US1335870A - Sign and holder therefor - Google Patents

Description

H. P. ANDRESEN.

SIGN AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

APPUCATION HLED MAR. 20, 1919 Patented Apr 6, 1920.

2 SHEFTS-SHEET I.

l rmanmwesen H. P. ANDRESEN.

SQGN AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION HLED Ma. 20, 1919.

Patentad Apr. 6, 1920.

SHEETSSHEET 2. 1

avLLv unnunhh l l m rmarz m In! HERMAN P. ANDRESEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGN ANI? HOLDER THEREFOR.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed March 20, 1919. Serial No. 283,725.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN P. Axonnsnx, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illi nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs and Holders Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to improve ments in signs and relates more particularly to improvements in street or road signs, and holders therefor.

In marking street or road intersections, it is common practice to rovide a post, usually bearing the names of t e intersecting streets, which signs parallel the roads or streetsthat they designate. In some instances direction letters are also provided above the si ns. If the sign is to serve the purpose inten ed, it is essential that the sign substantially parallelthe road or street that it designates and also that the direction indicator point in the proper direction. Otherwise the sign instead of being a guide aiding the traveler is worse than useless since it imsdirects him.

Since streets or roads intersect at various angles, it is also the practice to provide for the positioning of the signs at such angles as may be necessary to point in the direction of the designated road.

Signs of this character are frequently used as targets by boys or others, shooting, throwing stones or other missiles, and as heretofore constructed, have had their utility quickly destroyed; that is to say, they have been so constructed that the signs, indicators, or both, were easily turned when struck by a missile and hence point in the wrong direction. When so turned, such signs, to the stranger, of course become very troublesome, since there is nothing to indicate the incorrectness thereof. Again, the fastenjngs of signs of the character heretofore provided have become quickly loosened by wind, sleet and other storms. so that in many instances this action alone has turned them in the Wrong direction and at times caused them to break away from the holders and be lost. The maintenance cost of such signs is therefore very large and in practice it will be found that but a relatively few of them, especially in large cities, are properly serviceable for more than a very short period. f

The general object of my invention is to provide a sign, which while it can be placed in any desired angular position, will nevertheless be so firmly held and locked in the placed position that no accidental force less than that required to destroy the sign will cause the same to be moved from the desired position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sign holder of simple and durable construction and of a form adapted to accommodate a direction indicator (when so desired) in a sheltered )osition and locked where it shall be in no danger of accidental shifting or destruction.

Again, it is an object of my invention to provide a sign holder that will cooperate with the top of the sign post in a manner adapted to provide a thoroughly substantial, rigid, connection and yet one which can be easily and quickly assembled; and it is a further object of my invention to provide a sign and holder of such form that the fastening and locking devices shall be hidden from view, and in which the elements, such as rain, snow and the like shall be effectually excluded.

My invention consists generally in the form, arrangement, construction, and cooperation of the parts, whereby the above named objects, together with others that will appear hereinafter, are attainable, and my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein I depict what I consider, at the present time, to be the best embodiment thereof.

'tive, view of a sign and holder embodying my invention, a direction indicator being assembled as a part of the sign: Fin. 2 is a fragmentary view. in elevation. of a sign and holder embodying my invention. the direction indicator being omitted: Fig. is a plan view and Fig. 4 a side elevation of the direction indicator alone; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sign shown in Fig. 1, but on a slightly enlarge-d scale; Fig. (3 is a plan view of tin-sign. the upper sign holder being removed better to disclose the interior construction of the lower holder; liig. 7 is a central vertical section through the sign holder, the same being upon an enlarged scale; and Fig. '8 is a detailed sectional view of the holder substantially on the line 8'--H of Fig. 7, the sign plates being omitted from the holder better to disclose the construction of the sign plate receiving grooves thereof.

Signs of the kind under consideration are frequently used in conjunction with a hollow meta post and for this reason, and not for limiting reasons, I shall describe the sign and bolder as combined with such a post.

