GB2269262A - Display sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A display sign, especially one intended for erection on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, for example a bus-stop sign, comprises a base structure having tubular legs (11) and (12) and a display frame member (20) for securing at an upper end of the base structure to define with that structure a generally rectangular aperture. The display frame member and/or base structure have an inwardly-directed channel (24, 25, 28). Spacers (22, 23) are provided for detachably securing between the display frame member and the base structure to vary the length of the aperture to enable it to receive and retain display panels (21) of different sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

Display Sign The present invention is concerned with display signs, especially such signs as may be erected on a permanent or semipermanent basis, more particularly where the information displayed may require to be changed from time to time.

An example of such a sign is a bus-stop sign, which, in addition to simply marking the location of a stopping place, may be required to indicate the identity (for example the numbers) of buses stopping at that point and/or the timings of the bus services. Bus-stop signs of this type have conventionally involved a flat display plate, strapped to an upright post, to indicate the bus numbers, often with a further, separate display, strapped to a different part of the post, to give time table information. Such conventional signs are in general visually obtrusive, may be potentially hazardous with their projecting displays and are usually readily vandalised.

With the foregoing disadvantages of prior such signs in mind, it has been desirable to provide an alternative form of display sign of a type wherein the information display or displays is/are contained within the overall profile of the sign. such "built-in" display signs certainly have advantages over conventional signs but they depend upon the use of a display of predetermined dimensions; that is, they cannot receive displavs of different si7es.

In the case of a bus-stop sign, the size of the desired information display may vary from one location to another.

In addition, each authoritv responsible for the installation and maintenance of bus-stop signs may have its own preferred display dimensions. Thus there remains a need for a form of display sign of the built-in type which affords a measure of flexibility as to the size of the display panel. Such a display sign would be suitable for adoption by a wide range of different users and could therefore be manufactured in larger quantities than would be possible with custom-made signs, with a potential saving in production costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved display sign of such a type.

The display sign according to the present invention comprises a base structure for mounting in a generally upright position, a display frame member adapted to be detachably secured at an upper end of the base structure so as to define between said member and said structure a generally rectangular aperture, said display frame member and/or said base structure having a channel along at least a pair of opposite sides of said generally 'rectangular aperture, which channel is directed inwardly towards said aperture, and spacers, adapted to be detachably secured between the display frame member and the base structure to enlarge the length of said generally rectangular aperture.

In use of the display sign according to the present invention, for example as a bus-stop sign, the base structure is erected at a chosen site and a display panel giving the desired information is secured in the aperture defined between the base structure and the display frame member, where it is retained in place by the inwardly-directed channel. The size of the aperture is modified to match the dimensions of the display panel by fitting, when required, spacers of appropriate length between the base structure and the display frame member. If it is subsequently desired to fit a different display panel, the display frame member is detached from the base structure and re-attached after the panel has been changed, spacers of different length being substituted where necessary for those already fitted, or the spacers being omitted where appropriate.

The base structure will be generally elongated and will usually be designed for mounting directly upon the ground, for example by setting its lower end in concrete. It may conveniently take the form of a single post or a generally parallel pair of posts, which post or posts may preferably be of hollow section, for example cylindrical. The base structure may be formed in a suitable metal, for example aluminium or steel, or in a strong polymeric material, reinforced if necessary, for example a glass-reinforced plastics material.

To the upper end of the base structure, the display frame member is detachably secured. The shapes of these two components are such that they define between them a generally rectangular aperture. Thus, for example, the base structure may have at its upper end a pair of spaced-apart upward projections forming the sides of the aperture, or forming only a part of the length of those sides, the balance of that length being in the form of downward projections from the display frame member; as an alternative, the upper end of the base structure may be generally level and the display frame member may then be in the shape of an inverted, squared-off "U".

The display frame member may be of any of the materials mentioned above for the base structure and these two components may be of the same or different materials.

Around at least a pair of opposite sides of the aperture defined between the base structure and the display frame member, an inwardly-directed channel is provided for retaining the display panel in place in the aperture. Preferably at least the upright sides of the aperture are provided with the channel; more preferably, the channel extends around the whole of the inner circumference of the aperture.

The spacers may be both or all of the same length but preferably two or more pairs of spacers are provided, with different pairs being of different lengths, to accommodate a range of different panel sizes.

The spacers are preferably of the same material as the display frame member and/or the base structure.

