Abstract:
A portable sign system suitable for advertising signs removably inserted into the earth, such as real estate signs, has a display frame for holding a sign placard, frame sides, and separate ground stakes. Each of the ground stakes can be releaseably connected to one of the frame sides or bottom frame in one of two positions. In the first position, the ground stake is extended from the respective frame side so that the ground stake can be inserted into the ground; in the second position, the orientation of the ground stake is reversed when connected to the frame side or is laid parallel to the bottom frame, so that the overall length of the portable sign system is reduced from that of the first position. The reduction in length allows the portable sign to be easily loaded into the trunk of a vehicle, for example.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Technical Field 
         [0002]    This disclosure relates to a system and apparatus for a display sign, in particular, portable display signs for temporary location in a yard or field. 
         [0003]    Background 
         [0004]    In recent years in the United States, the marketing and sale of homes and other single family dwellings has become increasingly competitive. As a result, the way real estate is advertised has become increasingly important. An important part of the advertising program is the use of real-estate signs planted in the front yards of residential homes, or open spaces pertaining to commercial property, to alert the public to the availability of that property. It is therefore important that such signs be quickly and easily installed once a property is listed for sale, and that such signs similarly be quickly and easily removed when the time for advertising or sales promotion has ended. 
         [0005]    Real-estate brokerage firms often hire an independent contractor to erect and take down such signs. Use of an independent contractor increases the expense and delays the installation and removal of the sign until the order for installation or removal can be processed and scheduled. In many brokerage businesses, therefore, the individual real-estate agent handling the listing is expected to carry, install, and remove the sign at the sales location. Such signs typically have a metal frame forming the shape of a flat plate, from which stakes protrude toward the ground. These sign structures are installed by the agent using his or her body weight to drive the stakes into the ground. Usually two or more ground support legs are used in this type of sign support. A persistent problem in the installation of such signs is that the sign structure is too large to fit into a normal passenger vehicle trunk, and generally agents will be driving normal passenger vehicles. If the sign is loaded sideways into the back seat of a vehicle, there is a risk of tearing upholstery and dispersing dirt from the ground into the vehicle. Besides the inconvenience of loading the sign into the back seat of a vehicle, such damage and dirt detracts from the professional appearance the agent wishes to convey to clients. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a sign frame that conveys a permanent professional image when installed on site, but which at the same time can be readily disassembled into prefabricated component parts for carrying by hand, transporting in a normal passenger car, and storage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A portable sign system suitable for advertising signs removably inserted into the earth, such as real estate signs, has a display frame holding one or more sign placards, frame sides, and separate ground stakes. Each of the ground stakes can be releaseably connected to one of the frame sides, or bottom frame side, in one of two positions. In the first position, the ground stake is extended from the respective frame sides so that the ground stake can be inserted into the ground; in the second position, the orientation of the ground stake is reversed when connected to the frame side, or aligned with the bottom frame side, so that the overall length of the portable sign system is reduced from that of the first position. The reduction in length allows the portable sign to be easily loaded into the trunk of a vehicle, for example. The ground stakes are connected to the frame sides, or frame bottom, with one or more releaseable connectors, such as bolts engaging threaded receivers, or pins and slots. In another embodiment, the display frame has support legs extending therefrom, and the ground stakes are connected to the support legs. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the portable sign system with its component parts shown separately. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the portable sign system with its component parts connected in a first position for inserting the ground stakes into the ground. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the portable sign system with its component parts connected in a second position for transport and storage of the sign. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of the portable sign system with its component parts connected in a second position for transport and storage of the sign, in this case, by the folding of the ground stakes against the bottom frame of the sign and fastening them to the bottom frame. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of an embodiment of the connections to the sign frame made by the ground stakes of the foregoing embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment of the portable sign system with its component parts connected in a second position for transport and storage of the sign, in this case connection to the frame sides of the sign. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment of the portable sign system, where the sign frame has legs, with its component parts shown separately. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , with the ground stakes connected to the legs of the sign frame. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , with the ground stakes reversed and connected to the legs of the sign for transport and storage. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the portable sign system  100 . A display frame  110  component is capable of holding a typical flat display placard  120 , such as a real-estate “For Sale” sign. The display frame  110  is preferably rectangular, but may if convenient or desired be formed in some other shape, such as a square, so long as the display frame  110  has substantially straight frame sides  130 . 
         [0018]    For all embodiments in this application “vertical” means the direction running top to bottom in the figure sheets, with top being “up” and the bottom being “down,” and would in practice be the direction in which the sign system  100  is mounted in the ground, such as a residential yard, so that it stands upright. 
         [0019]    Associated with each frame side  130  is a ground stake  140 . Each ground stake  140  has a first end  150  and a second end  160 . The second end  160  of each ground stake  140  is preferably pointed for easier insertion into the ground, but need not be so made. Each ground stake  140  is capable of being attached to the frame side  130  in two different positions. 
         [0020]    The display frame  110 , including frame sides  130 , and ground stakes  140  may be conveniently made of steel in the structural shape known as “angle iron.” Other material, or with a different cross-sectional shape, could also be used, so long as it is rigid and strong enough to resist the forces applied to it. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the ground stakes  140  releaseably connected to the frame sides  130  in a first position where the second end  160  of each ground stake  140  is directed downwardly for insertion into the ground, and the first end  150  of the ground stake  140  is directed upward. The overall length of the sign  100  is called “L 1 ” in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0022]    Each ground stake  140  is releaseably connected to the frame side  130  at one or more connectors  170 , as shown in the figures. The connectors  170  need only be strong enough to hold the frame sides  130  and ground stakes  140  together during insertion into the ground, and thereafter against wind forces or accidental bumps, and preferably are types easily undone and re-done. The connectors  170  can be, for example, bolts, screws, pins in holes or slotted openings, or pin-and-detent devices, all as are known in the art relating to connectors. Bolts or screws, such as thumbscrews, may engage threaded receivers in the frame sides  130 . Details of one embodiment of such fastening are shown in  FIG. 5 , discussed below. 
