Sign holding and framing assembly

Claim 2

A sign holding and framing assembly for holding at least one sign, the sign holding and framing assembly comprising: frame means comprising a plurality of sides enclosing an open area, at least one of said sides having a pivot seat formed therein and a groove spaced inwardly from said pivot seat, said groove extending the full peripheral length of said frame means, said groove provided to receive the edge of the sign; an elongated slat, said slat having a protuberance projecting laterally from adjacent one side edge of said slot, said protuberance being shaped to conform to said groove and an arcuate trough formed in the other side edge of said slot, said trough pivotally mounted on said pivot seat said slat being pivotal from an open position to a closed position wherein said protuberance seats in said groove; and clip means releasably secured to said frame means and said slat for locking said slat in a said closed position.

Claim 3

A sign holding and framing assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame means is an element having a bottom strip, a pair of spaced side strips secured to said bottom strip, a top strip secured to said side strips and spaced from said bottom strip thus providing a cavity therebetween, and an L shaped arm secured to said top strip intermediate said side strips; said arm includes a base leg having a one end secured to said top strip and having another end projecting outwardly thereof, and a cross leg having a one end secured to said base leg other end and having a free end spaced from one of said side strips, wherein said cross leg free end having a rounded flange formed thereon which projects toward said top strip thus providing said pivot seat; said arm, said top strip and said flange defining an indent; and said one side strip having said groove formed theRein wherein the inner wall of said groove projects into said cavity.

Claim 4

A sign holding and framing assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said slat has a channel formed therein opposite said protuberance; said top strip has a slot formed therein inwardly of said arm; and said clip means is a U shaped clip having an inside leg with a base end and a free end, an outside leg disposed parallel to said inside leg with a base end and a free end, a base interconnecting said inside and outside legs base ends, a ridge formed on said outside leg proximate its free end and projecting toward said inside leg, and a rounded rim formed on said inside leg free end and projecting toward said outside leg; wherein said ridge seats in said channel, said inside leg extends into said slot and said rim seats against said groove inner wall thus releasably locking said clip to said slat and said groove inner wall for locking said slat to said element.

Claim 5

A sign holding and framing assembly for holding at least one sign, the sign holding and framing assembly comprising: a frame element having a bottom strip, a pair of spaced side strips secured to said bottom strip, a top strip secured to said side strips and spaced from said bottom strip thus providing a cavity therebetween, a pair of spaced L shaped arms secured to said top strip intermediate said side strips, and a slot formed in said top strip between said arms; each arm including a base leg having a one end secured to said top strip and having another end projecting outwardly thereof, and a cross leg having a one end secured to said base leg other end and having a free end projecting outwardly thereof, wherein said base legs are parallelly disposed and said cross legs are disposed substantially parallel to said top strip with said cross leg''s free ends projecting away from each other; each said cross leg free end having a rounded flange formed thereon which projects toward said top strip thus providing a pivot seat on each side of said element; each said arm and said top strip forming an indent; each said side strip having a groove formed therein wherein the inner wall of one of said grooves projects toward the inner wall of the other said groove in said cavity; a pair of opposed holding slats, each said slat having a protuberance projecting therefrom and an arcuate trough formed in one end thereof distal said protuberance, said trough pivotally mounted on said pivot seat said slat being pivotable from an open position to a closed position wherein said protuberance seats in said groove; and a pair of U shaped clips, each said clip having an inside leg with a base end and a free end, an outside leg disposed parallel to said inside leg with a base end and a free end, a base interconnecting said inside and outside legs base ends, a ridge formed on said outside leg proximate its free end and projecting toward said inside leg, and a rounded rim formed on said inside leg free end and projecting toward said outside leg; wherein said ridge seats in said channel, said inside leg extends into said slot and said rim seats against said groove inner wall thus releasably locking said holding clip to said slat and said groove inner wall for locking said slat to said element.

Claim 6

A sign holding and framing assembly for holding at least one sign, the sign holding and framing assembly comprising: a frame element having a bottom strip, a pair of spaced side strips secured to said bottom strip, a top strip secured to said side strips and spaced from said bottom strip thus providing a cavity therebetween, a pair of spaced L shaped arms secured to said top strip intermediate said side strips, and a slot formed in said top strip between said arms; each arm including a base leg having a one end secured to said top strip and having another end projecting outwardly thereof, and a cross leg having a one end secured to said base leg other end and having a free end projecting outwardly thereof, wherein said base legs are parallelly disposed and said cross legs are disposed substantially parallel to said top strip with said cross leg''s free ends projecting away from each other; each said cross leg free end having a rounded flange formed thereon which projects toward said top strip thus providing a pivot seat on each side of said element; each said arm and said top strip forming an indent; each said side strip having a groove formed therein wherein the inner wall of one of said grooves projects toward the inner wall of the other said groove in said cavity; a pair of opposed holding slats, each said slat having a protuberance projecting therefrom and an arcuate trough formed in one end thereof distal said protuberance, said trough pivotally mounted on said pivot seat said slat being pivotable from an open position to a closed position wherein said protuberance seats in said groove; and a pair of U shaped clips, each said clip having an inside leg with a base end and a free end, an outside leg disposed parallel to said inside leg with a base end and a free end, a base interconnecting said inside and outside legs base ends, a ridge formed on said outside leg proximate its free end and projecting toward said inside leg, and a rounded rim formed on said inside leg free end and projecting toward said outside leg; wherein said ridge seats in said channel, said inside leg extends into said slot and said rim seats against said groove inner wall thus releasably locking said holding clip to said slat and said groove inner wall for locking said slat to said element.

Claim 7

A sign holding and framing assembly as defined in claim 4 including a corner holding unit for securing adjacent frame elements together, said holding unit in cross section is T shaped with a head portion having opposed slots formed therein and a tail portion secured to said head portion and depending therefrom, wherein said head portion seats in a press fit in said cavity between said top strip and said grooves and said tail portion is disposed in a press fit between said grooves inner walls.