Assemblable display device for mailboxes and the like

An assemblable display device includes an elongate base plate supporting characters of the message to be displayed, an open-ended, generally tubular, transparent sleeve member about equal in length to the base plate and adapted to encase the base plate, and a pair of mounting members adapted to enclose each end of the sleeve in a generally sealing manner and to provide mounting surfaces for attaching the device to a suitable mounting structure. Advantageously, the device further includes adaptor plates adapted for removable attachment to the mounting brackets for providing interchangeable mounting surfaces onto the mounting brackets.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to display devices and more 
particularly to display devices for outdoor use on mailboxes and the like. 
A wide variety of display devices are in common use for various 
applications. Many such devices adapted for outdoor use, particularly for 
rural mailboxes, are made of a metallic backing, or frame, to which a 
name, etc. is mounted, and which is permanently attached to the mailbox by 
welding or by threaded fasteners. Although such devices adequately serve 
as nameplates, they are relatively expensive since they must be fabricated 
by machinists equipped to do so, and are incapable of complete assembly 
and simple installation by hand at home. In addition, such prior art 
devices are usually adapted for permanent attachment to the mailbox and 
cannot be removed without damaging in the mailbox and/or the device 
itself. Moreover, since the message on the nameplate is directly exposed 
to all weather conditions, the letters themselves must be capable of 
withstanding such weather conditions and are, therefore, relatively 
expensive to fabricate. 
One type of mailbox display device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 
2,976,633, issued to Squire. Although such devices have proved 
satisfactory, the letters or characters installed on the device are 
exposed to the weather elements and, therefore, must be durable, thereby 
involving relatively high fabrication and materials costs. Such letters 
are also generally three-dimensional, adding to the aforesaid costs, and 
must be purchased separately, causing frustration when a particular letter 
or number is out-of-stock. In addition, these devices are mounted to the 
mailbox by threaded fasteners, adding to the cost of the device and 
complicating installation. 
In addition, although there are display devices, such as disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 3,956,837 or 3,820,262, which are easily assemblable, they do 
not provide protection against adverse weather elements. Thus, they are 
unsuitable for outdoor use. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved display device for mailboxes and the like. Another object of the 
invention is to provide a new and improved display device which can be 
packaged in a completely self-contained and disassembled form for assembly 
in only a few simple steps without tools. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
assemblable display device capable of use outdoors, which is particularly 
suited as a nameplate for mailboxes. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved asemblable display device adaptable for quick and simple 
attachment to mounting surfaces of various general contours. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved display device for mailboxes and the like, which is inexpensive 
and can be made essentially from all moldable parts. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved assemblable display device for mailboxes and the like, which, 
when installed outdoors, is substantially unaffected by adverse weather 
conditions. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved assemblable display device for mailboxes and the like, which 
provides display surfaces observable from opposite sides. 
Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein and in 
part will be appreciated herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the 
invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the 
instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. 
Accordingly, the invention resides in the novel parts, arrangements, 
combinations and improvements herein shown and described. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
Briefly described, the display device according to the present invention 
includes a generally elongate base plate adapted to support the characters 
of the message to be displayed, an essentially transparent sleeve member 
adapted to enclose the front and back surfaces (i.e., the display 
surfaces) and side edges of the base plate and a pair of mounting members 
adapted for attachment to each end of the sleeve in a generally sealing 
manner. Advantageously, each mounting member includes an end cap adapted 
to be fitted over one end of the sleeve and a mounting bracket adapted to 
be force fit over the end cap on the end of the sleeve, and adapted to be 
attached to any suitable mounting structure. Advantageously, and as 
preferably embodied, the display device according to the invention 
includes a pair of adaptor plates adapted for releasable attachment to the 
mounting brackets and having a surface adapted for direct attachment to 
the mounting structure. 