         [0023]    In the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , the portable sign system  100  may be easily inserted into position, by forcing the ground stakes  140  into the ground, such as a residential yard, by applying pressure to the top of the display frame  110 . When so inserted into the ground, the portable sign system  100  will be as sturdy as a cumbersome conventional sign frame. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the fastening of the ground stakes  140  to the frame  110  of the portable sign  100 . In  FIG. 3 , the ground stakes  140 , when disconnected from the frame sides  130 , are placed against the bottom frame side  135  of the portable sign  100 , and fastened thereto with one or more second connectors  175 , which could be one or more bolts passing through a hole in the ground stakes  140  and thus fastening the ground stakes  140  to the bottom frame side  135 . The overall length of the sign  100  is called “L 2 ” in  FIG. 3  L 2  is less than L 1  by a distance approximately equal to the lengths of the ground stakes  140 , and so the sign  100  may be easily fitted into the trunk of an automobile. The length L 2  can be easily estimated and provided for in the construction of the portable sign system  100  by consulting manufacturer&#39;s specifications for trunk dimensions of vehicles typically used by real-estate agents. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a further alternate embodiment of the fastening of the ground stakes  140  to the frame  110  of the portable sign  100 . In  FIG. 4 , each of the ground stakes  140  rotate in a hinged fashion about one of the connectors  170  in the frame sides  130  to rest against the bottom frame side  135  of the portable sign  100 . The ground stakes  140  may then be fastened into place against the bottom frame side  135  by a second connector  175  as shown in  FIG. 3 , or by tightening the connectors  170  in the frame sides  130 . The same reduction in overall length of the portable sign  100  is achieved as shown in the previous drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows an enlarged detail of an embodiment of the fastening of the ground stakes  140  to the side frame  130 . In  FIG. 5 , the first end  150  of the ground stake  140  has a U-shaped cutout  180 , so as to engage a pin or bolt connector  170  mounted in the side frame  130 . When the cutout  180  of the first end  150  engages the connector  170 , the ground stake may be pivoted about a second pin or bolt connector  170  into position substantially aligned with the side frame  130 , and fastened there by the connectors  170 , which may be bolts or thumbscrews. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the portable sign system  100  of  FIG. 2 , removed from ground mounting, with the ground stakes  140  in a second position, where the ground stakes  140  are connected to the respective frame sides  130  by the connectors  170 , with the second ends  160  of the ground stakes  140  in an upright position, thus shortening the overall length of the portable sign system  100  for easy transport, as previously discussed. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 7-9  show a further embodiment of the portable sign system  200 , where the display frame  210  has legs  230 . A display frame  210  component is capable of holding a typical flat display placard  220 , such as a real-estate “For Sale” sign. Again, the display frame  210  is preferably rectangular, but may if convenient or desired be formed in some other shape, such as a square or a circle, in this embodiment. 
         [0029]    Associated with each leg  230  is a ground stake  240 . Each ground stake  240  has a first end  250  and a second end  260 . The second end  260  of each ground stake  240  is preferably pointed for easier insertion into the ground, but need not be so made. Each ground stake  240  is capable of being attached to the corresponding leg  230  in two opposite positions. 
         [0030]    Again, the display frame  210 , legs  230 , and ground stakes  240  may be conveniently made of steel in the structural shape known as “angle iron.” Other material, or with a different cross-sectional shape, could also be used, so long as it is rigid and strong enough to resist the forces applied to it. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows the ground stakes  240  in this embodiment releaseably connected to the legs  230  in a first position where the second end  260  of each ground stake  240  is directed downwardly for insertion into the ground, and the first end  250  of the ground stake  240  is directed upward. The overall length of the sign  200  is called “L 1 ” in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0032]    The ground stakes  240  are releaseably connected to the legs  230  at one or more connectors  270 , as shown in the figures. Again, the connectors  270  need only be strong enough to hold the legs  230  and stakes  240  together during insertion into the ground, and thereafter against wind forces or accidental bumps, and preferably are types easily undone and re-done. The connectors  270  can be, for example, bolts, screws, pins in holes or slotted openings, or pin-and-detent devices, all as are known in the art relating to connectors. 
         [0033]    In the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 , the portable sign system  200  may be easily inserted into position, by forcing the ground stakes  240  into the ground, such as a residential yard, by applying pressure to the top of the display frame  210 . When so inserted into the ground, the portable sign system  200  will be as sturdy as a cumbersome conventional sign frame. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  shows the portable sign system  200  removed from ground mounting, with the ground stakes  240  in a second position, where the ground stakes  240  are connected to the respective legs  230  by the connectors  270 , with the second ends  260  of the ground stakes  240  in an upright position, thus shortening the overall length of the portable sign system  200  for easy transport. The overall length of the sign  200  is called “L 2 ” in  FIG. 9  L 2  is less than L 1  by a distance approximately equal to the lengths of the ground stakes  240 , and so the sign  200  may be easily fitted into the trunk of an automobile. The length L 2  can be easily estimated and provided for in the construction of the portable sign system  200  by consulting manufacturer&#39;s specifications for trunk dimensions of vehicles typically used by real-estate agents. 
         [0035]    None of the description in this application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential element which must be included in the claim scope; the scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 U.S.C. Section 112 unless the exact words “means for” are used, followed by a gerund. The claims as filed are intended to be as comprehensive as possible, and no subject matter is intentionally relinquished, dedicated, or abandoned.