GB2316522A

GB2316522A - Sign frame members

Info

Publication number: GB2316522A
Application number: GB9617371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bryan Lionel Underhill
Original assignee: KINGS PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: KINGS PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1996-08-19
Filing date: 1996-08-19
Publication date: 1998-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-19
Also published as: GB2316522B; GB9617371D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a sign frame member in which: ```the frame member defines a generally internal channel (110), ```the frame member has a slot (109) which communicates with the channel (110) and with the exterior and is capable of receiving an edge region of the sign or the like, and ```the frame member has, in a region of the channel (110) opposite to the slot (109), protrusions (113 and 114) which define a groove (117) capable of receiving an edge of the sign or the like; ```wherein on each side of the groove is a pocket (119 and 121), each pocket (119 and 121) being capable of securely locating a respective support member (122,Figure 5) intended, in a region of a mitred joint between two lengths of such a frame member, to be located in adjacent pockets in the two lengths so as to reinforce the resulting joint.

Description

SIGN FRAME MEMBERS This invention relates to sign frame members, in other words to elongate members which when suitably cut and angled can form the frame to support a sign or the like.

Nowadays many such frame members are formed by extrusion and although there will be many references to extrudates in the present text, nonetheless it is to be appreciated that the sign members could be formed by some other manufacturing technique. One commercially available known sign member takes the form of an extrudate intended to serve as a component for a frame for a sign or the like, in which: the extrudate defines a generally internal channel, the extrudate has a slot which communicates with the channel and with the exterior and is capable of receiving an edge region of a sign or the like, and the extrudate has, in the region of the channel opposite the slot, protrusions which define a groove capable of receiving an edge of the sign or the like.

In the known arrangement a single pocket is provided adjacent to the groove but on that side of the groove remote from the slot.

In fact, the two protrusions which define the groove have lower regions which define opposite sides of the pocket, there being lips projecting from the protrusions so as to form a demarcation between the foot of the groove and the pocket.

In practice, in the production of a sign from such a known sign frame member the sign frame member is cut to the right length and angled at its corners and then, before one end region of the angled length is married up to a corresponding end region of the adjacent length, a location angle piece has one of its lengths inserted in the pocket in one length and has its other region inserted into the pocket of the other length of frame member as the two lengths of frame members are brought together. The purpose of the so-called location angle is to hold the two mitred end regions of the adjacent lengths of extrudate in the correct relative position before they are secured by means of screws which pass through part of one frame member and into suitable screw ports in the adjacent frame member.

In one embodiment of the frames produced by the known frame members each location angle has two arms each measuring 25mm by 25mm by 2mm. The location angle does not provide a great source of strength. It certainly assists in holding the adjacent cut lengths of frame member generally in the correct position as the screws are being inserted but it does not add greatly to the strength of the resulted mitred corner.

According to the present invent ion, there is provided a sign frame member in which: the frame member defines a generally internal channel, the frame member has a slot which communicates with the channel and with the exterior and is capable of receiving an edge region of the sign or the like, and the frame member has, in a region of the channel opposite to the slot, protrusions which define a groove capable of receiving an edge of the sign or the like; wherein on each side of the groove is a pocket, each pocket being capable of securely locating a respective support member intended, in a region of a mitred joint between two lengths of such a frame member, to be located in adjacent pockets in the two lengths so as to reinforce the resulting joint.

As indicated above, the sign frame member is conveniently a metal extrudate although it could, for small signs not subjected to strong adverse forces, be formed of a suitable plastics material.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross section through a known extruded sign frame member; Figure 2 is a side view of a location angle for securing together at a right angle two cut lengths of the extrudate of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a mitred joint formed from two cut lengths of extrudate of Figure 1, showing the location angle and also securing screws; Figure 4 is a cross section through an extruded sign frame member in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of a fixing and reinforcing angle intended to join two cut lengths of extrudate of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a front view of the mitred joint formed by employing the fixing and reinforcing angle of Figure 5 with two cut lengths of extrudate of Figure 4, and additionally employing a rivet and securing screws.

Referring firstly with Figure 1, there is shown a known extrudate 1 intended to serve as a frame member for a sign, the extrudate 1 having a boundary wall 2 which has a central boundary wall 3 and, on either side of the wall 3, recessed boundary walls 4 and 4A.

Projecting at right angles from the recessed boundary walls 4 and 4A are two opposing side walls 5 and 6 which lead respectively into inclined walls 7 and 8 which converge but stop short of meeting, thereby defining a slot 9 which provides communication between the exterior of the extrudate and a channel 10 generally defined within the extrudate 1. The inclined walls 7 and 8 have respective screw ports 11 and 12 for locating the threaded regions of securing screws (described in more detail later). Projecting into the channel 10 from the boundary wall 2 are two protrusions 13 and 14 which are provided with respective inwardly directly flanges 15 and 16 which point towards each other but do not meet. Defined by the free end regions of the protrusions 13 and 14 and by the flanges 15 and 16 is a groove 17 intended to locate an edge of a sign.

On the other side of the flanges 15 and 16 from the groove 17, and partially defined by those flanges as well as by the central boundary wall 3 is a pocket 18 intended to locate one arm of a location angle. A suitable location angle is shown in Figure 2 and is identified by the reference numeral 22. It has two arms 23 and 24 at right angles to each other. Each arm 23 and 24 is dimensioned so as to be able to fit snugly within the pocket 18 of the extrudate 1.

When using the extrudate 1 to form the frame for a sign, two lengths of the extrudate are cut with appropriate angles, as usual to form a mitre, and the arm 23 of the location angle 22 is fed into the pocket 18 of one length of extrudate, and then the pocket 18 of the other length of extrudate is married up to the other arm 24 of the location angle and fed along until the two inclined faces of the extrudate abut in a neat mitre. The location angle merely assists in locating the two cut lengths of extrudate in generally the correct relative position while securing the two lengths takes place by using a conventional drilling jig which provides holes in the recessed boundary walls 4 and 4A of one of the cut lengths of extrudate, through which holes screws 25 are fed and secured to the screw ports 11 and 12 in the other cut length of extrudate 1. In a typical case, and here it is stressed that the dimensions are given purely by way of example, without any limiting effect, the overall width of the extrudate 1, as measured from the exterior of the side wall 5 to the exterior of the opposing side wall 6 is 50mm. The pocket 18 is approximately 10mm wide 3mm high. The location angle 22 resembles a bent strip of metal each arm 23 and 24 having a length of 25mm, the strip having a cross section measuring 9mm by 2mm. It can thus be appreciated that the location angle 22 fits comfortably within the pockets 18 of the two cut lengths of extrudate 1.

In view of the relatively weak nature of the location angle it is the screws 25, of which there are two at each corner, which secure the two lengths of extrudate together in the region of the corner.

Turning now to the extrudate in accordance with the present invention as shown in Figure 4, many features of the extrudate correspond to the corresponding components in the known extrudate of Figure 1. In fact, the components indicated by the reference numerals 101 to 114 in Figure 4 correspond to the components numbered 1 to 14, respectively, of the extrudate of Figure 1, and to avoid unnecessary repetition the components 101 to 114 in Figure 4 will not be described in detail.

Whereas the extrudate 1 of Figure 1 has two inwardly directed flanges 15 and 16 which serve to form the demarcation between the groove 17 and pocket 18, the protrusions 113 and 114 of the extrudate of 101 of Figure 4 carry at their free end regions two flanges 115 and 116 which are directed away from each other, in fact towards the side walls 105 and 106, respectively.

A groove 117 is defined by the central boundary wall 103 and the two protrusions 113 and 114. The groove 117 is directly opposite the slot 109 and can accommodate an edge of a sign which edge has been passed through the slot 109 during manufacture of the complete framed sign.

The inner face of the side wall 105 is provided with a flange 118 which projects towards, but stops short of, the flange 115. The region bounded by the two flanges 115 and 118 and the recessed side wall 104 defines a first pocket 119.

The other side wall 106 is also provided on its interior with a flange 120 level with, and directed towards, but stopping short of, the flange 116, the zone defined by the flanges 116 and 120 and the other recessed boundary wall 104A defining a second pocket 121.

Whereas the extrudate 1 shown in Figure 1 is intended to be used at one end with a single location angle 22 of relatively small dimension, the extrudate 101 of Figure 4 is intended, at each end, to be used with two fixing and reinforcing angles, one of which is shown in Figure 6.

Each fixing and reinforcing angle 122 as shown in Figure 5 has two arms 123 and 124, each arm being approximately 37mm in length and each arm having a cross section of 16mm by 4.5mm.

