GB2100043A - Combined direction indicating and advertising device. - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined direction indicating and advertising device comprises a column 1 supporting at its upper end one or more direction indicating signs 2 and below those signs an advertising frame 3. Each sign 2 takes the form of a pair of direction indicating plates 5 or translucent material and which can be slid into a frame 7 secured by adjustable brackets 16 to the column 1. A removable access panel 12 is fixed to the frame 7 to retain the plates 5 and can be detached to enable removal of the plates 5 for cleaning or substitution. The advertising frame 3 may take any of a number of different shapes in horizontal section and carry poster units (28) of which a poster (29) is sandwiched between a pair of translucent plastics sheets (30). Fluorescent tubes (14) and (35) respectively illuminate the direction indicating plates 5 and the poster units (28). The advertising frame 3 may be mounted on adjustable brackets or for continuous rotation by a motor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combined direction indicating and advertising device This invention relates to a combined direction indicating and advertising device.

In embodiments of the invention at present preferred, a combined direction indicating and advertising device comprises a column supporting at its upper end one or more direction indicating signs and further supporting below said signs an advertising frame.

In order that the invention may be well understood the preferred embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example, will now be described in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined direction indicating and advertising device; Figures 2 to 4 are scrap perspective views of three alternative direction indicating signs; Figures Sto 10 are scrap perspective views of six alternative advertising frames; Figure 11 is a part exploded perspective view of a single direction indicating sign fixed to a column; Figure 12 is a scrap horizontal section through the front end of the sign illustrated in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a scrap perspective view showing one of the brackets securing the sign of Figures 11 and 12 to the column;; Figure 14 is a part exploded perspective view of the advertising frame illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 15 is a scrap horizontal section showing a corner area of the frame depicted in Figure 14; Figure 16 is a pictorial view showing some of the components of the corner area depicted in Figure 15; and Figure 17 is a part exploded view of the advertising unit illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figure 1, the combined direction indicating and advertising device shown therein comprises a column 1 at the upper end of which are supported four direction indicating signs 2. Below the signs 2, the column 1 supports an advertising frame 3.

The combined direction indicating and advertising device may incorporate a different number of signs 2. Thus, for example, Figure 2 shows a structure with one sign, Figure 3 with two signs and Figure 4 with three signs. Whatever the number of signs, the means by which the signs are mounted to the column 1 would permit the sign or signs to be adjusted around the column and fixed in the selected orientation.

The advertising frame may take any of various forms, for example the configurations 3, 3a to 3f illustrated, and the particularly selected shape of advertising frame may be used with, for example, one, two, three or four direction indicating signs 2 as disclosed. In Figures 5, 6 and 7, the advertising frames 3a, 3b, 3c are all prisms and of horizontal section, respectively, rectangular, triangular and square. The advertising frame 3 of Figure 1 corresponds with the frame 3a except that in horizontal section its opposite long sides 4 are of convex curvature. Similarly, the frames 3d and 3e of Figures 8 and 9 correspond to the frames 3b and 3c, respectively, with the modification that in horizontal section their sides are again of convex curvature.

Finally, the frame 3f of Figure 10 is cylindrical and of circular horizontal section.

By positioning the advertising frame 3 below the direction indicating sign or signs 2, the structure is made more stable than in an arrangement where the advertising frame is uppermost. Moreover, the advertising frame, because of the increased stability, is enabled to be made larger than hitherto, particularly in vertical section, with the advantage that the advertising literature can be more prominently displayed. Also, positioning the advertising frame 3 lowermost enables that frame to be weil spaced apart from the direction indicating sign or signs 2, with the consequent advantage that both can be more clearly read and, in particular, the advertising literature brought more readily visible to the eye and that which is displayed accordingly betterappreci- ated. Additionally, by lowering the advertising frame the overall height of the column may be reduced.

Whilst the advertising frame is best brought lower as said, direction indicating signs are normally positioned well above the viewer, and hence the present construction presents the signs in their traditional position where they are best appreciated by the viewer.

