GB2254950A

GB2254950A - Sign construction

Info

Publication number: GB2254950A
Application number: GB9117266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Rennicks
Original assignee: FAIRACRE Ltd
Current assignee: FAIRACRE Ltd
Priority date: 1991-04-08
Filing date: 1991-08-09
Publication date: 1992-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-09
Also published as: ZA916498B; IE66575B1; IE911171A1; GB2254950B; GB9117266D0

Abstract

A sign comprises a plurality of elongate parallel-edged plank-like panels 10, 11 assembled edge-to-edge one above the other in a substantially common vertical plane. The abutting edges of adjacent panels are provided with respective cooperating formations 13, 18 which engage to lock the edges together to prevent their separation while the panels are confined to the vertical plane, for example by securement to posts. The sign may be attached to posts by means of channel members 12. The formations 13, 18 may be provided on one side of the panels only so that the sign presents a flat front surface with all of the formations on the rear surface. The cooperating formations are such that assembled panels are assembled together and may be separated, by rotating one panel about the edge of another (Figure 3a). <IMAGE>

Description

A CONSTRUCTION OF SIGN This invention relates to a construction of sign, and in particular to a sign constructed from a plurality of interconnected elongate plank-like panels, also referred to herein as "plank panels". Signs constructed according to the present invention are particularly suitable for use as road traffic signs.

Signs constructed from plank panels are already known. Such signs are generally constructed by securing together the abutting edges of adjacent panels by use of a series of nuts and bolts. The assembly of such a sign from a plurality of plank panels is generally time consuming, in view of the nature of the fastening means employed to secure the plank panels together. In addition, the abutting edges of the plank panels do in time tend to separate a little, irrespective of the fastening means employed, thereby giving the sign a lined appearance and detracting from the overall visual effect of the sign. This is a particular disadvantage, irrespective of the use to which the construction of sign is intended, and it is a particular disadvantage where road traffic signs are concerned.

The present invention provides a construction of sign comprising a plurality of elongate paralleledged plank-like panels assembled edge-to-edge one against the other in a substantially common plane, the abutting edges of adjacent panels being provided with respective cooperating formations which engage to lock the edges together to prevent their separation while the panels are confined to the common plane.

If it is desired to fixedly secure the adjacent panels together, a portion of the formation at the edge of one plank panel may be secured to a co-operating portion of the formation at the edge of the other plank panel by a rivet or the like fastening means.

Preferably the in use bottom edge of each plank panel is profiled to provide two shaped recesses and the in use top edge is profiled to provide a tongue and projecting fingers, such that in use the tongue and projecting fingers of the top edge of one plank panel will engage in the recesses of the profiled bottom edge of the abutting plank panel to lock the two plank panels together.

It will be understood that a sign according to the present invention may be constructed of a varying number of plank panels depending upon the overall size of the desired sign. Accordingly, a number of plank panels will be constructed having in addition to the formations at the top and bottom edges a channel member on the in use rear face of the plank panel intermediate the top and bottom edges and preferably centrally located. This channel member is provided to facilitate the attachment of the constructed sign to supporting posts, poles or the like using conventional strap, clip or bracket means which engage in the channel member and which also embrace a supporting post.In the constructed sign if one is using for example extruded aluminium plank panels of 200mm depth then with channel members centrally located on the rear face of the plank panels and using alternatively a plank panel with a channel member and then a plank panel without a channel member one achieves a constructed sign with the channel members spaced apart 400mm - which is suitable for ensuring the secure fastening of the constructed sign to support poles.

It is also preferable in order to properly finish off the construction of sign and to enhance the overall appearance of the finished sign that profiled top, bottom and side trim members be provided. The top trim member has a profile the same as the profile of the bottom edge portion of a plank panel. Similarly the bottom trim member has a profile the same as the profile of the top edge portion of a plank panel. In this way the top and bottom trim members lock into the bottom and top edge portions respectively of the constructed sign.

The side trim member has a substantially U-shaped profile with an extended arm or plate member which engages with and is secured to the channel member(s) to hold the side trim member in position.

This invention will be understood from an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of an assembled sign according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the mechanical lock between abutting assembled plank panels; Figs. 3a-3e illustrate in sequence the engagement of the mechanical lock between abutting plank panels; Fig. 4 is a side view of a second assembled sign; Fig. 5 is a side view of a top trim profile.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a bottom trim profile; and Fig. 7 is a side view of a side trim profile.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings the sign is assembled from a plurality of plank panels 10 and 11 assembled edge-to-edge one above the other in a substantially common vertical plane.

The only constructional difference between a plank panel 10 and a plank panel 11 is that the plank panel 11 is provided on its rear face with an elongate channel member 12. In assembling a sign using the plank panels 10 and 11 it is preferable to alternate the panels 10 and 11 to ensure that every second panel is a plank panel 11. In this way every second plank panel has a channel member 12 to facilitate securing the sign to posts in conventional manner using a known clip bracket or strap which engages both in channel member 12 and around a post to hold the sign in position on the posts in said vertical plane.

