GB2460330A

GB2460330A - Sign panel, e.g. extrusion formed, with ribs for attaching fittings in particular for attaching panel to support.

Info

Publication number: GB2460330A
Application number: GB0908675A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Rawlings
Original assignee: Architectural and Metal Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Architectural and Metal Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-28
Filing date: 2009-05-20
Publication date: 2009-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-05-20
Also published as: IE20080425A1; GB2460330B; GB0908675D0; IE86185B1

Abstract

A sign comprises a sign panel 10 formed with at least one integral rib 16 and a fitting 28 arranged to be secured to the rib 16. The panel and rib are preferably formed by extrusion. The fitting may be used to secure the panel to a support in combination if necessary with an appropriate mounting member 74. The rib may be provided with ramped surfaces (24, Fig. 4) cooperating with similarly ramped surfaces (40, Fig. 3) provided on the fitting and a threaded member (46, Fig. 3) may be used between the rib and the fitting to bring the ramped surface into secure engagement with one another. A sign may be formed from a plurality of panels each having upstanding edges 58 which define a rib 70 when placed in adjoining abutting relationship and a fitting attached to the so formed rib is used to secure the panels together.

Description

SIGNAGE

This invention relates to signage, and in particular to signage suitable for use alongside roads and the like. However, it will be appreciated that the signage may be used in other applications.

The road signage used alongside, for example, motorways and multi-lane highways are typically in the form of sheets or panels of aluminium having a front face onto which an image to be displayed is printed, painted, adhered, or the like. A number of different techniques are known for applying the image to be displayed to the front face of the panels and these are not of relevance to the invention and so will not be described in further detail herein.

The rear face of the panel is provided with a series of strengthening bars, for example or extruded aluminium forim The bars are typically spot welded or riveted in position, but other securing techniques are also known. The purpose of the bars is to enhance the rigidity of the panel, limiting the deflection that would otherwise occur due to, for example, the action of wind, etc, on the panel.

The bars, or other formations, are used to secure the panel to appropriate mountings, for example in the form of posts, pillars or the like.

Where a sign of relatively large dimensions is required, the panel is typically made up of a number of smaller panels, the edges of which are butted up to one another and secured to a connecting strip of material, which may form part of one of the bars, located on the rear of the panel, to secure the smaller panels to one another. This operation is typically undertaken offsite, with the result that the signage which has to be delivered to the site and installed at the site is of large dimensions, resulting in storage and handling difficulties.

It is an object of the invention to provide signage in which the disadvantages mentioned above are overcome or are of reduced effect.

According to the present invention there is provided signage comprising a panel, an integral rib extending across at least part of the panel, and a fitting arranged to be secured to the rib.

The panel and rib are conveniently of extruded form, for example of extruded aluminium form. The fitting may also be of extruded form.

The fitting may be of elongate form, extending across substantially the full width of the panel and serving, in combination with the rib, to enhance the rigidity of the panel. A mounting member may be securable to the fitting for use in securing the panel to a support, for example in the form of a post, pillar or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the fitting may be adapted for use in securing the panel to the support.

Preferably, the rib includes opposing ramped surfaces, the fitting including ramped surfaces arranged to cooperate with those of the rib. A threaded expansion device is preferably provided between the rib and the fitting, operable to engage parts thereof, urging them apart to bring the ramped surfaces thereof into engagement with one another.

The panel is preferably further provided with at least one upstanding formation arranged to abut, in use, a similar upstanding formation of another panel, the upstanding formations together defining a pair of ramped surfaces cooperable with the ramped surfaces of a fitting of the type described hereinbefore, the fitting serving to secure the panels to one another.

It will be appreciated that such an anangement allows a plurality of panels to be used in the formation of a single sign which can be assembled on site, thereby reducing transportation and handling difficulties.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from behind of signage in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view illustrating the fitting of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views illustrating the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment; Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating part of the arrangement of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another variant; Figures 8 to 10 are sectional views illustrating the assembly operation for the arrangement of Figure 7; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another variant; Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views illustrating parts of the arrangement of Figure 8; and Figures 14 and 15 illustrate further variants.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 there is illustrated signage in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The signage comprises a panel 10 of extruded aluminium form. The panel 10 includes a front face 12 in which an image to be displayed is provided, for example by being printed, adhered, painted or otherwise secured thereto.

