Abstract:
A structure is provided for coupling items such as signs, birdhouses and cameras to a fixed support structure is disclosed. Various mechanisms for attachment to a variety of supporting structures are described. The structure firmly holds an item in place, and the structure is capable of secure attachment to a variety of supporting structures.

Description:
Related Applications 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/343,411; filed 28 Apr. 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to structures used for holding or carrying items in place, such as signs (For Sale, For Rent, Beware of Dog, No Trespassing, No Hunting), birdhouses, bird feeders, trail cameras, or anything else that desired to be mounted in a fixed position. 
         [0003]    Signs such as these often are meant to be displayed at or near eye-level on various support structures. Often metal sign poles are used, as well as fences, fence posts, wood posts, or trees. Signs are often exposed to weather, and therefore a sturdy holder is desired to hold signs in place during weather. It is also desired to have a sign holder that easily permits installation of the sign into the sign holder, and easily permits installation of the sign holder onto the support structure. It is also desirable to have a sign holder capable of being coupled with a variety of support structures to be more universal in application. 
         [0004]    Also, signs nailed to a tree without sufficient support allows the wind to tear them off. Many people purchase plywood or lumber, cut it slightly larger than the sign and staple or nail them to the wood. This procedure is labor intensive, and many people do not have the skills or tools to do this, and the wind tears these off as well. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Disclosed is a one-piece sign holder that will quickly and easily accept signs of various sizes and shapes, and the sign holder can be easily attached to various support structures, such as flat surfaces, metal sign poles, “T” shaped fence posts, round posts, fences, fence posts, wood posts, chain link fence, or trees. 
         [0006]    A series of void spaces are provided on the base sign holder, some used for receiving the sign itself, others used to secure the sign holder to the various support structure. For instance, holes are provided at the top and bottom and can be used for nails or deck type screws, square void spaces and slots can be used with carriage bolts for securement to any posts, and tab-like structures are provided that can be bent out if needed for the particular purpose employed. Also, lanced “v” tabs can be supplied which allow for mounting and centering on “tee” types of posts. 
         [0007]    The ease of use, and universal adaptability are evident. Sign holders of the present invention also allow for easy removal and replacement of the signs in the event that they become weathered, faded, cracked, etc. 
         [0008]    Also evident is that sign holders of the present invention have the ability to be formed into an arc shape to allow for more visibility from the side angles. 
         [0009]    The sign holder can be used or modified to hold additional items (other than, or in addition to signs), such as birdhouses, bird feeders, trail cameras, or anything else that is mounted in a fixed position. These embodiments can be provided with auxiliary features such as a brackets and shelves, to add to the versatility of the sign holder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a sign holder of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front, in use view of a sign holder of the present invention deployed on a metal post-type support structure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear, in use view of a sign holder of the present invention deployed on a post-type support structure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front, in use view of a sign holder of the present invention deployed on a post-type support structure with an alternate attachment means provided. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side, installation view of a sign holder of the present invention being deployed on a post-type support structure using the alternate attachment means provided. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a sign holder of the present invention deployed on a wooden post-type support structure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of a sign holder of the present invention deployed on a chain-link fence support structure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a sign holder of the present invention deployed on a tree in a curved deployment position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a sign holder of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, the second alternate embodiment used to carry a structure such as a bird house. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10   a  is a perspective view of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention, secured to a bird house structure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10   b  is a rear perspective view of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention, secured to a bird house structure and secured to a support structure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention, the third alternate embodiment used to carry a structure such as a trail camera. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a sign holder  10  of the present invention is shown. A series of 8 (more or less can be used) tabs or sign retaining lances  14  are shown in raised position relative the generally initially flat structure of base material  12  of the sign holder  10 . Preferably the sign holder  10  is made of a flexible material such as sheet metal (the device being formed by punching, cutting, bending etc.) or plastic (the device being formed by methods such as molding or cutting), but other materials can be used. The tabs  14  are for receiving a sign  28  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The sign  28  is placed within the tabs  14  and the tabs  14  can be depressed back into generally planar formation to hold the sign  28  securely. 
