US3753306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Letter cards and clamp bars for constructing signs, and method of assembling same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-27
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Granted: 1973-08-21
•
Expires: 1991-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A building set for the assembly of text signs comprising one or several text lines comprises letter cards of a sufficient number and marking to form any desired text and a number of clamping rods for framing text lines along all four sides of the signs and between consecutive lines of the same. The clamping rods are formed as profiled rods symmetrical with respect to a medial longitudinal plane and provide one clamping gap on each side of the symmetry plane, the clamping gaps opening in opposite directions so that two successive text lines may be joined by means of one such clamping rod. Locking means are provided to connect the frame members formed by the clamping rods to hold the sign assembled, and suspension and mounting means are provided to support both separate signs and a number of signs placed one above the other or back to back. The method involves the assembling of the text signs by the use of an assembling board.
Inventors
- 👤 S Hemgren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:59
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F7/00; G09F7/02; G09F7/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49895; Y10T29/49945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A building set for assembly of a tExt sign, containing at least one text line, such as a shop sign for temporary use, comprising, in combination, a number of letter cards of uniform height and thickness, said number being sufficient to form a desired text; a number of elongated clamping rods of a length at least sufficient to frame each text line along at least the longitudinal edges thereof; each said clamping rod in cross section being symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane, each said clamping rod, as seen in said symmetrical crosssection, comprising a web extending in said symmetry plane, first rigid legs protruding oppositely and perpendicularly from said web at one edge thereof and integral therewith, second elastic legs connected to the other edge of said web and respectively converging towards said first legs for defining a pair of clampimg gaps between the outer edges of said first and second legs of less width than the thickness of said letter cards, the web, on each side thereof, furthermore being provided with a longitudinal flange in a plane perpendicular to said symmetry plane and spaced from the adjacent one of said first legs at a distance sufficient to accommodate one edge of each letter card in a frictional gripping relation, each letter card also being elastically retained between the cooperating pair of rigid and elastic legs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A building set for assembly of a tExt sign, containing at least one text line, such as a shop sign for temporary use, comprising, in combination, a number of letter cards of uniform height and thickness, said number being sufficient to form a desired text; a number of elongated clamping rods of a length at least sufficient to frame each text line along at least the longitudinal edges thereof; each said clamping rod in cross section being symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane, each said clamping rod, as seen in said symmetrical crosssection, comprising a web extending in said symmetry plane, first rigid legs protruding oppositely and perpendicularly from said web at one edge thereof and integral therewith, second elastic legs connected to the other edge of said web and respectively converging towards said first legs for defining a pair of clampimg gaps between the outer edges of said first and second legs of less width than the thickness of said letter cards, the web, on each side thereof, furthermore being provided with a longitudinal flange in a plane perpendicular to said symmetry plane and spaced from the adjacent one of said first legs at a distance sufficient to accommodate one edge of each letter card in a frictional gripping relation, each letter card also being elastically retained between the cooperating pair of rigid and elastic legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A building set, as claimed in claim 1, in which each letter card is a rectangular planar card having indicia on at least one surface thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ends of certain said clamping rods are formed by end surfaces converging towards said ends at 45* to the length of said certain rods for forming a mitre joint with a similar end of a second of said certain clamping rods; the two clamping rods forming the mitre joint framing a pair of mutually perpendicular sides of a respective text line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
157 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said clamping rods include first clamping rods having each end formed by two end surfaces extending at 45* to the length of said rods and converging towards said end and intersecting each other in the symmetry plane of said first clamping rods; said ends forming mitre joints with the adjacent ends of two second clamping rods longitudinally aligned with each other; each of said second clamping rods having their adjacent ends defined by two end surfaces converging towards their said ends and intersecting each other in the symmetry plane of said second rods, with one end surface extending at 45* and the other at 90* to the length of said second clamping rods; said first clamping rods separating two consecutive text lines of a text sign and said second clamping rods framing said text lines along edges thereof at right angles to said first clamping rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, including a locking member comprising a first leg and a second leg integral therewith and extending at right angles thereto, each of said locking member legs having a cross-section of a form and size to be accommodated and frictionally retained in the space of a clamping rod, defined by the web, one of said second elastic legs and one of said flanges thereof, said locking member legs being insertable in said spaces of two clamping rods meeting at right angles to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said second legs is rigid in itself and connected to said second edge of said web through elastically deformable connecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outer edges of said first and second legs are bent away from each other to form converging entrances to said clamping gaps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A building set as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that one of the locking member legs is secured in said space of a clamping rod framing a vertical text line side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, including a suspension member of rectangular, disc-like form provided with a bead along one shorter edge thereof, the disc-formed portion of said member being thinner than and the bead thereof being thicker than the width of said clamping gaps, the member furthermore comprising a central opening and a hook-formed tongue at the opposite shorter edge, said member being insertable from one end of a clamping rod with the disc-like portion in one clamping gap thereof and the bead inside of same, whereafter a text sign, the top edge of which is provided by said clamping rod, can be supported in a rigid member engaged at the central opening of said suspension member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A building set as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said hook-like tongue is formed for engagement with the central opening of a similar suspension member to facilitate suspension of one text sign in the bottom clamping rod of another text sign.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, including suspension means comprising a rectangular bar, at least one side surface thereof being provided with grooves along two opposite edges of the bar, said grooves being mutually parallel and spaced apart slidably to accomodate the bent-out edges of said first legs of a clamping rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A building set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said suspension means is provided with said grooves on two opposite side surfaces and is insertable between two clamping rods arranged back against back, while the bent-out edges of the first legs of said clamping rods are slidably accomodated in said grooves, thereby connecting said clamping rods and thus text signs formed therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A building set as claimed in claim 12, including a bracket, characterized in that the end of said bar is releasably mountable in said bracket, said bracket having means for attachment to a support surface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
