Sign holder system

A sign holder system having a back plate and a front plate. The back plate is mountable to a wall surface, and the front plate is removably secured to the back plate. The front plate has a forward-facing surface for displaying indicia, such as a room number or a person's name. The back plate includes at least one recessed opening for receiving a clip attached to the back of the front plate. The recessed opening also includes a recessed pocket. The clip can be slid into the recessed pocket to secure the front plate to the back plate. The recessed pocket can have a ridge which engages with an elevated portion of the clip having similar or matching geometry. The ridge can have a wall that abuts the clip to lock the clip over the ridge. The back plate can additionally include a keyway for permitting a key to pass therethrough. The key has an end that, when inserted through the keyway, deflects the clip away from the ridge, thereby releasing the clip from the ridge and permitting the front plate to be released from the back plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a sign holder having a removable front plate for displaying indicia. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a mechanism in a sign holder for temporarily securing a removable front plate to a back plate.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Sign holders that are secured to a wall surface having a back plate and a removable front plate for bearing an indicia are well-known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,027,086 to Brookey discloses an earlier version of this type of sign holder that includes a key for locking the front plate to the back plate so that the indicia cannot be changed by a passerby.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,277 to Larin discloses a sign holder having a front plate that slidingly engages with the back plate. The sign holder also includes a magnetic locking mechanism to lock the front plate to the back plate.

International patent application publication number WO 1998/037532 to Tyke discloses a sign holder that is similar to the one disclosed by Larin, in which the front plate slidingly engages onto the back plate. In the device disclosed by Tyke, there are end caps which attach to each side of the back plate to keep the front plate from sliding off or being removed.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art by providing a sign holder system in which the front plate slidingly engages with the back plate using a concealed clip mechanism, as well as a concealed locking mechanism and key for selectively locking or unlocking the front plate from the back plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention provides a sign holder system comprising:

(a) a back plate having a wall-facing surface and a forward-facing surface, the back plate including at least one recessed opening that is open at the forward-facing surface and extends into the back plate, the forward-facing surface extending over a portion of the recessed opening to form a lip which defines a pocket in the recessed opening; and

(b) a front plate having a rearward-facing surface and a forward-facing indicia surface, the rearward-facing surface including at least one deflectable clip extending from the rearward-facing surface, the clip having an arm that is secured to the rearward-facing surface on a first end, and a free second end that is resiliently deflectable; and

(c) whereby the rearward-facing surface of the front plate is positionable adjacent the forward-facing surface of the back plate and the clip is positionable within the recessed opening, and the front plate is slidable along the back plate such that the free second end of the arm is slidable behind the lip to secure the front plate to the back plate.

Optionally, the lip of the sign holder has an elevated ridge that extends partially into the pocket.

Optionally, the arm of the deflectable clip includes a strip that is elevated away from the rearward-facing surface of the front plate, and the strip extends transversely across the arm from a first side of the arm to a second side of the arm.

Optionally, the free second end of the arm includes a portion that is angled away from the rearward-facing surface of the front plate.

Optionally, the recessed opening can include a first wall and a second wall, in which the first and second walls are spaced apart and oriented parallel to each other. The recessed opening is dimensioned to receive the arm and permit sliding movement of the arm within the recessed opening in a first direction, and the first wall and the second wall are positioned next to the first side and second side of the arm to restrict movement of the arm within the recessed opening in a second direction. Preferably the second direction is along an axis oriented about 90° from the first direction.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sign holder system comprising:

(a) a back plate having a wall-facing surface and a forward-facing surface, the back plate including at least one recessed opening that is open at the forward-facing surface and extends into the back plate, the forward-facing surface extending over a portion of the recessed opening to form a lip which defines a pocket in the recessed opening, the lip having an elevated ridge that extends partially into the pocket; and

(b) a front plate having a rearward-facing surface and a forward-facing indicia surface, the rearward-facing surface including at least one deflectable clip extending from the rearward-facing surface, the clip having an arm that is secured to the rearward-facing surface on a first end, and a free second end that is resiliently deflectable, the arm having a strip that is elevated away from the rearward-facing surface of the front plate, the strip extending transversely across the arm from a first side of the arm to a second side of the arm; and

(c) whereby the rearward-facing surface of the front plate is positionable adjacent the forward-facing surface of the back plate and the clip is positionable within the recessed opening, and the front plate is slidable along the back plate such that the free second end of the arm is slidable behind the lip and the elevated strip on the arm is seatable onto the ridge of the lip to secure the front plate to the back plate.

Optionally, the ridge has an upper surface and a first ridge wall, and the arm has an underside surface in which the underside surface of the strip is seatable flush atop the upper surface of the ridge wall.

Optionally, the back plate can include a keyway extending through a portion of the back plate and into the recessed opening.

