Abstract:
A motive sign apparatus for broadcasting a sign up and down and back and forth to gain attention. The motive sign apparatus includes a mobile cart having a housing with side walls; an actuator assembly disposed inside the housing and including an actuator; and a sign support assembly in communication with the actuator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to movement signs and more particularly pertains to a new motive sign apparatus for broadcasting a sign up and down and back and forth to gain attention. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of movement signs is known in the prior art. More specifically, movement signs heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     The prior art includes a sign waving apparatus that includes a base, a housing enclosing a motor, a frame support connecting the base and the housing, and a sign mount mechanically connected to a motor. The sign mount moves relative to the housing in a variety of different motions. Another prior art includes a robotic sign waver having a chassis including a main plate which mounts a drive train. The drive train includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor. The gearbox has an output shaft that drives a crank arm with a linkage rod attached thereto. The linkage rod drives a rocker plate that is mounted on the main plate for repetitive motion. An elongated waving arm is mounted on the rocker plate for repetitive motion with the rocker plate. The rocker plate is robust to withstand the stress and wear of repetitive motion while the waving arm is relatively light to minimize its load on the drive train. Also another prior art includes an orbital sign assembly allowing for attachment to and full pivot or orbit capability of the attached signage around a horizontal run of span wire or other support member. Any one traffic signage is supported from a horizontal run of a span wire or other support member by a orbital sign assembly comprising a sign bracket with attachment points at opposing ends and center, a pivot attachment allowing 360 degree pivoting of the sign, which adjoins the sign bracket to the a cable saddle which contains two pivot attachment rails for limiting side to side movement of the pivot attachment on its track. Conventional U-bolts are located within the cable saddle and are used to clamp down to the span wire while still allowing traffic signal cables to be inserted through a cable slot within the cable saddle. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new motive sign apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new motive sign apparatus which has many of the advantages of the movement signs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new motive sign apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art movement signs, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention may include a mobile cart having a housing with side walls; an actuator assembly disposed inside the housing and including an actuator; and a sign support assembly in communication with the actuator. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the motive sign apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new motive sign apparatus which has many of the advantages of the movement signs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new motive sign apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art movement signs, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new motive sign apparatus for broadcasting a sign up and down and back and forth to gain attention. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new motive sign apparatus that stabilizes the shaft as the sign is put into motion. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new motive sign apparatus that safeguards and prevents damage to the sign from the environment or if somebody bumps into the apparatus. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a new motive sign apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cutaway side elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cutaway end elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the shaft support assembly of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new motive sign apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the motive sign apparatus  10  may generally comprise a mobile cart  11  movable upon a ground and having a housing  55  with side walls  12 ,  13  and also including a cover  14  conventionally disposed upon the housing  55  and having an elongate slot  15  disposed therethrough. The motive sign apparatus  10  may also comprise an actuator assembly  56  conventionally disposed inside the housing such as resting upon a bottom of the housing  55  and the actuator assembly  56  may also include an actuator  16 . The sign motive cart  10  may further comprise a sign support assembly  19  in communication with the actuator  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the sign support assembly  19  may include a shaft  20  in communication with the actuator  16  and extending upwardly and outwardly from the housing  55  through the elongate slot  15  of the cover  14  and having a top end  21  exposed above the housing  55 . The actuator  16  when activated or energized moves the shaft  20  relative to the housing  55 . The sign support assembly  19  may also include a sign frame  23  conventionally attached and welded to the top end  21  of the shaft  20  for movement therewith. The sign support assembly  19  may further include mounting brackets  24 ,  25  opposedly and conventionally attached with fasteners or welded inside the housing  55  to the side walls  12 ,  13 , and may also include an elongate support member  30  adjustably mounted to the mounting brackets  24 ,  25  and traversing inside the housing  55 . Each of the mounting brackets  24 ,  25  may include a base  26 ,  27  and mounts  28 ,  29  spaced apart and integrally attached to and extending outwardly from and perpendicular to the base  26 ,  27 . The elongate support member  30  may have ends  31 ,  32  which are adjustably and conventionally supported upon and engagable with one or more of the mounts  28 ,  29  of each of the mounting brackets  24 ,  25 . The elongate support member  30  may be vertically adjustable inside the housing  55 . 
     As specifically shown in  FIG. 4 , the sign support assembly  19  may also include a bracket member  33  conventionally mounted to the elongate support member  30  for guiding the shaft  20 . The bracket member  33  may include an anchor portion  34  and first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  conventionally attached to and extending from the anchor portion  34 . The first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  may be spaced apart and disposed parallel to one another with the shaft  20  movably disposed between the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37 . The sign support assembly  19  may further include an axle  40  movably mounted to the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  and may also include a biased first guide member  43  conventionally and rotatably mounted to the axle  40  and movably disposed between the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  and engagable with the shaft  20 . The sign support assembly  19  may also include a second guide member  44  conventionally rotatably mounted to the elongate support member  30  and engagable with the shaft  20 . The elongate support member  30  may be movably disposed between and engagable with the first and second guide members  43 ,  44 . The first and second guide members  43 ,  44  may be wheels. The sign support assembly  19  may further include biased members  45 ,  46  each conventionally coupled with fastening members to the anchor portion  34  and disposed adjacent and parallel to a respective one of the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  and conventionally coupled to the axle  40 . Each of the biased members  45 ,  46  may include a spring support member  47 ,  50  and a spring  57 ,  58  conventionally disposed upon the spring support member  47 ,  50 . The spring support member  47 ,  50  of each of the biased members  45 ,  46  may include a grommet  48 ,  51  and a linkage portion  49 ,  52  conventionally attached to and extending from the grommet  48 ,  51 . The grommet  48 ,  51  may be conventionally coupled to the axle  40  and the linkage portion  49 ,  52  may be conventionally fastened with bolts to the anchor portion  34 . The first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  each may have a longitudinal-extending slot  53 ,  54  disposed therethrough. The axle  40  may have ends  41 ,  42  which are movably disposed in the longitudinal-extending slots  53 ,  54 . The first guide member  43  may move relative to the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  and may be always biasedly engaged with and roll upon the shaft  20  upon actuation of the shaft  20 . Each of the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  has a distal end  38 ,  39 . The elongate support member  30  may be conventionally disposed through the first and second arm portions  36 ,  37  near the distal ends  38 ,  39  thereof. 
     The actuator assembly  56  may also include a rotatable shaft member  17  conventionally connected to the actuator  16 , and may further include a linkage member  18  conventionally connected to the rotatable shaft member  17 . The shaft  20  may have a bottom end  22  which may be rotatably and conventionally coupled to the linkage member  18 . 
     In use, the actuator is activated or energized with a conventional power source and moves the shaft  20  back and forth and vertically relative to the mobile cart  11 . The shaft  20  may be stabilized and supported by the biased first guide member  43  moving with and rolling upon and always engaging the shaft  20  and by the second guide member  44  which is positioned about the elongate support member  30  and which also always rollably engages and moves upon the shaft as the shaft moves. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the motive sign apparatus. Further, 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, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.