Abstract:
An electronic sign enclosure with a mounted rail which mounts to the edge of a seating deck to serve as a mounting structure for electronic sign information and to serve as a safety barrier at the edge of the seating deck.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electronic sign enclosure and, more particularly, to an electronic sign enclosure having a rail, the combination of which serves as a short wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony and as an electronic sign mounting structure. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Prior art electronic sign displays and enclosures have been provided and used often to display information in stadiums, arenas, large halls, and the like. Often electronic sign displays have been mounted at the edge of pre-existing ring or balcony structures above the first floor level at a position and level highly viewable to participants. Such mounting presented access problems, as the structure to which the electronic sign enclosure was secured formed an obstruction between service personnel on the balcony deck and the electronic sign enclosure. Servicing of the electronic sign in the enclosure often required that the entire enclosure be removed for servicing to gain access to the enclosed electronic components. Often, servicing of the electronic sign displays in the enclosures required the use of access devices such as ladders, cherry pickers, elevating devices or other elaborate and expensive devices due to the elevated position of the electronic sign display on the ring structure. Clearly what is needed is an electronic sign display enclosure which can also be used as a short wall or barrier at a balcony or ledge, which does not require expensive, cumbersome or dangerous methods for access, and which also minimizes, the time spent replacing or servicing the electronic sign display. 
     SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is an electronic sign enclosure having a rail which can replace or be utilized in lieu of traditional seating barrier structures. The electronic sign enclosure having a rail can be secured to the edge of a seating deck or balcony and acts as a barrier. The electronic sign enclosure having a rail located along and about an upper surface includes a series of upper and lower brackets located along the rearwardly facing enclosure surface each of which secures to metal mounting plates on the upper and lower surfaces at the edge of the seating deck. The electronic sign enclosure having a rail is of sufficient height to prevent people from accidentally falling over the edge of the seating deck. While serving as a safety barrier, the electronic sign enclosure can be accessed by maintenance personnel without the interference or hinderance of traditional seating deck barrier structure. The sight line across the sign is enhanced as the sign also acts as a vertical element with a rail. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic sign enclosure having a rail. Access to the sign is through a rear panel. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an lectronic sign enclosure having a rail which secures to the edge of a seating deck. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an electronic sign enclosure having a rail. 
     still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an electronic sign enclosure having a rail which is used instead of a traditional barrier. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an electronic sign enclosure having a rail which can be accessed from the rear. 
     Having thus described embodiments and significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an electronic sign enclosure having a rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric rear view of an electronic sign enclosure having a rail, the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded isometric rear view of the electronic sign enclosure having a rail; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an end view, in cross section, showing the electronic sign enclosure having a rail mounted to a concrete seating deck; and, 
         FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment, illustrates an electronic sign enclosure with steel structure and a rail which are mounted by other means to a concrete seating deck. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric rear view of an electronic sign enclosure having a rail  10 , the present invention. The electronic sign enclosure having a rail  10  comprises an enclosure  12  and a rail  26 . The enclosure  12  includes a top panel  14 , opposing end panels  16  and  18 , a bottom panel  20 , a rear panel  21 , a removable access panel  22  secured over and about and to the rear panel  21 , and a removable front panel  24 . The rail  26  secures to the top panel  14  of the enclosure  12 . Preferably, the top panel  14 , the opposing end panels  16  and  18 , and the bottom panel  20  are of channel stock and may be positionally inverted or reversed, as shown in an alternate embodiment. Suitably spaced and opposing pluralities of upper brackets  28   a - 28   n  and lower brackets  30   a - 30   n  suitably secure, such as by nut and bolt assemblies  32   a - 32   n  and  34   a - 34   n , to the lower region of the rear panel  21 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded isometric rear view of the electronic sign enclosure having a rail  10  generally extending to the end of the enclosure. In this view, an access cutout  36 , which is normally covered by the access panel  22 , is revealed. Access cutout  36  offers access to electronic components which can be housed in the enclosure  12 . The front panel  24  is used for the mounting of desired electronic display ( 72 ) which can be viewed from the front of the invention. Holes  40  and  42  are included in the top panel  14  for mounting of the threaded ends  44  and  46  of the rail  26 . The rail  26  is shown as tubular (see  FIG. 3 ) and mounting threads are shown for purposes of example and illustration, but each can be of other suitable configuration to provide a rail which is mountable to the enclosure  12 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an end view, in cross section, of the electronic sign enclosure having a rail  10  mounted to a concrete seating deck  48 . A plurality of upper and lower mounting plates  50   a - 50   n  and  52   a - 52   n , respectively, are cast or otherwise secured to the upper and lower surfaces  48   a  and  48   b , respectively, of the concrete seating deck  48 . The pluralities of upper brackets  28   a - 28   n  and lower brackets  30   a - 30   n , which are removable from the enclosure  12 , are secured, such as by welding, to the upper and lower mounting plates  50   a - 50   n  and  52   a - 52   n , respectively, to firmly secure the electronic enclosure having a rail  10  to the upper and lower surfaces  48   a  and  48   b , respectively, of the concrete seating deck  48 . The rear panel  21  of the electronic enclosure having a rail  10  firmly abuts the vertical edge of the concrete seating deck  48  to provide for additional stability. A plurality of nuts  54   a - 54   n  engage the threaded ends of the rail  26  to fasten the rail  26  to the enclosure  12 . Such an installation provides for a personnel barrier and rail. Additionally, a sight line  53  is maintained between the rail  26  and the top panel  14 . 
       FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment, illustrates an electronic sign enclosure  12  with steel structure  56  and a rail  58  which are mounted by other means to a concrete seating deck  48 . This alternative embodiment is substantially the same as the electronic sign enclosure having a rail  10 , but in this alternative embodiment the rail  58  is displaced from the enclosure  12  and included on the steel structure  56 , and the enclosure  12  has an angled top panel  68 . A plurality of removable upper brackets  60   a - 60   n  and a plurality of removable lower brackets  62   a - 62   n  replace the upper brackets  28   a - 28   n  and lower brackets  30   a - 30   n , shown in  FIG. 1 , and are welded to the steel structure  56  and are incorporated to secure the enclosure  12  to the steel structure  56  using a plurality of nut and bolt assemblies  64   a - 64   n  and  66   a - 66   n . It is to be noted that the top panel  14  and the bottom panel  20  are inverted. The angled top panel  68  bridges the region between the upper areas of the front panel  24  and the rear panel  21 . An anti-vandal panel  70  can also be attached to the steel structure  56 . 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.