Abstract:
A non-inflatable device for supporting a sign on water is described. A single float embodiment is the basic element. In a typical embodiment, two or more non-inflatable floats are separated at a predetermined distance by one or more spacing members that mate with a spacing member mount on the top of each float. The spacing member mount and spacing members of the invention enable the invention to be expandable, such that the number of floats and spacing members may be varied, depending on the application and need. The floating sign may be anchored or mobile. In a stationary embodiment, an anchoring system holds the floats in place. In a mobile embodiment, the system for anchoring the floats in place is replaced by a ballasting weight configured to improve its vertical performance during motion, whether the sign is towed or drifting, as in a pond. Sign supporting members are mounted onto the top end of the float in order to support a substantially planar sign portion. The mounting means and support members may vary widely, and should be configured for the environment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/598,015, filed on Aug. 02, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to the field of outdoor signs or billboards for displaying messages. In particular, this invention is a non-inflatable sign adapted for use on water.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Signs are ubiquitous, and billboards are a common form of advertising by sign. A sign or billboard that floats on water is less common. Several general types or classes of floating billboards or signs exist.  
         [0006]     One form of floating signs involves the placement or structuring of a sign on a waterborne vessel. Such vessels include boats and barges, whether self propelled, towed, or stationary. A well known example of such a vessel includes sailboats with advertisements located on their sails. Typically, advertising on sails is an adjunct to some other boating purpose, whether boat chartering or racing. Some advertisers have placed banners or illuminated screens bearing an advertising message onto utility boats or trawlers that have sufficient aft deck space or other structure to support the signage. One such advertiser employs a computer controlled digital screen for displaying a variety of messages, logos, or graphics. However, the purchase and maintenance of watercraft can be expensive. Further, such craft must comply with all applicable legal and industry standards for the class of the craft, including, for example, Coast Guard regulations and possible certification by the American Bureau of Shipping. Necessarily, this approach means that the cost of an advertisement would include the cost of the vessel and the expense of its operation, which can make this approach somewhat expensive and complicated. This explains also why advertising on watercraft is usually an ancillary means of revenue; otherwise the cost could exceed the advertising revenue. Accordingly, these advertisers may need other revenue producing activities for their boats.  
         [0007]     Another form of floating signs involves inflatable products that have sufficient surface areas for the mounting of a sign. Inflatable signs are known in the field of advertising, and are predominantly used on land. Because of the volume of air involved, larger signs often require a continuous blower to maintain inflation; smaller signs may include a valve that traps air after inflation. For use on water, the inflatable sign is configured to adapt to the marine environment. Typically, floating inflatable signs are smaller to avoid the requirement of a continuous blower. However, even smaller inflatable signs require an air pump in order for initial inflation or to maintain inflation.  
         [0008]     One manufacturer of inflatable water toys produces a floating billboard manufactured from horizontally oriented inflatable tubes of heavy duty fabric. In some cases, the inflatable support is in the shape of an elongated tube with a triangular profile, apparently for stability. However, such a triangular profile can limit visibility. The inflatable structure may be provided with anchors to keep it in a particular location; these structures are quite susceptible to wind. A banner is draped over the inflatable tube(s) to convey the advertising message. The anchor and inflation systems are required accessories that add to the expense and complexity of this mode of advertising. If inflation were lost while the sign was deployed, it may need to be recovered for re-inflation.  
         [0009]     An object of the present invention is to provide a floating sign that does not require inflation.  
         [0010]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating sign that does not require placement on a vessel.  
         [0011]     An object of the present invention is to provide a floating billboard that is simple to manufacture, use, and able to be expanded as may be desired.  
         [0012]     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention is a non-inflatable floating sign, specifically, a device that relies on non-inflatable floats to host the supports for a sign, capable of being assembled into a variety of shapes. In its most versatile configuration, two non-inflatable floats are separated at a predetermined distance by a spacing member. The invention is expandable, such that the number of floats and spacing members may be varied; it is anticipated that one to four floats may be typical, depending on the application, environment, and need.  
