GB1598695A

GB1598695A - Changeable sign

Info

Publication number: GB1598695A
Application number: GB1096077A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SPACESAVER SIGNS
Current assignee: SPACESAVER SIGNS
Priority date: 1978-03-13
Filing date: 1978-03-13
Publication date: 1981-09-23

Description

(54) CHANGEABLE SIGN (71) We, SPACESAVER SIGNS LIMITED, of Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, Avon, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to changeable signs.

Various types of changeable sign are known. In one arrangement a fixed sign panel is provided with a blind which can be drawn over the sign when it is desired to conceal it. This type is cheap, but of very limited use. In another arrangement the sign is formed from a number of parallel plates or prisms, pivotally mounted and rotatable in unison so as to present alternative faces. This type is more sophisticated, but much more expensive. In between these extremes there is a type in which a hinged panel is mounted on a fixed sign panel so as to be movable between two alternative positions face to face with the fixed panel, thereby providing two alternative faces. The present invention seeks to provide a sign which is more versatile than these types, but is of relatively modest cost.

The present invention provides a changeable sign comprising a plurality of movable plates, each plate having apertures in the region of an edge thereof and being hingedly mounted on a planar backing by a plurality of rigid hoops carried by the backing and passing freely through said apertures in the plate, so that each plate can be hinged between a position parallel to the planar backing on one side of the hoops to a position parallel to the backing on the other side of the hoops, and in addition to said hoops means such as hinges to maintain the plates in edge to edge relationship.

The backing preferably takes the form of a rigid panel. Each plate can bear indicia on one or both sides so that different signs are presented in the different positions of the various plates. The backing panel may also bear indicia so as to form part of a sign when exposed. The plates are preferably hinged together in groups of two or three. One or a plurality of groups may be mounted on the same hoops. A plurality of sets of hoops may be provided in different regions of the backing, each set carrying its own group or groups of plates. The plates of two such sets of hoops may be arranged so that they can be hinged into edge to edge relationship. The plates may be hinged about a vertical or horizontal axis as desired. Preferably means are provided for securing the plates in selected positions parallel to the backing.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. I shows a perspective view of a sign, and Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional detail from above of the hinge region of the sign.

Referring to the drawings; the sign comprises a rectangular planar backing panel 10 and three rectangular plates 12, 13, 14 hingedly mounted thereon. The plates are the same size, and half the size of the backing. However, if desired, the backing panel could be considerably bigger than twice the size of a hinged panel, the extra regions of the panel providing a fixed region of the sign. The panel, for example made from sheet aluminium, is conveniently reinforced by one or more channel section members 16 rivetted to its rear surface, the channel mouth being restricted by inturned lips as shown in Fig. 2. The plates 12, 13, 14 are hinged together at a common edge. The plates 12, 13 arejoined by hinges 18, whereas the plates 13, 14 are joined by hinges 20, the pins of the hinges 18, 20 being coaxial. The plates are provided with apertures 22 near the hinged edge. The plates are hingedly mounted on the backing panel by means of rigid U-shaped hoops 24 which pass freely through the apertures 22. Each hoop carries a loose cross piece 26 which abuts the front face of the panel 10. It provides a distance piece spacing the plates from the heads of rivets projecting from the panel 10, and also provides a bearing surface for the hinged edges of the plates during the hinging action.

The limbs of the hoop beyond the cross piece extend through the backing panel on either side of the channel 16. The ends of the limbs are screw threaded and carry nuts 28 and cooperating locking nuts 29 which adjustably connect the hoop to a mounting plate 30. The mounting plate is secured by a bolt 32, the head of which lies in the channel 16, retained by the lips thereof, the shank passing through an aperture in the mounting plate and carrying a nut 34 which is tightened against the mounting plate. This serves to secure the mounting plate and maintain the plane of the hoop at right angles to the plane of the panel 10. The axis of the hinges 18, 20 lies at the centre of curvature of the projecting semicircular portion of the hoop. Thus, the plates 12, 13, 14 can be individually moved between a position A parallel with the backing panel 10 on one side of the hoops and a position B parallel to the panel 10 on the other side of the hoops. Fig. 2 shows one arrangement of plates, but it will be apparent that there are four different arrangements, in each of which a different pair of surfaces will be displayed.

In two of the arrangements one of the surfaces will be the surface of the backing panel 10. Thus, the surfaces of the backing panel 10 and plates 12, 13, 14 can all be provided with appropriate indicia to give four different signs, which may dr may not spread across both of the pair of surfaces.

The plates can be secured in the selected arrangement by suitable means, for example a pair of padlocks 36 passing through apertures 38 near an edge of the plates and the backing panel.

As seen in Fig. 1, an angle-sectionmember 37 is rivetted to the backing panel 10 around the bottom edge thereof, to form a forwardly projecting ledge. The plates 12, 13, 14 rest on this ledge when they are in the positions A or B. This helps to ensure alignment of the apertures 38 to facilitate insertion of the padlocks 36, and this is particularly advantageous if there is a large number of plates 12, 13, 14. It also tends to relieve the strain on the hoops 24 and the hinges 18, 20. If there were no hinges 18, 20, the ledge and padlocks would maintain the plates in edge to edge relationship.

The foregoing embodiment has shown a group of three panels hinged together and mounted on the backing by a set of two supporting hoops. However, the number of plates could be varied according to the number of different signs to be shown. For example, it is possible to incorporate as many as seven plates. Conveniently the plates are hinged together in groups of two or three.

The plates in each group support each other during the hinging process. Two is the most convenient number, so that the plates are preferably hinged together in pairs unless there is an odd number, in which case one group of three is used. More than one group of plates can be mounted on the same set of hoops; nuts 28, 29 being adjusted so that the hoops project from the backing panel sufficiently to accommodate them. There may be more than two hoops in the set according to the weight of the plates to be supported.

