Assemblable display device for mailboxes and the like
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to display devices and more particularly to display devices for outdoor use on mailboxes and the like. 
     A wide variety of display devices are in common use for various applications. Many such devices adapted for outdoor use, particularly for rural mailboxes, are made of a metallic backing, or frame, to which a name, etc. is mounted, and which is permanently attached to the mailbox by welding or by threaded fasteners. Although such devices adequately serve as nameplates, they are relatively expensive since they must be fabricated by machinists equipped to do so, and are incapable of complete assembly and simple installation by hand at home. In addition, such prior art devices are usually adapted for permanent attachment to the mailbox and cannot be removed without damaging in the mailbox and/or the device itself. Moreover, since the message on the nameplate is directly exposed to all weather conditions, the letters themselves must be capable of withstanding such weather conditions and are, therefore, relatively expensive to fabricate. 
     One type of mailbox display device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,976,633, issued to Squire. Although such devices have proved satisfactory, the letters or characters installed on the device are exposed to the weather elements and, therefore, must be durable, thereby involving relatively high fabrication and materials costs. Such letters are also generally three-dimensional, adding to the aforesaid costs, and must be purchased separately, causing frustration when a particular letter or number is out-of-stock. In addition, these devices are mounted to the mailbox by threaded fasteners, adding to the cost of the device and complicating installation. 
     In addition, although there are display devices, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,956,837 or 3,820,262, which are easily assemblable, they do not provide protection against adverse weather elements. Thus, they are unsuitable for outdoor use. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved display device for mailboxes and the like. Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved display device which can be packaged in a completely self-contained and disassembled form for assembly in only a few simple steps without tools. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved assemblable display device capable of use outdoors, which is particularly suited as a nameplate for mailboxes. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a new and improved asemblable display device adaptable for quick and simple attachment to mounting surfaces of various general contours. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved display device for mailboxes and the like, which is inexpensive and can be made essentially from all moldable parts. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved assemblable display device for mailboxes and the like, which, when installed outdoors, is substantially unaffected by adverse weather conditions. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved assemblable display device for mailboxes and the like, which provides display surfaces observable from opposite sides. 
     Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein and in part will be appreciated herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. Accordingly, the invention resides in the novel parts, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Briefly described, the display device according to the present invention includes a generally elongate base plate adapted to support the characters of the message to be displayed, an essentially transparent sleeve member adapted to enclose the front and back surfaces (i.e., the display surfaces) and side edges of the base plate and a pair of mounting members adapted for attachment to each end of the sleeve in a generally sealing manner. Advantageously, each mounting member includes an end cap adapted to be fitted over one end of the sleeve and a mounting bracket adapted to be force fit over the end cap on the end of the sleeve, and adapted to be attached to any suitable mounting structure. Advantageously, and as preferably embodied, the display device according to the invention includes a pair of adaptor plates adapted for releasable attachment to the mounting brackets and having a surface adapted for direct attachment to the mounting structure. 
     It has been found that the display device according to the present invention provides an easily assemblable and inexpensive structure for displaying a desired message such as a name and address. In addition, by providing a transparent sleeve enclosing the base plate with mounting members sealingly enclosing the ends of the sleeve according to the present invention, the display device according to the invention provides a durable and essentially weatherproof means for displaying the message on two surfaces, for outdoor as well as indoor use. Moreover, the display device according to the present invention will be found particularly suited for providing a mailbox nameplate which complies with all requirements set by the U.S. Postal Service for rural mailboxes, including, for example, being viewable from both sides of the mailbox. 
     In addition, the display device according to the present invention enables the use of moldable plastic materials as well as the utilization of convenient molding techniques associated therewith. Thus, for example, the base plate may be formed as a generally flat member which may be folded over itself into its final shape while warm and pliable and the sleeve member may be molded as a simple open-ended tube-like member. 
     It will also be found that by providing adaptor plates which are releasably attachable to (i.e. interchangeable with) the mounting brackets, the actual mounting surface of the brackets can be changed to accommodate mounting structures of different contours or configurations, such as, for example, a flat or round top mailbox. In addition, by providing adhesive means for attaching the display device to the mounting structure, the display device according to the invention can be quickly and simply attached to the mounting structure without damaging it. 
     Moreover, it will be found that the display device according to the invention enables the use of simple and inexpensive adhesive-backed characters which can be die cut on a carrier sheet. Thus, the display device can be packaged as a complete and inexpensive kit including a plurality of each letter and number for convenient assembly. Furthermore, by providing mounting members which are force fit over the open ends of the sleeve member, the contents within the sleeve member are easily and inexpensively sealed in an essentially weatherproof manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an assemblable display device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting bracket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of a preferred embodiment, in disassembled form, of the embodiment of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment (indicated generally by reference number 10) of the assemblable display device according to the present invention. 
     In accordance with the invention, display device 10 includes base plate 12 which is adapted for supporting or carrying the various characters of the message or information to be displayed. To this end, base plate 12 is advantageously formed with recessed display surface 12a adapted to accommodate message characters (indicated generally at 14) of various sizes and thicknesses, up to about the dimensions of the recess. As preferably embodied, characters 14 are generally thin flexible plastic members having an adhesive backing and may be die cut from sheet 13a adhered to a generally non-stick backing sheet 13b in order to provide, relatively inexpensively, a complete set of message characters, including several of each character. 
