Patent Publication Number: US-8122629-B2

Title: Collapsible sign

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/298,224, entitled C-FRAME SIGN, filed Nov. 30, 2007, now U.S. D584,362 S, issued Jan. 6, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application pertains to a sign, and more particularly, to a collapsible sign having a pivotal sign carrying member, an upright member, and a foldable support member. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Signs are used to convey information. For example, in the real estate industry, information about pending home sales, open houses, and the like, must be effectively conveyed to potential home buyers or other interested individuals. Other industries such as furniture outlet stores, mattress stores, automobile shops—among many others—use temporary signage to promote special discounts or ongoing promotional offers. Once a home has sold (or the special discount or promotional offer has ended) the signs used to convey the information may be taken down, transported to another location, or simply stored for later use. There are numerous other examples where temporary signs can enhance an ability to convey information; for example, consider home based business parties, tasting parties, small business advertising, among other possibilities—these and other diverse industries are in need of improved temporary signage. 
     Transporting a sign can be a problem. For example, signs used in the real estate industry are generally bulky and difficult to fit into a vehicle, let alone a trunk or other storage compartment. Quite often more than one sign must be arranged within one vehicle, sometimes dozens of signs at a time, because real estate professionals often like to place multiple signs at various locations around a neighborhood to create a virtual detour to direct traffic toward an open house (i.e., toward a home for sale). Moreover, real estate agents or other real estate sales professionals generally avoid driving large vehicles, such as pick-up trucks or sport utility vehicles; instead, they are more likely to drive client-friendly vehicles such as a luxury sedan or compact car, which are more conducive to frequent travel between homes or other locations, and are generally less expensive to fuel and maintain than larger vehicles. Thus, the real estate agents or other real estate sales professionals are left to their own particular struggles of trying to fit bulky real estate signs into a smaller-type vehicle, generally into a trunk of the vehicle. 
     Time is a precious commodity. The time taken to disassemble or assemble a sign is time that could be spent elsewhere, perhaps more productively. This is particularly true for a general manager of a store, for example, who may want to convey important information to prospective customers for a temporary period of time, perhaps by placing a sign on a sidewalk in front of the store, but may not want to spend an inordinate amount of time to assemble and disassemble the sign between each temporary period of time. For example, the general manager may have a special promotional offer once every month for one week out of the month. For the one week out of the month having the special promotional offer, the general manager would need to locate, assemble, and place the sign in the desired path of the prospective customers, and then disassemble and store the sign after the special promotional offer has ended. Even more burdensome, the general manager may choose to have the special promotional offer for one hour out of every day, for example. In that case, the sign would need to be assembled, placed, and disassembled every day. 
     This is not much different than the real estate industry where real estate agents or other professionals are constantly relocating signs as a result of placing homes on the market for sale, and removing homes from the market because they have either sold or because the owner has given up trying to make the sale. As another example, the real estate agent may want to put an open house sign in front of a home each Sunday (or some other day of the week) when people are more likely to want to browse the interior of the home, and then take the sign down when the open house has ended, transport the sign to a new location, and repeat the routine. 
     Conventional signs are often not very versatile, nor are they generally able to withstand the elements. For example, a gusty wind can cause a sign to tip over, spin around, or twist so that a potential onlooker fails to see the writing or drawings on the sign. This can lead to lost sales, decreased revenues, and even worse—layoffs or a complete closure of a business. 
     Accordingly, a need remains for an improved sign for conveying information; in particular, a need remains for an improved collapsible sign that is easily transportable and can withstand the elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An example embodiment of the present invention may comprise a pivotal sign carrying member, an upright member hingedly attached to the pivotal sign carrying member, and a foldable support member adapted to stabilize the upright member and the pivotal sign carrying member. 
     The foregoing and other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a collapsible sign including a pivotal sign carrying member, an upright member, and a foldable support member, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2-5  illustrate the collapsible sign of  FIG. 1  in various stages of collapse, including rolling of a flexible membrane around the pivotal sign carrying member and folding the pivotal sign carrying member toward the upright member, according to another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partially collapsed sign, including the pivotal sign carrying member folded into a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the partially collapsed sign of  FIG. 6 , further including legs folded to a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member, according to yet another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the collapsed sign of  FIG. 7  inserted into a carrying bag. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the partially collapsed sign of  FIG. 6 , including legs folded to a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member, according to still another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example embodiment of hinge means for attaching the pivotal sign carrying member to the upright member. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates another view of the hinge means of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates yet another view of the hinge means of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a cross sectional view of the hinge means of  FIG. 10 , according to the example embodiment of the hinge means of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an example embodiment of a support member comprising four foldable legs adapted to stabilize the upright member and the pivotal sign carrying member. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates the example embodiment of the support member including second hinge means for attaching the legs of the support member to the upright member. 
         FIGS. 16-20  illustrate an upper portion of the collapsible sign of  FIG. 1  in various stages of un-collapse, including pivoting the pivotal sign carrying member about 90 degrees respective to the upright member, and unrolling the flexible membrane from around the pivotal sign carrying member, according to another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 21-25  illustrate an upper portion of the collapsible sign of  FIG. 1  in various stages of un-collapse, including pivoting the pivotal sign carrying member about 270 degrees respective to the upright member, and unrolling the flexible membrane from around the pivotal sign carrying member, according to yet another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a first example embodiment of a collapsible sign located on a sidewalk and a second example embodiment of a collapsible sign located on a grassy or earthy location. 
         FIGS. 27-31  illustrate various example embodiments of penetration means including means for stabilizing the upright member and the sign carrying member. 
         FIG. 32  illustrates a bottom view of the foldable support member of  FIG. 1  including an asymmetric arrangement of legs, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be constructed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a collapsible sign  100  including a pivotal sign carrying member  105 , an upright member  110 , and a foldable support member  115 , according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The pivotal sign carrying member  105 , the upright member  110 , the foldable support member  115 , or other parts of the sign  100 , may comprise metal, fiberglass, wood, or other suitable materials. The sign  100  may comprise flexible materials to enhance the overall stability of the sign  100 , or relatively non-flexible materials to enhance the overall strength and support of the sign  100 . The upright member  110  may be hingedly attached to the pivotal sign carrying member  105 . The pivotal sign carrying member  105  may be adapted to lock into a substantially perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 , and may also be adapted to fold into a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110  as later described. 
     The sign  100  may further include a first sleeve  120  adapted to fit over the pivotal sign carrying member  105  and a flexible membrane  125 . The flexible membrane  125  may comprise a sign blank such as a canvas, cloth, or paper, among other possible materials, and may also include writing or drawings to convey information to a passerby. One end of the flexible membrane  105  may be coupled to the first sleeve  120 . Another end of the flexible membrane  105  may be coupled to a second sleeve  135 . The second sleeve  135  may be adapted to fit over a weighted bottom  130 . The first sleeve  120  may be attached to the pivotal sign carrying member  105  and the second sleeve  135  may be attached to the weighted bottom  130 . 
     While the weighted bottom  130  and the second sleeve  135  may or may not be included as part of the collapsible sign  100 , they are preferably included because gravity pulls the flexible membrane  105  taut so that any writing or drawings are readily visible. Moreover, the flexible membrane  105  may more easily be rolled around the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , as later described. 
     The collapsible sign  100  may also include a foldable support member  115  to stabilize the upright member  110  and the pivotal sign carrying member  105 . In one example embodiment, the foldable support member  115  includes an asymmetric arrangement of legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  hingedly attached to the upright member  110 . The asymmetric arrangement of legs may include a first leg  140  extending by a first length in a first direction  150 ; a second leg  145  extending by the first length in a second direction  155 ; a third leg  160  extending by a second length in a third direction  170 ; and a fourth leg  165  extending by the second length in a fourth direction  175 . The second length may be less than the first length. Alternatively, the second length may be greater than the first length. The asymmetric arrangement of legs stabilizes the sign  100  and also reduces a footprint of the sign, thereby providing a space-saving feature. Although optional, each of the legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  may include an end cap  180 , which may comprise rubber, for preventing skidding of the sign  100  on the ground or other surface. 
