Abstract:
An interchangeable address signage system utilizes one or more address tiles retained on a backplate. The backplate has a top rail and a bottom rail, with tabs extending from the rails. The address tiles each notches on their top surfaces and their bottom surfaces which correspond to the tabs on the rails of the backplate. The address tiles are either retained between the tabs extending from the rails or by the positioning of the tabs within the notches of the address tiles, depending on the number of tiles being placed on the backplate. A separable support frame attached to the backplate maintains the backplate and tiles in position. A display member which extends from the support frame provides for interchangeable decorative displays to be attached to the system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Address signs, especially those which are also decorative in nature, are very popular, not only for residential homes, but for commercial buildings as well. However, in order to obtain a professional looking and attractive sign, the home or building owner must usually incur the expense of a custom made sign or a costly off-the-shelf one. And such signs have limited value if the owner moves or wishes to change the sign&#39;s design. The alternative is to purchase an inexpensive, generally cheap looking sign, on which the owner must unscientifically attach numbers, usually by adhesive backed number stickers. This routinely results in the numbers being crooked or off centered. These number stickers also generally cannot be cleanly removed if numbers need to be replaced. Further, most such signs do not allow for readily replaceable, attractive, decorative design options. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable address signage system which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of prior address signage. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable address signage system which provides for the placement and retention of numbered address tiles which, regardless of the number of address numbers, will be positioned straight and centered on the address sign. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable address signage system which provides for the easy and simple replacement of address number tiles, if the address on the sign must be changed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable address signage system in which address tiles showing the address on the sign are securely retained in place, but are easily removed if necessary. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable address signage system which provides for the simple and easy replacement of decorative signage. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable address signage system which, when address tiles are retained and display signage is attached, provides a professional looking and most attractive address sign. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, an interchangeable address signage system which utilizes one or more address tiles retained on a backplate. The backplate has a top rail and a bottom rail, with tabs extending from the rails. The address tiles each have notches on their top surfaces and their bottom surfaces which correspond to the tabs on the rails of the backplate. The address tiles are either retained between the tabs extending from the rails or by the positioning of the tabs within the notches of the address tiles, depending on the number of tiles being placed on the backplate. A separable support frame attached to the backplate maintains the backplate and tiles in position. A display member which extends from the support frame provides for interchangeable decorative displays to be attached to the system. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 . is a front view of the backplate of the present invention, with exemplar address tiles of the invention to be mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of an address tile of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is front view of the backplate of the present invention with one address tile of the invention mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the backplate of the present invention with two address tiles of the invention mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the backplate of the present invention with three address tiles of the invention mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded front isometric view of the backplate of the present invention, with address numbers and decorative art work of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded rear isometric view showing the backplate and support frame of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The interchangeable signage system of the present invention comprises backplate  2 , support frame  4 , separable from the backplate, and representative address tiles  6 ,  8 , and  10 . 
     Backplate  2  comprises front surface  11 , top rail  12  and bottom rail  14 . Tabs  16 ,  17 ,  18 , and  19  extend downward from top rail  12  and tabs  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  extend upward from bottom rail  14 . Pegs  24  and  25  extend outward from top rail  12  and pegs  26  and  27  extend outward from bottom rail  14 . Holes  28  and  29  are provided for purposes of hanging backplate  2  and the entire assembled system. 
     Support frame  4  comprises center opening  30  circumscribed by horizontal and vertical framing components  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34 . Holes  35  and  36  are provided on the back side and over horizontal framing component  31 , and holes  37  and  38  are provided on the backside and under horizontal framing component  33 . Display member  40 , extending up from framing component  31 , comprises display section  42  which has Velcro® or equivalent attachment devices  44  for removeably securing different displays and signage on the surface of the display section. 
     Address tile  6 , representative of the configuration of all the address tiles of the invention, comprises top surface  46 , bottom surface  48 , and angled corner surfaces  49  and  50  extending down from the top surface and corner surfaces  51  and  52  extending up from the bottom surface. Top surface  46  has inwardly extending notch  54  and bottom surface  48  has inwardly extending notch  56 . Notches  54  and  56  are sized such that the tabs extending from top rail  12  and bottom rail  14  of backplate  2  fit precisely and snugly within the notches. Address tile  6 , as with all the address tiles, also has upper address tile extension  58  above upper address tile rail  57  and lower address tile extension  60  below lower address tile rail  60 . 
     The address tiles themselves can be fabricated a number of ways. They can be manufactured as completely formed units with numbers integrally molded or otherwise permanently extending from the face of each tile. The faces of the tiles could be provided with holes into which numbers with rearwardly extending pegs are removeably inserted. The numbers to be placed on the faces of the tiles could also be secured by adhesive, Velcro®, or other equivalent attachment means. 
