US3863372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sign box with closure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-09
•
Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A sign box for construction of an illuminated sign in which the box has a top and bottom and two sides all of which are formed out of extruded metallic material of identical cross section, and having a removable front panel also having a top and bottom and two sides of extruded metal of identical cross section, the box and the front panel having complimentary mating formations formed thereon extending around all four sides of the box and panel which interengage and locate the panel with respect to the box. The box and front panel also incorporate sealing means which contact one another and provide a good weathertight seal. Releasable securing means are provided for securing the front panel to the box.
Inventors
- 👤 Johann Stilling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:30
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/04; G09F13/0413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A sign box for the construction of an illuminated sign having illumination elements said box comprising; a main frame having a top member, side members and a bottom member for containing the illumination elements and having at least one open side defined by the side edges of said members, said top member, said side members and said bottom member all being formed of extruded metallic material of identical crosssection; a front panel removably attachable to said main frame for holding a translucent sign element in registration with said open side, said front panel having a top member, side members and a bottom member for supporting said translucent element, said top member, side members and bottom member all being made of extruded metallic material of identical cross-section; a curved concave wall formation formed on said main frame around all four sides thereof, said concave wall formation being extruded integrally therewith and being directed outwardly with respect to said main frame; said wall formation terminating in a free end directed forwardly, said free ends on said top and bottom members lying in parallel horizontal planes, and said free ends on said side members lying in parallel vertical planes, when said main frame is standing upright; a curved convex formation extending around all four said members of said front panel and shaped to mate with said concave wall formation on respective sides of said main frame when said front panel is in position on said main frame, said convex formation being directed inwardly with respect to said main frame for movement into and out of engagement with said concave wall formation on said main frame; and releasable means for securing said front panel to said main frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A sign box for the construction of an illuminated sign having illumination elements said box comprising; a main frame having a top member, side members and a bottom member for containing the illumination elements and having at least one open side defined by the side edges of said members, said top member, said side members and said bottom member all being formed of extruded metallic material of identical crosssection; a front panel removably attachable to said main frame for holding a translucent sign element in registration with said open side, said front panel having a top member, side members and a bottom member for supporting said translucent element, said top member, side members and bottom member all being made of extruded metallic material of identical cross-section; a curved concave wall formation formed on said main frame around all four sides thereof, said concave wall formation being extruded integrally therewith and being directed outwardly with respect to said main frame; said wall formation terminating in a free end directed forwardly, said free ends on said top and bottom members lying in parallel horizontal planes, and said free ends on said side members lying in parallel vertical planes, when said main frame is standing upright; a curved convex formation extending around all four said members of said front panel and shaped to mate with said concave wall formation on respective sides of said main frame when said front panel is in position on said main frame, said convex formation being directed inwardly with respect to said main frame for movement into and out of engagement with said concave wall formation on said main frame; and releasable means for securing said front panel to said main frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 1 including engaging members formed on said front panel and said main frame in addition to said convex and concave complementary formations for further locating said front panel wtih respect to said main frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 1 including cover means formed on said main frame and on said front panel, being extruded integrally therewith, and dimensioned to overlap one another when said front panel is assembled on said main frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cover means on said main frame top member, side members, anad bottom member incorporates a continuous shoulder extending therealong, and including screw holes drilled in said shoulder in said top member and said bottom member at spaced intervals there along for reception of said releasable securing means therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 4 including electrical recepTacle means for mounting said illumination elements in said box, and including a translucent element mounted in said front panel for illumination thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front panel top member, side members and bottom member are all formed in a generally channel shaped cross section with parallel side walls and a web joining the same, and including inwardly extending flanges from opposite sides of said channel extending into the middle of said channel defining a slot within said channel for reception of a said translucent element therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top member, side members and bottom member of said main frame and said front panel are cut at 45* angles at their ends, to form a mitre corner joint, and including generally L-shaped corner fastening means inserted into said members at each corner securing the same to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 1 including seal mounting means formed on said top member, said side members and said bottom member of one of said main frame and said front panel, extruded integrally therewith, extending around all four sides thereof to form a complete rectangular shaped seal mounting, and seal contacting means formed around the other of said main frame and said front panel, on said top member, said side members and said bottom member, and being extruded integrally therewith, said seal contacting member being oriented to register with said seal mounting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
168 words
A sign box for use with illumination elements comprising; a main frame in the form of an open sided box having a top member and sides and a bottom, said box adapted to contain illumination elements; hinge means integrally formed with said top member; a front panel having a top member, sides and a bottom for holding a translucent sign element; hinge means extending from said top member of said front panel engageable with said hinge means of said top member of said main frame; first cover means attached to said top member of said front panel extending over a portion of said hinge means; second cover means extending outwardly from the top member of said main frame over said hinge means thereon and adjacent said first cover means; seal supporting means carried by one of said first and second cover means, and, sealing rib means carried by the other of said first and second cover means to prevent rain and dirt from falling upon said hinge means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