       FIGS. 2-5  illustrate the collapsible sign  100  of  FIG. 1  in various stages of partial collapse, including rolling of the flexible membrane  125  around the pivotal sign carrying member  105  and folding the pivotal sign carrying member  105  toward the upright member  110 , according to another example embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flexible membrane  125  may be adapted to roll around the pivotal sign carrying member  105 . Eventually, the flexible membrane  125  may be rolled around the pivotal sign carrying member  105  to form a substantially cylindrical roll  405 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . After the cylindrical roll  405  is formed, the pivotal sign carrying member  105  and the cylindrical roll  405  may be folded toward the upright member  110 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a partially collapsed sign  100 , including the pivotal sign carrying member  105  folded into a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110 . The sign  100  may be structured to comprise a spacing  605  between the pivotal sign carrying member  105  and the upright member  110  to accommodate the cylindrical sign roll  405  when the sign carrying member  105  is folded. In other words, a predefined spacing  605  between the pivotal sign carrying member  105  and the upright member  110  allows the cylindrical sign roll  405  to be folded into the substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110  without stressing or damaging the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , the upright member  110 , or other components of the sign  100 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the partially collapsed sign  100  of  FIG. 6 , further including legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  folded to a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110 , according to yet another example embodiment of the present invention. Each of the legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  may be folded and unfolded either individually or at a same time. For example, one method for collapsing the sign  100  may include simultaneously folding legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  to a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110 . Similarly, one method for un-collapsing the sign  100  may include simultaneously unfolding legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  to locked locations extending in directions outward from the upright member  110 . 
     Pertaining to folding the legs, a first leg  140  may be folded from a location extending in a first direction (e.g., direction  150  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a first location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . A second leg  145  may be folded from a location extending in a second direction (e.g., direction  155  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a second location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . A third leg  160  may be folded from a location extending in a third direction (e.g., direction  170  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a third location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . And a fourth leg  165  may be folded from a location extending in a fourth direction (e.g., direction  175  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a fourth location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . The legs may be folded sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the locations from which the legs are folded may include locked locations, as further described below. 
     Pertaining to unfolding the legs, a first leg  140  may be unfolded from a first location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a first direction (e.g., direction  150  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . A second leg  145  may be unfolded from a second location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a second direction (e.g., direction  155  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . A third leg  160  may be unfolded from a third location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a third direction (e.g., direction  170  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . And a fourth leg  165  may be unfolded from a fourth location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a fourth direction (e.g., direction  175  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . Similar to the folding of the legs above as described above, the legs may be unfolded sequentially or simultaneously. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the collapsed sign  100  of  FIG. 7  inserted into a carrying bag  805 . Although use of the carrying bag  805  is optional, some of the advantages associated with the sign  100  include transportability and compactness. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the partially collapsed sign  100  of  FIG. 6 , including legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  folded to a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110 , according to still another example embodiment of the present invention. Each of the legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  may be folded and unfolded either individually or at a same time. For example, one method for collapsing the sign  100  may include simultaneously folding legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  to a substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110 . Similarly, one method for un-collapsing the sign  100  may include simultaneously unfolding legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  to locked locations extending in directions outward from the upright member  110 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9 , hinge means  905  may slide along the upright member  110  either after or before the legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  are folded to the substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110 . 
     Pertaining to folding the legs, a first leg  140  may be folded from a location extending in a first direction (e.g., direction  150  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a first location substantially parallel with and extending downward from the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . A second leg  145  may be folded from a location extending in a second direction (e.g., direction  155  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a second location substantially parallel with and extending downward from the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . A third leg  160  may be folded from a location extending in a third direction (e.g., direction  170  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a third location substantially parallel with and extending downward from the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . And a fourth leg  165  may be folded from a location extending in a fourth direction (e.g., direction  175  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110  to a fourth location substantially parallel with and extending downward from the upright member  110  of the sign  100 . The legs may be folded sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the locations from which the legs are folded may include locked locations, as further described below. 
