Patent Publication Number: US-6212809-B1

Title: Apparatus for supporting indicia with a rail

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of indicia supporting apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods of supporting indicia with a rail carried by supports. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Advertising has long enjoyed considerable innovation by skilled artisans in an effort to efficiently, inexpensively and easily communicate advertising medium to consumers. Although television and radio embody exemplary mechanisms for communicating advertising messages to consumers, they prove very expensive and, for some, prohibitively expensive. Less expensive means of advertising, such as billboards and yellow page advertising, however, prove largely ineffective as an efficient and cost-effective means of advertising. In view of the present apparatus and methods for presenting advertisements to consumers, the need for certain new and useful innovations for reducing the cost and increasing the effectiveness of advertising is evident. 
     Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide improved apparatus and methods for supporting indicia and, more particularly, for supporting advertising indicia. 
     It is a purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is easy to construct. 
     It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is inexpensive. 
     It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is highly effective for delivering and communicating indicia to consumers. 
     It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that may be easily and inexpensively installed with conventional railings. 
     It is still a further provision of the present invention to decrease the costs of advertising. 
     It is yet still a further provision of the present invention to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with an inexpensive alternative to advertising as compared with television, radio and billboard advertising. 
     It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is easy to use. 
     It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that may be used outside and inside. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others are realized in new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia with a rail. In a particular embodiment, apparatus of the present invention comprises a receptacle movable between an open condition for receiving a predetermined length of the rail and a closed condition for enclosing the predetermined length of the rail, and indicia contained by the receptacle adjacent the rail for viewing in the closed condition of the receptacle. The receptacle may contain a window for allowing the indicia to be viewed when supported by the receptacle adjacent the rail in its closed condition. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of apparatus for supporting indicia with a rail carried by supports, the apparatus including a receptacle and indicia supported by the receptacle adjacent the rail; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown carried by the rail; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmented isometric view of a free end of the apparatus of FIG.  1  and the indicia shown carried by a medium; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the indicia shown as it would appear partially enclosed by the receptacle; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmented isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with portions thereof broken away for the purposes of illustration; 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line  66  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 with fastening apparatus shown engaged to enclosed the receptacle in a closed condition; 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear mounted to a rail having a T-junction; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmented isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear carried by a rail having a substantially square cross section; 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a gasket engagable for sealingly engaging the receptacle with the rail of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus for supporting indicia with a rail, the apparatus shown having a substantially square cross-sectional shape; and 
     FIG. 12 is fragmented isometric view of an engagement assembly for sealingly engaging edges of the receptacle of the present invention in a closed condition. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides, among other things, apparatus and methods for supporting indicia with railing. Ensuing embodiments of the present invention are easy and inexpensive to construct, easy to install and prove exemplary as a mechanism for presenting advertising indicia to consumers, and for protecting the advertising indicia from damage such as through exposure to sunlight, water, etc. 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates an isometric view of apparatus  20  for supporting indicia  21  with a rail  22  of a type shown supported with a wall  24  at an elevated location. In this specific embodiment, rail  22  is shown carried by supports  23  mounted with wall  24 . It will readily occur to those skilled in the art that supports  23  are shown merely for the purposes of illustration, and that other mechanisms for supporting rails of a type like rail  22  may be employed if desired. Turning to FIG. 6, apparatus  20  comprises a receptacle  30  including a sidewall  31  having first and second free ends  32  and  33  (FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 ). Sidewall  31  is severed to form first and second edges  34  and  35  each extending from the first free end  32  to the second free end  33 . Receptacle  30  is preferably constructed of a substantially resilient material, such as caste or extruded acrylic or polycarbonate, to allow it to be moved between an open condition with the first and second edges  34  and  35  disposed in space relation to allow rail  22  to pass therethrough, and a closed condition to enclose a predetermined length of rail  22  as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  4 . In the closed condition, sidewall  31  is substantially continuous and first and second edges  34  and  35  mate. First and second edges  34  and  35  may be made to overlap in the closed condition of receptacle  30  and, more particularly, may be made to overlap in substantially sealing engagement. 
