Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Signs – Sign support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-09-25
Green, Brian K. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Signs
Sign support
C040S606040, C040S612000, C248S230100, C248S218400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293035
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signs and, more particularly, pertains to structures for holding signs, such as road and street signs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Over the years, various systems have been developed for securing signs, such as road signs, to a post, a pole or the like. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,802,939 issued on Apr. 28, 1931 to Butler discloses a sign mounting system comprising a split sleeve adapted to be drawn together about an upstanding post by means of a first pair of bolts. Each sleeve section is provided with at least one sign-holder defining a socket within which one end of a sign may be secured by a second pair of bolts. Accordingly, to install a sign, one has to first tighten the first pair of bolts in order to secure the split sleeve to the post and then tighten the second pair of bolts to secure the sign to the sign-holder. Therefore, the installation of the sign necessitates a number of operations which are time consuming.
It has also been proposed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,377 issued on Oct. 22, 1985 to Huel, to secure a sign to a post by means of a pair of straps effective for retaining the sign to a bracket as well as fastening the bracket to the. post. However, when it is desired to remove the sign, it is necessary to detach the bracket from the pole, as it is the straps which directly hold the sign in position with respect to the bracket.
Although the sign mounting systems described in the above mentioned patents are effective for attaching a sign to a post, it has been found that there is a need for a sign mounting system which facilitates the installation and removal of a sign from a support structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved sign mounting system which offers ease of assembly and disassembly.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide such a sign mounting system which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for mounting a sign to a structural member, comprising a clamp adapted to be mounted about the structural member, said clamp including at least a pair of gripping members adapted to cooperate for holding the sign therebetween, and securing means adapted to be engaged with said clamp to retain said gripping members in gripping engagement with the sign, while at the same time securing said clamp to the structural member.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a combination mounting system and sign for mounting to a structural member, said mounting system comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted about the structural member, said bracket having a pair of gripping members displaceable between an open position for allowing said sign to be inserted therebetween and a closed position for holding said sign, actuator means extending transversely through said gripping members for displacing said gripping members between said open and closed positions thereof, and at least one slot defined in said sign, said slot having an open end to accommodate a portion of said actuator means located between said gripping members, thereby allowing said sign to be installed and removed from said bracket without having to disengage said actuator means from one of said gripping members.
REFERENCES:
patent: 210250 (1878-11-01), Greene
patent: 1802939 (1931-04-01), Butler
patent: 1859578 (1932-05-01), Baily
patent: 1908360 (1933-05-01), Hunt
patent: 1995869 (1935-03-01), Sprung
patent: 2073975 (1937-03-01), Hammar
patent: 3525493 (1970-08-01), Chrietzberg et al.
patent: 3623255 (1971-11-01), Girard
patent: 3950874 (1976-04-01), Diggs
patent: 4040194 (1977-08-01), Penton et al.
patent: 4548377 (1985-10-01), Huel
patent: 4783921 (1988-11-01), George
patent: 4864757 (1989-09-01), Lovett
patent: 5064157 (1991-11-01), O'Neal
patent: 5088672 (1992-02-01), Neuendorf et al.
patent: 5335889 (1994-08-01), Hopkins et al.
patent: 5570880 (1996-11-01), Nordgran
patent: 5634619 (1997-06-01), Alessi
Green Brian K.
Hewitt James M.
Kalitec Signalisation Inc.
Sofia Michel
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
LandOfFree
Sign supporting system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sign supporting system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sign supporting system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2500971