a reflector 130.
The pieces of the cut board are then separated by an amount equal to the thickness of the reflector to form blocks 132 ~ and 134, and affixed to top and bottom walls 64 and 66.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a block 132 on bottom wall 66 of sign 50.
25The reflectors 130 commence adjacent the portions of back wall 68 behind lamps 100 and curve outwardly toward the open face of cabinet 60 intermediate the lamps and thereafter curve back toward the back wall and an adjacent lamp. A vertical member 136 is positioned between top and 30bottom walls 64 and 66. See FIGS. 3 and 4, and 8 and 9.
These members assist in positioning blocks 132, 134 and also stiffen cabinet 60 against the tension of facing material 62. As shown in FIG. 9, straps 137 may be mounted to the top and bottom of vertical member 136 so that the ends of frame member 136 may be mounted to top and bottom walls 64, 66.
While FIGS. 3 and 4 show a cabinet section 63 having a standard length, it will be appreciated that the length of one or more sections of the sign may have to be altered in accordance with the size of the fascia to which sign 50 is being applied. This will require a correspond-ing change in the reflector(s) 130 in the altered section in order to insure even illumination of facing material 62.
And, it is also possible to change the reflectivity of the reflectors 130 in certain portions of the sign by using different materials or coatings to insure the desired intensity and uniformity of illumination to facing material 62.
A diffuser 140 is provided in front of each of lamps 100. As shown in FIGS. 10-14, the diffusers 140 are formed in the following manner. Each diffuser 140 has a base substrate 142 formed of a sheet of transparent material, such as plastic, or glass. Substrate 142 preferably has an ultraviolet protective coating (not shown) applied to the side facing toward lamps 100. An opaque pattern 144 is applied, as by a silk screening of black or other colored ink, to the side of substrate 142 not facing lamps 100. Or, a film containing pattern 144 may be applied to base substrate 142. The pattern is shown in exaggerated thickness in FIG. 15. The form of opaque pattern 144 is shown in FIG. 10A. Pattern 144 is generally circular in nature. As the diameter of the pattern is greater than the height of the substrate 142, the circular pattern is, therefore, truncated at the top and bottom edges of substrate 142.
A further layer 146 is applied over the opaque pattern 144. This layer, which comprises a translucent, white layer of paint, ink, or film, is shown in FIG. 11.
Layer 146 is in the form of a rectangle superimposed on the truncated circle of pattern 142. With the diffuser oriented as shown in FIG. 11, the vertical dimension of layer 146 is the same as the vertical dimension of pattern 144 at its center.
Thereafter, an additional layer 148 is applied on top of layer 146. This pattern is shown in FIG. 12. Layer 146, which may also be a translucent, white layer, is in the form of a smaller rectangle centrally located in diffuser 140. The vertical dimension of layer 148 may be the same as that of pattern 144. The horizontal dimension is smaller than that of pattern 144.
FIG. 15 shows the orientation of diffuser 140 with respect to lamps 100 with pattern 144 and layers 146, 148 on the side of the diffuser away from lamp 100.
Screening of aluminum, or other suitable materi-al, is applied to the opposite side of diffusers 140 from pattern 144 and layers 146, 148, i.eO on the side facing lamp 100. The screening may be in the nature of typical window screening. As shown in FIG. 13, one layer 150 of screening may be dimensionally co-extensive with substrate 142. As shown in FIG. 14, a second layer of screening 152, applied over screening layer 150, is formed as a smaller, centrally located rectangle. Screening 150, 152 may be fastened to substrate 142 by suitable means, such as pop rivets.
The manner in which diffusers 140 are placed in front of lamps 100 is shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. A pair of upper and lower brackets 71 are provided on either side of each of lamps 100. Diffusers 140 are suspended in front of lamps 100 by chains 160, or other suitable means, having one end coupled to brackets 71 and the other end coupled to diffusers 140. The lower portions of diffusers 140 are fastened to brackets 71 by springs 162, or other suitable means, having a hook at one end connected to the diffuser and the hook at the other end connected to one of brackets 71. Diffusers 140 and lamps 100 are positioned so that lamps 100 are centered, horizontally and vertically, with respect to the diffuser.
