Patent Publication Number: US-2007107285-A1

Title: Detachable cross-arm for real estate signs

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This is a utility patent application which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/737,218 filed on Nov. 15, 2005.  
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
      Not Applicable  
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
      Not Applicable  
     STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL  
      Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
     BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates in general to signpost assemblies, and more particularly to a detachable cross arm for real estate signposts.  
      Signpost assemblies mainly comprise a vertical post and a cross arm for supporting a sign. Several types of signposts have been developed in art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,076 to Thomas discloses a support for an outdoor sign. The support has upper and lower extents that are swingably connected to move between an erect position for use and a collapsed position for storage. A cross-bar is pivotally connected to the upper extent for movement between a perpendicular relation to the support, for use, and a collapsed position for storage. However, the cross arm attachment is different from that of the present invention.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,406 to Olson, Jr. discloses a utility pole with removable cross arm. The pole has an aperture for receiving the cross arm. A tubular sleeve is passed through the pole aperture and fastened to the pole, and the cross arm is passed through the sleeve with its opposite ends projecting outwardly from the pole. The cross arm is connected to the sleeve to secure the cross arm in position.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,514 to Bourque discloses a cross arm type support having a vertical post formed from a rectangular tube having a set of internal splines. A cross arm is provided at the upper end formed from a second rectangular tube having a first channel along its lower edge and a second channel along its upper edge. The vertical posts and cross arm are mortised to form complementary notches for mounting the cross arm to the post. The post and internal splines interlock with the cross arm and channels to provide internal support and rigidity to the joint. The lower cross arm channel is formed to receive plastic hooks for attaching a hanging sign and the upper channel is formed to receive a set of plastic inserts for receiving an interchangeable rider sign.  
      Although the cross arms of the Olson, Jr. and Bourque references are removable, the means for attaching the cross arm of the present invention is different. The cross arm of the present invention can be easily mounted to a vertical post, without using fasteners, for hanging a sign. In one embodiment, the cross arm of the present invention can be mounted to vertical posts of existing real estate signposts.  
     SUMMARY  
      The present invention is a cross-arm that can be detachably secured to typical real estate signposts. The cross-arm mainly comprises an elongated bar with a coupling assembly connected to the elongated bar. The elongated bar includes of plurality of rings or other suitable means for holding a real estate sign. The coupling assembly includes a rectangular area with two L-shaped members extending from the rectangular area. The rectangular area is made to abut the vertical column of a traditional real estate signpost and the L-shaped members are made to grip the vertical column of a traditional real estate signpost from two directions, anchoring the cross arm in place.  
      To use the present invention, the cross-arm is brought into contact with the vertical column of a traditional real estate signpost, so that the rectangular portion abuts the signpost, with the L-shaped members on either side of the signpost. The cross-arm is then rotated, so that the L-shaped members close about the vertical column, abutting it along the sides and the back of the vertical column relative to the rectangular portion. The L-shaped members along with the rectangular plate will then distribute and share the load of the cross-arm, thereby firmly securing the cross-arm on the vertical column. A second real estate sign may then be displayed on the cross-arm. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cross-arm of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the coupling assembly portion of the cross-arm of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the cross-arm of the present invention secured to a vertical post and holding a sign.  
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the cross-arm of the present invention secured to a vertical post and holding a sign. 
    
    
     FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS  
     
         
           10  . . . Cross Arm  
           11  . . . Vertical Post  
           12  . . . Elongated Bar  
           13  . . . Ring  
           14  . . . Rectangular Plate  
           15  . . . First L-shaped Member  
           16  . . . Second L-shaped Member  
           17  . . . First Plate-like Member  
           18  . . . Second Plate-like Member  
           19  . . . Sign  
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a cross-arm  10  is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The cross-arm  10  is detachably secured to a vertical post for displaying a real estate sign. The cross arm can also be secured to a vertical column of a typical real estate signpost for supporting an additional sign.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cross-arm  10  mainly comprises an elongated bar  12  and a coupling assembly. The elongated bar  12  can be of any cross-section and includes two rings  13  to hang a sign  19 . The coupling assembly comprises a bracket with a rectangular plate area  14  and two L-shaped members  15  and  16 . One of the ends of the elongated bar  12  is attached to the rectangular plate  14  such that the elongated bar  12  is perpendicular to the surface of the rectangular plate  14 . Preferably, the bar  12  is attached in the center of the rectangular plate  14 . The L-shaped members are attached to the two opposite and distal edges of the rectangular plate  14 . For instance, when the first L-shaped member  15  is attached to the bottom-left edge of the rectangular plate  14 , the second L-shaped member  16  is attached to the top-right edge of the rectangular plate  14  so that the L-shaped members extend away from the rectangular plate  14 .  
      For a more detailed explanation of the securing assembly, each L-shaped member can be further categorized into two elongated plate-like members, first  17  and second  18 , preferably attached at right angles to each other. Each L-shaped member is attached to the rectangular plate  14  such that the first plate-like member  17  is substantially perpendicular to the rectangular plate  14 , the second plate-like member  18  is substantially parallel to the rectangular plate  14 , and the second plate-like members  18  of the two L-shaped members face each other, as seen in  FIG. 2 .  
      Moreover, the two L-shaped members  15  and  16  maintain a gap of specific width between them. Preferably, this width is substantially equal to the width of the vertical post  11  to which the cross-arm  10  is secured. The vertical post  11  is preferably of square or rectangular cross section.  
      The cross arm  10  is first positioned such that an axis along the length of the rectangular plate  14  is perpendicular to the vertical post  11 . The rectangular plate  14  is then made to abut one of the surfaces of the vertical post  11 , which is made possible by the width maintained between the two L-shaped members. The cross-arm  10  is then rotated clockwise. Following which, the inner surfaces of the L-shaped members will abut the vertical column. The L-shaped members  15  and  16  along with the rectangular plate  14  will distribute and share the load appropriately, thereby firmly securing the cross-arm  10 .  
      All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.  
      Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.  
      Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.