Open-closed sign structure

• US 5,913,615 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quartet Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Quartet Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Rellinger, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US08/419,026
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 40/491, 40/508, 40/489, 40/490, 40/449, 40/594, 40/595, 40/597, 40/600, 40/907, 40/325
• US Class Current: 40/491
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/02 Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/04 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by magnetic means

Abstract

An open--closed sign structure fabricated and assembled from a pair of like sign body sections arranged back to back to form a sign body and having an area spaced apart between them, the sign body carrying a sign face visible from either side, wherein a shutter consisting of a pair of like shutter sections keyed together at a corresponding edge of each shutter section is engaged for slidable movement between the sign body sections, each shutter section carrying indicia visible from one face of the shutter selectively on opposed edges of the sign body depending upon the position of the shutter relative to the sign body, and fasteners for holding the sign body sections together and the shutter slidably engaged therebetween. The fasteners may also have mounting members, such as suction cups, for securing the assembled sign to a surface. The shutter and sign body also have a cam and detente assembly for urging the shutter to remain in a predetermined selected position visible from a selected edge of the sign body. The sign face may consist of ridged magnetic panels, one carried by each of the sign body sections, and magnetized letter indicia adapted for movable securement on the sign face aligned on the magnetic panel ridges.

Claims

1. A sign structure comprising:

(1) body sections forming a peripheral frame having opposed edges,

(a) said body sections each being substantially identical, and

(b) arranged back to back to form said frame;

(2) front and back sign faces arranged between said body sections within said frame,

(a) said sign faces and body sections having a spaced apart area arranged between them defining a slot extending between said opposed frame edges,

(i) at least one of said sign faces comprising a magnetic member secured on said frame,

(b) said sign faces being secured between said body sections;

(3) shutter means mounted in said slot and adapted for reciprocal movement for a predetermined distance in said frame, said shutter means having

(a) opposed ends adapted to define said distance of shutter movement in said frame,

(b) a stop on at least one of said opposed ends adapted to prevent removal of said shutter means from said slot, and

(c) indicia areas adjacent each of said ends,

(i) one of said indicia areas on one end of said shutter means being exposed when the stop on its opposed end is moved against said frame.

2. In the sign structure recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of inwardly projecting barbs on each of said body sections engage said magnetic member.

3. In the sign structure recited in claim 1, wherein said frame has mounting means for securing one of said faces of said sign structure to a selected surface.

4. In the sign structure recited in claim 3, wherein said mounting means secures said body sections together.

5. In the sign structure recited in claim 4, wherein said mounting means has a plurality of suction cups for securing said sign structure to said window.

6. In the sign structure recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said sign faces has a plurality of spaced apart horizonal parallel ribs arranged thereon.

7. In the sign structure recited in claim 6, wherein said ribs have lands disposed between the ribs which are angularly tapered from rib to ribs along the sign faces.

8. A sign structure comprising:

(1) body sections comprising a peripheral frame having opposed edges;

(2) front and back sign faces arranged between said body sections within said frame,

(a) said sign faces and body sections having a spaced apart area arranged between them defining a slot extending between said opposed frame edges;

(3) shutter means mounted in said slot and adapted for reciprocal movement for a predetermined distance in said frame, said shutter means having

(a) opposed ends and a stop on each of said opposed ends adapted to define said distance of shutter movement in said frame and to prevent removal of said shutter means from said slot, and

(b) indicia areas adjacent each of said ends,

(i) one of said opposed ends of said shutter means being exposed when said stop is moved against said frame; and

(4) guide means for controlling movement of said shutter means in said slot,

(a) said guide means having means for engaging said shutter means against said frame for inhibiting movement of said shutter means,

(b) said engaging means comprising cooperating ring and detente members On said frame and said shutter means.

9. In the sign structure recited in claim 8, wherein said frame and each of said stops has a shape adapted to receive its said related stop within its related frame edge when aid shutter in moved against said frame.

10. In the sign structure recited in claim 8, wherein said guide means comprises members arranged along said slot for holding said shutter means in position during movement.

11. In the sign structure recited in claim 10, wherein said members have a slide guide in which the shutter means slides.

12. In the sign structure recited in claim 10, wherein said guide means has means for engaging said shutter means against said frame edges inhibiting movement of said shutter means.

13. In the sign structure recited in claim 8, wherein said ring member is flexibly secured in a bracket formed in said body sections.

14. A sign structure comprising:

(1) body sections forming a peripheral frame having opposed edges,

(a) said body sections each being substantially identical, and

(b) arranged back to back to form said frame;

(2) front and back sign faces arranged between said body sections within said peripheral frame,

(a) said sign faces and body sections having a spaced apart area arranged between them defining a slot extending between said opposed frame edges;

(3) shutter means mounted in said slot adapted for reciprocal movement for a predetermined distance in said frame, said shutter means having

(a) opposed ends on said frame,

(b) a stop one on each of said opposed ends adapted to define said predetermined distance of shutter movement in said frame and to prevent removal of said shutter from said slot,

(i) said stop adapted to overlay both of said body sections when reciprocated, and

(c) indicia areas adjacent each of said ends,

(i) one of said indicia areas on one end of said shutter means being exposed when the stop on its said one opposed end is moved against said frame; and

(d) said shutter means having like shutter sections secured together.

15. In the sign structure recited in claim 14, wherein each of said shutter sections have interlocked keys and keyways for securing said shutter sections together.

16. In the sign structure recited in claim 15, wherein said interlocked keys and keyways have hook and eye members engaged in said shutter sections.

17. In the sign structure recited in claim 14, wherein one of said indicia areas comprises a panel having signage for selectively indicating one of an open operative condition and a closed operative condition.