The present invention relates to the field of display signs which are large physical structures that are positioned on a sidewalk or at a safe location within a street to provide an advertising display to be viewed by oncoming traffic.
In general, street signs which are placed on sidewalks are known in the prior art. Traffic signals at street corners are controlled by a traffic control signal box which is a locked physical structure which retains the traffic control signal equipment therein. The traffic control signal box is an unprotected structure and unfortunately, provides a surface for gangs to spray paint or otherwise deface the surfaces of the traffic control signal box.
There is a significant need to provide a source of protection to block access to the visible surfaces of the traffic control signal box to reduce the incidence of defacing the traffic control signal box.
The present invention is a multi-functional advertising sidewalk sign which is affixed into a sidewalk to prevent the sidewalk sign from being moved or stolen. The present invention is a large display sign with two large rotatably connected panels, each of which retains a large poster which is visible from one to fifty feet away.
The present invention is positioned and affixed into a sidewalk adjacent a corner of intersecting traffic so that information on each retained poster is visible to oncoming traffic as a vehicle approaches the intersection traveling in a direction where the poster is visible to oncoming traffic.
The present invention is also positioned so that it blocks access to the street visible portion of the traffic control signal box to protect it from vandals, gangs and others who might deface the sidewalk visible surfaces of the traffic control signal box.
The present invention multi-functional display retaining sign includes several novel features including: (a) an ability to completely rotate one of the large panels away from blocking access to the traffic control signal box so that an authorized technician will have access to the traffic control signal box to provide standard maintenance and to repair a portion of the equipment if the traffic signal is not working or is working with signal problems; (b) an ability to rotate a panel to a location where the poster retained in the panel is removed and replaced with a different poster and to facilitate cleaning of the inside of the display portion.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a large multi-functional display structure which includes a center support post and a first side support post and a second side support post, each respective side support post being at a spaced apart distance from the center support post to provide supports for each respective display panel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a large multi-functional display structure in which each post has a foot section which is affixed into a concrete sidewalk to prevent each post from being moved. Each post leg has a base which is affixed into a sidewalk concrete surface by a one-way screw threaded into the concrete or by an anchor bolt cemented into the concrete.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a large multi-functional display structure in which each post has a post leg which is sufficiently tall to provide a space between a bottom of a display panel and the concrete ground surface. A distance of at least one foot to three feet, and preferably two feet (twenty-four inches), is provided by the present invention for a distance between a bottom of a display panel and the concrete ground surface.
Most traffic control signal boxes are located on a sidewalk. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a large multi-functional display structure in which each post has a post leg which is sufficiently tall to provide a space between a bottom of a display panel and the concrete ground surface.
It is an object of the present invention to account for the location and widthwise size and lengthwise size of a traffic control signal box. As a general description, a traffic control signal box is twenty-four inches wide, thirty-three inches long and forty-eight inches tall. The traffic control signal box is positioned with a widthwise side parallel to one street and a lengthwise side parallel to an intersecting street at an intersection. The distance from the traffic control signal box to a street is at least seven inches for the curb and at least twenty-eight inches for the sidewalk distance for a total of at least thirty-five inches. The walking distance between an opposite widthwise side of the traffic control signal box and a storefront is at least sixty-two inches for pedestrian foot traffic.
A distance of at least one foot to three feet, and preferably two feet (twenty-four inches), is provided by the present invention for a distance between a bottom of a display panel and the concrete ground surface.
It is an additional object of the present invention to position the center post at a location at an approximate lengthwise center of a traffic control signal box and at a distance from the traffic control signal box so that a rear surface of a first panel is adjacent a first corner at an intersection of a lengthwise side and a first widthwise side of the traffic control signal box and a rear surface of a second panel is adjacent a second corner at an intersection of the same lengthwise side and the second widthwise side of the traffic control signal box.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a display sign retaining a poster in a panel in which each panel includes a non-transparent back such as a metal rear frame panel and a transparent front panel with a display poster affixed to the rear metal panel. The front panel is preferably made of non-breakable transparent material which, by way of example, is fiberglass.
The first front panel is hingeably and rotatably connected to a portion of the rear and retained in a locked condition with an engaging lock in a side post such as the first side post. In this variation, once unlocked, the first front panel is rotated in the clockwise direction to gain access to a poster affixed to the non-transparent first rear panel. The poster is usually an advertisement or other poster which is usually paid for by a sponsor such as a company selling a product advertised on the poster or a message delivered by an organization such as a charity or a political party. It will be appreciated that any other poster is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The poster is made of any acceptable material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, posterboard, fiberboard and plastic. It is affixed to the non-transparent first rear panel by suitable affixing apparatus selected from the group consisting of double-sided tape and glued to the back of the poster and the front of the non-transparent rear surface, or stapled if the first rear panel can have staples affixed into it.
