US2200454A

US2200454A - Indicia bearing device

Info

Publication number: US2200454A
Application number: US312324A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward C Rahn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-01-04
Filing date: 1940-01-04
Publication date: 1940-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1957-05-14

Description

v 14, 1940. E Q HAHN INDIGIA BEARING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1940 Fim;

Patented May 14, 194() Y ATEN carriesl 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to indicia bearing devices and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

Among the objects of my invention the following may be enumerated: (1) to provide a device of the character set forth which is'adapted to be carried upon a key ring, key chain or the "like, and which will be in simulationof an automobile license tag bearing the license tag number of the owner; (2) to provide a device of the character set forth wherein the indicia bearing element can be removed and replaced with but little effort without the aid of tools; (3) to provide a device of the character set forth which may serve in addition to its' novelty value as meansthrough which the identification of the owner may be ascertained from some central agency or bureau; (4) to provide a device which when used in simu- =lation of an automobile license tag may also have the key to the automobile ignition sysem or door formed integrally therewith; (5) to provide such device which may also be used as an advertising medium in addition to the purposes hereinbefore stated.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention which have not been specically enumerated, I accomplish by providingan elongate frame within which is mounted in superposed relation a plurality of blanks of material, one of said blanks being of transparent sheet material and serving as a window for the device and a protective medium for another of said blanks which may carry the desired indicia, and a third blank constituting a backing member for the transparent material and indicia bearing material, the composite thickness of the blanks being substantially equal to the depth of the frame vand the blanks being held within the frame in a manner such as to be easily removable, whereby the indicia bearing material can be readily replaced and the parts reinserted and held in assembled relation without the aid of any tools or implements whatever.

The invention will be better understood 'from the detailed description which follows when considered irl connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an indicia bearing device embodying my invention. l

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 when viewed from the left thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. l, parts thereof being broken away to illustrate certain details of construction. l

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a top plan .View of a modified form'of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. BWhen viewed from the right thereof.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the plane of the broken line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing the device may be said to consist of an elongate substantially rectangular frame I having a continuous integral face flange I I extending inwardly from one edge of the frame and providing a rectangular sight opening I2. The frame Ill at one end thereof is formed with a central substantially semi-circular extension I3, the top portion I4 of which is formed with an opening I5 through which may extend a conventional form of exible key chain I6 or other suitable holding device. The frame with its face flange and extension may be suitably formed as a stamping from thin sheet metal or the like.

Mounted within the frame in superposed relation are a plurality of flat blanks o-f material Il, I8 and I9. The blank I'I is preferably formed of any transparent non-breakable material, such as Celluloid or the like and is of a form and'size to fit within the rectangular portion of theframe and seat against the inner face of the flange I I. The blank I8 which underlies the transparent blank I1 may be formed of paper, leather or other suitable material upon the -face of which is impressed, stamped, or otherwise applied suitable indicia I8', for example, the automobile license plate number of the Owner. This blank I8 is preferably also'of a size to t within the rectangular frame and be held against shifting movement by the frame walls. The blank I9 is of a form corresponding to that of the frame including the central extension thereof and has an opening therethrough in coincident relation to the opening I5 in the flange portion I3 of the frame. The blank I9 is intended to serve as a backing member for the blanks I'I and I8 and is preferably of substantial thickness compared to the depth of the frame. The composite thickness of the three blanks I1, I8 and I9 is such as to be sub-` stantially equal to the depth of the frame I0 so that when the parts are in assembled relation, the device will be of substantially fiat form. Ifdesired, the outer surface of the blank I9 may be provided with advertising matter, ornamentation or the like. Preferably the size of the blank I9 is such as to snugly fit within the frame and be held therein by the inherent resiliency of the frame. However, to insure a satisfactory holding of the parts in assembled relation I prefer toprovide a tab 2| extending from the rear edge of the end of the frame opposite to that which is provided with the central v extension, which tab is bent over the outer face of the blank I9 so as to lie substantially in a common plane therewith; To further secure the member I9 is in place in the frame.

Notwithstanding the holding means provided by the tab 2| and

indentations

22, 23, the superposed blanks I 1, I8 and I9 may be readily disengaged from the frame when it is desired to remove or insert an indicia bearing blank, by applying finger pressure against the face of the blank I1 adjacent the end of the frame provided With the central extension. In a somewhat analogous manner the parts may be reassembled by inserting the blanks I7 and I8 into the frame and then slipping the end of the blank I9 under the tab 2| and applying pressure to the other end to force it into the frame.

