Claims
- 1. An adjustable display panel comprising:a plurality of sign elements each having at least a first edge and a second edge, the first and second edges each defining at least a portion of the perimeter of each sign element; a unitary, one-piece frame surrounding a primary window; at least one partitioning element, removably attached to the frame, for dividing the primary window into at least two smaller windows, wherein each resulting smaller window is configured to retain a sign element by at least a portion of said first edge, and display the sign element being retained; and at least one slide stop element movably attached to the frame, wherein at least a portion of the at least one slide stop element is disposed adjacent to said second edge of each of the plurality of sign elements such that the slide stop element prevents the plurality of sign elements from moving in the direction of the slide stop element.
- 2. The adjustable display panel of claim 1 wherein the at least one partitioning element is adjustably attached to the frame in one of a plurality of possible positions with respect to the frame, thereby providing adjustable sizes for each resulting smaller display window.
- 3. The adjustable display panel of claim 2 wherein the frame comprises:a wall having a front surface and a rear surface and said primary window cut therein; a first set of partitioning apertures which includes at least two first partitioning apertures located adjacent to one another at a first region of the frame, wherein each first partitioning aperture is configured to receive and secure a first end of said at least one partitioning element; and a second set of partitioning apertures which includes at least two second partitioning apertures located adjacent to one another at a second region, wherein the second region is located across said primary window from the first region of said frame, and each second partitioning aperture is configured to receive and secure a second end of said at least one partitioning element.
- 4. The adjustable display panel of claim 3 wherein said at least one partitioning element comprises:an elongated rod having a first end and a second end; first channel within a first side of the elongated rod and being parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongated rod, wherein the first channel is configured to receive and support an edge portion of a first sign element therein; a second channel within a second side, opposite the first side, of the elongated rod and being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod, wherein the second channel is configured to receive and support an edge portion of a second sign element therein; a first locking member located at the first end of the elongated rod; and a second locking member located at the second end of the elongated rod, wherein each of said first partitioning apertures is configured to receive and secure the first locking member and each of said second partitioning apertures is configured to receive and secure the second locking member.
- 5. The adjustable display panel of claim 4 further comprising:a first piece of metal sheeting attached to a front surface of said frame at said first region of the frame, thereby covering the first set of partitioning apertures at the first region; a second piece of metal sheeting attached to said front surface of said frame at said second region of the frame, thereby covering said second set of partitioning apertures at the second region; a first magnet piece attached to the first locking member; and a second magnet piece attached to the second locking member, wherein when the first locking member is inserted into a first partitioning aperture, the first magnet piece is magnetically attached to the first piece of metal sheeting and, when the second locking member is inserted into a second partitioning aperture, the second magnet piece is magnetically attached to the second piece of metal sheeting, thereby providing removable attachability between the at least one partitioning element and the frame.
- 6. The adjustable display panel of claim 5 further comprising a transparent cover panel, removably attached to said front surface of the frame, the cover panel comprising:a substantially flexible transparent sheet having a front surface and a back surface; a first piece of magnetized sheet material attached to the back surface of the transparent sheet at a first region of the transparent sheet which substantially corresponds to said first region of said frame when the cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame, wherein the first piece of magnetized sheet material magnetically attaches to said first piece of metal sheeting when the cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame; and a second piece of magnetized sheet material attached to the back surface of the transparent sheet at a second region of the transparent sheet which substantially corresponds to said second region of said frame when the transparent cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame, wherein the second piece of magnetized sheet material magnetically attaches to said second piece of metal sheeting when the transparent cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame.
- 7. The adjustable display panel of claim 6 wherein said frame further comprises at least one flanged edge defining an internal ledge portion of the frame, wherein said transparent cover panel makes flush contact with said ledge portion and said at least one flanged edge serves as a perimetric boundary of the transparent cover panel.
- 8. The adjustable display panel of claim 1 wherein said frame is of a rectangular configuration and includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a back surface of the frame, and first and second side portions, the adjustable display panel further comprising:a top retention member attached to the back surface of the frame at the top portion of the frame, wherein a top channel is formed between the top retention member and the top portion of the frame, said top channel being configured to receive a top edge of a sign element therein; and a bottom retention member attached to said back surface of the frame at the bottom portion of the frame, wherein a bottom channel is formed between the bottom retention member and the bottom portion of the frame, said bottom channel being configured to receive a bottom edge of a sign element therein.
- 9. The adjustable display panel of claim 8 further comprising:a first slide stop element attached to the back surface of the frame at the first side portion of the frame; and a second slide stop element attached to the back surface of the frame at the second side portion of the frame, wherein the first and second slide stop elements prevent a sign element from sliding out of respective channels of the adjustable display panel which receive and support a top and bottom edge of the sign element.
