초록 ▼

An improved compact warning sign and stand are disclosed which include apparatus for attaching and retaining the sign to an upstanding frame member of the stand. The preferred attachment apparatus includes a pair of channels on each of opposite sides of the frame member into which a vertical cross-b

An improved compact warning sign and stand are disclosed which include apparatus for attaching and retaining the sign to an upstanding frame member of the stand. The preferred attachment apparatus includes a pair of channels on each of opposite sides of the frame member into which a vertical cross-brace on the sign may be inserted. The preferred frame member also includes means for permitting the sign panel to laterally pivot or swing under side-wind loads in order to allow a resilient portion of the frame base to deflect generally along a predetermined plane, thereby substantially preventing the sign and stand assembly from tipping over.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A sign and sign stand assembly, wherein said sign and stand include a base, a longitudinally-extending generally upright member, connecting means for connecting said upright member to said base, and attaching means for removably securing said sign to said upright member, said base including a plu

1. A sign and sign stand assembly, wherein said sign and stand include a base, a longitudinally-extending generally upright member, connecting means for connecting said upright member to said base, and attaching means for removably securing said sign to said upright member, said base including a plurality of ground-engaging legs thereon, each of said legs being selectively retractable into a shortened configuration or extendable into an elongated configuration, each of said legs further being pivotal between a first position generally parallel to said upright member and a second position generally perpendicular to said upright member, said base further including resilient biasing means for normally biasingly supporting said upright member in a generally vertical position, said resilient biasing means being resiliently yieldable to allow said upright member to pivotally deflect in a generally downward direction in response to first predetermined forces exerted on said sign, said upright member and said base having a combined overall length approximately equal to the length of said legs when in said shortened configuration, said sign including a foldable sign panel and at least one cross-brace for supporting said foldable sign panel in a generally planar configuration, said attaching means including channel means on said upright member for slidably receiving a first portion of said cross-brace removably inserted therein in order to removably secure said cross-brace thereto in a generally longitudinally-extending disposition thereby displaying said sign on said sign stand, a substantial portion of said longitudinally-extending cross-brace being free of said channel means and substantially unsupported thereby when slidably and removably inserted therein in order to allow said sign panel and at least said substantially unsupported portion of said cross-brace to pivotally swing laterally relative to the axis of said longitudinally-extending upright member in response to second predetermined forces exerted generally parallel to the plane of said sign panel. 2. A sign and sign stand assembly according to claim 1, wherein said channel means on said upright member includes at least a pair of channels on opposite sides of said upright member, thereby allowing said sign to be selectively displayed on either of said opposite sides of said upright member. 3. A sign and sign stand assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said cross-brace is removably insertable into said channel means of said upright member in a generally laterally fixed frictional engagement therewith, said cross-brace being resilient and sufficiently flexible so that said substantially unsupported portion of said cross-brace can resiliently and torsionally twist laterally in order to allow said sign panel to pivotally swing laterally relative to the axis of said longitudinal upright member in response to said second predetermined forces exerted generally parallel to the plane of said sign panel. 4. A sign and sign stand assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a hitch pin member adapted to be inserted through an aperture in said generally laterally fixed first portion of said cross-brace and through a corresponding aperture in said upright member in order to retain said first portion of said cross-brace in said channel means on said upright member. 5. A sign and sign stand assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said cross-brace is removably insertable into said channel means of said frame member in a laterally pivotal relationship within said channel means relative to said longitudinal upright member in order to allow said sign panel and said cross-brace to pivot laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinal upright member in response to said second predetermined forces exerted on said sign panel. 6. A sign and sign stand assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a hitch pin member adapted to be generally loosely inserted through a relatively large aperture in said first portion of said cross-brace and through a corresponding aperture in said upright member in order to retain said first portion of said cross-brace in said channel means on said upright member. 