Patent Publication Number: US-11640770-B2

Title: Curved insert for sign board and sign board system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/153,119, filed Feb. 24, 2021, and titled “CURVED INSERT FOR SIGN BOARD.” This application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a channel insert for a sign board adapted for interchangeable signs held in tracks or channels of the sign board. 
     Related Art 
     Convenience stores, gas stations, markets, grocery stores, other types of stores and shops, warehouses, and other facilities may use signs that have interchangeable sign elements. One type of sign has a sign board on which are formed channels or tracks into which sign elements are inserted. A common sign element is a strip of cardboard, plastic or other material which has been printed with the desired text or image. The strip sign element is mounted on the sign board by sliding the strip sign element into the track or channel. Sign boards are provided that accept one, two, three, or more of the strip sign elements. The sign boards may have tracks or channels on one or both sides so that the strip sign elements may be displayed on just one side or on both sides of the sign board. Sign boards that use strip sign elements mounted in channel tracks may be used to display product information, navigational information (e.g. aisle and/or shelf indicator), or other information. 
     With conventional sign boards, inserted signage may move within its respective track or channel, including partially or completely sliding out of the track or channel. Such boards may use additional fasteners or adhesive to secure the sign with track or channel. However, these conventional solutions require additional components and/or may render the sign permanently fastened in the channel or track. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a sign board with a channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a front, top perspective view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a back, bottom perspective view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a top plan view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view, partially broken away, of the sign board with a channel insert of  FIG.  1    taken along line  6 - 6 . 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of the sign board with a channel insert of  FIG.  1    taken along line  7 - 7 . 
         FIGS.  8 - 17    are additional perspective views showing the channel insert according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  18    is a top plan view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  19    is a bottom view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  20    is a left-side elevational view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  21    is a right-side elevational view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  22    is a back elevational view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  23    is a front elevational view showing the channel insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements, features and components that are identical, functionally identical and have the same effect are—insofar as is not stated otherwise—respectively provided with the same reference character. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. 
     The present disclosure provides a channel insert  2  for a sign board  8 . The channel insert  2  is configured to accommodate one or more pieces of signage  4 . The channel insert  2  may then be inserted into the sign board  8  as illustrated in the drawings and described in more detail below. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the sign board  8  may include one or more panels  10 ,  12 . The panels  10 ,  12  are configured to hold and display signage of various forms. For example, signage in the form of a display strip  20  may be inserted and held in panels  10  and/or  12 . Panel  10  may be configured to accommodate one or more display strips  20 , with the ability to additionally or alternatively accommodating thicker signage, such as a spiral bound pad  19  that may include pre-printed information. The spiral bound pad  19  may include several pages bound by a spiral binding. When removed from the sign panel  10 , the pages of the spiral bound pad may be flipped to reveal the desired information. Once the desired information is on the front page, the spiral bound pad  19  may be inserted into panel  10 . 
     The sign board  8  may be hung from a ceiling or other structure via holes  9 , which are configured to accept one or more fasteners (e.g. hooks, screws, etc.).  FIG.  1    illustrates rings shown in broken line as an example fastener or other means to suspend the sign board  8 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the signboard may be mounted to a surface using a nail, screw, or other type of fastener that engages the holes  9 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the panel  10  includes a lower channel track  13  and upper channel track  14  that together define the panel  10 . The lower channel track  13  and upper channel track  14  are configured to accept the thicker spiral bound pad  19 , which is generally thicker than a display strip  20 . In this example, the panel  12  includes lower and upper channel tracks  15  that have a depth that is less than the depth of the channel tracks  13  and  14  of panel  10 . Although the channel tracks  15  of panel  12  are dimensionally the same, the top and bottom channel tracks  15  may be differently dimensioned in other embodiments. Further, the sign board  8  may include two or more panels that are configured to accommodate similarly sized signage and accordingly have similar dimensioned channel tracks as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The different depths and dimensions of the respective channel tracks are further illustrated in cross section in  FIG.  6   . The number of panels of the sign board  8  are not limited, and the sign board can include fewer or additional panels as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional and/or alternatively, one or more sign boards  8  may be connected together using one or more fasteners, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,898,941, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a modular sign board system that includes modular panels that are configured to be combined to form a sign board with a customized number and/or type of panels forming the sign board. 
