The present invention relates generally to signage. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a corrugated, paperboard sign that is manufactured in a fold and glue assembly process and that is traditionally provided to an end user in a collapsed or knock-down configuration for setup.
Corrugated signs and containers are often made from pieces of flat paperboard stock material that are die cut into shapes that define various panels. The shapes are folded along predefined lines between the panels with overlapping sides, strips, or panels that are glued, taped or otherwise affixed to another panel to form an enclosed boundary. The panels are folded and/or glued into place to become the walls of the sign or container. The signs and/or containers are traditionally provided to product manufacturers and/or retailers in a collapsed or knock-down configuration for storage, handling, and shipping. The manufacturer and/or retailers open the knock-down signs or containers and fold them appropriately to erect the assembled sign or container for display.
Many retailers, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, department stores, etc., utilize a variety of signs, such as tube signs and/or slip signs. Tube signs are configured to rest on top of a standard tube, such as a fiberboard or paper tube or core. In this way, tube signs are capable of being positioned throughout a store. Slip signs, on the other hand, are configured to slip over existing structures, such as a register sign on top of a register pole. In this way, the existing structure serves as a support structure for the slip sign.
Knock-down tube signs and knock-down slip signs of the prior art are fabricated much like knock-down boxes with each sign having opposed front and rear panels extending between opposed side panels and opposed top and bottom panels so as to define an interior area. In some embodiments, the front panel and/or the rear panel serves as a graphic panel. In other embodiments, graphic panels include a unique shape and/or are otherwise required to extend past the one or more other panel, such as the bottom panel, so as to accommodate marketing needs, such as providing a sign that has the same general shape of a product, and/or providing structural needs, such as to define a channel that is configured to slip over a register sign. Because knock-down signs of the prior art are rectangular in shape, these unique features require a separate graphic panel to be coupled to the front panel and/or the rear panel.
Existing methods of erecting the knock-down tube and slip signs of the prior art include providing a store with a plurality of blank signs in a knock-down configuration and a plurality of separate graphic panels. A worker, such as a store employee, then folds the various panels of the sign along multiple fold lines to form a box structure, tapes, glues or otherwise secures the panels together so as to retain the box shape, and affixes one or more graphic panel to the box structure. After the box structure is erected and the graphic panels are affixed to the box structure, the sign can be secured to a tube and/or other structure, such as a register sign. This process is cumbersome and time consuming and must be completed by hand in the store. Moreover, in such prior art sign structures, even if the graphic panels could be pre-glued to the blank knock-down, it would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to erect the box structure with the panels attached. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a corrugated paperboard signage assembly that is configured to secure one or more graphic panel to a tube and/or other structure, such as a register sign, that transforms quickly and easily from a knock-down configuration to an erected configuration.
The present invention comprises a corrugated paperboard modular sign that includes a spacer assembly coupled to a back surface of one or more graphic panel. The modular sign is movable between a knock-down configuration and an erected configuration. In the knock-down configuration, the spacer assembly lays flat against the back surface of the one or more graphic panel. In this way, the modular sign can be easily shipped and/or stored. In the erected configuration, the modular sign is configured to be supported by a tube and/or an existing structure, such as a register sign on top of a register pole.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
In preferred embodiments, the spacer assembly is moveable from a flat configuration to a three-dimensional configuration. In some embodiments, the spacer assembly includes one or more feature, such as a key flap and a corresponding key aperture, to selectively secure the spacer assembly in the three-dimensional configuration. In some such embodiments, moving the spacer assembly from its flat configuration to its three-dimensional configuration causes the modular sign to move from its knock-down configuration to its erected configuration. In other such embodiments, securing the spacer assembly in its three-dimensional configuration causes the modular sign to be secured in its erected configuration.
In some embodiments, the spacer assembly defines one or more feature, such as an aperture, that is configured to receive a support member. In some such embodiments, a key flap of the front top panel is configured to couple to the support member. For instance, in some embodiments, the support member is a fiber or paper tube that defines an exterior diameter and an interior diameter. In some such embodiments, an aperture of the support structure is configured to receive the exterior diameter of the fiber tube and the key flap is configured to be received by the interior diameter of the fiber tube.
In a preferred embodiment, the modular sign includes front and rear graphic panels coupled to respective front and rear panels of the spacer assembly. In some embodiments, the graphic panels extend past the edges of the spacer assembly panels so as to fully or partially conceal the spacer assembly when the modular sign is in the erected configuration. In other embodiments, the graphic panels extend below a bottom panel of the spacer assembly so as to create a channel that is configured to receive one or more support structure, such as the top of a register sign. In this way, the modular sign can be slid over the support structure so as to be supported by the support structure.