272 words
A method to assemble a text sign containing one text line, especially shop signs for temporary use, by which letter cards corresponding to the desired text are chosen from a set of letter cards and are arranged in a frame device for exhibition in substantially vertical position, characterized in that said chosen letter cards in proper order to form the desired text are placed in juxtaposed position on a planar surface of an assembling board with one longitudinal edge of said text line resting on said surface, that a first clamping rod of a length appropriate for the text line is chosen from a set of such clamping rods and is placed along abovementioned longitudinal edge of the text line in a first groove of said assembling board, that a second equal clamping rod is chosen and placed along the opposite longitudinal edge of said text line in a second groove of said assembling board, said two grooves having such a depth that a longitudinal clamping gap of each clamping rod is aligned with the adjacent edge of said text line formed by said letter cards and the width of said planar surface between said first and said second groove being less than the height of said letter cards minus twice the depth of said clamping grooves. that said first clamping rod is maintained stationary and said second clamping rod is displaced towards said first clamping rod while maintaining the parallel relation thereof, whereby said letter cards are inserted in said clamping gaps and retained therein, and that said clamping rods together with said letter cards are lifted from said assembling board.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
272 words
A method to assemble a text sign containing one text line, especially shop signs for temporary use, by which letter cards corresponding to the desired text are chosen from a set of letter cards and are arranged in a frame device for exhibition in substantially vertical position, characterized in that said chosen letter cards in proper order to form the desired text are placed in juxtaposed position on a planar surface of an assembling board with one longitudinal edge of said text line resting on said surface, that a first clamping rod of a length appropriate for the text line is chosen from a set of such clamping rods and is placed along abovementioned longitudinal edge of the text line in a first groove of said assembling board, that a second equal clamping rod is chosen and placed along the opposite longitudinal edge of said text line in a second groove of said assembling board, said two grooves having such a depth that a longitudinal clamping gap of each clamping rod is aligned with the adjacent edge of said text line formed by said letter cards and the width of said planar surface between said first and said second groove being less than the height of said letter cards minus twice the depth of said clamping grooves. that said first clamping rod is maintained stationary and said second clamping rod is displaced towards said first clamping rod while maintaining the parallel relation thereof, whereby said letter cards are inserted in said clamping gaps and retained therein, and that said clamping rods together with said letter cards are lifted from said assembling board.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
317 words
A method to assemble a text sign, containing at least two text lines, especially shop signs for temporary use, by which letter cards, corresponding to the desired text, are chosen from a set of letter cards and are arranged in a frame device for exhibition in substantially vertical position, characterized in that the letter cards chosen for the top or bottom line of said text sign are placed in proper order to form the desired text and in juxtaposed position on a planar surface on an assembling board with one longitudinal edge of said text line resting on sAid surface, that a first clamping rod of a length appropriate for the text line is chosen from a set of such clamping rods and is placed along above mentioned longitudinal edge of the text line in a first groove of said assembling board, that a second equal clamping rod is chosen and placed along the opposite longitudinal edge of said text line in a second groove of said assembling board, said two grooves having such a depth that a longitudinal clamping gap of each clamping rod is aligned with the adjacent edge of said text line formed by said letter cards and the width of said planar surface between said first and said second groove being less than the height of the said letter cards minus twice the depth of said clamping grooves, that said first clamping rod is maintained stationary and said second clamping rod is displaced towards said first clamping rod while maintaining the parallel relation thereof, whereby said letter cards are inserted in said clamping gaps and retained therein, that the unit formed by said first and second clamping rods and said intermediate letter cards is lifted from said assembling board and replaced thereon with said second clamping bar in said first groove, and that the above procedure is repeated for each successive text line.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
317 words
A method to assemble a text sign, containing at least two text lines, especially shop signs for temporary use, by which letter cards, corresponding to the desired text, are chosen from a set of letter cards and are arranged in a frame device for exhibition in substantially vertical position, characterized in that the letter cards chosen for the top or bottom line of said text sign are placed in proper order to form the desired text and in juxtaposed position on a planar surface on an assembling board with one longitudinal edge of said text line resting on sAid surface, that a first clamping rod of a length appropriate for the text line is chosen from a set of such clamping rods and is placed along above mentioned longitudinal edge of the text line in a first groove of said assembling board, that a second equal clamping rod is chosen and placed along the opposite longitudinal edge of said text line in a second groove of said assembling board, said two grooves having such a depth that a longitudinal clamping gap of each clamping rod is aligned with the adjacent edge of said text line formed by said letter cards and the width of said planar surface between said first and said second groove being less than the height of the said letter cards minus twice the depth of said clamping grooves, that said first clamping rod is maintained stationary and said second clamping rod is displaced towards said first clamping rod while maintaining the parallel relation thereof, whereby said letter cards are inserted in said clamping gaps and retained therein, that the unit formed by said first and second clamping rods and said intermediate letter cards is lifted from said assembling board and replaced thereon with said second clamping bar in said first groove, and that the above procedure is repeated for each successive text line.
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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) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |