US 4,583,309 AGranted

Tamper-proof display assembly

AssigneeKane Graphical Corporation

InventorsMichael N. Kane, Lawrence R. Hogan

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Abstract

A display assembly for posters or signs includes a cover frame having a clear sealed window at the front surface thereof. The display assembly is generally rectangular, the cover frame having four outwardly facing walls configured to slide into forwardly extending closely fitting walls extending from a one piece wall-mountable shroud-forming frame. Magnetic strips affixed to interior faces of the shroud-forming frame capture and hold an inserted cover frame, and the closely fitting shroud walls and immediately confronting cover frame walls serve to defeat the insertion of conventional tools to remove the cover when so emplaced. A special spatulate tool is configured with projections stressed to spring out of the plane of the blade in the relaxed state. The extensions are temporarily pressed flat during insertion, to spring outward when inserted to maximum depth into the assembly, the extensions when thus deployed confronting and engaging a rear portion of the cover frame. Withdrawal of the tool causes withdrawal of the cover frame for replacement of the contents.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A display assembly for accepting a sign or poster sheet or the like for the display thereof comprising:

a shroud-forming frame including attachment means for attaching said shroud-forming frame to a vertical mounting surface, said shroud-forming frame having peripheral walls forwardly extending from forwardly facing vertical surfaces interior to said peripheral walls, said peripheral walls defining an insertion aperture into said shroud-forming frame from the front thereof;
a cover frame having peripheral margins presenting outwardly facing surfaces configured for closely confronting nesting relationship with the interior surfaces of said peripheral walls of said shroud-forming upon insertion of said cover frame into said insertion aperture, said cover frame having rearwardly facing vertical surfaces and a sealed transparent forwardly facing viewing portion forming a window through which a sign or poster sheet behind the same is visible;
retaining means for accepting and holding a poster or sign sheet behind said window;
one of said cover frame and said shroud-forming frame including a first holding means, the other of same including second holding means releasably engaging said first holding means, said first and second holding means being disposed within said assembly to provide a force operating to hold said cover frame in said shroud-forming frame when inserted therein so that said shroud-forming frame completely surrounds the sides of said inserted cover frame to prevent direct access to the rear surfaces of said cover frame, said cover frame and shroud-forming frame being configured to provide a first tool-receiving forwardly opening narrow gap between the confronting portions of said outwardly facing surfaces of said cover frame and said interior surfaces of said peripheral walls of said shroud-forming frame.

1 more element

A frame removal tool for a display sign assembly, said assembly including a cover frame and a shroud-forming frame having means for mounting said shroud-forming frame on a vertical surface, said shroud-forming frame including attachment means for attaching said shroud-forming frame to a vertical surface and having forwardly extending peripheral walls defining an insertion aperture into said shroud-forming frame from the front thereof, said cover frame having peripheral margins presenting outwardly facing surfaces configured for closely confronting nesting relationship with the interior surfaces of said peripheral walls of said shroud-forming frame upon insertion of said cover frame having a forwardly facing viewing and sealing window through which a sign or poster sheet behind the same is visible, said display assembly including holding means disposed within said assembly to provide a force operating to hold said cover frame in said shroud-forming frame when inserted therein, said shroud-forming frame completely and closely surrounding the sides of said inserted cover frame so that said shroud-forming frame completely surrounds the sides of said inserted cover frame to prevent direct access to the rear surfaces of said cover frame, said cover frame and shroud-forming frame being configured to provide a forwardly opening narrow gap between a portion of the interior surface of one of said shroud walls, and the confronting peripheral surface of said frame, said tool comprising:

a handle at the proximal end of said tool;
and
a spatulate resilient blade affixed to said handle and configured with at least one springingly deformable portion at the distal end thereof, said deformable portion being urgeable by insertion of said tool into said gap into a generally coplanar relationship with the remainder of said blade and springing out of said relationship to deploy and engage a peripheral side of said frame for withdrawal of said frame from said shroud.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.