A sign box for use with illumination elements comprising; a main frame in the form of an open sided box having a top member and sides and a bottom, said box adapted to contain illumination elements; hinge means integrally formed with said top member; a front panel having a top member, sides and a bottom for holding a translucent sign element; hinge means extending from said top member of said front panel engageable with said hinge means of said top member of said main frame; first cover means attached to said top member of said front panel extending over a portion of said hinge means; second cover means extending outwardly from the top member of said main frame over said hinge means thereon and adjacent said first cover means; seal supporting means carried by one of said first and second cover means, and, sealing rib means carried by the other of said first and second cover means to prevent rain and dirt from falling upon said hinge means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first cover means has said sealing rib formed therewith, and said seal supporting means is carried by said second cover means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 9 wherein said seal supporting means is formed on said second cover means and comprises a channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hinge means on said top member and said front panel comprise complementary mating concave and convex formations, and wherein said formations extend around all four sides of said main frame and said front panel, and wherein said first and second cover means extend similarly around all four sides thereof whereby to make a good weather tight cover between said front panel and said main frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 12 including removable stop members mounted along said second cover means, extending from said top member of said main frame, whereby to secure said complementary concave and convex formations therealong.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 13 including further removable stop means mounted along said second cover means at the bottom of said main frame, for locking said front panel in position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 9 including a plurality of electrical receptable means mounted in said main frame for reception of said illumination elements, and translucent panel means mounted in said front panel for illumination thereby.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 9 wherein said main frame is open on both sides, and wherein said hinge means and said cover means are arranged on both sides, and including rear panel means for holding a second translucent sign element over said second open side of said main frame whereby to comprise a double faced sign.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
207 words
A sign box for the construction of an illuminated sign having illumination elements, said box comprising: a main frame having a top member, side members and a bottom member for containing the illumination elements and having at least one open side defined by the side edges of said members; support means on at least one side edge of said top member of said frame; a front panel for holding a translucent sign element; a concave supporting wall on said support means extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, said wall being open towards said front panel for free access thereto; a curved hinge member on said front panel defining a convex hinge surface directed inwardly towards said main frame and extending rearwardly of said front panel and oriented to register with said concave supporting wall for movement into and out of contact therewith without rotational movement of said front panel relative thereto, and providing, with said concave supporting wall, mating hinging surfaces for rotational movement of said front panel between open and closed positions, and, removable stop means associated with said support means and interengaging with said curved hinge member in such a manner that said curved hinge member is normally prevented from disengaging from said concave supporting wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
207 words
A sign box for the construction of an illuminated sign having illumination elements, said box comprising: a main frame having a top member, side members and a bottom member for containing the illumination elements and having at least one open side defined by the side edges of said members; support means on at least one side edge of said top member of said frame; a front panel for holding a translucent sign element; a concave supporting wall on said support means extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, said wall being open towards said front panel for free access thereto; a curved hinge member on said front panel defining a convex hinge surface directed inwardly towards said main frame and extending rearwardly of said front panel and oriented to register with said concave supporting wall for movement into and out of contact therewith without rotational movement of said front panel relative thereto, and providing, with said concave supporting wall, mating hinging surfaces for rotational movement of said front panel between open and closed positions, and, removable stop means associated with said support means and interengaging with said curved hinge member in such a manner that said curved hinge member is normally prevented from disengaging from said concave supporting wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 17, including a free end on said concave supporting wall; and engaging means secured to said free end when said curved hinge member is in engagement with said concave supporting wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 17, wherein said main frame comprises spaced apart top and bottom members joined together by side members, each member having an identical cross-section and side edges; and said support means being on at least one side edge of each member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 19 wherein said front panel comprises spaced apart top and bottom members and side members, each said member having an identical cross section, and being provided with said upwardly curved hinge member on all four sides thereof for engagement with said concave supporting wall on all four sides of said main frame, and including further removable stop means mounted in said bottom member of said front panel for fastening the same securely in position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 17 including cover means formed on said main frame, and complementary cover means formed on said front panel around all four sides thereof covering said concave supporting wall and said curved hinge member respectively.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 21 including resilient sealing means mounted on one said cover means, and a seal engaging rib member formed on the other of said cover means, said resilient sealing means and said rib member contacting one another when said front panel is fastened in position on said main frame, and providing a good weather tight seal around all four sides thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 22 wherein said main frame is open on both sides, and wherein said concave supporting wall is formed on both said open sides of said main frame, and including second panel means for said second open side, said second panel means being identical to said front panel means, whereby to provide a double faced sign.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sign box as claimed in claim 17 including electrical receptable means mounted in said main frame for reception of said illumination elements, and including translucent sign elements means mounted in said front panel for illumination thereby.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |