CA2209867A1

CA2209867A1 - Moving illuminating device for a real estate sign post

Info

Publication number: CA2209867A1
Application number: CA 2209867
Authority: CA
Inventors: John Champion; Ed Champion
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-15
Filing date: 1997-08-15
Publication date: 1999-02-15

Abstract

The invention and improvement embodies a swinging illuminating device contained within a sign post for Realtors that utilizes built in components of solar, rechargeable battery, and optical technology. The objective of the swinging illuminating device is to softly illuminate a "for sale" signs at night even if it is moved off of it's their perpendicular base line by a wind. The device contains a sign locking mechanism as well. The necessary components and illuminating device are contained in a sign post that consists of a hollow horizontal post member fastened to the top of a vertical post member that has been secured into the ground. The features of this invention provide an improvement over methods of stationary illumination of Real Estate Signs that are suspended from sign posts.

Description

CA 02209867 1997-08-1~

DlSCLOSURE:

Back~round;
Exterior Real Estate signs are traditionally used in the marketing of residential homes to convey pertinent information to prospective buyers and or users of such spatial utilities.
Typically, select relevant Real Estate information is placed upon a sign, which is then suspended from a sign post, which is placed upon the of property for public viewing. The main objective is to achieve the highest degree of visibility of the sign as possible, particularly in the evening hours.

Problem;
The basic problem is that Real Estate signs may nat be highly visible and attractive in the evening hours. They are less visible if a wind moves the sign out of any direct form of illumination.

Solutions Provided by this lnvention;
The basic problem of achieving higher visibility of a sign in the evening hours can be solved with this invention by placing an illumination system consisting of various components within the sign post. These basic components can then be assembled to provide continuous direct illumination upon the suspended sign. Some additional problems addressed by the unique features of this invention are;

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Disclosure continued from Page 6, How to providc continuous illumination, even as the sign is moved by a wind off of its' perpendicular axis.
How to effectively illuminate the sign with a moving reflector.
How to secure the sign from theft.
The unobvious and new result created by this invention is that of a highly visible sign at night that is both secure and visible at various an~les to the ~round as the wind blows upon it.

CA 02209867 1997-08-1~

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Front view of sign post with back view as a mirror image.

FIG. 2 Perspective view of hollow signs post shape without swinging illumination device.

FlG. 3 Cutaway view of horizontal post member showing swinging illumination device and florescent tube.

FIG. 4 Perspective view of swinging illumination device positioned insideof horizontal post member without reflector attached to rod FIG. 5 & 6 Sectional view of horizontal post member showing reflector attached to rod in various range of swinging positions for illumination device FlG. 7 Bottom of horizontal sign post member showing light area and the slots for the sign attachment to swing back and forth.

FIG. 8 End view of swinging illumination device showing how signattachment sits down on rod and clasp to remove sign from rod CA 02209867 1997-08-1~

SPECIFICATIONS:

1. The basic appearance of the invention during the day is that of the typical sign post used for decades in North America by Realtors. This roughly consists of a horizontal member (1) attached to a vertical member (2) which forms a sign post as shown in Fig. 1. The sign post is affixed to the ground (3) and the sign is hung from it (4).

2. Fig 2 shows the shape of the horizontal and vertical members is that of a circle that has had the top and bottom fiattened in order to accommodate the solar array on the top (5) and the lighting system to be placed on the bottom of the horizontal post member.

3. A solar array (5) of sufficient recharging capabilities to supply the system is affixed onto the flattened area of the top member shown in Fig. 2. The light produced by the system is directed onto the suspended sign through a slot (6) located at the bottom of the horizontal member which is better shown in Fig. 7.

4. The solar array is connected to a rechargeable battery (7), which is part of the complete electronic system necessary to operate the florescent light (8) contained within the moving illumination device as shown in Fig. 3.

5. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the swinging illumination device contained inside, and preferably centered at the point of the horizontal post member. It preferably consists of the reflector assembly (9), and sign attachments (10) with are then affixed to a lû

CA 02209867 1997-08-1~

movable horizontal rod ( 1 1). Each end of the rod is supported on a supporting spacer (12~ at each end enabling the entire mechanism to swing back and forth freely within the limits of the sign post and its' design. The rod holders (14)at each end of the rod (11) are stationary and provide the base for the rod to rotate back and forth in a swinging manner. The rod holders can be a part of the horizontal post member or part of a separate assembly that is slid into the hollow horizontal post member.

6 A reflector of preferable design (9) as depicted in Fig. ~ and Fig. 6 is attached to the rod (11), in a manner that allows it to swing freely back and forth simultaneously with the sign attachments (10) that are also attached to the rod. The reflectors'; design is such as to collect the light and direct it downward upon the sign in a manner as to optimize visibility of the sign as it is moved back and forth by a wind from time to time.

7. ln Fig. 7 the slots (12) across a portion of the width of the bottom horizontal post member allow for, and restrict the range of the swing of the illumination device. The sign attachment (10) that securely suspend the sign from the sign post, pass through the slots with one end attached to the rod (11), while the other end is attached to and secures the sign (4) in an anti-theft manner.

8. Fig. 8 shows a sign attachment (10) looped over one end of the rod (11) and looped through the sign. The attachment is opened by a screwing clasp (13) which allows for the sign attachments to be removed from the rod. While the screwing clasp is closed the sign can not be removed from the sign post. The access to the illumination device and screwing clasp is through the lockable sliding panel that forms a part or all of the front of the horizontal post member.

Claims

1. An improved Real Estate sign lighting and display assembly comprising of a Real Estate sign post, a combination of components placed in and upon the sign post, that together produce a light that is controlled and directed upon a sign that is securely suspended from the said sign post comprising of the following components, a solar array and Rechargeable batteries are contained within or on the invention so as to provide a source of power to the illumination source and any other electronic devices required for the operation of the invention, plus a timing device is used in conjunction with the invention for the option of turning the illumination source on and off at predetermined times in the 24 hour cycle of selected days, plus the illumination source is contained within the invention and provide the light in a directed fashion onto the sign that is suspended from the invention.

2. The improved assembly of claim 1, including a swinging illumination device contained wholly or partially within or upon the horizontal sign post member, thereby enhancing the visibility of the sign.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the swinging illumination device comprises of a light reflector, florescent tube, rod, and sign attachments assembled in such a way that enables the light to be continuously directed back and forth across the vertical plane of the sign post in a swinging motion while continuing to direct light upon the sign as required, as the sign is moved in a swinging motion across the vertical plane from time to time by the wind.

4. The improved assembly of claim 1, wherein the light from the florescent tube and swinging illumination device is directed upon the sign through a longitudinal rectangular opening located in the bottom of the horizontal post member.

5. The improved assembly of claim 4, wherein two additional smaller openings allow for and restrict the range of the pendulum swinging movements of the illumination device simultaneously with the movement of the sign.

6. The improved assembly of claim 1, wherein a locking device attaches the sign to the sign post that can only be accessed through the locked access panel on the front of the horizontal post member.

7. The improved assembly of claim 6, wherein the locking device sits on a rod within the swinging illumination device and can only be loosened by first unscrewing the clasp, and then being able to remove the locking device off the rod thereby being able to remove and or install the sign.