Front loading sign assembly

A front loading sign assembly includes a flexible, rectangular sign panel; and a rectangular sign frame lying generally in a first major plane and providing a front side to be viewed and a back wall integral with each of the four frame members. First and second facing parallel frame members of the frame are provided with overhanging lips. The rectangular flexible sign panel is installed by inserting it under these overhanging lips. Third and fourth frame members of the sign frame are provided with smooth sides in contact with sides of the sign panel when it is installed to prevent access to the panel and removal of the panel. A fulcrum extends outwardly from the back wall of the sign frame in parallel relationship to and midway between the first and second frame members. Manual pressure on the sign panel between the fulcrum and the first frame member causes the end of the sign panel adjacent the second frame member to spring clear of the sign frame assembly so that the panel can be removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention has relation to sign assemblies of the type in which a 
flexible sign panel is removably installed in a rectangular sign frame, 
held securely in that sign frame, and can then be easily removed from it 
without the aid of additional tools or equipment all from the front face 
of the sign frame. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Sign assemblies are known in which a flexible sign panel is installed from 
the front of a sign frame in such a manner that the end edges of the panel 
fit within undercut lips of the sign frame to firmly position the panel 
against removal or tampering; but where inward bowing of the sign panel 
exposes a hidden recess in the frame into which a tool can be inserted to 
pry the panel loose from the sign frame. Such a structure is disclosed in 
my U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,984 granted to Taylor in May of 1981. 
Another patent which discloses structure whereby an end portion of a 
flexible sign panel can be made to extend away from its sign frame by 
depressing another portion of that panel is U.S. Pat. No. 2,043,760 
granted to Marsh, granted in June of 1936. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 513,714 granted to McArdle et al. in January of 1894, 
sheet metal sign frames are disclosed in which a raised stiffener or 
corrugation B extends across the center of the sign frame. In addition to 
stiffening the sheet metal frame, this corrugation B can also serve to 
firmly hold the sign panel or card firmly against the strips G to help to 
constantly maintain the card under tension. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,362,273 granted to Hopp in November of 1944 discloses a 
flexible sign panel supported under overhanging lips at opposite ends of 
the panel with a pair of longitudinally extending protrusions each 
adjacent to and parallel to one of the overhanging lips so that the sign 
panel is maintained in tension when so mounted. The sign panel is 
maintained in a bowed shape so that it can be easily removed simply by 
grasping opposite edges of it and withdrawing it, or by sliding it 
longitudinally out the end of the sign frame. A protective device 
consisting of a transparent body member 30 including a rigid main body 
portion 32 is fastened in place by screws so that the sign cannot be 
tampered with. 
Located in a search of the prior art are the following patents which, while 
some of them have structures which may appear superficially similar to 
portions of the present invention, it is believed that they do not relate 
to the inventive concept of the present invention: 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,851,804 granted to Roach in September of 1958; 2,181,976 
granted to Lotz in December of 1939; 2,180,195 granted to Cavalero in 
November of 1939; 2,172,528 granted to Auer in September of 1939; 
2,817,914 granted to Rosen in December of 1957; 1,787,308 granted to 
Furlong in December of 1930; 1,053,724 granted to Gardner et al. in 
February of 1913;and 641,287 granted to Goodwin in January of 1900. 
What did not exist before the present invention was a front loading sign 
frame assembly in which a flexible sign panel could be installed in a 
multi-sided sign frame to lie perfectly flat in that frame and to appear 
to be completely inaccessible and unremovable; but which can be easily 
removed, substituted for, and/or reinstalled by the initiated over and 
over without the use of tools or apparatus other than the sign assembly 
itself. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A front loading sign assembly includes a multi-sided sign frame lying in a 
first major plane and having four frame members disposed in a multi-sided 
manner, a first and second of these frame members being disposed in 
parallel, facing relationship with respect to each other and each having 
an overhanging lip provided with a sign panel retaining surface extending 
inwardly toward the other parallel frame member. An apparently 
inaccessible, easily accessible, flexible sign panel of substantially 
congruent configuration with respect to the sign frame is provided, the 
panel being partially defined by spaced-apart end edges which are slightly 
farther apart than the distance between the innermost edges of the 
overhanging lips and the panel retaining surfaces. 