The display frame member may be secured directly to the base structure or they may both be secured to one or more common connectors. In the latter case, the display frame member may be detachably secured to the common connector(s), which may if desired be fixedly secured to the base structure - or vice versa.

The detachable securing together of the relevant components may conveniently be by means of screws or by bolts and/or nuts.

If desired, provision may be made for displaying information additional to that displayed on the display panel located in the above-mentioned generally rectangular aperture. For example, the base structure may be shaped to accommodate or support such an additional display.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one preferred embodiment of the display sign according to the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the display sign; and Fig. 2 is a corresponding exploded view, to a somewhat larger scale.

The illustrated display sign is designed for use to mark the position of a bus stop and to display information about the buses using that stop, including their times of departure. The sign comprises a base structure 10 in the form of two tubular legs 11, 12, braced apart by an access panel 13 and together supporting an intermediate section 14. The base structure 10 is of aluminium and between the access panel 13 and the intermediate section 14 it supports an aluminium-backed plywood panel 15 upon which, protected by a transparent acrylic sheet, a bus timetable is displayed.

The access panel 13 is held in place by security screws and can be removed to allow the panel 15 to be removed and a new timetable affixed.

Projecting upwardly from the intermediate section 14 are two tubular sockets 16, 17, within which box-section steel connectors 18, 19 respectively are secured by bolts, not shown, extending generally radially through the sockets into the connectors.

A top section 20, also of tubular aluminium and presenting an elevation resembling an inverted square "U", is designed to fit over the connectors 18, 19 and align with the sockets 16, 17, so as to form a generally rectangular aperture into which a display panel 21 is a close fit. The vertical length of the aperture may be varied by locating one or more pairs of spacers 22, 23 over the connectors and between the top section 20 and the sockets.

Channels 24, 25 in the top section 20 align with channels 26, 27 in the spacers and channels 28 (only one of which can be seen) in the sockets to form a continuous channel within which the edges of the display panel 21 are retained.

The bolts which retain the connectors 18, 19 in the sockets are located within the channels 28, while the top section 20 is retained in place by security screws (not shown) extending from the outer sides of the top section into corresponding fixing holes 29 in the connectors 18, 19. The spacers 22, 23 may be retained in position simply by the fact that they are located around the connectors 18, 19 and between the top section and the sockets. However a better visual effect, in terms of a smoother profile, may be achieved by attaching the spacers to the connectors by means of screws.

As will readily be understood, the vertical length of the aperture into which the panel 21 is to be fitted is readily adjusted to the desired panel size by the inclusion or omission of spacers 22, 23 of appropriate length. The dimensions of the panel 21 will usually be selected by the local authority or passenger transport executive responsible for installation and maintenance of the sign.

Claims (16)

1. A display sign comprising a base structure for mounting in a generally upright position, a display frame member adapted to be detachably secured at an upper end of the base structure so as to define between said member and said structure a generally rectangular aperture, said display frame member and/or said base structure having a channel along at least a pair of opposite sides of said generally rectangular aperture, which channel is directed inwardly towards said aperture, and spacers, adapted to be detachably secured between the display frame member and the base structure to enlarge the length of said generally rectangular aperture.

2. A display sign as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said base structure comprises a single post or a generally parallel pair of posts.

3. A display sign as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said post or posts is/are of hollow cylindrical section.

4. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the base structure is of a metal or a strong polymeric material.

5. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the base structure has at its upper end a pair of spaced-apart upward projections forming at least a part of the sides of said generally rectangular aperture.

6. A display sign as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper end of the base structure is generally level and the display frame member is in the shape of an inverted, squared-off "U".

7. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the display frame member is of a metal or a strong polymeric material.

8. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the upright sides of the generally rectangular aperture are provided with said channel.

9. A display sign as claimed in claim 8, wherein said channel extends around the whole of the inner circumference of said aperture.

10. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising two or more pairs of said spacers, said different pairs being of different lengths.

A A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said display frame member is detachably directly secured to said base structure.

12. A display sign as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said display frame member and said base structure are both secured to one or more common connectors, and at least one of said display frame member and base structure is detachably so secured.

13. A display sign as claimed in claim 12, wherein said spacers are detachably securable to said common connector(s).

14. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said detachable securing together of the components so secured is by means of screws, bolts and/or nuts.

15. A display sign as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having a display panel located within said generally rectangular aperture and an additional display.

16. A display sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.