The panel 10 further includes a rear face 14. Projecting rearwardly from the rear face 14, and formed integrally with the panel 10, is an elongate rib 16. The rib 16 includes a central pillar 18 from which a pair of side arms 20 extend. The arms 20 support walls 22 which extend from the side arms 20 back towards the panel 10, but stop short of the panel 10. The walls 22 are of tapering wall thickness, defining ramped surfaces 24 on their outer sides. The rib 16 further includes an abutment head 26 projecting from the pillar 18.

The signage further comprises a fitting 28 secured to the panel 10 to permit mounting of the panel 10 to a support, for example in the form of a pillar, post or the like. The fitting 28 is of extruded aluminium form and comprises a hollow box region 30 from which extends a pair of limbs 32. The limbs 32 include hooked regions 34 and include recessed regions 36 defining lines about which parts of the limbs 32 can bend, in use.

The limbs 32 are shaped to include angled regions 38 defining ramped surfaces 40 which, in use, cooperate with the ramped surfaces 24 of the rib 16. A threaded expansion device 42 in the form of a nylon insert lock nut 44 and bolt 46 is canied by the fitting, the bolt 46 being inserted through an opening 48 formed in the fitting 28 and extending through another opening 50 formed therein, in use, whilst the nut 44 is held captive against rotation by cooperation with walls 52 of the fitting 28.

In order to secure the fitting 28 to the panel 10, the fitting 28 is inserted onto an end part of the rib 16 with the hooked regions 34 extending around the ends of the walls 22. It is then slid along the rib 16 to the desired location. Once the desired location has been reached, the bolt 46 is rotated with the result that it moves axially, bringing the end thereof into engagement with the head 26, the cooperation between the bolt 46 and the head 26, and between the nut 44 and the walls 52 urging the fitting 28 away from the panel 10. Comparing Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the effect of rotating the bolt 46 is to bring the ramped surfaces 24, 40 into engagement with one another, the engagement between the ramped surfaces 24, 40 and the engagement between the bolt 46 and the head 26 rigidly and firmly securing the fitting 28 to the rib 16.

As mentioned above, the fitting 28 of this embodiment is intended for use in mounting of the signage and this is achieved by passing a mounting strap through the box region and around the support, or part thereof, and then tightening the mounting strap. The fitting 28 includes a series of projections 54 which bear against the support, in use.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an arrangement similar to that of Figure 1 to 4 but in which, rather than use the fitting 28 to secure the signage to a support, the fitting 28 is intended to enhance the stiffness or rigidity of the signage. Compared to the arrangement of Figures 1 to 4, the fitting 28 is of increased length, in this case extending across substantially the entire width of the panel 10.

The panel 10 and rib 16 are of the same form as described hereinbefore. The fitting 28 is substantially the same form as described hereinbefore with the exception that the box region 30 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 is replaced with a region 56 of channel section. Mounting of the fitting 28 of this embodiment is undertaken in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 to 4 with the exception that rather than include a single expansion device 42, several such devices may be used at spaced intervals along the fitting 28. The section shown in Figure 6 is at a point in which an expansion device 42 is not present and hence is not visible, but the expansion devices 42 will be of the form illustrated and described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

It will be appreciated that the mounting of the fitting 28 to the panel 10, securing it to the rib 16 at intervals along its length, significantly enhances the stiffness and rigidity of the panel 10, the rib 16 and fitting 28 together serving, effectively, as an I-beam.

The arrangements described hereinbefore include a single panel 10. Where signage of relatively large dimensions is required, then several panels 10 of the type described hereinbefore may be used, and a fitting 28 used to secure the individual panels 10 to one another. Figures 7 to 10 illustrate such an arrangement. In this arrangement, several panels are tightly butted against one another to form an overall panel of the desired area, the joints between the panels 10 being visible, if at all, only as thin lines.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 7 to 10, like those described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the panel 10 in addition to including a rib 16, further includes a pair of upstanding formations 58. The formations 58 extend along two opposite edges of the panel 10 and are of identical form to one another. Each formation 58 includes a central pillar 60 from which extends an arm 62 supporting a wall 64. The wall 64 extends towards, but stops short of, the panel 10 and includes a ramped surface 66. An abutment head 68 extends from the pillar 60. The arrangement is such that, when two panels 10 am located adjacent one another, the formations 58 located at the adjacent edges of the panels 10 together define a rib 70 of shape very sitnilar to that of the rib 16.