     Sleeve member 16, formed of an essentially transparent material, is proportioned to encase base plate 12 with message characters 14 thereon. As preferably embodied, sleeve member 16 is an essentially continuous, elongate tube-like element having both of its ends open to accommodate slidable insertion of base plate 12. Advantageously, for low cost of fabrication, sleeve 16 is made of a clear moldable plastic material and base plate 12 is made of an opaque moldable plastic material. 
     Once base plate 12 carrying message characters 14 has been inserted within sleeve 16, mounting members (indicated generally at 18) are attached to the ends of sleeve 16 for completely enclosing base plate 12 as well as mounting display device 10 to a suitable mounting structure. Advantageously, each mounting member 18 includes mounting bracket 20 (also advantageously made of a moldable plastic material) adapted to cover each end of sleeve 16 for protection against the weather elements. To this end, mounting member 18 also includes end caps 22 preferably made of a flexible resilient material such as plastisol (or other similar soft vinyl-like material capable of retaining its physical properties despite long term exposure to various weather conditions), formed in a generally elongate cup-shaped structure adapted to fit onto an end of sleeve 16 in a somewhat tight manner. Advantageously, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the perimeter along the interior surface of the recess (indicated at 22a) formed in end cap 22 is slightly less than the cross-sectional perimeter along the exterior surface of sleeve 16 such that each end cap 22 must be slightly stretched to cover the end of sleeve 16 in a generally tight manner. Therefore, end caps 22 form a generally seal-like cover over the ends of sleeve 16. 
     Once end caps 22 are positioned over the ends of sleeve 16, mounting brackets 20 are fitted over caps 22 to complete the seal on the sleeve ends. To this end, each mounting bracket 20 includes recess 20b proportioned essentially similar to the cross-sectional area of sleeve 16 and adapted to receive one end of sleeve 16 with an end cap 22 mounted on such end. As preferably embodied, the interior of recess 20b is dimensioned such that the perimeter along its interior surface is larger than the perimeter along the exterior surface at the ends of sleeve 16, but less than that along the exterior surface of an end cap 22 when mounted onto an end of sleeve 16. Thus, when mounting brackets 20 are mounted onto the ends of sleeve 16, over end caps 22, a force-fit is generated which ensures an essentially mositure-proof seal to enable use of display device 10 outdoors. 
     For example, the length of each end cap 22, measured at its exterior surface, may be slightly less than the cross-sectional length of sleeve 16, measured at its exterior surface, by a distance l 2  + l 2  shown slightly exaggerated in FIG. 3, with the width of each cap 22 generally equal to or slightly less than the corresponding width of sleeve 16. In addition, such cross-sectional length of sleeve 16 may be slightly shorter than the interior cross-sectonal length of slot 20b by a distance l 3  + l 4  shown slightly exaggerated in FIG. 3, and the width of sleeve 16 is preferably slightly less than the corresponding width of slot 20b in order to accommodate insertion of sleeve 16 with cap 22 mounted thereon. As preferably embodied, the sum of l 3  and l 4  as well as the difference between the width of slot 20b and that of the exterior of sleeve 16, at corresponding locations, are each slightly less than twice the thickness, t, of cap 22, in order that a sealing attachment may be formed by force fitting the end of sleeve 16 with cap 22 thereon into slot 20b. 
     Also as preferably embodied, each mounting bracket 20 includes a suitable base adapted for mounting onto the desired mounting structure. To this end, the base of mounting brackets 20 are adapted to receive interchangeable adaptor plates 24 which are adapted for releasable engagement with mounting brackets 20, such as by forming reciprocally co-acting slots (shown here at 20a on bracket 20) and protrusions (shown here at 24a on adaptor plate 24) having appropriate angular orientations thereon for allowing only slidable interconnection and preventing disassembly by other than such relative slidable movement. Advantageously, mounting plates 24 are formed with lip members 24b adapted to prevent slidable insertion of plate 24 onto bracket 20 beyond a predetermined point. 
     Once mounting brackets 20 have been installed onto sleeve 16, double-backed adhesive members 26 may be attached to the bottom (i.e., the mounting surface) of mounting brackets 20. As illustrated herein, mounting brackets 20 are formed with curved bottom surfaces which are suitable for attaching device 10 to a curved mounting structure, such as a round-topped mailbox. However, if the mounting structure has an essentially flat surface such as flat-topped mailbox 28, an adaptor plate 24 with a correspondingly rounded upper surface but a flat bottom (or mounting surface), may be slidably attached to bracket 20, as more fully described hereinbefore, with adhesive members 26 attached to such flat bottom surface to provide secure attachment to the flat surface of the mounting structure. 
     Advantageously, when plates 24 are attached to brackets 20, lip members 24b are positioned symmetrically (i.e. both on the inside of brackets 20 or both on the outside of brackets 20) to substantially prevent the display device from slidable movement relative to the mounting structure. As preferably embodied, both lips 24b face outwardly to cover the slot/protrusion (20a/24a) arrangement for a more attractive appearance. 
     It will be understood that when brackets 20 are mounted to a round-top mailbox so that adaptor plates 24 are not needed, slots 20a on the mounting bracket can accommodate certain structures formed on the mailbox top such as the base of the clamp for holding the mailbox door closed. 
     Accordingly, the present invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described. Rather, variations may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.