The plank panels 10 and 11 are preferably 200mm deep extruded aluminium panels. The sign is constructed using a plank panel 10 at the bottom and building up using alternatively a plank panel 11 and a plank panel 10 to ensure that the channel members 12 are spaced apart at 400mm centres. A plank panel 11 is used at the top of the constructed sign. Once the sign is constructed one may apply an appropriate width reflective sheeting using a squeeze roller or a vacuum application process. The appropriate legend is then applied to the sign in a conventional manner. The assembly of the sign is then completed by fixing the bottom, top and side trim profiles to the sign as will hereinafter be described.

The parallel top and bottom edges of each plank panel 10 and 11 are provided with respective formations shaped in a specific manner, so that the respective formations provided at the abutting edges of each pair of plank panels 10 and 11 cooperate and positively engage with each other to form a lock. This lock holds the two abutting edges together and prevents their separation while the panels are confined to a common plane, for example by securement to posts as previously described.

Thus, referring to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, the bottom edge 13 of each plank panel 10/11 is profiled to provide recesses 14 and 15 with respective bearing surfaces 16 and 17, and the top edge 18 is profiled to provide a tongue 19 and a pair of projecting fingers 20 and 21. In assembling a sign the profiled bottom edge 13 of one plank panel 10/11 is engaged with the profiled top edge 18 of a second plank panel 10/11 to form a lock in the manner progressively illustrated in Figs. 3a - 3e of the accompanying drawings. When the complimenting profiled edges 13 and 18 engage they may be secured in that locked position by fixedly connecting the base 23 of the projecting fingers 20/21 to the bearing surface 17 by means of a rivet 22.

It will be noted that the interlocking formations shown in Figure 2 are provided only on one (the rear) side of each panel, so that the sign has a substantially flat front surface for application of the reflective sheeting and legend as described above.

Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a second embodiment of a sign according to the invention. Again the sign is constructed from plank panels 10/11. The sign is 600mm deep and the spaced apart fixing channel members 12 are 400mm apart.

The front face of the sign is provided with a 600mm wide reflective sheeting which carries the applied appropriate legend.

In order to enhance the overall appearance of the constructed sign top, bottom and side trim profiles are applied. Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings the side trim profile 24 is shown in Fig. 5, the top trim profile 25 is shown in Fig. 6 and the bottom trim profile 26 in Fig. 7. It will be noted that the shape of the top trim profile 25 is the same shape as the bottom edge 13 of a plank panel 10/11 and the bottom trim profile 26 is the same shape as the top edge 18 of a plank panel 10/11.

In this manner the top trim profile 25 and the bottom trim profile 26 may be engaged with the appropriate bottom edge 13 and top edge 18 respectively of a plank panel 10/11 in the same basic manner in which the plank panels are locked together.

The side trim profile 24 as shown in Fig. 5 is basically a U-shaped member 27 with a slightly offset plate 28. The side trim profile is secured in position by engaging the plate 28 with the channel member 12 and then riveting or bolting the plate 24 and the channel 12 together.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A construction of sign comprising a plurality of elongate parallel-edged plank-like panels assembled edge-to-edge one against the other in a substantially common plane, the abutting edges of adjacent panels being provided with respective cooperating formations which engage to lock the edges together to prevent their separation while the panels are confined to the common plane.

2. A construction of sign as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cooperating formations are such that adjacent panels are assembled together, and may be separated, by rotating one panel about the edge of the other.

3. A construction of sign as claimed in Claim 2, further including support means for supporting the plurality of assembled panels in a substantially vertical plane, such support means constraining the panels against rotation one relative to another.

4. A construction of sign as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the support means comprises a respective channel member provided on at least some of the panels, and at least one post or the like secured to the channel members by fixing means engaging the pole and channel members.

5. A construction of sign substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A construction of sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the formations are provided only on one side of each panel, so that the sign presents a substantially flat front surface with all the formations being present on the rear surface.

6. A construction of sign substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

s to the clakue h- be-i fled - fts 1. A construction of sign comprising a plurality of elongate parallel-edged plank-like panels assembled edge-to-edge one against the other in a substantially common plane and whose abutting edges are provided with respective cooperating formations which engage one another, wherein one of said cooperating formations includes a plurality of recesses and the other said formation includes a plurality of projecting elements and abutting panels are assembled together by rotating one panel about the edge of the other such that the projecting elements of the one formation enter respective recesses of the other formation, the cooperating formations serving to lock the panel edges together against separation while the panels are confined to the common plane.

2. A construction of sign as claimed in Claim 1, further including support means for supporting the plurality of assembled panels in a substantially vertical plane, such support means constraining the panels against rotation one relative to another.

3. A construction of sign as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the support means comprises a respective channel member provided on at least some of the panels, and at least one post or the like secured to the channel members by fixing means engaging the pole and channel members.

4. A construction of sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the formations are provided only on one side of each panel, so that the sign presents a substantially flat front surface with all the formations being present on the rear surface.