In use, to assemble and secure two panels 10, the panels 10 are located adjacent one another, the adjacent formations 58 together forming the rib 70, and a fitting 28 of the type described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 to 4 is slid onto the rib 70. The fitting 28 is slid to the desired position and then the expansion device 42 thereof is tightened. As shown in Figures 8 to 10, tightening of the expansion device 42 draws the panels 10 into engagement with one another, clamping the panels 10 together and rigidly securing the fitting 28 thereto. Once secured in position, the fitting 28 can be used in mounting of the signage to a support, if desired.

It will be appreciated that, before the expansion device 42 is fully tightened, sliding movement between the adjacent panels 10 is permitted, thereby allowing correct alignment of the parts of the images provided on the panels 10.

The arrangement shown in Figure 7 includes three panels 10, but it will be appreciated that more or fewer panels 10 may be provided. Further, although the panels 10 illustrated are all of equal size, it will be appreciated that this need not be the case, and that different size panels 10 may be used to construct signage of a desired overall area.

The formations 58 further define screw ports 72 to permit end covers or other items to be secured thereto, if desired.

Figures 11 to 13 illustrate an arrangement similar to that of Figures 7 to 10 but in which fittings 28 of the type illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 are used. It will be appreciated that, in the arrangement, the fittings 28 serve both to clamp together the adjacent panels 10 and also to enhance the stiffness and rigidity of the signage.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, a mounting member 74 is securable to the fitting 28, conveniently using a nut and bolt 76, the mounting member 74 including a region 78 of hollow section through which a mounting strap can be passed for use in mounting the signage in substantially the manner described hereinbefore. It will be appreciated that a similar mounting member 74 may be used in the arrangement of Figures 5 and 6, if desired.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate two more variants. In the alTangement of Figure 14, the fittings 28 are of the same section as those used in the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, but are used only to secure together the adjacent panels 10. As shown, they are not being used to enhance stiffness or rigidity, or for mounting of the signage. Figure 15 illustrates as arrangement in which fittings 28 are secured to all of the ribs 16 and the ribs 70 of signage comprising four panels 10. It will be appreciated that in such an arrangement, stiffness and rigidity are significantly enhanced. If desired, although not illustrated, mounting members 74 may be provided to assist in mounting of the signage.

It will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made to the arrangements described hereinbefore without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Signage comprising a panel, an integral rib extending across at least part of the panel, and a fitting ananged to be secured to the rib.
2. Signage according to Claim 1, wherein the panel and rib are of extruded form.
3. Signage according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the fitting is of extruded fonm
4. Signage according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fitting is of elongate form, extending across substantially the full width of the panel and serving, in combination with the rib, to enhance the rigidity of the panel.
5. Signage according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a mounting member is securable to the fitting for use in securing the panel to a support.
6. Signage according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the fitting is adapted for use in securing the panel to the support.
7. Signage according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rib includes opposing ramped surfaces, the fitting including ramped surfaces ananged to cooperate with those of the rib.
8. Signage according to Claim 7, wherein a threaded expansion device is provided between the rib and the fitting, operable to engage parts thereof, urging them apart to bring the ramped surfaces thereof into engagement with one another.
9. Signage according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is further provided with at least one upstanding formation arranged to abut, in use, a similar upstanding formation of another panel, the upstanding formations together defining a pair of ramped surfaces, and a fitting including ramped surfaces, wherein the ramped surfaces of the formations are cooperable with the ramped surfaces of the fitting, the fitting serving to secure the panels to one another.
10. Signage according to Claim 9, wherein a threaded expansion device is provided between the upstanding formations and the fitting, operable to engage parts thereof, urging them apart to bring the ramped surfaces thereof into engagement with one another.
11. Signage comprising a pair of panels, each having an integral upstanding formation arranged to abut, in use, the upstanding formation of the other panel to, together, define a rib, and a fitting arranged to be secured to the rib, the fitting serving to secure the panels to one another.
12. Signage according to Claim 11, wherein the rib includes opposing ramped surfaces, the fitting including ramped surfaces arranged to cooperate with those of the rib.
13. Signage according to Claim 12, wherein a threaded expansion device is provided between the rib and the fitting operable to engage parts thereof, urging them apart to bring the ramped surfaces thereof into engagement with one another.