In practice, two arms 123 of two angles 122 are fed into the pockets 119 and 121 of a first cut length of extrudate 101 and are secured in place by rivets 128 which pass through the recessed boundary walls 104 and 104A, with their heads on the exterior lying within the recess and being no higher than the central boundary wall 103. The opposing ends of the rivets 126 are secured against the inner face of the fixing and reinforcing angles 122.

With the two fixing and reinforcing angles 122 secured relative to the pockets 119 and 121 of the first length of extrudate 101, the other arms 124 of the reinforcing angles 122 are fed into the corresponding pockets 119 and 121 of the other length of extrudate 101 until the inclined faces of those cut lengths abut, whereupon, with the aid of a conventional drilling jig, two screws are passed through the recessed boundary walls 104 and 104A of the second length of extrudate 101, through holes drilled during the drilling operation in the arms 124 of the two fixing and reinforcing angles 122 and are secured in the screw ports 111 and 112 of the first length of extrudate 101. It can readily be appreciated that the securing arrangement illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 provides a much more robust fixing and reinforcing system than the location angle 22 mentioned in relation to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the known system.

Although certain dimensions have been given above purely by way of example, it is to be appreciated that the dimensions can be varied considerably depending on the size of the sign and hence on the size of the frame required to hold the sign.

Moreover, although Figure 6 shows two lengths of extrudate joined at 900, clearly the two lengths could be joined at some different angle where a sign other than a purely rectangular sign is required.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a frame for a sign which includes two frame members joined together at an angle, the two frame members being accordance with the first-mentioned aspect of the present invention and there being two fixing and reinforcing angles employed in the region of each joint, with both arms of both fixing and reinforcing members being secured to adjacent components of the frame members.

If desired, one arm of each of the two fixing and reinforcing members can be riveted in relation to a first length of frame member and then the other arm of the same angles can be secured by screws to the other length, the screws also being secured in self-tappable screw ports in the first length.

Claims

1. A sign frame member in which: the frame member defines a generally internal channel, the frame member has a slot which communicates with the channel and with the exterior and is capable of receiving an edge region of the sign or the like, and the frame member has, in a region of the channel opposite to the slot, protrusions which define a groove capable of receiving an edge of the sign or the like; wherein on each side of the groove is a pocket, each pocket being capable of securely locating a respective support member intended, in a region of a mitred joint between two such frame members, to be located in adjacent pockets in the two frame members so as to reinforce the resulting joint.

2. A sign frame member according to claim 1, which is a metal extrudate.

3. A sign frame member according to claim 1, which is formed of a plastics material.

4. A sign frame which includes two frame members according to claim 1, 2 or 3, joined together at an angle, there being two support members, each located in adjacent pockets in the two frame members, employed so as to reinforce the joint, with both arms of both support members being secured to adjacent frame members.

5. A sign frame according to claim 4, wherein the arms of the support members are secured to adjacent frame members by way of screws and/or rivets.

6. A sign frame, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A sign frame according to claim 5, wherein one arm of each of the two support members is riveted in relation to a first frame member, wherein the other arm of the same support members is secured by screws to the other frame member, and wherein the screws are also secured in the first frame member.

7. A sign frame member, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A sign frame, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Arwwndm.nts to the claims have been filed as folows CLAIMS

1. A sign frame which includes two frame members joined together at an angle, wherein: each frame member defines a generally internal channel; each frame member has a slot which communicates with the channel and with the exterior and is capable of receiving an edge region of the sign or the like; each frame member has, in a region of the channel opposite to the slot, protrusions which define a groove capable of receiving an edge of the sign or the like; on each side of the groove is a pocket, each pocket being capable of securely locating a respective support member intended, in a region of a mitred joint between two such frame members, to be located in adjacent pockets in the two frame members so as to reinforce the resulting joint; and there are two support members, each located in adjacent pockets in the two frame members, employed so as to reinforce the joint, with both arms of both support members being secured to adjacent frame members, and with the two arms of each support member lying in inclined plates.

2. A sign frame according to claim 1, in which each frame member is a metal extrudate.

3. A sign frame according to claim 1, in which each frame member is formed of a plastics material.

4. A sign frame according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the arms of the support members are secured to adjacent frame members by way of screws and/or rivets.

5. A sign frame according to claim 4, wherein one arm of each of the two support members is riveted in relation to a first frame member, wherein the other arm of the same support members is secured by screws to the other frame member, and wherein the screws are also secured in the first frame member.