Reflectors 130 and diffusers 140 provide a distribution of the light of point light source lamps 100 in a manner that provides uniform il]umination to facing .~
material 62. They also assist in maintaining the appear-ance of sign 50, notwithstanding the loss of light output from lamps 100 due to aging. The use of reflectors 130/
diffusers 140 enables lamps 100 to be more widely spaced along the direction of elongation of fascia sign 50, while at the same time maintaining the desired levels and uniformity of illumination. The wider spacing of lamps 100 reduces the number of lamps that are required in sign 50 and the manufacturing and operating costs for the sign.
The use of diffusers 140 and reflectors 130 also make it possible to obtain the desired uniform illumination of fascia sign 50 even though, in a typical fascia sign, the spaced lamps 100 are rather close to facing material 62. This proximity would otherwise tend to make for non-uniform illumination of the facing material. For example, a typical fascia sign of the type t:o which the present invention is concerned may be approximately 11"-12" deep.
While the foregoing description of the lighting system contemplates illumination of fascia sign 50 along its entire length, it will be appreciated that only selected portions of the sign 50 may be illuminated, if desired, by appropriate positioning of lamps 50 and modification of the reflectors 130 and diffusers 140, if necessary. Further, while specific types of light sources have been described above, other types of light sources, such as fluorescent lighting tubes may be used, if desired, with appropriate modification of the lighting system elements.
Assembly and Mountinq As noted above, the fascia sign 50 of the present invention is formed of one or more sections. The sign may be mounted on the fascia in such a section or sections.
Or, the sections may first be assembled into larger units of the sign and the larger units then mounted on the fascia. In either case, the installation of fascia sign 50 is greatly facilitated over prior art signs that are constructed piece-by-piece directly on the fascia as the sign is installed.
For a fascia sign 50 formed of plurality of sections, cabinet sections 73 may be assembled into the cabinet 60 prior to installation. Or one section 73 of the cabinet may first be mounted on the fascia and the assembly of the sections carried out as a subsequent, abutting section is being mounted to the fascia. The assembly of the sections is carried out in the manner described above in which lengths of square tubing 76 are placed in sleeves 78 formed in extruded members 70, 72 of abutting sections 73 of cabinet 60 and fastened to the sections.
A feature of the present invention is the ability to provide both gross adjustments and fine adjustments to the length of the cabinet to accommodate the often occur-ring differences between the design length of the cabinet and the length actually required for proper installation on a specific building or other fascia. Such difference may occur from difficulties in obtaining accurate measurements of large structures on which the sign is installed.
To increase the length of one or more sections up to 3-4", sections of top and bottom walls 64, 66, are cut to the desired width and slid on square tubing 76 between adjacent cabinet sections. The intermediate section of the walls may be fastened to square tubing 76 in the same manner as the cabinet sections. The joinder of the top wall and bottom wall sections to the adjacent cabinet sections may, if desired, be covered by plates 75, in the manner shown in FIG. 2, to provide strength and prevent leakage.
It will be appreciated that a size adjustment of the type described above can be provided between each pair of adjacent cabinet sections 73 of a multiple section fascia sign 50 to increase the total amount of adjustment available.
Fine adjustments to the length of cabinet 60 may be provided through the use of vertical end members ,~
provided at each end of the assembled cabinet. As noted above, when fascia sign 50 has exposed ends, the vertical end members may be resemble top and bottom walls 64 and 66 having lengths of tubing 76 fastened normal thereto. In many cases fascia sign 50 will extend entirely around a commercial establishment or other structure. Section end pieces suitable for use in fascia sign 50 at the corners of a building or other structure are shown in FIG. 16.
In applications in which an end of one cabinet section 73 abuts an adjacent cabinet section 73 around a corner of a building or other structure, the ends of each of the cabinet sections are cut away at an angle, as shown in FIG. 26. For a 90~ corner, the ends of the cabinet sections are cut away at a 45~ angle. Vertical end members 180, for use in the configuration described in FIG. 26, include an extruded vertical member 182 having a configura-tion similar to top and bottom extruded members 70, 72.
See FIG. 16. A plate 184 is fastened to each of the top and bottom of vertical member 182. A strap or length of square tubing 186 is fastened to each of plates 184 at an angle so that end members 180 may be mounted on the ends of a cabinet section in alignment with the angled cut away ends.