7. A sign and sign stand assembly according to claim 5, wherein said channel means comprises at least a pair of spaced-apart generally aligned channels on said upright member, each of said channels being generally U-shaped in lateral cross-section and having a pair of spaced-apart leg portions for insertably receiving said first portion of said cross-brace in the open space therebetween, each of said pair of channels having said open spaces between its associated leg portions facing generally toward one another, said leg portions of each of said U-shaped channels being sufficiently spaced from one another to allow said first portion of said cross-brace to laterally pivot between said leg portions about a generally longitudinally-extending axis in order to allow said pivotally swinging lateral movement of said sign panel, each of said pair of U-shaped channels further having a channel base portion with a generally arcuate surface thereon for frictionally engaging said first portion of said cross-brace when said first portion is insertably received between said leg portions, said first portion of said cross-brace slidably engaging said arcuate surfaces during said lateral pivoting between said leg portions. 8. A sign and sign stand assembly stand according to claim 5, wherein said channel means comprises at least a pair of spaced-apart generally aligned channels on said upright member, each of said channels being generally U-shaped in lateral cross-section and having a pair of spaced-apart leg portions for receiving said first portion of said cross-brace in the open space therebetween, said leg portions of each of said U-shaped channels being sufficiently spaced from one another so that said first portion of said cross-brace is allowed to laterally pivot between said leg portions about a generally longitudinally-extending axis in order to allow said pivotal lateral movement of said sign panel when said first portion of said cross-brace is removably inserted into said U-shaped channels. 9. A sign and sign stand assembly stand according to claim 8, further comprising a hitch pin member adapted to be generally loosely inserted through an aperture in said first portion of said cross-brace and through a corresponding aperture in said upright member in order to retain said first portion of said cross-brace in said channels on said upright member. 10. A stand for displaying a sign, said sign having a flexible sign panel and at least one generally vertical cross-brace thereon, said stand comprising a stand base, an upstanding frame member, and connecting means for mounting said frame member on said stand base, said stand base including a plurality of ground-engaging means, each of said ground-engaging means being selectively retractable into a shortened configuration and selectively extendable into an elongated configuration, each of said ground-engaging means further being pivotal between a first position generally parallel to said frame member and a second position generally perpendicular to said frame member, said frame member including sign attachment means for releasably attaching said cross-brace to said frame member in order to display said sign thereon, said connecting means including spring means for normally supporting said frame member in a generally vertical position, said spring means resiliently permitting said frame member to deflect relative to said stand base generally along a predetermined plane in response to first wind forces exerted generally transverse to the plane of said sign when said sign is displayed on said frame member, said sign attachment means including a pair of spaced-apart generally aligned channels on said frame member, said channels being generally U-shaped in lateral cross-section and being located on said frame member so that the plane of said sign panel is generally perpendicular to said predetermined plane when a portion of said cross-brace is insertably secured between the leg portions of both of said U-shaped channels, said sign attachment means further including means for permitting said sign panel to pivotally swing laterally about a generally vertical axis in response to second wind forces exerted generally parallel to the plane of said sign panel, said laterally pivoted sign panel being orientated generally transverse relative to said second wind forces in order to permit said frame member to deflect generally along said predetermined plane, said cross-brace being generally vertically disposed, each of said U-shaped channels having a channel base portion with a generally arcuate surface thereon, said channels being adapted to receive said cross-brace therebetween in a frictional engagement with said arcuate surfaces, said arcuate surfaces further being configured to allow said lateral pivotal movement of said cross-brace while in said frictional engagement therewith in order to allow said pivotally swinging lateral movement of said sign panel. 11. A stand according to claim 10, wherein said sign attachment means comprises a pair of said channels on each of a pair of opposite sides of said frame member, said arcuate surfaces being located on said frame member so that the plane of said sign panel is generally perpendicular to said predetermined plane when said sign is attached to either of said sides of said frame member such that said cross-brace is midway in a position generally between the edges of the corresponding arcuate surfaces. 