The sign frame assembly is provided with a fulcrum adjacent the back side 
of the installed sign panel at a position intermediate between the first 
and second frame members. The size and configuration of the sign frame and 
sign panel and the flexibility of the sign panel are such that manual 
depression of the panel between the fulcrum and the first frame member 
will cause movement of the end edge portion of the panel retained by the 
overhanging lip of the second frame member until that end edge of the 
panel clears the overhanging lip of the second frame member and springs 
clear the second frame member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A front loading sign assembly 10 defines generally a single major plane. It 
includes an apparently inaccessible, easily accessible, flexible sign 
panel 14; and a multi-sided sign frame 12 presenting a front side 13 to be 
viewed and back side 11. 
Two forms of the invention are disclosed herein. In both forms, the 
multi-sided frame 12 is seen to disclose a transversely extending first 
frame member 21, a transversely extending second frame member 22, a 
longitudinally extending third frame member 23 and a longitudinally 
extending fourth frame member 24, all four disposed in a multi-sided 
manner, rectangular as shown. A back wall 25 of the sign frame 12 is 
integrally connected to all of the frame members. Screw holes 26 are 
provided in the back wall 25 for the purpose of supporting the sign 
assembly 10 through the instrumentality of screws 27 fastened into a 
vertical sign support wall 28. 
As seen in FIG. 1, a front side 16 of the sign panel 14 can have indicia 17 
thereon, or could be constituted as a display panel in a solid color, or 
simply as a cover panel to protect the interior of the frame 12 or of an 
area behind that frame from being viewed and/or from being tampered with. 
Throughout this specification, the panel 14 is referred to as a "sign 
panel", and this is to be considered synonymous with the term "closure 
panel" and the term "cover panel." 
The flexible panel 14 can be of any relatively thin, stiff, resilient, 
flexible material. An aluminum and plastic laminate has been found 
suitable for the purpose. In addition to the front side 16, the sign panel 
14 is defined by a back side 30, parallel side edges 31,31, a first end 
edge 32 and a second end edge 33 parallel with the first end edge. The 
third frame member 23 and the fourth frame member 24 of the multi-sided 
frame 12, as shown herein, are mutually parallel, extend integrally 
forwardly away from the back wall 25 and are separated from each other by 
a dimension which places each of them in adjacent, touching but 
non-binding relationship to one of the parallel side edges 31,31 of the 
flexible sign panel 14 when the sign panel is installed in the frame. 
In a first form of the invention as seen in FIGS. 2-5, first frame member 
21 and second frame member 22 of the sign frame 12 each are integral with 
and extend transversely between each of the third and fourth frame members 
and, in the form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, are 
permanently cemented or soldered to a front surface of the back wall 25 as 
at 36. The construction of each of the first and second frame members 21 
and 22 is identical to the other, and each is integrally associated with 
the rest of the frame 12 so that they appear as mirror images of each 
other in the drawings. 
As best seen in FIG. 5, the first frame member 21 is so constituted as to 
provide a first sign panel confining surface 38 extending in normal 
relationship with respect to the major plane of the sign assembly 10, an 
overhanging lip 40 providing a second sign panel retaining surface 41, and 
an arcuate leg 42 providing a third sign panel engaging surface 43 at the 
intersection of the arcuate leg with the first sign panel confining 
surface. 
The second frame member 22 is similarly provided with a first sign panel 
confining surface 48, an overhanging lip 50, a second sign panel retaining 
surface 51, an arcuate leg 52, and a third sign panel engaging surface 53. 
As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, the dimension of the flexible sign panel 14 
from first end edge 32 to second end edge 33 is slightly greater than the 
distance between the innermost edges of the overhanging lips 40 and 50 
and, therefore, of the second sign panel retaining surfaces 41 and 51. 
In the second form of the invention as seen in FIGS. 6-9, the multi-sided 
sign frame 12 is disclosed as a one part injection molded plastic frame. 
Longitudinally extending third frame member 23 and fourth frame member 24 
extend integrally upwardly from the back wall 25, and transversely 
extending first frame member 21 and second frame member 22 extend 
integrally from the back wall 25 and between the third and fourth frame 
members 23 and 24. 