         [0026]    In addition to tabs provided on the sign holder to secure the sign, other types of securement means for securing the sign to the sign holder could be used. For instance, lances  18  could be employed, or folded over edges (see  FIG. 9 , item  40 ) provided on the sign holder  10 , or a combination of them (folded top, sides, and lances on the bottom; or other similar arrangements). The sign holder can be made in various sizes to accommodate signs of different sizes. Also, one sign holder can be provided with a plurality of sign securement mechanisms at various distances from the center or various geometries, to hold different sized or shaped signs. 
         [0027]    Also evident from  FIG. 1  are a variety of additional void spaces used to secure the sign holder to various support structures as will be described later. Some of the void spaces, such as “C” shaped slots, are designed for bending about support structures to form post attaching tabs  16 . Others are circular or light-bulb shaped voids  22  and are designed for securement with nails or screws to wooden support structures. Square void spaces  26  can be used with carriage bolts (described later) for securement to posts. Also, lanced “v” tabs  18  can be supplied which allow for mounting and centering on “tee” types of posts. Bolt on metal post mounts  20  can comprise a hole and a slot, and chain link fence mounting holes  24  can also comprise a hole shape and a slot shape. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a front, in use view of a sign holder  10  holding an illustrative sign  28  (with lance tabs  14 ) on a metal post-type support structure  30  is shown. In this embodiment, as shown in the rear view of  FIG. 3 , a pair of the circular or square type void spaces  20  from  FIG. 1  are used with nuts and bolts  34  to deploy the sign holder of the present invention to deploy on a post-type support structure  30  after bending tabs  16  backwards. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a front, in use view of a sign holder  10  of the present invention is shown deployed on a post-type support structure  30 . In this illustration, the alternate “C” shaped attachment means forming post attaching tabs  16  have been bent about a support structure  30  and secured thereto, with nuts and bolts  34  provided through voids  26  within the alternate “C” shaped attachment means itself, in the manner illustrated by  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a front view of a sign holder  10  of the present invention is shown deployed on a wooden post-type support structure  30 , with traditional wood screws applied through a pair of void spaces  22  at the top and the bottom of the sign holder  10 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a rear view of a sign holder  10  of the present invention is shown deployed on a chain-link fence support structure  32 . As can be seen, the sign holder  10  is secured to the chain of the chain-link fence by deploying detachable tabs  34  across and behind the chain  32 , coupled to the sign holder  10  with a bolt, through void spaces  24  in front of the sign holder  10 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a front view of a sign holder  10  of the present invention is shown deployed on a tree in a curved deployment position. This deployment position allows for increased lateral visibility, and decreased exposed surface area to minimize wind forces from dislodging the support structure from the tree. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a sign holder  10  of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, bent edges  40  are used as a sign retaining mechanism. These edges  40  can be used in combination with sign retaining lances  14 , and the sign holder  10  can be provided with similar void spaces and attaching mechanisms as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10 ,  10   a  and  10 B a second alternate embodiment of a carrying structure  110  is shown, in this case the structure  110  coupling a bird house  120  with a support structure  30 . The structure  110  can be provided in a flat condition, and a user can bend tabs  16  up to attach the structure  110  to support structure  30 . A flat initial condition allows for better packaging, shipping and store shelf usage. 
         [0035]    Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , the structure  100  is shown first secured to a bird house structure  110 , and the bird house  110  and the structure  100  are both coupled to a support structure or post  30 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 10   b , a rear perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a carrying structure  110  is shown, the second alternate embodiment used to carry a structure such as a bird house  12 . Like the previously described embodiments, the holder  110  can be affixed to a support structure or post  30 . In this embodiment, fold out tabs  16  are expressed outwardly to provide a secure surface against which the bird house  110  can be coupled, for instance by use of wood screws through void spaces  26  in the fold out tabs  16 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , front and rear perspective views of a third alternate embodiment  210  of the present invention are shown, the third alternate embodiment  210  used to carry a structure such as a trail camera  220 . In this embodiment, a shelf  212  is provided to provide additional carrying structure for devices that are not readily susceptible to placing screws or bolts into. A camera, for example, is better suited to be carried by a belt or a shelf than to be screwed into. 
         [0038]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.