     The proper usage of the signage system of the present invention is easy and simple and results in the neat and centered alignment of any number of address numbers. In the embodiment shown, for addresses which have one or more odd number of numbers, the address tiles are placed in a first, “between tab” position on backplate  2 , such that the angled corner surfaces of the tiles are flush with tabs extending from top rail  12  and bottom rail  14  of the backplate. For instance,  FIG. 3  shows address tile  8  on front surface  11  of backplate  2 , positioned between top rail  12  and bottom rail  14 , and tabs  17  and  18  extending from the top rail, and tabs  21  and  22  extending from the bottom rail, the top and bottom surfaces and the angled corners of the tile being flush against the rails and the tabs. Address tile  8  is thus centered on backplate  2 . 
     Centering other odd numbers of tile is accomplished in similar fashion. For instance, three address tiles  6 ,  8 , and  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , are placed in the “between tab” position. The tiles are placed on front surface  11  of backplate  2 , such that tile  6  is between top rail  12  and bottom rail  14 , and tabs  16  and  17  extending from the top rail and between tabs  20  and  21  extending from the bottom rail; tile  8  is between the top and bottom rails, and tabs  17  and  18  extending from the top rail and between tabs  21  and  22  extending from the bottom rail; and tile  10  is between the top and bottom rails, and tabs  21  and  22  extending from the top rail, and tabs  22  and  23  extending from the bottom rail. Address tiles  6 ,  8 , and  10  are thus centered on backplate  2 . 
     In the embodiment shown, for address which have two or an even of numbers, the address tiles are placed in a second, “tab in” notch position on backplate  2 , such that the notches of the tiles are fitted within the tabs extending from top rail  12  and bottom rail  14  of the backplate. For instance,  FIG. 4  shows address tile  6  on front surface  11  of backplate  2 , positioned between top rail  12  and bottom rail  14 , with tab  17  of the top rail extending into notch  54  of the tile and tab  21  extending from the bottom rail, fitted within notch  56  of the address tile. Address tile  10  on front surface  11  of backplate  2 , is positioned between top rail  12  and bottom rail  14 , tab  18  extending from the top rail is fitted within notch  62  of the address tile and tab  22  extending from bottom rail  14  is fitted within notch  64  of the address tile. Address tile  6  and  8  are thus centered on backplate  2 . 
     Centering four address tiles is also accomplished by placing the tiles in the “tab in” notch position, as is easily understood from the above referenced description. 
     The back plate embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3-5  allow for five address tiles, and thus addresses of one, three or five numbers. However, the invention is not so restricted to the length of backplate  2  with its accompanying rails and notches, as shown. The back plate can be lengthened if more address tiles are required for larger odd-numbered addresses. Similarly, the embodiments allow for centered placement of four address tiles, for addresses of two or four numbers. The number of even tiles is also not so restricted. The length of backplate  2 , with its accompanying rails and notches, can be extended if more address tiles are required for larger, even-numbered addresses. 
     The invention is further not to be deemed restricted to utilizing the “between tab” position for an odd number of tiles and the “tab in” notch position for an even number of tiles. The notches extending from rails  12  and  14  can be configured such that the odd number of tiles are in the tabs, i.e. the exact center of the rails would have a center notch such that one tile could be contained on back plate  2  in that notch, and three or five tiles would then be positionable in the other appropriately spaced notches. By the same token, an even number of tiles could be utilized between the tabs by similarly reconfiguring the tabs such that there is a center tab. 
     Once the address tiles have been positioned on back plate  2 , the back plate is positioned relative to support frame  4 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , such that pegs  24 ,  25 ,  26 , and  27  are aligned with holes  35 ,  36 ,  37 , and  38  in the support frame. Back plate  2  is then connected to support frame  4  by insertion of its pegs into the support frame holes. This connection immoveably secures the address tiles in place, since the back edges of framing components  31  and  33  overlap the address tile extensions which are adjacent to the address tile rails, e.g. address tile extensions  58  above address tile rail  57  and address tile extension  60  below address tile rail  59  on address tile  6 . 
     Display member  40 , attached to and extending from support frame  4 , has blank display section  42 . Velcro® or equivalent attachment means  44  is provided on display section  42 . Any number of different signage designs  43 , e.g. flowers for Mother&#39;s Day, flags for Independence Day, hearts for Valentine&#39;s Day, balloons for birthdays, etc. can be attached to display section  42 , via its attachment means. A given signage design is readily and easily removed and another substituted in its place. 
     Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.