Interlocking slide-pocket for roll-up signs

Details Interlocking slide-pocket for roll-up signs Interlocking slide-pocket for roll-up signs

2000-09-20

2002-05-07

Davis, Cassandra H. (Department: 3628)

Card, picture, or sign exhibiting

Signs

Highway or street marker

C040S603000, C160S378000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06381889

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to sign assemblies, and, more specifically, to collapsible sign assemblies requiring a minimum of assembly time and effort for rapid deployment, such as those typically found in roadway construction and maintenance work zones.
Collapsible sign assemblies are known wherein a flexible sign material is tensioned by supporting structure for creating a display surface. The flexible material is typically tensioned by resilient fiberglass reinforced plastic battens of varying thickness, which are secured to the flexible sign material by a variety of fastening means. Typically, one or more battens are secured in fixed-pockets which are disposed at opposing locations along a rear surface of the flexible sign. However, fixed-pockets create difficulty in assembly as the resilient batten must be significantly flexed using manual force before the insertion of its unsecured end portion into a fixed-pocket is possible.
Fixed-pockets for securing a batten end portion therein are known and have been developed in two basic types: a pliable fabric type which is typically sewn directly to the rear surface of the flexible sign, and a rigid or semi-rigid molded plastic type which is typically affixed to the rear surface of the flexible sign with mechanical fasteners. Both fixed-pocket types have as their single purpose to secure a batten end portion therein, and thus tension the flexible fabric sign. When fixed-pockets of either type described are employed, the operator is always required to flex the resilient batten prior to inserting its unsecured end portion into a fixed-pocket. Flexing of the fiberglass reinforced plastic battens of varying thickness has become more difficult and much more of a safety concern with the advent of thicker, stiffer, and hence less resilient battens, which in turn are both more awkward to flex and require much more arm strength and effort from the operator than was previously required with the original, more flexible battens. Significant hand-eye coordination, ample arm strength, and the use of two hands, have become prerequisites for inserting the end portion of the newer, less flexible, resilient batten ends into fixed pockets. In fact, some roll-up sign assemblies cannot utilize the newer, less resilient battens with any of the known fixed-pockets because most people do not possess adequate arm strength to flex the batten sufficiently to insert the unsecured end portion into a fixed-pocket; the resilient batten is often just too stiff, and flexing the batten sufficiently to insert its unsecured end portion into a fixed pocket is unachievable by the operator. In attempting to do so, an operator risks losing control of the batten while it is being flexed during the insertion attempt, which could easily lead to serious injury if the resilient batten were to unexpectedly and instantaneously spring back and hit the operator.
More recently, two-piece mechanical fastener pockets with a friction-fit closure have been developed in which separate fastening means are provided and attached to the rear surface of the flexible sign material for securing the batten therein without the requirement of first flexing the resilient batten. However, these pockets still require two handed assembly in order to close the pocket to secure a batten end into and unsecure a batten end from an opposing pocket. Two-piece mechanical fastener pockets with a friction-fit closure are inherently awkward and often difficult to open and close due to their reliance on a tight friction fit closure, are unreliable in that they may inadvertently pop-open in strong winds, and if damaged, are not replaceable without specialized tools, and even if the appropriate tools are available, the entire two-piece pocket must be removed from the rear surface of the sign and new separate pieces reattached. Similarly, pockets are desired which can be readily utilized with all resilient battens, regardless of their flexibility or rigidity, and which can be easily secured with one hand, and easily replaced if damaged.
Of further concern, regardless of the specific batten or pocket assembly in use, is the time and attention required of an operator to accomplish the task of tensioning or untensioning a roll-up sign while working in less than ideal conditions, such as those encountered in construction or maintenance work zones where traffic is often moving at high speeds and/or changing lanes, and drivers and workers are often distracted by the various activities taking place around them, or are just not paying adequate attention for the circumstances. Adverse weather conditions, and/or inadequate lighting or night work, may also be contributing factors in making the operator's job of tensioning a roll-up sign more difficult. When combined, any or all of these considerations can only contribute to the peril the operator is in when assembly or disassembly of a collapsible sign is required. Add to the assembly operation the additional requirement(s) that the operator needs both hands, significant arm strength, and a minimum level of hand-eye coordination for inserting and/or securing a batten end portion into a securing pocket, particularly when the newer, less flexible battens are part of the assembly, and it is easy to understand the desirability of a pocket which would greatly shorten the assembly time, as well as reduce the physical requirements of the operator.
Accordingly, the interlocking slide-pocket in accordance with the present invention provides means for securing a batten to a flexible sign material wherein the operator can secure a batten end portion within the appropriate opposing pocket with one hand, regardless of the flexibility or lack thereof of the batten itself, with almost no arm strength or hand-eye coordination required. In fact the present invention can literally be accomplished in total darkness, in a matter of seconds, even if a totally rigid, totally unresilient batten were utilized.
Another, equally important result with the present invention which utilizes a sliding cover and a positive interlock between the cover portion and the base portion, is that a batten end is much less likely to pop-out of a pocket during deployment of the collapsible sign assembly, a common occurrence when a fixed pocket is utilized and the batten is not secured at one or more mid-points by a secondary restraint. Fixed pockets typically must have an abbreviated or shortened sleeve portion so as to allow entrance of the unsecured batten end portion while it is being momentarily flexed for insertion by the operator. Thus, fixed-pockets capture a significantly smaller length of the batten end portion than the length of batten end portion captured by the present invention.
Collapsible roll-up signs not equipped with the present invention are therefore more likely to also require a complicated costly, and somewhat time consuming to operate, temporary secondary restraint to maintain the batten end portions within the fixed pocket than the permanent secondary restraint employable with the present invention. More particularly, conventional roll-up signs are often secured to the battens at points intermediate the terminal ends of the battens to prevent the roll-up sign from bowing when wind impacts the rear surface of the roll-up sign. Typically, velcro straps are used to secure the batten to the roll-up signs at such intermediate points. The use of velcro straps is time consuming and costly. The present invention avoids the need for velcro straps, as discussed in more detail below.
Thus the positive interlocking sliding cover in the present invention allows an additional safety feature in that the batten, regardless of how resilient or flexible it is or is not, may be permanently affixed to the rear surface of the flexible sign by one or more permanent secondary restraints, which do not have to be tied or untied each time the sign is assembled or unassembled, as do the temporary secondary restraints utilized when fixed pockets are part of the collapsible roll-u

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