     As shown in the drawings, the panels  10 ,  12  of the sign board  8  are double sided. In a dual sided configuration, the sign board  8  includes panels  10  and/or panels  12  on both the front  16  and rear  17  sides of the sign board  8 . In other embodiments, the panel  10  and/or panel  12  may be single sided. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the panel  10  having the channel tracks  13  and  14  is configured to accommodate the channel insert  2 . In this configuration, the channel insert  2  has a thickness generally larger than the display strips  20  similar to the spiral bound pad  19 . The channel insert  2  may be configured with different dimensions, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to allow the channel insert  2  to be used with differently dimension channel tracks, including those of panel  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  6   , the top channel track  14  may be of sufficient size to accept the spiral binding of the spiral bound pad  19 . The top channel track  14  may include an outwardly directed portion  42  and inwardly directed portion  44 . The outwardly directed portion  42  is configured to accommodate the spiral binding of the spiral bound pad  19  and the inwardly directed portion  44  is configured to engage beneath the spiral binding to help prevent the spiral binding from coming out of the channel track  14  except at the end. The lower channel track  13  extends far enough from the panel  10  to accept the pages of the spiral bound pad  19 , and in some embodiments, also a display strip. The inwardly directed portion  44  has an inner surface  45  that extends a same distance as the inner surface of the bottom channel track  13 . In other embodiments, this distance may be different. In some embodiments, the top channel track  14  is configured without the outwardly directed portion  42  so as to be similar to the lower channel track  13 . 
     The channel insert  2  may be removably inserted into the channel tracks  13 ,  14  of the panel  10  of the sign board  8 . For Example, the channel insert  2  may be inserted into an end of the panel  10  at the opening of the channel tracks  13 ,  14  at the side of the sign board  8  as illustrated by the dashed lines in  FIG.  1   . 
     Once inserted, the channel insert  2  may be slid along the panel  10  within the channel tracks  13 ,  14  to position the channel insert  2  at a desired position within the panel  10 . One or more additional channel inserts  2  may be inserted into the panel  10  so that the panel holds multiple channel inserts  2  as is illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The channel insert(s)  2  may be used in combination with one or more other types of signage, such as the spiral bound pad  19 , display strips  20 , or the like. 
     Turning to  FIGS.  3 - 5   , according to exemplary embodiments, the channel insert  2  includes a curved profile such that the back  22  of the channel insert  2  has a convex profile while the front  24  of the channel insert  2  has a concave profile.  FIGS.  8 - 23    show additional views of the channel insert  2  according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the channel insert  2  is formed to have elastic properties so that channel insert  2  is configured to return to its curved configuration after being distorted to a flatter profile. The elastic properties of the channel insert  2  are further illustrated in  FIG.  7   , which shows the normal curved profile shape  48  of the channel insert  2  in broken line (i.e. the natural state of the channel insert  2 ). The distorted, flattened profile shape  50  is shown in solid line and is the result of the channel insert  2  being inserted into the channel tracks  13 ,  14  of the panel  10  that have a smaller width than the channel insert  2  in its natural state  48 . When inserted into the channel tracks  13 ,  14 , the elastic properties of the channel insert  2  are configured to generate a biasing force that acts on the panel  10  and correspond channel tracks  13 ,  14 . This biasing force secures the channel insert  2  within the panel  10  when the channel insert  2  is inserted into the channel tracks  13 ,  14 . Because the channel insert  2  is self-securing with the bias force, additionally fastening means to secure the channel insert  2  within the panel  10  may be advantageously omitted. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the convex back surface  22  of the channel insert  2  contacts and presses against the surface  46  of the panel  10  while the front corners  35  of the channel insert contact and press against the inner surface  45  of the inwardly directed portion  44  of the top channel track  14 . That is, the biasing force results from the dimensions of the channel tracks  13 ,  14  of the sign board  8  with respect to the curvature of the curved channel insert  2 . When inserted into the channel tracks  13 ,  14  of the panel  10 , the curvature of the curved channel insert  2  causes the convex surface  22  of the curved channel insert  2  to engage the surface  46  of the panel  10  of the sign board  8  (i.e. surface extending between the channels) and causes the corners  35  ( FIG.  5   ) of the return legs  26  of the curved channel insert  2  to engage the inner surface of the  45  of the inwardly directed portion  44  of the top channel track  14 . This engagement of the back and front of the channel insert  2  with the panel  10  secures the channel insert  2  in place within the panel  10 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the degree of curvature and/or the rigidity of the curved channel insert  2  may be selected (e.g. during