Folding sign system

A sign system particularly useful for point of purchase displays is provided. The sign system includes an elongated trough for carrying one or more folding sign members. The trough is provided with a slot which because of its dimensions allows a media portion of the sign member to pass through the slot and hang below the trough member while the top of the sign member is retained in the trough. In one embodiment the elongated troughs are carried by vertical supports which attach to an existing shelving system. Other embodiments are disclosed for supporting the elongated trough. The folding sign members have a display position for displaying any messages or graphics carried by the sign member, and a shelving accessibility position in which the sign member may be folded allowing access to any shelving hidden by the sign members while the sign member is retained in the folded position by the trough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sign system, and, in particular, to a sign system including a sign member useful in point of purchase advertising that may be mounted overhead on existing shelving, for example. The sign member of the present invention may be folded for easy access to goods stored behind the sign member of the shelving.

Various sign systems attachable to shelving have been disclosed in the past, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,013, dated Jan. 17, 1989, issued to Anthony Sainato, discloses a header sign assembly for product merchandising displays. The mounting assembly includes at least one header sign holder and mounting apparatus to mount the sign holder to pegboard or a shelf.

Another such sign system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,072, dated Feb. 17, 1998, issued to Benjamin L. Garfinkle. The Garfinkle patent discloses a sign system which utilizes one or more rail sections for holding a plurality of sign holders above items displayed in supermarkets and the like.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,871, issued to Thomas M. Conway, dated Aug. 20, 2002, is disclosed a mounting system for mounting a sign, such as, a sheet or panel to a horizontal shelf in one embodiment. Apparatus is disclosed for permitting the sign to be swung outwardly from a shelf to gain access to any items stored on the shelf. In another embodiment, a sign or display portion is mounted to the top of shelving partition walls which include support posts. Brackets are included which are inserted in the tops of the support posts which support the sign in fixed position.

Another such sign system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. application publication No. 2003/0230016, published Dec. 18, 2003, by Scott Padiak, et. al. The Padiak publication disclosed a display sign which can be moved for access behind where the display sign had been and which may be restored to the original position. The Padiak device generally utilized cables and guides to allow the sign to move.

And yet still another such sign system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,969, issued to Thomas M. Conway, dated Dec. 23, 2003. This patent discloses a sign mounting system for at least two adjacent sign portions which together constitute a single sign. Apparatus is disclosed for attachment to existing shelving and provide means for the sign portions to be swung open for access to any items stored on a shelf behind a sign portion.

Problems may arise from a ease of access standpoint with some of the prior art assemblies which utilize apparently rigid sign portions which swing open to gain access to items stores on a shelf hidden by the sign portion. Often access to items stored on a shelf behind such a sign assembly are elevated beyond a person's reach and the use of a ladder or other similar device is necessary in order to reach the item which may be quite cumbersome or heavy. A sign portion that is required to swing substantially in a horizontal direction away from the elevated shelf may in some cases present difficulty for the person on the ladder, or other similar device. The person attempting to swing the sign portion open to reach the items, may be required to lean, or move backwards, away from shelving to “open” the sign portion possibly putting himself in a more precarious position.

Also, another drawback of the prior art assemblies is their apparent relative complexity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a folding sign system used in conjunction with existing shelving structures for point of purchase advertising, such as, used in department stores, food stores, building supply stores, and the like. The folding sign system of the present invention, in one embodiment, attaches to an existing shelving system, such as an H-frame type or similar shelving system. Typically, such a shelving system includes vertical hollow uprights at the front of the shelving system. The shelving system includes shelving near the tops of the vertical uprights.

The folding sign system in the first embodiment includes at least two vertical supports attached to and supported by the vertical hollow uprights. At least one elongated trough is supported substantially horizontally between the vertical supports near the tops of the supports. The elongated trough has a longitudinal slot near the bottom of the trough of predetermined dimensions.

At least one folding sign member is carried by the trough. The folding sign member has a display position with the sign member fully extended, and, a shelving accessibility position with said sign member folded. The folding sign member has a folding media portion sized to pass through the slot in the trough and to hang below trough in the display position.

The folding sign member has an integral top transverse sleeve at the top of the sign member. The folding sign member also has an integral bottom transverse sleeve at the bottom of the sign member adjacent to the media portion. At least one top elongated member is at least partially housed within the top sleeve of the sign member. The top elongated member is sized to provide lateral rigidity for the sign member and sized to prevent the top sleeve of the sign member from passing through the slot in the trough with the top elongated member in the operative position. The top transverse sleeve is housed within the trough. At least one bottom elongated member is at least partially housed within the bottom sleeve of the sign member. The bottom member is sized to provide lateral rigidity for the sign member and sized to fit within the trough when the sign member is in the shelving accessibility position. The bottom elongated member is of predetermined weight. The bottom sleeve of the sign member is also housed within the trough when the sign member is in the shelving accessibility position. The trough is of sufficient size to accommodate both the top sleeve and bottom sleeve of the sign member simultaneously when the sign is in the sign accessibility position.

Utilizing the present invention, when the sign member is fully extended in the display position, goods stored on the top shelving are hidden by the folding media portion of the sign member. When the sign member is folded in the shelving accessibility position and the bottom sleeve of the sign member is placed in the trough, access is provided to the stored goods on the top shelving.

Preferably, the longitudinal slot of the trough is sized to permit the folding media portion of the sign member to pass freely through it. Also, the top elongated member preferably has a minimum cross-sectional width greater than the width of the slot of the trough.

The folding sign system of the present invention may include a number of contiguous sign members which may be carried in a single trough or multiple adjacent troughs. The sign members in the display position together having the media portions of the sign members forming a banner.

The folding sign member of the present invention is desirably made of vinyl. Preferably, the bottom elongated member has a length equal to the width of the sign member. Also, it is preferred that the top elongated member have a length at least as long as the width of the sign member.

Preferably, the bottom elongated member has a weight greater than the weight of the sign member so that when the sign member is in the shelving accessibility position the weight of the bottom elongated member while resting in the trough will maintain the sign member in a folded state.

Desirably, the top elongated member has a length at least as long as the width of the sign member. Also, the longitudinal slot of the trough should be of sufficient width to permit the bottom sleeve of the sign member, with the bottom elongated member removed, to pass through the slot. The bottom elongated member and the top elongated member may be tubular, for example. The trough preferably includes a sleeve contact portion which has a V-shaped cross-section.

The vertical supports of one embodiment of the present invention near the bottoms of the supports, each desirably further include an elongated upright insertion portion of predetermined dimensions. The elongated upright insertion portions wedge snugly within the interior of the tops of the vertical hollow uprights. This permits the vertical supports to be maintained in operative position by the vertical hollow uprights of the shelving system.

The vertical supports each preferably further include a lip portion extending perpendicularly outwardly from the vertical support. The lip portion is adjacent to the elongated upright insertion portion of the vertical supports. The lip portions maintain the vertical supports in position relative to the tops of the vertical hollow uprights of the shelving system. Also, desirably, the tops of the vertical supports each have threaded apertures passing through the tops in predetermined position. The trough member preferably near its ends has first apertures in operative alignment with the threaded apertures of the vertical supports. Bolt members pass through the first apertures and operatively engage the threaded apertures.