In the modification of my invention as shown i in Figs. -5 to,8, the frame` I0 is substantially identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 except that the end opposite to that provided with the extension has part of its wall cut away as shown at 2l to accommodate the stem portion 25 of a key, the terminal portion 26 of which is shaped to t within the frame and serve as the backing member for the transparent blank lI'I and indicia bearing blank I8. As an aidin holding the key in assembled relation to the frame the latter at its rear edge on the cut-out end is formed with a pair of spaced tabs 2| one on either side of the cut-out 24, which tabs are bent over into flush engagement with the terminal portion of the key. Y

It will be apparent from a consideration of the two embodiments of my invention as disclosed that in lieu `of the automobile license tag indicia which I have shown that any other form of indicia may be substituted therefor. It will also be understood that if desired the indicia bearing blank I8 may be dispensed with and the desired indicia may be impressed, stamped, engraved or otherwise applied directly on the inner face of the backing member I9 or on the inner face of the terminal portion 26 of the key.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be appreciated that I have provided an indicia bearing device which possesses novelty and util-` ity and is capable of use for various purposes. It will also be understood that although I have shown but two specific embodiments of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction disclosed, since these may be varied within the range of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An indicia bearing device of the character set forth comprising anielongate frame formed of thin sheet metal having an integral continuous face ange providing` a sight opening, said frame having mounted therein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks-of material, one of disposed in a common plane with the outer surface thereof, and complemental indentations in the frame and the backing member.

2. An indicia bearing device of the character set forth comprising an elongate frame having at one end thereof a central extension, said y frame having a continuous side wall and a continuous face ang'e providing a sight opening, the portion of the flange overlying -the extension having an opening therethrough, said frame having mounted therein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks of material, one of said blanks being of transparent sheet material and seating against the inner face of the flange, another of said blanks being a sheet of indicia bearing material, and another of said blanks being of substantially the same shape and size as the frame and snugly iitted therein and having an opening therethrough in coincident relationto the opening in the extension portion of the iiange and constituting a backing member for the rst two mentioned blanks, the blank voi' indicia bearing material being disposed between the blank of transparent material and the backing member with the indicia facing the sight opening of the frame, the composite thickness of said blanks being substantially equal to the depth of the side wall of the frame, and means for holding said blanks within the frame in the relation stated comprising the ange on the frame and complemental ndentations inthe side wall of the frame and in the backing member.

3. An indicia bearing device' of the character set forth comprising an integral elongate frame of generally rectangular form having at one end thereof a central extension, said frame having a continuous face flange providing a sight opening of generally rectangular form, the portionof the ange overlying the extension having an opening therethrough, said frame having mounted therein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks of material, one of said blanks being of transparent sheet material of substantially rectangular form and seating against the inner face ofl the flange on the frame and another of said blanks being a backing member for the transparent blank and having a configuration corresponding to that of the frame and fitting snugly within said frame and having an opening therethrough in coincident relation to the opening in the extension portion of the flange, the composite thickness of said blanks being substantially equal Ato the depth of the frame and said blanks being held within the frame by the face flange thereon and by at least one tab on the rear edge of the end of the frame opposite to that provided with the central extension, said tab overlying the backing member and being disposed in a common plane with the outer surface thereof.

4. An indicia bearing device of the character set forth comprising an elongate frame of generally rectangular form having at one end thereof a central extension. said frame having a conu tinuous face a'nge providing a sight opening ofgenerally rectangular form, the portion of the ange overlying the extension having au opening therethrough, said frame having mounted therein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks of material, one of said blanks being of transparent sheet material of substantially rectangular form and seating ragainst the inner face of the iiange on the frame, and another oi said blanks being theterminal portion of' a at key, and constituting a backing member for the transparent blank, the stem of the key projecting beyond one end of the frame, said terminal portion of the key having `a configuration corresponding to. that of the frame and iitting .the outer surface thereof.

snugly therein and having an opening therethrough in coincident relation to the opening in the flange overlying the extension portion of the frame, the composite thickness of the blank of transparent material and theterminal portion of the key being substantially equal to the depth of the frame and saidA blanks being held within the frame by the flange thereon and by a plurality of tabs on the rear edge of the end of the frame through which the stem of the key projects, said tabs overlying the terminal portion of the key and disposed; in a common plane with EDWARD' C. RAHN.'