Patent Application
20060130383
The present invention relates generally to menu boards and, more particularly, to menu panels for use in menu boards which utilize elongated menu strips having descriptive indicia to display menu item names and pricing information.
Menu boards are widely used at fast food restaurants, for example, to display menu item descriptions and pricing information to a customer. Such menu boards are oftentimes used in restaurants to inform the customer of the available products, their prices, and may also include photographs of special menu items. Typically, the menu board includes one or more menu panels (also referred to as “grids”) mounted to an illuminating box (also referred to as a light box) containing a light source for back-lighting the menu panels from the interior of the box.
In menu boards of the type described above, it is well known in the art to provide menu item descriptions and pricing information on elongated menu strips (also referred to as “slats”) which are supported by the menu panels and positioned forwardly of the light source. The menu strips may include transparent characters or numerals which are thus illuminated by the light source while an opaque surface on the menu strip prevents light from being transmitted through other areas of the menu strip. Examples of such menu strip designs may be found in Porter, II et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,604 and Grate, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,107 wherein the menu strips are positioned on the menu board between adjacent pairs of guide rails fixed to a front or rear surface of the menu board.
It is generally common in the fast food industry to have menu strips with varying heights as different menu items require more or less description of the product. For example, one menu strip may contain the description “Hamburger” while another menu strip may describe a special combination of “Hamburger”, “French Fries” and a “Drink”, with these descriptions being presented in three separate lines on the menu strip to reduce customer confusion in selecting from available products. In the latter example, it will be recognized that the menu strip will have a greater height than in the former example. Moreover, the restaurant may include photographs of special menu items presented on flexible strips of varying heights which are also positioned forwardly of the light source between adjacent pairs of guide rails.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,636,463 and 5,901,486, owned by the common assignee, menu panels are disclosed that are adjustable in the field to accommodate for changes in the heights of menu strips, photographs and other descriptive indicia presented at the menu board. In the adjustable menu panels of these patents, a menu panel frame is provided having a top, a bottom and a pair of side members. The side members of the frame incorporate a series of guide rail support elements disposed along the length of the side members that positively engage and secure a series of generally parallel guide rails to the frame. The guide rails are selectively engageable and disengageable at their opposite ends with the guide rail support elements to provide adjustable spacing between adjacent pairs of the guide rails. A series of elongated menu strips having descriptive indicia, such as menu item names and pricing information, are disposed between and supported by different adjacent pairs of the guide rails.
The guide rails are slotted longitudinally to slidably receive the menu strips between adjacent pairs of the guide rails. The guide rails include an “H-shaped” cross-section front member and a rearwardly extending clip member that engages the guide rail support elements and secures the guide rails to the frame. The front members thereby define a series of sleeves between adjacent pairs of the guide rails to slidably receive the menu strips within the sleeves. To accommodate for changes in menu strip height, the guide rails are selectively positionable at varying locations along the length of the side members to provide adjustable spacing between adjacent pairs of the guide rails.
Notwithstanding the advantages and benefits provided by the adjustable menu panels disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,636,463 and 5,901,486, there is a need for an improved menu panel system which is readily adjustable for different menu board applications.
The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other shortcomings and drawbacks of adjustable menu panels heretofore known. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The adjustable menu panel of the present invention includes a rectangular frame having a top frame member, a bottom frame member and a pair of vertical side frame members extending in spaced apart relationship between the top and bottom frame members. In one embodiment, the right side frame member includes a stationary vertical frame section and a rotatable and removable vertical frame section disposed adjacent to the stationary vertical frame section. The frame members may be readily manufactured with varying horizontal and vertical dimensions to customize the size of the frame for a particular menu board application.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a vertical array of spaced-apart guide rail locating elements is disposed along each of the side frame members. Each spaced-apart adjacent pair of the guide rail locating elements defines a locating pocket therebetween. A series of generally horizontally disposed parallel guide rails are selectively positionable in the locating pockets disposed along the side frame members at opposite ends of the guide rails. The guide rails are selectively positionable in the locating pockets at regularly and variably spaced positions vertically along the side frame members to provide the same and different spacing between adjacent pairs of the guide rails, respectively. The guide rails are configured to receive and retain menu strips within sleeves formed between adjacent pairs of the guide rails. The menu strips are back-lit from a light source positioned behind the menu panel. In this way, menu strips or photographs of varying heights can be inserted into the sleeves.
In one embodiment, the leftmost ends of the guide rails are loosely positioned within the locating pockets provided along the length of the left side frame member by inserting the leftmost ends of the guide rails laterally in a leftward direction generally parallel to a plane defined by the menu board. A front flange or lip portion provided on the left side frame member overlies the respective leftmost ends of the guide rails to partially retain the guide rails within the locating pockets disposed vertically along the length of the left side frame member.
With the removable and rotatable vertical frame section disassembled and removed from the top and bottom frame members, the respective rightmost opposite ends of the guide rails are then generally pivoted toward the stationary vertical frame section of the right side frame member so as to be loosely received within the locating pockets provided along the length of the stationary frame section of the right side frame member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the removable and rotatable vertical frame section is selectively engageable and disengageable with the top and bottom frame members adjacent to the stationary vertical frame section of the right side frame member. In its engaged position, the removable and rotatable vertical frame section overlies respective rightmost ends of the guide rails positioned within the locating pockets provided along the length of the stationary vertical frame section to retain, in conjunction with the front flange or lip portion of the left side frame member, the guide rails within the locating pockets. In the disengaged position of the rotatable and removable vertical frame section, the guide rails may be removed from the locating pockets provided along the respective lengths of the left side frame member and the stationary vertical frame section of the right side frame member. Absent disassembly and removal of the removable and rotatable vertical frame section, the guide rails cannot be inserted into or removed from the menu panel.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a locking member is connected to the frame and is selectively engageable with the rotatable and removable frame section of the right side frame member to lock the rotatable and removable frame section in its engaged position with the top and bottom frame members.
In one embodiment, the rotatable and removable frame section is pivotally connected to the top and bottom frame members so as to be pivotal between open and closed positions. Menu strips are slidably inserted into the sleeves formed between adjacent pairs of the guide rails when the rotatable and removable frame section is moved to the open position. Thereafter, the rotatable and removable frame section is moved to the closed position to retain the menu strips within the sleeves formed between the adjacent pairs of guide rails. A locking member is provided to selectively lock the rotatable and removable frame section in its closed position and thereby retain the menu strips within the sleeves.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of an embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings, and to
In one embodiment, the frame members 14, 16 and 18a, and the stationary vertical frame section 19a of frame member 18b, are made of extruded aluminum and have generally tubular portions 20 (
As shown in
With further reference to
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the menu panel 10 includes an upper pair of vertically spaced-apart and forwardly extending guide rail locating elements 42a (
In one embodiment as shown in
The track members 44a and 44b are preferably cut from an elongated block of nylon or manufactured of a moldable material, such as plastic or the like, to provide the desired configuration and vertical spacing of the guide rail locating elements 42a and 42b. In this way, the track members 44a and 44b can be efficiently manufactured and customized for a particular menu board application, i.e., to provide greater or lesser incremental spacing between adjacent intermediate guide rail locating elements 42b. The track members 44a and 44b are readily interchangeable with track members having different configurations of guide rail locating elements 42a and 42b so that the menu panel 10 can be modified for a particular application without requiring a change to the frame 12, and in particular to the side frame members 18a and 18b.
Alternatively, it is contemplated that the track members 44a and 44b could be milled or otherwise formed from a material such as metal, wood or other suitable material to provide the desired vertical spacing and configuration of the guide rail locating elements 42a and 42b. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the track members 44a and 44b could be dispensed with, and the guide rail locating elements 42a and 42b could be individually welded, fastened or otherwise connected in a suitable manner directly to the side frame member 18a and the vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b. It will further be appreciated that, in another alternative embodiment, the guide rail locating elements 42a and 42b could be milled or otherwise formed in a suitable manner so as to be integral with the side frame member 18a and the vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b.
As shown most clearly in
Referring now to
Further referring to
Preferably, the sleeves 70 are disposed forwardly of the vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b so that the menu strips 40 are slidably received within the sleeves 70 from one end of the guide rails 36 and 38 adjacent the vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
With the removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b disassembled and removed from the top and bottom frame members 14, 16, the respective rightmost opposite ends of the intermediate guide rails 38 are then generally pivoted toward the stationary vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b, as represented by arrow 72 in
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b is selectively engageable and disengageable with the top and bottom frame members 14, 16 adjacent the stationary vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b. In its engaged position as shown in FIGS. 1, 3-6 and 8-10, the removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b overlies respective rightmost ends of the guide rails 36 and 38 positioned within the respective locating pockets 54a and 54b provided along the length of the stationary vertical frame section 19a to retain, in conjunction with the front flange or lip portion 32 of side frame member 18a, the guide rails 36, 38 within the locating pockets 54a, 54b. In the disengaged position of the rotatable and removable vertical frame section 19b as shown in
In one embodiment, the top frame member 14 has a slot 76 (
The pins 80 form pivot connections with the slot 76 and aperture 78 so that the removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b is pivotally connected to the top and bottom frame members 14, 16. The vertical frame section 19b has a side flange portion 82, a front flange portion 84 extending inwardly from the side flange portion 82, and a flange portion 86 extending outwardly from the side flange portion 82. The vertical frame section 19b is manually pivotal between an open position as shown in
In one embodiment, a generally “L-shaped” locking member 92 is pivotally connected to the frame 12 so as to be manually pivotal between locked and unlocked positions. The locking member 92 has one end of a leg 94 pivotally connected to the vertical flange portion 24 of the top frame member 14 through a pin 96 (
In the locked position, the leg 98 of the locking member 92 is positioned rearwardly of the flange portion 86 extending outwardly from the side flange portion 82 of the removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b. When the locking member 92 is pivoted upwardly to the unlocked position as shown in
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a locking member 100, such as a flexible leaf spring, has one end connected to the horizontal top flange portion 22 of the top frame member 14 through a pair of rivets or screws 102 as shown in
In use of the menu panel 10 of the present invention, the frame members 14, 16 and 18a, and the stationary vertical frame section 19a of frame member 18b, are extruded and cut to desired lengths for a specific menu board application. The top and bottom guide rails 36 and intermediate guide rails 38 are also extruded and cut to a desired length for the particular size of the frame 12.
