Patent Grant
12046161
The disclosure relates to the field of installation tools. More particularly, the disclosure relates to sign installation tools and methods of use.
The installation of signs, whether for advertising, informational, directional, or political purposes, is a common practice amongst many individuals and businesses. Traditional methods of sign installation often involve an individual forcing a portion of the sign into the ground by hand, which can be difficult and result in damage to the sign if done incorrectly. For example, if the ground is made of a hard material, such as clay, it may be difficult to install a sign by hand and may require the use of tools, such as a hammer. This increases the time and materials required to install the sign.
A need exists, therefore, for new and useful sign installation tools and methods of using a sign installation tool.
Various example sign installation tools and methods of using a sign installation tool are described.
An example sign installation tool includes a frame and an installation assembly. The frame has a first elongate member and a second elongate member. The installation assembly has a first brake assembly, a second brake assembly, a support member, a step, and a locking member. The first brake assembly is slidably disposed on the first elongate member and is moveable between an unlocked position and locked position. The second brake assembly is slidably disposed on the second elongate member and is moveable between an unlocked position and locked position. The support member extends from the first brake assembly to second brake assembly. The step is disposed on the support member. The locking member is attached to the first brake assembly and second brake assembly and is moveable between a first position and second position. The first and second brake assemblies are in the unlocked position when the locking member is in the first position and are in the locked position when the locking member is in the second position.
Additional understanding of these examples can be obtained by review of the detailed description, below, and the appended drawings.
The following detailed description and the appended drawings describe and illustrate various example sign installation tools and methods of using a sign installation tool. The description and illustration of these examples are provided to enable one skilled in the art to make and use a sign installation tool and to practice a method of installation a sign using a sign installation tool. They are not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any manner.
The frame 102 has a first elongate member 106, a second elongate member 108, a third elongate member 110, a fourth elongate member 112, a fifth elongate member 114, a first connector 116, a second connector 118, a first brake assembly first stop 120, a second brake assembly first stop 122, a first brake assembly second stop 124, a second brake assembly second stop 126, a first t-connector 128, and a second t-connector 130.
The first elongate member 106 has a first elongate member first end 144 and a first elongate member second end 146. The second elongate member 108 has a second elongate member first end 148 and a second elongate member second end 150. The third elongate member 110 has a third elongate member first end 152 and a third elongate member second end 154. The fourth elongate member 112 has a fourth elongate member first end 156 and a fourth elongate member second end 158. The first elongate member first end 144 is connected to the fourth elongate member first end 156 by the first connector 116. The fourth elongate member second end 158 is connected to the second elongate member first end 148 by the second connector 118.
The first elongate member second end 146 is connected to the third elongate member first end 152 by the first brake assembly second stop 124. The second elongate member second end 150 is connected to the third elongate member second end 154 by the second brake assembly second stop 126. The first elongate member 106 is parallel to the second elongate member 108, and the third elongate member 110 is parallel to the fourth elongate member 112 and the fifth elongate member 114. In alternative embodiments, a frame does not have to include a first connector, a second connector, a third elongate member, a fourth elongate member, a fifth elongate member, a first brake assembly first stop, a second brake assembly first stop, a first brake assembly second stop, and/or a second brake assembly second stop. For example, a frame can be a single unitary piece of material that includes some, or all, of these components.
The first brake assembly first stop 120 is disposed on the first elongate member 106 between the first elongate member first end 144 and the first brake assembly 132 and the second brake assembly first stop 122 is disposed on the second elongate member 108 between the second elongate member first end 148 and the second brake assembly 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the first brake assembly first stop 120 is disposed closer to the first elongate member second end 146 than the first elongate member first end 144 and the second brake assembly first stop 122 is disposed closer to the second elongate member second end 150 than the second elongate member first end 148.
The first t-connector 128 is disposed on the first elongate member 106. The second t-connector 130 is disposed on the second elongate member 108. The first t-connector 128 is disposed on the first elongate member 106 between the first elongate member first end 144 and the first brake assembly first stop 120. The second t-connector 130 is disposed on the second elongate member 108 between the second elongate member first end 148 and the second brake assembly first stop 122.
The fifth elongate member 114 has a fifth elongate member first end 160 and a fifth elongate member second end 162. The fifth elongate member first end 160 is disposed within an opening of the first t-connector 128 and the fifth elongate member second end 162 is disposed within an opening of the second t-connector 130. The fifth elongate member 114 can have a variety of uses including, but not limited to, providing additional support to the frame 102 and providing an effective means for carrying the sign installation tool 100.
In the embodiment shown, the frame 102 has a first ground stake 164 attached to the first elongate member second end 146 and a second ground stake 166 attached to the second elongate member second end 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the first ground stake 164 is a component of the first brake assembly second stop 124 and the second ground stake 166 is a component of the second brake assembly second stop 126. The first ground stake 164 and the second ground stake 166 provide a mechanism for securing the sign installation tool 100 to a surface during installation of a sign.
As shown in
The first brake assembly 132 is slidably disposed on the first elongate member 106. The first brake assembly 132 is moveable between an unlocked position, as shown in
The step 140 is disposed on the first support member 136 and the second support member 138. In the embodiment shown, the step 140 defines a first support member passageway 168 and a second support member passageway 169. The first support member 136 is disposed through the first support member passageway 168 and the second support member 138 is disposed through the second support member passageway 169. In alternative embodiments, a step can be disposed on one or more support members and/or define any suitable number of support member passageways.
The locking member 142 is attached to the first brake assembly 132 and the second brake assembly 134. The locking member 142 is moveable between a first position, as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the installation assembly 104 includes a brake release 176 that is slidably disposed on the step 140. The brake release 176 is moveable between a first position and a second position. The first brake assembly 132 and the second brake assembly 134 are in the locked position when the brake release 176 is in the first position and the locking member 142 is in the second position. The first brake assembly 132 and the second brake assembly 134 are in the unlocked position when the brake release 176 is in the second position and the locking member 142 is in the first position. The brake release 176 is free of contact with the locking member 142 when the locking member 142 is in the first position and the brake release 176 is in the first position. The brake release 176 contacts the locking member 142 when the locking member 142 is in the second position. The brake release 176 includes a projection 178 that is free of contact with the step 140 when the brake release 176 is in the first position and contacts the step 140 when the brake release 176 is in the second position. When the installation assembly 104 is in the third position, the brake release 176 contacts the third elongate member 110 and is prevented from moving away from the locking member 142. This structural arrangement allows the brake release 176 to move the locking member 142 from the second position to the first position. Alternatively, a third elongate member could be omitted and a brake release could contact the surface to which a sign is being installed (e.g., ground) to accomplish moving a locking member from a second position to a first position.
In the illustrated embodiment, the second brake assembly 134 has a second housing 202, a second housing cover 204, a third brake spring 206, a fourth brake spring 208, a second push rod 210, a second brake pad 212, and a second brake pad holder 214. The second housing 202 is slidably disposed on the second elongate member 108 and defines a second push rod passageway 216 and a second recess 218. The second push rod 210 is disposed through the second push rod passageway 216. The second push rod 210 is attached to the second shaft 174 of the locking member 142 and the second brake pad holder 214. The second push rod 210, the third brake spring 206, the fourth brake spring 208, the second brake pad 212, and the second brake pad holder 214 are disposed within the second recess 218. The third brake spring 206 and the fourth brake spring 208 are attached at one end to a portion of the second housing 202 and at a second end to the second brake pad holder 214. The third brake spring 206 and fourth brake spring 208 bias the second brake assembly 134 to the unlocked position when the locking member 142 is in the first position. The second brake pad 212 is attached to the second brake pad holder 214. The second housing 202 defines a second sign passageway 220 that is parallel to the first elongate member 106 and the second elongate member 108. The second brake pad 212 is disposed outside the second sign passageway 220 in the first position, as shown in
The components of a sign installation tool can be formed using any suitable technique or method of manufacture and using any suitable material. Selection of a suitable technique or method of manufacture and of a suitable material to form a component of a sign installation tool can be based on various considerations, such as the type of sign intended to be installed by a sign installation tool. For example, a first t-connector and a second t-connector of a sign installation tool can be form from a metal, polymers, and any other material considered suitable for a particular embodiment.
The sign installation tool 300 has a frame 302 and an installation assembly 304. The illustrated installation assembly 304 has a first brake assembly 332, a second brake assembly 334, a first support member 336, a second support member 338, a step 340, and a locking member 342.
In the illustrated embodiment, the brake release 376 is disposed on the third elongate member 310. The brake release 376 contacts the locking member 342 when the installation assembly 304 is in the second position and the third position. The brake release 376 contacts the locking member 342 when the installation assembly 304 is moved from the first position, as shown in
Various methods of installing a sign into a surface (e.g., ground) using a sign installation tool, such as an embodiment described herein, are described herein. While these methods are shown and described as a series of actions, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methods are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may in accordance with these methods, occur in the order shown and/or described, in different orders, concurrently with other acts described herein, and/or be omitted.
Referring to
A step 502 includes placing a sign installation tool, such as an embodiment described herein, at a desired location. Another step 504 includes inserting a ground stake, or a first ground stake and a second ground stake, into the surface within which it is desired to install a sign. Another step 506 includes positioning a first portion of a sign (e.g., first leg) into the first brake assembly (e.g., first sign passageway) and a second portion of a sign (e.g., second leg) into the second brake assembly (e.g., second sign passageway). Another step 508 includes moving the locking member from a first position to a second position. Another step 510 includes applying a force (e.g., downward force) on the step to move the installation assembly from the first position to the second position. Another step 512 includes continuing to apply a force (e.g., downward force) on the step until the brake release contacts the locking member and moves the locking member from the second position to the first position. Another step 514 includes removing the sign installation tool from the sign.
Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and alternatives for the described and illustrated examples can be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure, and that the various elements and features of one example described and illustrated herein can be combined with various elements and features of another example without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the particular examples disclosed herein have been selected by the inventor(s) simply to describe and illustrate examples of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its protection, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| D257212 | Parker | Oct 1980 | S |
| 5181335 | Todd | Jan 1993 | A |
| 20140021326 | Mora Vera | Jan 2014 | A1 |
| 20180131313 | Powell | May 2018 | A1 |
