GB2131588A - Slit tube sign stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable, foldable, sign stand is formed from a one-piece tubular member and includes two parallel lower leg members 18, 20 and an upstanding frame section 24, 26, 28 from which a sign panel 32 is supported. The one-piece tubular member has a slit 40 along its entire length and includes an interlocking tongue 5 and groove forming a seam along the slit. The slit 40 provides torsional relief to allow the lower leg members to be easily opened out into a stable stand, while the tongue and groove strengthens the slit tubular member and provides a neat single-line seam. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved slit tube sign stand BACKGROUND-SUMMARY OF THE INVEN TION The present invention relates to sign stands and poster display devices. There are numerous types and sizes of sign stands and poster display devices which are in use today for displaying advertising and informative messages to the public as they pass by. Known devices range from single panels which are permanently attached to walls or post to freestanding uunanchored sign stands, and to much larger multi-paneled devices which are often heavy and difficult to store and move (whether anchored or unanchored).

The present invention provides a sign stand device which has a minimum of parts (and thus will not wear out or break down prematurely), accomodates easy handling and storage (collapses into a compact and ready transportable package), and has a lightweight, sturdy, and aesthetic construction. Sign stands which meet these objects are in much demand today. The stand has a lengthwise slit to achieve easy folding, while its strength is enhanced by an interlocking tongue and groove construction. The tongue and groove also enhance the sign stand's appearance and resistance to weathering.

The invention is an improvement over the sign stand disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Serial No. 337,720 of ian W.

Farmer entitled "Slit-Tube Sign Stand", and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The present inventive sign stand comprises a single piece of extruded tubular material which is bent or formed into a structure having an upstanding frame section and two elongated leg or base members. The structure is adapted to have the legs open up in order to provide a stable base for display of the sign stand, and also to have the legs collapse together in order to provide a compact padcase for transport or storage. A two-faced panel for advertising messages and the like is suspended from or attached to the frame section and presented for display inside the frame section.

The single-piece tubular material is formed with an elongated slit extending throughout its entire length. The slit relieves the torsional forces in the single-piece bent frame section which would prevent it from being easily opened and closed. The slit also prevents the sign stand device from being permanently distorted when it is manipulated to its open and closed positions.

When the sign stand is "opened" for display purposes, the two legs are spread apart in a substantially parallel manner and provide a stable base. A foldable bracket attached to the two leg members is used to retain the legs in the "open" position. When the sign stand is not being displayed, it folds into a narrow, compact unit for storage. In this position, the two legs are moved to positions adjacent to, touching, or on top of each other.

The tubular material is formed, as by ex truding, with an interlocking tongue and groove which form a seam along the slit. The tongue and groove serves to hide the open slit so that only a single seam shows. Thus the invention provides a more aesthetically pleas ing appearance. In addition, the tongue and groove mate to enhance the torsional strength of the sign and to seal out dirt and water.

Because the tubular material can be extruded to include a slit throughout the entire length before it is bent into a sign stand, the sepa rate manufacturing step of cutting torsion relieving slots is eliminated. Thus the sign stand of the present invention is quite eco nomical to manufacture.

These and other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when the following description of the sign stand is reviewed in combination with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign stand in an open position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sign stand device in Fig. 1 illustrating it from an end and side in its closed position; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the sign stand of Figs. 1 an 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the upper cross-bar of the sign stand of Figs.

1-3, taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2; Figures 4a-4c illustrate various different embodiments of the invention; Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the bent-formed corners of the sign stand of Figs. 1-3; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, similar to Figs. 4a-4c, showing the interlocking nature of the tongue and groove means of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENTS Referring to the embodiment of the inven tion illustrated in Figs. 1-4, it will be noted that the sign stand or poster display device 10 is comprised of a single piece of tubing 1 2 which preferably is hollow and formed in the shape shown. The single piece of tubing 1 2 is preferably made of a metal materal, such as steel or aluminium, but also can be made of a sturdy plastic material, such as polystyrene.

The exterior surface of the tubing 1 2 prefera bly has a coating or baked-on finish which is weather-resistant and attractive looking. The tubing 1 2 can be bent or shaped into the form shown by any conventional method known for forming metal tubing or bending plastic tubing.

The tubing 1 2 is formed into a structure having a base section 14 and an upstanding frame section 1 6. The base section 14 has two leg members 18 and 20 which are connected tgether with a foldable bracket 22. The frame section 1 6 is generally rectangular in shape with two side members 24 and 26 and a top member (or upper cross-bar) 28. As can be seen from the drawings, all of the members 18, 20, 24, 26 and 28 are made from a single piece of material and connected by four rounded or bent-formed corners 30.

A sign panel 32 is suspended in the center of the rectangular frame 16 in the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3. The panel 32 has two planar surfaces for display and presentation of advertising messages and the like. The panel 32 is preferably made of thin sheet metal, such as aluminium, but can be made of any material which is thin, lightweight, sturdy and capable af having posters or other messages attached or imprinted thereon.

