Multi-position sign-mounting system

• US 6,378,818 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cormark, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cormark, Inc.
• Inventors: Padiak, Scott, Evans, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/578,937
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 248/351, 248/316.8, 248/201, 248/548, 248/417, 406/06, 401/24, 406/610.6, 403/106, 403/112, 403/113, 403/120, 403/83, 403/84, 403/103, 403/111, 163/34, 163/32, 163/07, 211/69.6, 211/69.7, 211/119.06
• US Class Current: 248/201
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/14 displaying different signs depending upon the view-point of the observer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/22 for rotatably or swingably mounting, e.g. for boards adapted to be rotated by the wind

Abstract

A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, includes a frame portion mountable to the sign and a mounting portion mountable to the structure. The system can be symmetrical with each side having coupling elements of the frame and mounting portions which include generally circular rims which fit generally concentrically one within the other. Each rim has locking parts of different radius than adjacent portions of that rim, and the locking parts of respective rims engage to resist rotation. The locking parts can be configured so that resistance to rotation occurs at a plurality of orientations. The respective locking parts can be of different arc lengths to provide a limited range of rotation before the locking parts resist rotation, and a spring can bias rotation in one direction. At least one of the coupling elements can be reversible with two opposite-facing rims.

Claims

1. A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, the system comprising:

a frame portion mountable to the sign, the frame portion having a first coupling element; and

a mounting portion mountable to the structure, the mounting portion having a second coupling element;

one of the first and second coupling elements defining an inner rim with a generally circular outside surface, and the other of the first and second coupling elements defining an outer rim with a generally circular inside surface, wherein the inner rim fits generally concentrically within the outer rim;

the outside surface defining at least one inner locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the outside surface, the inside surface defining at least one outer locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the inside surface;

wherein the inner rim fits within the outer rim in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one inner locking-surface parts and at least one of the at least one outer locking-surface parts engage each other to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other;

wherein at least one of the at least one inner locking-surface parts has an arc length that is different than an arc length of at least one of the at least one outer locking-surface parts;

wherein the respective locking-surface parts with different arc lengths engage one another providing a limited range of rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other, and

wherein the system further includes a biasing element engaged with the first and second coupling elements, to bias the the first and second coupling elements relative to each other.

2. A sign-mounting system as in claim 1, wherein the biasing element is a spirally compressed spring.

3. A sign-mounting system as in claim 1, wherein the biasing element is positioned generally concentrically within the inner rim.

4. A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, the system comprising:

a frame portion mountable to the sign, the frame portion having a first coupling element; and

a mounting portion mountable to the structure, the mounting portion having a second coupling element;

one of the first and second coupling elements defining an inner rim with a generally circular outside surface, and the other of the first and second coupling elements defining an outer rim with a generally circular inside surface, wherein the inner rim fits generally concentrically within the outer rim;

the outside surface defining at least one inner locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the outside surface, the inside surface defining at least one outer locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the inside surface;

wherein the inner rim fits within the outer rim in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one inner locking-surface parts and at least one of the at least one outer locking-surface parts engage each other to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other;

wherein the mounting portion further includes a plurality of connecting points for mounting the system at different orientations with respect to the structure.

5. A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, the system comprising:

a frame portion mountable to the sign, the frame portion having a first coupling element; and

a mounting portion mountable to the structure, the mounting portion having a second coupling element;

one of the first and second coupling elements defining an inner rim with a generally circular outside surface, and the other of the first and second coupling elements defining an outer rim with a generally circular inside surface, wherein the inner rim fits generally concentrically within the outer rim;

the outside surface defining at least one inner locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the outside surface, the inside surface defining at least one outer locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the inside surface;

wherein the inner rim fits within the outer rim in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one inner locking-surface parts and at least one of the at least one outer locking-surface parts engage each other to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other;

wherein the frame portion further includes an extension element mountable to the sign, the extension element joined to the first coupling element and being adjustable to different lengths.

6. A sign-mounting system as in claim 5, wherein the extension element is adjustable telescopically.

7. A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, the system comprising:

a frame portion mountable to the sign, the frame portion having a first coupling element; and

a mounting portion mountable to the structure, the mounting portion having a second coupling element;

one of the first and second coupling elements defining an inner rim with a generally circular outside surface, and the other of the first and second coupling elements defining an outer rim with a generally circular inside surface, wherein the inner rim fits generally concentrically within the outer rim;

the outside surface defining at least one inner locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the outside surface, the inside surface defining at least one outer locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the inside surface;

wherein the inner rim fits within the outer rim in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one inner locking-surface parts and at least one of the at least one outer locking-surface parts engage each other to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other;

wherein the inner and outer rims are formed from polypropylene.

