Abstract:
A frame member having first and second faces at right angles to one another and recesses in the faces for receiving panels or the like for producing a sign having the frame members as a surround. Each face has at least two recesses and the sign can be in the form of a cuboid.

Description:
This invention relates to a sign. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is considerable demand for commercial and industrial signs in the form of cuboids which house light sources, the walls of the signs being of translucent material such as perspex which carries the wording or artwork of the sign. In satisfying this demand it has previously been necessary to make a custom-built frame to extend around and support the edges of the sign, and this has proved expensive and time-consuming. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an elongate member comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, a first face on the body, a second face on the body and directed generally at right angles to the first face, first and second recesses in the first face and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, third and fourth recesses in the second face and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, the first and third recesses having non-uniform profiles in cross-section. 
     Preferably, the frame members provide a framework for a sign in the form of a cuboid, wherein the frame members extend between wall members and engage side edges of the wall members in at least said first and third recesses, the wall members having edge portions having a non-uniform profile to engage and be retained against the non-uniform profile of the respective recess. 
     Preferably at least a part of at least one of the wall members is translucent and the sign houses a light source. The translucent wall member can then carry wording or artwork which is highlighted on actuation of the light source. 
     Preferably also the non-uniform profiles are provided by inwardly extending flanges which provide supports for the wall members which may be provided with a lip along at least one edge. 
     Each frame member may have a longitudinal recess into which a leg of a three-legged corner piece may fit, the legs of the corner piece extending at right angles to one another so that the cuboidal form of the frame may be assembled with eight corner pieces and six wall members. 
     Preferably, the first and third recesses each have a flange which constricts an opening of said respective recess at the respective first and second face of the body. 
     Preferably also, the body is symmetrical about an axis passing through an intersection of said first and second faces. 
     The second and fourth recesses may coincide at the intersection of the first and second faces. 
     Preferably, said first recess has an opening whose cross-sectional extent in a direction at right angles to said longitudinal axis of the body is in the ratio of from 1:3 to 1:9 of the cross-sectional extent of said first face. The ratio is most preferably from 1:5 to 1:7. 
     The profile of each of the first and third recesses may of advantage be generally rectangular viewed in cross-section in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body, said rectangular profile being breached along one side to provide an opening for the recess. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sign of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of a corner joint of the sign of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of a frame member for use in the sign of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of a frame member being used for a two dimensional sign; 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of an alternative embodiment of the frame member of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the frame member of FIG. 5 being used to provide a double glazing unit; 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of a pair of the frame members of FIG. 5 joined together to provide support for two signs adjacent one another; 
     FIG. 7A is a plan view of a jointing piece used in the arrangement of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of a pair of frame members of FIG. 5 joined together to provide a double-sided sign; 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of the frame member of FIG. 5 fixed to a support; 
     FIG. 10 is an end view of a pair of the frame members of FIG. 5 joined together in an alternative manner to FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10A is a side view of a strip used in the arrangement of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of a sign cantilevered from a support. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, the sign of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises generally triangular-section frame members 1 of extruded aluminium interconnected by corner pieces 2 to form a cuboidal framework. Translucent perspex sheets 3 extend between the frame members 1 to provide walls for the sign, and several of the sheets 3 bear advertising material. A light bulb, or a fluorescent or neon tube (not shown) is mounted within the sign for illumination. 
     The frame members 1 have along two adjacent faces inwardly-directed flanges 4, 5 and the sheets 3 have along their edges lips 6 which correspond with the flanges 5, so that the sheets 3 are suspended at their edges on the flanges 4. Each of the corner pieces 2 has a body portion 7 from which extend at mutual right-angles legs 8 of complementary profile to recesses in the frame members 1. 
     If required, the frame members 1 and sheets 3 can be used to form a two-dimensional sign for fixing to a wall, in which case the corner pieces are modified to have only two legs 8. To fix the sign to the wall fixing brackets 10 (FIG. 4) are slid along a recess on one face of the frame member adjacent the wall, to support the frame member at spaced intervals. The brackets 10 are apertured at 12 to receive screws which are inserted into the wall, and the brackets can be moved along the frame member 1 to any suitable location. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 11, the extruded aluminium frame member is symmetrical about an axis &#34;X&#34; (FIG. 5) and has along each of two adjacent faces a recess 20 whose mouth is part-closed by inwardly-directed flanges 4 and 5, as in FIG. 1. A second recess 22 is provided along each face, having a side wall 21 which is common to the recess 20. The opposite side wall 23 of the recess 22 is common to a further recess 24 running along the junction of said adjacent faces of the frame member. 
     In FIG. 6 a pair of sheets of glass 25 are held in the recesses 20, 22 to provide a double glazing unit, for example for use as a door of a refrigerated cabinet, and rubber extrusions 26 form channels which receive the sheets 25 in the recesses 20, 22 to hold them firmly and provide a seal between the sheets 25 and the frame member. 
     In FIG. 7 two frame members are shown conjoined by means of a jointing piece 27 which is in the form of a short piece of plastics material as shown in side view in FIG. 7A inserted in the recesses 20 of the adjacent frame members. The recesses 20, 22 on the rear faces of the frame members can then be used to support glass, plastics, wood or other sheets for providing signs exposed in opposite directions. The recess 22 is shown blanked off in FIG. 7 by means of a strip of extruded rubber 28 which fits within the recess and provides a neat and effective manner of closing the recess when not required. The strip 28 could alternatively be fitted to the recess 20. 
     In FIG. 8 a double-sided sign is provided by disposing a channel member 29 between the frame members to space them apart sufficiently to allow a fluorescent tube or other light source to be installed within the sign. The channel member 29 has a pair of opposed lugs 30 which locate between the flanges 4, 5 of the recesses 20, and is secured to the frame members by bolts 31 passing through the channel member 29 at intervals along its length. The heads of the bolts 31 are held between the flanges 4 and 5 and nuts 32 are screwed onto the bolts 31 from within the channel members 29. 
     In FIG. 9 the frame member is fixed to a wall or other support by brackets 32 screwed to the wall at intervals, the bracket 32 having an outwardly-angled flange on which the frame member is hung by engagement in the recess 20. This fixing method is very useful when the frame member is long, as it can be easily engaged over the brackets 32. 
     In FIG. 10 each frame member has short metal strips 33 inserted at intervals along its recess 20. The strip 33 is shown in side view in FIG. 10A. A plate 34 spans between the strips 33 and is secured to each of them by screws 35. 
     FIG. 11 shows a cuboidal sign structure secured to and extending outwardly from a vertical supporting wall. Traditionally such signs have tended to sag at the outer end, and this is overcome in the present case by inserting an anchorage, which carries an eye 36, into the recess 20 of the upper frame member at the wall, and a corresponding anchorage into the recess 20 of the lower frame member remote from the wall. A wire 37 is secured to the eyes 36 of the anchorages so as to extend diagonally of the structure, and an adjustment screw 38 mid-way along the wire 37 allows it to be tightened, thereby supporting the outer end of the sign and preventing sagging. 
     In this embodiment of the invention the dimensions of the frame member shown in FIG. 10 are as follows: 
     A--6 mm 
     B--12.5 mm 
     C--6 mm 
     D--35 mm 
     E--5 mm 
     F--34 mm 
     G--21 mm 
     H--5 mm 
     Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.