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US3722120A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Display sign

Assignee: WEBSTER M CO Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-12-31
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-12-31
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Abstract

Abstract The disclosure herein describes a display sign which consists of a series of superposed slats identical in shape and supported and confined in frame members, also identical in shape; each slat includes, at its upper portion, a lengthwise groove defined by two upwardly extending resilient leg portions and, at its lower portion, a lengthwise channel having a restricted entrance portion slightly smaller than the overall distance extending between the extremities of the leg portions. Each slat further includes, on each of its front and rear faces, a longitudinally extending rail which cooperates with the rail of another slat to support indicia, such as letters, symbols and numerals. The disclosure also teaches two ways of mounting hooks on the back of these indicia in order to support them on the rails.

Inventors

  • 👤 H Finkel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 23:23
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F7/00; G09F7/02; G09F7/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 251 words
An indicia display sign comprising a rigid frame, a series of identical elongate superposed slats fixed lengthwise, said slats being supported and confined in said rigid frame, each of the slats having a front face and a rear face, an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion including a lengthwise groove defined by two upwardly extending resilient leg portions; said lower end portion including a lengthwise channel having a restricted entrance portion slightly smaller than the overall distance between the extremities of said leg portions whereby said resilient leg portions of one slat may be inwardly flexed and tightly received in the channel of a superposed slat of similar construction; said leg portions of one slat and said channel of a superposed slat having inter-engaging walls to provide a locking engagement between said slat and superposed slat; each slat including a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending rails integrally mounted to the lower portion of said front and rear faces; each rail including indicia support means providing upper and lower portions said upper portion having an upwardly extending extremity thereof and said lower portion having a downwardly extending extremity thereof, each of said upwardly extending extremities cooperates with a downwardly extending extremity to provide support for an indicia, said slat having at an upper portion thereof an upwardly and outwardly protruding guide extending longitudinally along said slat and which cooperates with said downwardly extending extremity of a superposed slat to provide a guide for an indicia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 251 words
An indicia display sign comprising a rigid frame, a series of identical elongate superposed slats fixed lengthwise, said slats being supported and confined in said rigid frame, each of the slats having a front face and a rear face, an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion including a lengthwise groove defined by two upwardly extending resilient leg portions; said lower end portion including a lengthwise channel having a restricted entrance portion slightly smaller than the overall distance between the extremities of said leg portions whereby said resilient leg portions of one slat may be inwardly flexed and tightly received in the channel of a superposed slat of similar construction; said leg portions of one slat and said channel of a superposed slat having inter-engaging walls to provide a locking engagement between said slat and superposed slat; each slat including a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending rails integrally mounted to the lower portion of said front and rear faces; each rail including indicia support means providing upper and lower portions said upper portion having an upwardly extending extremity thereof and said lower portion having a downwardly extending extremity thereof, each of said upwardly extending extremities cooperates with a downwardly extending extremity to provide support for an indicia, said slat having at an upper portion thereof an upwardly and outwardly protruding guide extending longitudinally along said slat and which cooperates with said downwardly extending extremity of a superposed slat to provide a guide for an indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 1, wherein the rails on each slat are in horizontal alignment with one another; the rails on each face of the display sign being vertically spaced apart at equal intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 2, wherein each indicia supported on said rails includes at least two projections fixed to the back thereof and hook means, each having one end receiving one of said projections and another end extending behind one of said indicia support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 57 words
An indiciA display sign as defined in claim 3, wherein said hook means include an upper hook and a lower hook; wherein said lower hook extends over said upper portion of said indicia support means of one slat and wherein said upper hook extends under said lower portion of said indicia support means of a superposed slat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 4, wherein said guide guides said upper hook under said lower edge of said indicia support means; wherein said upper hook has spring means for preventing said indicia to budge when supported on said rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 57 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 3, wherein said hook means include a lower hook an an upper hook; wherein said lower hook extends under said upper portion of said indicia support means of one slat and wherein said upper hook extends over said lower portion of said indicia support means of a superposed slat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 66 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid frame consists of four identically-shaped support members including top, base and side members interconnected at their ends, each of said members having a channel portion being defined by walls adapted to receive said lower portion of said slat and by a recess in said channel adapted to receive said upper portion of said slat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 7, wherein said slats and said members are made of extruded aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 66 words
An indicia display sign as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicia support means comprises a single flange overlying the respective face of said slat, said flange having upper and lower edges, said upper edge of one slat being adapted to receive therebehind the lower part of an indicia, said lower edge of said slat being adapted to receive therebehind the upper part of another indicia.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1190069A Cited
US1432519A Cited
US1843883A Cited
US2697293A Cited
US3173220A Cited
US3142124A Cited
US3154870A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-03-26 1976-09-25 1977-03-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-03-26 1980-09-25 1981-03-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-03-26 1984-09-25 1985-03-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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