Patent Publication Number: US-8117775-B2

Title: Sign attachment device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/441,001, filed on Mar. 12, 2009, and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120, which is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/AU2007/001349 filed on Sep. 13, 2007, and claims priority of Application No. 2006905059 filed in Australia on Sep. 13, 2006; and this application claims priority of Application No. 2009901038 filed in Australia on Mar. 11, 2009 under 35 U.S.C. §119; the entire contents of all are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the area of signage and accessories and in particular, to a sign attachment device which provides a means for enabling a sign to be secured to at least one support member. 
     Whilst the invention can be applied to any signage which Is erected using support members and/or stakes which are Inserted into the ground or otherwise positioned, and the style of the device can be modified to suit various support members and/or signage, for convenience sake it shall be described herein as a sign attachment device for securing signs to at least one support member and/or surface. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     One of the most common materials used to make signs, such as real estate signs, Is a material commonly referred to as flute board or coreflute. This material is characterised by the holes which extend throughout Its core. These signs are commonly installed using support members, such as star pickets which are driven into the ground or wooden posts via self-drilling screws. The signs are usually attached to the star pickets using cable ties, wire or string or the like. However, the installation process using this current method can be fairly tedious and damages the actual sign, as It is difficult to stably secure the sign to the support members. 
     There have been various devices which have been developed for the installation of these types of signs. These prior art devices involve the use of frame assemblies for holding or hanging a sign board. The frame assemblies are generally specific to the size of the sign and thus, a major disadvantage of the prior art is the further expense Incurred in purchasing frame assemblies to suit each sign&#39;s style and dimensions. The prior art falls to provide a sign support/attachment device which enables a user to quickly and easily install any flute board or coreflute sign to a star picket post or fence without damaging the sign. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sign attachment device which provides a means for enabling signs to be secured to at least one support member. 
     It is a further object of the Invention to provide a sign attachment device which is easy to install, maintenance free, will not damage the sign and provides a cost-effective solution. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a sign attachment device including:
     a body portion for attaching a sign;   and an attachment portion whereby, the sign attachment device provides a means for enabling a sign to be secured to at least one support member.   

     The body portion preferably has provided two parallel side walls which are adapted to be spaced apart by a prescribed distance to receive and hold the edge of a sign therebetween. The side wails preferably have provided at least one aperture which Is adapted to receive a securing member therethrough In order to secure a sign to the attachment device. It Is preferred that the side walls have at least one crest portion which Is adapted to accommodate the presence of a prong member positioned between said side walls. 
     It is further preferred that the body portion of the device preferably has provided a base member. At least one prong member is preferably adapted to be integrally formed with the base member of the body portion and be positioned between the two side walls wherein the prong members can be of different lengths. 
     In a first aspect, the attachment portion Is preferably adapted to be integrally formed with the inner side wall and/or base member of the body portion of the device. The attachment portion preferably has provided a curved portion which is adapted to be integrally formed with an inner side wall of the body portion. 
     The attachment portion may preferably have provided at least one reinforcement member which is adapted to be Integrally formed with the curved portion of the attachment portion and the inner side wall of the body portion to provide a means of transferring any wind pressure to the support member/post, The attachment portion preferably has provided at least one aperture which is adapted to receive a securing means therethrough for securing the device to a support member. 
     In a second aspect, the attachment portion is preferably In the form of a bracket for attachment to a cylindrical support member and/or a support member having a corner and/or a flat support member or surface. The attachment portion preferably has provided at least one side portion, preferably two, which are adapted to be integrally formed with, and positioned perpendicularly to, each other. It is preferred that a first side portion may be Integrally formed with the base member and/or inner side wall or end of a second side portion. It is further preferred that the side portion(s) have provided at least one aperture which is adapted to receive a securing means therethrough. The side portion(s) preferably has/have provided at least one recessed portion for receiving a securing means therein. 
     In order that the invention may be more readily understood we will describe by way of non-limiting example specific embodiments thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of the sign attachment device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a bottom perspective view of the sign attachment device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the sign attachment device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom perspective view of the sign attachment device according to an embodiment of the invention whereby the attachment portion is preferably In the form of a bracket for attachment to a cylindrical support member and/or a support member having a corner and/or a flat support member or surface; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the sign attachment device according to an embodiment of the invention showing the bracket form of the attachment portion for attachment to a cylindrical support member, 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the sign attachment device according to an embodiment of the invention showing the bracket form of the attachment portion for attachment to a flat surface; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention on a flat surface; 
         FIG. 8  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 7  mounted on a corner. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 8  show the sign attachment device according to preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the Invention provides a sign attachment device  1  which provides a means for enabling signs to be secured to at least one support member/surface, (not shown). The device  1  is preferably made of an extruded plastics material, However, it Is envisaged that any other suitable material may also be adopted which meets the requirements of the invention. The material should preferably be able to withstand exposure to the external elements and provide strength and durability to the device to securely hold a sign (not shown) in place. It Is envisaged that the shape, style and dimensions of the sign attachment device  1  may also be varied and modified to suit different sign boards and/or support members to which it Is to be attached. 
     The sign attachment device  1  preferably has provided a body portion  10  which is adapted to receive and hold an edge of a sign therein. The sign may preferably be any suitable signage Including, but not limited to, real estate signs, shop signs, property or building signs, commercial signs, advertising/billboards or any other suitable type of signage. It is envisaged that the device  1  is preferably used for a sign made of fluteboard or a coreflute material. However, it could also be altered to suit signs made of different materials. The body portion  10  preferably has provided at least one side wall. In a preferred embodiment, the body portion has provided two side walls  11 ,  12 . The side walls  11 ,  12  are preferably adapted to be integrally formed with a base member  20  of the body portion  10  and are adapted to extend outwardly in a perpendicular direction relative to the base member  20 . The side walls  11 ,  12  are preferably positioned parallel to each other and are preferably positioned so that they are spaced apart from each other by a prescribed distance. The space  13  provided between the two parallel side walls  11 ,  12  enables a sign board to be received therein and may be varied to accommodate different sized signs accordingly. The side walls  11 ,  12  may preferably have provided at least one aperture  17 . The aperture  17  is preferably adapted to receive a securing member (not shown), such as a screw or bolt or the like, therethrough in order to secure a sign to the attachment device  1 . 
     The side walls  11 ,  12  preferably have provided at least one crest portion  14 . The crest portion  14  is preferably integrally formed with the side wall  11 ,  12  and preferably curves outwardly toward the exterior of the device  1 . It is envisaged that there may be provided at least one rib  16 . The rib  16  is preferably integrally formed with the Inner side wall  11  and is adapted to provide structural support and strength to the side wall to provide adequate support for the sign being held. The crest(s)  14  is/are preferably adapted to accommodate for the presence of a prong member  15  located within the space between the two side walls  11 ,  12 . 
     The sign attachment device  1  preferably has provided at least one prong member  15 . It Is envisaged that the number of prong members  15  provided will be dependent on the length of the body portion  10  of the device  1  and/or rigidity of the sign. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body portion  10  of the device  1  has provided four prong members  15 . The prong members  15  are preferably located within the space provided between the two side walls  11 ,  12  of the body portion  10  of the device  1 . The prong members  15  are preferably integrally formed with the base member  20  of the body portion  10  and are adapted to extend outwardly from the base member  20  of the body portion  10 . In a preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the prong member  15  located at the front end  16   a  and the prong member located at the back end  15   a  of the body portion are shorter in length than the two centrally located prong members  15   b . The prong members  15  are adapted to pass through apertures provided in a flute board or coreflute sign so that edges of the sign can be received and securely held within the body portion  10  of the device  1 . The short prong members  15   a , located deeper within the body portion  10 , are preferably designed to assist in securely holding the edge of a sign deep within the body portion  10  of the device  1  so that it will not detach and/or prevent lateral movement of the sign easily, particularly in extreme wind conditions. The long prong members  15   b , which preferably extend slightly further than the top edge of the side walls  11 ,  12 , are preferably designed to support the flex or movement of the flute board or coreflute material and act as locator pins for the insertion of the sign. In a further embodiment where a different signage material Is utilised it is envisaged that these prong members  15  may be removed from the design and/or modified to an alternate design to adequately hold and support the signage material. 
     The body portion  10  of the sign attachment device  1  may preferably have provided a base member  20 , The base member  20  Is preferably integrally formed with the two side walls  11 ,  12  and adapted to be perpendicularly positioned relative to, and at the base of, the side walls  11 ,  12 . The base member  20  preferably has provided at least one outwardly extending portion  21  which is adapted to extend perpendicularly outward from the adjacent inner side wall  11  of the body portion  10  of the device  1 . In a preferred embodiment of the Invention, the base member  20  has provided two outwardly extending portions  21  which are adapted to be integrally formed with the base member  20  and/or inner side wall  11  of the body portion  10  of the device  1 , A first outwardly extending portion  21  is adapted to be located at a front end of the device  1  and a second outwardly extending portion  21  is adapted to be located at a back end of the device  1 . The outwardly extending members  21  are preferably adapted to abut against and support a fin or flange portion (not shown) of a star picket post or portion of a support member that is placed against the inner surface of the outwardly extending members  11 . It is envisaged that the shape and dimensions of the outwardly extending portions  21  may be varied as required to suit different support members. It is envisaged that the outwardly extending portions  21  may be omitted in alternate designs of the invention, some of which are described below. 
     The sign attachment device  1  preferably has provided an attachment portion which is adapted to enable the device  1  to be attached to a support member, In a first aspect of the invention, the attachment portion is designed for attachment to a fin or flange of a star picket post/fence or any other suitable support member. The attachment portion  30  is preferably adapted to be integrally formed with the inner side wall  11  of the body portion  10  of the device  1 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachment portion  30  preferably has provided a curved portion  31 . The bottom edge  32  of the curved portion  31  is preferably adapted to be Integrally formed with the inner side wall  11  and/or base member  20  of the body portion  10  of the device  1 . The curved portion  31  is preferably adapted to extend radially outward relative to the side wall  11 ,  12  and base members  20  respectively. The curved portion  31  is preferably positioned such that, the bottom surface  33  of the curved portion  31  is positioned slightly inward from the base  20  of the device  1  In order to provide a space between the base  20  of the device  1  and the curved portion  31  of the attachment portion  30 , which is adapted to receive and hold the fin or flange of a star picket post or other portion of a support member therein. 
