US2445878A - Display structure with removable indicia-bearing inserts - Google Patents

Description

W. C. GRUENEBERG ETAL DISPLAY STRUCTURE WITH REMOVABLE July 27, 1948.

INDICIA-BEARING INSERTS Flled Sept 23, 1944 erg Rb mm 6 m m5 6 W W M 1 4. E M/lara G: Gruencb Patented July 27, 1948 DISPLAY STRUCTURE WITH REMOVABLE INDICIA-BEARING INSERTS William C. Grueneberg and Willard G.

Grueneberg, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 23, 1944, Serial No. 555,500

10 Claims.

such as might be used for displaying a list of names, legends, or indicia, in an orderly and attractive fashion. The display structure is adaptable for indoor or outdoor use, as desired.

An object of the invention is to provide means in a display structure of the character stated, whereby the constituent parts are designed for flexibility of use in erecting displays of indeterminate length and width, and in which the parts are so locked or keyed in position as to aiford maximum protection against vandalism or other forms of destructive effort.

Another object is to provide a display structure of the class referred to, which is weatherproof as well as foolproof, and which may be expanded or extended to accommodate indiciabearing inserts in various numbers, without mutilating or alterin the constituent parts of the structure.

Another object is to facilitate and expedite an exchange or addition of indicia-bearing inserts, in a display structure of the type wherein the inserts are normally keyed or locked in place.

A further object is to provide a device of the class described embodying various desirable advantages in addition to those previously mentioned, for example durability, simplicity, flexibility of purpose, and the like.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: a Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical display structure embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view showing a section of a base rail for the inserts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view showing a section of capping rail for the inserts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view showing a section of an insert guide element.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective view showing a cooperative section for the guide element of Fig. 5. l

In the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates by wayof example, one possible design of display structure embodying the present invention. The overall design is subject to alteration and modification in many ways, as it will depend largely upon. personal taste and environment, as well as the purpose for which the display may be intended. It should be clearly understood, therefore, that the mechanical features of the invention are by no means to be dependent upon or limited by the 2 l particular overall design of'the display, since the design disclosed by the drawing is merely illustrative or suggestive incharacter. The invention resides in the mechanical elements employed for retaining the indicia-bearinguinserts, which may be inthe form of name plates,'for example.

Referring to the drawing, 8 indicates-anysuitable form of backgroundor frame for the display structure, and might for the purpose of illustration consist of a slab of stone,concrete, metal or other acceptable material having a rectangular recess in its-forward face to receive the constituent elements of the display structure. The recess mentioned appears upon Fig. 2, at the location 9, where a putty or caulking compound is applied for sealing in the display structure.

At I0 is indicated aflat'backing panel of metal or other suitable material, which provides a smooth surface upon the forward face of the recess portion of the frame orbackground. The backing panel maycover substantially the entire face of the recess, as shown in Fig. 2. By preference, however, the loweredge'ofthe backing panel terminates at l2, so that the back flange l3 of a lower support rail l4 might rest against the face of support8 in'the plane. of the back panel. Flange l3 extends substantially the full length of the lower rail, and cooperates with one leg [-5 of the rail to furnisha' shelf l6 upon which a stack of inserts may rest, in edgewise contact as shown. The inserts, which carry names or other indicia, are indicated generally by the character IT. The lower leg l8 ofrail I4 abuts the face of the recess, andmay be puttied or caulked into the recess as indicated at l9. l

The lower rail l4 may be fixed to the supporting member 8 in anysuitable manner, such as by means of screws, bolts, nails or other fasteners 20 extending through perforations H of the rail at intervalsalong its length. In the event that the supporting structure 8' is of a concrete or other monolithic construction, the lower rail might be cast in place and secured in that manner, rather than with the use of fasteners, As will be understood, the monolithic material in a plastic state might then bepoured so as to enter the hollow back of the lower rail to key it in position.

All of' the indicia-bearin'g inserts or name plates I! are of the same length, and may be stacked edgewise upon one another with their backs against the backing panel. Each insert may consist of a rectangular plate having a plane forward face or surface bearing the desired indicia. The upperedge 2| ofeach insert is pref;-

erably plain and straight, so that it may be retained behind a forwardly and downwardly ex tended ofi'set flange 22 of a superposed insert. As is plainly indicated upon Fig. 2, the offset flange 22 extends forwardl of the insert, and then downwardly, along substantially the full length of the insert, so as to. serve as a key or lock for retaining the upper edge of a subjacent insert. This results in a neat and effectivewaterproof joint between adjacent inserts. The offset flanges 22 perform the function of drip shields preventing entry of water and foreign matter to the rear of the inserts orname plates.

