Patent Application
20110290698
This application claims priority of the Canadian patent application filed on May 6, 2010 naming the same inventor and entitled A PUBLIC NOTICE POSTING KIT, METHOD AND APPARATUS, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to the field of displays and in particular to a kit, method and apparatus for displaying a public notice on a post, tree and the like.
People often post notices of various public events and other information on lamp posts, trees and other surfaces without regard to whether those surfaces are suitable, are damaged or are owned by persons who do not wish to have the notices posted. Commonly, public notices are attached to lamp posts, trees and other like surfaces with heavy duty staples, tape or other obtrusive means. Once left to the elements, these notices and their means of fixture begin to degrade. In many cases the posting of notices can become so widespread that it leads to a very unattractive appearance of used and tattered notices since there is little control.
Accordingly, a need exists for a public notice posting method, apparatus and kit which is easy to use, protects the notice from the external elements, and does not leave the lamp post, tree and the like with an unattractive appearance once displayed or removed. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.
According to the present invention there is provided a public notice posting kit for posting a notice around a circumference of a support such as a post, tree and the like. The kit may include a flexible waterproof transparent envelope for holding the public notice. The envelope may then be attached around the circumference of the post, tree and the like with a stretchable mounting device.
As described, illustrated and claimed herein, a first object disposed around a second object includes the first object disposed around a portion of the second object, including around an arcuate portion of the circumference of the second object.
The envelope may include a top end, a bottom end, a first side edge, a second side edge and an opening to receive the public notice. It may also include a flap for covering the opening from external elements. The envelope may also be made out of plastic.
The mounting device may include a clip configured for attaching to the envelope or at least to a first edge of the envelope. Additionally or alternatively, the mounting device may include a hook configured for attaching to a hole created adjacent to at least a first edge of the envelope.
The mounting device may be made from an elastomer, elastic band, or even a rubber band for instance. The envelope may include a projection disposed near a side edge, the projection being dimensioned to retain the clip at the edge.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of posting a public notice around a circumference of a support such as a post, tree and the like. The method may include providing a flexible waterproof transparent envelope in which a public notice may be inserted. A public notice may then be inserted into the envelope. A mounting device may then be stretched around the circumference post, tree and the like and attached to the envelope. The method may further include covering an opening in the envelope with a flap to protect the opening, and hence, public notice, from the external elements. The method may involve attaching a clip of the mounting device over a projection disposed near a side edge of the envelope.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for posting a public notice around a circumference of a support such as a post, tree and the like. The apparatus may include a flexible waterproof transparent envelope for holding the public notice. The envelope may then be releasably connected to a stretchable mounting device to attach it around the circumference of the post, tree and the like.
The envelope may include a top end, a bottom end, a first side edge, a second side edge and an opening to receive the public notice. It may also include a flap for covering the opening from external elements. The envelope may also be made out of plastic.
The mounting device may include a clip configured for releasably connecting to the envelope or at least to a first edge of the envelope. Additionally or alternatively, the mounting device may include a hook configured for releasably connecting to a hole created adjacent to at least a first edge of the envelope.
The mounting device may be made from an elastomer, elastic band, or even a rubber band for instance. The envelope may include a projection disposed near a side edge, the projection being dimensioned to retain the clip at the edge.
Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof in which:
Referring to
Preferably, envelope 12 is made out of a plastic sheet (e.g., polyvinyl chloride or PVC) and in the form of a sealed rectangular bag. The envelope 12 may be formed by conventional means, e.g., by folding a rectangular plastic sheet along the transverse center line and sealing along the other three edges by stretching or heat sealing. Flap 24 may be an integral part of envelope 12 or may be added after fabrication of envelope 12 from another material altogether.
Kit 10 also contains a suitably stretchable mounting device 26 for attaching a public notice to the circumference of a support such as a post, tree and the like. It is preferable to provide an elastomer, elastic or rubber band or other latitudinally stretchable mounting device. Elastomers, rubber and elastic bands are inexpensive, easy to use, non-hazardous and can be removed from the post, tree and the like without leaving a mark.
To attach the mounting device 26 to the envelope 12, the mounting device preferably includes a hook 28 attached at either end, which is configured to attach to holes 30 located adjacent first 18 and second edges 20 of the envelope 12. In this embodiment, holes 30 are located outside seam 32 in envelope 12 to ensure that envelope 12 remains waterproof. Alternatively, to attach the mounting device 26 to the envelope 12, the mounting device may include a Velcro™ strip (not depicted) attached at either end, which is configured to attach to a corresponding strip on first 18 and second 20 edges of the envelope. In yet another embodiment, to attach the mounting device 26 to the envelope 12, the mounting device may include a clip (not depicted in
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, any suitable attachment or connecting device may be attached or connected to either ends of the mounting device 26 to attach or connect the mounting device to the envelope 12. As those skilled in the art will further appreciate, mounting device 26 may be attached or releasably connected at both ends to both first 18 and second 20 edges of envelope 12; however, the present invention also contemplates a mounting device with only one end attachable or releasably connectable to one edge of the envelope 12, while the other end being permanently attached or connected to the other edge of the envelope. The parts of the invention are not necessarily shown to scale in the figures.
A finished posting wrapped around the circumference of a post 34 is depicted in
To attach the envelope 12 containing the public notice 36 to the post 34, one simply attaches the mounting device 26 at one end to one edge of the envelope 12. The envelope 12 is then held against the post 34 at a suitable display height and the mounting device 26 is stretched latitudinally around the circumference of the post 34 so that the other end of the mounting device can attach to the other edge of the envelope. As depicted, preferably, two mounting devices 26 are used to attach the envelope 12 to the post 34. Using two mounting devices distributes the mounting force more evenly across the envelope 12. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, one mounting device 26 can simply be used.
Once the envelope 12 has been attached to the post 34, one can fine tune the placement of the envelope on the post by stretching the mounting device 26 and maneuvering the envelope along the post. Once the public notice 36 is no longer in need of use, one simply disengages the mounting device 26 from the envelope 12 and removes the items from the post 34.
As one can see, the assembly of this invention is inexpensive, non-hazardous, and easily set up and taken down, even by persons having relatively little or no mechanical skill.
It will thus be seen that a new and novel public notice kit, method, and apparatus has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
