Abstract:
Gust Busters solves the problem of signs being blown over in the wind or being knocked down by the pedestrians or bicycle or the like, by preventing the inward collapsing and outward expansion of the legs of the sign and thus maintaining its ideal position for optimum readability.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of signage and in particular relates to sign holders that are specifically designed to prevent the signs from toppling over. 
     2. Background 
     There is a huge market for outdoor signage advertising, for example the real estate signs which can be portable and interchangeable. Various varieties of portable bases to hold such signage are currently available in the market. 
     A problem common to most available portable bases is that the bases are generally designed to be lightweight and to occupy a minimum space. As a result, the bases are less stable and thus susceptible to wind and/or being pushed over by pedestrians or bicycles and the like. 
     Hence, what is needed is a base that holds the signage in a desirable position without being toppled over or moved into a less desirable position and thus provides a stable support for the signage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  depict an embodiment of the apparatus. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  depict an alternate embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts an alternate embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  depict an alternate embodiment of the apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts an alternate embodiment of the apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts an alternate embodiment of the attachment mechanism of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  depicts an alternate embodiment of the attachment mechanism of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top view of the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 6-7 . 
         FIG. 9  depicts an underside view of the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts an alternate embodiment of the apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1-10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  100  can include a base  102  and at least one receptacle base unit  104  that can be made of plastic. However in alternate embodiments, the apparatus  100  can be made of any other known and/or convenient material and/or composition of materials. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus  100  can be manufactured as a single unit utilizing an injection mold. In alternate embodiments, the apparatus  100  can be manufactured as separate pieces that can be later assembled using ultrasonic welding techniques, adhesives and/or any other known and/or convenient permanent and/or semi-permanent bonding technique and/or material. In still further alternate embodiments, the apparatus  100  can be manufactured using any other known and/or convenient technique. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  100  can be designed to hold Polyvinylchloride (PVC) signs. In some embodiments, the legs of the signs can selectively mate with the openings  106  in the receptacle base units  104 . In some embodiments the receptacle base units  104  can include fastening mechanisms  108 , such as bolts with wing nuts and or any other known and/or convenient fastening mechanism adapted to selectively secure the leg of sign with the receptacle base unit  104 . However in alternate embodiments, the fastening mechanisms  108  may not be present. 
     In some embodiments the receptacle base units  104  can include slots  110  adapted to receive flat boards, such as sandwich-type signs. Additionally, in some embodiments the receptacle base units  104  can include fastening mechanisms  108 , such as bolts with wing nuts and or any other known and/or convenient fastening mechanism adapted to selectively secure a flat board of a sign with the receptacle base unit  104 . However in alternate embodiments, the fastening mechanisms  108  may not be present. 
     In further alternate embodiments, the Gust Buster can be designed to hold any other known and/or convenient signs using any known and/or convenient design. 
     In some embodiments, the underside of the base  102  can include an anti-skid surface  112  and/or can be comprised of an anti-skid material, intended to increase surface friction with the surface in which it is in contact with, thus preventing movement on a slippery surface. In some embodiments, the coefficients of static and kinetic friction can be selected to control movement under desired design parameters. However in alternate embodiments, the underside of the base  102  can include any other known and/or convenient material and/or exhibit any other known and/or desired properties. 
     In some embodiments, angled receptable sockets  104  can be configured to maintain an ideal basic angle of an open sign, and allow for ease of insertion of the legs and/or boards of a sign. 
     In some embodiments, the receptacle sockets  104  can accommodate a variety of tubular leg shapes as well as a variety of flat placard signs. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus can be designed and/or manufactured to withstand prescribed inclement weather conditions and/or severe ultra-violet/sun exposure. In some embodiments this can be accomplished by the addition of coatings. However, in alternate embodiments the materials can be selected such that they inherently exhibit desirable properties. 
     The apparatus  100  can be designed to enhance the existing signs, thus no modification to the sign itself is necessary. Its design also can support additional advertising space. 
     In some embodiments, the base  102  can include identifying information and/or any other desired marking  114 . 
       FIGS. 2A-B  depict an alternate embodiment of the apparatus  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1B . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the base  102  can be sufficiently thick such that the receptacle base units  104  can be incorporated within the body of the base  102 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the base unit  102  can include slots  110  to accommodate flat board signs in addition to legs. 