The panel 32 is suspended from the upper cross-bar 28 of the frame section by a pair of hinges 34. The hinges are attached by fasteners 36 to the cross-bar and extend through openings 38 in the panel. When the panel 32 is suspended freely from the frame 16, it hangs down substantially perendicular to the ground so that it can display its two advertising surfaces in an optimum manner to passers-by.

It is understood that the present invention is not iimited to a specific manner in which the sign panel 32 is attached to or suspended from the frame section 1 6. Another manner is shown, for example, in the copending U.S.

patent application Serial No. 337,720 reference above. There are numerous other ways known in the art and any of these other methods can be utilized.

The tubing 12 is formed, as by extruding, with a continuous slit 40 along the entire length thereof. When the tubing 12 is formed into the shape shown, the slit 40 is preferably located about the inside periphery of the frame structure. Reference may be had to Fig.

5 which shows the slit 40 on the inside periphery of a rounded or bent-formed corner 30. The slit relieves the torsional forces which are present in the single-piece of tubing 12 when it is formed in the shape shown and allows the sign stand to be manipulated to its opened and closed positions easily and without any permanent deformation of the tubing.

With reference to Fig. 4 and insert Fig. 4a, a cross sectional view of the tubing 1 2 is depicted showing the slit 40 in a first, presently preferred, embodiment. Insert Fig. 4a is an enlarged view of the slit 40. The tubing 12 has a generally V-shaped groove 70 along a first edge 72 of slit 40. Along the second edge 74 of slit 40 is a tongue 76 having a substantially V-shaped cross section conforming to the V-shaped groove 70. As used herein the V-shape is intended to encompass a rounded V-shape or U-shape. In this regard, insert Fig. 4b shows a second embodiment of the invention wherein the groove 70' and tongue 76' are generally rounded V-shaped or U-shaped. Insert Fig. 4c illustrates yet another embodiment in which the groove 70 is substantially V-shaped and the tongue 76 has a rounded V-shape or U-shape.It will be under stood that insert Figs. 4a-4c are merely representative of three possible tongue and groove configurations, other configurations being possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

The tongue 76 and groove 70 are adapted to mate or to engage one another to form a seam 78 conterminous with the slit 40. The tongue and groove interlock with one another, as shown in Fig. 6, in the sense that motion of one end (either the tongue carrying end 74 or groove carrying end 72) is constrained by the other end. This would occur when tubing 12 is deformed by a sufficient torsional force.

This interlocking does not interfere with the ability of slit 40 to relieve the torsional forces present in the tubing. The interlocking tongue and groove provide additional torsional strength to the tubing 1 2 when deformed to the position shown in Fig. 6 and also to maintain ends 70 and 74 in circumferential alignment. The seam 78, formed by the interlocking tongue and groove, has a neat single line appearance without unsightly gaps or openings into which foreign matter can collect.

The two leg members 18 and 20 are substantially parallel to each other. When the sign stand is in its "closed" position, as shown in Figs. 2 an 3, the leg members 18 and 20 are positioned side-by-side allowing the folded sign stand to assume a thin, compact package for transportation and storage.

When the sign stand is in its "open" position ready for display (as shown in Fig. 1), the leg members 18 and 20 are spread apart forming a stable base 14.

The foldable bracket 22 is attached to the leg members by a pair of fasteners 42. The bracket 22 is of conventional design with a pair of foldable arms 44 and 46 connected by a pivot mechanism 48. When the sign stand is closed for storage, the bracket 22 assumes its folded position and lies out of the way along the top of the two leg members 18 and 22 (see Figs. 2 and 3). When the sign stand is opened for viewing, the bracket locks into the straight position helping to hold the two leg members apart (see Fig. 1). For this purpose, lock mechanism 49 is attached to the free end of arm 44. The bracket 22 also limits the distance that the leg members can be spread apart and this prevents the legs of the sign stand from being inadvertently and unnecessarily pulled too far apart.

The ends of the two leg members 1 8 and 20 are sealed with caps or plugs 50 to provide a "finished" look and also to keep dirt, water and other debris from entering the tubing. Small plastic or rubber base mounts or "feet" 52 are provided on the bottoms of the leg members 1 8 and 20. These mounts 52 protect the bottom of the leg members from being scratched or damaged and also help prevent the sign stand from sliding along the ground when high wind forces are present. For increased stability of the sign stand during windy conditions, it is also possible to put ballast or weights (not shown) in the inside of the two leg members 1 8 and 20.

Claims (8)

1. A sign stand comprising a single piece of tubular material formed in a base structure with two leg members and an upstanding frame structure said tubular material having a slit along the entire length thereof to allow said leg members to be spread apart easily and without permanently deforming any of said tubular material, and having interlocking means forming a seam along said slits, and a sign panel attached and positioned in said frame structure.

2. The sign stand of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises tongue and groove means.

3. The sign stand of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a substantially V-shaped groove means and tongue means engageable with said groove means.

4. The sign stand according to claim 3 wherein said tongue means is substantially Vshaped conforming to said groove means.

5. The sign stand of claim 1 further comprising means for holding said two leg members in said spread apart position.

6. The sign stand according to claim 5 wherein said holding means comprises a foldable bracket.

7. The sign stand of claim 1 wherein said seam is disposed along the inside periphery of said frame structure.

8. A sign stand constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.