In a second embodiment, the folding sign system of the present invention is used in conjunction with an existing shelving system which includes at least one horizontal member and shelving mounted below the horizontal member. The second embodiment of the present invention utilizes the trough of the first embodiment with the exception that the trough includes rearwardly extending tab members attached to the trough. The tab members include openings therethrough. Fastener members pass through the tab members and are attached to the horizontal member near the front of the member. The vertical supports of the first embodiment are not necessary in the second embodiment because of the direct attachment of the trough to the horizontal member. The other features of the second embodiment are the same as the first embodiment.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, a folding sign system is disclosed for hiding goods stored on a shelving system. The folding sign system in this embodiment is not attached to the shelving system, but the sign system includes an elongated trough which is suspended by a pair of cable members attached to an overhead anchor such as a ceiling, for example. This embodiment also utilizes the trough of the first embodiment but does not use the vertical supports. The attachment of the trough to the pair of cable members may be accomplished by the use of a pair of S-hooks. Each of the cable members at one end include a loop portion. The ends of the trough have first apertures therein. A first of the S-hook members near the upper portion operatively engages the loop portion of one of the cable members. The lower portion of first S-hook member operatively engages one end of the trough proximate one of the first apertures. The same also applies to the configuration utilizing the second of the S-hook members. The other features of the third embodiment are the same as the first embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1,4,10and14, the folding sign system20of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The folding sign system20of the first embodiment is for attachment to an existing shelving system22, such as, an H-frame shelving system commonly used for storage and display of goods on pallets, for example. The shelving system22for the first embodiment includes vertical hollow uprights24and shelving26near the tops28of the vertical uprights24. Typically, the vertical hollow uprights24have a partial rectangular cross-section as shown inFIG. 3, for example, and have key hole shaped openings30for mounting the shelving26and other components as is known in the art.

As shown inFIGS. 1,4,8,10and14, for example, the folding sign system20of the first embodiment of the present invention includes at least two vertical supports32and, as shown inFIG. 14, may include three or more vertical supports32. With references toFIGS. 1 and 4, it can be seen that the vertical supports32are aligned with the hollow uprights24and inserted partially into the uprights24thereby attaching the supports32to the uprights near the tops28. The vertical supports32may be made of aluminum or steel, for example.

At least one elongated trough34is supported substantially horizontally between two vertical supports32near the tops28of the uprights24. The trough34has a longitudinal slot36of predetermined dimensions extending about the length of the trough34.

At least one folding sign member38is carried by the trough34as shown inFIGS. 1,2and8–13. Referring toFIG. 10, the sign member38has a display position40where the sign member38is fully extended, and a shelving accessibility position42when the sign member38is folded. The folding sign member38may be made of vinyl or any other material that folds, such as, cloth, canvas or burlap, for example. The folding sign member or members38has a folding media portion44sized to pass through the longitudinal slot36as shown inFIG. 8, for example, and hang below the trough34in the display position40as shown inFIG. 10, for example. The folding media portion44may carry on the front46of the media portion44any graphic or message desired as shown inFIGS. 1,4,8,10and14, the words “SIGN” or “BANNER” have been used to connote this aspect.

The folding sign member38has an integral top transverse sleeve46near the top48of the sign member38, as shown inFIGS. 8,11–13, for example. The top sleeve46may be formed by folding the required amount of the sign member material back against itself and stitching in place or attaching by other means, such as stapling. The folding sign member38also has an integral bottom transverse sleeve50near the bottom52of the sign member38adjacent to the media portion44. The integral bottom transverse sleeve50may be formed in the same manner as described for the top sleeve46.

At least one top elongated member54is at least partially housed within the top sleeve45of the sign member38, as shown inFIGS. 8,11–13, for example. The top elongated member54is sized to provide lateral rigidity for the sign member38. As shown inFIG. 8, the top elongated member should preferably be at least as long as the width of the sign member38. The top elongated, member54is also sized by having a minimum cross-sectional width greater than the width37of the slot36to prevent the top sleeve46of the sign member38from passing through the slot36when the top elongated member is in operative position as shown inFIGS. 9 and 12, for example. Also, preferably the top elongated member54should fit snugly when inserted in the top sleeve46. In the operative position the top transverse sleeve46with the top elongated member54inserted in the sleeve46is housed within the trough34, as shown inFIGS. 11–13.

At least one bottom elongated member56at least partially housed within the bottom sleeve50of the sign member38, as shown inFIGS. 8,11–13, for example. The bottom elongated member56is also sized to provide lateral rigidity to the sign member38and should also preferably be at least as long as the width of the sign member38. The bottom elongated member56should also fit snugly when inserted in the bottom sleeve50to prevent it from falling out of the bottom sleeve50. The bottom sleeve50is sized to fit within the trough34when the sign member38is in the shelving accessibility position42, as shown inFIGS. 10 and 13, for example.

