Self-standing floor sign

A self-standing floor sign comprising two panels (15 and 16) hinged together at their upper ends, one panel (16) having a tubular hinge portion (24) provided with a slot (27) (28), the other panel having a core (31) (32) rotatable in said hinge portion (24), said core having a laterally directed U-shaped notch (31') (32') adapted to allow said core to hook into and pass laterally through said slot (27) (28) into said hinge portion (24) by simultaneously rotating and pressing radially inward on said core (31) (32) to snap it past the upper edge of said slot (27) (28).

BACKGROUND ART 
Prior self-standing floor signs of which we have knowledge comprise wire 
frames hinged together at the top with metal or plastic panels supported 
on the frames. During handling the frames become bent and distorted so 
that they are unstable and do not stand firmly on the supporting floor. 
Moreover, as the frames are folded and knocked about they create a 
substantial amount of noise. Further, the frames are subject to corrosion 
as the are used on wet floors in the presence of mopping and scrubbing 
operations. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
The present improved self-standing sign is constructed entirely of plastic 
material which is quieter and more stable than prior constructions 
comprising wire frames. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
self-standing floor sign comprising two panel members each molded of 
plastic and having integral interfitting hinge portions at their upper 
ends for selectively folding and swinging the panel members apart. 
Another object is to provide an improved construction in which the hinge 
portions are adapted to snap together into interlocking rotatable 
relation. 
A further object is to provide an improved hinge construction which allows 
the panels to collapse or fold and limits their spreading-apart movement. 
These and other related objects are accomplished by the improvements 
comprising the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is 
disclosed and described herein as exemplifying the best known mode of 
carrying out the invention. Various modifications and changes in details 
of construction are comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring first to FIG. 1, the improved sign comprises a front panel member 
indicated generally at 15 and a rear panel member indicated generally at 
16. The panel members 15 and 16 each have laterally spaced lower leg 
portions 15a and 16a and laterally spaced upper leg portions 15b and 16b, 
respectively. Between the lower and upper leg portions the panel members 
15 and 16 are preferably provided with flat embossed panels 15c and 16c, 
respectively, on which suitable lettering or indicia may be applied. 
Preferably, continuous ribs 15d and 16d extend around the outer 
peripheries of the panel members 15 and 16, including the leg portions 
15a, 15b, 16a and 16b. 
The panel members 15 and 16 are hinged together at the tops of legs 15b and 
16b, and adapted to be spread apart, as shown in FIG. 1, to a 
self-standing position, or folded or collapsed one upon the other as shown 
in FIG. 8. As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, member 15 has a plastic strap 
17 connected by a thin flexible hinge portion 18 to the inner edge of its 
peripheral flange 15d' extending between legs 15a. Similarly, member 16 
has a plastic strap 19 connected by a thin flexible hinge portion 20 to 
the inner edge of its peripheral flange 16d' extending between legs 16a. 
The strap 17 has at its inner end a rectangular slot 21, and the strap 19 
has near its inner end a U-shaped portion 22 adapted to engage tightly in 
the slot 21, when the straps 17 and 19 are extended inwardly toward each 
other, thereby restraining the lower ends of panels 15 and 16 from 
spreading further apart. When the panels are folded together as in FIG. 8, 
the straps 17 and 19 fold alongside the inner surfaces of the panels 15a 
and 16a, respectively. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, tubular hinge portions 24 are formed at the 
upper ends of legs 16b and are integral therewith. The portions 24 are 
connected by a crossbar 25 preferably of I-shaped cross section having 
circular walls 26 at its ends forming the inner ends of the hinge portions 
24. As seen in FIGS. 4-6 and 9, each hinge portion 24 has in its lower 
rear quadrant longitudinally aligned outer and inner slots 27 and 28 
divided or separated by a narrow arcuate wall 29, slot 27 extending 
laterally inward from the outer end of the tube to the wall 29, and slot 
28 extending from wall 29 to the end wall 26. 
As shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 10, substantially cylindrical longitudinally 
aligned hinge core portions 31 and 32 are formed integral with the upper 
ends of legs 15b of front panel member 15, and the core portions are 
divided by a transverse slot 33. The cores are adapted to fit rotatably in 
the tubular hinge portions 24. The core portions 31 have outer circular 
caps 34 adapted to abut the outer edges of tubular portions 24 when the 
cores are inserted therein. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the cores 31 
and 32 are inverted, core portion 32 is inserted radially through slot 28 
and core portion 31 through slot 27, with slot 33 receiving arcuate wall 
29 to prevent axial movement of the cores in the tubes 24. 
In order to accomplish radial insertion of the cores 31 and 32 through 
slots 27 and 28, respectively, so that the cores are rotatable in but not 
removable from the tubular hinge portions, the cores are provided with 
laterally directed U-shaped notches 31' and 32' , respectively, extending 
axially through the cores. At the lower edges of the notches the cores are 
connected to the upper edges of legs 15b by necks 36 and the necks have 
aligned transverse ribs 37 and 38 formed thereon. The slots 33 extend into 
the necks 36 and form separate ribs 37 and 38. The ribs are spaced from 
the lower edges of notches 31' and 32' so as to form corners 31" and 32" 
at the respective edges. 
Referring to FIG. 7, the cores 31 and 32 are inserted into slots 27 and 28 
by first hooking the notches 31' and 32' laterally through the slots and 
then rotating the legs 15b downwardly clockwise, at the same time pressing 
radially inward on the cores to distort the tubes 24 sufficiently to allow 
the corners 31" and 32" to snap past the edges of the slots 27 and 28. The 
cores are now permanently locked in the tubes 24 because the sharp corners 
31" and 32" can not be snapped out past the upper edges of slots 27 and 
28. The counterclockwise rotation of the cores is limited by the 
engagement of ribs 37 and 38 with the upper edges of slots 27 and 28 at 
the spread-apart position of the panel members 15 and 16 shown in FIGS. 
1-6. As shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9 notches 40 are formed at the outer ends 
of the upper edges of slots 27 to receive the upper ends of ribs 15d in 
the spread-apart position. 
It should be apparent that the improved self-standing all plastic floor 
sign provides a stable construction which is relatively quiet during 
folding and handling, with integral interfitting hinge portions adapted to 
be assembled by snapping them together into interlocked rotatable 
relation.