In the drawings, 1 represents a hollow metal sign post and to co-act therewith I provide a lower holder member 2, having a hollow interior 3 of a size snugly to accommodate the upper part of the post 1. Thus as is well shown in Fig. 7, the holder member 1 telescopes over the upper end of the metal post. While the sign-holding member 1, because of its snug fit, because of its weight, and because of its enga 'ement with a considerable portion of the cut? of the post, would probably remain in place against all forces tending to remove it, I prefer as a precautionary measure, to fur ther secure it against movement as by means of a set screw 4, (see Fig 7). I mi -ht here add that this set screw is hardly visible after the sign plates have been inserted in the holder and that it does not mar the appearance of the sign or invite tampering action. The holder 2 is provided above and below and upon opposite sides \ vlth portions 5, 6, 7, and 8 in which will be found grooves 9, 10, 11 and 12. The grooves 9 and 10 on one side, and 11' and 12 on the other, are spaced apart, a distance just suilicient to form a sliding fit for the rece tion of the sign plates 13 and 14. Upon t e outer faces 13' and 14' of the plates 13 and 14 will be found a street, road or other legend, as indicated by the reference character 15 in Figs. 1 and 2. So far as the present invention is concerned, this name or legend may be impressed, embossed or formed therein or thereon, as by paint, enamel or otherwise in any desired manner, and I shall not describe the rocess followed in the production thereo The sign plates are provided with the characters or legends thereof facing in opposite directions, so that the sign can be read by a trav eler passing in either direction.

Since the lower holder .is directly sup ported throu hout such a great extent by the post, an since the sign plates 13 and 14 are secured in place around that part of the lower holder that embraces the metal post, a very rigid construction is provided which cannot easily be turned or otherwise injured by forces unless they be of sufficient magnitude actually to destroy or disrupt the sign.

I also provide means for rigidly securing the upper sign in place as well as a direction indicator, both the upper sign and the direction indicator being formed for the placement in desired angular position or positions relative to the lower sign. In many respects the problem of suitably holding and positioning, the upper sign and direction in- (lien-tor is a much more difficult one than the problem of positioning and holdin the ower sign, but I have solved this difficult problem in a very simple manner. To this end I form a tubular or beam-like extension 2', upon the up r part of the lower holder 2, which beam-like portion 2 is preferably somewhat smaller in size, cross-sectiona I considered, than the lower part of the ho der. At the juncture of the upward extension 2' with the lower part of the holder, I rovide a seat portion 25, which is arrange at right angles to the axis of the holder. On opposite sides of the tubular extension 2' I provide a plurality of vertically disposed ribs or projections 26 and 27, which as will be shown directly, co-act with corresponding vertical grooves in either the direction indicator or the upper sign holder or both, depending upon whether or not the upper sign alone is used in con'unction with the lower sign or whether a direction indicator is also employed. The direction indicator is composed of a substantially cylindrical body portion 28, from which extends the ar'row-like head and tail portions 29 and 30 respectively. The body portion is provided with a reference character 31, which is preferably the letter N (indicating north), so that it may be positioned to oint north and thus indicate the points 0 the compass. A

The body portion of the direction indicator is hollow and is provided with vertical grooves.32 of a size adapted to receive the ribs or projections 26 and 27 of the beam like extension 2' of the lower holder. To position the direction indicator upon the lower holder it is but necessary to place the same over the top 2" of the beam-like extension, starting the same on so that it points in the desired direction. It will be obvious that the direction indicator may he laced upon the holder so that it points in the direction shown by means of full lines in Fig. 6, or in any other desired direction, several directions being indicated by means of dotted lines in Fig. 6. When in position it rests upon the seat 25 and is prevented from turning movement by means of the counting interlocking vertical ribs and grooves just described.

