Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to caution signs and more importantly, to caution signs which are placed at the location of wet floors to advise individuals to exercise caution in the area to so as not to slip and fall. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The inventors are only aware of the standard commercial wet floor caution sign which is shown in  FIG. 1 . Traditionally, the standard commercial wet floor caution sign is essentially a hinged apparatus  200  which consists of a first panel  210  and a second panel  220  which are retained together at their apex  230  by a hinge mechanism  240 . The sign can be folded flat when not in use and when in use, the sign is opened up so that it is a generally upside down V-shaped structure as illustrated in  FIG. 1  where the base of the sign base  210 A and  220 A rest against the floor  250 . The sign has warnings on it such as “WET FLOOR” or “EXERCISE CAUTION AS FLOOR HAS RECENTLY BEEN MOPPED” or other comparable words to advise a pedestrian that the area where the sign has been placed has been recently mopped and is therefore wet and the pedestrian should avoid walking on that area or alternatively, walk very carefully so as to not slip and fall. 
     A further limitation of the wet floor caution sign is that there really is no room for advertising any products. Although each panel of the prior art has two sides, only the two outward facing sides of each panel is visible to pedestrians, and because these two outward facing panels necessarily facing opposite directions, there is no room for anything other than advising caution in each direction. There is a significant need for an improved caution sign which can utilize the interior and exterior facing panels of the sign. 
     An additional disadvantage is that the current upside-down V structure of the caution signs requires very careful placement of the sign, and very careful monitoring of the sign, so that it doesn&#39;t collapse and fall down flat on the ground creating further hazards or risks to pedestrians, children, or the workers who place such signs. The prior art is very sensitive and can fall down for a variety of reasons, including the vibrations of the floor caused by outside traffic, air conditioners, and the like, causing the sign to lose its grip and thus fall, the sign generally unable to prevent itself from slipping and sliding on the wet floor, and a pedestrian striding by the sign can cause the prior art caution signs to slip and fall. There is a significant need for an improved caution sign which is less frail and less sensitive to falling. 
     The prior art has an additional disadvantage in that it only has two legs to support and stabilize the sign. There is a significant need for an improved caution sign which has more legs and more stability. There is also a significant need for an improved caution sign which is not free to flop open and closed. 
     There is a significant need for an improved wet floor caution sign which has more panels on which advertising can be placed as well as more panels to caution pedestrians of the wet floor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved wet floor caution sign where the two panels of the sign are attached along a pair of adjacent sidewalls rather than at the top of the panels where conventional wet floor sign panels are attached. As a result, the two panels are ninety (90) degrees to each other and are therefore much more stabile. In addition, the ninety (90) degrees panel configuration facilitates having four panels on which advertisements can be placed as opposed to only two panels as in conventional signs. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wet floor caution sign where the two panels are attached along adjacent sides by rotation means and by a locking means. The sign rotates in the horizontal direction. As a result, the panel rests on four feet with the two panels at ninety degrees to each other making for a s far more stabile structure than conventional panels. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a configuration for a wet floor sign where four panel faces are exposed to provide more advertising space. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide at least two separate unique closing mechanisms by which the two panels are forced to remain open and exposed and also facilitate closing the two panels so that they rest against each other. 
