WO1994027271A1

WO1994027271A1 - Sign face frame attachment with perimeter flanges for universal mounting

Info

Publication number: WO1994027271A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/005048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kelly R. Coleman
Original assignee: Coleman Kelly R
Priority date: 1993-05-07
Filing date: 1994-05-09
Publication date: 1994-11-24
Also published as: US5517779A; AU6827294A

Abstract

A sign face frame structure (24, 26, 32, 40) for universal mounting on generally a vertically extending support. The body (20) of the sign face frame (24, 26, 32, 40) is simple to manufacture and is formed of extruded aluminum bar stock in a manner to have a rigid mounting flange or leg (22) surrounding the sides and bottom of the perimeter of the face frame (24, 26, 32, 40), the flange (22) being also provided for attaching the sign to the support. The top of the sign face frame (24, 26, 32, 40) includes a semi-circular member (19) to counteract with a receiver of various mounting designs. The semi-circular receiver (19) may be incorporated into a sign base frame embodiment as an appendage or it may be provided as an independent part to be attached to a sign frame or building for the installation purposes of a sign face. The semi-circular receiver (19) is designed for supporting the full weight of the face frame during installation until such time that sides and bottom mounting flanges or legs are attached or mechanically fastened to add relief to the weight bearing or attachment bond of the assembly. The assembled sign is fully sealed against the elements and may be illuminated by suitable lights preferably positioned within the inside of the body of the sign.

Description

SIGN FACE FRAME ATTACHMENT WITH PERIMETER FLANGES FOR UNIVERSAL MOUNTING

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a sign face frame and more particularly to a sign face frame which can be secured to a wall of a building, or to an existing sign which includes an integral flange to assist in assembly of a sign.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement over U.S. Patent No. 4,488,368 which is directed to a sign with a perimeter flange for universally mounting a sign face. The patent allowed for a single sided sign frame containing a face that could be universally mounted to buildings, structures and was later adopted for use as an attachment to sign base frames. The drawback of the identical mounting flanges on all sides of the structure was the alignment in the field which was cumbersome.

In the advertising industry the use of display devices including those being interiorly illuminated and which are either permanently or temporarily mounted at a given location are, of course, very well known in the art. The particular configuration or construσtior of the sign utilized in any given advertising application depends upon such things as type of business goods or services being advertised, location in which the sign or display device is to be located and the particular segment of the public to which the advertisement is directed. Because of these many diverse applications there is of course a demand for various types of signs. This demand for such a wide variety of sign structures necessarily raises the cost of production and also that of maintenance since many of the signs utilized today have to be made to individual specifications. Other disadvantages inherent in the production and use of custom made signs includes the cost involved in installing these signs which frequently equals or exceeds the actual production cost. Since up to the present time no one single sign structure has had the versatility to satisfy the wide variety of advertising needs, the installation of the varying sign structures would also have to be done on a custom installation type basis. Since a custom built sign was normally utilized and adapted to a particular location and application workers involved in installing these custom made structures would often times be dealing with completely different types of structures of which they had no general knowledge or experience. Because of the above factors, the time and expense involved in installing these prior art sign face structures is relatively great.

Large scale or mass production of a substantially standard display device capable of being applied to various uses is, of course, highly desirable in that this type of manufacturing serves to lower the cost of production. Maintenance of a standard type sign will also be less expensive since repair or servicing of such a sign could be done on a replacement part type basis. However, as pointed out above the diverse application for which these face frame signs are needed and used normally would prevent a sign structure from being mass produced. For this reason, mass production of a generally standard type sign, which is to effective for various applications, has been relatively unknown in the advertising industry. In devising production methods for producing such signs, labor, production time and necessary equipment are all prime factors. In addition, the ultimate appearance of the sign itself must always be kept in mind.

One of the most important structural features of any sign is of course, the display face used for advertising of the various services or goods. Naturally, the display face itself is what is primarily observed by the public. It can therefore be seen that the production of a display face which would be adapted to fit various sign structures and which itself is aesthetically pleasing yet eye catching, could greatly reduce the cost of "customized" sign structures. Such face frame, if available, could be applied to almost any of the conventionally designed prior art structures available today.

