EP0809227A1 - Sichtzeichenständer - Google Patents

Sichtzeichenständer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0809227A1
EP0809227A1 EP97303486A EP97303486A EP0809227A1 EP 0809227 A1 EP0809227 A1 EP 0809227A1 EP 97303486 A EP97303486 A EP 97303486A EP 97303486 A EP97303486 A EP 97303486A EP 0809227 A1 EP0809227 A1 EP 0809227A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sign stand
base unit
sign
frame member
cross
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP97303486A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0809227B1 (de
Inventor
David Nicholas John
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Signwaves Ltd
Original Assignee
Signwaves Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10794128&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0809227(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Signwaves Ltd filed Critical Signwaves Ltd
Publication of EP0809227A1 publication Critical patent/EP0809227A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0809227B1 publication Critical patent/EP0809227B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F15/00—Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
    • G09F15/0006—Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like planar structures comprising one or more panels
    • G09F15/0056—Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like planar structures comprising one or more panels portable display standards
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/688—Free-standing bodies
    • E01F9/692—Portable base members therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of sign stands of the kind used to display advertisements, notices and the like particularly, but not exclusively, for outdoor use.
  • Portable sign stands such as those described above are commonly subjected to a variety of harsh conditions, for example extremes of weather (wind, rain etc) and vandalism.
  • a number of known sign stands seek to reduce the effect of these conditions thus prolonging the life of the sign stand but these are often necessarily complex in construction and/or heavy and bulky.
  • That document describes a display stand comprising a sheet metal display panel having its lower edge faces fitted into a central slot in a base having a cambered top surface.
  • the design aims at providing stability out-of-doors in a high wind.
  • This sign stand suffers from a number of disadvantages.
  • Portable sign stands of this type often need to be carried to a new location (for example in and out of a shop) but are relatively difficult to transport owing to the sheet metal display panel (which is thin and possibly has sharp edges) and the heavy base.
  • the sign stand In order to transport the sign stand, one needs either to dismantle it (time consuming, especially if the sign stand has a number of fixings associated therewith) or to pick it up by the sheet metal display panel which may have sharp edges and which may not support the weight of the base. If the sign stand is transported in its assembled state, the heavy base is prone to bang against the carrier's legs.
  • the display-panel-receiving slot may also retain liquid, for example rain water, which runs into the slot from the surface of the display panel.
  • cambered base unit is liable to theft since, on removal of the display panel, the base makes a convenient skateboard ramp!
  • a sign stand comprising
  • said base unit and said frame member are assemble into said sign stand without the need for either tools to aid and/or effect the assembly or fixings (for example screws) in order to fix said sign stand in its assembled form.
  • said sign-supporting frame member is provided with a cross-member and the ground-engaging surface of said base unit is provided with a channel suitable for receiving said cross-member.
  • said cross-member is continuous so as to join opposing limbs of said frame member.
  • said cross-member is discontinuous.
  • the cross-sectional shape of said frame member is selected so as to provide a comfortable carrying means for the assembled sign stand.
  • said frame member is of circular cross-section.
  • said base unit is shaped so as to facilitate carriage of said assembled sign stand.
  • this is achieved by the provision of a waisted plan form, having no sharp corners.
  • said base unit is provided with one or more frame-member-gripping recesses which, in use, grip said frame-member in the vicinity of each limb-cross-member junction.
  • each frame-member-gripping recess is provided with a number of ridges or protrusions which improve the gripping action.
  • said sign stand is supplied in a so-called “flat pack” form, ready for assembly.
  • each of said base unit and said sign-supporting frame member can be supplied independently from one another.
  • Figure 1 shows the sign stand 1 in its unassembled form.
  • the sign stand comprises a moulded PVC base unit 2 and a tubular sign-supporting frame member 3.
  • Frame member 3 is of a generally inverted U-shape, having two parallel vertical limbs 4A and 4B. The extremities of limbs 4A and 4B are joined by cross-member 5.
  • cross-member 5 is discontinuous.
  • discontinuous cross-member 5 comprises two co-axial members (preferably of equal length) projecting inwardly toward one another from each of limbs 4A and 4B.
  • the parallel limits 4A and 4B, the top member 4C and cross-member 5 define the perimeter of frame member 3.
  • the tubular metal from which frame member 3 is constructed is of circular cross-section, the diameter of which is selected to provide a convenient and comfortable means by which the frame member 3 can be lifted.
  • Cross-member 5 need not necessarily be of the same cross-sectional area and/or shape.