Optionally, the sign holder system can also include a key in which the key can be insertable into the keyway such that the end of the key forces the deflectable arm away from the ridge, thereby releasing the deflectable clip from the lip and permitting the front plate to be slid along the back plate to release the front plate from the back plate.

Optionally, the ridge can have an upper surface and a first ridge wall, and the arm has an underside surface in which the underside surface of the strip is seatable flush atop the upper surface of the ridge wall. The upper surface and the first ridge wall are preferably oriented about 90° from each other to form a substantially right angle, and the underside surface of the arm has an angled section that is angled about 90° from the underside surface of the strip. Accordingly, the angled section abuts the first ridge wall and locks the deflectable clip onto the lip.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As used hereinbelow, the term “forward” is used to generally indicate a direction toward a user who is viewing the indicia on the front plate of the sign holder system, which is typically vertically-oriented. Likewise, the term “rearward” is used to generally indicate a direction away from the user and toward a wall or other surface upon which the sign holder system is mounted.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and as shown generally inFIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a sign holder system10comprising a back plate12having a planar rearward wall-facing surface14and a planar forward-facing surface16. The back plate12is preferably generally rectangular in shape and is preferably relatively thin. The back plate12includes at least one recessed opening18that is open at the forward-facing surface16and extends into the back plate12. The recessed opening18can extend through the back plate12, although it does not necessarily need to do so, and if desired, it can extend only partially into the back plate12.

The recessed opening18can include a first wall20and a second wall22. The first wall20can be positioned as a top wall, although it may also be positioned as a side wall. Likewise, the second wall22can be positioned as a bottom wall, although it may also be positioned as a side wall. Therefore, as described in greater detail below, the first wall20and the second wall22restrict the direction of movement of the front plate24with respect to the back plate12. Thus, the front plate24can slidingly engage with the back plate12in a horizontal side-to-side direction, in a vertical up-and-down direction, or in any other suitable direction. The first wall20and the second wall22are preferably spaced apart and oriented parallel to each other.

The recessed opening18can also include a pair of opposed end walls26positioned opposite each other and extending between the first wall20and the second wall22. The first wall20, the second wall22, and the end walls26define the recessed opening18which is dimensioned to receive the arm28of the deflectable clip30. The recessed opening18is sized to permit sliding movement of the clip30within the recessed opening18in a first direction, in which the first wall20and the second wall22are positioned next to the first side and the second side of the clip arm28to restrict movement of the arm28within the recessed opening18in a second direction. Preferably, the clip30can only slide within the recessed opening18back and forth along a single axis.

The recessed opening18also includes a pocket32which is formed within the back plate12. The pocket32is not exposed or open through the forward-facing surface16. Rather, the pocket32is preferably defined as a recessed cutout along one of the end walls26and is concealed beneath, or behind the forward-facing surface16. The pocket32may or may not be open or exposed to the rearward-facing surface38of the back plate12. The forward-facing surface16extending over the pocket32forms a lip34, which may optionally include an elevated ridge36extending along the lip34.

The back plate12is preferably formed from a rigid polymer material, such as acrylic. Alternatively, the back plate12could be formed from a metal material, as well as any other suitable type of material. The back plate12can be manufactured using any suitable type of process that is well-known in the art. For example, the back plate12and its features discussed above can be machined from a solid piece of material, or the back plate12can be injection molded, and so forth.

The sign holder system10also includes a front plate24having a rearward-facing surface38and a forward-facing indicia surface40. The forward-facing indicia surface40can display any suitable type of indicia, such as an individual's name, a room name, a room number, etc. The rearward-facing surface38can include at least one deflectable clip30that extends rearwardly from the rearward-facing surface38. The clip30includes an arm28having a first end42and a second end44. The first end42is secured to the rearward-facing surface38, and the second end44is freely resiliently deflectable with respect to the front plate24. The clip30can be formed from a separate piece that is secured, or adhered, to the rearward-facing surface38of the front plate24. Alternatively, the clip30can be formed integrally with the front plate24.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the arm28is elevated from the rearward-facing surface38, but is generally oriented along a plane parallel to the rearward-facing surface38. The arm28is preferably elongated, wide, and thin to permit deflection with respect to the rearward-facing surface38in a single direction along a single axis. More preferably, the arm28deflects and pivots about the first end42thereof with respect to the rearward-facing surface38. The clip30can be formed from any resiliently flexible material, such as a plastic polymer, a metal material, or the like.

As shown throughout the drawings, the arm28of the deflectable clip30can also include a strip46that is elevated, or bent, in a direction away from the rearward-facing surface38of the front plate24. The strip46extends across the arm28in a transverse direction from a first side of the arm28to a second side of the arm28. The arm28also includes a tongue section48positioned proximate to the elevated strip46, which is shown best inFIG. 5. There is also provided an angled section50to transition between the strip46and the tongue section48. Preferably the angled section50is angled in the range of 30° to 60° from the plane upon which the tongue48is positioned, which is indicated as a inFIG. 5. Importantly, the angled section50allows the arm28to deflect up and over the ridge36when the user wishes to slide the front plate24in order to release the front plate24from the back plate12.

In addition, the free second end44of the arm28includes an angled end52that is angled away from the rearward-facing surface38of the front plate24.

In use, the front plate24is positioned in front of the back plate12such that the rearward-facing surface38of the front plate24is placed adjacent the forward-facing surface16of the back plate12. The clip30is contemporaneously positioned within the recessed opening18. Next, the front plate24is slid along the back plate12so that the free second end44of the arm28is slid behind the lip34. As the front plate24is slid, the angled end52abuts against the ridge36, thereby deflecting the arm28upward over the ridge36. As the front plate24continues to be slid, the upward angled section50and elevated strip46allow the deflectable arm28to deflect back down over the ridge36when the elevated strip46is seated atop the ridge36. In this configuration, the elevated strip46on the arm28is thus seated atop and over the ridge36on the lip34to secure the front plate24to the back plate12.

In order to release the front plate24from the back plate12, the front plate24is simply slid so that the clip30is moved out of the pocket32and out from behind the lip34, thereby allowing the front plate24to be removed from the back plate12. This is made possible by the angled section50which gradually flexes the arm28away from the ridge36to permit the tongue section48to pass over the ridge36, thereby releasing the clip30from the ridge36and permitting the front plate24to be removed from the back plate12. The deflectable clip30is resiliently flexible, which allows the arm28of the clip30to be deflected up and over the ridge36on the lip34to secure the clip30within the recessed pocket32.

There is also provided a second embodiment of the present invention which includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the front plate24from the back plate12. According to this second embodiment, and as shown best inFIGS. 6 and 8, the ridge36has an upper surface54and a ridge retainer wall56. In addition, the arm28has an underside surface58in which the underside surface58of the strip46is seatable flush atop the upper surface54of the ridge36.

The ridge retainer wall56and the angled section50of the arm28are preferably angled so that they are flush with one another. Even more preferably, the angle α between the ridge retainer wall56and the angled section50is in the range of 75° to 105° from the plane upon which the tongue section48is positioned. Most preferably, and as shown inFIG. 10, angle α between the ridge retainer wall56and the angled section50is about 90°. Furthermore, the upper surface54and the ridge retainer wall56are oriented about 90° from each other to form a substantially right angle, and the underside surface58of the arm28has an angled section50that is angled about 90° from the underside surface58of the strip46. Accordingly, the angled section50abuts the ridge retainer wall56and locks the deflectable clip30onto the lip34.

This second embodiment of the present invention also includes a key60which passes through a keyway62in order to deflect the arm28over the ridge36in order to unlock the front plate24from the back plate12. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the keyway62extends from an outer edge64of the back plate12and through a portion of the back plate12and into the recessed opening18. The keyway62also extends through a portion of the lip34and a portion of the ridge36. Preferably, the keyway62has a rectangular cross-section, although it could have any suitable size or geometric configuration, as long as the keyway62is dimensioned to receive the key60.

The key60has an elongated body which is insertable into the keyway62from the outer edge of the back plate12. As mentioned above, the key60and the keyway62preferably have substantially matching geometric cross-sectional configurations to permit the key60to pass through the keyway62. Even more preferably, the keyway62and the key60have rectangular cross-sections. The key60preferably has an angled tip66to assist in deflecting the arm28up and over the ridge36when the key60is inserted into the keyway62. As shown inFIG. 9, the angled tip66provides for a narrowed edge68on a first side of the key60. Optionally, the key60can also having an outward bend (not shown) on a second side of the key60opposite the narrowed edge68.

In use, and as shown best inFIGS. 8, 10, and 11, the key60is inserted into the keyway62with the angled tip66oriented in the forward direction. The key60passes through the keyway62until the outward bend70of the key60comes into contact with the angled end52of the arm28. The outward bend70then deflects the angled end52of the arm28up from the ridge36to release the angled section50of the arm28from the ridge retainer wall56of the ridge36. The front plate24can then be freely released from the back plate12once the deflectable arm28has been released from the ridge36.

Importantly, it is noted that the key60can have any suitable type of end, including a blunt end, a rounded end, a bent end, and so forth. For example, the key60described above having an angled tip66will function correctly to deflect the clip arm28away from the ridge36regardless of the orientation of the key60as inserted into the keyway62. In other words, the key60will function correctly if either the angled tip66or the outward bend70abut against the arm28. The primary difference in the orientation of the key60thus becomes how far the key60needs to be inserted into the keyway62to sufficiently deflect the arm28of the clip30. However, as mentioned above, the key60will work in either orientation.

According to the invention described above, there is provided a sign holder system in which the front plate slidingly engages with the back plate using a concealed clip mechanism, as well as a concealed locking mechanism and key for selectively locking or unlocking the front plate from the back plate.