Because of these and other commonly known problems prevalent in the advertising and sign making industry, there has been a long felt need for a display face device incorporating a display face which is versatile enough to be adapted to a number of various advertising structures. At the same time, such a display device and display face structure must include a relatively simple, low cost construction capable of being easily maintained and transported to any given location. Ideally, such a structure would be of somewhat standard type construction which is capable of being built through the application of mass production techniques. In addition, the versatility of such a structure would include its being readily used for various applications while at the same time being capable of efficiently and aesthetically advertising any desired subject matter.

DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The improved sign face frame attachment has been designed with a semi-circular feature to be incorporated into the sign frame display and to also be provided in a multitude of retrofit parts enabling an installer of the sign frame or face frame to purchase a frame with the semi-circular feature or purchase a retrofit part with the semi-circular feature.

The sign face frame is attached to a building, a structure or a sign box to hang the complete assembled face frame allowing free hands by the installer to attach the sides and bottom of the face frame assembly. This technique speeds up or lessens the installation time and also provides a system for use with either rigid or flexible faces which may be fitted into a frame and shipped or taken to the jobsite in tact and thereby installed to any structure in a minimum amount of the time with increased accuracy thereby reducing cost. It is a principal object of this invention to provide a rugged sign face frame adapted to be universally mounted and supported on a support means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign frame having integral flange means for supporting the frame on a suitable support and carrying a sign cover.

Another object of the invention is to utilize an extruded rod stock having integral flanges for forming a face frame for a sign face. Another object of the invention is to utilize an extruded aluminum rod shape that may be formed into a sign frame having a protruding flange for mounting the sign on the support means and inwardly directed flange means for supporting display panel means on one or both sides of the sign or to incorporate a receiver to accept flexible sign face substrates in lieu of rigid substrates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 - 3 illustrate a cross-sectional view of three different types of sign frame attachments which are to be mounted flush on a wall surface and which have integral flanges;

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a cross-sectional view of two different types of sign frame attachments which are to be secured to a sign frame and which have integral flanges; and

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a cross-sectional view of different extruded aluminum C-Channels each with an integral flange.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 - 3 illustrate cross-sectional views of three different sign face structures which can be extruded aluminum and secured to a wall of a building or to a sign frame to which a sign facing may be easily hung onto the sign face structure. The sign face structures include an elongated main body portion 20 which can be secured to a structure and an integral flange portion 22 or semi-circular receiver on which a sign facing frame may be hung by use of a matching flange. Different shaped extensions may extend from the main body portion so long as the extension does not extend backwards beyond the main portion.

Figure 1 illustrates a U-shaped portion 19 integral with the main portion. The U-shaped portion extends in the same direction as the flange relative to the main portion 20 in which the U-shaped portion extends along the length of said sign face structure parallel with said semi-circular receiver. Figure 2 illustrates the attachment having only the main body portion and the protruding flange which is shown in a somewhat reversed ¹¹J" configuration. Figure 3 is the same as Figure 1, except that an end 21 extends upward from the U-shape and in alignment with the main body portion.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a cross-sectional view of a bullnose retrofit type 24 and a straight retrofit type 26. As shown, each of the attachments include a main body portion 20 and a flange 22 or semi-circular receiver. The main body portion has an extension with a portion 28 that extends back beyond the main body in a plane parallel with the flange portion. The portion 28 is secured above a sign frame facing. Figure 4 includes a U-shape which protrudes from the main body in a direction of the flange and an extension that protrudes backward from the main body in a plane parallel with the flange.

Figure 6 illustrates a different type of extruded C- Channel frame 32. The extruded frame 32 is the same as the attachment shown in Figure 4 except that the assembly in Figure 6 includes an extra bottom support 36 which is integral with the main body opposite the flange 38.

