Abstract:
A sign kit according to the invention includes a stiff backing in a predetermined size and a transparent cover sheet having dimensions sufficient to cover one face of the backing. Suitable means for mounting a sign, such as a built in stand or hanger, may be included along with a flexible sheet such as a sheet of paper printed on a front face thereof with sign information and adhered by a rear face thereof with an adhesive to a front face of the backing. The sign kit provides makes it possible to use desktop publishing, i.e., personal computers and software, to prepare professional quality signs in various sizes shapes and designs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a kit for making small disposable signs generally intended for temporary uses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commercial sign printers can only produce large lots of signs (e.g., 500-1000) cost effectively. For small scale uses or temporary signage, especially at trade shows where signs are a major expense, there is a need for a way to produce signs in small quantities without undue expense. 
     Various forms of temporary or removable sign kits are known. See, for example, Patrick et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,082, and Garran U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,039. One commercially available sign kit made by 3M Corp. is essentially an oversize Post—It note. Die—cut cardboard signs are also known, as are stickers or adhesive signs. However, these known sign systems do not provide a practical means for making small numbers of signs for specific purposes. The present invention addresses this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A sign kit according to the invention includes a stiff backing in a predetermined size and a transparent cover sheet having dimensions sufficient to cover one face of the backing. Suitable means for mounting a sign, such as a built in stand or hanger, may be included. The kit may include materials for making only one sign or several signs, in the same or different sizes. 
     One preferred form of sign kit of the invention includes a stiff backing in a predetermined size, a transparent cover sheet having a transparent first adhesive on one side thereof and having dimensions sufficient to substantially cover one face of the backing, and a flexible sheet suitable for printing with a computer printer, such as a sheet of paper. A second adhesive secures the flexible sheet to the backing, which second adhesive is located on either the front face of the backing or the rear face of the flexible sheet. Suitable means for mounting the sign in a display position may be included. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the sign kit includes a plurality of stiff backings in two or more predetermined sizes, such as standard paper sizes, and a plurality of transparent cover sheets in one or more sizes having dimensions sufficient to cover a front face of one or more the backings, such that each backing has a cover sheet of sufficient size to cover it. Suitable sign mounting means, if included, are provided one for each backing. Sheets of paper for printing may be omitted from this embodiment if the user supplies the paper as described hereafter. 
     Another sign kit according to the invention includes a stiff backing and a sheet of paper suitable for printing with a computer printer. The sheet of paper is lined on a rear face thereof with an adhesive suitable for attaching the paper to the backing and has a glossy finish on a front face thereof, which front is also suited for receiving printed images from a computer printer. As before, means for mounting the sign may be included. The high gloss on the front face of the paper takes the place of the transparent cover sheet. 
     The sign kit of the invention provides makes it possible to use desktop publishing, i.e., personal computers and software, to prepare professional quality signs in various sizes shapes and designs. Anyone owning a personal computer and desktop publishing or similar software has the ability to produce point-of-sale signs computer printed photos and frames, identification signs instructional signs, desktop and wall signs, computer-generated photos stand ups, business card stand ups and many other forms of display in the sign or digital photography fields. 
     A sign according to the invention which can be made using the foregoing kit includes a stiff backing, a flexible sheet printed on a front face thereof with sign information and adhered by a rear face thereof with a first adhesive to a front face of the backing, a sheet of transparent plastic cover material adhered by a rear face thereof with a second adhesive to a front face of the flexible sheet, and suitable means for mounting the sign in a display position. However, as described hereafter, a number of other finished signs also within the scope of the invention omit one or both of the adhesives, combine the backing and printed flexible sheet into a single element, or combine the printed sheet and the cover into a single element. 
     A method of making a sign according to the invention includes the successive steps of designing a sign message or graphic on a computer, printing out the sign message onto a front face of a flexible sheet, adhesively securing the sheet printed side out onto a stiff backing material, and adhesively securing a transparent cover sheet over the printed sheet. 
    
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWING 
     In the accompanying drawing, wherein like numbers represent like elements: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a sign made using the kit of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the sign of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial front view, partly in phantom, of an alternative embodiment of a sign according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  3 , a sign  10  according to the present invention includes a piece of stiff backing material  11 , a piece of transparent cover material  12  having dimensions sufficient to cover one face of the backing material  11 , a sheet of adhesive-lined paper  13  suitable for printing graphics  15  with a computer printer, and suitable means for placing the sign in a vertical display position, such as a stand  17  or hanger  16 , or even a hole provided in backing  11 . Backing  11  is most typically a square or rectangular piece of cardboard, foam board, paperboard or plastic. Transparent cover  12  is preferably a clear, self-adhesive plastic laminate (e.g., PET, PVC, polyethylene), preferably of the type sold commercially as JM laminating sheets. An adhesive layer  18  formed on the back of cover  12  is used to adhere cover  12  directly to the front face of sheet  13 . Sheet  13  is a sheet of paper or similar printable material lined with an adhesive layer  19  that adheres it directly to the front face of backing  11 , such as Avery adhesive labels presently available at office supply stores. Adhesive layers  18 ,  19  are covered with conventional releasable liners prior to use. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the rear face of backing  11  may be provided with a diecut, fold-out hanger  16 , a die-cut fold-out stand  17 , or both. Sign  10  may then be placed in position for use by folding out stand  16 , or by placing sign  10  on a wall or other vertical surface having a nail or picture hanger by means of hanger  16 . In the alternative, other common commercially available stands or hanging devices may be used, such as adhesive squares that attach directly to a rear face of backing,  11  and to the support surface, such as a wall, or free-standing easel or picture holder. 
