GB2240868A - Sign system - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign system comprises a panel 1 held vertically by two clamps 2 each on supporting feet 3 which are in turn braced apart. The panel may be written with a message and used on its own or a clear plastic sheath 8 may be slid over the panel to weatherproof it and if required with a message on it to be read in conjunction with the message on the panel. Similarily a paper or other material strip 7 with a fold halfway up its length with a message on it may be draped over the panel and held in place and weatherproofed by the plastic sheath which may if required be written with part of the message to be read in conjunction with the message on the draped strip. There is provided a means to retain the clear plastic sheath in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SIGN SYSTEM Base or otherwise mounted signs for advertisina and other purposes are well known and many such signs incornorate a means of chanqing the 'message' thereon or therein as and when required such as in signs used in the vehicle sellina trade where prices and details vary from vehicle to vehicle or in trades where seasonal sales and offers proliferate.

The Signs that have been seen incorporating a means of changing the message are not unlike 'Picture Frames' in so far as they incorporate a similar means of holding a clear screen through which the message is read.

Most pavement base mounted signs have a message on two sides with 'picture type framing' on each side or a frame made to hold the clear screens of both sides.

One of the inherent problems of such systems is the satisfactory sealing off of the 'Message' to prevent it being interfered with or spoiled by the inqress of rain or other pollutants.

The invention is a sign system with components adaptable to the users needs and are not all necessarily used at the same time even though each is complimentary to the other as will become clear from the description to follow.

In its basic form the Invention is a Vertical Panel (1) (FIG.1) manufactured from a rigid material such as one of the proprietory brands of hard surfaced cellular sheet PVC materials. The thickness used to give the panel sufficient rigidity would depend upon its overall size.

For a panel measuring 400mm wide by 800mm tall Cellular Hard Surface PVC material of 6mm thickness has been found satisfactory.

The Panel (1) is clamped at the bottom by two sets of clamps (2). One half of each clamp is welded to its respective supporting foot (3) with the other half loose.

The rigidity and distance between the feet is maintained by 2 Cross Members (4). When the Panel (1) is sufficiently rigid Cross Members are not required.

Passing through the two parts of the clamp (2) as well as the Panel (1) and the two Cross Members (4) as shown in F1G.2 which is a cross section through the line A-A on FIG.3.is a Bolt (5) tensioned and retained by a Nut (6) with another Nut and Bolt used to clamp the other side of the Panel(1) The Panel (1) may already at this stage have a message on each side and be used as a base mounted sign without the use of any additional comDonents comprising the system.

The next Component part of the system is a Inner Strip (7) folded halfway in its length and draped over the Panel (1).

For this purpose 110 gsm Paper has been found satisfactory.

This draped Inner Strip (7) could have a commercially printed message on it or a message applied by hand with say broad tip felt pen or a combination thereof.

Fig.1 shows the draped Inner Strip (7) part way down to its final position and in Fig.3 fully down.

It will be noted that the fold at the top of the draped Inner Strip (7) keeps it in position whilst the next component part of the system the Outer Sheath (8) is slid over.

The outer Clear Sheath (8) is manufactured from clear plastic. In practise two sheets of 300 Micron thick Flexible Clear PVC sheet Radio Frequency Welded together with a continuous seam on three sides has been found satisfactory to form a sheath to slide over the Panel (1) and the draped Inner Strip (7) which when fitted would be held in close contact with the Panel (1) thus making the message on the draped Inner Strip (7) easily read and effectively weatherproofed.

The draped Inner Strip (7) would not be fitted if the Outer Sheath (8! is only be being used to weatherproof the Panel which may have been written with a removable non permanent material which would deteriorate if rained upon or disturbed such as a chalk written message.

Similarly the draped Inner Strip (7) would not be required where the Outer Sheath (8) is written with a message to be read by itself or in conjunction with a message on the Panel (1).

For instance the Outer Clear Sheath (8) may have a heading announcing the name of the Company and the Panel (1) further details or visa versa.

In practice it has been found that lettering on the Outer Sheath (8) has greater brilliance when printed in reverse and viewed through the material which also protects the print on the surface from scuffing.

When the draped Inner Strip (7) is used it may be written with the entire message and the Outer Sheath only used for protection or it can be used in conjunction with a message on the Outer Sleeve (8).

The draped Inner Strip(7) is advantageously used where the message is regularly changed particularly when hand written and used in conjunction with a heading on the Outer Sleeve (8) such as in the case of a restaurant where the Outer Sleeve(8) may have a commercially printed heading stating 'Todays Menu' and the draped Inner Strip (7) gives details of the Menu that day which may be commercially printed or hand written.

When the Outer Sheath (8) is slid over the Panel (1) the two cropped out corners (9) at the bottom allow the two 'Tongues' formed to be slid behind and be protected by the Cross Members (4) and the top part of the clamps (2).

In the example the sheath is retained in position by two Thumb Screws (10) fitted through tapped holes in one of the Cross Members (4) thus pinning the Sheath (8) to the panel.

Another method which may be conveniently used to hold the Sheath (8) down would be to extend the length of the 'tonques'formed at the bottom of the Sheath (8! so that they hang below the bottom of the Panel (1). The pair of 'Tonques' formed by the Sheath (8) could be fitted with Press Studs to fasten them together which would prevent the Sheath (8) from being pulled up.

From the description and illustrations provided it will be evident that the System described could be adapted to a Wall Mounted Sign or with suitable feet to the type of sign temporarily installed on the roofs of a vehicles to advertise their sale and that the shape of the panel(8) could be for instance square or 'landscsape' format.

Claims (1)

1. A sign system comprising a Vertical Panel with a Payer or other material Strip up to the width of the Panel with a fold halfway in its length enabling it to be draped over the Vertical Panel so that when an Outer Clear Plastic Sheath with sealed top and sides is slid over the draped strip is retained in its position.

2. x sign system enabling a permanent message to be displayed on a Vertical Panel which if required can be covered by a Paper or other material Strip draped over on which a message is displayed and in turn is covered with a Clear Plastic Sheath on which may if required be printed part of the message but which in any case weatherproofs the Inner Strip and holds it in position.

3 Two pieces of clear flexible Plastic sheet Welded to form a sheath with one open end to slide over a vertical sign panel for protective and weatherproof i ng purposes.

4. Two pieces of clear flexible Plastic sheet welded to form a Sheath with one end open printed with a message in reverse to be read through the Sheath after it is slid over a vertical panel use as a sign.

5. Two pieces of flexible clear Plastic welded to form a sheath partially printed with a message to be read through the Plastic forming the sheath with one open end for sliding over a vertical panel on which another part of the message is printed to be read in conjunction with the portion printed on the sheath.

6. Two pieces of flexible clear Plastic welded to form a sheath partially printed with a message to be read through the plastic forming the sheath which would have one end open enabling it to be slid over a vertical panel over which a Paper or other flexible material Strip with a fold halfway along its length has been draped with the rest of the message printed or hand written on it to be read in conjunction with the message on the plastic sheath.

8. A means of protecting a vertical sign panel from the ingress of rain and other pollutants with a clear plastic sleeve made from two pieces of clear flexible plastic sealed at the top and two sides and made to slide over a vertical sign panel.

7. A means of retaining a Plastic Sheath slid over a vertical Sign Panel being one or more screws clamping the the Plastic Sheath to the Sign Panel.

8. A means of retaining a Plastic Sheath slid over a vertical Sign Panel by making the sheath longer than the Panel and fastening part of the open end together with Press Studs or other means thus preventing the removal of the sheath without first undoing the fastening.