Both the direction indicating sign or signs 2 and the advertising frame 3 are advantageously illuminated from within, and means are provided for that purpose, as will appear. Also, whilst not specifically described in the description to follow, the advertising frame 3 can be mounted for rotation about column 1 and a motor provided for effecting con tinyously such rotation for enhancing the display of the advertising literature. In the case of illumination of the sign or signs and the frame, the street mains supply can be utilized for power purposes.

As shown in Figure 1,the four direction indicating signs 2 are at right angles to one another, but it will be appreciated that they may be mutually displaced at any angle to suit the relative orientations of the destinations they indicate.

In one particular construction of direction indicating sign 2, as is best seen in Figures 11 and 12, a pair of direction indicating plates 5 are dished outwardly to bear thereon the direction indicia from flat peripheral edge portions 6. The plates 5 are housed on opposite sides of a metal frame 7 made up of integral top, bottom, back and front members 8,9, 10 and 11 respectively, all of channel cross-section. The front member 11 is narrower than the other frame members to enable the plates 5 to e slid from the front behind the channel flanges of those other members at their fiat edge portions 6 and into the frame 7. Retention of the plates 5 in the frame 7 is obtained by means of a removable access front panel 12 which is of channel cross-section and sized across similarly to the top and bottom frame memers 8 and 9.The access panel 12 is fixed to the front member 11 by screws 13, and the resultant structure is perhaps best appreciated by viewing Figure 12. By removing the screws 13, the access panel 12 can be detached to enable the plates 5 to be removed for cleaning or substitution and the interior of the frame exposed for maintenance.

The direction indicating plates 5 may be of any suitable translucent material of which an acrylic plastics material is found to be particularly appropriate. The internal illumination may be provided by a fluorescent tube 14 supported by brackets 15 affixed to the back and front frame members 10 and 11. The power supply and switchgear structure (not referenced) is carried by the back frame member 10.

To support the or each direction indicating sign 2 from the column 1, a pairoftop and bottom brackets 16 are provided. As shown in Figure 13, each bracket 16 is of split construction comprising a pair of semi-circular collars 17 configured to fit around the column 1. If the column were other than circular cross-section, the collars would be shaped to suit.

Each collar has apertured end flanges 18 through which to be bolted to each other and so secured to the column 1. By loosening the bolts, it will be realized that the composite collar can be adjusted around the column 1 to position the signs as desired.

The bracket 16 shown in Figure 13 is designed to support four signs 2 all arranged atthe same height and mutually perpendicuiar. For that purpose, the bracket 16 has each of its collars 17 provided with two integral radial arms 19. If the bracket 16 was only to support one sign 2 then only one such arm 19 would be needed, the number of arms being commensurate with the numer of signs. If wished, though, a four arm bracket 16 could be adopted when a lesser number of signs 2 are to be supported, and the arm or arms not being utilized simply being left redundant. As shown in Figure 13, an arm 19 is bolted at 20 to a corresponding arm 21 affixed to the top frame member 8. In the case of a bottom bracket 16, its arm 19 would be similarly bolted to a corresponding arm affixed to the bottom frame member 9.

One way of constructing an advertising frame is illustrated in Figures 14to 16 which particularly relate to the triangular horizontal section frame 3b of Figure 6. The frame 3b has triangular top and bottom end plates 22 and 22a which are of similar construction having cut-away corners 23 and flanged edges 24 up to those corners, the flanges of the top plate being upturned and those of the bottom plate being downturned. The plates 22, 22a are connected together at each of their corners by vertical Wsection members 25, the inner flanges 26 of which fit within the respective cut-away corner 23 and the outer flanges 27 of which overlie the outside of the adjacent flanges 24 and are suitably affixed thereto.