In effect, the offset flange 22 furnishes a longitudinal seat rearwardly thereof, upon which may rest the upper edge of a subjacent insert; With the backing panel Ill retaining -all of the indiciabearing inserts or name plates in a common plane, the inserts or name plates may thusly be stacked upon one another edgewise, the lower insert resting 'upon' the shelf l6 of the lower sup'portrail; or upona dummy insertsuch as 23.

Attention is now directed to the series of upright retaining means indicated at 24, each of which p'erforms the. function 'of overlapping and retaining 'the'marginal' end portions of all of the inserts o'r name'plates; Said retaining means are disposed 'substantiallyat right angles to the lower rail, and-are spaced apart a distance ap proximating the length of the inserts. These upright retaining members preferably are made in two parts, one being the insert retaining base stz ip'indicated at 25 of Fig. 5, and the other being the insert retaining flange strip 26 of Fig. 6. Thebase strip "25 includes aforward face 2? upon which are "formed longitudinal ribs 2e spaced :apart and shaped to furnish between thema do'vetailslot or groove 29'. The rear face 30' of {the base strip is adapted to .rest. flatly against the backing panel LIB, and will be fixed thereto in any suitable manner, as bymeans of fasteners projecting through the backing panel aridinto suitable apertures '3l formed in the base-strip at intervals along its length. The

thickness of the base strip,'excluding the height offthe ribs-28 formed thereon, approximates the overall' thickness of an insert l1, and the .opposite-longitudinal edges 32 provide steps or abutments for the ends of .theinserts.

After the'bas'e strip 25 has been properly applied to the backin panel Ill, an insert retaining flange strip.26 is appliedthereto by sliding the -flange-strip longitudinally of the base strip, With'the dovetailed tenon or tongue 33 snugly received in the dovetailslot 29 of the base strip. The side flanges or-wings 34 of the strip 26 are sufficiently extended beyond the longitudinal side-edges of the base strip, 'to overlie the end marginal portions of the inserts. Whenever necessary. the insert retaining flange strip 26 may he slid lengthwise of the base stripand removed bodily therefromyhowever, as will be explained-later, it is not necessary to remove the flange strip 26 for the mere purpose of substitutingf addingor replacing some :or all of the nameplates oriins'e'rts H.

To further explain the removal or addition of name plates, it may be noted that the upright retaining means indicated generally by the character 24, are all of the same length, and each extends upwardly tov contact the lower edges 35 of a capping rail 36. The width of the capping rail approximates, or may slightly exceed the width'of any nameplate or insert H, so'that upon bodily removal ofithe capping :rail from the as.-

sembly, the name plates or inserts may be elevated between adjacent uprights 2 i and removed bodily through the space normally occupied by the upper capping rail 36. The upper capping rail may easil be withdrawn from its Fig. 2 position, by removing the fastener or fasteners 31 and the holding lugs 38, therebyproviding an open end for .the channels between the adjacent uprights 24, and through which open end the inserts may be bodily removed, one after another.

With further reference to the capping rail, attention is directed to Fig. 4 showing the legs 39 and it adapted to rest against the backing panel Iii. The lower leg ii} is spaced from the lower edge 35, thereby to provide a shoulder or seat 4| which, as shown in Fig. 2, overlies the upper longitudinal edge of a name plate or insert H, with the result of keying or locking the insert in place. The character 42 of Fig. 4 indicates "a perforation through which a fastener such 'as 31 may extend, in the assembled condition of the display structure.

The lower ends of the upright retaining means indicated generally at 2 3, will preferably rest upon the shelf it of the lower rail, and may be overhung by the lower removable lugs 43, which maybe held in place by fasteners 20 (Fig. 2). As indicated by Fig. -1, the insert retaining flange strips 24 located at opposite ends of the display structure, may haveone wing 34 removed in order to conserve space and material, or to enhance the appearance of the finished'assembly. Intermediate retaining elements 24, however, require both wings 3:3 in order that the name plates or inserts at opposite sides thereof may be effectively keyed or locked in position.