The use of tubing, such as tubing 186 on end section 180, permits the vertical end members to be moved outwardly from the ends of cabinet 60 by a small amount to make fine adjustments to the length of fascia sign 50. The vertical end members may also be tilted in a vertical plane normal to the direction of extension of cabinet 60 so as to cant the ends of cabinet 60 to compensate for any irregu-larities in the building or fascia structure to which sign 50 is being mounted.
The fine adjustment provided by vertical end members, such as end members 180, thus ensures that signs positioned on two orthogonal or other angularly displaced building walls may be brought into alignment or abutment to ensure a highly aesthetic appearance to fascia sign 50.
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To complete the assembly of sign 50, the lighting system installed in cabinet sections 73 in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Prior to fastening facing material 62 to the cabinet, the vertical end members 180, are removed from the cabinet. One technique by which a fabric facing material 62 may be stretched across the open side of cabinet is shown in FIGS. 17 through 2OA of the drawing. As noted above, facing material 62 is commonly provided in roll form. A length of material 62 approximating, but longer than, the length of assembled cabinet 60 is unrolled from the roll and cut off. One end of the piece of material is clamped to one end of cabinet 60, as by means of the frame 200 shown in FIGS. 18 through 20.
Frame 200 includes frame member 202. Frame member 202 has square tubing sections 204 extending normal thereto. Square tubing sections ~04 are inserted in sleeves 78 in the ends of a cabinet section 73. A second frame member 206 is loosely fastened to frame member 202, as by bolts 208.
One end of the length of facing material 62 is inserted between frame members 202 and 208. A clamping means, which may be in the nature of a pair of locking pliers, pinches the end of facing material 62 between frame members 202 and 206 to retain the material at the end of the sign.
At the other end of cabinet 60, tensioning frame 210 is provided. Tensioning frame 210 includes framework 212 having square tubing sections 214 for mounting the tensioning frame at the other end of the assembled cabinet 60. A clamping frame 216, similar to clamping frame 200 is provided in conjunction with tensioning frame 210.
Clamping frame 216 includes frame members 218 and 220 and clamping means 222. Clamping frame 216 is mounted on rods 224 that extend from clamping frame 216 through a pair of movement mechanisms, such as ratchet or screw mechanisms 226.
,~
The other end of facing material 62 is placed in clamping frame 216 and clamped between members 218 and 220 by the locking means 222. Ratchet mechanisms 226 are then operated to draw clamping frame 216 to the right as shown in FIGS. 17 through 19, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
19, to tension facing material 62. When the desired amount of tension has been applied to facing material 62, the upper and lower edges of facing material 62 are fastened to top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of cabinet 60 by the clips 76 shown in FIG. 20 and described above in connection with FIG. 9.
When the top and bottom edges of facing material 62 have been fastened to top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of cabinet 60, ratchet mechanisms 226 are operated to move clamping frame 216 to the left as shown in FIGS. 17 through 19. Clamping frames 200 and 216 are opened and the ends of facing material 62 removed from the frames. Clamping frame 200 and tensioning frame 210 are then removed from the cabinet 60.
The vertical end members, such as members 180 are installed on the ends of cabinet 60 and fastened to the ends of the cabinet. The ends of facing material 62 may be fastened to vertical end members 180 using wedges 78, as shown in FIG. 20, at this stage of the assembly process.
Or, if desired, the ends may be fastened in the same manner at a later stage, after sign 50 has been mounted on the building or other structure. Excess facing material is trimmed from the ends of sign 50.
While the foregoing has described fastening facing material 62 to cabinet 60 prior to mounting fascia sign 50 on fascia 52, it will be appreciated that it is also possible to fasten the facing material to the cabinet after the sign has been mounted on the fascia.
It will also be appreciated that, in some cases, instead of using clamping frame 200, a vertical end member may be installed at one end of cabinet 60 and one end of the facing material fastened to the vertical end member and adjacent portion of top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72 to hold one end of facing material 62 as the material is stretched. Further, and as shown in FIG. 20A, either or both of clamping frame 200 and tensioning frame 210 may be formed so that tubing sections 204a, 214a extend along the exterior of top and bottom extruded members 70 and 72. The tubing sections may be removably attached to the extruded members by screws extending through the tubing sections and into slots 99 of extruded members 70 and 72. Such an arrangement avoids the need for sleeves 78 to be accessible in order to mount the frames. Vertical end members 180 can thus be mounted on cabinet 60 prior to stretching facing material 62, if desired. And facing material 62 can be stretched in configurations of sign 50 in which sleeves 78 are blocked due to corners formed in the sign to correspond to thQse of the struc-ture to .whiGh the fasGia sign is mounted.