     The preferred embodiment of the opening and closing means operates in a unique manner, never before seen in the art. The present invention has two panels, a first panel and a second panel, however, unlike the prior art, the two panels are not hinged together at their tops, but instead, along one of their vertical sides. Also unlike the prior art, these two panels are not free to flop open and closed, but instead have a locking mechanism that controls the positions of the two panels relative to each other. The locking mechanism has cylindrical housing. At the top end of the cylindrical housing is located a button, and at the opposite end is a bottom collar. The bottom collar contains two notches. The present invention also has an engagement bar. The engagement bar is preferably comprised of a single rod having three generally right angles such that there are two portions of the rod that are horizontal and two portions of the rod that are vertical. The first vertical portion resides within the cylindrical housing and engages the button. There are many methods by which the engagement bar may engage the button, and is shown preferably engaged by a spring mechanism, the spring being attached to the underside of the button on one end and to the first vertical portion of the engagement rod at its other end. The first vertical portion of the engagement rod is followed by a first horizontal portion of the engagement rod. The first horizontal portion of the engagement rod exits the cylindrical housing at the bottom collar and engages with the two notches in the bottom collar, one notch at a time. The first notch is positioned such that when the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar is retained in the first notch, the two panels of the present invention are in a closed position. The second notch is positioned approximately 90-degrees clockwise from the first notch, so that when the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar is retained in the second notch, the two panels of the present invention are in the open position. The locking mechanism is affixed to the second panel, thus, the first vertical portion of the engagement rod is joined to the second panel by being within the cylindrical housing of the locking mechanism, the first horizontal portion goes between the second panel and the first panel, and the remaining portions of the engagement bar serve to connect to the first panel to the second panel by being retained in the retention means on the first panel. As the engagement rod moves from the first notch to the second notch, the first panel moves correspondingly and respectively from a closed position to an open position. 
     The first horizontal portion of the engagement bar moves from notch to notch and is retained therein as follows. Starting with the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the closed position, the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar is retained in the first notch and first panel and second panels are touching each other, in the closed position. The first vertical portion of the engagement bar is engaged by a tight spring to the underside of the button of the locking mechanism. To open the present invention, the button is depressed. Depressing the button, puts pressure on the spring within the cylindrical housing. Although the spring wants to deform, and does deform slightly, the spring is tight enough to transfer the downward force from depressing the button to the top of the vertical portion of the engagement bar. The engagement bar, when experiencing the downward force from the spring, may flex slightly, may flex the retention means on the first panel slightly, or both. There does not need to be a lot of movement, only enough downward movement on the first vertical portion of the engagement bar to result in the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar being pushed below the rim of the bottom collar of the cylindrical housing. Once the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar is below the rim of the bottom collar, the first panel is free to be moved by hand or swung over to the second notch. Once the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar has been moved away from the first notch, the user may release the button at any time, thus when the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar reaches the second notch, the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar is pulled up into the second notch and is retained there. This is because the top of the first vertical portion of the engagement bar is no longer experiencing a downward force, and being attached to the spring, which in turn is attached to the underside of the button, is no longer displaced and therefore is forced by the spring to return to its original vertical position, and the present invention is “locked” into an open position. The process to close the present invention is nearly identical, the difference being the moving of or the swinging of the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar from the second notch back to the first notch, whereupon the engagement bar is again pulled up into the first notch and is releasably “locked” in that position. 
     The second embodiment works in a very similar manner. The second embodiment has two panels, a first panel and a second panel that are hingeably attached along one of their vertical sides. The second embodiment has a locking mechanism that controls the positions of the two panels relative to each other. The locking mechanism has two housings, an upper cylindrical housing affixed to the second panel and a lower housing affixed to the first panel. At the top end of the upper cylindrical housing is located a button, and at the opposite end is a bottom collar. The bottom collar contains two notches. The second housing abuts the side of the first panel and has a small nipple residing on its upper surface, near the perimeter thereof, and is located and sized to fit within the notches on the bottom collar of the first housing. Residing within both the first housing and the second housing is an engagement rod, having a first end and a second end. The first end of the engagement rod resides within the first housing and is attached by spring to the underside of the button. The second end of the engagement rod resides within the second housing and is non-rotationally fixed therein. In other words, the engagement rod is affixed to the second housing in such a manner that it can freely rotate within the first housing and does not freely rotate within the second housing, and as the engagement rod moves, so does the first panel, without affecting movement on the second panel. 
     With regard to the two notches of the second embodiment, the first notch is positioned such that when the nipple on the second housing is retained in the first notch, the two panels of the present invention are in a closed position. The second notch is positioned approximately 90-degrees clockwise from the first notch, so that when the nipple on the second housing is retained in the second notch, the two panels of the present invention are in the open position. 
     The second embodiment opens and closes in the following manner. Starting with the second embodiment of the present invention in the closed position, the nipple on the second housing is retained in the first notch, and first panel and second panels are touching each other, in the closed position. The first end of the engagement bar is engaged by a tight spring to the underside of the button of the locking mechanism. To open the present invention, the button is depressed. Depressing the button, puts pressure on the spring within the first housing. Although the spring wants to deform, and does deform slightly, the spring is tight enough to transfer the downward force from depressing the button to the top of the first end of the engagement bar. The engagement bar, when experiencing the downward force from the spring, moves correspondingly downwards, and the first panel may flex slightly, the hinges on the side may flex slightly, or both. There does not need to be a lot of movement, only enough downward movement on the first end of the engagement bar to result in the first panel being pushed downwardly so that the nipple disengages the first notch and is pushed below the rim of the bottom collar of the first housing. Once nipple is below the rim of the bottom collar, the first panel is free to be moved by hand or swung over to the second notch. Once the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar has been moved away from the first notch, the user may release the button at any time, thus when the nipple reaches the second notch, the nipple is pulled up into the second notch and is retained there. This is because the top of the first vertical portion of the engagement bar is no longer experiencing a downward force, and being attached to the spring, which in turn is attached to the underside of the button, is no longer displaced and therefore is forced by the spring to return to its original vertical position, and the present invention is “locked” into an open position. The process to close the present invention is nearly identical, the difference being the moving of or the swinging of the nipple from the second notch back to the first notch, whereupon the engagement bar is again pulled up into the first notch and the nipple is releasably “locked” in that position. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the conventional prior art wet floor caution sign; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention wet floor caution sign when viewed in the closed condition illustrating the smaller section of the panel folded against the larger section of the panel; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention wet floor caution sign showing the larger panel in the closed condition; 
         FIG. 4  is an exterior perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the wet floor caution sign in the open condition; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the interior of the preferred embodiment of the wet floor caution sign in the open condition; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the retention mechanism which retains the wet floor sign in the open condition; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the retention mechanism which retains the wet floor sign in the closed condition; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the interior spring mechanism of the we floor caution sign; 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wet floor caution sign when viewed in the closed condition illustrating the smaller section of the panel folded against the larger section of the panel; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention wet floor caution sign showing the larger panel in the closed condition; 
         FIG. 10  is an exterior perspective view showing the alternative embodiment of the wet floor caution sign in the open condition; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the interior of the alternative embodiment of the wet floor caution sign in the open condition; 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the retention mechanism which retains the wet floor sign in the open condition; and 
         FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the retention mechanism which retains the wet floor sign in the closed condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , there is illustrated front elevational and rear elevational views of the wet floor caution sign in the closed condition and perspective views of the wet floor caution sign in the open condition, both looking from the exterior and from the interior. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the wet floor caution sign  10  consists of a first panel  20  which has a pair of feet  21  and  22  which rest against the floor  50 A. The panel itself can have any design in addition to the design as illustrated. The panel can also have silkscreened thereon wording such as “CAUTION” with a person in a triangle and the words “WET FLOOR” beneath it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the wet floor caution sign has a second panel  30  larger than first panel  20  which has a pair of feet  31  and  32  which rest on floor  50 A. The second panel  30  also has a hand grip opening  40  by which the sign can be grasped by a hand and carried from one location to another. The two panels  20  and  30  are retained together at the upper location by a spring actuated mechanism  58  which will be discussed in detail below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the present invention wet floor caution sign  10  is shown in the open condition from the rear view. The two panels  20  and  30  are at approximately 90 degrees to each other and the feet rest against the floor  50 A so that the two panels are at a 90 degree angle separated by the interlocking mechanism which will be discussed below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 . there is shown the exterior view of the wet floor caution sign wherein the two panels are at 90 degrees to each other. Advertising  20 AA and  30 AA can be placed on each of the exterior panels  20 A and  30 A in addition to the customary warning information. Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown the interior view of the wet floor caution sign wherein again the two panels are at 90 degrees to each other. Advertising  20 BB and  30   bb  can be placed on each of the interior panels numbered  20 B and  30 B. Also cautionary wording can be placed. The benefit of this invention is that rather than having two panels that are viewable from the outside, the sign has four panels, both the inside and the outside of each section  20  and  30 , wherein advertising and/or cautionary information can be placed. 