     Pertaining to unfolding the legs, a first leg  140  may be unfolded from a first location substantially parallel with and downwardly extended from the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a first direction (e.g., direction  150  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . A second leg  145  may be unfolded from a second location substantially parallel with and downwardly extended from the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a second direction (e.g., direction  155  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . A third leg  160  may be unfolded from a third location substantially parallel with and downwardly extended from the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a third direction (e.g., direction  170  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . And a fourth leg  165  may be unfolded from a fourth location substantially parallel with and downwardly extended from the upright member  110  of the sign  100  to a locked location extending in a fourth direction (e.g., direction  175  of  FIG. 1 ) outward from the upright member  110 . Similar to the folding of the legs as described above, the legs may be unfolded sequentially or simultaneously. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example embodiment of hinge means  1005  for attaching the pivotal sign carrying member  105  to the upright member  110 . The hinge means  1005  may comprise different forms of locking mechanisms such as slider clips (not shown), a friction hinge (not shown), among other possibilities. The example embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  includes the hinge means  1005  for attaching the pivotal sign carrying member  105  to the upright member  110 . The hinge means  1005  of  FIG. 10  may include a bracket  1010  and bolts  1040 . The pivotal sign carrying member  105  and the upright member  110  may be interposed between the bracket  1010  and secured by the bolts  1040 . 
     The hinge means  1005  may also include a locking member  1015  projecting through a first aperture  1020  of the upright member  110  and through an aperture  1020  of the bracket  1010 . The locking member  1015  may be adapted to lock the pivotal sign carrying member  105  into a substantially perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 . The hinge means  1005  may further include an actuator  1025  projecting through a second aperture  1030  of the upright member  110 . The actuator  1025  may be actuated by hand  1035  or by some other human intervention. The actuator  1025  may be communicatively coupled with the locking member  1015  and adapted to disengage the locking member  1015 . The actuator  1025  and the locking member  1015  may be springably attached, as later described below. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates another view of the hinge means of  FIG. 10 . Here, the locking member  1015  of  FIG. 10  has been disengaged, and the sign carrying member  105  is now free to move to the location substantially parallel to the upright member  110 . The bracket  1010  rotates to allow the sign carrying member  105  to pivot toward the upright member  110 . The locking member  1015  of  FIG. 10  may remain disengaged until the pivotal sign carrying member  105  is returned to the location substantially perpendicular to the upright member  110 , at which time the locking member  1015  of  FIG. 10  may automatically reengage. In other words, the locking member  1015  of  FIG. 10  may again project through aperture  1020  upon reengagement. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates yet another view of the hinge means of  FIG. 10 . Here, the sign carrying member  105  is shown in the substantially parallel arrangement with the upright member  110  with the locking member  1015  of  FIG. 10  disengaged from the aperture  1020 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a cross sectional view of the hinge means of  FIG. 10 , according to the example embodiment of the hinge means  1005  of the present invention. The cross section view shows an inner portion of the upright member  110  where the locking member  1015  and the actuator  1025  may be communicatively coupled and springably attached to an inner wall of the upright member  110 . The cross section view also shows portions of the bracket  1010  and bolts  1040  passing through the bracket  1010 , the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , and the upright member  110 . 
     As previously explained, hand  1035  may press actuator  1025  thereby causing locking member  1015  to disengage. Once the locking member  1015  has disengaged, the bracket  1010  may rotate, thereby causing the sign carrying member  105  to pivot toward the upright member  110  until the sign carrying member  105  and the upright member  110  are in a substantially parallel arrangement. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an example embodiment of a support member (e.g.  115  of  FIG. 1 ) comprising four foldable legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  adapted to stabilize the upright member  110  and the pivotal sign carrying member  105 . The sign  100  may include second hinge means  905  for attaching the legs of the support member to the upright member  110 . The second hinge means  905  may comprise a first bracket  1440  and a second bracket  1445 . Each of the brackets  1440  and  1445  may be associated with two or more of the legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165 . Each bracket  1440  and  1445  may include a first aperture (e.g.,  1420 ) and a second aperture (e.g.,  1422 ) on each face of the bracket. For example, bracket  1440  may include the first aperture (e.g.,  1420 ) and the second aperture (e.g.,  1422 ) on a first face associated with one leg (e.g.,  165 ), and two more similarly situated apertures on a second face associated with another leg (e.g.,  145 ). 
