Patent Publication Number: US-4253260-A

Title: Self-standing floor sign

Description:
BACKGROUND ART 
     Prior self-standing floor signs of which we have knowledge comprise wire frames hinged together at the top with metal or plastic panels supported on the frames. During handling the frames become bent and distorted so that they are unstable and do not stand firmly on the supporting floor. Moreover, as the frames are folded and knocked about they create a substantial amount of noise. Further, the frames are subject to corrosion as the are used on wet floors in the presence of mopping and scrubbing operations. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The present improved self-standing sign is constructed entirely of plastic material which is quieter and more stable than prior constructions comprising wire frames. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved self-standing floor sign comprising two panel members each molded of plastic and having integral interfitting hinge portions at their upper ends for selectively folding and swinging the panel members apart. 
     Another object is to provide an improved construction in which the hinge portions are adapted to snap together into interlocking rotatable relation. 
     A further object is to provide an improved hinge construction which allows the panels to collapse or fold and limits their spreading-apart movement. 
     These and other related objects are accomplished by the improvements comprising the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is disclosed and described herein as exemplifying the best known mode of carrying out the invention. Various modifications and changes in details of construction are comprehended within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the improved self-standing floor sign in unfolded or spread-apart position. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away, on line 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the upper hinge portion, partly broken away and in section, as on line 4--4 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation partly broken away, showing how the two hinge portions are snapped into interlocking relation. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away, showing the hinge portions interlocked and folded together. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary rear perspective views of the two hinge portions before assembly, the hinge portion in FIG. 10 being inverted in relation to the hinge portion in FIG. 9 in order to show its inner construction. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the straps on the panel portions in extended interengaging position to hold the lower ends of the panels in spread-apart position. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 12--12 of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, the improved sign comprises a front panel member indicated generally at 15 and a rear panel member indicated generally at 16. The panel members 15 and 16 each have laterally spaced lower leg portions 15a and 16a and laterally spaced upper leg portions 15b and 16b, respectively. Between the lower and upper leg portions the panel members 15 and 16 are preferably provided with flat embossed panels 15c and 16c, respectively, on which suitable lettering or indicia may be applied. Preferably, continuous ribs 15d and 16d extend around the outer peripheries of the panel members 15 and 16, including the leg portions 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b. 
     The panel members 15 and 16 are hinged together at the tops of legs 15b and 16b, and adapted to be spread apart, as shown in FIG. 1, to a self-standing position, or folded or collapsed one upon the other as shown in FIG. 8. As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, member 15 has a plastic strap 17 connected by a thin flexible hinge portion 18 to the inner edge of its peripheral flange 15d&#39; extending between legs 15a. Similarly, member 16 has a plastic strap 19 connected by a thin flexible hinge portion 20 to the inner edge of its peripheral flange 16d&#39; extending between legs 16a. 
     The strap 17 has at its inner end a rectangular slot 21, and the strap 19 has near its inner end a U-shaped portion 22 adapted to engage tightly in the slot 21, when the straps 17 and 19 are extended inwardly toward each other, thereby restraining the lower ends of panels 15 and 16 from spreading further apart. When the panels are folded together as in FIG. 8, the straps 17 and 19 fold alongside the inner surfaces of the panels 15a and 16a, respectively. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, tubular hinge portions 24 are formed at the upper ends of legs 16b and are integral therewith. The portions 24 are connected by a crossbar 25 preferably of I-shaped cross section having circular walls 26 at its ends forming the inner ends of the hinge portions 24. As seen in FIGS. 4-6 and 9, each hinge portion 24 has in its lower rear quadrant longitudinally aligned outer and inner slots 27 and 28 divided or separated by a narrow arcuate wall 29, slot 27 extending laterally inward from the outer end of the tube to the wall 29, and slot 28 extending from wall 29 to the end wall 26. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 10, substantially cylindrical longitudinally aligned hinge core portions 31 and 32 are formed integral with the upper ends of legs 15b of front panel member 15, and the core portions are divided by a transverse slot 33. The cores are adapted to fit rotatably in the tubular hinge portions 24. The core portions 31 have outer circular caps 34 adapted to abut the outer edges of tubular portions 24 when the cores are inserted therein. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the cores 31 and 32 are inverted, core portion 32 is inserted radially through slot 28 and core portion 31 through slot 27, with slot 33 receiving arcuate wall 29 to prevent axial movement of the cores in the tubes 24. 
     In order to accomplish radial insertion of the cores 31 and 32 through slots 27 and 28, respectively, so that the cores are rotatable in but not removable from the tubular hinge portions, the cores are provided with laterally directed U-shaped notches 31&#39; and 32&#39; , respectively, extending axially through the cores. At the lower edges of the notches the cores are connected to the upper edges of legs 15b by necks 36 and the necks have aligned transverse ribs 37 and 38 formed thereon. The slots 33 extend into the necks 36 and form separate ribs 37 and 38. The ribs are spaced from the lower edges of notches 31&#39; and 32&#39; so as to form corners 31&#34; and 32&#34; at the respective edges. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, the cores 31 and 32 are inserted into slots 27 and 28 by first hooking the notches 31&#39; and 32&#39; laterally through the slots and then rotating the legs 15b downwardly clockwise, at the same time pressing radially inward on the cores to distort the tubes 24 sufficiently to allow the corners 31&#34; and 32&#34; to snap past the edges of the slots 27 and 28. The cores are now permanently locked in the tubes 24 because the sharp corners 31&#34; and 32&#34; can not be snapped out past the upper edges of slots 27 and 28. The counterclockwise rotation of the cores is limited by the engagement of ribs 37 and 38 with the upper edges of slots 27 and 28 at the spread-apart position of the panel members 15 and 16 shown in FIGS. 1-6. As shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9 notches 40 are formed at the outer ends of the upper edges of slots 27 to receive the upper ends of ribs 15d in the spread-apart position. 
     It should be apparent that the improved self-standing all plastic floor sign provides a stable construction which is relatively quiet during folding and handling, with integral interfitting hinge portions adapted to be assembled by snapping them together into interlocked rotatable relation.