As iswell shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the direction indicator is positioned between the upper holder 33 and the lower holder 1 and in this position is sheltered to a large extent from missiles or other objects that would be likely, to hit and destroy it. Because of its position and relation to the other larger parts of the sign, its likelihood of remaining in efiective operative .condi: tion over along period is practically as sured and should other parts of the sigh. be destroyed, it will remain as a general guide from which the points of the cpmpasa can be determined and for that reason will always be of value.

The upper sign holder. 33 is provided with'internal grooves 34 and 35 of asize adapted to receive the projections 26 and 27 of the beam-like extension and they are of course vertically positioned. The coaction of the upper sign holder 33 with the beam-like extensionfl" of the lower holder is similar to the co-action of the direction indicator therewith and it is obvious that the upper sign holder can be placed in any desired an lar position and that. when so placed wfi l, because of the vertical interlocking grooves and ribs, be firmly held in the placed position to such an extent that the turning thereof is practically impossible so long as the parts are not broken or shattered. While the weight of the upper holder 33 would normally hold it in position, I prefer to provide precau tionary fastening means such as a setscrew 36 for further securing the holder to the beam-like extension 2- of the lower holder.

The upper holder, like the lower holder, is formed to receive a pair of sign plates upon opposite sides thereof and to this end is provided with 11 per and lower grooves for the reception 0 the sign plates 37 and 38 respectively. The uppermost part of the up )er holder 33 is preferably provided with a ome or closed. end 39 to effectually prevent the entrance of water, snow and the like. This dome-like top also enhances the appearance of the sign as a Whole.

i Vhen it is not desired to use the direction indicator the upper sign holder 33 rests against the seat 25 of the lower sign holder and the position of the parts is as shown in Fig. 2. T he relation which the beam-like portion 2' of the lower holder assumes with relation to the upper holder when the direction indicator is not used. is shown by means of dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The various parts of the sign, a. e. upper and lower holders, direction indicator and 0st are preferably of hollow or tubular.

orm, since such construction provides the greatest strength of the character needed, with the least metal. I usually cast the upper and'lower holders and the direction indicator, and form the signs proper of pressed plates.

Furthermore, the telescopic arran ement of the parts adds to the strength an rigidity. thereof, Thus the lower holder telescoping over the top of the metal ost is "reinforced b the metal post and is t ereby held ve rigid indeed. Likewise the u per hol ertelescopin as it.does over t e cam-like extension 0 the lower holder is in turn reinforced by this extension and these parts mutually co-act not only to hold and lock the parts in desired position, but also to strengthen them against breaka By this mutual reinforcing co-action of t e parts I am enabled to use a relatively thinwalledconstruction and yet secure suflicient strength.

From the above detailed description it becomes apparent that the sign shown and described embodies features whereby the objects and purposes sou ht are attained, but since this disclosure W51 readil suggest to others, skilled in the art to w ich this ap ertains, various modified constructions ments whereby the substantial objects an purposes of mv invention me be attained, I do not Wis to be limite except only as may be necessar by the limitations in the hereunto appen ed claims.

I claimz a 1. A direct locking two part sign holder embodying therein lower and upper co -acting'i'nembers one thereof having a beam like extension telescopically enterin the other, said beam-like extension and ho der member with which it co-acts havin vertically disposed inter-locking ribs ant grooves wherey mere association of the sign holder parts serves to lock them against undesired movement.

2. A direct locking two part sign holder embodying therein lower and upper co-acting members one thereof'having a beamlike extension telescopically entering the other, said beam-like extension and holder member with which. it co-acts having vertically disposed inter-locking ribs and grooves whereby mere association of the sign holder parts serves to lock them against undesired movement, said lower member being formed hollow for placement upon the end of a post.

an arran In testimony whereof, I have hereunto.

set my hand, this 18th day of March, 1919, in. the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN P. ANDRESEN.

Witnesses THOMAS B. BROWN, An'rnrm WM. NnLsoN.

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