Three sandwiched units 28 each comprising an advertising poster 29 between a pair of sheets 30 of translucent plastics material, of which the inner may be acrylic and the outer of a plastics sold under the trade name "Darvic", are provided at the three vertical faces of the advertising frame 3b. Each unit 28 is secured in position, between the top and bottom plates 22, 22a and a pair of adjacent vertical members 25, by a pair of vertical angles 31, one at each vertical edge of the unit. One leg 32 of each angle 31 is suitably affixed to an inner flange 26 of the respective vertical member 25 and the other leg 33 traps a vertical edge of the unit 28 against an outer flange 27 of the member 25 and is suitably affixed to that flange.The assembly is completed by top and bottom horizontal angles 34 which span the space between the vertical angles 31 and which trap the horizontal edges of the unit 28 against the flanges 24 of the plates 28,28a. Each angle 34 has its vertical leg secured to the respective flange 24 and its horizontal leg overlying that flange.

The advertising frame 3b is illuminated from within by three fluorescent tubes 35 the opposite ends of which are supported by plates 36 which are secured to the top or bottom plate 22, 22a and to a vertical member 25 to give the structure added strength. Selected plates 36 also carry the power supply and electrical control gear.

A pair of top and bottom triangular brackets 37 (the latter not being shown) affix the advertising frame 3b to the column 1. Each bracket is bolted at 38 to an angle 39 affixed to the respective plate 22, 22a, and three gripper bolts 40 secure the bracket 37 to the column 1 and enable the advertising frame to be adjusted lengthwise of the column. In a modification, a square bracket is used with four gripper bolts.

The described construction of the advertising frame 3b is generally suitable for any of the advertising frames 3, 3c, 3d, 3e and 3fwith the number of fluorescent tubes being varied as desired and with the included angle between the inner flanges 26 of the W-shaped vertical member 25 being varied, the shape of the vertical member itself being varied to suit the horizontal configuration of the frame.

In an alternative construction, the advertising frame 3a shown in detail in Figure 17 may be made of a closed box frame 41 with inturned flanged edges 42 against which are secured poster units (not shown) by horizontal and vertical angles 43 and 44 respectively suitably affixed to the flanged edges. As before, the fluorescent tubes 35 are supported by plates 36 this time affixed to adjacent webs 45 of the box frame 41. Again, the advertising frame 3a would be adjustablyfixed to the column 1 by a pair of brackets with gripper bolts (not shown) which would be secured to the angles 39.

The various structural components of the advertising frame may be affixed or secured together by bolt fixings.

The column lisa hollow metal tube the lower end of which would be affixed in the pavement or other ground surface and has an aperture 45 through which the mains supply cables pass from below ground level into the tube to provide electrical power to the fluorescent tubes, illuminating the direction sign or signs and advertising frame, and to the motor when one is provided to rotate the advertising frame about the column.

CLAIMS (Filed 21 May 1982) 1. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device comprising a column supporting at its upper end one or more direction indicating signs and further supporting below said signs an advertis