- 10. The adjustable display panel of claim 9 wherein the first slide stop element is removably attached to the back surface of the frame at the first side portion of the frame.
- 11. The adjustable display panel of claim 10 further comprising:a strip of metal sheeting attached to the back surface of the frame at the first side portion of the frame; and wherein said first slide stop element is magnetized so as to magnetically adhere to the strip of metal sheeting, thereby being removably attached to the back surface of the frame at the first side portion of the frame.
- 12. The adjustable display panel of claim 11 wherein said first slide stop element is made from a flexible, magnetized polycarbonate material.
- 13. An adjustable display panel comprising:a plurality of sign elements; a frame surrounding a primary window for displaying the plurality of sign elements therein, the frame being of one-piece, unitary construction and comprising: a wall having front and rear surfaces and said primary window therein; a first set of partitioning apertures which includes at least two first partitioning apertures located adjacent to one another at a first region of the frame; and a second set of partitioning apertures which includes at least two second partitioning apertures located adjacent to one another at a second region, across said primary display window from the first region, of said frame; at least one partitioning element, removably attached to the frame, for dividing the primary window into at least two smaller windows, wherein each resulting smaller window is configured to display a respective sign element and said at least one partitioning element is adjustably attached to the frame in one of a plurality of possible positions with respect to the frame, thereby providing adjustable sizes for each resulting smaller display window; and a slide stop element removably attached to the frame, wherein said slide stop element prevents a sign element in each of at least two windows from moving in at least one direction with respect to the adjustable display panel.
- 14. The adjustable display panel of claim 13 wherein the at least one partitioning element comprises:an elongated rod having a first end and a second end; a first channel within a first side of the elongated rod and being parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongated rod, wherein the first channel is configured to receive and support an edge portion of a first sign element therein; a second channel within a second side, opposite the first side, of the elongated rod and being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod, wherein the second channel is configured to receive and support an edge portion of a second sign element therein; a first locking member located at the first end of the elongated rod; and a second locking member located at the second end of the elongated rod, wherein each of said first partitioning apertures is configured to receive and secure the first locking member and each of said second partitioning apertures is configured to receive and secure the second locking member.
- 15. The adjustable display panel of claim 14 further comprising:a first piece of metal sheeting attached to the front surface of said frame in said first region of the frame, thereby covering the first set of partitioning apertures in the first region; a second piece of metal sheeting attached to the front surface of said frame in said second region of the frame, thereby covering said second set of partitioning apertures in the second region; a first magnet piece attached to the first locking member; and a second magnet piece attached to the second locking member, wherein when the first locking member is inserted into a first partitioning aperture, the first magnet piece is magnetically attached to the first piece of metal sheeting and, when the second locking member is inserted into a second partitioning aperture, the second magnet piece is magnetically attached to the second piece of metal sheeting, thereby providing removable attachability between the at least one partitioning element and the frame.
- 16. The adjustable display panel of claim 15 further comprising a transparent cover panel, removably attached to the front surface of the frame, the cover panel comprising:a substantially flexible transparent sheet having a front surface and a back surface; a first piece of magnetized sheeting attached to the back surface of the transparent sheet at a first region of the transparent sheet which substantially corresponds to said first region of said frame when the cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame, wherein the first piece of magnetized sheeting magnetically attaches to said first piece of metal sheeting when the cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame; and a second piece of magnetized sheeting attached to the back surface of the transparent sheet at a second region of the transparent sheet which substantially corresponds to said second region of said frame when the transparent cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame, wherein the second piece of magnetized sheeting magnetically attaches to said second piece of metal sheeting when the transparent cover panel is attached to the front surface of the frame.
- 17. An adjustable display panel comprising:at least one sign element: a frame surrounding a primary display window, at least a portion of said frame being metallic; at least one partitioning element, removably attached to the frame, for dividing the primary display window into at least two smaller windows, wherein at least one of the resulting smaller windows is configured to display the at least one sign element; and wherein said frame comprises: a wall having front and rear surfaces and said primary display window therein; a first partitioning aperture, located proximate to said metallic portion of said frame, for receiving and securing a first end of said at least one partitioning element, said first end having a magnet disposed on a portion which is less than the entire length thereof; and a second partitioning aperture, located proximate to said metallic portion of said frame, for receiving and securing a second end of said at least one partitioning element, said second end having a magnet disposed on a portion which is less than the entire length thereof.