         [0014]     The float may be anchored or mobile. In a stationary embodiment, an anchoring system holds the floats in place. In a mobile embodiment, the system for anchoring the floats in place is replaced by a ballasting weight configured to maintain the floats&#39; vertical orientation and preferably improve performance during motion, whether the sign is towed or drifting, as may be desirable for a pond.  
         [0015]     Sign supporting members are mounted onto the top end of the floats in order to support a substantially planar sign portion. The mounting means and support members may vary widely, and should be configured for the environment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     A more complete description of the subject matter of the present invention and the advantages thereof, can be achieved by the reference to the following detailed description by which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a single float embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a two float embodiment with a sign having sleeves;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a three float embodiment of the present invention shown without a sign to illustrate certain details;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a four float embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5   a  is a top view detail of rotatable threaded receptacles located on a spacing mount, and  FIG. 5   b  is a cutaway of an alternative configuration of a spacing mount which shows a radial arrangement of receptacles disposed within spacing mount;  FIG. 5   c  is an example of a gimbal support mount  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a view of a mobile two float embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 7   a  is a mobile two float embodiment with a tethered weight ballast structure;  FIG. 7   b  is a mobile two float embodiment having a centerboard ballast structure.  
     
    
     ELEMENT LIST  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  float  
               12  spacing member mount  
               13  tow rig  
               14  receptacle  
               15  wiring portion of circuit means  
               16  lighting  
               17  power supply  
               18  locating system (position receiver/transmitter)  
               19  navigational equipment  
               20  spacing member  
               24  threaded ends  
               30  anchoring system  
               31  anchor  
               32  anchor rode  
               35  ballast structure  
               40  support mounting device  
               50  support member  
               60  sign  
               61  fastener  
               62  sleeve  
               63  sign perforations  
               70  body of water surface  
               80  body of water  
               90  bottom of body of water  
               100  the floating sign of the present invention.  
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0049]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.  
         [0050]     The present invention is a non-inflatable and expandable floating sign; specifically, a portable device that relies on non-inflatable floats to host the supports of a sign.  
         [0051]     By way of introduction, a simple single float embodiment of floating sign  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Float  10  in body of water  80  is held stationary by anchor  31  resting on the bottom  90  of body of water  80 . Shown with float  10  are spacing member mount  12  with at least one receptacle  14 , support member mount  40 , and support member  50 . This rear view shows sign  60  with fasteners  61  detachably fixing sign  60  to support member  50 . These elements will be discussed in greater detail in expanded embodiments.  
         [0052]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a two float embodiment of floating sign  100  includes floats  10 , which are rigidly separated at a predetermined distance by spacing member  20 , which is detachably mounted to each of the floats  10  via spacing member mounts  12 . In some embodiments, spacing member  20  may be telescoping, concentric tubes, threaded, or otherwise adjustable to enable adjustment to a plurality of separation distances.  
         [0053]     The mounting of spacing members  20  onto floats  10  may be by any substantially resilient and detachable mechanism known to the art meeting the parameters claimed herein. For example, in  FIG. 2  spacing member  20  is shown as including threaded ends  24  (partially shown) that insert into a corresponding threaded coupling or receptacle  14 , which is a rotatably and radially mounted component of spacing member mount  12 , which is disposed on the top end of floats  10 . Rotatable mounting for this embodiment permits receptacles  14  as threaded couplings to receive threaded ends  24  of spacing members  20 . The detachable mounting of spacing member  20  to spacing member mount  12  may incorporate a wide variety of mechanical devices, such as friction or screw clamps, rigid fittings with locking pins (e.g., cotter, toggle, or threaded pin), detents or other spring devices, fasteners, etc. Preferably, each float  10  is configured to be capable for expansion of floating sign  100  by having the ability to mount a plurality of spacing members  20 , thus supporting structures that involve varying numbers of floats  10 .  
         [0054]     In general, floats  10  may be fabricated from any one of a variety of buoyant materials, such as polyurethane or urethane foam, polystyrene, syntactic foam, etc. Commercially available buoys may be adapted for this purpose. Less rigid or resilient materials may require an outer protective or conforming shell (not shown.)  