8. A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, the system comprising:

a frame portion mountable to the sign, the frame portion having a first coupling element; and

a mounting portion mountable to the structure, the mounting portion having a second coupling element;

one of the first and second coupling elements defining an inner rim with a generally circular outside surface, and the other of the first and second coupling elements defining an outer rim with a generally circular inside surface, wherein the inner rim fits generally concentrically within the outer rim;

the outside surface defining at least one inner locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the outside surface, the inside surface defining at least one outer locking-surface part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the inside surface;

wherein the inner rim fits within the outer rim in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one inner locking-surface parts and at least one of the at least one outer locking-surface parts engage each other to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other;

the frame portion further including a third coupling element being a mirror image of the first coupling element, an extension element extending from each of the first and third coupling elements, and at least one central element which is joined to each of the extension elements, and

the mounting portion further including a fourth coupling element, the fourth coupling element being a mirror image of the second coupling element,

wherein the first and second coupling elements couple with each other, and the third and fourth coupling elements couple with each other.

9. A sign-mounting system for mounting a sign to a structure, the system comprising:

a frame portion mountable to the sign, the frame portion including a first coupling element; and

a mounting portion mountable to the structure, the mounting portion including a second coupling element,

wherein one of the first and second coupling elements defines a generally circular first rim, and the other of the first and second coupling elements is reversible and defines a generally circular second rim and an opposite-facing generally circular third rim, and

wherein the first rim is configured to engage both the second and third rims, one at a time, in a generally concentric coupling relation.

10. A sign-mounting system as in claim 9,

the first rim defining at least one first locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the first rim, and

the second rim defining at least one second locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the second rim,

wherein the first and second rims engage one another in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one first locking parts and at least one of the at least one second locking parts engage to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other.

11. A sign-mounting system as in claim 10,

wherein the third rim defines at least one third locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the third rim, and

wherein the first and third rims engage one another in at least two orientations in which at least one of the at least one first locking parts and at least one of the at least one third locking parts engage to resist rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other.

12. A sign-mounting system as in claim 10,

wherein the third rim defines at least one third locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the third rim,

wherein at least one of the at least one first locking parts has an arc length that is different than an arc length of at least one of the at least one third locking parts, and

wherein the first and third rims engage one another in an orientation in which the at least one of the at least one first locking parts and the at least one of the at least one third locking parts can be engaged to resist rotation, beyond a limited range of rotation, of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other, and

wherein the system further includes a spring for biasing rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other in one direction, when one end of the spring is in contact with the first coupling element and another end of the spring is in contact with the second coupling element.

13. A sign-mounting system as in claim 9,

the first rim defining at least one first locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the first rim, and

the second rim defining at least one second locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the second rim;

wherein at least one of the at least one first locking parts has an arc length that is different than an arc length of at least one of the at least one second locking parts,

wherein the first and second rims engage one another in an orientation in which the at least one of the at least one first locking parts and the at least one of the at least one second locking parts engage to resist rotation, beyond a limited range of rotation, of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other, and

wherein the system further includes a spring for biasing rotation of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other in one direction, when one end of the spring is in contact with the first coupling element and another end of the spring is in contact with the second coupling element.

14. A sign-mounting system as in claim 13,

wherein the third rim defines at least one third locking part having a radius that is different than a radius of adjacent portions of the third rim,

wherein at least one of the at least one first locking parts has an arc length that is different than an arc length of at least one of the at least one third locking parts, and

wherein the first and third rims engage one another in an orientation in which the at least one of the at least one first locking parts and the at least one of the at least one third locking parts engage to resist rotation, beyond a limited range of rotation, of the first and second coupling elements relative to each other.

15. A sign-mounting system as in claim 9, wherein the frame portion further includes an extension element mountable to the sign, the extension element joined to the first coupling element and being adjustable to different lengths.

17. A sign-mounting system as in claim 9, wherein the first, second and third rims are formed from polypropylene.

18. A sign-mounting system as in claim 9,

the frame portion further including a third coupling element being a mirror image of the first coupling element, an extension element extending from each of the first and third coupling elements, and at least one central element which is joined to each of the extension elements, and

the mounting portion further including a fourth coupling element, the fourth coupling element being a mirror image of the second coupling element,

wherein the first and second coupling elements couple with each other, and the third and fourth coupling elements couple with each other.

19. A sign-mounting system as in claim 9,

wherein the one, of the first and second coupling elements, defining the first rim is reversible and further defines a generally circular fourth rim, the fourth rim facing opposite the first rim, and

wherein the fourth rim is configured to engage the second and the third rims, one at a time, in a generally concentric coupling relation.

16. A sign-mounting system as in 15, claim wherein the extension element is adjustable telescopically.