Status indicator device

• US 10,643,505 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blickman Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blickman Industries, LLC
• Inventors: Lorenzo, Anthony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Cassandra
• Application Number:
  US16/261,940
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 116284, 116303-313, 116316-320, 40492, 40482, 40484, 40487, 40497, 40907, 40501, 40493, 40530, 40531, 40532, 40533, 40534, 434404, 434348, 434168, D10102, D10122
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/007 Signs without covering windows
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/00 Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols vehicle registration number plates B60R13/10; Panels or boards show-cards G09F1/00; indicating arrangements for variable information G09F9/00, G09F11/00; illuminated signs G09F13/00; boards for notices or posters G09F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/08 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by means of grooves, rails, or slits
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/22 for rotatably or swingably mounting, e.g. for boards adapted to be rotated by the wind
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/40 in which the desired character is selected from a number of characters arranged one beside the other, e.g. on a common carrier plate

Abstract

A status indicator device that is mountable to an object includes a flag that rotates between positions that expose indicators to provide an indication of a status of the object. The status indicator device includes a base upon which indicators are disposed. The indicators may be, e.g., stickers, decals, etc. that provide the status of the object. A flag is rotatably mounted to the base by an axis that is perpendicular to the base, so that the flag rotates with respect to the base within a plane that is parallel to the base. The flag rotates between two different positions at which different indicators are exposed. One or more flag stops may be used to stop the rotation of the flag at the desired position. A handle on the flag may be used to rotate the flag and may be configured to lock the flag in a desired position.

Claims

1. A status indicator device comprising:

a base having a surface with a first indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a first state and a second indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a second state, the base being configured to be mounted to an object;

a pivot axis coupled to the base and disposed between the first indicator and the second indicator disposed on a line connecting the first indicator and the second indicator, the pivot axis is positioned normal to the surface of the base;

a flag rotatably mounted to the base with the pivot axis, wherein the flag rotates with respect to the base within a plane that is parallel to the surface of the base, wherein the flag rotates about the pivot axis that is disposed on the line connecting the first indicator and the second indicator from a first position in which the first indicator is covered by the flag and the second indicator is exposed to a second position in which the second indicator is covered by the flag and the first indicator is exposed; and

a shield disposed between the flag and the base, the shield having a first window that frames the first indicator and a second window that frames the second indicator.

2. The status indicator device of claim 1, further comprising at least one flag stop positioned to stop rotation of the flag at the first position and at the second position.

3. The status indicator device of claim 2, wherein the at least one flag stop is positioned on an edge of the base and extends upward from the surface of the base to stop the rotation of the flag.

4. The status indicator device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises one or more screw holes to mount the base to the object.

5. The status indicator device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises an adhesive to mount the base to the object.

6. The status indicator device of claim 1, wherein the first indicator provides an indication of a first status of the object and the second indicator provides an indication of a second status of the object.

7. A status indicator device comprising:

a base having a surface with a first indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a first state and a second indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a second state, the base being configured to be mounted to an object;

a pivot axis coupled to the base and disposed between the first indicator and the second indicator and positioned normal to the surface of the base;

a flag rotatably mounted to the base with the pivot axis, wherein the flag rotates with respect to the base within a plane that is parallel to the surface of the base from a first position in which the first indicator is covered by the flag and the second indicator is exposed to a second position in which the second indicator is covered by the flag and the first indicator is exposed;

a first locking tab that extends from the flag and a stationary locking tab coupled to the base, wherein the first locking tab on the flag is aligned with the stationary locking tab when the flag is in the first position; and

a first hole in the first locking tab and a second hole in the stationary locking tab, wherein the first hole and the second hole are aligned when the flag is in the first position and are configured to accept a locking element to prevent rotation of the flag.

8. A status indicator device comprising:

a base having a surface with a first indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a first state and a second indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a second state, the base being configured to be mounted to an object;

a rotatable flag that is parallel to the surface of the base and is rotatably mounted to the base by an axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the base, wherein the rotatable flag rotates with respect to the base between a first position at which the rotatable flag covers the first indicator and the second indicator is exposed and a second position at which the rotatable flag covers the second indicator and the first indicator is exposed; and

at least one flag stop coupled to the base and positioned to permit rotation of the rotatable flag while stopping rotation of the rotatable flag at the first position and at the second position, wherein the at least one flag stop comprises a first flag stop positioned to stop the rotation of the rotatable flag at the first position and a second flag stop positioned to stop the rotation of the rotatable flag at the second position.

9. The status indicator device of claim 8, wherein the at least one flag stop is positioned on an edge of the base and extends upward to stop the rotation of the rotatable flag.

10. The status indicator device of claim 8, further comprising a shield disposed between the rotatable flag and the base, the shield having a first window that frames the first indicator and a second window that frames the second indicator.

11. The status indicator device of claim 10, wherein the at least one flag stop extends from one of the base and the shield.

12. The status indicator device of claim 8, further comprising a handle coupled to the rotatable flag, the handle comprising a tab that extends from the rotatable flag at a non-zero angle with respect to a surface of the rotatable flag.

13. The status indicator device of claim 12, further comprising a stationary locking tab coupled to the base, wherein the tab is aligned with the stationary locking tab when the rotatable flag is in the first position and further comprising a first hole in the tab and a second hole in the stationary locking tab, wherein the first hole and the second hole are aligned when the rotatable flag is in the first position and are configured to accept a locking element to prevent the rotation of the rotatable flag.

14. A status indicator device, comprising:

a base having a surface with a first indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a first state and a second indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a second state, the base being configured to be mounted to an object;

a rotatable flag that is parallel to the surface of the base and is rotatably mounted to the base by an axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the base, wherein the rotatable flag rotates with respect to the base between a first position at which the rotatable flag covers the first indicator and the second indicator is exposed and a second position at which the rotatable flag covers the second indicator and the first indicator is exposed; and

wherein the at least one flag stop comprises a single elongated ledge extending along a bottom edge of the indicator device that stops the rotation of the rotatable flag at both the first position and the second position.

15. A status indicator device comprising:

a base having a surface with a first indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a first state and a second indicator disposed on the surface for identifying a second state, the base being configured to be mounted to an object;

a rotatable flag that is parallel to the surface of the base and is rotatably mounted to the base by an axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the base, wherein the rotatable flag rotates with respect to the base within a plane that is parallel to the surface of the base between a first position at which the rotatable flag covers the first indicator and the second indicator is exposed and a second position at which the rotatable flag covers the second indicator and the first indicator is exposed, wherein the first indicator provides an indication of a first status of the object and the second indicator provides an indication of a second status of the object;

at least one flag stop coupled to the base and positioned to stop rotation of the rotatable flag at the first position and at the second position;

a handle coupled to the rotatable flag, the handle comprising a tab that extends from the rotatable flag at a non-zero angle with respect to a surface of the rotatable flag; and

a stationary locking tab coupled to the base, wherein the tab is aligned with the stationary locking tab when the rotatable flag is in the first position and further comprising a first hole in the tab and a second hole in the stationary locking tab, wherein the first hole and the second hole are aligned when the rotatable flag is in the first position and are configured to accept a locking element to prevent rotation of the rotatable flag.

16. The status indicator device of claim 15, further comprising a shield disposed between the rotatable flag and the base, the shield having a first window that frames the first indicator and a second window that frames the second indicator.