BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sign support devices and more particularly pertains to a new mobile motionable sign apparatus for supporting and moving a sign relative to the base apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of sign support devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, sign support devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new mobile motionable sign apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new mobile motionable sign apparatus which has many of the advantages of the sign support devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new mobile motionable sign apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sign support devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a base assembly including a base member with wheels mounted thereto; a motive support assembly removably coupled to the base member and including a pivot member; and a sign support assembly movably coupled to the pivot member and including a motor support member coupled and movable relative to the pivot member and further including a motor mounted to the motor support member and also including sign support members connectable to the motor support member. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the mobile motionable sign apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new mobile motionable sign apparatus which has many of the advantages of the sign support devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new mobile motionable sign apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sign support devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new mobile motionable sign apparatus for supporting and moving a sign relative to the base apparatus.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new mobile motionable sign apparatus that intends to draw attention to the sign by moving the sign in figure eight path.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new mobile motionable sign apparatus that is protected from theft with motion sensors should someone attempt to lift the apparatus a particular distance off the ground.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile motionable sign apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the base member of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the sign support assembly of the present invention with a partial view of the expandable pole.
FIG. 4 is a partial top perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an exploded of the pivot member of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the sign support assembly with an inset drawing of one of the sign support brackets of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new mobile motionable sign apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the mobile motionable sign apparatus 10 may generally comprise a base assembly 11 including a base member 12 with wheels 13, 14 conventionally mounted thereto, and may also comprise a motive support assembly 26 removably coupled to the base member 11 and including a pivot member 32, and may further comprise a sign support assembly 75 movably coupled to the pivot member 32 and including a motor support member 68 coupled and movable relative to the pivot member 32 and further including a motor 102 conventionally mounted to the motor support member 68 and also including sign support members 103, 104 conventionally mountable to the motor support member 68.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the base member 12 has a bottom wall 15, side walls 16-18, a compartment 19 disposed therein, an opening 22 into the compartment 19, a cover 20 removably and conventionally disposed over the opening 22, and a handle 21 conventionally attached to one of the side walls 16, 17 for moving the base member 12. The mobile motionable sign apparatus 10 may further include a battery 25 conventionally carried in the compartment 19 and upon the bottom wall 15 and in conventional communication with the motor 102 in FIG. 3 for the energizing thereof and may also include a gravity sensor 23 conventionally disposed in the compartment 19 and in conventional communication with the battery 25 using wires (not shown) and may further include a sound-producing mechanism 24 in conventional communication with the gravity sensor 23 and the battery 25 also using wires (not shown) to emit an alarm upon the lifting of the base member 12 a selected distance off the ground.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the motive support assembly 26 may also include a first coupler 27 conventionally attached and welded to a top 28 of the base member 12 adjacent to the opening 22, and may further include an extendable pole 29 having interconnecting tubular sections and removably extending upwardly from the base member 12 and having a top end portion 31 and a bottom end portion 30 conventionally retainable in the first coupler 27 with a pin member. The pivot member 32 may be removably retained about the top end portion 31 of the extendable pole 29, and includes a top plate 33, a bottom plate 36, opposed side plates 39, 47 spaced apart from one another and conventionally interconnecting and welded to the top and bottom plates 33, 36 and a second coupler 55 conventionally depending from and welded to the bottom plate 36 and removably retained about the top end portion 31 of the extendable pole 29. Each of the side plates 39, 47 may have a longitudinal slot 46, 54 disposed therethrough. The pivot member 32 may further include a connector member 105 such as a bolt with a threaded nut extending through and movable within the longitudinal slots 46, 54 of the side plates 39, 47. The side plates 39, 47 may have opposed ends 40, 41, 48, 49. The pivot member 32 may further include elongate extension members 42, 44, 50, 52 integrally attached to the opposed ends 40, 41, 48, 49 of the side plates 39, 47 and longitudinally aligned and extending outwardly from the opposed ends 40, 41, 48, 49 of the side plates 39, 47 with each of the elongate extension members 42, 44, 50, 52 having a distal end 43, 45, 51, 53. Each elongate extension member 42, 44, 50, 52 is integrally