     Panel  20  has a distal side edge  23  and proximal side edge  24 . Proximal side edge  24  contains a post  26  adjacent its lower end  28 . Panel  30  has a distal side edge  33  and a proximal side edge  34 . Proximal side edge  34  has collar  36  adjacent its lower end  38 . Proximal side edges  26  and  36  are adjacent to each other. Collar  36  rotatably fits over post  26  and provides the rotatable opening and closing means at the bottom for the sign  10 . It will be appreciated that other combinations of rotatable opening and closing means are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the purpose of the rotatable opening and closing means adjacent the bottom of the sign  10  is to provide a balance at the bottom of the sign as the primary opening and closing means is the locking mechanism adjacent the top of the sign. 
     The unique locking mechanism provides the rotatable opening closing means for the sign  10 . The primary opening and closing meas for the sign by which it is opened and closed is by an actuated pushbutton mechanism which is shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     The preferred embodiment operates in a unique manner, never before seen in the art. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the present invention has two panels, a first panel  20  and a second panel  30 , however, unlike the prior art, the two panels are not hinged together at their tops, but instead, are rotatable affixed along one of their vertical sides. Also unlike the prior art, these two panels are not free to flop open and closed, but instead have a locking mechanism  58  that controls the positions of the two panels relative to each other. The locking mechanism  58  has cylindrical housing  60 . At the top end of the cylindrical housing  60  is located a button  80 , and at the opposite end is a bottom collar  90 . The bottom collar  90  contains two notches  91  and  92 . The present invention also has an engagement bar  62 . The engagement bar  62  is preferably comprised of a single rod having four sections divided by generally right angles  62 A,  62 B,  62 C and  62 D such that there are two portions of the rod  62 A and  62 C that are horizontal and two portions of the rod  62 B and  62 D that are vertical. The first vertical portion  62 D resides within the cylindrical housing  60  and engages the button  80 . There are many methods by which the engagement bar may engage the button, and is shown preferably engaged by a spring mechanism  66 , the spring being attached to the underside of the button  80  on one end and to the first vertical portion  62 D of the engagement rod at its other end. The first vertical portion of the engagement rod  62 D is followed by a first horizontal portion of the engagement rod  62 A. The first horizontal portion of the engagement rod exits the cylindrical housing  60  at the bottom collar  90  and engages with the two notches  91  and  92  in the bottom collar  90 , one notch at a time. The first notch  91  is positioned such that when the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A is retained in the first notch  91 , the two panels of the present invention  20  and  30  are in a closed position. The second notch  92  is positioned approximately 90-degrees clockwise from the first notch  91 , so that when the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A is retained in the second notch  92 , the two panels  20  and  30  of the present invention are in the open position. The locking mechanism  58  is affixed to the second panel  30 , thus, the first vertical portion of the engagement rod  62 D is joined to the second panel  30  by being within the cylindrical housing  60  of the locking mechanism  58 , the first horizontal portion  62 A goes between the second panel  30  and the first panel  20 , and the remaining portions of the engagement bar serve to connect to the first panel to the second panel by being retained in the retention means  27  on the first panel  20 . As the engagement rod moves from the first notch  91  to the second notch  92 , the first panel  20  moves correspondingly and respectively from a closed position to an open position. 