In some embodiments, the spacer assembly includes one or more securing feature so as to secure the modular sign relative to the support structure. In some such embodiments, the securing feature corresponds with an end profile that is configured to receive a vertical member positioned adjacent to the support structure, such as a vertical pole positioned adjacent to a register sign. In this way, the module sign can be slid onto the support structure and towards the vertical member until the end profile receives the vertical member so as to more securely couple the modular sign to the support structure.
The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features and subcombinations of invention may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention and various features thereof.
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the principles of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
The present invention is directed to a modular sign 10 that includes a spacer assembly 100 coupled to a back surface of one or more graphic panel 200. The modular sign 10 is movable between a knock-down configuration and an erected configuration. In the knock-down configuration, the spacer assembly 100 lays flat against the back surface of the one or more graphic panel 200. In this way, the modular sign 10 can be easily shipped and/or stored. In the erected configuration, the modular sign is configured to be supported by a vertical support member 20 (such as a tube) and/or by another support structure 30 (such as a register sign on top of a register pole).
In some embodiments, excess material 204 surrounds the graphic panel 200. In some such embodiments, the excess material 204 protects one or more edge of the graphic panel 200. In other embodiments, the excess material 204 is helpful in positioning the graphic panel 200 relative to another graphic panel 200 and/or relative to the spacer assembly 100. In some such embodiments, the excess material 204 is not removed until after the spacer assembly 100 is secured to each graphic panel 200. In other embodiments, excess material (not shown) surrounds the spacer assembly 100. In some embodiments, the graphic panels 200 and/or the spacer assembly 100 are shipped and/or stored with excess material so as to provide additional protection to the graphic panels 200 and/or the spacer assembly 100 when the modular sign 10 is in the knock-down configuration. In such embodiments, a user simply removes the excess material prior to moving the modular sign to the erected configuration.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the spacer assembly 100 includes opposed front 110 and rear 120 panels, each having opposed proximal 112, 122 and distal 114, 124 ends. In some such embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 further includes a bottom panel 130 extending between respective proximal ends 112, 122 of the front 110 and rear 120 panels. In other such embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 further includes a front top flange 150 extending from the distal end 114 of the front panel 110. In still other such embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 further includes a rear top flange 160 extending from the distal end 124 of the rear panel 120.
In preferred embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is moveable between a flat configuration and a three-dimensional configuration. In some embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is in the flat configuration when the modular sign 10 is in the knock-down configuration. In other embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is in the three-dimensional configuration when the modular sign 10 is in the erected configuration. In still other embodiments, the spacer assembly 10 is moved from its flat configuration to its three-dimensional configuration when the modular sign 10 is moved from its knock-down configuration to its erected configuration.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the front top flange 150 is displaced from the rear top flange 160 when the spacer assembly 100 is in the flat configuration. In some such embodiments, the rear top flange 160 is folded over the front top flange 150 when the spacer assembly 100 is in the three-dimensional configuration. In some embodiments, the rear top flange 160 defines a key flap 165 and the front top flange 150 defines a key aperture 155 such that when the spacer assembly 100 is in the three-dimensional configuration, the key aperture 155 is configured to selectively receive the key flap 165 so as to lock the rear top flange 160 to the front top flange 150, thereby creating a top panel.
In some embodiments, the key flap 165 is moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In some such embodiments, the key flap 165 is in the stowed configuration when the spacer assembly 100 is in its flat configuration and/or when the modular sign is in its knock-down configuration. In other such embodiments, moving the key flap 165 from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration when the spacer assembly 100 is in the three-dimensional configuration allows the key flap 165 to be received by the key aperture 155, thereby moving the spacer assembly 100 and/or the modular sign 10 from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration.
In some embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is retained in its three-dimensional configuration when it is in the locked configuration. In some such embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is moveable from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration by moving the key flap 165 from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration, thereby removing the key flap 165 from the key aperture 155. In some such embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is moveable from its three-dimensional configuration to its flat configuration when it is in its unlocked configuration.
In some embodiments, the modular sign 10 is retained in its erected configuration when it is in the locked configuration. In some such embodiments, the modular sign 10 is moveable from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration by moving the key flap 165 from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration, thereby removing the key flap 165 from the key aperture 155. In some such embodiments, the modular sign 10 is moveable from its erected configuration to its knock-down configuration when it is in its unlocked configuration.