         [0055]     The embodiment in  FIG. 2  is a stationary example, where floats  10  include anchoring system  30 , which depends or hangs from the bottom of floats  10 . Anchoring system  30  includes at least one anchor  31  to keep the respective float  10  in place.  
         [0056]     At the top end of each float  10  is a support mounting device  40 , into which a support member  50  may be mounted. Mounting device  40  may include any resilient mounting structure known in the art, such as friction clamps, rigid pipe fittings, threaded receptacles, etc. Sign  60  is a substantially planar surface which, in this simple embodiment, includes sleeves  62  that slide over support members  50 , permitting display of the sign. Alternatively, sign  60  may mount onto support members  50  using any mounting technology appropriate to the application and known in the art, such as grommets and lacing, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, etc. The simple example of  FIG. 2  is inexpensive, portable, and non-inflatable. However, the overall configuration may vary widely, depending on the application and the environment.  
         [0057]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a rough, wavy, or windy venue may be well served by an embodiment having three floats  10 , with each float  10  located at the corner of a triangle formed by rigid spacing members  20 . That is, the two float configuration of  FIG. 2  may be modified by the addition of a third float  10  and two spacing members  20  to craft the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . Of course, as shown in this stationary example, each of floats  10  may include a corresponding anchoring system  30 , support mounting device  40 , and support member  50 . Sign  60  (not shown) may thus take the form of a three-sided sign or be the same arrangement as displayed in  FIG. 2 , with the third float  10  provided solely for stability.  
         [0058]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , four floats  10  may be fastened to the corners of a square formed by four rigid spacing members  20 . In this case, the two float configuration of  FIG. 2  is doubled by the addition of two floats  10  and two spacing members  20 . As may be expected, sign surface for this embodiment may be configured in the form of a square.  
         [0059]      FIG. 5   a  is a detail of float  10  showing the structure of receptacle  14  as a rotatable threaded coupling on spacing member mount  12 , which enables float  10  to mount detachably a plurality of spacing members  20  having threaded end  24 . As noted above, this is merely one example of the variety of mounting configurations.  FIG. 5   b  shows an alternative arrangement where receptacle  14  is series or plurality of radial apertures within spacing mount  12 ; spacing member  20  may be inserted into receptacle  14  so as to interconnect floats  10 .  
         [0060]     As noted above, the present invention may be stationary or mobile. In a stationary embodiment, anchoring system  30  depends from the bottom end of one or more floats  10  for anchoring the floating sign  100  in place. In some cases, for example, with embodiments that are to be positioned permanently in an amenable body of water, permanent attachment points (not shown) may be installed on the bottom  90  of the body of water  80 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an anchoring system  30  may comprise anchor  31  and anchor rode  32  (line, rope, cable, chain, or other suitable material) to maintain float  10  in place. Of course, those skilled in the art of ground tackle will readily see that a variety of anchoring technologies (e.g., danforth, mushroom, simple weight, etc.) may be suitable, depending on factors such as wind, current, and the constituency of the bottom  90  of the body of water  80 . Those skilled in the art will also acknowledge that anchoring technologies may require such shackles, swivels, or other fasteners as may be desired. In cases of consistent, favorable, and predictable currents, a single anchoring system  30  may suffice to keep an embodiment in proper orientation.  
         [0061]     A mobile two float embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this example, anchoring system  30  is replaced by ballast structure  35  sufficient to maintain or assist the proper orientation of floats  10  during the desired motion. For embodiments where the invention may be towed by a watercraft using tow rig  13 , the mobile system may include ballast structure  35  in the form of a weighted “centerboard,” that depends from each of the floats  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The centerboard form of ballast structure  35  may preferably be hydrodynamically oriented to minimize drag and to promote stability, and may be adjustable to adapt to various configurations with differing numbers of floats  10 . Alternatively and more simply, as shown in  FIG. 7   a , ballast structure  35  may simply be a weight tethered to the bottom of float  10 , sufficient to maintain upright orientation. In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 7   b , ballast structure  35  may be a resilient member that depends from float  10  to terminate in a weight. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of structures may suffice, depending on the circumstances, including a wide variety of operable configurations for ballast structure  35  to adapt the floating sign  100  for mobile use.  