  • a sheet metal display panel 6 is supported on frame member 3 by fixings 7.
  • Display panel 6 is supported in such a way that it can swing freely from its fixing points (in windy conditions, for example). In normal circumstances, however, display panel 6 hangs vertically with its perimeter substantially surrounded by frame member 3.
  • Base unit 2 is moulded from recycled plasticised and unplasticised PVC. It is described below in greater detail with reference to Figures 7-11, however from Figure 1 it can be seen that base unit 2 is of a contoured shape having no sharp corners or edges. Significantly, the base unit 2 has a waisted portion 8 and two frame-member-gripping recesses 9. Base unit 2 may also be embossed or otherwise marked with a logo, for example.
  • each of frame-member-gripping recesses 9 is provided with a number of ridges or protrusions 10, integral to the moulding, whose function will be described below.
  • Figure 3 shows the method by which sign stand 1 is assembled.
  • the sign stand 1 is ideally supplied in a so-called "flat pack” form.
  • the customer supports frame member in a generally vertical orientation and drops base unit 2 into position over cross-member 5 in the manner indicated in Figure 3.
  • the ground-engaging surface of base unit 2 is provided with a slot or channel suitable for receiving the cross-member 5 of frame member 3.
  • This cross-member-receiving channel (or slot) is designated by reference numeral 11 in the relevant Figures.
  • Cross-member 5 is located into cross-member-receiving channel 11 by the application of a downward force on base unit 2. This can be easily provided by the customer's foot. After such a force has been applied, the friction fit between base unit 2 and frame member 3 secures the sign stand 1 in its assembled state.
  • sign stand 1 is completely self-supporting.
  • the cross-member-receiving channel 11 holds frame member 3 in a substantially vertical position and the shape and mass of base unit 2 ensures that sign stand 1 is stable and unlikely to be blown or knocked over.
  • Frame-member-gripping recesses 9 also support frame member 3 by means of the pressure applied thereto by ridges or protrusions 10. The arrangement of ridges or protrusions 10 also aids the drainage of any liquid (for example rain water) which may run down the limbs 4A, 4B of frame member 3.
  • Figures 4-6 show the assembled sign stand 1.
  • Figure 6 shows the waisted portion 8 of base unit 2.
  • This shape is of particular importance when the assembled sign stand 1 needs to be transported from one location to another.
  • the customer simply picks up the assembled sign stand 1 by gripping limbs 4A and 4B at a convenient height.
  • the sign stand 1 can be held conveniently close to the customer's body because of waisted portion 8.
  • a conventionally-shaped base unit (for example substantially circular or rectangular when viewed from above) would be likely to inconveniently bang against the legs of the customer.
  • This design of sign stand will reduce the likelihood of accidents during transportation since the customer can grip the assembled sign stand at the most convenient height for him/her and can hold the sign stand relatively close to his/her body; both of these factors ensuring that the display panel 6 does not obstruct the customer's vision as he/she transports the sign stand.
  • FIGS 7-11 show base unit 2 in greater detail.
  • base unit 2 The ground-engaging surface of base unit 2 is provided with a cross-member-receiving channel or slot 11 into which cross-member 5 fits snugly when sign stand 1 is assembled.
  • Base unit 2 is not a completely solid piece of PVC; the quantity of material required is reduced (along with the overall mass) by the provision of a number of hollow chambers 12, separated by reinforcing ribs 13. Reinforcing ribs 13 provide rigidity for base unit 2 and also help to grip the ground on which the base unit 2 is placed.
  • the ridges or protrusions 10 reduce the tendency of frame member 3 to slide within frame-member-gripping recesses 9.
  • base unit 2 shown in the Figures is given by way of example only. Other shapes of base unit are envisaged which can be located substantially within the perimeter of the frame member.
  • the present invention thus provides a hard-wearing and stable sign stand with a number of significant advantages.
  • the sign stand although preferably supplied in flat-pack form, can be easily assembled by the customer (without the need for any tools or fixings) into a sign stand having no readily apparent means of disassembly. If necessary, the sign stand can be disassembled by the customer by forcibly separating base unit 2 and frame member 3.
  • This type of sign stand usually needs to be transported (on a daily basis) in and out of a shop for example, and the sign stand of the present invention facilitates transportation by the waisted portion 8 of base unit 2 as well as the easily-grippable limbs 4A and 4B of frame member 3.
  • the contoured shape of base unit 2 reduces the likelihood of knock injuries.
  • this sign stand with the base unit inboard frame member 3 thus provides an aesthetically-pleasing and stable sign stand which is both hard-wearing and easy to assemble.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
  • Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
EP97303486A 1996-05-22 1997-05-20 Sichtzeichenständer Expired - Lifetime EP0809227B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9610710A GB2313464A (en) 1996-05-22 1996-05-22 Sign stand
GB9610710 1996-05-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0809227A1 true EP0809227A1 (de) 1997-11-26
EP0809227B1 EP0809227B1 (de) 2001-03-07