     As noted with regard to  FIGS. 1A-1B , the apparatus  100  can include a non-skid surface  112  located on the underside of the base  102 . Additionally, in some embodiments the side and/or top surfaces of the base  102  can include any desired markings  114 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts an alternate embodiment of the apparatus  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the base  102  can include a plurality of receptacle base units  104 , such that signs can be positioned in a plurality of configurations when coupled with the apparatus  100 . In some embodiments, the angle of the receptacle base units  104  relative to the base  102  can differ depending upon the distance between the receptacle base units  104  and/or any other known and/or convenient design parameter. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  depict an alternate embodiment of the apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4A , the individual bases  104  can be selectively coupled via one or more tethers  402 . In some embodiments the tethers  402  can fixedly coupled with the bases  102 . However, in alternate embodiments, the tethers  402  can be selectively coupleable with one or more of the bases  102  and one or more locations on each base  102 . In some embodiments the tethers  402  can be made of a similar and/or non-reactive material relative to the composition of the bases  102 . Moreover, in some embodiments the tethers  402  can include fastening mechanisms at each end capable of selectively and/or fixedly coupling with the bases  102 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4B , the base  102  is depicted as including one or more fastening points  404 . In some embodiments, the fastening points can be located near and/or concurrently with the receptacle base units  104 . However, in alternate embodiments the fastening points  404  can be located in any known and/or convenient location on the base  102  and/or receptacle base units  104 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts an alternate embodiment of the apparatus  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , two bases  102  can be moveably coupled with each other via rigid coupling arms  502 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , the coupling arms can be pivotally coupled between and with the two bases  102 . In some embodiments, the hinge  504  pivotally coupling the coupling arms  502  can be configured to selectively lock in at least two desired positions, such that in a first position the bases  102  are a first prescribed orthogonal distance apart and in a second position the bases  102  are a second prescribed orthogonal distance apart. In alternate embodiments, the hinges  504  can be configured to lock in any desired number of position and/or may be configured to be completely free moving. 
       FIG. 6  depicts an alternate embodiment of the attachment mechanism of the apparatus  100 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , the base  102  can include a longitudinal slot  602  that passes at least partially through the thickness of the base  102 . In some embodiments the base  102  can include a second longitudinal slot  604  located at the underside of the base  102 . The slots  602   604  can be adapted to selectively engage a retention mechanism  606  that can be controlled by a manual control  608 . The manual control can be operatively associated with and/or coupled with a movable stop  610 . 
     In operation, when the manual control  608  is in a first position, the retention mechanism  606  is in a relaxed state and the movably stop is allowed to freely move relative to the base  102 , based upon the geometric limitation of the slots  602   604 . When the manual control  608  is in a second position, the retention mechanism  606  engages the base  102  within one of more of the slots  602   604  and restrains movement of the movable stop  610  relative to the base  102 . Thus, in operation the moveable stop  610  can be released and/or tensioned such as to selectively engage a sign  612  between the receptacle base unit  104  and the movable stop  610 . 
     In alternate embodiments any other known and/or convenient mechanism can be employed to selectively engage a sign  602  between the receptacle base unit  104  and the movable stop  610 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts an alternate embodiment of the attachment mechanism of the apparatus  100  depicted in  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 , the base  102  can include a longitudinal slot  602  that passes at least partially through the thickness of the base  102 . In some embodiments the base  102  can include a second longitudinal slot  604  located at the underside of the base  102 . The slots  602   604  can be adapted to selectively engage a retention mechanism  606  that can be controlled by a manual control  608 . The manual control can be operatively associated with and/or coupled with a movable stop  610 . Additionally, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 , the movable stop can include a second receptacle base unit  104  which can further include a slot  110 . 
     In operation, when the manual control  608  is in a first position, the retention mechanism  606  is in a relaxed state and the movably stop is allowed to freely move relative to the base  102 , based upon the geometric limitation of the slots  602   604 . When the manual control  608  is in a second position, the retention mechanism  606  engages the base  102  within one of more of the slots  602   604  and restrains movement of the movable stop  610  relative to the base  102 . Thus, in operation the moveable stop  610  can be released and/or tensioned such as to selectively engage a sign  612  between the receptacle base unit  104  and the movable stop  610 . Additionally, the moveable stop  610  can be positioned in any desired location relative to the base  102  and can selectively receive either a substantially flat board within the slot  110  and/or a leg with the second receptacle base unit  104 . 
     In alternate embodiments any other known and/or convenient mechanism can be employed to selectively engage a sign  602  between the receptacle base unit  104  and the movable stop  610 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts a top view of the base  102  depicted in  FIG. 7  without the movable stop  610 . In some embodiments the slots  602  can each be prescribed lengths. However, in alternate embodiments the slots  602  can be coupled to form a single slot thus allowing placement of the movable stops  610  in any desired location along the length of the base  102 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts a bottom view of the base  102  depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 9 , the slot  602  can be narrower than slot  604 , thus allowing the retention mechanism  606  to pass through slot  604 , but not thorough slot  602  and thereby engaging the base  102  when the manual control is in a prescribed position. 
       FIG. 10  depicts an alternate embodiment of the apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1-9 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10 , two bases  102  can be pivotally and/or selectively coupled with each other via a hinge  1002 . In operation, the bases can operate in a scissor fashion and be positioned to selectively engage either the legs of a sign and/or the flat boards of a sign, as desired. In some embodiments, the hinge  1002  can permit the bases  102  to be selectively rather than permanently coupled. 
     Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.