Hinged illuminated sign

Claim 1

An illuminated sign with integral hinged sides comprising: (a) an extruded U-section shaped rectangular body having a first side and a second side and having a radial socket along an outer edge of both the first and second side, also a pair of internal recessed angle receiving grooves and a pair of inwardly depending support legs, said body formed into a rectangle having mitered corners, defining a structural frame; (b) a plurality of angle brackets, one on each corner, so configured as to slideably engage said angle receiving grooves in said body creating a structurally reinforced corner; (c) a pair of rectangular hinged casings, slightly smaller in girth than said body having a face recess and an outwardly extending radial protuberance along a top edge and an outwardly extending pointed lip on the remaining edges, the radial protuberance slightly smaller in diameter than the body radial socket and pivotally positioned therein allowing the casings to be retained and hinge outwardly from the body for access inside; (d) integral self-latching means characterized by said outwardly extended pointed lips on the perimeter of the casing, contiguously engaging the body radial socket on the edge of both the first side and the second side retaining the casings in place by frictional resistance while allowing opening thereof by utilizing a slight bending moment of the body radial socket creating a snap acting closure; (e) a pair of translucent faces, one on each side of the sign having a peripheral flange and a raised center portion with the flange embracing the face recess of the casing, the face providing a message in the form of a design or indica on the center portion thereof visible from a distance; (f) a pair of "F" shaped rectangular face retaining copings nested into said hinged casing joined together with attaching means each coping having a pair of inwardly depending spacer legs of a configuration that overlaps said peripheral flange of the translucent face, retaining the face between the coping and the hinged casing in a removable manner allowing the face to be replaced if damaged; and, (g) lighting means inside the sign providing an electrically actuated light source creating the illumination necessary to make the sign visible from a distance at night and to provide a pleasing appearance through the translucent face distinctly outlining a design or indica positioned thereupon.