As waslpreviously explained herein, any number "of intermediate upright retaining elements 24 might enter into the assembly, depending upon the number of columns of nameiplates constituting the display. For example, if the display consists offlve vertical columns of-name plates, there will be'four intermediate retaining means suchas v24 located between the eXtieme ends of the display. Itmay be noted also that the number of name plates or inserts comprising a vertical col- .umn, will depend upon the height of the backing panel and the length of the upright retaining means 24. Theseifactors can be altered by merely dimensioning the parts to proper length, the elements 25 and 26 shownin Figs. 5 and 6 being readily susceptible to cutting at any length. Whereas Fig. 1 ofthe drawing shows eight name plates'or inserts constituting a column, the number thereof may be greatly increased by merely providing the necessary area of backing panel and furnishing base and flange strips corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, cut to the proper length for accommodating :the desired number of inserts or name plates. Similarly, whereas the drawing shows but one central or intermediate retaining means Z4,-with two columns of name plates or inserts, the number of columns and retaining means may be increased indeterminately or within. the limits of the supporting or background structure.

From the foregoing it should readily beunderstood that the display structure of the present invention maybe easily manipulated for thee):- change or addition of inserts or name plates, even though the" inserts or name plates are normallyeffectively keyed together to prevent unauthorized removal. The entire structure is ldesigned for: flexibility of use, and is waterproof as lwell as foolproof. It is adapted, moreover, for

interior-or outdoor use, and may be applied to v durability and weathering qualities.

It is to be understood that various modifica- 'tions' and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the -appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1 A display structure comprising in combination, a series of individually freely displaceable indicia-bearing inserts of equal length, means for supporting said inserts in edge to edge contact to forms. plurality of adjacent vertical columns, saidsupporting means providing access openings atthe' heads of the columns for the removal and replacement of inserts one by one in succession, a displaceable capping rail common to all said columns for closing said openings precluding unauthorized removal of the inserts, and overlapping means on all the inserts and the capping rail, toclose the spaces therebetween and preelude passage of foreign matter past the separable inserts to the rear thereof.

" 2. A display structure comprising in combination, a series of individually freely displaceable indicia-bearing inserts of equal length, means forsupporting said inserts in edge to edge contact to form a plurality of adjacent vertical columns, said supporting means providing access openings at the heads of the columns for the removal and replacement of inserts one by one in succession, a displaceable capping rail common to all said columns for closing said openings preeluding unauthorized removal of the inserts, and overlapping means on all the inserts and the capping rail, to close the spaces therebetween and preclude passage of foreign matter past the inserts to the rear thereof, said overlapping means being outwardly and downwardly directed to serve as individual drip shields overlying the upper edges of the separable inserts.

3. A display structure comprising in combination, a backing panel, a lower support rail extending along one edge of the panel, and a capping rail extending along an opposite edge of the panel, means for removably fixing the capping rail relative to the panel, a series of indiciabearing inserts of common length for flatwise placement against the backin panel with the inserts stacked edgewise in column formation, a series of upright insert retaining means, each comprising a fixed base strip and a superposed flange strip mortised together, said retaining means being spaced apart lengthwise of the column of inserts at a distance approximating the length of th inserts, said flange strip including extending wings to overlie the end margins of the inserts and thereby preclude lateral movement of the inserts away from the backing panel, the wings being slightly spaced from the insert margins for free lateral shifting of the inserts lengthwise of the columns, removal of th capping rail serving to open the upper ends of the columns for the replacement and addition of inserts.

4. A display structure comprising in combination, a backing panel, a lower support rail extending along one edge of the panel, and a capping rail extending along an opposite edge of the panel, means for removably fixing, the capping rail relative to the panel, a series of indicia-- bearing inserts of common length for fiatwise placement against the backing panel with the inserts stacked edgewise in column formation, a series of upright insert retaining means, each comprising a fixed base strip and a superposed flange strip mortised together, said retaining means placed apart lengthwise of the column of inserts at a distance approximating the length of the inserts, said flange strip including extending wings to overlie the end margins of the inserts and thereby preclude lateral, movement of the inserts away from the backing panel, the wings beingslightly spaced from the insert margins for free lateral shifting of' the inserts lengthwise of the columns, removal of the capping rail serving to open the upper ends of the columns for the replacement and addition of inserts, said inserts each including cooperative overlapping edges between the end margins thereof for keying the inserts together and maintaining a co planar relationship thereof in substantial parallelism with the backing panel.

5. A display structure comprising in combination, a backing panel, a lower support rail extending along one edge of the panel, and a capping rail extending along an opposite edge of the panel, means for removably fixing the capping rail relative to the panel, a series of indiciabearing inserts of common length for flatwise placement against the backing panel with the inserts stacked edgewise in column formation, and a series of upright insert retaining means each comprising two strips, one being a base strip fixed to the backing panel, and the other being a covering strip including wings to overlie the end margin of the inserts, and cooperative interengaging slide means on said strips.