These transversely extending first and second frame members are provided 
with the same first sign panel confining surfaces 38 and 48, the same 
overhanging lips 40 and 50 providing the same second sign panel retaining 
surfaces 41 and 51, together with the same arcuate legs 42 and 52 as are 
provided in the transversely extending frame members 21 and 22 of the 
first form of the invention as disclosed in FIG. 5. 
A distinguishing feature between these two forms of the invention is the 
nature of the fulcrum 60 forming part of the sign frame 12 and positioned 
adjacent the back side 30 of the installed flexible sign panel 14 and the 
back wall 25 of the frame 12, parallel to and intermediate the first and 
second frame members 21 and 22. 
In the first form of the invention as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, this 
fulcrum 60 is constituted as a block of resilient closed cell plastic foam 
62 cemented as at 63 to the back wall 25. 
In the second form of the invention as seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the 
fulcrum 60 consists of an elongated rigid triangular fulcrum 66 extending 
integrally forwardly away from the back wall 25. 
In connection with the first form of the invention, FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 
disclose a flexible sign panel 14 with indicia 17 displayed thereon, this 
panel being mounted in the multi-sided sign frame 12. As seen in FIGS. 2 
and 5, when so installed, the first end edge 32 and the second end edge 33 
of panel 14 are not as far from each other as are the first sign panel 
confining surface 38 of first frame member 21 and the first sign panel 
confining surface 48 of second frame member 22. At the same time, also as 
seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, these first and second end edges 32 and 33 of the 
panel 14 are farther from each other than are the inner ends of the 
overhanging lips 40 and 50 of the transversely extending first and second 
frame members 21 and 22 of the multi-sided sign frame 12. Left 
undisturbed, then, the sign panel 14 will not and cannot "escape" from the 
sign frame 12; and the means of removing the panel 14 from the frame 12 is 
not apparent from any viewing of the front loading sign assembly 10. 
In order to remove the panel 14 from the frame 12, the effective distance 
between first end edge 32 and second end edge 33 of the panel 14 must be 
reduced. To do this most effectively, a finger of the person removing 
panel 14 is used to slide the panel to the left as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 
5, until the first end edge 32 of the panel is in confining contact with 
the first sign panel confining surface 38. Then the finger is used to 
depress the relatively thin, stiff, resilient, flexible sign panel 14 
between the first end edge 32 thereof and the fulcrum formed by the 
resilient closed cell plastic foam block 62. The resultant curving of the 
panel 14 is seen in FIG. 4. It effectively moves the second end edge 33 
closer to the first end edge 32 until the point is reached where edge 33 
moves into clearing relation with respect to the second sign panel 
retaining surface 51 at the very end of the overhanging lip 50 of the 
second frame member 22. At that point, the resilience of the panel 14, 
acting under the influence of the fulcrum 62, will cause the panel to take 
the position as seen to the right in FIG. 4. The panel 14 can then be 
grasped in the other hand, slid clear of the overhanging lip 40, and 
removed from the sign frame 12. 
To reinstall this panel, or to insert a new panel of the same size, 
configuration and similar resiliency, the first end edge 32 of the panel 
to be reinserted will be slid between the second sign panel retaining 
surface 41 and the third sign panel engaging surface 43 of the first frame 
member 21, bringing the first end edge 32 of the panel 14 into contact 
with the first sign panel confining surface 38. The portion of the sign 
panel between fulcrum 62 and the first frame member 21 will then be 
depressed to cause the panel to take position as seen in FIG. 4; and, 
holding this part of the panel depressed, the far right end of the panel 
will be depressed until it takes position below the overhanging lip 50 of 
the second frame member 22. Then the down pressure on the left end of the 
panel will be carefully released to allow the second end edge 33 of the 
panel to move to position under the overhanging lip 50. 
As will be discussed later in connection with FIG. 9, the panel 14 in the 
first form of the invention, as in the second form, can be reinserted by 
simply bowing it upwardly and sliding each of the end edges of the panel 
underneath one of the overhanging lips 40 and 50. This method of 
installation is preferable where a panel is to be replaced in the presence 
of others who do not need to know the procedures for removing panels. 