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

Claims (22)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. removing the screws 13, the access panel 12 can be detached to enable the plates 5 to be removed for cleaning or substitution and the interior of the frame exposed for maintenance. The direction indicating plates 5 may be of any suitable translucent material of which an acrylic plastics material is found to be particularly appropriate. The internal illumination may be provided by a fluorescent tube 14 supported by brackets 15 affixed to the back and front frame members 10 and 11. The power supply and switchgear structure (not referenced) is carried by the back frame member 10. To support the or each direction indicating sign 2 from the column 1, a pairoftop and bottom brackets 16 are provided. As shown in Figure 13, each bracket 16 is of split construction comprising a pair of semi-circular collars 17 configured to fit around the column 1. If the column were other than circular cross-section, the collars would be shaped to suit. Each collar has apertured end flanges 18 through which to be bolted to each other and so secured to the column 1. By loosening the bolts, it will be realized that the composite collar can be adjusted around the column 1 to position the signs as desired. The bracket 16 shown in Figure 13 is designed to support four signs 2 all arranged atthe same height and mutually perpendicuiar. For that purpose, the bracket 16 has each of its collars 17 provided with two integral radial arms 19. If the bracket 16 was only to support one sign 2 then only one such arm 19 would be needed, the number of arms being commensurate with the numer of signs. If wished, though, a four arm bracket 16 could be adopted when a lesser number of signs 2 are to be supported, and the arm or arms not being utilized simply being left redundant. As shown in Figure 13, an arm 19 is bolted at 20 to a corresponding arm 21 affixed to the top frame member 8. In the case of a bottom bracket 16, its arm 19 would be similarly bolted to a corresponding arm affixed to the bottom frame member 9. One way of constructing an advertising frame is illustrated in Figures 14to 16 which particularly relate to the triangular horizontal section frame 3b of Figure 6. The frame 3b has triangular top and bottom end plates 22 and 22a which are of similar construction having cut-away corners 23 and flanged edges 24 up to those corners, the flanges of the top plate being upturned and those of the bottom plate being downturned. The plates 22, 22a are connected together at each of their corners by vertical Wsection members 25, the inner flanges 26 of which fit within the respective cut-away corner 23 and the outer flanges 27 of which overlie the outside of the adjacent flanges 24 and are suitably affixed thereto. Three sandwiched units 28 each comprising an advertising poster 29 between a pair of sheets 30 of translucent plastics material, of which the inner may be acrylic and the outer of a plastics sold under the trade name "Darvic", are provided at the three vertical faces of the advertising frame 3b. Each unit 28 is secured in position, between the top and bottom plates 22, 22a and a pair of adjacent vertical members 25, by a pair of vertical angles 31, one at each vertical edge of the unit. One leg 32 of each angle 31 is suitably affixed to an inner flange 26 of the respective vertical member 25 and the other leg 33 traps a vertical edge of the unit 28 against an outer flange 27 of the member 25 and is suitably affixed to that flange.The assembly is completed by top and bottom horizontal angles 34 which span the space between the vertical angles 31 and which trap the horizontal edges of the unit 28 against the flanges 24 of the plates 28,28a. Each angle 34 has its vertical leg secured to the respective flange 24 and its horizontal leg overlying that flange. The advertising frame 3b is illuminated from within by three fluorescent tubes 35 the opposite ends of which are supported by plates 36 which are secured to the top or bottom plate 22, 22a and to a vertical member 25 to give the structure added strength. Selected plates 36 also carry the power supply and electrical control gear. A pair of top and bottom triangular brackets 37 (the latter not being shown) affix the advertising frame 3b to the column 1. Each bracket is bolted at 38 to an angle 39 affixed to the respective plate 22, 22a, and three gripper bolts 40 secure the bracket 37 to the column 1 and enable the advertising frame to be adjusted lengthwise of the column. In a modification, a square bracket is used with four gripper bolts. The described construction of the advertising frame 3b is generally suitable for any of the advertising frames 3, 3c, 3d, 3e and 3fwith the number of fluorescent tubes being varied as desired and with the included angle between the inner flanges 26 of the W-shaped vertical member 25 being varied, the shape of the vertical member itself being varied to suit the horizontal configuration of the frame. In an alternative construction, the advertising frame 3a shown in detail in Figure 17 may be made of a closed box frame 41 with inturned flanged edges 42 against which are secured poster units (not shown) by horizontal and vertical angles 43 and 44 respectively suitably affixed to the flanged edges. As before, the fluorescent tubes 35 are supported by plates 36 this time affixed to adjacent webs 45 of the box frame 41. Again, the advertising frame 3a would be adjustablyfixed to the column 1 by a pair of brackets with gripper bolts (not shown) which would be secured to the angles 39. The various structural components of the advertising frame may be affixed or secured together by bolt fixings. The column lisa hollow metal tube the lower end of which would be affixed in the pavement or other ground surface and has an aperture 45 through which the mains supply cables pass from below ground level into the tube to provide electrical power to the fluorescent tubes, illuminating the direction sign or signs and advertising frame, and to the motor when one is provided to rotate the advertising frame about the column. CLAIMS (Filed 21 May 1982)

1. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device comprising a column supporting at its upper end one or more direction indicating signs and further supporting below said signs an advertis

ing frame.

2. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each direction indicating sign is secured to the column by bracket means which can be adjusted around said column to position the sign in the required direction.

3. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the or each direction indicating sign comprises a pair of direction indicating plates which are housed on opposite sides of a sign frame and which can be slid into the sign frame and retained therein.

4. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sign frame has upper and lower members and a pair of end members all of channel cross-section, one end member being in proximity to said column and the opposite end member being remote therefrom and being narrower than the other members to enable said direction indicating plates to be slid past the opposite flanges of said opposite end member and behind the opposite flanges of said other members.

5. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said direction indicating plates are retained in said sign frame by means of a removable panel which is of channel cross-section and sized similarly to said upper and lower members and which is detachably attached to said opposite end member.

6. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said direction indicating plates are dished outwardly from flat peripheral edge portions which are positioned adjacent said flanges of said frame members.

7. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein said direction indicating plates are translucent, and illuminating means are housed internally of said sign frame.

8. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein said bracket means comprise a pair of brackets, each bracket being of split construction comprising a pair of collars configured to fit around said column, each collar having apertured end flanges through which to be bolted together so to secure said bracket to said column.

9. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pair of brackets are spaced apart along said column and are attached to verticaily spaced apart sections of said sign frame, and wherein each bracket has radial arms each of which is adapted for being secured to a sign frame by which one bracket can secure a plurality of sign frames to the column.

10. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said advertising frame is a closed box frame open at its opposite vertical sides to which are mounted poster units.

11. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said advertising frame comprises top and bottom plates connected together by vertical members, and a plurality of poster units of which each one is mounted adjacent said top and bottom plates and between an adjacent pair of said vertical members.

12. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said top and bottom plates are each cut away at their regions connected to said vertical members and have flanged edges up to those cut away regions, each of said vertical members being to W-section with its inner flanges fitting within the respective cut-away region of said top and bottom plates and with its outer flanges overlying the adjacent flanged edges of said top and bottom plates on opposite side of that cut-away region and being affixed thereto.

13. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each poster unit is mounted against said flanged edges of said top and bottom plates and against the outer adjacent flanges of an adjacent pair of said vertical members, each poster unit being secured in position by vertical angles of each of which one leg is affixed to an inner flange of the respective vertical member and the other leg traps a vertical edge of the poster unit against the adjacent outer flange of that same vertical member to which it is affixed, horizontal angles spanning the space between said vertical angles and each having its vertical leg trapping the respective poster unit against a flanged edge of said top or bottom plate and being secured thereto and its horizontal leg overlying that same flanged edge.

14. A combined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said top and bottom plates are of similar configuration, each being either triangular or generally triangular with its sides of convex curvature, rectangular or generally rectangular with its sides of convex curvature, or square or generally square with is sides of convex curvature, said top and bottom plates having their cut-away regions at the corners thereof.

15. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said top and bottom plates are of similar configuration with each of circular configuration, said cut-away regions being spaced apart around the periphery of each of said circular plates.

16. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15, wherein each poster unit comprises an advertising poster between a pair of sheets of translucent plastics material.

17. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including brackets for affixing said advertising frame to said column, said brackets enabling said advertising frame to be adjusted along said column.

18. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said advertising frame is mounted for rotation about said column, and including a motor for rotating said advertising frame about said column.

19. Acombined direction indicating and advertising device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including illuminating means within said advertising frame.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19 when appendantto claim 7 and claim 18, wherein said column is hollow to enable mains supply cables to be passed therethrough to provide electrical power to said motor and to said illuminating means for said advertising frame and said direction indicating signs.

21. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end of said column is constructed for mounting in a pavement or other ground surface.

22. Any of the embodiments of combined direction indicating and advertising devices substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.