Patent ID: 7555859
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: G09F

Abstract:
1. An elevated sign system having a high display position and low sign change-out position with safe and easy lowering capability and controlled stable movement, said sign system comprising: a slideable sign frame assembly, including a rectangular rigid back plate, said rigid back plate having integral sign retaining lips proximate the periphery of said back plate extending from the front of the back plate, one of said sign retaining lips having a sign receiving slot therein; a hidden sign frame assembly supporting apparatus to be affixed to a support, said sign frame assembly supporting apparatus including a pair of parallel vertical elongated hollow sign frame assembly securing sections space at a predetermined distance from each other, each of said sign frame assembly securing sections having a substantially rectangular cross-section, said sign frame securing sections of predetermined dimensions, sign frame securing section connecting and supporting means for connecting said sign frame assembly securing sections and providing support for said supporting apparatus; attaching means for slideably attaching said slideable sign frame assembly to said sign frame assembly supporting apparatus, said attaching means including first bolts and second bolts; said rigid back plate of said sign frame assembly having a pair of substantially vertical elongated parallel sign frame assembly first bolt retaining and cooperating guide slots therein, each of said sign frame assembly first bolt retaining and cooperating guide slots at the bottom thereof having a truncated V-shaped docking and locking portion, the locking portion of said V-shaped docking and locking portions of said first bolt retaining and guide slot upwardly retroverted at a predetermined angle from the vertical portion of said first bolt retaining and guide slot proximate the bottom of said first slot, each of said parallel vertical sign frame assembly securing sections having a substantially vertical elongated sign frame assembly second bolt retaining and cooperating guide slot therein of predetermined length, each of said sign frame assembly securing sections second bolt retaining and cooperating guide slots at the top thereof having an inverted truncated V-shaped docking and locking portions, the locking portion of the inverted V-shaped docking and locking portions of said second bolt retaining and guide slot of predetermined length and downwardly retroverted at said predetermined angle from the vertical portion of said second bolt retaining and guide slot proximate said the top of said second slot; each of said sign frame assembly securing sections second bolt retaining and cooperating guide slots proximate the bottom thereof having a circular sign frame assembly second bolt insertion aperture; a sign sized to slide through said sign receiving slot of said one retaining lip of said back plate and to engage said sign retaining lips proximate the front of said sign assembly; a sign change tool receiving member centrally affixed proximate the bottom of said rigid back plate; a first angle stop bumper member centrally affixed proximate the upper portion of the back of said rigid back plate; a second angle stop bumper member operatively affixed to said sign frame securing section means, said second angle stop member for operatively contacting said first angle stop member; a sign change frame assembly engagement tool means for operatively engaging said sign change-out tool receiving member; whereby when it is desirous of changing a sign that is in the high display position, a person standing at ground level simply engages the sign change frame assembly engagement tool with said sign change tool receiving member, and with an upward force applied to said tool said sign assembly is guided slightly to one side at a predetermined offset angle from said first and second slots as it is raised by the cooperation of said V-shaped docking and locking portions of said first bolt retaining and cooperating guide slots and second bolt retaining and cooperating guide slots until said first bolts are aligned with the vertical portion of the parallel sign frame supporting apparatus slots simultaneously with said second bolts being aligned with the vertical portion of said vertical sign frame receiving slots, whereupon said sign may be lowered with negligible transverse movement of said sign until said angle stop bumper of said sign frame assembly contacts said angle stop member of said supporting apparatus at the sign change-out position, thereafter the sign may be changed at ground level height and upon change-out of the sign, the sign assembly is manually raised with negligible transverse movement by using said tool until said first bolts and said second bolts simultaneously are guided into said V-shaped docking and locking portions of said first and second cooperating slots to lock said sign frame assembly into said high display position and said tool is disengaged.