# US 9,437,123 B2 · Sign assembly

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- Number: US 9,437,123 B2
- Document ID: US9437123B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/883,994
- Filed: 2010-09-16
- Published: 2012-03-22
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-16
- Assignees: American Louver Company
- Applicants: Geoffrey M. Glass, Jr.; Carol Salas; Janet Riddick
- Inventors: Geoffrey M. Glass, Jr.; Carol Salas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437123B2

## CPC

- G09F 15/0056: {portable display standards}
- B60B 37/00: Wheel-axle combinations, e.g. wheel sets (units comprising multiple wheels arranged side-by-side B60B11/00; rail vehicle axle-boxes B61F)
- A45C 5/14: with built-in rolling means
- B60B 37/10: the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles
- B60B 2310/316: by press-fitting, shrink-fitting
- Y10T 29/49492: Land wheel
- Y10T 29/4998: Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sign assembly includes a panel and a base. The base is configured to be attached to the panel via a resilient member. The bottom surface of the base defines a pair of cavities. The cavities are positioned substantially adjacent to a forward edge of the bottom surface. A pair of wheel assemblies is secured within respective cavities on the bottom surface. Each wheel assembly includes a housing that houses an axle and wheel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sign assembly comprising:
a panel;
a base attached to said panel via a resilient member, wherein a bottom surface of said base defines at least one cavity positioned substantially adjacent to a forward edge of said bottom surface, said cavity having at least one sidewall that is continuous with said bottom surface of said base; and
at least one wheel assembly that includes a housing that houses an axle and wheel, wherein said at least one wheel assembly is secured within said cavity on said bottom surface of said base by a plurality of pyramidal teeth arranged on opposing outside surfaces of said housing, wherein the pyramidal teeth are configured to allow the housing to be inserted into the at least one cavity in a first direction and to frictionally engage said side wall of the at least one cavity to thereby prevent subsequent removal of the at least one housing from the at least one cavity in a direction opposite the first direction,
wherein the housing is secured inside the cavity only by the pyramidal teeth, and wherein the housing is disposed entirely within the cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sign assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially entirely disposed within said cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sign assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth extend in a row along substantially an entire length of each opposing outside surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sign assembly according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said housing includes a pair of guides on opposing inner surfaces that enable slidably inserting said axle and wheel within said housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The sign assembly according to claim 4, wherein the housing defines a pair of openings configured to receive said axle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sign assembly according to claim 1, wherein a forward edge of said housing is beveled to match a profile of said forward edge of said bottom surface of said base.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sign assembly according to claim 1, further comprising two cavities positioned substantially adjacent to a forward edge of said bottom surface and two wheel assemblies configured to be secured within respective cavities.

### Claim 8

A method for manufacturing a wheel assembly comprising:
providing a wheel;
providing a base defining at least one cavity;
providing an axle configured to be inserted through said wheel;
forming a pair of guides on opposing inner surfaces of said housing that enable slidably inserting said axle and wheel within said housing;
forming a housing that defines a plurality of pyramidal teeth arranged on opposing outside surfaces of said housing, wherein the pyramidal teeth facilitate insertion of the at least one wheel assembly into said cavity of said base and provide frictional engagement with an interior surface of the cavity after insertion to thereby resist removal from the cavity defined; and
disposing the housing entirely within the cavity and securing the housing inside the cavity only with the pyramidal teeth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, further comprising forming a pair of openings in said housing configured to receive said axle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein a forward edge of said housing is beveled to match a profile of a forward edge of said bottom surface of said base.