Utilizing the present invention, when the sign member38is fully extended in the display position40, any goods stored on the top shelving26will be hidden by the media portion44of the sign member38. Thus, in the display position40the invention acts to hide any stored goods behind the media portion44and, also the front46of the media portion44may carry any graphic or message desired for an effective point-of-purchase display. When access to the top shelving26is desired the sign member38is folded or lifted vertically upward by grasping the bottom sleeve50and the sleeve50is placed in the trough to be in the shelving accessibility position42. In the shelving accessibility position42access is provided to the top shelving26. It should be apparent that it is not necessary to swing the bottom sleeve50outwardly away from the front of the shelving, but the sleeve50may be lifted primarily vertically upwardly and placed in the trough34without requiring one to lean back away from the shelving26to any substantial degree while on a ladder, for example.

Preferably, the longitudinal slot36of the trough34is sized to permit the folding media portion44of the sign member to pass freely through the slot36. Also, the top elongated member54should have a minimum cross-sectional width greater than the width of the slot36to prevent the top sleeve46from passing through the slot36. Desirably, the bottom elongated member56has a weight greater than the weight of the sign member to ensure that when the sign member38is in the shelving accessibility position42and bottom sleeve50is resting in the trough34the sign member38will be maintained in the folded state unit until it desired to return the sign member38to the display position40.

The folding sign system20in one configuration of the present invention may include a plurality of contiguous sign members38, as shown inFIGS. 1,10and14, for example. The contiguous sign members38maybe carried in a single trough34or multiple troughs34, as shown inFIG. 14. The plurality of contiguous sign members38in the display position40having the media portions44together forming a continuous message, such as a banner.

Preferably, the longitudinal slot36of the trough34is of sufficient width37and length to permit the bottom sleeve50with the bottom elongated member54removed to pass through the slot36. This enables the assembly and disassembly of the folding sign system20by permitting the bottom sleeve to be inserted down through the slot36during assembly before the bottom elongated member56is installed and to be pulled through the slot36after the bottom elongated member56is first removed for disassembly of the sign system20.

Desirably, the trough34includes a V-shaped sleeve contact portion58, as shown inFIGS. 7,11–13and19, for example. The V-shaped sleeve aligns the top sleeve46of the sign member38with slot36by acting as a cradle, and it also maintains the bottom sleeve50when in the sign member38is in the accessibility position42as shown inFIG. 13. The top elongated member54and the bottom elongated member may be tubular, for example, and be made of metal piping, such as steel, for example. For example, a one-inch diameter steel tube with a 16 gauge wall may be used for members54and56. The metal piping gives sufficient weight to maintain the bottom sleeve56in the trough34when the sign member38is in the shelving accessibility position42.

The vertical supports32at the bottoms60thereof, preferably each include an elongated upright insertion portion62of predetermined dimensions so as to wedge snugly within the interior64of the top28of a vertical hollow upright24, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, for example. This will maintain the vertical supports32in operative position by the uprights. Preferably, the elongated upright insertion portion62of the vertical supports32have a U-shaped cross-section66, such as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. It has been found with a shelving system having vertical hollow uprights24and shelving26that is held to the uprights by finger member68engaging the key hole shaped openings30on the front70of the uprights24. The elongated upright insertion portion62is placed into the top28of the upright24so that the U-shaped cross-section66is situated as shown inFIG. 3. This provides maximum strength and rigidity for the sign system20.

Preferably, the vertical supports32each include lip portions72extending about perpendicularly from the supports32, adjacent to the elongated upright insertion portion62, as shown inFIGS. 1,4,8and11, for example. The lip portions72maintain the vertical supports32in position relative to the tops28of the vertical hollow uprights24. The lip portions72may be carried by only two opposite sides of the support32, for example, as shown inFIG. 4, for example. The upright insertion portion62and the lip portions72may be welded to the vertical supports, for example.

