Fastener assembly for display cards, signs and the like

{
  "publication_number": "US12180985B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fastener assembly for display cards, signs and the like",
  "abstract": "A device according to the present invention having a turnbuckle for manually locking and unlocking a display holder used to display information on vehicles and on structures. The turnbuckle is paired with a base. The combination of the turnbuckle and the base are removably coupled with the display holder where the turnbuckles are turned to lock the display holder in place. The combination of the turnbuckle and the base provide for increased frictional stability of the turnbuckle and the display holder. The display holder provides a sleeve or surface upon which information may be placed in or printed upon. The combination of the turnbuckle, the base and the display holder provides for a fixture. The turnbuckle may be paired with multiple embodiments of the base, support multiple embodiments of the display holder, and incorporated in multiple embodiments of the fixture. A method of pairing the turnbuckle with the base is provided as well.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A display assembly for attachment to a surface, said display assembly comprising: a display holder with at least one closed edge; a base, said base having at least one rotatable fastener opening and one mounting opening; at least one rotatable fastener, said fastener comprising an axle having a longitudinal axis, a knob formed at a first end of said axle and a cam formed at an opposite end of said axle; said cam having an outer cylindrical surface and at least one indentation formed in said outer cylindrical surface; said fastener opening including a cylindrical cam wall formed thereabout; said cylindrical cam wall having at least one wall opening and a detent snap formed in said cylindrical cam wall opening; a pair of bearings, each having an inner bearing surface; said respective inner bearing surfaces of said bearings arranged to encompass said axle about said longitudinal axis; and said display holder releasably positioned between said base and said knob; whereby said cam and said axle are positioned within said fastener opening and said indentation formed in said outer cylindrical surface is arranged to selectively engage with said detent soap when said fastener is rotated about said longitudinal axis.",
    "2. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said base having two rotatable fastener openings.",
    "3. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 2 further comprising: a stability structure being formed on said base; said stability structure located between said first and second fastener openings; and said stability structure applying pressure to said display holder when said display holder is retained by said rotatable fasteners to said base.",
    "4. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said base having two mounting openings.",
    "5. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said fastener opening further including an elongated opening, each of said bearings being positioned in said elongated opening on opposite sides of said axle.",
    "6. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said fastener opening further including a knob openings; and said knob opening being smaller than said knob; whereby said fastener is retained in said fastener opening after said knob is passed through said knob opening.",
    "7. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 6 further comprising: said base having a first side; and a raised lip formed on said first side of said base about said knob opening; whereby said knob is retained on said base first side.",
    "8. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said base having a first side; and a raised lip formed on said first side of said base about said rotatable fastener opening.",
    "9. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said base being rectangular in shape.",
    "10. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said base being round in shape.",
    "11. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 1 further comprising: said base being oval in shape.",
    "12. A display holder base assembly for attachment to a surface, said display holder base assembly comprising: a base, said base having at least one rotatable fastener opening and one mounting opening; at least one rotatable fastener, said fastener comprising an axle having a longitudinal axis, a knob formed at a first end of said axle and a cam formed at an opposite end of said axle; said cam having an outer cylindrical surface and at least one indentation formed in said outer cylindrical surface; said fastener opening including a cylindrical cam wall formed thereabout; said cylindrical cam wall having at least one wall opening and a detent snap formed in said cylindrical cam wall opening; a pair of bearings, each having an inner bearing surface; and said respective inner bearing surfaces of said bearings arranged to encompass said axle about said longitudinal axis; whereby said cam and said axle are positioned within said fastener opening and said indentation formed in said outer cylindrical surface is arranged to selectively engage with said detent snap when said fastener is rotated about said longitudinal axis.",
    "13. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said base having two rotatable fastener openings.",
    "14. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said base having two mounting openings.",
    "15. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said fastener opening further including an elongated opening, each of said bearings being positioned in said elongated opening on opposite sides of said axle.",
    "16. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said fastener opening further including a knob opening; and said knob opening being smaller than said knob; whereby said fastener is retained in said fastener opening after said knob is passed through said knob opening.",
    "17. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 16 further comprising: said base having a first side; and a raised lip formed on said first side of said base about said knob opening; whereby said knob is retained on said base first side.",
    "18. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said base having a first side; and a raised lip formed on said first side of said base about said rotatable fastener opening.",
    "19. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said base being rectangular in shape.",
    "20. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said base being round in shape.",
    "21. The display assembly for removable attachment to a surface of claim 12 further comprising: said base being oval in shape."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an improved fastening device for removably holding a disposable card, signs and the like. Specifically, the present invention relates to turnbuckles for removably holding such items. Fastening devices such as those contemplated for use with the present invention are used in numerous settings, such as sporting events, informational display arrangements, and banner displays. In sporting events, the fastening devices may hold cards for ease of displaying, marking and storage of the display cards. Further, the fastening devices may allow for displaying information about the game played or the course on which the players are competing.\n\nThe fastening devices may be used in a store or other point of purchase location to display a card having indicia of the products or services being offered for sale. As another non-limiting example, the device may be used on a machine and include job or safety specifications. Due to the nature of the invention, the device may also find application in a setting where a first set of information is printed on one side of the card and a second set of information is printed on the opposite side of the card. The desired information may be displayed depending upon the orientation of the selected card surface relative to the invention. Finally, the fastening devices may be used to display banners.\n\nIn the prior art, fastening devices such as those described require the display surface to be fixed to the base or secured in a housing, which prevents ease of removal of the display surface.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16B 12/22",
    "F16B 12/44",
    "F16B 2012/106",
    "F16B 5/10",
    "G09F 1/10",
    "G09F 2007/1843",
    "G09F 7/18"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 12/10",
    "F16B 12/22",
    "F16B 12/44",
    "F16B 5/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Randall Marketing International Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "M Randall Pasternak",
    "Mark Donald Schaefer"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-01-06",
  "publication_date": "2024-12-31",
  "grant_date": "2024-12-31",
  "priority_date": "2021-01-06",
  "application_number": "US-202217569756-A",
  "family_id": "82219531",
  "cited_by_count": 4,
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}