Large areas of movable sign may be subdivided into smaller areas, each with its own collection of movable plates as described above, the plates of adjacent areas being movable into edge to edge relationship so that a complete sign can be built over the larger area. The embodiment illustrated shows the sign mounted so that the hinge axis of the plates is vertical, but it could be horizontal instead if desired. A horizontal axis configuration has the advantage that there is less strain on the hinges, but the disadvantage that a plate above the hinge will necessarily have to be firmly secured in position.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A changeable sign comprising a plurality of movable plates, each plate having apertures in the region of an edge thereof and being hingedly mounted on a planar backing by a plurality of rigid hoops carried by the backing and passing freely through said apertures in the plate so that each plate can be hinged between a position parallel to the planar backing on one side of the hoops to a position parallel to the backing on the other side of the hoops, and in addition to said hoops means to maintain in edge to edge relationship the said edges of plates in opposing positions parallel to the backing.

2. A changeable sign according to claim 1 wherein the backing takes the form of a rigid panel.

3. A changeable sign according to claim 2 wherein the backing panel bears indicia to form part of a sign when exposed.

4. A changeable sign according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein one or more of the plates bears indicia on both sides so that different signs are presented in the different positions of that plate or plates.

5. A changeable sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plates are hinged together at said edges in addition to being hingedly mounted on the backing, in order to provide the means to maintain the plates in edge to edge relatiqnship.

6. A changeable sign according to claim 5 wherein the plates are hinged together in groups of two or three.

7. A changeable sign according to claim 6 wherein a plurality of said groups are mounted on common said hoops.

8. A changeable sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of sets of said hoops are provided in different regions of the backing, each set having its own group or groups of plates.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. side of the channel 16. The ends of the limbs are screw threaded and carry nuts 28 and cooperating locking nuts 29 which adjustably connect the hoop to a mounting plate 30. The mounting plate is secured by a bolt 32, the head of which lies in the channel 16, retained by the lips thereof, the shank passing through an aperture in the mounting plate and carrying a nut 34 which is tightened against the mounting plate. This serves to secure the mounting plate and maintain the plane of the hoop at right angles to the plane of the panel 10. The axis of the hinges 18, 20 lies at the centre of curvature of the projecting semicircular portion of the hoop. Thus, the plates 12, 13, 14 can be individually moved between a position A parallel with the backing panel 10 on one side of the hoops and a position B parallel to the panel 10 on the other side of the hoops. Fig. 2 shows one arrangement of plates, but it will be apparent that there are four different arrangements, in each of which a different pair of surfaces will be displayed. In two of the arrangements one of the surfaces will be the surface of the backing panel 10. Thus, the surfaces of the backing panel 10 and plates 12, 13, 14 can all be provided with appropriate indicia to give four different signs, which may dr may not spread across both of the pair of surfaces. The plates can be secured in the selected arrangement by suitable means, for example a pair of padlocks 36 passing through apertures 38 near an edge of the plates and the backing panel. As seen in Fig. 1, an angle-sectionmember 37 is rivetted to the backing panel 10 around the bottom edge thereof, to form a forwardly projecting ledge. The plates 12, 13, 14 rest on this ledge when they are in the positions A or B. This helps to ensure alignment of the apertures 38 to facilitate insertion of the padlocks 36, and this is particularly advantageous if there is a large number of plates 12, 13, 14. It also tends to relieve the strain on the hoops 24 and the hinges 18, 20. If there were no hinges 18, 20, the ledge and padlocks would maintain the plates in edge to edge relationship. The foregoing embodiment has shown a group of three panels hinged together and mounted on the backing by a set of two supporting hoops. However, the number of plates could be varied according to the number of different signs to be shown. For example, it is possible to incorporate as many as seven plates. Conveniently the plates are hinged together in groups of two or three. The plates in each group support each other during the hinging process. Two is the most convenient number, so that the plates are preferably hinged together in pairs unless there is an odd number, in which case one group of three is used. More than one group of plates can be mounted on the same set of hoops; nuts 28, 29 being adjusted so that the hoops project from the backing panel sufficiently to accommodate them. There may be more than two hoops in the set according to the weight of the plates to be supported. Large areas of movable sign may be subdivided into smaller areas, each with its own collection of movable plates as described above, the plates of adjacent areas being movable into edge to edge relationship so that a complete sign can be built over the larger area. The embodiment illustrated shows the sign mounted so that the hinge axis of the plates is vertical, but it could be horizontal instead if desired. A horizontal axis configuration has the advantage that there is less strain on the hinges, but the disadvantage that a plate above the hinge will necessarily have to be firmly secured in position. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A changeable sign comprising a plurality of movable plates, each plate having apertures in the region of an edge thereof and being hingedly mounted on a planar backing by a plurality of rigid hoops carried by the backing and passing freely through said apertures in the plate so that each plate can be hinged between a position parallel to the planar backing on one side of the hoops to a position parallel to the backing on the other side of the hoops, and in addition to said hoops means to maintain in edge to edge relationship the said edges of plates in opposing positions parallel to the backing.

9. A changeable sign according to claim

8 wherein the plates of two said sets of hoops are arranged so that they can be hinged into edge to edge relationship.

10. A changeable sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plates are hinged about a vertical axis.

I 1. A changeable sign according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the plates are hinged about a horizontal axis.

12. A changeable sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided for securing the plates in selected positions parallel to the backing.

13. A changeable sign according to claim 10 wherein the backing has a forwardly projecting horizontal ledge below the plates on which a plate can rest when it is in one of the positions parallel to the backing.

14. A changeable sign as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.