Decorative message display

• US 5,024,011 A
• Filed: 11/13/1989
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dane H. Collins
• Original Assignee: Dane H. Collins
• Inventors: Collins, Dane H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSON, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/435,626
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.8, 248/441.1, 248/451, 248/454, 248/459, 248/460, 248/121, 248/174, 248/176, 248/309.1, 248/314, 248/450, 248/534, 248/539, 40/124.1, 40/124, 446/220, 446/222, 446/223
• US Class Current: 40/124.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0044 Postcards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0083 Games with balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/22 with advertising
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/00 Games not otherwise provided for aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00 ; miscellaneous sporting games A63B67/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0641 using a marker or means for drawing, e.g. pen, pencil, chalk
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1008 Anchoring means or weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/06 to be erected in three dimensions G09F1/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a front panel having an image area and a message area. The front panel is either detachably coupled to or integrally formed with a horizontal base which maintains the panel in a substantially upright position. A plurality of decorative appendages, such as balloons, are coupled to first ends of a plurality of connectors. The other ends of the connectors are coupled to the front panel to complete the structure. If helium balloons are used, a counterweight may be provided for preventing the balloons from lifting the apparatus off the ground or tipping the panel forwardly. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive sound producing device may be embedded in the panel and covered by a selected image, so that the apparatus produces an audible message when the region of the image over the sound producing device is pressed.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a front panel having an image area;

a base for maintaining said front panel in a substantially upright position;

at least one decorative appendage;

at least one rigid rod having a first end coupled to said at least one decorative appendage and a second end coupled to said front panel; and

holder means for coupling said at least one rod to said front panel, said holder means including

at least one tube having an inner diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said at least one rod, said tube having a longitudinal axis;

a stem secured to said tube, said stem having a longitudinal axis extending in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tube; and

an opening formed in said front panel for receiving said stem.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising locking means for securing said stem to said front panel.

3. A display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stem is hollow and said locking means comprises a plug member including:

a disk member having a diameter greater than the diameter of said opening, and

a cylindrical member projecting from said disk member for insertion into the hollow interior of said stem.