It has been found that the display device according to the present 
invention provides an easily assemblable and inexpensive structure for 
displaying a desired message such as a name and address. In addition, by 
providing a transparent sleeve enclosing the base plate with mounting 
members sealingly enclosing the ends of the sleeve according to the 
present invention, the display device according to the invention provides 
a durable and essentially weatherproof means for displaying the message on 
two surfaces, for outdoor as well as indoor use. Moreover, the display 
device according to the present invention will be found particularly 
suited for providing a mailbox nameplate which complies with all 
requirements set by the U.S. Postal Service for rural mailboxes, 
including, for example, being viewable from both sides of the mailbox. 
In addition, the display device according to the present invention enables 
the use of moldable plastic materials as well as the utilization of 
convenient molding techniques associated therewith. Thus, for example, the 
base plate may be formed as a generally flat member which may be folded 
over itself into its final shape while warm and pliable and the sleeve 
member may be molded as a simple open-ended tube-like member. 
It will also be found that by providing adaptor plates which are releasably 
attachable to (i.e. interchangeable with) the mounting brackets, the 
actual mounting surface of the brackets can be changed to accommodate 
mounting structures of different contours or configurations, such as, for 
example, a flat or round top mailbox. In addition, by providing adhesive 
means for attaching the display device to the mounting structure, the 
display device according to the invention can be quickly and simply 
attached to the mounting structure without damaging it. 
Moreover, it will be found that the display device according to the 
invention enables the use of simple and inexpensive adhesive-backed 
characters which can be die cut on a carrier sheet. Thus, the display 
device can be packaged as a complete and inexpensive kit including a 
plurality of each letter and number for convenient assembly. Furthermore, 
by providing mounting members which are force fit over the open ends of 
the sleeve member, the contents within the sleeve member are easily and 
inexpensively sealed in an essentially weatherproof manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying 
drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of a 
preferred embodiment (indicated generally by reference number 10) of the 
assemblable display device according to the present invention. 
In accordance with the invention, display device 10 includes base plate 12 
which is adapted for supporting or carrying the various characters of the 
message or information to be displayed. To this end, base plate 12 is 
advantageously formed with recessed display surface 12a adapted to 
accommodate message characters (indicated generally at 14) of various 
sizes and thicknesses, up to about the dimensions of the recess. As 
preferably embodied, characters 14 are generally thin flexible plastic 
members having an adhesive backing and may be die cut from sheet 13a 
adhered to a generally non-stick backing sheet 13b in order to provide, 
relatively inexpensively, a complete set of message characters, including 
several of each character. 
Sleeve member 16, formed of an essentially transparent material, is 
proportioned to encase base plate 12 with message characters 14 thereon. 
As preferably embodied, sleeve member 16 is an essentially continuous, 
elongate tube-like element having both of its ends open to accommodate 
slidable insertion of base plate 12. Advantageously, for low cost of 
fabrication, sleeve 16 is made of a clear moldable plastic material and 
base plate 12 is made of an opaque moldable plastic material. 
Once base plate 12 carrying message characters 14 has been inserted within 
sleeve 16, mounting members (indicated generally at 18) are attached to 
the ends of sleeve 16 for completely enclosing base plate 12 as well as 
mounting display device 10 to a suitable mounting structure. 
Advantageously, each mounting member 18 includes mounting bracket 20 (also 
advantageously made of a moldable plastic material) adapted to cover each 
end of sleeve 16 for protection against the weather elements. To this end, 
mounting member 18 also includes end caps 22 preferably made of a flexible 
resilient material such as plastisol (or other similar soft vinyl-like 
material capable of retaining its physical properties despite long term 
exposure to various weather conditions), formed in a generally elongate 
cup-shaped structure adapted to fit onto an end of sleeve 16 in a somewhat 
tight manner. Advantageously, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the 
perimeter along the interior surface of the recess (indicated at 22a) 
formed in end cap 22 is slightly less than the cross-sectional perimeter 
along the exterior surface of sleeve 16 such that each end cap 22 must be 
slightly stretched to cover the end of sleeve 16 in a generally tight 
manner. Therefore, end caps 22 form a generally seal-like cover over the 
ends of sleeve 16. 
