Patent Application
20240062684
In general, the present invention relates to the structure of signs that are specifically designed to attach to support posts. More particularly, the present invention relates to signage systems that are traditionally used to identify crops and fields in an agricultural setting.
There are many federal, state, and local regulations govern the use of signage in association with various types of crops. Signage is typically used to identify a crop and/or the seed stock used to produce the crops. In this manner, specialized crops, such as hybrid crops, genetically modified crops, and other engineered crops can be identified and kept separate from unmodified crops. Likewise, crops treated with various types of fertilizer, insecticides, or herbicides can be identified and kept separate from crops that are grown organically. Furthermore, many seed suppliers have proprietary seeds. Such seed suppliers often require the use of crop identification signs to ensure that the crops are harvested as crops and are not allowed to progress to seed. In this manner, a seed supplier can better control the supply and spread of their proprietary seed stock.
It is for these reasons that many farmed fields contain crop identification signage. Crops in fields are typically rotated and some fields are seeded more than once in a season. As a consequence, the signage used to identify the crop must also be periodically moved and/or changed. It is therefore very important to a farmer that the signage be inexpensive, easy to install, and durable enough to last in an open field.
Traditionally, crop identification signage is placed at the edge of a field so that the signage can be easily read. Crop identification signage is often affixed to reusable metal fence posts. In this manner, the posts can be moved and reused at different locations during different planting seasons. For the sake of economy and practicality, common commercial metal fence posts are most often used. Such fence posts are most commonly made from U-channel stock, round stock, or square stock. Such commercial posts are made in lengths typically extending between 1 meter and 1.5 meters above the ground when set. A printed sign is typically attached to a frame that holds the signage flat. The frame is attached to the support post using mechanical fasteners. Since the sign is attached to a frame and the frame is attached to the support post, the sign cannot extend significantly above the post. Rather, most of the sign extends along the length of the supporting post. If the sign is large, then the bottom of the sign may descend to a point that is vulnerable to being overgrown by weeds or by the crops the sign is used to identify.
The problems associated with placing a sign at a low elevation is also a primary reason why low-cost wire frame signage systems are not used for crop identification. In the marketplace, there are many low-cost signage systems that include a wire frame and a sign. Such signage systems are typically used for campaign signs or to advertise garage sales. In such signage systems, the wire framework serves both as a support post and as the sign frame. In order for the wire framework to have the strength to support the sign in weather, the framework must be made relatively short. The bottom of the wire framework is driven into the ground and the top of the wire framework is covered by the sign. The result is that the sign is typically less than ½ meter above the ground and is vulnerable to being overgrown by vegetation. Furthermore, should the sign fall over, the wire frameworks are very hard to see, and the wire framework can easily become entangled in any farm equipment that passes over the wire framework. Prior art signage systems that use wire frameworks are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,183 to Kennedy and U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,937 to Davis. Farmers would like to have the low cost of a wire frame signage system with the height and stability of a traditional metal post signage system. The present invention sets forth a new signage system that meets this need. The new signage system is described and claimed below.
The present invention is a signage system that is used to mount a sign atop a post so that the sign is higher than the post. A wire frame connects the sign to the top of a post. The wire frame has support sections that extend into a sign through the bottom edge of the sign. The wire frame also has mounting sections that extend away from the sign and are sized and shaped to engage the open top end of a post. The wire frame further includes lateral sections that extend between the support sections and the mounting sections. The lateral sections are aligned along a common line that runs parallel to the bottom edge of the sign. The support sections, lateral sections, and mounting sections are all coplanar.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention signage system can be embodied in many ways, only a few exemplary embodiments are illustrated. The exemplary embodiments are being shown for the purposes of explanation and description. The exemplary embodiments are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
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The reverse bend 42 has a radiused turn that separates the first mounting section 44 from the second mounting section 46. The first mounting section 44 and the second mounting section 46 diverge slightly from the reverse bend 42. However, due to the flexibility of the length of wire 26, the first mounting section 44 and the second mounting section 46 can be moved into a parallel orientation where both mounting sections 44, 46 are parallel to the midline 28 and to each other. When moved into a parallel orientation, the first mounting section 44 and the second mounting section 46 are separated by a gap space 52 and are a first distance apart. The first distance is equal to, or slightly smaller than, the width W1 of the U-channel 16 on the U-channel post 12. The first mounting section 44, the second mounting section 46, and the reverse bend 42 combine to form a mounting extension 54 on the wire frame 22.
After bending, it can be seen that all the sections of the length of wire 26 are coplanar. The first lateral section 40 and the second lateral section 48 are colinear and extend along a common line 55 that is perpendicular to the midline 28. The first sign support section 36 and the second sign support section 50 extend away from the common line 55 in a first direction at or near perpendicular angles. The first and second mounting sections 44, 46 both extend away from the common line 55 in an opposite second direction.
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To secure the mounting extension 54 in place, mechanical fasteners 56 are advanced through existing holes 57 in the U-channel post 12. Each fastener 56 includes a nut 58, and bolt 60. The nut 58 can be a wingnut or knob nut that can be tightened by hand.
The sign 24 attaches to the wire frame 22. The sign 24 has corrugated core construction that enables the first sign support section 36 and the second sign support section 50 of the wire frame 22 to extend into the sign 24 through the bottom edge 64 of the sign 24. The bottom edge 64 of the sign 24 is parallel to the common line 55 of the wire frame 22, wherein the bottom edge 64 can come to rest on the first lateral section and the second lateral section 48 forming the common line 55. Once attached, it will be understood that the bottom edge 64 of the sign 24 is supported at the same general elevation as is the top end 14 of the U-channel post 12. The sign 24, therefore, extends above the U-channel post 12. The effective length of the overall signage system 10 is therefore increased, wherein the full length of the signage system 10 is equal to the combined length of the sign 24 and the section of the U-channel post 12 that extends above-ground. This added elevation makes the sign 24 more prominent and less likely to be overgrown by vegetation without having to increase the size and cost of the supporting post 12.
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It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