     The attachment portion  30  preferably has provided at least one reinforcement member  34 . In a preferred embodiment, the attachment portion  30  preferably has provided four parallel reinforcement members  34  which are adapted to be positioned along the curved portion  31  of the attachment portion  30  and be spaced apart from each other. The reinforcement members  34  are adapted to be integrally formed with the inner surface of the curved portion  31  and the inner side wail  11  of the body portion  10  to provide reinforcement and a means of transferring any wind pressure to the support member. It is envisaged that the reinforcement member(s)  34  located centrally of the attachment portion  30  may have larger dimensions than those located at either end/side to provide greater support for the inner side wall  11  and sign to prevent excessive flex and damage in extreme weather conditions. 
     The curved portion  31  of the attachment portion  30  of the sign attachment device  1  preferably has provided at least one aperture  35 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the curved portion  31  may have provided five apertures  35  which are adapted to be positioned along the curved portion  31  of the attachment portion  30  whereby, each aperture  35  may be located adjacent to, and separated by, at least one reinforcement member  34  of the attachment portion  30 . The apertures  35  of the attachment portion  30  are preferably adapted to receive a securing means (not shown) therethrough in order to secure the sign attachment device  1  to a star picket post/fence or other support member. The apertures  35  are preferably positioned in relation to a corresponding hole(s) provided in the support member so that the securing means will tension the base member  20  and/or attachment portion  30  against the support member. The securing means may preferably be a cable tie or any other suitable securing/fastening mechanism. 
     In a second aspect of the Invention, the attachment portion  30  is preferably In the form of a bracket for attachment to a cylindrical support member and/or a support member having a corner and/or a flat support member or surface. In its bracket form for connection to a corner of a support member and/or cylindrical support member, the attachment portion  30  preferably has provided two side portions  41 ,  42  which are adapted to be Integrally formed with, and be positioned perpendicularly to, each other. The attachment portion  30  is preferably adapted to be Integrally formed with the base member  20  and/or inner side wall  11  of the body portion  10  of the device  1  and positioned such that a first side portion  42  extends outwardly In the opposite direction to the side walls  11 ,  12  of the body portion  10 . The side walls may preferably have provided at least one aperture  43  which is adapted to receive a securing means, such as a screw or the like, therethrough to secure the attachment device  1  to the support member. In this example, the attachment portion  30  is adapted to be slightly longer in length than the base member  20  and side walls  11 ,  12 . Positioned on the side portions  42 ,  42  adjacent either end of the base member  20  and/or side walls  11 ,  12  Is preferably a recessed portion  45 , The recessed portion Is preferably adapted to receive a band  46  or tie or other suitable securing means for enabling the attachment portion  30  of the sign attachment device  1  to be secured about a cylindrical pole or other odd-shaped support member. 
     Alternatively, for connection to a flat support member or surface, the second side portion  41  may preferably be shorter in length and the first side portion  42  may preferably be adapted to be connected to the end of the second side portion  41  as opposed to the body portion  10  of the device. in this example, it is envisaged that the first side portion  42  is adapted to attach to the flat support member and/or surface and has at least one aperture  44  provided accordingly for receiving a suitable securing member therethrough, In practice, the sign attachment device  1  is secured to a support member/surface by attaching the device  1  via the attachment portion  30  and/or base member  20 , and ensuring that the holes on the support member align with the apertures  43 ,  44  on the attachment portion  30  of the device  1 . The device  1  can then be secured to the support member/surface using a plastic cable be or other suitable securing means, A sign board can then be slid onto the device  1  so that the edge of the sign Is received between the side walls  11 ,  12  of the body portion  10  of the device  1  with the prong members  15  being inserted into the apertures (not shown) of the flute board or coreflute sign, it is envisaged that the number of sign attachment devices  1  used to attach a particular sign, may vary depending on the size and dimensions of the sign. In an alternate embodiment, further signs may be attached to the other sides of a support member In order to create an A-frame configuration for the sign. 
     In another embodiment the attachment device includes a living hinge within the attachment portion  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  the attachment portion consists of two flat flanges  50  and  51  at right angles to the body portion  10 . The fold line  54  defines the living hinge that marks the border between flanges  50  and  51 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  this arrangement allows the same device to be used on flat surfaces and at corners of any angle. It can also be used on curved surfaces using cable ties in the same manner as shown in  FIG. 5 . This embodiment using a living hinge in the device means that one injection moulded integral attachment device can be used in many situations and the inventory required is reduced providing cost savings. 
     While we have described a particular embodiment of a sign attachment device  1 , it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described, However, It is to be understood that any variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.