Once end caps 22 are positioned over the ends of sleeve 16, mounting 
brackets 20 are fitted over caps 22 to complete the seal on the sleeve 
ends. To this end, each mounting bracket 20 includes recess 20b 
proportioned essentially similar to the cross-sectional area of sleeve 16 
and adapted to receive one end of sleeve 16 with an end cap 22 mounted on 
such end. As preferably embodied, the interior of recess 20b is 
dimensioned such that the perimeter along its interior surface is larger 
than the perimeter along the exterior surface at the ends of sleeve 16, 
but less than that along the exterior surface of an end cap 22 when 
mounted onto an end of sleeve 16. Thus, when mounting brackets 20 are 
mounted onto the ends of sleeve 16, over end caps 22, a force-fit is 
generated which ensures an essentially mositure-proof seal to enable use 
of display device 10 outdoors. 
For example, the length of each end cap 22, measured at its exterior 
surface, may be slightly less than the cross-sectional length of sleeve 
16, measured at its exterior surface, by a distance l.sub.2 + l.sub.2 
shown slightly exaggerated in FIG. 3, with the width of each cap 22 
generally equal to or slightly less than the corresponding width of sleeve 
16. In addition, such cross-sectional length of sleeve 16 may be slightly 
shorter than the interior cross-sectonal length of slot 20b by a distance 
l.sub.3 + l.sub.4 shown slightly exaggerated in FIG. 3, and the width of 
sleeve 16 is preferably slightly less than the corresponding width of slot 
20b in order to accommodate insertion of sleeve 16 with cap 22 mounted 
thereon. As preferably embodied, the sum of l.sub.3 and l.sub.4 as well as 
the difference between the width of slot 20b and that of the exterior of 
sleeve 16, at corresponding locations, are each slightly less than twice 
the thickness, t, of cap 22, in order that a sealing attachment may be 
formed by force fitting the end of sleeve 16 with cap 22 thereon into slot 
20b. 
Also as preferably embodied, each mounting bracket 20 includes a suitable 
base adapted for mounting onto the desired mounting structure. To this 
end, the base of mounting brackets 20 are adapted to receive 
interchangeable adaptor plates 24 which are adapted for releasable 
engagement with mounting brackets 20, such as by forming reciprocally 
co-acting slots (shown here at 20a on bracket 20) and protrusions (shown 
here at 24a on adaptor plate 24) having appropriate angular orientations 
thereon for allowing only slidable interconnection and preventing 
disassembly by other than such relative slidable movement. Advantageously, 
mounting plates 24 are formed with lip members 24b adapted to prevent 
slidable insertion of plate 24 onto bracket 20 beyond a predetermined 
point. 
Once mounting brackets 20 have been installed onto sleeve 16, double-backed 
adhesive members 26 may be attached to the bottom (i.e., the mounting 
surface) of mounting brackets 20. As illustrated herein, mounting brackets 
20 are formed with curved bottom surfaces which are suitable for attaching 
device 10 to a curved mounting structure, such as a round-topped mailbox. 
However, if the mounting structure has an essentially flat surface such as 
flat-topped mailbox 28, an adaptor plate 24 with a correspondingly rounded 
upper surface but a flat bottom (or mounting surface), may be slidably 
attached to bracket 20, as more fully described hereinbefore, with 
adhesive members 26 attached to such flat bottom surface to provide secure 
attachment to the flat surface of the mounting structure. 
Advantageously, when plates 24 are attached to brackets 20, lip members 24b 
are positioned symmetrically (i.e. both on the inside of brackets 20 or 
both on the outside of brackets 20) to substantially prevent the display 
device from slidable movement relative to the mounting structure. As 
preferably embodied, both lips 24b face outwardly to cover the 
slot/protrusion (20a/24a) arrangement for a more attractive appearance. 
It will be understood that when brackets 20 are mounted to a round-top 
mailbox so that adaptor plates 24 are not needed, slots 20a on the 
mounting bracket can accommodate certain structures formed on the mailbox 
top such as the base of the clamp for holding the mailbox door closed. 
Accordingly, the present invention in its broader aspects is not limited to 
the specific embodiments herein shown and described. Rather, variations 
may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without 
departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its 
chief advantages.