US 4,542,603 AGranted

Display sign including changeable numeral characters

OwnerBert E. Streeter, Larry G. Robinsoninventors

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Abstract

A sign for displaying prices and other information, in which at least one numeral character is changeable to display any numeral from zero through nine. A plurality of flap members are each pivotably attached to a flat foundation portion of the sign by resilient clips which hold a portion of each flap closely against a flat front side of the foundation member, thus holding the entire flap against the front side of the sign to prevent the flaps from being caught by wind. The flaps can be overturned by use of a tool including a spatula-like end, to display selectively a background colored face of the flap, covering a contrastingly colored portion of the foundation member, or to display the opposite face of the flap, which is of the contrasting color, and uncover the contrastingly colored portion of the foundation member. The spring clips are movable to permit the flap to be overturned, yet resiliently urge the flap against the front side of the foundation member at other times.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A sign for displaying numerical information including a changeable numeral character, comprising:

(a) a foundation member having a front side and a rear side and defining a background area of a background color on said front side and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from said rear side to said front side;
(b) a plurality of flaps, each attached to said foundation member on said front side thereof in a respective location and each having a first face of said background color and second face of a second color different from said background color;
(c) means for attaching each of said flaps to said foundation member within said background area, said means for attaching including at least one retainer portion associated with each said flap and a respective spring clip extending through one of said apertures defined in said foundation member and around each retainer portion of said flap, resiliently urging said retainer portion of said flap toward a position in which said retainer portion is adjacent said front side parallel with said background area;
(d) each said spring clip including a central section, a pair of rearwardly-extending legs connected with said central section and extending approximately perpendicularly rearwardly therefrom, each having an outer end remote from said central section and an outwardly extending leg attached thereto and extending divergently forward alongside said rearwardly-extending leg, each said spring clip having said central section located on said front side of said foundation member and said outwardly extending legs located on said rear side thereof and resiliently pressing against said rear side;
(e) a plurality of areas of said second color, each corresponding to a respective one of said flaps and located on said foundation member where a respective one of said flaps covers said area when said first face of said respective one of said flaps is exposed and exposes said area when said second face of said flap is exposed.

2 more elements

A sign including a changeable numeral character display, comprising:

(a) a foundation member having a flat background area;
(b) a plurality of movable flaps each having a pair of faces and means for defining a baseline beyond which none of said flap extends;
(c) a retainer associated with each of said movable flaps, each said retainer having an edge located parallel to said baseline and spaced a predetermined distance away from said baseline;
(d) a spring clip of resiliently flexible ribbon-shaped material having a width dimension and a thickness dimension, said spring clip including a central section, a pair of generally parallel rearwardly extending legs, separated from each other by at least said predetermined distance and each longer than said predetermined distance, and a pair of opposite outwardly extending legs, each having a forwardly convexly arcuate bearing portion, said rearwardly extending legs each having an end attached to said central section and said outwardly extending legs being connected with said rearwardly extending legs;
and
(e) said foundation member defining in association with each movable flap at least one aperture extending therethrough, said spring clip extending through said aperture and holding said movable flap against said front side of said foundation member by extending around said retainer of said movable flap.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.