The second front panel is hingeably and rotatably connected to a portion of the second rear panel and retained in a locked condition with an engaging lock in a side post such as the second side post. In this variation, once unlocked, the second front panel is rotated in the counterclockwise direction to gain access to a poster affixed to the non-transparent second rear panel. The poster is usually an advertisement or other poster which is usually paid for by a sponsor such as a company selling a product advertised on the poster or a message delivered by an organization such as a charity or a political party. It will be appreciated that any other poster is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The poster is made of any acceptable material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, posterboard, fiberboard and plastic. It is affixed to the non-transparent second rear panel by suitable affixing apparatus selected from the group consisting of double-sided tape and glued to the back of the poster and the front of the non-transparent second rear panel, or stapled if the rear panel can have staples affixed into it.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to rotate an entire front and rear panel to a position where in does not block access to the traffic control signal box. Each panel is movably and slidably attached to a portion of the center post and a portion of a side post to be moved vertically upward and locked in a raised condition, A comparable structure is used for both full panels but the access door is located at one location of the traffic control signal box so depending on the location of the access door, only an apparatus to move one of the full panels is required.
It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide an information message at a top location of the sign.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and discussion.
Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated:
Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention.
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The present invention is also positioned so that it blocks access to the street visible portion of the traffic control signal box 2000 to protect it from vandals, gangs and others who tag the street visible surfaces of the traffic control signal box 2000 so that their message is seen by anyone who drives by.
The present invention includes several novel features including: (a) an ability to completely rotate one of the large panels away from blocking access to the traffic control signal box 2000 so that an authorized technician will have access to the traffic control signal box 2000 to provide standard maintenance and to repair a portion of the equipment if the traffic signal is not working or is working with signal problems (see
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The first front panel 330 is hingeably and rotatably connected to a first portion 14 of the rear panel 370 at a location adjacent the central post 20 by a first hinge 340 and a spaced apart second hinge 350 and retained in a locked condition with an engaging lock 380 in the first side post 120. In this variation, once unlocked, the first front panel 330 is rotated in the clockwise direction to gain access to a poster 500 affixed to the front surface 372 of the non-transparent first rear panel 370. The poster 500 is usually an advertisement or other poster which is usually paid for by a sponsor such as a company selling a product advertised on the poster or a message delivered by an organization such as a charity or a political party. It will be appreciated that any other poster is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The poster is made of any acceptable material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, posterboard, fiberboard and plastic. It is affixed to the front surface 372 of the non-transparent first rear panel 370 by suitable affixing apparatus selected from the group consisting of double-sided tape and glued to the back 520 of the poster 500 and the front 372 of the non-transparent rear frame 370, or stapled if the first rear panel 370 can have staples affixed into it.
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The first front panel 330 is hingeably and rotatably connected to a first portion 14 of the non-transparent first rear panel 370 by a first hinge 340 and a spaced apart second hinge 350 and retained in a locked condition with an engaging lock 380 in the first side post 120. In this variation, once unlocked, the first front panel 330 is rotated in the clockwise direction to gain access to a poster 500 affixed to the front surface 372 of the non-transparent first rear panel 370. The poster 500 is usually an advertisement or other poster which is usually paid for by a sponsor such as a company selling a product advertised on the poster or a message delivered by an organization such as a charity or a political party. It will be appreciated that any other poster is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The poster is made of any acceptable material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, posterboard, fiberboard and plastic. It is affixed to the front surface 372 of the non-transparent first rear panel 370 by suitable affixing apparatus selected from the group consisting of double-sided tape and glued to the back 520 of the poster 500 and the front 372 of the non-transparent rear frame 370, or stapled if the first rear panel 370 can have staples affixed into it.
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The second front panel 430 is hingeably and rotatably connected to a second portion 15 of the second rear panel 470 at a location adjacent the central post 20 and retained in a locked condition with an engaging lock 480 in the second side post 220. In this variation, once unlocked, the second front panel 430 is rotated in the clockwise direction to gain access to a poster 600 affixed to the non-transparent second rear panel 470. The poster is usually an advertisement or other poster which is usually paid for by a sponsor such as a company selling a product advertised on the poster or a message delivered by an organization such as a charity or a political party. It will be appreciated that any other poster is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The poster 600 is made of any acceptable material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, posterboard, fiberboard and plastic. It is affixed to the front surface 472 of the non-transparent second rear panel 470 by suitable affixing apparatus selected from the group consisting of double sided tape and glue to the back 620 of the poster 600 and the front 472 of the non-transparent second rear panel 470, or stapled if the rear panel can have staples affixed into it.
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In the cross-direction, the width of the street 1200-SW from the second widthwise side 2000-SWS of the traffic control signal box 2000 is twenty-eight (28) inches from the second curb 1230 which is seven (7) inches wide for a total of at least thirty-five inches. In addition, widthwise walking 1200-WLKD distance between an opposite first widthwise side 2000-FWS of the traffic control signal box 2000 and a storefront is at least sixty-two inches for pedestrian foot traffic.
An important feature of the present invention is the ability to affix the sign 10 into the concrete to protect the traffic control signal box 200 but not interfere with foot traffic on the street.
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Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.
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5208585 | Sprague | May 1993 | A |
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20010035701 | Holzheid | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20150047240 | Pyc | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20160111031 | Cikanek | Apr 2016 | A1 |