BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1. is a perspective view of the new neon tube support stem;
FIG. 2. is a front view with cut away of the cylinder
FIG. 3. is a front view of the neon tube support stem with restraining element attached
FIG. 4. is a back view of the neon tube support stem without the restraining element
FIG. 5. is a right side view of the neon tube support stem with restraining element attached
FIG. 6. is a left side view of the neon tube support stem with restraining element attached
FIG. 7. is the top view of the neon tube support stem with restraining element attached
FIG. 8. is the bottom view of the neon tube support stem with restraining element attached
DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS
100—stem member
101—stem lower cylindrical portion
102—stem upper cylindrical portion
103—locking knob
104—helical spring
105—neon tube support saddle and engaging clip
106—engaging clip vertical leg
107—female locking device
108—neon tube
109—restraining element
110—male locking device
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The neon tube support stem member depicted in FIG. 1 includes a stem member 100 that terminates in a neon tube support saddle and engaging clip 105 (see FIG. 3). The stem member 100 is preferably composed of a tough plastic, such as, polycarbonate resin. The FIG. 2 frontal view shows that the stem member 100 comprises a stem upper cylindrical portion 102, which is the portion of the stem member shaft that is outside of the cylinder, and a stem lower cylindrical portion 101, which is inside of the cylinder. The stem lower cylinder portion 101 terminates in a locking knob 103 that holds the stem lower cylinder portion 101 within the cylinder by being trapped within the helical spring 104. The stem upper cylinder portion 102 terminates in a neon tube support saddle (and engaging clip 105) that holds the neon tube 108. The neon tube saddle and engaging clip 105 has two vertical legs 106, each of which end with a female locking device 107 (see FIG. 4). The restraining element 109 has two male locking devices 110 (see FIG. 7), one at each end of this clear plastic restraining element 109. These male locking devices 110 are the mating devices for the female locking devices 107 at the outside end of the two vertical legs 106.
To install the neon tube 108 within the sign, the installer places and attaches, by screw or other fastener, the cylindrical base to the rigid sign media. The two vertical legs 106 are flexed outward slightly as the neon tube 108 is snapped into place between the two vertical legs 106. After the tube is installed, these two vertical legs 106 are pulled tightly against the neon tube 108 by means of the restraining element 109 that is locked into place. This restraining element 109 has the male locking portion 110 (see FIG. 1) that mates with the female locking 107 (see FIG. 4) of the vertical legs 106.
The neon tube support saddle and engaging clip 105 is thereby capped with a neon tube restraining element 109, which, in its preferred embodiment, is removable, plastic, and clear.
Alternatively, the restraining element 109 could be as simple as a wire, a rubber band, a tie wrap, or the neon tube saddle and engaging clip 105 could be fashioned in such a way as to integrate the restraining element 109, thereby eliminating the need for a separate restraining element while retaining the same desired functionality.
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, such description is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, for the invention may be variously embodied and is to be limited only by interpretation of the claims that follow.
Patent Application
20080048071
