Flexible Sign Mount

Abstract

A flexible mounting system for supporting a sign from a rigid structure for minimizing damage that might result from an impact force on the sign is disclosed. The flexible mounting system includes a flexible sign mount having a support bracket secured to a sign and a stationary bracket releasably securable to a rigid structure such a bollard. A flex element can be interposed between the support bracket and the stationary bracket to permit the sign to translate and rotate relative to the rigid support when the sign is subjected to an impact load.

Description

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sign assembly having a flexible mount and attached to a pair of bollards;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the sign assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the sign assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken at A as shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating a portion of the flexible mount in greater detail;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the sign assembly of FIG. 1 having an alternate bollard bracket and illustrating relative motion of the sign assembly;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate flexible strip for the sign assembly of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view the sign assembly of FIG. 1 having an alternate flexible mount;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sign assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the sign assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sign assembly having a flexible mount and attached to a pair of bollards;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the sign assembly having a flexible mount and attached to a pair of bollards;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the sign assembly of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the sign assembly of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a front view of an alternate spring for the sign assembly of FIG. 11.

Claims

1. A flexible mount for attaching a sign to a support structure, said flexible mount comprising: a first bracket having a first member and a second member disposed in a spaced apart relationship relative to said first member;a second bracket; anda flex element having a first end secured to said first and second members of said first bracket and a second end secured to said second bracket,wherein said flex element permits relative motion between said first bracket and said second bracket when a force is received by said first bracket and returns to a home position when said force is removed from said first bracket.

2. The flexible mount of claim 1, wherein said first and second members include a plurality of slots for adjustably securing said flex element to said first bracket.

3. The flexible mount of claim 2, wherein said flex element includes a flexible strip secured generally vertically between said first bracket and said second bracket.

4. The flexible mount of claim 3, wherein said flexible strip includes a reinforced edge.

5. The flexible mount of claim 4, wherein said reinforced edge is a lengthwise edge and includes a reinforcing member abutting a first face of said flexible strip.

6. The flexible mount of claim 4, wherein said reinforced edge is integrally formed with said flexible strip.

7. The flexible mount of claim 6, wherein said integrally formed flexible strip is a co-extruded flexible strip and includes a first portion fabricated from a polymeric material selected from a group consisting of urethane and polyethylene and a second portion fabricated from a polyvinyl-chloride.

8. The flexible mount of claim 3, wherein said flexible strip is made from a group consisting of a spring steel and a polymer.

9. The flexible mount of claim 3, wherein said first bracket, said second bracket, and said flex element are integrally formed.

10. The flexible mount of claim 9, wherein said first bracket, said second bracket, and said flex element are formed from a polypropylene sheet.

11. The flexible mount of claim 1, wherein said flex element includes a plurality of springs secured between said first bracket and said second bracket.

12. The flexible mount of claim 11, wherein said second bracket includes an extension member and a body portion adjustably receiving said extension member and said support structure is a pair of spaced apart support structures wherein said extension member is securable to and adjustable to span said pair of support structures.

13. The flexible mount of claim 11, wherein said plurality of springs are orientated generally along a centerline of said first bracket in a spaced apart relationship.

14. The flexible mount of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of springs is a coil spring having a compression spring portion and a tension spring portion.

15. The flexible mount of claim 1, wherein said second bracket includes a contour portion configured to compliment an outer perimeter of said support structure.

16. The flexible mount of claim 15, wherein said contour portion is a generally trapezoidal contour portion.

17. The flexible mount of claim 15, wherein said contour portion is a generally rectangular contour portion.

18. The flexible mount of claim 1, wherein said relative motion between said first bracket and said second bracket includes relative translational motion.

19. The flexible mount of claim 1, wherein said relative motion between said first bracket and said second bracket includes relative rotational motion.

20. A sign assembly mountable to a support structure, said sign assembly comprising: a sign having a generally planar display face;a first bracket secured to said sign;a second bracket spaced apart from said first bracket; anda flex element interposed between said first bracket and said second bracket and extending generally perpendicular to said display face, said flex element supporting said sign in a generally upright position for permitting relative motion between said sign and the support structure when said sign is subjected to an impact load and returning to a home position when said impact load is removed.

21. The sign assembly of claim 20, wherein said sign and at least one of said first bracket, said second bracket, and said flex element are integrally formed with said sign.

22. The sign assembly of claim 21, wherein said sign is a polypropylene sign.

23. The sign assembly of claim 22, wherein said polypropylene sign is about 10 mm thick.

24. The sign assembly of claim 22, wherein said polypropylene sign is an extruded polypropylene sign.

25. A sign mountable to a support structure, said sign comprising: a sign body having a generally planar face; anda flex arm extending generally perpendicularly from said generally planar face,wherein said flex arm permits movement of said sign body when said sign body is subjected to an impact load and returns said sign body to a home position when said impact load is removed.

26. The sign of claim 25, wherein said flex arm comprises a pair of flex arms.

27. The sign of claim 25, wherein said sign body and said flex arm are integrally formed.

28. The sign of claim 27, wherein said generally planar face includes an upper portion and a lower portion and said sign further comprises a living hinge disposed between said flex arm and said lower portion for extending said flex arm from said generally planar face.