manufacturing) to increase or decrease the amount of biasing force generated by the curved channel insert  2  when inserted in a corresponding sign board  8 , and/or to accommodate sign boards  8  having different channel dimensions. For example, if additional holding force is desired, the degree of curvature and/or the rigidity can be increased to increase the biasing force generated by the channel insert  2  when inserted into the panel  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  5   , in an exemplary embodiment, the curved channel insert  2  includes return legs  26  that are formed on the lateral ends of the curved surface of the curved channel insert  2 . The return legs  26  are configured as clips that are configured to secure signage  4  inserted on the concave surface  24  of the channel insert  2 . In this embodiment, the signage  4  may be accommodated between the adjacent return legs  26 . The return legs  26  may be configured to provide a holding/biasing force to secure the signage  4  between the respective return leg  26  and the concave surface  24  so as to secure the signage within the channel insert  2 . Because the return legs  26  are configured to securely hold the signage  4  within the channel insert  2 , additionally fastening means (e.g. adhesive) to secure the signage  4  on the concave surface  24  may be advantageously omitted. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the return legs  26  include a bent edge portion  28  that extends from the concave surface  24  (e.g. approximately perpendicularly from the surface  24 ). From the distal end of the bent edge portion  28 , an inwardly angled portion  30  extends at an angle towards the concave surface  24 . From the distal end of the inwardly angled portion  30 , a tail portion  32  extends at an angle away from the concave surface  24 . The angle of the tail portion  32  allows for an easier insertion of the signage  4  between the return leg  26  and the concave surface  24 . A bias point  34  is formed at the junction of the inwardly angled portion  30  and the tail portion  32 . The bias/contact point  34  contacts or is immediately adjacent to the concave surface  24 . When signage is inserted into the return legs  26 , the bias point  34  contacts the signage such that the signage is held between the concave surface  24  and the bias point  34 . The distance between the bias point  34  and the concave surface  24  can be set (e.g. during manufacturing) based on the intended thickness of the signage  4 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the concave  24  and/or convex  22  surface of the curved channel insert  2  may be configured to receive and accommodate signage  4 , such as a sign or label (e.g. label “A 123 ” or “B 456 ”) in  FIG.  1   . In embodiments where the signage  4  is placed on the convex surface  22 , one or more fasteners may be used to secure the signage to the convex surface  22 , such as an adhesive, hook-and-loop fastener, magnet, and/or other removable or permanent fastening means as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally or alternatively, one or images and/or text may printed onto the concave  24  and/or convex  22  surfaces. Additionally or alternatively, images and/or text may be formed on the concave  24  and/or convex  22  surfaces (e.g. impressed into the surface). 
     Although the Figures illustrate the channel insert  2  with continuous return legs  26  running the full length of the channel insert  2 , the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the return legs  26  may be discontinuous along the length of the channel insert  2 . For example, the return legs  26  may be formed at the top and bottom ends of the channel insert  2  (e.g. the portion of the channel insert that engages the channel tracks  13 ,  14  of the sign board  8 ) while being omitting in the middle portion of the channel insert  2 . In another embodiment, the return legs may be formed intermittently along the length of the channel insert at regular or irregular positions. 
     In one or more embodiments, the return legs  26  may be omitted completely. In an embodiment in which the return legs are omitted, the signage may be secured to the concave surface  24  with one or more fasteners, such as an adhesive, hook-and-loop fastener, magnet, and/or other removable or permanent fastening means as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. One or more of these fasteners may also be used in embodiments that include complete or partial return legs  26  to further secure the signage to the channel insert  2 . 
     The channel insert  2  may be made with different lengths (height as viewed in the drawings) and widths. For example, the length of the channel can be selected to correspond to the distance between the adjacent tracks channels of the panel  10  of the sign board  8 . In an exemplary embodiment, the length of the channel insert  2  is 5.75 inches, but is not limited thereto. The width (when in its natural curved state) can be for example, about 1.3 inches, but is not limited thereto. The channel insert  2  may be made of one or more plastics (e.g. polystyrene, high-impact polystyrene, etc.), metals, composites, and/or other materials as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The channel insert  2  may be formed of by an extrusion process, but is not limited thereto. 
     To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of the present disclosure, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present disclosure is described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art on the basis of the embodiments in the present disclosure without any creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.