In some embodiments, the bottom panel 130 defines an aperture 135 that is configured to receive a vertical support member 20, such as a pole or tube. In some embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 is configured such that the modular sign 10 is capable of sliding over a top end of the vertical support member 20. In some such embodiments, the top panel is configured to interface with the top end of the vertical support member 20 so as to provide vertical support for the modular sign 10. In some embodiments, the key flap 165 is configured to interface with the top end of the vertical support member 20 so as to provide lateral support for the modular sign. For instance, in some embodiments, the vertical support member is a fiber or paper tube that defines an exterior diameter and an interior diameter. In some such embodiments, the aperture 135 of the bottom panel 130 is configured to receive the exterior diameter of the fiber tube and the key flap 165 is configured to be received by the interior diameter of the fiber tube.
In a preferred embodiment, the modular sign includes a graphic panel 200 coupled to the front panel 110 of the spacer assembly 100. In some embodiments, the graphic panel 200 extends past the proximal 112 and distal 114 ends of the front panel 110 so as to fully or partially conceal the spacer assembly 100 when the modular sign is in the erected configuration.
In some embodiments, the modular sign includes a graphic panel 200 coupled to each of the front 110 and rear 120 panels. In some such embodiments, the graphic panels 200 extend below the bottom panel 130 of the spacer assembly so as to create a channel 105 that is configured to receive one or more support structure, such as the top of a register sign. In this way, the modular sign 10 can be slid over the support structure so as to be supported by the support structure.
In some embodiments, the spacer assembly 100 includes one or more securing feature 180 extending from one or more panel, such as the top panel and/or the bottom panel. In some such embodiments, the securing feature 180 is configured to selectively secure the modular sign 10 relative to the support structure. In some such embodiments, the securing feature 180 is positioned adjacent to an end profile 132 in the bottom panel 130, an end profile 152 in the front top flange 150, and/or an end profile 162 in the rear top flange 160.
In some embodiments, the securing feature 180 is movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the securing feature 180 is relatively flat with a corresponding panel, such as a top panel or a bottom panel, so as to accommodate storage of the spacer assembly 100. In the deployed configuration, the securing feature 180 is folded up and away from the corresponding panel so as to accommodate moving the securing feature into engagement with a vertical member 25.
In some embodiments, the securing feature 180 is configured to interface with a vertical member 25, such as a vertical pole positioned adjacent and/or extending from to the support structure 30. In some such embodiments, the module sign 10 can be slid onto the support structure and towards the vertical member 25 until the end profile receives the vertical member 25.
In some embodiments, the securing feature 180 is movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. In the unlocked configuration, the securing feature 180 allows the modular sign to be moved into position relative to a support structure 30 by allowing the vertical member 25 to be received by one or more end profile. In the locked configuration, the securing feature 180 prevents or otherwise inhibits the modular sign 10 from moving away from the support structure 30 by preventing the modular sign 10 from moving away from the vertical member 25. In some embodiments, the stowed configuration.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In use, a user, such as a store employee, can quickly and easily move the modular sign 10 from the knock-down configuration to the erected configuration by: removing excess material from the graphic panels and/or the spacer assembly (if necessary); placing the modular sign 10 on a flat surface with a front surface of each graphic panel 200 resting on the flat surface; rotating the front and rear graphic panels up and away from the flat surface such that the front 110 and rear 120 panels of the spacer assembly 100 are approximately perpendicular to the bottom panel 130; and folding the front 150 and rear 160 top flanges against each other so as to create a top panel extending between the front 110 and rear 120 panels. The user can then quickly and easily secure the modular sign in the erected configuration by folding the key flap 165 of the rear top flange 160 down into the key aperture 155 of the front top flange 150.
After the modular sign 10 is in the erected configuration, the user can selectively install the modular sign onto a vertical support member 20, such as a tube, and/or onto another support structure 30, such as a register sign. To additionally secure the modular sign to the tube, the user can selectively insert the key flap of the spacer assembly 100 into an interior diameter of the tube. To additionally secure the modular sign to a register sign, the user can selectively move one or more securing feature 180 from a stowed and/or locked configuration to a deployed and/or unlocked configuration, such as by rotating the securing feature away from a corresponding panel. In some embodiments, the user can then slide the modular sign 10 towards a vertical member 25 until the vertical member 25 is received by an end profile of one or more panel of the spacer assembly. In some embodiments, the user can then selectively move the securing feature to a stowed and/or locked configuration so as to secure the modular sign to the vertical member 25.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the scope of the inventions is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Although the foregoing detailed description of the present invention has been described by reference to an exemplary embodiment, and the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that certain changes, modification or variations may be made in embodying the above invention, and in the construction thereof, other than those specifically set forth herein, may be achieved by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such changes, modification or variations are to be considered as being within the overall scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention and any and all changes, modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall with in the true spirit and scope of the underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein. Consequently, the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the attached claims, all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the invention is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/184,731, filed Jun. 25, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62184731 | Jun 2015 | US |