The pair of track members 44a and 44b are manufactured to have the desired configuration and spacing of the guide rail locating elements 42a and 42b. The track members 44a and 44b are then mounted to the side frame member 18a and the stationary vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b by sliding the rearwardly extending mounting portions 48 of the track members 44a and 44b within the elongated channels 46. The side frame member 18a and the stationary vertical frame section 19a of side frame member 18b are connected at their opposite ends to the respective opposite ends of the top and bottom frame members 14, 16.
To locate the top and bottom guide rails 36 and the intermediate guide rails 38 within the locating pockets 54a and 54b, respectively, the removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b is disassembled and removed from the top and bottom frame members 14, 16. The top and bottom guide rails 36 are then loosely positioned within the upper and lower locating pockets 54a. The intermediate guide rails 38 are selectively loosely positioned within the intermediate locating pockets 54b to provide the desired spacing between adjacent pairs of the intermediate guide rails 38, and to provide the desired spacing between the top and bottom guide rails 36 and adjacent intermediate guide rails 38.
The front flange portion 32 of the side frame member 18a prevents insertion of the guide rails 36, 38 within the locating pockets 54a, 54b in an insertion direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the frame 12. Rather, the respective leftmost ends of the guide rails 36, 38 are inserted laterally in a leftward direction and generally parallel to a plane defined by the menu panel 10 so as to be positioned within the respective locating pockets 54a, 54b provided along the length of the side frame member 18a and rearwardly of the front flange portion 32 as shown in
The removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b of side frame member 18b is then selectively engaged with the top and bottom frame members 14, 16 by engaging the pins 80 with the slot 76 and the aperture 78. The aperture 104 of the locking member 100 is engaged with the upper pin 80 to lock the vertical frame section 19b in its engaged position with the top and bottom frame members 14, 16. The vertical frame section 19b, in conjunction with the front flange or lip portion 32 of side frame member 18a, retains the guide rails 36, 38 within the locating pockets 54a, 54b.
The removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b of side frame member 18b is pivoted to its open position to permit the menu strips 40 to be slidably received in the sleeves 70 formed between adjacent pairs of the guide rails 36 and 38. The vertical frame section 19b is then pivoted to its closed position to retain the menu strips 40 within the sleeves 70 and the locking member 92 is pivoted downwardly to lock the vertical frame section 19b in its closed position.
When the menu strips 40 need to be modified or replaced, the vertical frame section 19b is unlocked by pivoting the locking member 92 upwardly. The vertical frame section 19b is then free to pivot to its open position so the menu strips 40 can be readily removed and inserted within the sleeves 70.
When the height of one or more menu strips 40 needs to be changed, the rotatable and removable vertical frame section 19b of side frame member 18b is disengaged from the top and bottom frame members 14, 16 and removed, and the intermediate guide rails 38 are then selectively repositioned within the intermediate locating pockets 54b to provide new sleeves 70 having the proper height to accommodate the height changes in the menu strips 40. The vertical frame section 19b is then re-engaged with the top and bottom frame members 14, 16 and locked in its engaged position by the locking member 100. The vertical frame section 19b is then pivoted between the open and closed positions as described in detail above to receive and retain the menu strips 40 within the sleeves 70.
Referring now to
Further referring to
As shown in
The removable and rotatable vertical frame section 19b′ is engaged with the top and bottom frame members 14′, 16 by first inserting the lower pin 204 into the aperture 78 formed in the horizontal bottom flange portion 26 of the bottom frame member 16 as shown in
In its engaged position as shown in
Referring now to
Further referring to
While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' invention.