attached to a respective opposed end 40, 41, 48, 49 of a respective side plate 39, 47. The top and bottom plates 33, 36 may have opposed ends 34, 35, 37, 38 with the elongate extension members 42, 44, 50, 52 extending outwardly beyond the ends 34, 35, 37, 38 of the top and bottom plates 33, 36. The second coupler 55 is a tube conventionally attached and welded to the bottom plate 36 and having a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to the bottom plate 36 and having an open distal end 56 and a bore 58 disposed therein and having a side wall 57 with diametrically opposed holes disposed therethrough. The top end portion 31 of the extendable pole 29 may be removably received in the bore 58 of the tube with the pivot member 32 fastenable to the extendable pole 29 with a pin removably extended through the diametrically opposed holes. The motive support assembly 26 may also include linkage members 59, 62, 65a-b each having first and second ends 60, 61, 63, 64, 66a-b, 67a-b and may further include bearing members each conventionally interconnecting and respectfully coupling a respective first end 60, 63, 66a-b of a respective linkage member 59, 62, 65a-b to a respective distal end 43, 45, 51, 53 of a respective elongate extension member 42, 44, 50, 52 with the linkage members 59, 62, 65a-b being rotatable relative to the elongate extension members 42, 44, 50, 52.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6, the motor support member 68 may include elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b spaced apart and each having ends and may also include lateral support members 71a-b, 72a-b each conventionally and respectfully interconnecting and welded to a pair of the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b at the ends thereof. The motor support member 68 may further include cross support members 73a-b, 74a-b each conventionally attached and welded to and interconnecting a respective pair of the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b and a respective pair of the lateral support members 71a-b, 72a-b to form a rectangular frame. The sign support assembly 75 in FIG. 1 may also include a motor bracket 76 conventionally attached and welded to at least one of the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b with the motor 102 conventionally attached to the motor bracket 76 and having a rotatable shaft 77, and may further include post support members 78-80 each conventionally interconnecting and welded to a respective pair of the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b. The sign support assembly 75 may also include posts 82-84 each conventionally fastened to a respective post support member 78-80 and extending inwardly of the motor support member 68 and perpendicular to the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b, and may further include bearings each conventionally interconnecting and coupling a respective second end 61, 64, 67a-b of respective linkage member 59, 62, 65a-b to a respective post 82-84. The rotatable shaft 77 may be conventionally connected to the second end 61 of one of the linkage members 59 for rotation therewith. The motor 102 moves in a figure eight path relative to the pivot member 32 when energized. The sign support assembly 75 may further include elongate guide members 86, 89 one of which conventionally interconnects the rotatable shaft 77 to one of the posts 82 and another of which conventionally interconnects other posts 83-84. Each of the elongate guide members 86, 89 may have an intermediate portion 87, 90 with a longitudinal slot 88, 91 disposed therethrough. The connector member 105 may be a bolt with a nut threaded to the bolt and may extend through the longitudinal slots 88, 91 of the elongate guide members 86, 89 and may be conventionally and adjustably fastened to the elongate guide members 86, 89.
As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the sign support assembly 75 may also include sign support brackets 92a-f spaced apart and conventionally attached and welded to the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b for supporting the sign support members 103, 104. Each of the sign support brackets 92a-f may include a first planar portion 93 conventionally attached to a respective one of the elongate support members 69a-b, 70a-b, a second planar portion 94 angled relative to the first planar portion 93, a third planar portion 95 angled relative to the second planar portion 94 and disposed parallel to the first planar portion 93, and retaining walls 96, 97 conventionally attached and welded to side edges 106a-b of the second and third planar portions 94, 95 to retain the sign support members 103, 104 to the support brackets 92a-f. The sign support members 103, 104 may include a pair of elongate rails 98a-d spaced apart, a pair of end rails conventionally interconnecting and welded to the elongate rails 98a-d, and cross rails 99a-d spaced apart and conventionally interconnecting the elongate rails 98a-d and having slots 100a-b, 101a-b spaced along the cross rails 99a-d and obliquely disposed in the cross rails 99a-b for receiving the sign support brackets 92a-f.
In use, the mobile motionable sign apparatus 10 is used either for advertising purposes or for communicating a message and is commonly set up in a public place with the advertisement or message attached to and displayed upon the sign support members 103, 104. The battery 25 in the base member 12 energizes the gravity sensor 23, the sound-producing member 24 and also the motor 102 which actuates the rotation of the rotatable shaft 77 causing the linkage member 59, 62, 65 coupled to the rotatable shaft 77 to rotate with the rotatable shaft 77 and causing the motor support member 68 and the sign support members 103, 104 to rotated in a figure eight relative to the pivot member 32 and the base member 12 so that the advertisement or message is essentially moving back and forth relative to the pivot member 32 and the base member 12 thus catching the attention of the consumers.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the mobile motionable sign apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Patent Grant
9299276
