Patent Publication Number: US-11037473-B2

Title: Modular sign

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/819,245 filed Mar. 15, 2020 which is incorporated herein fully by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates broadly to sign systems, and more specifically to modular signs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Outdoor activities are enjoyed by people of all ages. These people, however, must share the outdoor space. Therefore in some circumstances it may be necessary to alert certain individuals that others, including children, are outside in a particular area. Systems are necessary to alert certain individuals such as drivers, bikers, and even aggressive pedestrians, that others are in the area. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Aspects of the disclosure herein relate to signs and particularly to modular signs. In one embodiment a modular sign may comprise a base portion, the base portion may include an upright portion aperture in a top surface of the base; and an upright portion, the upright portion may include an interlocking portion forming a lower end of the upright portion. The interlocking portion is configured to be inserted into the upright portion aperture of the base portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of an example modular sign with a sign portion attached, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an isometric view of an example modular sign without a sign portion attached, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front view of the modular sign shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the modular sign shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a back isometric view of the modular sign shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts an isometric view of an example base of a modular sign, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 7A  depicts a top view of the base of the modular sign of  FIG. 6   
         FIG. 7B  depicts a side cross-sectional view of the base of the modular sign taken along line B-B of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8  depicts an isometric view of an example upright portion of a modular sign, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 9A  depicts a front view of the upright portion of a modular sign shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 9B  depicts a side view of the upright portion of a modular sign shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of various examples; however, the disclosed examples are not limited to that particular scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of the various examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various examples in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 
     Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” “upward,” “downward,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the disclosure, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Also, the reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     In general, aspects of this disclosure relate to sign systems and in particular to modular signs. According to various aspects and embodiments, the modular signs discussed herein may be formed of one or more of a variety of materials, such as metals (including metal alloys), plastics, polymers, and composites, and may be formed in one of a variety of configurations, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout. 
     Aspects of this disclosure relate to a modular sign  100  having a removable sign portion  102 .  FIGS. 1-5  show various views of the modular sign  100 . The modular sign  100  includes a base portion  200  and an upright portion  300 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the base portion  200  is separable from the upright portion  300 . Advantageously, because the base portion  200  is separable from the upright portion  300  a user may more easily be able to store and/or ship the modular sign  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-5  the modular sign is generally shaped to resemble a child holding a sign with one hand raised, however, the modular sign  100  may be formed using other shapes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the modular sign  100  also includes a sign portion  102 . The sign portion  102  may be connected to the upright portion  300  using any suitable removable means including mechanical fasteners, such as screws or bolts, and hook and loop systems. The sign portion  102  may be modular such that many different sign portions  102  displaying many different messages may be attached to the modular sign  100 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1  the sign portion  102  may display a “Please Slow Down” message. The sign portion may be replaced with signs showing many different messages. In one example, the sign portion  102  may be an electronic sign capable of playing video or other digital messages. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-7B , the base portion  200  is shown separate from the upright portion  300 . As shown in  FIGS. 6-7B , the base portion  200  includes a top surface  202 , a bottom surface  204 , side surfaces  206 , a front surface  208 , and a back surface  210 . As shown in  FIGS. 6-7B  the base portion  200  also includes an upright portion aperture  220 . The upright portion aperture  220  may be formed in the top surface  202  of the base and it may extend completely through the base portion  200  as shown in  FIG. 7B . In other embodiments, however, the upright portion aperture  220  does not extend completely through the base portion  200 . As will be described in more detail below, the upright portion aperture  220  provides a location for the upright portion  300  to be inserted into the base portion  200  such that the upright portion  300  and the base portion  200  may be engaged together. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-7B , the base portion  200  may also include at least one wheel  212 . The at least one wheel  212  may be configured such that a user can tilt the modular sign  100  and the at least one wheel  212  (or wheels) will touch the ground but no other portion of the modular sign  100  or base will touch the ground. Advantageously, this may allow the user to roll or otherwise more easily move the modular sign  100  from one place to another. Additionally, as best shown in  FIG. 7A , the at least one wheel may extend beyond a portion (such as the back or bottom) of the base  200 . The at last one wheel  212  may comprise one wheel, two wheels, or more wheels. 
     In some embodiments, the modular sign  100  may be formed such that it is hollow. In certain circumstances a user may wish to add additional weight to the base portion  200 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the modular sign  100  may include a weight fill aperture  214  having a cover  216 . The weight fill aperture  214  may be formed on the top portion  202  of the base  200  and the weight fill aperture  214  may be configured such that a user can access the hollow portion of the base to add weight to the base. In some embodiments, a user may add sand or water to the base portion  200 , but other materials may be added. 