The panel 14 can be installed or reinserted simply by inserting its first 
end edge 32 up against the first sign panel confining surface 38 in either 
form of the invention and then placing it flat in contact with the fulcrum 
60 to have the second end edge 33 lying in contact with the outer surface 
of the overhanging lip 50 of the second frame member 22. The person 
installing the sign can then push down on the front side 16 of the panel 
14 between the fulcrum 60 and the second frame member 22, and the length 
of panel 14 will be temporarily automatically shortened sufficiently so 
that its second end edge 33 will snap into place under the overhanging lip 
50. This method of installation tends to cause somewhat more wear on the 
second end edge 33 of the panel than other methods, but it, too, is 
effective to allow the panel to be replaced in the presence of others who 
do not need to know the procedures for removing panels. 
It has been found in dealing with fulcrums such as the block of resilient 
closed cell plastic foam of fulcrum 62 that when one edge portion of the 
fulcrum is depressed as seen in FIG. 4, the overall volume of the block 
does not change appreciably. This results in the portion opposite the 
depressed portion expanding in outward dimension, thus to initially bow 
the right-hand portion of the panel 14 upwardly to, in this way, assist in 
reducing the distance between the end edges 32 and 33 of the panel 14 when 
the far right-hand end of the panel is bowed down to reinsert the panel, 
for example. 
Turning now to the second form of the invention, the flexible sign panel 14 
is seen installed and at rest in FIGS. 1 and 7. To remove the panel, it is 
moved as far as possible to the left, for example, as seen in FIG. 8. The 
portion of the panel between the first frame member 21 and the solid 
fulcrum 66 is depressed, thus shortening the distance between the first 
and second end edges 32 and 33 sufficiently so that the end of the panel 
to the right as seen in FIG. 8 moves into clearing relationship with 
respect to the overhanging lip 50. The sign panel will take on a double 
bend causing the distance between the second end edges 32 and 33 to be 
shortened. The position of the end edge 33 just after it moves clear of 
lip 50 is seen in dotted lines in FIG. 8. The sign panel 14 will then take 
the position as seen in full lines in that figure and can be removed. 
The panel may be reinstalled or a new panel may be inserted by the 
technique described above in connection with the first form of the 
invention and by reference to the dotted lines in FIG. 8. Holding the left 
half of the panel as seen in full lines in FIG. 8, the right half is 
depressed until the second end edge 33 takes position below the 
overhanging, lip 50 as seen in dotted lines in that figure. The pressure 
on the left half is then carefully released to cause the second end edge 
33 to move beneath the overhanging lip 50. All pressure is then released, 
and the panel will take position as seen in FIG. 5. 
These actions, when performed rapidly and smoothly, will allow the release 
and/or installation of the panel 14 but will not necessarily indicate to 
anyone but the most careful observer just how this release or installation 
was accomplished. 
By bowing the end edges of the panel 14 downwardly to position 
approximately as seen in FIG. 9, and then carefully releasing them to have 
positions under the overhanging lips 40 and 50, the panel can be 
reinstalled without giving even the most astute observer an indication as 
to how the panel can be removed. 
The solid fulcrum 66 has the possible advantage that the action in removing 
the panel 14 is more positive than when using fulcrum 62; but the 
resilient fulcrum 62 has the advantage that the angle of the bend in the 
panel 14 necessary to achieve release of the panel is much smoother and 
less likely to cause the panel to take on a permanent deformation or set 
after many, many usages. 
For clarity of expression and understanding, the installation and removal 
of flexible sign panel 14 has been stated in terms of the "first end edge 
32 of the panel 14" being inserted under the overhanging lip 40 or being 
slid over against the first sign panel confining surface 38, and then the 
"second end edge 33 of the panel 14" being released from or moved under 
the overhanging lip 50 of the transversely extending second frame member 
22. In point of fact, the installation and removal of the flexible sign 
panel 14 can be accomplished equally well when the second end edge 33 of 
the panel is moved to the right as seen in the drawings, and the first end 
edge 32 thereof is the one which is released from and/or installed under 
the overhanging lip 40 of the transversely extending first frame member 
21. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to 
preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that 
changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.