     The first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A moves from notch to notch and is retained therein as follows. Starting with the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the closed position, the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A is retained in the first notch  91  and first panel  20  and second panel  30  are touching each other, in the closed position. The first vertical portion of the engagement bar  62 D is engaged by a tight spring  66  to the underside of the button  80  of the locking mechanism  58 . To open the present invention, the button  80  is depressed. Depressing the button  80 , puts pressure on the spring  66  within the cylindrical housing  60 . Although the spring  66  wants to deform, and does deform slightly, the spring  66  is tight enough to transfer the downward force from depressing the button  80  to the top of the vertical portion of the engagement bar  62 D. The engagement bar  62 , when experiencing the downward force from the spring  66 , may flex slightly, may flex the retention means  26  and  36  on the first panel  20  slightly, or both. There does not need to be a lot of movement, only enough downward movement on the first vertical portion of the engagement bar  62 D to result in the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A being pushed below the rim of the bottom collar  91  of the cylindrical housing  60 . Once the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A is below the rim of the bottom collar  91 , the first panel  20  is free to be moved by hand or swung over to the second notch  92 . Once the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A has been moved away from the first notch  91 , the user may release the button  80  at any time, thus when the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A reaches the second notch  92 , the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A is pulled up into the second notch  92  and is retained there. This is because the top of the first vertical portion of the engagement bar  62 D is no longer experiencing a downward force, and being attached to the spring  66 , which in turn is attached to the underside of the button  80 , is no longer displaced and therefore is forced by the spring  66  to return to its original vertical position, and the present invention is “locked” into an open position. The process to close the present invention is nearly identical, the difference being the moving of or the swinging of the first horizontal portion of the engagement bar  62 A from the second notch  92  back to the first notch  91 , whereupon the engagement bar is again pulled up into the first notch  91  and is releasably “locked” in that position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , there is illustrated front elevational and rear elevational views of an alternative embodiment of the wet floor caution sign in the closed condition and perspective views of the wet floor caution sign in the open condition, both looking from the exterior and from the interior. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the wet floor caution sign  110  consists of a first panel  120  which has a pair of feet  121  and  122  which rest against the floor  50 B. The panel itself can have any design in addition to the design as illustrated. The panel can also have silkscreened thereon wording such as “CAUTION” with a person in a triangle and the words “WET FLOOR” beneath it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the wet floor caution sign has a second panel  130  larger than first panel  120  which has a pair of feet  131  and  132 . The second panel  130  also has a hand grip opening  140  by which the sign can be grasped by a hand and carried from one location to another. Panel  120  has a distal side edge  123  and a proximal side edge  124 . Proximal side edge  124  contains a post  126  adjacent to its lower end  128 . Panel  130  has a distal side edge  133  and a proximal side edge  134 . Proximal side edge  134  has a collar  136  adjacent its lower end  138 . Proximal side edges  126  and  136  are adjacent to each other. Collar  136  rotatably fits over post  126  and provides a rotatable opening and closing means at the bottom for the sign  110 . It will be appreciated that other combinations of rotatable opening and closing means are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the purpose of the rotatable opening and closing means adjacent the bottom of the sign is to provide a balance at the bottom of the sign. 
     The primary opening and closing means is a locking mechanism adjacent the top of the sign. The two panels  120  and  130  are retained together at the upper location by a spring actuated mechanism  158  which will be discussed in detail below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the present invention wet floor caution sign  110  is shown in the open condition from the rear view. The two panels  120  and  130  are at approximately 90 degrees to each other and the feet rest against the floor so that the two panels are at a 90 degree angle separated by the interlocking mechanism which will be discussed below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown the exterior view of the wet floor caution sign wherein the two panels are at 90 degrees to each other. Advertising can be placed on each of the exterior panels  120 A and  130 A in addition to the customary warning information. Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown the interior view of the wet floor caution sign wherein again the two panels are at 90 degrees to each other. Advertising can be placed on each of the interior panels numbered  120 B and  130 B. Also cautionary wording can be placed. The benefit of this invention is that rather than having two panels that are viewable from the outside, the sign has four panels, both the inside and the outside of each section  120  and  130 , wherein advertising and/or cautionary information can be placed 
     The sign is opened and closed by an actuated pushbutton mechanism which is shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . 