The installation of the sign may proceed as follows and is shown in conjunction with a canopy 52 extending over a service area in FIGS. 21 through 26. Such a canopy 52 will typically have an exposed framework 250 to which fascia sign 50 is to be fastened. As shown in FIG.
22, the framework 250 has vertical member or members 252 supported by struts 254.
To mount fascia sign 50, a T-shaped molding 256 is employed. As shown in FIGS. 22, 24, and 25, straps 258 are fastened to molding 256 at intervals along the molding so that the straps will be aligned with vertical frame members 252 when molding 256 is placed on canopy 52. T-shaped molding 256 is preliminarily installed on canopy 52 by a small number of screws passing through the vertical leg of the T-shaped molding. Thereafter the molding 256 is secured on canopy 52 by fastening the free ends of straps 258 to vertical members 252 of canopy 52.
The use of molding 256 provides the following advantages in installing fascia sign 50. First, during the attachment of molding 256, a level may be placed on the .~
exposed horizontal flange 259 of the molding and the position of the molding adjusted, as it is attached, to insure that horizontal flange 259 on which sign 50 will rest is level. Second, the vertical flange of molding 256 ensures the sign will be mounted on a smooth surface and not be subjected to the irregularities likely to be present on the exposed surface to which the sign is being mounted.
These features are particularly advantageous when sign 50 is mounted on a structure that is uneven or out-of-square due to poor construction, settling, the removal of earlier signs, or the like. For example, the structure may present a mounting surface that is rough and irregular or which undulates in a horizontal or vertical manner.
Fascia sign 50 is then lifted into place so that a portion of bottom wall 66 rests on T-shaped molding 256.
To this end, lifting tool 260 shown in FIGS. 21-23 is employed. Lifting tool 260 is generally U-shaped having a member 262 that is generally vertical when the tool is in use and a pair of spaced arms 264 and 266 mounted at opposite ends of vertical member 262. Arms 264 and 266 are generally horizontal when the tool is in use. The spacing between arms 264 and 266 is sufficient to accommodate fascia sign 50. For example, the spacing between arms 264 and 266 may be a half inch greater than the height of the sign.
The length of lower arm 266 is less than the length of upper arm 264. The length of upper arm 264 is preferably equal to the depth of fascia sign 50 from the outer front surface of fascia sign 50 to the outer surface of back wall 68. The lesser length of lower arm 266 accommodates T-shaped molding 256. Flanges 268 on the side of lifting device 260 are fastened to top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of cabinet 60 with temporary fasteners 270 to retain the fascia sign in lifting device 260.
As shown in FIG. 21, a pair of lifting devices 260 are typically used to raise fascia sign 50 into position. A lifting lug 272 is provided on the upper .~
surface of upper arm 264 of each of lifting devices 260.
Lifting lug 272 includes one or more holes 274 for receiv-ing a hook, shackle pin, or the like fastened to the lift strap 276 leading to a crane or other elevating device.
The hole 274 to be used is selected, with respect to the center of gravity of fascia sign 50, such that when fascia sign 50 is positioned in lifting device 260 with facing material 62 generally adjacent vertical member 262, fascia sign 50 will be tipped in the manner shown in FIG. 22 in which the corner of bottom wall 66 and back wall 68 is positioned closer to fascia framework 250 than the corner of top wall 64 and back wall 68.
With the sign so positioned, sign 50 is lowered toward T-shaped molding 256 mounted on framework 250. The above described tipping of sign 50 enables the corner of bottom wall 66 and back wall 68 to be conveniently placed on T-shaped molding 256. The reduced length of lower arm 266 of lifting device 260 also facilitates this placement.
With cabinet 60 of fascia sign 50 resting on the exposed horizontal flange 259 of T-shaped molding 256, the cabinet is fastened to the molding, as by self-tapping metal screws, blind rivets, or other suitable fasteners 276 extending through flange 259 of T-shaped molding 256 and bottom wall 66 of the cabinet.