     Moreover, each face of the brackets  1440  and  1445  may include a locking member associated with each leg. For example, a locking member  1415  may project through a first aperture  1420  of leg  165  and through an aperture  1420  of the bracket  1445 . The locking member  1415  may be adapted to lock the leg  165  into a location extending in a direction outward from the upright member  110 . Alternatively, the locking member  1415  may be adapted to lock the leg  165  into a location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  by engaging the locking member  1415  through aperture  1422  of the bracket  1445 . 
     The second hinge means  905  may further include an actuator  1425  projecting through a second aperture  1430  of the leg  165 . The actuator  1425  may be communicatively coupled with the locking member  1415  and adapted to disengage the locking member  1415 . The method of engaging and disengaging the locking member  1415  using hand  1035  or some other human intervention may be similar to that described above with reference to  FIG. 13 . While the locking member  1415 , the actuator  1425 , and the associated apertures have been discussed with reference to one face of bracket  1445 , a similar structure and method may apply to other legs  140 ,  145 , and  160  and to other parts of bracket  1445  or  1440 . Also, the legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165  may be coupled to the bracket  1445  or  1440  using bolts  1450  or some other suitable coupling means. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates the example embodiment of the support member (e.g.,  115  of  FIG. 1 ) including second hinge means (e.g.,  905  of  FIG. 14 ) for attaching the legs of the support member to the upright member  110 . Specifically,  FIG. 15  shows leg  165  in the location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  and the locking member  1415  projecting through aperture  1422 , thereby engaging the locking member  1415 . Meanwhile, aperture  1420  remains ready to engage the locking member  1415  when the leg  165  transitions back to the location extending away from the upright member  110 . 
       FIGS. 16-20  illustrate an upper portion of the collapsible sign  100  of  FIG. 1  in various stages of un-collapse, including pivoting the pivotal sign carrying member  105  about 90 degrees respective to the upright member  115 , and unrolling the flexible membrane  125  from around the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , according to another example embodiment of the present invention. 
     The upper portion of the collapsible sign  100  including the pivotal sign carrying member  105  may be un-collapsed. For example, the pivotal sign carrying member  105  may be unfolded from the location substantially parallel with the upright member  110  and locked in a substantially perpendicular arrangement with the upright member. The upper portion of the collapsible sign  100  may include hinge means  1605 , which may include a hinging mechanism for attaching the pivotal sign carrying member  105  to the upright member  110 , and allowing the sign carrying member  105  to pivot respective to the upright member  110 . 
     Moreover, the upright member  110  may be springably coupled (not shown) to the pivotal sign carrying member  105  so that the sign carrying member  105  may flex or twist slightly respective to the upright member  110 . This provides additional overall stability to the sign  100 , and the ability to deflect impacts, particularly in the presence of a wind gust or some other type of interference such as a person or vehicle bumping the sign  100 . The spring coupling may include the use of a coil spring (not shown), among other possibilities. In addition, the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , the upright member  110 , or other parts of sign  100 , may be comprised of a flexible material such as fiberglass, which provides a degree or some degrees of flexing or slight twisting of the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , thereby enhancing the overall stability of the sign  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 16-20 , the pivotal sign carrying member  105  may be pivoted or traversed about 90 degrees respective to the upright member  110 . Once the pivotal sign carrying member  105  is locked in the substantially perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 , the flexible membrane  125  may be unrolled from around the pivotal sign carrying member  105  so that the flexible membrane  125  hangs from the pivotal sign carrying member  105 . A weighted bottom (e.g.,  130  of  FIG. 1 ) may facilitate the unrolling of the flexible membrane  125  from the pivotal sign carrying member  105 . 