Figure 7 illustrates a flush type of extruded frame 40 which can be secured to a sign frame. The extruded frame 40 includes a flange 44 near the upper outward extension 46 and includes a bottom support 48 which is parallel with the extension 46. Figures 1-7 illustrate cross sections of different modifications of extruded aluminum sign facing hangers which can be secured to a wall or to a sign frame from which an extruded aluminum sign face frame that supports a sign facing may be easily hung for installation. These are shown with a tensioning device 54 which secures an edge of a flexible sign face 56 within a receiving retainer 58. Any type of extruded frame provided with a mating flange can be secured onto the flange 44 at the top and flange 22 secured at the bottom.

The sign frame structure shown in Figures 1-7 includes a frame produced from extruded aluminum bar stock having an integral flange means. This extruded bar has a cross- section shape which, when it is assembled to form the frame for a sign face, provides flanges that produce a rigid structure of the body of the sign. One of the integral flange means on the assembled body faces inwardly from the periphery of the frame and forms a support for a translucent cover for displaying the message carried by the sign. A flange means on a back side of the body of the sign protrudes from the periphery and is adapted to be attached to suitable support means such as the wall of a building. The connection assembly is made up of two parts, a top weight bearing semi- circular rail or flange to be attached to a wall or sign frame or a semi-circular feature made as part of a base sign frame. The top portion of the face frame incorporates matching semi-circular features to allow the assembled face frame to be lifted up and hung on the receiver thereby improving or decreasing installation time and thereby decreasing cost. Once the assembled face frame is hung on the receiver, then the sides and bottoms may be attached back against the building structure or attached to a plurality of structures including existing sign frames either single sided or multiple sided. The sign may be illuminated by means of a light source placed within the body of the sign or by other means for directed light from a suitable source against the sign. In carrying out the invention a person selects and installs a retrofit flush wall receiver to a standard sign or frame of any vintage or attaches a flush wall receiver to a wall or supporting structure on which the retrofit apparatus will fit. As an alternative to a retrofit shape shown in Figures 1 - 5, the person may select any frame design shown in Figures 6 and 7 fabricated from a desired size.

The person can select a face frame shape from different extrusions. The face frames may be fabricated in the same manner as the base frame. The fabricated perimeters are then considered as standard in the sign industry. Once the attachments and face frames have been selected a rigid or flexible facing system is installed onto the fabricated face frame.

The assembled face frame with face installed is then hung on the flange or semi-circular receiver which holds the assembly in place while the sides and bottom are secured with a mechanical fastener of choice.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A sign facing attachment to which a sign frame and facing may be secured; which comprises, an elongated main body portion, said elongated main body portion having a protruding receiver end integral with said main body portion, and a protruding U-shaped portion integral with said main body portion with a closed portion of the U-shaped portion extending in a same direction as said receiver and parallel therewith whereby said sign facing attachment can be secured to a supporting structure on which said attachment will fit for supporting a facing of a sign.

2. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 1, in which said protruding U-shaped portion extends from said main body portion only on a side thereof in a plane parallel with said protruding receiver end.

3. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 1, in which said U-shaped portion has an upward extending straight portion in a plane with said elongated main body portion.

4. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 1, in which said U-shaped portion has an extension (28) that extends backwards in a plane parallel with said protruding receiver end.

5. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 1, in which said main body includes a support structure (36) which extends in a direction opposite from said receiver end and in a plane parallel with said receiver end.

6. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 3, in which said main body includes a support structure (36) which extends in a direction opposite from said receiver end and in a plane parallel with said receiver end.

7. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 4, in which said main body includes a support structure (36) which extends in a direction opposite from said receiver end and in a plane parallel with said receiver end.

8. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 5, in which said support structure is in alignment with said semi-circular receiver.

9. A sign facing attachment as set forth in claim 6, in which said semi-circular receiver end is substantially in alignment with said backward extending straight portion.

10. A sign facing attachment as et forth in claim 1, in which said receiver end is semi-circular in cross section.