US4387520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sign holder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-01-05
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Granted: 1983-06-14
•
Expires: 2001-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A holder for holding thin rigid planar signs includes a base having a trough for receiving and seating an edge of the sign. An essentially planar wall extends from the trough against which the sign is urged by a pressure pad in order to maintain the sign in a stationary position. The pressure pad is mounted in the base and has a plurality of blades projecting essentially normal to and abutting the surface of the planar wall. Upon insertion of the sign in the holders, the blades exert a resulting force on the sign to urge the sign flush against the planar wall. By virtue of the seating of the sign edge in the trough, the sign is prevented from rotation away from the wall and out of the holder as a result of wind forces acting on the sign.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Ahrens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:35
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F7/00; G09F7/18; G09F2007/1847
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A holder for an essentially thin rigid planar sign, the holder comprising: a base; first and second rigid walls formed in the base; a V-shaped groove defined by the first and second walls within the base, the groove being adapted for receiving an edge of the sign; and resilient blade means mounted in the base, the blade means oriented for urging a sign inserted in the V-shaped groove against the first wall, the V-shaped groove restraining an edge of the sign so that the sign is prevented from rotation away from the wall; the first and second walls being characterized in that they define a fixed angle therebetween during insertion and removal of the sign, the blade means being characterized in that there is a deformation thereof during insertion and removal of the sign to facilitate ease of insertion and removal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A holder for an essentially thin rigid planar sign, the holder comprising: a base; first and second rigid walls formed in the base; a V-shaped groove defined by the first and second walls within the base, the groove being adapted for receiving an edge of the sign; and resilient blade means mounted in the base, the blade means oriented for urging a sign inserted in the V-shaped groove against the first wall, the V-shaped groove restraining an edge of the sign so that the sign is prevented from rotation away from the wall; the first and second walls being characterized in that they define a fixed angle therebetween during insertion and removal of the sign, the blade means being characterized in that there is a deformation thereof during insertion and removal of the sign to facilitate ease of insertion and removal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein the groove has an extension along a substantially straight line, and wherein the blade means comprises a resilient member having a base portion and a plurality of spaced apart blades extending from the base portion, each blade extending along an axis lying in a plane substantially normal to the first wall, the plane in which the axis lies being parallel to the extension of said groove, each blade having a tip that terminates adjacent the surface of the first wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holder of claim 2 wherein said plurality of blades comprises three blades.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The holder of claim 3 wherein the base comprises means for securing said base to a support surface separate from the holder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The holder of claim 4 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of extensions lying in a plane substantially normal to the wall, the extensions having means for adhesively mounting said extensions to such support surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The holder of claim 3 wherein the base comprises a pair of inclined flat surfaces facing away from each other in substantially opposite directions for mounting thereon respective sides of a sign having a triangular cross section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The holder of claim 6 comprising means for securing respective sides of such sign to the inclined flat surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A holder for planar signs comprising: a base; first and second spaced apart walls located in the base; an inclined wall in the base interconnecting said spaced apart walls, the inclined wall being inclined with respect to the first wall and forming thereby a trough between the first wall and the inclined wall, the trough adapted for seating an edge of a sign; and resilient means extending from said second wall for urging a sign inserted in the holder against the first wall, the resilient means being characterized in that it deforms during insertion and removal of the sign to facilitate ease of insertion and removal of the sign, the first, second and inclined walls being characterized in that they remain in fixed relative position during insertion and removal of the sign.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A holder for planar signs comprising: a base; first and second spaced apart walls located in the base; an inclined wall in the base interconnecting said spaced apart walls, the inclined wall being inclined with respect to the first wall and forming thereby a trough between the first wall and the inclined wall, the trough adapted for seating an edge of a sign; and resilient means extending from said second wall for urging a sign inserted in the holder against the first wall, the resilient means being characterized in that it deforms during insertion and removal of the sign to facilitate ease of insertion and removal of the sign, the first, second and inclined walls being characterized in that they remain in fixed relative position during insertion and removal of the sign.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A holder according to claim 8 wherein said base includes means for securing said resilient base portion therein, comprising a dovetail joint between the resilient pressure member and the backing for securing the pressure member to the backing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The holder of claim 1 wherein the plane of first is parallel to the plane of the sign to be inserted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A holder according to claim 1 wherein the resilient blade means has an external surface which is sinusoidal and faces the first wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A holder for a thin, rigid substantially planar panel, the holder comprising: a base including a first side adapted for mounting the holder to a separate surface; a second side having a V-shaped groove with an opening extending therein for receipt of such planar panel; a substantially rigid planar wall along a first side of said groove; a resilient pressure member on a second side of said groove including at least three spaced apart resilient blades positioned at differing distances from the opening of the groove to press the panel against said wall, the blades being characterized in that there is a deformation thereof during insertion and removal of the sign to facilitate insertion and removal, the resilient pressure member including an elongated resilient base portion from which said blades extend toward said wall; and means for securing the resilient pressure member on said second side of said groove comprising a dovetail joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A holder for a thin, rigid substantially planar panel, the holder comprising: a base including a first side adapted for mounting the holder to a separate surface; a second side having a V-shaped groove with an opening extending therein for receipt of such planar panel; a substantially rigid planar wall along a first side of said groove; a resilient pressure member on a second side of said groove including at least three spaced apart resilient blades positioned at differing distances from the opening of the groove to press the panel against said wall, the blades being characterized in that there is a deformation thereof during insertion and removal of the sign to facilitate insertion and removal, the resilient pressure member including an elongated resilient base portion from which said blades extend toward said wall; and means for securing the resilient pressure member on said second side of said groove comprising a dovetail joint.
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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) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |