Spacer and Support Assembly for Wall Mounted Signs

{
  "publication_number": "US2014150310A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Spacer and Support Assembly for Wall Mounted Signs",
  "abstract": "A spacer assembly for mounting a sign to a wall includes proximal and distal spacer members. The proximal spacer member includes a barrel and a coaxial coupling shaft extended distally from the barrel. The distal spacer member includes a distal barrel and a recess extending into the barrel and sized to slidably and rotatably receive the coupling shaft. A threaded stud extends proximally from the proximal barrel, and a distal threaded stud extends distally from the distal barrel. Each stud is removably threaded into its associate barrel. The distal member barrel supports a radially oriented set screw, movable toward and away from an advanced position in which the screw engages the coupling shaft to integrally secure the barrels. The spacer assembly allows the sign to be detached from the wall while leaving in place the studs coupled to the sign and wall.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus for mounting a display to a supporting object, said apparatus comprising: a first spacer member; a second spacer member; a coupling shaft that releasably secures together said first and second spacer members; said first spacer member, second spacer member and coupling shaft are coaxially aligned; and wherein said first and second spacer members mount the display to the supporting object in a spaced apart relation when said first and second spacer members are secured and aligned between the display and the supporting object. 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling shaft extends outwardly from a first end of said spacer member in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members. 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a set screw positioned in said second spacer member to secure said coupling shaft to said second spacer member. 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first spacer member further includes a first stud to secure said first spacer member to the display, said first stud extending outwardly from said first spacer member in coaxial alignment with said coupling shaft. 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the display includes a threaded aperture in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members when the display is mounted to the supporting object. 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second spacer member further includes a second stud to secure said second spacer member to the supporting object. 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the supporting object includes an aperture in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members when said display is mounted to said supporting display object. 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said second spacer member further includes a second stud to secure said second spacer member to the supporting object. 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the supporting object includes an aperture in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members and said first and second studs when the display is mounted to the supporting object. 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, further including a groove formed in said coupling shaft to align and receive said set screw when said first and second spacer members are secured together. 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second spacer members may be unsecured relative to the other. 12. An apparatus for mounting a display to a supporting object, said apparatus comprising: a first spacer member; a second spacer member; a coupling shaft that releasably secures together said first and second spacer members, said coupling shaft extending outwardly from a first end of said spacer member in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members; a first stud to releasably secure said first spacer member to the display, said first stud extending outwardly from said first spacer member in coaxial alignment with said coupling shaft; a second stud to releasably secure said second spacer member to the supporting object; wherein said first and second spacer members secure together in a coaxial alignment; and wherein said first and second spacer members mount the display to the supporting object in a spaced apart relation when said first and second spacer members are aligned between the display and the supporting object. 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 further including a set screw positioned in said second spacer member to secure said coupling shaft to said second spacer member. 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said first stud includes threading and the display includes a threaded aperture in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members when the display is mounted to the supporting object. 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said second stud includes threading and the supporting object includes an oversized aperture in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members when the display is mounted to the supporting object. 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, further including a groove formed in said coupling shaft to align and receive said set screw when said first and second spacer members are secured together. 17. An apparatus for mounting a display to a supporting object, said apparatus comprising: a first spacer member having a coupling shaft extending outwardly from a first end of said first spacer member and having a first anchor member extending outwardly from an opposing second end of said first spacer member, said first spacer member, coupling shaft, and first anchor member having coaxial alignment; a second spacer member having a shaft receiving bore formed and extending into said second spacer member from a first end of said second spacer member and having a second anchor member extending outwardly from a second end of said second spacer member, said second spacer member, the bore and said second anchor member having coaxial alignment; said coupling shaft sized to fit within said bore and releasably secure together said first and second spacer members in coaxial alignment; said first anchor releasably secures said first spacer member to the display and said second anchor releasably secures said second spacer member to the supporting object; and said first and second spacer members secure together with a set screw and are separable relative to the other after the display is mounted to the supporting object in a spaced apart relation. 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said first anchor includes threading and the display includes a threaded aperture adapted to receive said first anchor in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members when the display is mounted to the supporting object. 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said second anchor includes threading and the supporting object includes an aperture in coaxial alignment with said first and second spacer members when the display is mounted to the supporting object. 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, further including a groove formed onto said shaft to align and receive said set screw when said first and second spacer members are secured together."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to systems for mounting a sign or other display object in fixed and spaced apart relation to a wall or other supporting object, and more particularly to systems that employ spacing assemblies formed of releasably coupled spacing elements. Since ancient times, signs have been a fundamental form of communication. They convey an almost unlimited variety of messages with such wide ranging purposes as advertising products and services; providing instructions and directions; identifying government offices, retail establishments and other locations open to the public; and designating locations where entry is discouraged or forbidden. A feature common to these disparate uses is the desire for a highly visible, attractive sign with an impact such that its message is more likely to be noticed and retained by the observer. This feature is particularly important in commercial environments, where a sign advertising a product or identifying a business location frequently competes for attention with other signs.\n\nWith this in mind, users of signs and sign mounting systems continually search for alternative approaches to enhance visibility and visual impact. One approach, especially suitable for signs supported by walls or other upright structures, is to mount a sign or its parts (e.g. individual letters) spaced apart horizontally from the wall or other vertical support. This gives the sign, or letters, a free standing or floating appearance that can be aesthetically pleasing as well as dramatic, drawing attention to the sign. FIG.",
  "cpc": [
    "G09F 7/18",
    "F16B 35/005",
    "G09F 7/20"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G09F 7/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GEMINI INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "BEDNARSKI ROBERT"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-02-07",
  "publication_date": "2014-06-05",
  "priority_date": "2012-09-14",
  "application_number": "US-201414174889-A",
  "family_id": "50064899",
  "citations": [
    "US4611943A"
  ]
}