Attachment straps 280 are fastened along the upper edge of back wall 68 of cabinet 60 at locations aligned with struts 254 of framework 250. The free ends 282 of straps 280 are fastened to struts 254 to complete the mounting of fascia sign 50 on canopy 52.
The use of straps 280 allows the vertical plumb of fascia 50 to be established notwithstanding irregulari-ties of canopy 52 since the mounting position of the straps with respect to struts 254 is adjustable so that, for example, sign 50 is mounted in a vertical position, even if canopy 62 is not. This feature, when combined with the leveling features provided by the use of T-shaped moldings 256, provides for particularly advantageous mounting of fascia sign 50.
With fascia sign 50 mounted on canopy 52, fasteners 270 may be removed from flanges 268 to release lifting tool 260 from the sign. The lifting tool is then pulled away from sign 50.
It will also be appreciated that, in some cases, instead of lifting an entire assembled fascia sign, the appropriate sections may be lifted in place one at a time and assembled one to another as described previously and fastened to the supporting structures as described below.
With this approach it would be possible to lift the sections into place on a scissors lift or similar device without the use of lifting brackets or a crane.
FIG. 26 shows a fascia sign 50 in which sections 73 of cabinet 60 abut at corners of the structure to which the fascia sign is mounted. As noted above, when sections 73 of cabinet 60 abut at a corner, the ends of the sections are cut away. For the 90~ corners shown in FIG. 26, the ends of the sections are cut away at a 45~ angle slanting toward the center of the sign from front to back. End pieces 180 shown in FIG. 16 may be mounted at the ends of the abutting sections.
At a "outside" corner as shown in FIG. 27, such as corner 52A of structure 52, a small gap is provided between the abutting sections. This permits the fastening of facing material 62 to vertical end pieces 180 of sections 73. Trim piece 300 covers the gap to maintain the aesthetics of the sign. A cover plate 302 is fastened to top walls 64 of sections 73 of the cabinet to provide strength and prevent the leakage of light out of the sign or water into the sign.
Instead of fastening facing material 62 to the end pieces of the adjacent sections, it is also possible to wrap an extended length of facing material around a corner of sign 50. The facing material is held in place by affixing it to the top and bottom walls 64 and 66 of the .~
adjacent, abutting sections. This provides a continuous piece of facing material around the corner.
At "inside" corner 52B, the adjacent sections of the sign are brought into abutment. With the ends of the cabinet sections 73 cut away at a 45~ angle slanting toward the center of the cabinet, front to back, there will be sufficient space to allow a worker to insert the ends of facing material 62 into end pieces 180 of the abutting sections by means of wedges 78. The abutting portions of section 73 are covered with plate 304 to strengthen the joinder and prevent leakage at the corner.
FIGS. 28-30 show an end member 350 that may be used in place of end member 180 shown in FIG. lG. End member 350 may be used when it is desired to provide a more rigid structure at the ends of fascia sign 50. End member 350 is formed of top and bottom walls 352, 354, respective-ly, that may be of the same construction as top and bottom walls 64, 66 of cabinet 60. Post-like members 356, 358 extend between top and bottom walls 352, 354. Extruded vertical member 360, which may be formed similar to extruded vertical member 182, is fast:ened to post 358, as by bolts 362.
End member 350 is fastened to the end of cabinet 60 in the same manner in which the sections 73 of the cabinet are fastened together. That is, lengths of square tubing 76 are placed in sleeves 78 of end member 350 and end section 73 of cabinet 60 and fastened with screws 79.
Other modifications and alternatives will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alternatives should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (45)
1. An improved fascia sign comprising:
an elongated cabinet having an open front side, said cabinet being assembled from a plurality of adjacent sections which are formed prior to assembly of the sections into said cabinet;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet; and means for incrementally increasing the length of said cabinet comprising joinder means connected to adjacent sections of said cabinet for joining said adjacent sections together, said joinder means being capable of providing variable spacing between said sections to incrementally increase the length of said cabinet.
an elongated cabinet having an open front side, said cabinet being assembled from a plurality of adjacent sections which are formed prior to assembly of the sections into said cabinet;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet; and means for incrementally increasing the length of said cabinet comprising joinder means connected to adjacent sections of said cabinet for joining said adjacent sections together, said joinder means being capable of providing variable spacing between said sections to incrementally increase the length of said cabinet.