       FIGS. 21-25  illustrate an upper portion of the collapsible sign  100  of  FIG. 1  in various stages of un-collapse, including pivoting the pivotal sign carrying member  105  about 270 degrees respective to the upright member  110 , and unrolling the flexible membrane  125  from around the pivotal sign carrying member  105 , according to yet another example embodiment of the present invention. The example embodiment of  FIGS. 21-25  is similar to that of  FIGS. 16-20  except that the pivotal sign carrying member  105  may be pivoted or traversed about 270 degrees respective to the upright member  110 . Since the remaining description of this embodiment is similar to that of  FIGS. 16-20 , it will be omitted here for the sake of brevity. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates a first example embodiment of a collapsible sign capable of being located on a sidewalk  2605  and a second example embodiment of a collapsible sign located on a grassy or earthy location  2610 . The support member  115  of the first example embodiment of the collapsible sign located on the sidewalk  2605  generally corresponds to support member described above. The support member  115  having the asymmetric arrangement of legs, as located on the sidewalk or other surface, may also have a weighted object such as a sand bag (not shown) placed thereon. In other words, the sand bag (or other weighted object) may be placed on one or more of the legs of the sign to provide further stability to the sign. 
     The second example embodiment includes a collapsible sign capable of being located on the grassy or earthy location  2610 . The support member  115  of the second example embodiment of the collapsible sign located on the grassy or earthy location  2610  may comprise a base member  2615  in a perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 , the base member  2615  located at a lower portion of the upright member  110 , as also described in more detail below, and may also comprise penetration means  2620  for penetrating the grassy or earthy location  2610 . 
       FIGS. 27-31  illustrate various example embodiments of the penetration means  2620  of  FIG. 26 , including means for stabilizing the upright member  110  and the sign carrying member  105 . Each of  FIGS. 27-31  will now be described in further detail. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a base member  2715  in a perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 . The upright member  110  may be coupled to the base member  2715  at a location between a middle part of the base member  2715  and an end part of the base member  2715 . The penetration means may include a double stake configuration comprising a first stake  2710  having a first length and a second stake  2705  having a second length greater than the first length. The second stake  2705  having the second length that is greater may be located directly under the upright member  110 , and the first stake  2710  having the first length may be located spaced apart from the upright member  110 , which is the preferable configuration when the sign carrying member  105  is pivoted by 90 degrees as shown in  FIGS. 16-20  above. 
     The penetration means may also include stabilization means (e.g.,  2710 ) for stabilizing the upright member  110  and the sign carrying member  105 . The penetration means (e.g.,  2710  and  2705 ) may penetrate the grassy or earthy location (e.g.,  2610  of  FIG. 26 ), and the stabilization means (e.g.,  2710 ) may prevent the collapsible sign  100  from tipping over or spinning around. By keeping the sign  100  stationary, any information included on the flexible membrane  125  of the sign  100  can be more easily conveyed to persons desiring to see or read the information. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates an example embodiment that is similar to  FIG. 27 , except that the first stake  2710  having the first (shorter) length than the second stake  2705  may be located directly under the upright member  110 , and the second stake  2705  may be located spaced apart from the upright member  110 , which is the preferable configuration when the sign carrying member  105  is pivoted by 270 degrees as shown in  FIGS. 21-25  above. The remaining details of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 28  are similar to those shown in  FIG. 27 , and therefore will be omitted here for the sake of brevity. 
       FIG. 29  illustrates a base member  2715  in a perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 . The upright member  110  may be coupled to the base member  2715  at a location near or at a middle part of the base member  2715 . The penetration means may include a single stake configuration comprising a single stake  2905  having a single length. The single stake  2905  may be located directly under the upright member  110 . The penetration means (e.g.,  2905 ) may penetrate the grassy or earthy location (e.g.,  2610  of  FIG. 26 ). 
