Vandal-proof street name sign

Claim 2

In a street name sign: the combination of a sign head structure comprising one or more hollow sign heads each having name panels at the opposite sides thereof, a center staff passing vertically through said head structure, a top cap in interlocking engagement with the upper end of said sign head structure and secured to the upper end of said center staff, a post cap receiving the lower end of said center staff and adapted to fit over the upper end portion of a cylindrical post for supporting said sign at a suitable elevation above the ground, pointed set screws threaded through the side wall of said post cap for locking engagement with the wall of said post, securing means on said center staff tightened against said post cap to clamp said sign head structure between said top cap and said post cap via said center staff, an arm of solid rod stock secured to the lower end of said center staff in substantial extension beyond said post cap and a collar secured to the lower end of said arm for engaging the inside wall of a post supporting said sign with a clearance fit at a substantial distance below said post cap to retain said post cap in upright position on said post and to relieve the post cap from strain tending to break it upon an excessive tilting force being exerted on said sign head structure.

Claim 3

The street name sign set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a nut threaded externally on said center staff through a fractional length thereof in tightened relation against said post cap, and wherein said arm is threaded into the remaining portion of said nut tight against the end of said center staff to lock the nut in place and with the nut causing said arm to be effectively an integral extension of the center staff.

Claim 4

In a street name sign: the combination of a sign head structure comprising one or more hollow sign heads each having name panels at the opposite sides thereof, a center staff passing vertically through said head structure, a top cap in interlocking engagement with the upper end of said sign head structure and secured to the upper end of said center staff, a post cap receiving the lower end of said center staff and adapted to fit over the upper end portion of a cylindrical post for supporting said sign at a suitable elevation above the ground, pointed set screws threaded through the side wall of said post cap for locking engagement with the wall of said post, securing means on said center staff tightened against said post cap to clamp said sign head structure between said top cap and said post cap via said center staff, an arm of solid rod stock secured to the lower end of said center staff in substantial extension beyond said post cap and a collar secured to the lower end of said arm for engaging the inside wall of a post supporting said sign with a clearance fit at a substantial distance below said post cap to retain said post cap in upright position on said post and to relieve the post cap from strain tending to break it upon an excessive tilting force being exerted on said sign head structure, wherein said center staff and arm are of an integral construction, including a locking collar pressed slidably on said staff against said post cap, said collar having locking elements thereon engaging said staff at a critical angle to lock the collar against displacement in directions away from said post cap.

Claim 5

In a street name sign: the combination of a sign head structure comprising one or more hollow sign heads each having name panels at the opposite sides thereof, a center staff passing vertically through said head structure, a top cap in interlocking engagement with the upper end of said sign head structure and secured to the upper end of said center staff, a post cap receiving the lower end of said center staff and adapted to fit over the upper end portion of a cylindrical post for supporting said sign at a suitable elevation above the ground, pointed set screws threaded through the side wall of said post cap for locking engagement with the wall of said post, securing means on said center staff tightened against said post cap to clamp said sign head structure between said top cap and said post cap via said center staff, an arm of solid rod stock secured to the lower end of said center staff in substantial extension beyond said post cap and a collar secured to the lower end of said arm for engaging the inside wall of a post supporting said sign with a clearance fit at a substantial distance below said post cap to retain said post cap in upright position on said post and to relieve the post cap from strain tending to break it upon an excessive tilting force being exerted on said sign head structure, wherein said center staff and arm are of an integral construction, including a locking collar pressed slidably on said staff against said post cap, said collar having locking elements thereon engaging said staff at a critical angle to lock the collar against displacement in directions away from said post cap.

Claim 6

The street name sign set forth in claim 3 including a compression spring on said center staff between said post cap and locking collar to permit easy adjustment of said locking collar through a pressure range against said post cap.

Claim 7

The street name sign set forth in claim 3 including a second locking collar pressed onto the lower end portion of said center staff adapted to have a clearance fit with the inside wall of said post.

Claim 8

The street name sign set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking collar comprises a washer freely slidable on said center staff and said locking elements comprise flat cantilever springs riveted at their outer ends to said collar in positions diametrically opposite to said center staff, said springs being riveted flat against said collar and extending when in a free state into the center hole of said washer, causing the springs to be bowed away from the washer to allow the locking collar to be slid freely in one direction along the center staff, said bowing being only to a critical angle causing the springs to cut immediately into the wall of the center staff to lock the collar when pressed in the opposite direction.

Claim 9

The street name sign set forth in claim 6 wherein said springs are made of spring-temper stainless steel free of rust and corrosion after long exposure of the sign to the weather.

Claim 10

The street name sign set forth in claim 6 including, in combination, a forked tool engageable with said locking collar between said cantilever springs and washer to pry the springs out of locking engagement with said center staff.