     In its closed condition to enclose a predetermined length of rail  22 , receptacle  30  is preferably sealingly engagable to thereby sealingly enclose the predetermined length of rail  22 . In this regard, and with attention directed to FIG. 5, shown is a gasket  40 . Gasket  40  is of a conventional sort and includes a ring  41  that has been severed to form opposing first and second free ends  42  and  43 . Ring  41  is preferably constructed of a selected rubber or the like and is normally carried in a groove  44  formed in an inner or first major surface  45  of sidewall  31  facing rail  22  in its closed condition. Like sidewall  31 , ring  41  may be moved between open and closed conditions for receipt and engagement with rail  22 . With gasket  40  carried in groove  44 , it will face and bear against rail  22  so as to be captured between sidewall  31  and rail  22 . 
     To seal first free end  32  of receptacle  30  with rail, clamp apparatus  46  may be engaged for bearing first free end  32  against rail  22  for sealingly engaging gasket  40  against first major surface  45  and rail  22 . In this specific embodiment, clamp apparatus  46  comprises a well-known assemblage including an elongate band  50  engagable in a continuous condition and a threaded adjustment element  51  carried by the elongate band  50 . A groove  52  formed in an outer or second major surface  53  of sidewall  31  adjacent first free end  32  receives and accommodates elongate band  50  in its continuous condition, wherein the threaded adjustment element  51  may be adjusted for constricting elongate band  50  against sidewall  31  for bearing first free end  32  against rail  22  for sealingly engaging gasket  40  against first major surface  45  and rail  22 . Elongate band  50  may be constructed of a selected metal, plastic or other suitably strong material. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, clamp apparatus  46  may alternatively comprise an elongate band  60  receivable by groove  52  and having free ends engagable by a threaded element or bolt  61  and a nut  62  so as to be continuous. It will be understood that elongate band  60  is sized such that in its continuous condition, it will bear first free end  32  against rail  22  for sealingly engaging gasket  40  against first major surface  45  and rail  22 . 
     Regarding FIG. 7, clamp apparatus  46  may be provided as a threaded element or bolt  55  receivable by opposing apertures  56  and  57  carried by sidewall  31  at first and second free edges  34  and  35 , respectively, adjacent first free end  32 , and a nut  58 . With threaded element  55  received into and through apertures  56  and  57 , nut  58  may be threadably engaged with threaded element  55  and tightened for bearing first free end  32  against rail  22  for sealingly engaging gasket  40  against first major surface  45  and rail  22 . Each embodiment of clamp apparatus  46  may be removed by reversing the steps necessary to carry out their respective installations. Although not shown, it will be understood that second free end  33  is provided with a gasket and clamp apparatus like that of first free  32  for allowing a user to sealing engage second free end  33  with rail  22 . 
     Apparatus  20  supports indicia  21  such that with receptacle  30  mounted with rail in its closed condition, may be easily viewed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the specific embodiment set forth in FIGS. 3 and 4, indicia  21  is carried by a medium  70  of which may be contained and supported by receptacle  30  adjacent rail  22  so as to be viewable. Medium  70  may be constructed of any desired material such as paper, plastic, a selected metal, cardboard or other material upon which indicia may be carried and expressed. 
     In accordance with a preferred manner of installation, and with attention directed to FIG. 6, medium  70  is normally carried in a recess  71  formed in first major surface  45  of sidewall  31  such that with sidewall  31  mounted with rail  22  in its closed condition, medium  70  will reside against or otherwise adjacent rail  22  intermediate the first and second free ends  32  and  33  and indicia  21  will face recess  71 . Medium  70  may be carried by recess  71  during installation of sidewall  31 . To permit the viewing of indicia  21  so supported with rail by receptacle  30 , sidewall  31  is preferably constructed to be substantially transparent at least to an extent sufficient to allow the viewing of indicia  21  when contained by receptacle  30 . Accordingly, it will be generally understood that sidewall  31  contains or otherwise defines a substantially transparent window  72  (FIGS. 1-6) in opposition to indicia  21  to permit the viewing of indicia when contained by receptacle  30 . When sealingly engaged with rail  22 , receptacle will operate to contain and protect medium  70  and indicia  21  from exposure to external environmental conditions. 
     As evinced in FIGS. 3 and 4, medium  70  is preferably removable so that it may be replaced with any desired indicia as a user may desire. In this regard, clamp  46  apparatus  46  may be released, medium  70  grasped and removed from one of the first and second free ends  32  and  33  of receptacle  30  and then replaced with medium having different indicia, and then clamp apparatus  46  tightened for sealingly engaging receptacle  30  with rail  22 . If a user should desire, indicia  21  may be supported by receptacle  30  in a substantially permanent fashion such that when mounted with rail  22  in its closed condition, receptacle  30  will support indicia adjacent rail  22  for viewing consistent with the teachings of this disclosure. In this regard, sidewall  31  may be provided to support indicia substantially permanently with indicia either substantially permanently affixed to sidewall  31  or embedded or otherwise contained by sidewall  31  or imprinted on sidewall  31 . 