Referring toFIG. 6, the tops74vertical supports24each have threaded apertures76. The trough34at its ends78has first apertures80in operative alignment with the threaded apertures76of the vertical supports32, screws82pass through the first apertures80and engage threaded apertures76. Of course, the trough34may be attached to the vertical supports by other means such as welding, for example.

The trough34may be made in any length desired such as about four feet or eight feet in length depending on the distance between the aligned pair of uprights24. The trough34may carry one or more sign members38as shown inFIGS. 10 and 14. The trough34may be made of 16 gauge steel, for example. With reference toFIG. 9, it has been found desirable to include braces84, which may be welded to the trough34between the sign members38and at the ends78of the trough34to provide strength for the trough34. The brace84may be steel rod for example. Also, as shown inFIG. 14. A vertical support32positioned between two troughs34may be used to support the ends78of two troughs34. A shown inFIG. 15, screws82pass trough first apertures80in the troughs34and engage threaded apertures76.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 16–19. In this embodiment and the following embodiment the same numerals are used to denote like components described for the first embodiment. The folding sign system20of the second embodiment is intended for direct attachment to a shelving system22without the use of the vertical supports32of the prior embodiment. Very often a shelving system is not constructed with shelving26as described for the first embodiment, that is, with shelving attached near the tops28of uprights24as shown inFIG. 1, but has shelving26well below the tops of uprights24or does not have uprights near the front of the shelving26such as with a gondola shelving system22shown inFIG. 16. For purposes of the second embodiment, the shelving system22includes at least one horizontal member86near the front88of the shelving system22which as shown inFIG. 16may be shelving26or a horizontal beam, not shown, for example.

For the second embodiment the trough34of the first embodiment is modified by including rearwardly extending tab members90affixed to the trough34, as shown inFIGS. 16–19. The tab members90have openings92as shown inFIG. 17. Fastener members94pass through the openings92and are affixed to the horizontal member86, that is, shelving26by engaging second apertures96. The fastener members94may be self threading fasteners, for example. The tab members90may be attached to the trough by welding for example. The trough34and tab members90may be made of 16 gauge steel, for example. The sign member38, top and bottom elongated members54and56, are as described for the first embodiment as shown inFIGS. 16–19. Although the sign system20is shown inFIG. 16being attached to top shelving26, it may be attached to lower shelving depending where goods are desired to be hidden and sign members38utilized with graphics and messages carried on the media portions40thereof.

The third embodiment of the present invention discloses a folding sign system20for hiding goods stores on a shelving system22and conveying messages or graphics on the sign members38. The third embodiment of the invention varies from the first embodiment in that it does not require any physical attachment to the shelving system22, but is simply attached to an overhead anchor96, which may be a ceiling for example, seeFIG. 20. Therefore, this embodiment also does not require the vertical supports32of the first embodiment. The sign system may be positioned in front of the shelving system22such that the sign member38will hang in front of the shelving26where goods are desired to be hidden. The folding sign system20also includes a pair of cable members98. Each cable member98is affixed at one end100thereof in supportive relationship with the trough34near the ends78of the trough34. The cable members98are attached at the other end102to the overhead anchor96. The sign members38, trough34, top and bottom elongated members54and56are as described for the first embodiment as shown inFIGS. 16–19.

Preferably, the folding sign system20of the third embodiment also includes a pair of S-hooks104. Each of the cable members98at the one end100thereof include a loop portion106. The loop portion106may be formed by looping one end100of cable member98back on itself and clamping with a ferrule107or compression sleeve, as shown inFIG. 20. The ferrule107may be made of aluminum, copper, or steel, for example. The ends78of the trough34having first apertures80, as shown inFIG. 20. Each of said S-hook members104near the upper portion110operatively engaging the loop portion106of the cable members102, and the S-hook member104near the lower portion112of the S-hook operatively engaging an end78of the trough34at the first apertures80. Of course the cable members98may be attached by other means. For example, they may be attached to the trough34by simply looping the other end102of the cable through the first apertures80of the trough34and securing the loop, not shown.

The preferred embodiments described are by way of example and it is understood that they be modified with out departing from the scope of the present invention.