2. The improved sign according to claim 1, wherein said joinder means comprises elongated members received in said adjacent sections of said cabinet.
3. The improved sign according to claim 2 further including insert means inserted in the spacing between adjacent sections and connected to said joinder means for filling in said spacing between said sections of said cabinet.
4. The improved sign according to claim 1 wherein ends of said cabinet have end members mounted thereon, the spacing of said end members from said ends of said cabinet being adjustable to incrementally increase the length of the cabinet.
5. The improved sign according to claim 4 wherein said end members may be canted with respect to said ends of said cabinet.
6. The improved sign according to claim 4 wherein said end members are formed of members having an end wall and having top and bottom walls joined to the ends of said cabinet.
7. The improved sign according to claim 1 wherein said cabinet contains lamps for backlighting said facing material.
8. The improved sign according to claim 1 wherein said cabinet has edges on said open front side and wherein said sign further includes trim pieces embracing said edges on associated portion of said facing material.
9. An improved fascia sign suitable for mounting on a structure, said improved fascia sign comprising:
an elongated cabinet having an open front side and a bottom wall;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet; and a member for mounting said fascia sign on the structure; said mounting means comprising a strip fastenable to the structure, said mounting member having a first flange and a second flange lying at an angle with respect to said first flange, said mounting member being fastened to the structure with said first flange extending from said structure for receiving at least a portion of said bottom wall of said elongated cabinet for positioning said elongated cabinet on the structure.
an elongated cabinet having an open front side and a bottom wall;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet; and a member for mounting said fascia sign on the structure; said mounting means comprising a strip fastenable to the structure, said mounting member having a first flange and a second flange lying at an angle with respect to said first flange, said mounting member being fastened to the structure with said first flange extending from said structure for receiving at least a portion of said bottom wall of said elongated cabinet for positioning said elongated cabinet on the structure.
10. An improved sign according to claim 9 wherein said mounting member comprises a T-shaped member.
11. An improved sign according to claim 9 wherein said sign is suitable for mounting on a generally vertical structure, wherein said cabinet has a top portion, and wherein said sign includes a fastening means adjacent said top portion for affixing said top portion of said cabinet to the structure in an adjustable position that establishes the sign in a vertical condition.
12. An improved sign according to claim 11 wherein said fastening means comprises at least one strap extending between said sign and said structure, said strap having an end that can be adjustably fastened to the structure.
13. An improved sign according to claim 9 wherein said cabinet contains lamps for backlighting said facing material.
14. An improved fascia sign suitable for mounting on a generally vertical structure, said improved sign comprising:
an elongated cabinet having an open front side, a bottom portion, and a top portion;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet;
means for mounting the bottom portion of said cabinet on the structure; and fastening means adjacent said top portion of said cabinet for affixing said top portion of said cabinet to the structure in an adjustable position that establishes the sign in a vertical condition.
an elongated cabinet having an open front side, a bottom portion, and a top portion;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet;
means for mounting the bottom portion of said cabinet on the structure; and fastening means adjacent said top portion of said cabinet for affixing said top portion of said cabinet to the structure in an adjustable position that establishes the sign in a vertical condition.
15. An improved sign according to claim 14 wherein said fastening means comprises at least one strap extending between said sign and said structure, said strap having an end that can be adjustably fastened to the structure.
16. An improved sign according to claim 14 wherein said cabinet contains lamps for backlighting said facing material.
17. An improved fascia sign comprising:
an elongated cabinet having an open front side;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet; and lighting means contained in said cabinet, said lighting means comprising a plurality of point light source lamps spaced along said elongated cabinet, a plurality of light diffusers, one of which is positioned in front of each of said lamps and behind said facing material, and reflectors positioned behind said lamps, said reflectors curving from the back of said cabinet toward the front of said cabinet to reflect the light from said lamps towards the facing material.
an elongated cabinet having an open front side;
facing material placed across said open front side of said cabinet; and lighting means contained in said cabinet, said lighting means comprising a plurality of point light source lamps spaced along said elongated cabinet, a plurality of light diffusers, one of which is positioned in front of each of said lamps and behind said facing material, and reflectors positioned behind said lamps, said reflectors curving from the back of said cabinet toward the front of said cabinet to reflect the light from said lamps towards the facing material.
18. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein said facing material comprises a flexible material stretched across said open front side of said cabinet.
19. The improved sign according to claim 18 wherein said facing material comprises a fabric having a surface material incorporated therewith.
20. The improved sign according to claim 18 wherein said flexible material is fastened to said elongated cabinet by attachment means inserted in grooves in said cabinet.
21. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein said facing material comprises a rigid material mounted across said open front side of said cabinet.
22. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein said point light source lamps comprise halide lamps.
23. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said diffusers comprises a light transmitting base substrate with an opaque light diffusing pattern.
24. The improved sign according to claim 23 wherein said diffuser has translucent properties.
25. The improved sign according to claim 24 wherein said diffuser further includes at least one translucent layer.
26. The improved sign according to claim 25 wherein said diffuser includes at least two translucent layers.
27. The improved sign according to claim 23 wherein said diffuser includes at least one layer of screening.
28. The improved sign according to claim 27 wherein said diffuser includes more than one layer of screening.
29. The improved sign according to claim 24 wherein said diffuser includes at least one layer of screening.
30. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein said lamps are centered with respect to said diffusers.
31. The improved sign according to claim 17 further including means for suspending at least one of said diffusers in said cabinet in front of one of said lamps and behind said facing material.
32. The improved sign according to claim 31 wherein said suspension means includes resilient means for providing a resilient suspension to said sign.
33. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein said reflectors curve toward said open front side of said cabinet intermediate said spaced lamps.
34. The improved sign according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said lamps and an associated electrical ballast are connected together as a unit; and wherein said cabinet has a top wall with an opening through which said lamp may be placed in said cabinet or removed from said cabinet as a unit.
35. The improved sign according to claim 33, wherein said cabinet has a back structure and wherein said lamp-ballast unit further includes means for removably positioning said lamp-ballast unit to said back structure of said cabinet.
36. The improved sign according to claim 17, further including end means mounted on at least one end of said cabinet for securing an end of said facing material.
37. Apparatus for stretching a flexible facing material across an elongated cabinet of a fascia sign, said apparatus comprising:
first clamping means connectable to an end of said cabinet for clamping one end of said facing material adjacent said end of said cabinet; and second clamping means connectable to the other end of said cabinet for clamping a second end of said facing material adjacent another end of said cabinet, said second clamping means being movable with respect to said cabinet for stretching said facing material.
first clamping means connectable to an end of said cabinet for clamping one end of said facing material adjacent said end of said cabinet; and second clamping means connectable to the other end of said cabinet for clamping a second end of said facing material adjacent another end of said cabinet, said second clamping means being movable with respect to said cabinet for stretching said facing material.
38. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said second clamping means comprises a pair of spaced bars for receiving said second end of said flexible facing material, and means for moving said bars into contact with said material to clamp said material between said bars.
39. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said second clamping means includes a frame mountable on said another end of said cabinet and means for moving said second clamping means with respect to said frame in a direction away from said first clamping means.
40. The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said means for moving comprises a mechanical means.
41. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said means for moving comprises a ratchet means.
42. The apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said means for moving comprises a screw means.
43. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said first clamping means comprises an end member for said cabinet mounted on an end of said cabinet.
44. Apparatus for moving a fascia sign into position on a mounting surface with a lifting means, said apparatus comprising a U-shaped frame means, said U-shaped frame means having a pair of arms embracing said fascia sign, said frame means having a lifting lug connectable to the lifting means such that when said frame means is suspended from the lifting means with said arms embracing said sign, said frame means and sign are rotated to present a corner of said fascia sign to the mounting surface.
45. The apparatus according to claim 42 wherein an upper arm of said pair of arms is longer than a lower arm of said pair of arms.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US62891996A | 1996-04-08 | 1996-04-08 | |
| US08/628,919 | 1996-04-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2202077A1 true CA2202077A1 (en) | 1997-10-08 |
Family
ID=24520854
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2202077 Abandoned CA2202077A1 (en) | 1996-04-08 | 1997-04-07 | Illuminated fascia sign |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2202077A1 (en) |
-
1997
- 1997-04-07 CA CA 2202077 patent/CA2202077A1/en not_active Abandoned
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |