NZ762429A - Improved numerical sign - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention an improved numerical sign comprising a body portion having a front side and a rear side, at least one numerical portion provided on the front side of the body portion comprising a plurality of reversible cutout portions, said cutout portions having a front side and a rear side of contrasting colours, and a plurality of complementary spaces into which, the cutout portions are positioned and wherein the complementary spaces are arranged such they provide at least one numeral eight digit configuration and one or more cutout portions are removed, reversed and reinserted within the complementary spaces such that, the reversed cutout portions will represent one or more desired numerals to form a price or time or numerical format. of contrasting colours, and a plurality of complementary spaces into which, the cutout portions are positioned and wherein the complementary spaces are arranged such they provide at least one numeral eight digit configuration and one or more cutout portions are removed, reversed and reinserted within the complementary spaces such that, the reversed cutout portions will represent one or more desired numerals to form a price or time or numerical format.

Description

TITLE IMPROVED NUMERICAL SIGN FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to advertising point of sale displays and numerical signs. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an improved numerical sign for displaying a price, time or other numerical format.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION For some years rigid printed signage that displays a numerical configuration has consisted of advertising on one side of a sign, as well as a series of printed numeral eight digits representing a price or time. The current methods to set a specific price or time on the display or sign involve either colouring in sections of the numeral eight digits to form a desired number or applying coloured adhesive tape over sections of the numeral eight digits so that the desired number is shown. The resulting numerical representation is similar in design to the manner in which numbers are represented and displayed on a digital clock. The disadvantage with this current method of displaying numbers on a sign is that it does not enable the numerals to be reconfigured once they have been set. Thus, when a price changes, the sign is discarded and replaced which is expensive and creates unwanted waste. In addition, the current method of configuring the numbers on the sign is also laborious and time- consuming.

In this specification, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an improved numerical sign that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide an improved numerical sign, that addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art and/or provides consumers with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved numerical sign.

According to one aspect, although not necessarily the broadest aspect, the present invention resides in an improved numerical sign comprising: a body portion having a front side and a rear side; at least one numerical portion provided on the front side of the body portion comprising a plurality of reversible cutout portions, said cutout portions having a front side and a rear side of contrasting colours, and a plurality of complementary spaces into which, the cutout portions are positioned; wherein the complementary spaces are arranged such they provide at least one numeral eight digit configuration and one or more cutout portions are removed, reversed and reinserted within the complementary spaces such that, the reversed cutout portions will represent one or more desired numerals.

Preferably, the body portion is made of a coreflute material or any other rigid material that will allow the cutout portions to have a firm fit within the complementary spaces.

Preferably, the numerical portion is adapted to display a price or time or any other suitable numerical format.

Preferably, the numeral eight digit allows all configurations of numerals, from zero to nine, to be represented in a similar manner to that on a digital clock.

Suitably, the numerical sign may include a display portion for optional advertising or printing.

Suitably, the improved numerical sign has provided an optional backing plate that is removeably or permanently attached to the rear side of the body portion of the improved numerical sign.

Further features and forms of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein: FIG 1 shows a front perspective view of an improved numerical sign according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG 2 shows a front perspective view of the improved numerical sign of FIG 1 with a plurality of cutout portions removed from within a plurality of complementary shapes; FIG 3 shows a partial front perspective view of the improved numerical sign of FIG 1 wherein the cutout portion is in the process of being reversed; and FIG 4 shows a front perspective view of the improved numerical sign of FIG 1 having a display portion.

Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to an improved numerical sign. For convenience sake, the improved numerical sign will be described and illustrated herein in terms of a price sign used for point of sale advertising and displays. The improved numerical sign is designed to provide a cost-effective and interchangeable price point unit. The present invention has been specifically designed to provide an improved numerical sign which is cost- effective, reusable and professional looking whereby the numerals can be easily reconfigured when needed and readily reused, significantly reducing the need for replacement of the sign. It will be acknowledged that the materials, colour, size and dimensions of the improved numerical sign may be varied as desired.

Referring to FIGS 1 to 4, the improved numerical sign 100 comprises a body portion 110. The body portion 110 can be in the form of any desired shape. The size and dimensions of the body portion may also be varied as desired. The improved numerical sign 100 can be supported in any suitable manner including, but not limited to, adhesive, suction cups, display unit, point of sale unit, frame, support or any other suitable manner. It will be acknowledged that the improved numerical sign 100 will have provided the necessary securing means and/or means for enabling the improved numerical sign to be supported where necessary. In an alternate embodiment, it is envisaged that the body portion 110 of the improved numerical sign 100 may also be self-supporting, having at least one support member to achieve such functionality, such as an inbuilt stand or the like. The improved numerical sign 100 is preferably made of a coreflute material due to its rigid interlocking core. However, it is envisaged that any suitable material may be adopted including, but not limited to, other polypropylene substrates, cardboard, foamcore, wood, x- boards, image boards, foam boards or any other rigid material that will allow a firm fit.