6. A display structure comprising in combination, a backing panel, a lower support rail extending along one edge of the panel, and a capping rail extending along an opposite edge of the panel, means for removably fixing the cap-- pingrail relative to the panel, a series of indiciabearing inserts of common length for fiatwise placement against the backing panel with the inserts stacked edgewisein column formation, and a series of upright insert retaining means each comprising two strips, one being a base strip fixed to the backing panel, and the other being a covering strip including wings to overlie the end margin of the inserts, cooperative interengaging slide means on said strips, said strips abutting endwise the support rail and the capping rail to preclude relative shifting of the strips longitudinally.

7. A display structure comprising in combination, an upright slab of monolithic material recessed in one face thereof, a lower support rail fitted Within the recessof the slab and having an upwardly extended flange thereon resting against the slab in flatwise contact, a shelf on said rail adjacent to the flange thereof, a series of individual indicia-bearing plates of common length disposed in a plane parallel to the slab,

, with opposite edges of the plates in contact to form an upright column, the lowermost plate of the column resting upon the shelf of the support im-means pounding the side edges of th'e column "ofplates;- saidmeans comprising a plurality of upright strips having laterally extended wings providing vertical guides overlying the marginal ends of the indicia-bearing plates, said plates being slidable relative to the guides lengthwise of the column of plates, and a top capping rail removably fixed relative to the slab above the uppermost indicia-ibearing plate, for normally precluding shifting of the plates from the guides aforesaid.

8, A display-structure comprising in combination, an upright slab of monolithic material recessed in one face thereof, a lower support rail fitted within the recess of the slab and having an upwardly extended flange thereon resting against the'slot in flatwise contact, a shelf on said rail adjacent to the flange thereof, a series of individual indicia-bearing plates of common length disposed in a plane parallel to the slab, with opposite edges of the plates in contact to form an upright column, the lowermost plate of the column resting upon the shelf ofthe support rail, means bounding the side edges of the column of plates, said means comprising a plurality of upright strips having laterally extended wings providing vertical guides overlying the marginal ends of the indicia-be'aring plates, said plates being slidable relative to the guides lengthwise of the column of plates, a top capping rail removably fixed relative .to the slab above the uppermost indicia-bearing plate, for normally vprecluding hifting of the plates from the guides aforesaid, and flange means on the capping rail and each plate, for effecting a series of lap joints and drip shields precluding entry of foreign matter between the plates.

*9. A display structure comprising in combination, a backing panel, a lower support rail extending along one edge of the panel, and a capping rail extending along an opposite edge of the panel, means for removably fixing the capping rail relative to the panel, a series of indicia-bearing insorts of common length for flatwise placement against the backing panel with the inserts stacked edgewisein column formation, a series of upright insert retaining means, each comprising a fixed base strip having asuperposed flange thereon, said retaining means being spaced apart lengthwise of the inserts at a distance approximating the length of the inserts, the flanges thereof providing extending wings to overlie the end margins of the inserts and thereby preclude lateral movement of the inserts away from the backing panel,

the wings being slightly spaced zin'semt of common length for flatwiseplacementiagalnst the backing panel with the inserts-stackededger wise'in column formation, each :insert having 'an upper straight edge, anda loweredge includingsa depending flange formed from the-material oithe insert and onset outwardly a'distance' apprcxis mating the thickness of the insert-"to -previdem longitudinal seat, the seat of one insert accommodating the-upper edge of a subi-acent insert, withthe inserts in coplanar relationship and the flange of-said one insert depending over. theiouter facecf the subjacent insent,-a series ofruprlg'ht insert retaining means, eachcomprising ,a :fixed base'strip having a'superposedfiange thereon, said retaining means being spaced-apart lengthwise of the inserts ata distance approximatingthe length of the inserts, the flanges thereof'providingextending wings to overlie the end marginsiof them.- serts and thereby preclude lateralmovement of the inserts away from the backing ,paneLuthe Wings being slightly spaced from ithe insent' mar..- gins for free lateral shifting of. the insertsilengthrwise of the columns removal cithe-capping: rail serving to open the upper en-ds of 'the.-columns-ior the individual replacement and additionnof iinserts.

WILLIAM C; GRUENEBERG WILLARD-G.,GR,UENEBERG..

' REFERENCES-CITED The following references'are'of recordrinrthe flleof-thispatentr g 620,713 France Q Jan. 24,1927

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