     As discussed above, the base portion  200  includes an upright portion aperture  220  for connecting the upright portion  300  to the base portion. In some embodiments, the upright portion aperture  220  may have a center portion  222 , a first side portion  224 , and a second side portion  226 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , the center portion  222  of the upright portion aperture  220  may extend deeper than the first side portion  224  and the second side portion  226  of the upright portion aperture  220  and advantageously in some embodiments such a configuration may provide increased strength to the modular sign  100 . For example, in some embodiments the ratio of the depth of the side portions  224 ,  226  to the depth of the center portion  220  measured from the top surface  202  toward the bottom surface  204  may be about 1:1.95 or in the range of about 1:1.75 to about 1:2.25. Additionally, as best shown in  FIG. 7A , the center portion  222  may be wider than the first side portion  224  and the second side portion  226  of the upright portion aperture  220 . For example, in some embodiments the ratio of the width of the side portions  224 ,  226  to the width of the center portion  220  measured in a front to back direction may be about 1:1.75 or may be in the range of about 1:1.5 to about 1:2.0. 
     In some embodiments the upright portion aperture  220  may have additional characteristics that may allow the upright portion  300  and the base portion  200  to engage each other. For example, in some embodiments, the first side portion  224  and the second side portion  226  of the upright portion aperture  220  may have a curved upper surface  228 . Additionally, in some embodiments the base portion  200  may include at least one rib  230 . As shown in  FIG. 7A  the base portion may include six ribs  230 . These ribs may allow the base  200  and the upright portion  300  to more easily or fully engage each other. In other embodiments (not shown) similar ribs may be included on the interlocking portion  310  of the upright portion  300 . 
     Additionally, in some embodiments the base portion  200  may include a number of additional features. For example, in some embodiments, the base portion  200  may include a raised lip  240  surrounding the upright portion aperture  220 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-9B , the upright portion  300  is shown separate from the base portion  300 . As shown in  8 - 9 B, the upright portion  300  may include an interlocking portion  310  forming a lower end of the upright portion  300 . The interlocking portion  310  may be configured to be inserted into the upright portion aperture  220  of the base portion  200 . In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIGS. 8-9B , the interlocking portion  310  has a complementary shape to the upright portion aperture  220 . Additionally, mechanical fasteners, such as screws or bolts, may also be used to engage the upright portion  300  to the base portion  200 . 
     The interlocking portion  310  may have a center portion  312 , a first side portion  314 , and a second side portion  316 . The center portion  312  of the interlocking portion  310  may extend further downward than the first side portion  314  and the second side portion  316  of the interlocking portion  310 . Additionally, the center portion  312  of the interlocking portion  310  may be wider than the first side portion  314  and the second side portion  316  of the interlocking portion  310 . Additionally, and as best shown in  FIG. 9B , the first side portion  314  and the second side portion  316  of the interlocking portion  310  have a curved lower surface  318 . 
     As discussed above, the modular sign  100  may be configured to hold a sign  102 . Thus, the upright portion  300  may include a first sign holding portion  320 . The first sign holding portion  320  may be configured to engage a sign  102 . In some embodiments the first sign holding portion  320  may include a raised lip  322  around the outer periphery of the first sign holding portion  320 . 
     In some embodiments, the modular sign  100  may also include a first a handle aperture  324 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the first a handle aperture  324  may be included within the first sign holding portion  320 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the first handle aperture  324  may be concealed when a sign  102  is secured in the first sign holding portion  320 . In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 9A , the first handle aperture  324  may extend completely through the upright portion  300 . In other embodiments, however, the first handle aperture  324  may not extend completely through the upper portion  300 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the modular sign  100  may include a second sign holding portion  330  opposite the first sign holding portion  320 . Advantageously the second sign holding portion  330  allows a user to engage signs  102  with both sides of the modular sign  100  which allows a user to display messages on opposite sides of the sign  100 . Similar to the first sign holding portion the second sign holding portion may include a similar raised lip  332  and a second handle aperture  334 . 
     The modular sign  100  (including its components  200 ,  300 ) may be formed using any reasonable method. In some embodiments, for example, the modular sign may be formed using injection molding and/or rotomolding. 
     The present disclosure is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of examples. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the disclosure, not to limit the scope of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.