Family

ID=10794128

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97303486A Expired - Lifetime EP0809227B1 (de) 1996-05-22 1997-05-20 Sichtzeichenständer

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0809227B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE199605T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69704178T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2157049T3 (de)
GB (1) GB2313464A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140054529A1 (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-02-27 Oxford Plastic Systems Limited Fencing base with ballast weight

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2511118B (en) * 2013-02-25 2015-09-23 Signwaves Ltd A sign stand
GB2549613B (en) * 2017-04-12 2018-08-29 Signwaves Ltd A readily deployable sign stand

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990011590A1 (en) * 1989-03-17 1990-10-04 A.C. Edwards Plc Display stands
WO1990011591A1 (en) * 1989-03-17 1990-10-04 A.C. Edwards Plc Display stands
WO1992009225A1 (en) * 1990-11-26 1992-06-11 Egeberg Reklamebureau A/S Mounting bracket for holding a text and/or image carrier e.g. a merchandise pallet
WO1996011461A1 (en) * 1994-10-05 1996-04-18 Albert Rene Smink A device and a method for supporting a flat object, such as an advertising board

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NZ229251A (en) * 1989-05-24 1991-10-25 Edward Wolfgang Brell Modular stand for supporting panel in substantially upright orientation

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990011590A1 (en) * 1989-03-17 1990-10-04 A.C. Edwards Plc Display stands
WO1990011591A1 (en) * 1989-03-17 1990-10-04 A.C. Edwards Plc Display stands
WO1992009225A1 (en) * 1990-11-26 1992-06-11 Egeberg Reklamebureau A/S Mounting bracket for holding a text and/or image carrier e.g. a merchandise pallet
WO1996011461A1 (en) * 1994-10-05 1996-04-18 Albert Rene Smink A device and a method for supporting a flat object, such as an advertising board

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140054529A1 (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-02-27 Oxford Plastic Systems Limited Fencing base with ballast weight
US9677299B2 (en) * 2012-08-24 2017-06-13 Oxford Plastic Systems Limited Fencing base with ballast weight

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2157049T3 (es) 2001-08-01
DE69704178T2 (de) 2001-11-22
DE69704178D1 (de) 2001-04-12
EP0809227B1 (de) 2001-03-07
ATE199605T1 (de) 2001-03-15
GB9610710D0 (en) 1996-07-31
GB2313464A (en) 1997-11-26

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