       FIG. 30  illustrates a base member  2715  in a perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 . The upright member  110  may be coupled to the base member  2715  at a location near or at a middle part of the base member  2715 . The penetration means may include a tapered stake configuration comprising a partial stake  3010  coupled to a tapered stake  3005 . The tapered stake  3005  may be triangular in shape. The partial stake  3010  may be located directly under the upright member  110 . 
     The penetration means may also include stabilization means (e.g.,  3005 ) for stabilizing the upright member  110  and the sign carrying member  105 . The penetration means (e.g.,  3010  and  3005 ) may penetrate the grassy or earthy location (e.g.,  2610  of  FIG. 26 ), and the stabilization means (e.g.,  3005 ) may prevent the collapsible sign  100  from tipping over or spinning around. Also, tapered stake  3005 , or even a smaller version of the tapered stake  3005 , may be coupled to one or more of stakes  2710  and  2705  of the double stake configuration as shown in  FIGS. 27 and 28  above, to form a double tapered stake configuration (not shown). 
       FIG. 31  illustrates a base member  2715  in a perpendicular arrangement with the upright member  110 . The upright member  110  may be coupled to the base member  2715  at a location near or at a middle part of the base member  2715 . The penetration means may include a tapered stake configuration comprising a tapered stake  3105 . The tapered stake  3105  may be triangular in shape. The tapered stake  3105  may be located under the upright member  110 . 
     The penetration means may also include stabilization means (e.g.,  3105 ) for stabilizing the upright member  110  and the sign carrying member  105 . The penetration means (e.g.,  3105 ) may penetrate the grassy or earthy location (e.g.,  2610  of  FIG. 26 ), and the stabilization means (e.g.,  3105 ) may prevent the collapsible sign  100  from tipping over or spinning around. 
     Moreover, the upright member  110  shown in  FIGS. 1-31  may further comprise an upper portion  110  and a lower portion  110 . The upper portion  110  of the upright member  110  may be springably coupled (not shown) to the lower portion  110  of the upright member  110 . The lower portion  110  of the upright member  110  may be coupled to either the foldable support member  115  of the first example embodiment of the collapsible sign located on the sidewalk  2605  (of  FIG. 26 ) or the support member  115  of the second example embodiment of the collapsible sign located on the grassy or earthy location  2610  (of  FIG. 26 ). This provides additional overall stability to the sign  100 , and the ability to deflect impacts, particularly in the presence of a wind gust or some other type of interference such as a person or vehicle bumping the sign  100 . The spring coupling may include the use of a coil spring (not shown), among other possibilities. 
       FIG. 32  illustrates a bottom view of the foldable support member  115  of  FIG. 1  including an asymmetric arrangement of legs  140 ,  145 ,  160 , and  165 , according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The asymmetric arrangement of legs may include first and second legs  140  and  145  extending by a first length in first and second directions, respectively. An angle θ 1  between the first and second legs  140  and  145  may correspond to an acute angle, and a vertex of the acute angle θ 1  may be located at approximately a base section of the upright member  110 . 
     Similarly, the asymmetric arrangement of legs may include third and fourth legs  160  and  165  extending by a second length in third and fourth directions, respectively. An angle θ 2  between the third and fourth legs  160  and  165  may correspond to an obtuse angle, and a vertex of the acute angle θ 2  may be located at approximately a base section of the upright member  110 . 
     In this manner, the asymmetric arrangement of legs stabilizes the collapsible sign  100  and also reduces a footprint of the sign, thereby providing a space-saving feature. The structure and arrangement of the asymmetric arrangement of legs, or alternatively the penetration and stabilization means, keeps the collapsible sign  100  stationary, and prevent the collapsible sign  100  from tipping over or spinning. Furthermore, gravity pulls the flexible membrane  125  downward, particularly when the weighted bottom  130  is coupled thereto, so that any writing or drawings are readily visible, even in the presence of weather elements such as wind. Moreover, the intuitive collapsible features of the sign  100  allow for rapid assembly, disassembly, and storage. 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles, and can be combined in any desired manner. And although the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments, other configurations are contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as “according to an embodiment of the invention” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the invention to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms can reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments. 
     Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanying material is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.