     A kit for making signs  10  according to the invention includes one or more sizes of backings  11 . Since the paper used to print sheet  12  will typically be of a commercially available size, it is preferred to include in the kit one or more backings  11  in each of two or more standard paper sizes. For purposes of the invention, “standard paper sizes” means paper or other flexible sheet material in commercially available sizes ranging from 3 to 11 inches wide and 5 to 17 inches long, such as 3″ by 5″, A 4 , 8.5″ by 11″, 8.5″ by 13″, 11″ by 17″, and the like. A typical sign kit according to the invention includes one or more of each of two to four sizes of backings  11 . 
     A number of pieces of paper or other flexible sheet material  13 , generally matching or exceeding the number of backings  11  of like size, should be included in the kit if adhesively lined paper is to be used. The specific sizes of sheets  13  included with each kit will match the predetermined sizes of the backings  11 , for example, if backings are rectangular pieces of cardboard having dimensions 8.5″×11″ and 8.5″×13″, at least a like number of adhesively-lined paper sheets  13  of both sizes are provided. In the alternative, if adhesive layer  17  is formed on backing  11  and covered with a releasable liner until the time of use, then ordinary paper supplied by the user could be used, and the kit need not include sheets  13 . 
     The number of transparent plastic cover sheets  13  included in the kit will generally match or each exceed the number of backings  11 . Such sheets  13  may be precut to the same standard size(s) as the backings  11 , or only a single size of sheet  13  may be included which corresponds to the largest size backing. For smaller signs, the oversize sheet  13  is applied to the sheet  12  on backing  11  and the excess trimmed off with a knife, scissors, or single edged razor blade (e.g., an Exacto knife). The kit may further include such a trimming tool. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a rectangular clip-on frame  20  comprises four plastic U-shaped edge pieces or frame sections  22  with angled ends  23  that form corners, so that four such pieces are clipped onto each side of a square or rectangular sign. One or more sets of frame sections  22  may be included in the kit according to the invention. 
     According to alternate forms of the invention, the adhesive may be omitted from one or both of cover  12  or paper  13 . Paper  13  may, for example, have smaller length and width than cover  12  so that it is held placed by an adhesive margin of cover  12 , and no adhesive  19  is needed. Adhesive  18  may then comprise a layer covering the entire rear face of cover  12 , or cover  12  may have a central area free of adhesive in which paper  13  is placed. The rectangular adhesive margin of cover  12  holds both cover  12  and paper  13  to backing  11 . 
     If both adhesive layers  18 ,  19  are omitted, cover  12  and paper  13  may be held in place at mutually superposed edges by frame  20 . Cover sheet  12  may be omitted altogether if paper  13  is a high gloss paper such as Kodak ink jet snapshot paper that can receive printing on its glossy side directly from a computer printer. However, use of a transparent cover is preferred because it protects the paper from stains and physical damage and provides a more professional appearance. 
     According to the method of the invention, the user prints the desired sign on adhesively lined paper  13  and then adheres paper  13  to the backing  11 . Transparent cover material  12  is then applied over and adheres directly to the front face of paper  13 . Excess paper  13  or cover material  12  may be trimmed off with an Exacto knife as noted above, or the sign may be cut in any desired manner, such as along the irregular outline of a figure in a photograph. 
     The foregoing embodiments of the invention solve a number of problems currently facing many computer users. While software exists for the development of graphic materials that could be used to make signs, there is no available format for making a final product which can be displayed without going to a traditional printer for final production. The invention also solves the problem presented by unstable inks used in conventional ink jet printers. Covering the printed page with a clear transparent cover material provides a finished surface that is impermeable to water in most cases, and also has a professionally finished appearance required for a quality presentation. The sign kit of the invention further provides the user with the ability to rapidly produce signs and changes to signs at a fraction of the cost of traditional production methods, Unique signs can be produced without the waste involved in traditional printing runs. 
     It will be understood that the foregoing description is of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. For example, the flexible sheet and backing could be combined into a computer-printable sheet of stiff material, such as Bristol board, eliminating the need for an intermediate adhesive layer. Instead of a computer printer, a color copier could be used to transfer the images for the sign to the sheet. The cover sheet may be replaced by a transparent envelope formed by lamination which completely encapsulates the sign. These and other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.