Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Signs – Interchangeable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-04-17
Silbermann, Joanne (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Signs
Interchangeable
C040S657000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216375
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to advertising, and more particularly to apparatus that enhances the appearance of alpha-numeric displays.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of equipment have been developed to display commercial advertising and other promotional messages. For example, display panels that hold interchangeable characters such as numerals and alphabet letters are well known and in widespread use. Examples of prior display panels may be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,237,637; 4,265,040; 5,257,472; 5,357,701; and 5,367,800.
In some instances, the display panels are translucent or transparent such that a source of illumination can backlight the characters on the panel. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,367,604 and 5,588,238 show backlit menu boards.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,202 and Des. 354,313 show representative plates that include characters for display. The plate of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,202 patent is especially useful with backlit display panels.
Despite the large variety of display panels, alpha-numeric characters, and character plates that are presently available, they are limited in the size and variety of graphic arts that can be handled. U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,604 shows graphic picture units, but they must be custom made to suit a particular display panel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,238 shows pictorial assemblies that are sandwiched between transparent window panels. The pictorial assemblies must thus be of a specific size and shape. In addition, the design of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,238 patent is such that it is difficult to change or rearrange the pictorial assembly after it has been created.
A further disadvantage of prior display equipment is that the numeral and alphabet letter plates are limited to use with specific tracks of a display panel. That is, the plates are all of the same height so as to fit within the tracks. Accordingly, variations in character heights in a particular track of a display panel are usually not possible.
Thus, a need exists for improvements in the way graphic materials are displayed on display panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an eyecatching sign decoration system is provided that is readily adaptable to conventional display panels. This is accomplished by apparatus that includes a connector secured to a decoration and held in the display panel.
The decoration is preferably made from a thin sheet of material such as wood, metal, or heavy paper. The decoration may be of any desired size and shape. Any desired graphic can be imprinted or otherwise applied to the decoration front face.
According to one aspect of the invention, the connector comprises a tab in the form of a thin straight strip of a strong but flexible material. One end of the strip is secured to the back face of the decoration near the top end thereof. The other end of the strip is flexible to bend about the first end. A second component of the connector is a holder having a slot that receives the free end of the strip that is secured to the decoration. The holder is sized to fit in a track of a conventional display panel in the same manner as conventional alpha-numeric character plates.
The holder and decoration can be placed at any desired location on the display panel. By inserting the strip of the decoration into the slot of the holder, the decoration is presented for view on the display panel. The decoration makes the display panel more attractive and noticeable than a display panel having only conventional characters.
In a modified embodiment of the invention, the tab on the decoration is U-shaped rather than straight. One leg of the tab is secured to the decoration, and the other leg is inserted into the holder.
In a further embodiment, the tab is L-shaped. One leg of the tab is secured to the decoration. For example, the tab first leg can project from one face of a flat plate, with the flat plate second face being secured to the decoration. The tab second leg is inserted into a suitable opening in the holder.
According to another aspect of the invention, the connector is designed as a single component in the form of a flexible generally flat plate. A center section of one face of the plate is secured to the decoration, leaving top and bottom sections unattached to the decoration. The plate is sized such that the top and bottom sections can slide within and be held in a track of the display panel in the same manner as conventional character plates.
As an alternate design, the connector is a single component having a generally C-shape. A center section of the convex side of the connector is secured to the decoration. The free ends of the connector are sized and shaped to fit over and grip the ledges that define the tracks of a conventional display panel.
As a further modification, the connector is equipped with one or more pairs of magnets or hook and eye tapes. One half of the cooperating magnets or hook and eye tapes are secured to the decoration. The other half is secured to a holder that is held in a display panel track.
In many instances, the decoration can be adequately supported in the display panel by a single connector. However, if the decoration size or shape makes it impractical to be supported with one connector, two or more connectors can be used. The connectors are secured to the decoration and held in the display panel in a manner that best suits the particular decoration.
Further in accordance with the present invention, the sign decoration system need not have a connector that is permanently secured to the decoration. Rather, the sign decoration system can be designed such that the decoration is removably secured to the connector. In that embodiment, a number of different decorations are interchangeable with a single connector. The connector has the height of a conventional alpha-numeric character plate. The connector width is substantially equal to the decoration width, which may have any practical width. The connector ends bend forwardly to make narrow channels that converge downwardly. The decoration has side edges that slide into and are held by gravity in the connector channels. Different decorations with the same side edge design can be interchangeably used with a single connector.
To further demonstrate the versatility of the present invention, a large decoration is mountable on a display panel without the use of any connector. The decoration is made of a size that spans two or more tracks. The upper edge of the decoration fits in the upper ledge of a first track of the display panel. The lower edge of the decoration fits in the lower ledge of a lower track on the display panel. In that manner, a decoration that is too large to fit in a single track can be mounted to the display panel without using any connector.
The method and apparatus of the invention, using a decoration alone, or in combination with one or more connectors, thus provides eye-catching appeal to a display panel. The connectors can be adapted to suit a wide variety of different decorations, even though the display panel is conventional.
Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3840261 (1974-10-01), Fulkerson et al.
patent: 4265040 (1981-05-01), Sarkisian
patent: 4367604 (1983-01-01), Porter, II et al.
patent: 4620736 (1986-11-01), Shanks
patent: 5257472 (1993-11-01), Harnois et al.
patent: 5357701 (1994-10-01), Grate
patent: 5367800 (1994-11-01), Nelson
patent: 5588238 (1996-12-01), Visocky et al.
Cayen Donald
Griffin Group, Inc.
Silbermann Joanne
LandOfFree
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