The improved numerical sign 100 comprises at least one numerical portion 120. The numerical portion 120 is adapted to display a price or time or any other suitable numerical format. The numerical portion 120 comprises a plurality of reversible cutout portions 121 and complementary spaces 122 into which, the cutout portions 121 are positioned. The complementary spaces 122 are arranged such they provide at least one numeral eight digit configuration. The numeral eight digit allows all configurations of numerals, from zero to nine, to be represented. The numerals are represented in a similar manner to that on a digital clock.

The complementary spaces 122 and cutout portions 121 are designed such that, when they are complementarily positioned, they fit firmly together to fill the numeral eight digit configuration. The number of numeral eight configurations provided and repeated along the numerical portion 120 will be dependent on whether the numerical portion 120 is adapted to display a time or a price or other numerical format. If the numerical portion 120 is adapted to display a price, it is envisaged that the amount of numeral eight configurations will be dependent on the maximum number of digits in the potential price to be displayed. According to an embodiment illustrated herein, the cutout portions 121 and complementary spaces 122 are substantially hexagonal in shape.

However, it will be acknowledged that other variations in shape can also be adopted that would still allow a numeral eight configuration such as a rectangular, oval and/or other suitable shape.

A front side 101 and a rear side 102 of the numerical portion 120 are provided in contrasting colours. The front side 101 of the numerical sign 100 typically has a different colour to the rear side 102 so that when the appropriate individual cutout portions 121 are reversed, the preferred numeral is visible. The cutout portions 121 are capable of being removed, reversed and reinserted within the complementary spaces 122 to give the appearance of a numeral.

In practice, when not in use, the cutout portions 121 remain concealed within the frame of the complementary spaces 122 because the colour on a front side 123 of the cutout portion(s) 121 is the same colour as the front side of the surrounding numerical portion 120. When a price or time or the like needs to be displayed, a user can remove the appropriate cutout portions 121, reverse and reinsert them into the complementary spaces 122. A rear side 124 of the cutout portions 121 will then be displayed bearing a contrasting colour to the surrounding front side 101 of the numerical portion 120. The reversed cutout portions 121 will represent one or more desired numerals to form a price or time or the like. The cutout portions 121 which are not reversed will remain concealed within the numerical portion 120 because the colour is the same. When the price or time or the like needs to be changed, the reversed cutout portions 121 can be returned to their original position and another set of cutout portions can be removed, reversed and replaced to form a new numeral. In this way, the price, time or numerical format can be easily changed and the sign reused without having to purchase a new sign.

The improved numerical sign may include a display portion 130 for optional advertising or printing. It is envisaged that the improved numerical sign 100 may have provided a complimentary backing plate (not illustrated) that is removeably or permanently attached to the rear side 102 of the body portion of the improved numerical sign. The backing plate may have adhesive qualities and is designed to help prevent the unintentional removal of the complementary shapes 122 and/or block out light.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is envisaged that the improved numerical sign can be applied to other advertising or display signage where the price or time or the like requires regular updating including, but not limited to, a real estate sign. In such an embodiment, a flat or A-frame sign can be made of the coreflute material or the like incorporating the features of the present invention to enable the advertised price and/or open or auction time to be changed.

Hence, the improved numerical sign provides a solution to the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a cost-effective and interchangeable price point unit. The present invention has been specifically designed to provide an improved numerical sign which is cost- effective, reusable and professional looking whereby the numerals can be easily reconfigured when needed and readily reused, significantly reducing the need for replacement of the sign.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

We claim:

1. An improved numerical sign comprising: a body portion having a front side and a rear side; at least one numerical portion provided on the front side of the body 5 portion comprising a plurality of reversible cutout portions, said cutout portions having a front side and a rear side of contrasting colours, and a plurality of complementary spaces into which, the cutout portions are positioned; wherein the complementary spaces are arranged such they provide 10 at least one numeral eight digit configuration and one or more cutout portions are removed, reversed and reinserted within the complementary spaces such that, the reversed cutout portions will represent one or more desired numerals.

2. The improved numerical sign of claim 1, wherein the body portion is 15 made of a coreflute material or other rigid material that will allow the cutout portions to have a firm fit within the complementary spaces.

3. The improved numerical sign of claim 1, wherein the numerical portion is adapted to display a price or time or other numerical format.

4. The improved numerical sign of claim 1, wherein the numeral eight 20 digit configuration allows all configurations of numerals, from zero to nine, to be represented in a similar manner to that on a digital clock.

5. The improved numerical sign of claim 1, wherein the numerical sign includes a display portion for advertising or printing.

6. The improved numerical sign of claim 1, wherein the improved numerical sign has provided a complimentary backing plate that is removeably or permanently attached to the rear side of the body portion of the improved numerical sign prevent the unintentional removal of the 5 complementary shapes and/or block out light.