GB2207273A - Signs - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign 10 comprises a reflective backing member having a transparent cover 24 secured to it, the cover having an alphanumeric character or other symbol formed on its inside by rendering portions of the cover non-transparent. The character or symbol can thus appear either reflective against a non-reflective surround, or vice versa. The backing member comprises a backing plate 18 having a retro-reflector 12 located on it, and secured in place by the cover 24. A plurality of signs 10 may be slid into a mounting member 30 which may be fixed to a post or wall by screws with or without magnetic strips 36 or double-sided adhesive tape. <IMAGE>

Description

SIGNS This invention relates to signs, and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with signs comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system whereby a wide variety of different signs comprising alphanumeric characters and other symbols can be made up easily from relatively simple and inexpensive components.

According to the present invention, there is provided a sign comprising at least one plastics reflective backing member and a cover of transparent plastics material secured to the backing member, an alphanumeric character or other symbol being formed on the cater by rendering portions thereof non-transparent, whereby the character or other symbol is rendered visible by the portions of the reflective backing member visible through the transparent portions of the cover.

The character or other symbol is preferably formed on the inside of the cover, i.e. the surface thereof adjacent to the backing member.

The character or other symbol may be printed on the cover in non-transparent ink, whereby it appears as non-reflective on a reflective background. Alternatively and preferably, the character or other symbol is printed as a negative an the cover, i.e. the cover is rendered non-transparent around the character or other symbol, whereby it appears reflective on a non-reflective background.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover is ultrasonically welded to the backing member, preferably bv ultraso,ically welding the rim of the cover around the entire periphery of the backing member.

The reflective backing merber is preferably retrc-reflectlve, that is, a reflector having a p1 urality of corner-cdbe reflectors moulded thereinto.

Conveniently, the reflective backing member comprises a backing plate and a reflector located thereon, being held on the backing place by the cover.

The invention will no; bye desorlbe5. 9 c- of example or'v. witft reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of the sign in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a detail of the sign shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of part of the sign of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a mounting member for use with the sign of Figure 1.

The sign shown in Figure 1 is indicated generally at 10, and comprises a substantially rectangular plastics retro-reflector 12 of the kind having a plurality of corner-cube reflectors moulded into its rear surface 14.

The reflector 12 has a rearwardly projecting flange 16 extending around its entire periphery, this flange. being sealingly bonded to a substantially flat rectangular plastics backing plate 18 having locating pips 20 for accurately locating the reflector 12 thereon. The backing plate 18 is slightly larger than the reflector 14, so as to leave a narrow border or flange 22 therearound, this flange being wider at the top and bottom of the backing plate than at each side.

A rectangular cover 24, made from a transparent plastics material but having at least one desired alphantmeric character or other symbol screen printed as a negative image on its internal surface, is flush-fitted over the reflector 12, and ultrasonically welded to the flange 22 so as to secure the reflector to the backing plate 18. To facilitate this, the flange 22 is provided with an energy bead 26 (shown in Figure 2) which assists the welding process. Since the character or other symbol is printed as a negative image, i.e. the cover 24 is rendered non-transparent around it, then once the cover is in position, the reflector 12 can be seen only through the portions of the cover representing the character or other symbol, which thus appears reflective within a non-reflective surround.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the cower 24 fully covers the flange 22 a each side of the backing plate 18, bdbut leaves the wider portions of the flange 22 at the top and the bottom of the backing plate parnlally exposes at 28.These exposed portions 28 can be provide; with fixing holes by which the sign 10 can be screwed to ê post or posts, a wall o like vertical surface: alternatively, the; can be used for mounting a plurality of signs 10, each representing a respective alphanur:eric character, in 2 mounting member of the kind shown at 30 in Fig ire 4.

Thus the mounting member 30 is an elongate channel-section extreded plastics member having the edges of its channeffi folded in C the channe at 32, to enclose the exposed portions 28 of the flange 22 at the top and bottom of the backing plate 18 of the sign 10. In practice, a plurality of the signs 10 are slid into the mounting member 30 from one end thereof, so that they abut each other. The mounting member 30 is provided with two pairs of stiffening ribs 34 extending longitudally over its entire length, and with uniformly longitudally spaced fixing holes (not shown) by which it can be secured by screws or the like to a post or posts, wall or other vertical surface.

If desired, the mounting member 30 can additionally be provided with magnetic strips 36, preferably secured between each pair of ribs 34, for fastening it to surfaces made of metals such as steel, and/or with strips of double-sided adhesive tape for sticking it to suitable surfaces.

The reflectors 12 are typically red, although any other desired colour, such as orange, blue or white (i.e. reflective of white light) is possible. By virtUe of the retro-reflective nature of the reflectors 12, they or each sign 10 is extremely conspicwous, especially at night when illuminated by e.g. vehicle headlights. Accordingly, the sign 10 is especially suitable for use in displaying house names or numbers, business names, or directions within car parks or access roads within shopping centres, hospitals, airports and like premises.

Many modifications can be made to the described embodiment of the invention. In particiar, instead of being printed as a negative image on the internal surface of the cover 24, a desired alphanumeric character or other symbol can be positively printed thereon in non-transparenF ink, whereby it appears as non-reflective within a reflective surround.

Further, although it is preferred to print the character or SY2SOL on the inside of the cover 24 to protect it, e.g. from the weather or abrasion, it can if desired be printed on the outside of the cover. Also the. cover 24 can be stuck to Lhe backing plate i8 with adhesive, instead of being ultrasonically welded thereto. Finally, since the cover 24 can be a wide variety o shapes, it vill be appreciated that complete words, narcs or logos car be printed on a single cower to make 1F a complete large sign 10, rather than ra..-dng@@ a large sgr fro: a plurality of signs 13 each bearing a single character.

Claims (8)

1A sign comprising at least one reflective backing member and a cover of transparent plastics material, an alphanumeric character or other symbol being formed on the cover by rendering portions thereof non-transparent, whereby the character or other symbol is rendered visible by the portions of the reflecting backing member visible through the transparent portions of the cover.

2 A sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the character or other symbol is formed on the inside of the cover.

3 A sign as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the character or other symbol is printed on the cover in non-transparent ink, whereby it appears as non-reflective on a reflective background.

4 A sign as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cover is rendered non-transparent around the character or other symbol, whereby the character appears reflective on a non-reflective background.

5 A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is ultrasonically welded to the backing member.

6 A sign as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rim of the cover is ultrasonically welded around the entire periphery of the backing member.

7 A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reflective backing member comprises a backing plate and a reflector located thereon, the reflector being held on the backing plate by the cover.

8 A sign substantially as herein described in reference to the accompanying drawings.