12. A sign and stand for displaying said sign, said sign including a sign panel composed of a foldable and flexible material and a pair of cross-braces for supporting said sign panel in a generally planar configuration, said cross-braces being pivotally interconnected about a laterally-extending axis for pivotal relative movement between a first position generally aligned and parallel with one another and a second position generally perpendicular to one another for supporting said sign panel in said generally planar configuration, said stand including a stand base assembly and a longitudinally-extending generally upstanding frame member secured to said stand base assembly, said stand base assembly including a plurality of outwardly and inwardly telescoping legs, each of said legs further being pivotable between a first position generally parallel and adjacent to said upstanding frame member and a second position generally perpendicular to said upstanding frame member, said upstanding frame member including a pair of spaced-apart generally longitudinally elongated channels on each of two opposite sides thereof, each pair of said channels having a generally U-shaped lateral cross-section and being adapted to receive a first portion of one of said cross-braces slidably and removably inserted therebetween in a generally longitudinal-extending disposition when said cross-braces are in said second position, a substantial portion of said longitudinally-extending cross-brace being free of said channels and being substantially unsecured thereby when slidably and removably inserted therebetween in order to allow said sign panel and at least said substantially unsecured portion of said cross-brace to pivot laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally-extending upstanding member in response to first predetermined forces exerted generally parallel to the plane of said sign panel. 13. A sign and stand according to claim 12, wherein said stand base assembly further includes spring means for normally supporting said longitudinally-extending generally upstanding frame member in a generally vertical position, said spring means resiliently permitting said upstanding frame member to deflect relative to said stand base assembly generally along a predetermined longitudinally-extending plane, said U-shaped channels on each of said opposite sides of said upstanding frame member being located and configured such that the plane of said sign panel is generally perpendicular to said predetermined plane when said sign is displayed on either of said opposite sides of said frame member, said deflection of said frame member occurring in response to second forces exerted generally transversely to the plane of said sign panel when said sign is displayed on said frame member. 14. A sign and stand according to claim 13, wherein said telescoping legs include detent means for releasably holding said legs in an outwardly telescoped positions. 15. A sign and stand according to claim 14, wherein said upstanding frame member and said stand base assembly have a combined overall length approximately equal to the length of said inwardly telescoped legs when said legs are pivoted to said first position generally parallel and adjacent to said upstanding frame member. 16. A sign and stand according to claim 15, wherein said upstanding frame member is extruded from aluminum, said U-shaped channels being extruded integrally therewith. 17. A sign and stand according to claim 13, wherein said first portion of said one of said cross-braces is removably insertable between either of said pairs of channels in a generally laterally fixed engagement therewith, said one cross-brace being resilient and sufficiently flexible that said unsecured portion of said one cross-brace can resiliently and torsionally twist laterally in order to allow said sign panel to pivot laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally-extending frame member in response to said first predetermined forces exerted generally parallel to the plane of said sign panel, said laterally pivoted sign panel being oriented generally transverse relative to said second forces in order to cause said upstanding frame member to deflect along said predetermined plane. 18. A sign and stand according to claim 17, further comprising a hitch pin member adapted to be inserted through an aperture in said generally laterally fixed first portion of said one cross-brace and through a corresponding aperture in said upstanding frame member in order to retain said first portion of said cross-brace in said attached relationship with said upstanding frame member. 19. A sign and stand according to claim 17, wherein each of said pairs of said channels includes means for permitting said one cross-brace and said sign panel to pivot laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally-extending upstanding frame member in response to said first predetermined forces exerted generally parallel to the plane of said sign panel, said laterally pivoted sign panel being oriented generally transverse relative to said second forces in order to cause said upstanding frame member to deflect along said predetermined plane. 20. A sign and stand according to claim 19, further comprising a hitch pin member adapted to be generally loosely inserted through a relatively large aperture in said one cross-brace and through a corresponding aperture in said upstanding frame member in order to retain said one cross-brace between the pair of said channels into which it has been inserted.