US3443330A

US3443330A - Sign display construction

Info

Publication number: US3443330A
Application number: US567251A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur W Scott
Original assignee: ARTHUR W SCOTT
Current assignee: ARTHUR W SCOTT
Priority date: 1966-07-22
Filing date: 1966-07-22
Publication date: 1969-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-13

Description

May 13, 1969 A. w. SCOTT SIGN DISPLAY CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22. 1966 4 4 Z f% a 5w 1; N m W5 M M N L G 5 n w .y. e W I a a 4 L w 1 z 1 R M M H w W M M /r W m/ fi P. .|.1W M VT|| ll| H m a w I m 2 m W M J .rfimm m/ w/ R 4 fi r. J 4 W L w W" a U W W 4 O 7 3 P fig w 1M5 m W d n ME 61 United States Patent 3,443,330 SIGN DISPLAY CONSTRUCTION Arthur W. Scott, 1768 Glenwood Drive, Bakersfield, Calif. 93306 Filed July 22, 1966, Ser. No. 567,251 Int. Cl. G091? 7/00 US. CI. 4065 1 Claim ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An upstanding generally rectangular hollow housing for outdoor use, having transparent front and rear walls and an open side provided with closure and bracing panels foldingly pivoted to the housing respectively about lower and upper horizontal axes, and a vertically disposed display board laterally movable into and out of the housing through the open side, the board in its outer position being supported by the outfolded closure panel and braced by the outfolded bracing panel, both panels being configured to retain the board vertically upright in its outer position, the closure panel having a support leg pivotally connected thereto for supporting engagement with the ground.

The present invention relates generally to a sign suitable for outdoor use, and more particularly to a sign including a display board movably mounted within a housing, and means for facilitating periodic changing or revision of the material carried on the display board.

In its preferred form hereinafter illustrated and described, the present invention includes a vertically disposed housing having generally rectangular front and rear walls, at least one of which is transparent. Within the housing is a display board, also preferably generally rectangular in shape, with a display surface adjacent the transparent housing wall. One vertical side wall of the housing is open, and closure means are provided for such open side, desirably in the form of a closure panel hingedly attached to the housing at the lower end of the open side for swinging movement about a horizontal pivotal axis. In its closed position, the panel extends vertically upwardly from its point of hinged attachment to the housing, thereby closing the open side of the housing; and the panel is desirably maintained in such closed position by a keyed lock, in order to prevent tampering with the sign. The closure panel may be swung downwardly to its lower position, extending generally horizontally from the housing, and in such position the closure panel serves effectively as an outward extension of the horizontal floor of the housing, so that the display board may he slid or rolled outwardly from the housing, with its outer portion resting upon the upper surface of the closure panel. Means may be provided as part of the construction for supporting the closure panel in its lower horizontal position, such as a support leg pivotally attached to the outer end of the closure panel and, when the closure panel is horizontal, the support leg may extend downwardly to the ground or other supporting surface.

The preferred embodiment of the invention also includes means for slidably bracing the upper edge of the display board when it is withdrawn from the housing. Such means are here shown as including a bracing panel hingedly attached to the housing, adjacent the top of the open side, for swinging movement about a horizontal pivotal axis between a lower position extending parallel to the open side of the housing and partially closing that side, and an upper position projecting generally horizontally from its axis of pivotal attachment to the housing. The lower surface of the bracing panel is configured as by a longitudinally extending groove or the like, to slidably receive the upper edge portion of the display board when the latter is withdrawn from the housing.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel sign construction including components for facilitating the temporary withdrawal of a display board from its housing. Other objects and purposes are to disclose, in such a sign construction, a vertically disposed housing having at least one transparent vertical wall, and having a display board movably carried on the floor of the housing and withdrawable there from through an open side of the housing; to provide in such a construction means for supporting the withdrawn portion of the display board, in the form of a hinged panel which also serves to close the open side of the housing during normal use of the sign; to provide in such a construction means for bracing the display board when withdrawn, so that the operator can devote full attention to making changes on the display surfaces of the board; and for additional objects and purposes as will be understood from a reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a construction embodying the present invention, with the display board in its fully withdrawn position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the sign in its fully enclosed, normal position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a housing indicated generally at 10 may rest upon a suitable substructure, such as a wall indicated generally at 12 on the ground 13. The housing is here shown as generally Tectangular in shape, including a longitudinally extending floor 14 resting upon the supporting wall 12, vertically disposed front and

rear walls

16 and 18 respectively, and a longitudinally extending top member 20. One end of the housing, here the right end, is closed by a suitable end wall 21, while the other end or side of the housing is open, and the invention contemplates one or more closure members for such open side to be described later. At least one of the front and

rear walls

16, 18 is made of transparent material such as glass; preferably both are transparent.

