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US4040194A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Changeable message sign construction

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-28
•
Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-07-28
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Abstract

Abstract Face sheets preferably formed of thin sheet aluminium are spaced apart with at least one having a horizontally recessed message pocket preferably debossed therein. A magnet, preferably magnetic tape, is mounted at the interior face of the message pocket selectively removably retaining a message plate preferably of steel positioned in the message pocket by magnetic force. The space between the face sheets is preferably foam filled with the foam covering the magnet.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hugh V. Penton
  • 👤 Gerald P. Dunphy
  • 👤 Clayton O. Stevens

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F7/00; G09F7/02; G09F7/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 128 words
In a changeable message sign construction, the combination of: generally horizontally spaced and generally vertically extending first and second face sheets, at least said first face sheet being formed of a magnetic force transmitting sheet metal and having a horizontally recessed message pocket debossed in an exterior face thereof; a magnet operably mounted on an interior face of said first face sheet positioned magnetically effective through said first face sheet within the confines of said message pocket and transmitting magnetic forces exteriorly through said pocket; a message plate formed at least partially of a magnetically attractable material selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet retained against at least generally horizontal displacement therefrom by said magnetic forces of said magnet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 128 words
In a changeable message sign construction, the combination of: generally horizontally spaced and generally vertically extending first and second face sheets, at least said first face sheet being formed of a magnetic force transmitting sheet metal and having a horizontally recessed message pocket debossed in an exterior face thereof; a magnet operably mounted on an interior face of said first face sheet positioned magnetically effective through said first face sheet within the confines of said message pocket and transmitting magnetic forces exteriorly through said pocket; a message plate formed at least partially of a magnetically attractable material selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet retained against at least generally horizontal displacement therefrom by said magnetic forces of said magnet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of a magnetically attractable sheet metal and is selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet is magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said second face sheet is formed of a magnetic force transmitting sheet metal similar to said first face sheet and has another of said debossed message pocket, said magnet and said message plate similar to said first face sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said second face sheet is formed of sheet metal; and in which space between said first and second face sheets is substantially filled with a relatively light filler material, interiorly between said face sheets, said filler material interiorly covering said magnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 68 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet is magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket; and in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of magnetically attractable sheet metal and is selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 116 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet is magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket; in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of magnetically attractable sheet metal and is selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet; in which said second face sheet is formed of sheet metal; and in which space between said first and second face sheets is substantially filled with a foam material and the like interiorly between said face sheets, said foam material interiorly covering said first face sheet magnetic tape magnet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet is magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket; in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of magnetically attractable sheet metal and is selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet; in which said second face sheet is formed of a magnetic force transmitting sheet metal similar to said first face sheet and has another of said debossed message pocket, said magnet of magnetic tape and said metal message plate similar to said first face sheet; and in which said space between said first and second face sheets is substantially filled with a relatively light filler material interiorly between said face sheets, said filler material interiorly covering said magnetic tape magnets of said first and second face sheets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 125 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second face sheets is formed of a magnetic force transmitting sheet metal such as aluminum; in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of a ferrous metal and is selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet; in which said magnet is magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket; and in which space between said first and second face sheets is substantially filled with a relatively light filler material interiorly between said face sheets, said filler material interiorly covering said first face sheet magnetic tape magnet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a changeable message sign construction, the combination of: generally horizontally spaced and generally vertically extending first and second face sheets, at least said first face sheet having a horizontally recessed message pocket formed therein with a recessed surface formed at least partially of a magnetic force transmitting material; a magnet operably mounted on an interior face of said first face sheet positioned magnetically effective through said first face sheet at said message pocket and transmitting magnetic forces exteriorly through said magnetic force transmitting material of said pocket recessed surface; a message plate formed at least partially of a magnetically attractable material selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet retained against at least generally horizontal displacement therefrom by said magnetic forces of said magnet; a relatively light filler material substantially filling interior space between said first and second face sheets and interiorly covering said magnet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a changeable message sign construction, the combination of: generally horizontally spaced and generally vertically extending first and second face sheets, at least said first face sheet having a horizontally recessed message pocket formed therein with a recessed surface formed at least partially of a magnetic force transmitting material; a magnet operably mounted on an interior face of said first face sheet positioned magnetically effective through said first face sheet at said message pocket and transmitting magnetic forces exteriorly through said magnetic force transmitting material of said pocket recessed surface; a message plate formed at least partially of a magnetically attractable material selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet retained against at least generally horizontal displacement therefrom by said magnetic forces of said magnet; a relatively light filler material substantially filling interior space between said first and second face sheets and interiorly covering said magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 56 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 10 in which said message pocket of said first face sheet has said recessed surface formed substantially totally of sheet metal; and in which said magnet is magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 44 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 10 in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of a magnetically attractable sheet metal and is selectively removably positioned at least partially recessed within said message pocket of said first face sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 10 in which said first and second face sheets are each formed substantially totally of relatively thin sheet metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 58 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 10 in which said first and second face sheets are each formed substantially totally of a relatively thin magnetic force transmitting sheet metal such as aluminum; and in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of a relatively thin magnetically attractable sheet metal such as ferrous metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 82 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 10 in which said first and second face sheets are formed substantially totally of a relatively thin magnetic force transmitting sheet metal such as aluminum; in which said magnet is a magnetic tape adhered to an interior face of said first face sheet at and interiorly of said message pocket; and in which said message plate is formed substantially totally of a relatively thin magnetically attractable sheet metal such as ferrous metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
In a changeable message sign construction as defined in claim 10 in which said filler material interiorly between said face sheets is a foam material and the like.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2879614A Cited
US3210080A Cited
US3339301A Cited
US3456373A Cited
US3496665A Cited
US3965599A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-08 1981-02-07 1981-08-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-08 1985-02-07 1985-08-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-08 1989-02-07 1989-08-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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