- 18. The adjustable display panel of claim 17 further comprising a transparent cover panel, removably attached to the front surface of the frame, the cover panel comprising:a substantially flexible transparent sheet having a front surface and a back surface; a first piece of magnetized sheeting attached to the back surface of the transparent sheet at a first region of the transparent sheet which substantially corresponds to said first region of said frame when the cover panel is attached to the frame, wherein the first piece of magnetized sheeting magnetically attaches to said first piece of metal sheeting when the cover panel is attached to the frame; and a second piece of magnetized sheeting attached to the back surface of the transparent sheet at a second region of the transparent sheet which substantially corresponds to said second region of said frame when the transparent cover panel is attached to the frame, wherein the second piece of magnetized sheeting magnetically attaches to said second piece of metal sheeting when the transparent cover panel is attached to the frame.
- 19. An adjustable display panel comprising:at least two separate, parallel windows; means for holding and displaying at least one sign element in each of said separate, parallel windows; means for changing a number of sign elements displayed in the adjustable display panel without changing the size of the adjustable display panel; and a slide stop for retaining sign elements in at least two of said windows in a fixed position relative to said means for holding and displaying, wherein said slide stop is removably mounted to said display panel so as to allow said sign elements to be slidably removed by a user.
- 20. The adjustable display panel of claim 19 wherein the means for changing the number of sign elements comprises means for adjustably attaching at least one partitioning element to said means for holding and displaying.
- 21. A method of modifying an adjustable display panel having a plurality of partitioning elements and a stop element mounted to a frame, said partitioning elements and said frame forming a plurality of display windows within said display panel, each window displaying at least one sign element, the method comprising:repositioning said stop element with respect to said frame so as to permit removal of at least two of said plurality of sign elements; removing at least one of said plurality of sign elements from said display panel; adjusting the position of at least one of said partitioning elements; replacing said at least one of said sign elements removed from said display panel; and repositioning said stop element with respect to said frame so as to secure at least one sign element in each of at least two of said windows from removal therefrom in the direction of said stop element.
- 22. The method of claim 24 wherein the act of adjusting the position of at least one of said partitioning elements comprises moving said at least one partitioning element to a different position on said frame, thereby altering the size of the display window formed in part by said at least one partitioning element.
- 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising removing a stop element attached to said frame, the removal of said stop element allowing for the removal of at least two of said sign elements from said display panel.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the act of replacing comprises substituting a sign element of a size different than that of said at least one sign element removed from said display panel.
- 25. An adjustable display panel comprising:a frame surrounding a primary display window, said frame having a plurality of partitioning apertures formed therein; a plurality of sign elements; a plurality of partitioning elements each having at least one locking member disposed thereon, said partitioning elements removably attached to the frame via said at least one locking member, said partitioning elements dividing the primary display window into a plurality of smaller windows, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of said smaller windows are configured to display respective ones of said sign elements; and at least one stop element magnetically attached to said frame, said at least one stop element preventing movement of said plurality of sign elements in the direction of said stop element.
- 26. The display panel of claim 25, wherein said at least one locking member comprises a magnet.
- 27. The display panel of claim 26, said frame further comprising a metallic sheet disposed adjacent to at least a portion of said plurality of partitioning apertures, wherein said magnets retain said partitioning elements in a removably fixed position with respect to said frame when said magnets are disposed through said partitioning apertures.
- 28. The display panel of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of sign elements comprise:a front piece having an image illustrated thereon and at least one window cut therein for displaying at least one alphanumeric character therethrough; and a back piece, removably attached to the front piece, said back piece having a plurality of raised elements extending outwardly therefrom, and at least one pocket piece in contact with the at least one of said plurality of raised elements so as to define at least one pocket for holding at least one insert therein, wherein the at least one insert has printed thereon the at least one alphanumeric character and, when the front piece is attached to the back piece, the at least one window is aligned with the at least one pocket so as to allow the at least one alphanumeric character to show through the at least one window.
- 29. An adjustable display panel comprising:a frame surrounding a primary display window, said frame having a plurality of partitioning apertures formed therein; a plurality of sign elements, at least a portion of said plurality of sign elements comprising a front piece having an image illustrated thereon and at least one window cut therein for displaying at least one alphanumeric character therethrough, and a back piece, removably attached to the front piece, said back piece having a plurality of raised elements extending outwardly therefrom, and at least one pocket piece in contact with the at least one of said plurality of raised elements so as to define at least one pocket for holding at least one insert therein, wherein the at least one insert has printed thereon the at least one alphanumeric character and, when the front piece is attached to the back piece, the at least one window is aligned with the at least one pocket so as to allow the at least one alphanumeric character to show through the at least one window; and a plurality of partitioning elements each having at least one locking member disposed thereon, said partitioning elements removably attached to the frame via said at least one locking member, said partitioning elements dividing the primary display window into a plurality of smaller windows, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of smaller windows are configured to display respective ones of said sign elements.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of applicant Ser. No. 08/984,439, filed Dec. 3, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,258.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1888884 |
Sep 1959 |
FR |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
08/984439 |
Dec 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/329778 |
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US |