         [0062]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tops of the floats  10  feature support mounting device  40  for support members  50 . Support mounting device  40  is capable of mounting support member  50  in a desired orientation, typically vertical, so as to position and maintain sign  60  in the proper position. Support mounting device  40  in some embodiments is preferably flexible or spring loaded, to permit support member  50  to move and to accommodate high winds. In another embodiment, support mounting device  40  may include a gimbal or gimbal ring, as shown in  FIG. 5   c , to enable support member  50  to remain vertical regardless of the orientation of float  10  or the nature of the environment, such as a strong wind.  
         [0063]     The support member  50  and sign  60  may take a variety of embodiments as well. Those skilled in the art will readily see that the structural requirements of support member  50  will be closely related to the structure of the surface and mounting configuration for sign  60 . In the inexpensive and simple embodiment of  FIG. 2 , support member  50  may be fabricated from PVC, fiberglass, carbon fiber, lightweight metal, wood, or other suitable material; support member  50  may be a pole, tube, staff, angled upright, L-shaped or having other structural member of different cross sectional, etc., to which surface fabric of sign  60  is attached. If repeated use is contemplated, then sign  60  may preferably be detachably fastened to each of support members  50 .  
         [0064]     Material for sign  60  may be pliable marine vinyl, acrylic, mesh, or duck cloth, possibly with sign perforations  63  to allow wind to pass through; alternatively, such material may be a lightweight rigid substance, such as metal, plastic, fiberglass, wood, etc. Thus, in a configuration having two floats  10 , sign  60  may be in the form of a flat surface banner with sleeves  62  at each end aligned vertically for slide-able engagement with support members  50 . In embodiments featuring more than two floats  10 , the number of support members  50  may (but not necessarily) be increased such that the geometry of sign  60  could be adapted and sign  60  could increase in corresponding number of sleeves  62 . Alternatively, sign  60  may be configured as a banner or flag, each of which may be mounted independently upon a support member  50 . Sign  60  may also be fabricated of a rigid material, preferably with inexpensive and simple mechanisms for fastening to support member  50 . For example, a rigid material sign  60  may be more adaptable to fastening to support member  50  with screws, pins, toggles, or other devices known in the art suitable for the application. Single float  10  embodiments are likely, though not necessarily, to feature rigid material sign  60  that enable a message to be displayed. In a more complex embodiment, sign  60  may include painted surface, scrolling, computer print on vinyl, rotating or multi-message (e.g., tri-vision) signs, etc.  
         [0065]     The present invention may incorporate other features consistent with its various objectives. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , lighting  16  may be used to illuminate the surface of all or a portion of sign  60 . A lightweight power source  17 , whether battery, fuel cell, or solar collector, may be located on spacing member  20 , float  10 , or other structure, while lighting  16  may be situated as appropriate; a conventional wiring circuit means  15  or wiring harness may be implemented as known in the art. In the event that power source  17  is relatively heavy, then a low center of gravity may be desired and floats  10  may be configured to store batteries, etc. for lighting  16  or other electrical load, such as sound equipment, etc. Additionally, in some embodiments it may be advantageous to include means for locating the position of the invention, perhaps by use of locating system  18 , such as a global positioning satellite receiver coupled with a transmitter, or other such position receiver and transmitter, as well as power source  17  as required. As another option, the present invention may incorporate warning or navigational equipment  19 , such as bells, gongs, horns, radar reflectors, lights, shapes, or other navigational aids, as may be desired for the application. Accordingly, the invention may fill an ancillary function for private navigation, the avoidance of hazards, or aiding in avoidance of the floating sign  100  itself.  
         [0066]     Those skilled in the art will readily see that certain mobile embodiments of floating sign  100  may be linked or fastened together for collective towing, increasing the number of messages communicated and improving the overall advertising value. Further, it is contemplated that floating signs  100  may be used in conjunction with boundary floats for aquatic sports; in this embodiment, rigid portions may be provided by lightweight plastic pieces unlikely to harm athletes that may overshoot boundaries.  
         [0067]     Many improvements, modifications, and additions will be apparent to the skilled artisan without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described herein and defined in the following claims.