The open side of the housing 10 may be selectively closed by a closure panel indicated generally at 22 and attached at its one end to the housing 10 at the bottom of the open side, for pivotal swinging in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis 24. As will be seen by a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 4, closure panel 22 is movable between (A) an upright or closed position extending vertically upwardly from its pivotal axis 24 and there serving to close the open side of the housing, as shown in FIG. 4; and (B) a virtually horizontal orientation, constituting in effect an outward prolongation of the bottom 14 of the housing, as seen in FIG. 1. Means are desirably pro vided for supporting the closure panel 22 in such lower position, here shown as including a support leg 28, hinged- 1y attached at 30 to the closure panel adjacent the distal end of the latter. The distal end of the support leg 28 rests on ground 13.

Within the hollow interior of housing 10 there is provided .a vertically oriented display board indicated generally at 40, having front and

rear display surfaces

41 and 42 respectively, visible from outside the housing through the transparent front and

rear walls

16 and 18. The display board is desirably only slightly smaller in length and height than the interior of housing 10, and is mounted therein for horizontal movement in its own plane between an operative or normal position within the housing, as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, and a revision position seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, withdrawn outwardly of housing 10. To accommodate such horizontal movement of display board 40, its lower edge 44 may be slidable along the floor 14 of the housing and the upper surface of panel 22. Preferably, however, roller means indicated generally at 46 are mounted by suitable brackets 47 on the board lower edge 44, each such roller means including a pair of laterally spaced

wheels

50 and 51.

The upper surface of floor 14 is desirably configured with longitudinally extending guide means to provide lateral stability to the lower edge of the display board during its movement, such guide means being here shown as an upstanding rib 52 on floor 14. In prolongation of rib 52, a similar rib 53 is formed on the upper surface of closure panel 22. Rib 53 terminates outwardly at stop member 54 extending transversely of panel 22 and abuttable by

wheels

50, 51 to limit outward movement of board 40.

Means are desirably provided for steadying or bracing the upper edge of the display board 40 in its withdrawn position, so that the user may devote full attention to making desired revisions of the material displayed on the board. Thus a bracing panel indicated generally at 60 is attached at its one end to the upper portion of the open side of housing 10, being swingable in a vertical plane about a horizontally disposed pivotal axis 62 between its inoperative or closed position seen in FIG. 4 and its operative or open position seen in FIG. 1, supported on the upper edge of board 40. In its closed position of FIG. 4, bracing panel 60 lies inwardly of the closed position of closure panel 22. In the open position of FIG. 1, the lower surface of bracing panel 60 is configured to provide means for limiting movement of board 40 perpendicular to its plane, while permitting horizontal movement of the board in its plane. Such means include a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending

ribs

63, 64 forming a channel or groove loosely receiving the upper marginal portion of board 40. Within housing the lower surface of top member is similarly configured with

ribs

66, 67 aligned with

ribs

63, 64, for the same purpose.

In order to prevent unauthorized tampering with the display board 40, the closure panel 22 may be provided with lock means 70 of any desired type, for engagement with housing 10 when the closure member is in its upper or closed position. Desirably lock 70 is located fairly close to the distal end of closure panel 22, so that it will be concealed by support leg 28 when the sign is in its operative position of FIG. 3.

It will of course be understood that the

display surfaces

41 and 42 of board '40 may carry thereon any desired intelligence-bearing material such as individual letters forming words, sheets of paper or the like, as suggested in the drawing. Such material and its method of mounting may be as desired, and no details are here shown in order not be obscure the invention proper.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an inexpensive and compact arrangement to facilitate the making of periodic revisions of material displayed on a 4 bulletin board or the like. It will be understood that modifications and changes of several of the minor details hereinabove described and illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such modifications and changes are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

1. In an outdoor sign display construction:

an upstanding hollow housing having generally vertically disposed front and rear walls, at least one of the walls being transparent, the housing being open along a side thereof;

a closure panel hingedly connected to the housing about a horizontal pivotal axis adjacent the lower end of the open side for swinging movement in a vertical plane between an upper position closing said open side and a lower open position projecting generally horizontally from the housing;

a vertically disposed support leg pivotally attached to the distal end of the closure panel about a horizontal axis;

a bracing panel hingedly attached to the housing about a horizontal pivotal axis adjacent the upper end of the open side for swinging movement between a closed position depending downwardly from its said axis and an open position projecting horizontally outwardly from its said axis; and

a vertically disposed display board carried within the housing for movement between an operative position within the housing and an inoperative position at least partially withdrawn outwardly through the open side, with its outer portion supported on said closure panel in its lower position;

the upper surface of the closure panel in its lower position being configured to supportingly engage the lower portion of the board for permitting movement of the latter longitudinally of the closure panel and the lower surface of the bracing panel being configured to slidably interengage with the upper edge of the board, whereby the panels in their open positions cooperate to prevent board movement in a direction normal to its plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 218,883 8/1879 Hopkins 40-64 772,992 10/1904 Wogenstahl 3 12-3 11 1,119,544 1/1914 Schmidt. 1,903,941 4/1933 Rasoridge 40124.5 2,102,972 12/ 1937 Phillips 40-64 2,516,116 7/1950 Hammond 3l2311 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD CARTER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 10848; 312-311