     Rail  22  is shown having a substantially cylindrical shape. To provide for exemplary sealing engagement, ring  41  of gasket  40  includes an outer surface  73  (FIG. 5) shaped for conforming substantially with groove  44  and inner surface  74  shaped as substantially circular or cylindrical for conforming substantially with the substantially cylindrical shape of rail  22  in its closed condition. FIG. 9 illustrates a rail  80  having a substantially square cross-sectional shape. To provide for exemplary sealing engagement, inner surface  74  of gasket  40  is shown shaped as substantially square for conforming substantially with the substantially square shape of rail  80  in its closed condition. The skilled artisan will readily appreciate that gaskets may be provided in any desired shape suitable for facilitating the sealing engagement of the first and second free ends  32  and  33  of receptacle  30  with a rail. 
     The cross-sectional shape of the receptacle  30  and the associated gaskets may be provided in a variety of geometric shapes depending on specific needs. The various structural components of apparatus  20  are shown in the above-described drawings as having substantially cylindrical or circular cross-sectional shapes. Regarding FIG. 11, shown is a vertical sectional view of apparatus  82  for supporting indicia with a rail  83 . The specific structural features of apparatus  82  are substantially identical to that of apparatus  20 . Accordingly, the same reference characters used to describe apparatus  20  will be used to describe apparatus  82 . However, common reference characters used to describe apparatus  82  will include a prime (“′”) symbol for clarity. In this regard, and unlike apparatus  20 ,  21  receptacle  30 ′ and gaskets  40 ′ (only one shown) have substantially square cross sectional shapes designed to conform substantially with the substantially square cross sectional shape of rail  83 . 
     Receptacle  30 ′ carries not one, but rather a plurality of recesses  71 ′ each for receiving one of a plurality of media  70 ′ expressing indicia. Consistent with the general teachings of the present invention, it will be generally understood that sidewall  31 ′ contains or otherwise defines substantially transparent windows  72 ′ in opposition at least to the indicia carried by each of the media  70 ′ to permit the viewing of each indicia when contained by receptacle  30 ′. Like sidewall  31 , the entire extent of sidewall  31 ′ may be totally substantially transparent if desired. 
     Turning to FIG. 12, sidewall  31  is shown having engagement apparatus  90  operative for substantially sealingly engaging first and second edges  34  and  35  of sidewall together. This can be important for it will ensure against water entering between the first and second edges  34  and  35  to damage the indicia. Engagement apparatus  90  includes a first engagement element halve  91  carried by, and extending outwardly from, first edge  34 , and a second engagement element halve  92  carried by, and extending outwardly from, second edge  35 . In the closed condition of receptacle  30 , the first and second engagement elements  91  and  92  mate to form an engagement element  93  shown, in this specific example, as a tongue  94 . A complemental engagement element  95  is detachably engagable with tongue  94  for substantially sealingly first and second edges  34  and  35  together. Because engagement element  93  is a tongue  94 , complemental engagement element  95  includes a groove  96  carried by an elongate support body  97  that receives and captures tongue  94 . 
     To enhance the sealing engagement of first and second edges  34  and  35 , engagement apparatus  90  may further include an elongate seal  100  that may be positioned so as to be captured between the first and second engagement element halves  91  and  92  in first and second grooves  101  and  102  carried by first and second engagement element halves  91  and  92 . With complemental engagement element  95  engaged with engagement element  93 , elongate seal  100  will be captured by the first and second grooves  101  and  102  between the first and second engagement element halves  91  and  92  in sealing engagement. Like gaskets  40 , elongate seal  100  may be constructed of rubber or other suitable material sufficient to occasion sealing engagement. 
     The present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. For instance, FIG. 8 illustrates an opening  110  formed through sidewall  31  of receptacle  30  to allow installation of apparatus  20  with a rail  111  at a T-junction  112 . Furthermore, when weather is not a consideration, such as inside a building, the various gaskets used for sealing may be eliminated. Also, the various embodiments may be constructed of varying size suitable for accommodating rails of varying size, and the various embodiments of clamp apparatus  46  may be made to blend with receptacle ergonomically to inhibit peoples&#39; clothing or extremities from snagging or catching on clamp apparatus  46  as they walk by or should they touch apparatus  20 . Various changes and modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.