     The second embodiment works in a very similar manner. The second embodiment has two panels, a first panel  120  and a second panel  130  that are rotatably attached along one of their vertical sides. The lower rotatable mechanism with the post and collar is the same as the first mechanism. The second embodiment has a locking mechanism  158  that controls the positions of the two panels relative to each other. The locking mechanism  158  has two housings, an upper housing  160  affixed to the second panel  130  and a lower housing  170  affixed to the first panel  120 . At the top end of the upper housing  160  is located a button  180 , and at the opposite end is a bottom collar  190 . The bottom collar  190  contains two notches  191  and  192 . The second housing  170  abuts the side of the first panel  120  and has a small nipple  194  residing on its upper surface, near the perimeter thereof, and is located and sized to fit within the notches  191  and  192  on the bottom collar  190  of the first housing. Residing within both the first housing and the second housing is an engagement rod,  160 R having a first end  160 A and a second end  160 B. The first end  160 A of the engagement rod  160 R resides within the first housing  160  and is attached by spring  166  to the underside of the button  180 . The second end  160 B of the engagement rod  160 R resides within the second housing  170  and is preferably non-rotationally fixed therein. In other words, the engagement rod  160 R is affixed to the second housing  160 B in such a manner that it can freely rotate within the first housing  160  and does not freely rotate within the second housing  170 , and as the engagement rod moves, so does the first panel  120 , without affecting movement on the second panel  130 . 
     With regard to the two notches  191  and  192  of the second embodiment, the first notch  191  is positioned such that when the nipple  194  on the second housing  170  is retained in the first notch  192 , the two panels  120  and  130  of the present invention are in a closed position. The second notch  191  is positioned approximately 90-degrees clockwise from the first notch  192 , so that when the nipple  194  on the second housing  170  is retained in the second notch  191 , the two panels  120  and  130  of the present invention are in the open position. 
     The second embodiment  110  opens and closes in the following manner. Starting with the second embodiment  110  of the present invention in the closed position, the nipple  194  on the second housing is retained in the first notch  192 , and first panel  120  and second panel  130  are touching each other, in the closed position. The first end of the engagement bar  160 A is engaged by a tight spring  166  to the underside of the button  180  of the locking mechanism  158 . To open the present invention, the button  180  is depressed. Depressing the button  180  puts pressure on the spring  166  within the first housing  160 . Although the spring  166  wants to deform, and does deform slightly, the spring  166  is tight enough to transfer the downward force from depressing the button  180  to the top of the first end  160 A of the engagement bar  160 R. The engagement rod  160 B, when experiencing the downward force from the spring  166 , moves correspondingly downwards, and the first panel  120  may flex slightly, the hinges on the side may flex slightly, or both. There does not need to be a lot of movement, only enough downward movement on the first end  160 A of the engagement rod  160 R to result in the first panel  120  being pushed downwardly so that the nipple  194  disengages the first notch  192  and is pushed below the rim of the bottom collar  190  of the first housing  160 . Once nipple  194  is below the rim of the bottom collar  190 , the first panel  120  is free to be moved by hand or swung over to the second notch  192 . Once the nipple  194  has been moved away from the first notch  192 , the user may release the button  180  at any time, thus when the nipple  194  reaches the second notch  191 , the nipple  194  is pulled up into the second notch  192  and is retained there. This is because the top of the first vertical portion of the engagement rod  160 A is no longer experiencing a downward force, and being attached to the spring  166 , which in turn is attached to the underside of the button  180 , is no longer displaced and therefore is forced by the spring  166  to return to its original vertical position, and the present invention is “locked” into an open position. The process to close the present invention is nearly identical, the difference being the moving of or the swinging of the nipple  194  from the second notch  191  back to the first notch  192 , whereupon the engagement rod  160 R is again pulled up into the first notch  192  and the nipple  194  is releasably “locked” in that position. 
     The present invention wet floor caution sign is a significant improvement over the prior art in that it provides for a much more stable structure where the two panels are intersecting 90 degrees to each other and the sign has four sides on which advertising or cautionary information can be displayed. In addition, the sign is much easier to carry in that there is a handle member molded into one of the two sections so that when the wet floor caution sign is folded flat as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sign can be carried by hand and when it is desired to have the sign in the open and activated condition, the pushbutton  80  is pushed down to overcome the force of the spring force  72  so that the interlocking mechanism  90  can be activated and retain the two panels  20  and  30  at 90 degrees to each other with their respective feet  21 ,  22 ,  31  and  32  resting against the floor where there is a wet location. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.

Technology Category: 3