Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Signs – Sign support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-24
2001-06-26
Green, Brian K. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Signs
Sign support
C040S333000, C040S611050, C040S655000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250003
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to devices for displaying signs or other advertising material and, more particularly, to a display device for attachment to the pole of a parking meter.
Various methods and apparatus have been proposed for advertising products or services to the public, including billboards, signs, posters, print ads, etc. In particular, signs supported by or mounted to posts have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,353,179, 4,662,096, and 4,347,678. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, these devices are not particularly suited for displaying advertising materials on or about a conventional parking meter.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a display device which can be mounted to a conventional parking meter. It is also desirable to have a display device which can be viewed from a vehicle parked in front of a parking meter as well as by pedestrians walking in either direction on an adjacent sidewalk. Further, it is desirable to have a display device in which advertisements are inaccessible to pedestrians but can be easily changed by authorized personnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a multi-sided display device for mounting to the pole of a parking meter utilizes at least three rectangular panels, each panel having interior and exterior surfaces. The first panel is pivotally coupled to the second panel which, in turn, is pivotally coupled to the third panel. The free sides of the first and third panels are releasably coupled to one another, as desired by a user. The second and third panels are pivotal in the direction of the interior surface of the first panel. Each panel extends between top and bottom equilateral triangular end walls, each end wall having an arcuate cutout in its free apex for extension of the parking meter pole therethrough when mounted thereto.
A U-shaped mounting bracket is mounted to the interior surface of the first and third panels for mounting the panels to the pole of a parking meter. The bracket includes a pair of spaced apart free ends which are forced apart when pressed against the pole during mounting. The free ends return to a non-expanded position when the pole is completely inserted into the bracket and is thus held thereby. The brackets of the first and third panels are positioned at different vertical heights so as not to interfere with one another during mounting. Therefore, the first panel can be mounted to the pole while the second and third panels are pivoted away from the first panel. The second and third panels can then be pivoted in the direction of the interior surface of the first panel until the bracket of the third panel engages the pole. In this closed configuration, the triangular end walls and the panels form an equilateral triangular configuration.
A door frame having a transparent material such as Plexiglas therein is pivotally coupled to each panel and is movable between open and closed positions. The door is slightly offset from the exterior surface such that a compartment is formed therebetween. Thus, the door can be opened to insert or replace a printed advertisement or other item to be displayed. The exterior surface is formed of a cork material to which advertisements can be pinned, tacked, etc. if otherwise too small to stand on their own. Each door as well as the first panel includes a lock assembly for limiting access to the compartment and interior space of the closed panels, respectively. A display device having more than three panels can be constructed in a substantially similar manner.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a multi-sided display device which can be mounted to the pole of a conventional parking meter.
Another object of this invention is to provide a display device, as aforesaid, having multiple panels which can be viewed both from street and sidewalk positions.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a display device, as aforesaid, having display compartments in which advertising media can be easily inserted and replaced.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a display device, as aforesaid, in which access to advertising media is limited to authorized persons.
A further object of this invention is to provide a display device, as aforesaid, which can be quickly and easily attached to a pole.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a display device, as aforesaid, which can be easily adjusted vertically and circumferentially relative to a pole.
Another object of this invention is to provide a display device, as aforesaid, which can be fixedly secured to the pole of a parking meter.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2262873 (1941-11-01), Wise
patent: 2616196 (1952-11-01), Sandahl, Jr. et al.
patent: 2625762 (1953-01-01), McColl
patent: 3167874 (1965-02-01), Pogue
patent: 3928930 (1975-12-01), Attwood
patent: 4347678 (1982-09-01), Laakso
patent: 4353179 (1982-10-01), Jennings
patent: 4662096 (1987-05-01), Bayless et al.
patent: 4742630 (1988-05-01), Scumaci
patent: 4872149 (1989-10-01), Speas
patent: 5623778 (1997-04-01), Dunn
patent: 5903520 (1999-05-01), Dee et al.
patent: 584673 (1925-02-01), None
Green Brian K.
Ream Dale J.
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