System for securing a sign to a support surface

Abstract

There is provided a system for securing a sign to a support surface. The system comprises a magnetically releasable lock adapted to automatically lock mutually displaceable surface portions together. The system ensures locking of the two mutually displaceable portions without the visible information-carrying part being disfigured. Unauthorized persons cannot remove the information-carrying part without having knowledge about the location of the magnetically releasable lock.

Claims

1. A system for securing a sign to a support surface, said system comprising: a sign-carrying part for releasable attachment on a mounting part, said sign-carrying part having a front side for holding the sign and a back side provided with a track that loosely holds a locking plate, said track providing a compartment for the locking plate with an opening distal to the back side of the sign-carrying part, said locking plate provided with a protrusion that protrudes beyond the opening of the track when the locking plate is resting on the inner surface of the track distal to the back side; the mounting part configured to be fixedly attached to a support surface, said mounting part having a backside for mounting it on the support surface, and a front side with a track for receiving the protrusion of the locking plate thereby preventing lateral displacement/movement transversally in relation to the track of the sign-carrying part; wherein the mounting part and the sign-carrying part further comprise mutually cooperating profile portions, said locking plate being magnetic and in an a locking position when not being influenced by an external magnetic force from the front side of the sign that is greater than the magnetic force between the locking plate and a part of the front side of the mounting part, said locking plate being in an open position when influenced by said external magnetic force thereby allowing the sign-carrying part to be released from said mounting part.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the track of the mounting part includes a magnetic piece for exerting the magnetic force between the locking plate and a part of the front side of the mounting part.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sign-carrying part and/or the mounting part are produced from a non-magnetic material, such as aluminum.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mutually cooperating profile portions are located in the peripheral region of the sign-carrying part and the mounting part.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tracks of the sign-carrying part and the mounting part are located in the central regions thereof.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the track of the sign carrying part takes the form of a quadratic tunnel closed in the ends and with a longitudinal opening in the roof section of said tunnel to ensure that the locking plate is slidable in the tunnel between said ends, and wherein the track for receiving the protrusion of the locking plate is aligned and parallel with the longitudinal opening.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the roof section is in contact with the upper section of the track of the mounting part when the system is assembled.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the tracks perfectly fits the protrusion of the locking plate.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the locking plate is quadratic.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the locking plate is of a rectangular shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a part perspective view of a system according to the present invention with the sign-carrying part removed from the mounting part.

(2) FIG. 2 is a part perspective view of the system of FIG. 2, which has been disassembled.

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B shows cross-sectional views of the mounting parts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) The system illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 comprises a sign-carrying part (1) for releasable attachment on a mounting part (2), said sign-carrying part (1) having a front side for holding the sign and a back side provided with a track (3) that loosely holds a locking plate (4), said track providing a compartment (5) for the locking plate (4) with an opening (6) distal to the back side of the sign-carrying part, said locking plate (4) provided with a protrusion (7) that protrudes beyond the opening (6) of the track (3) when the locking plate is resting on the inner surface of the track (3) distal to the back side. The mounting part (2) configured to be fixedly attached to a support surface, said mounting part (2) having a backside for mounting it on the support surface, and a front side with a track (3) for receiving the protrusion (7) of the locking plate (4) thereby preventing lateral displacement/movement of the sign-carrying part (1).

(5) As shown in FIGS. 1-3 the mounting part (2) and the sign-carrying part (1) further comprise mutually cooperating profile portions (8, 8, 9, 9), said locking plate (4) being magnetic and in an a locking position when not being influenced by an external magnetic force from the front side of the sign that is greater than the magnetic force between the locking plate (4) and a part (10) of the front side of the mounting part. Importantly the locking plate (4) being in an open position when influenced by said external magnetic force thereby allowing the sign-carrying part (1) to be released from said mounting part (2). FIG. 2 further shows end caps (11) and screws (12) for fastening these to the ends of the mounting part (2) and the sign-carrying part (1) in order to prevent that the parts may slide longitudinally relative to each other. FIGS. 3A and 3B shows cross-sectional views of the mounting parts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

(6) The sign-carrying part (1) may further comprise an information-carrying part in the form of a rail. The mounting part (2) and the sign-carrying part (1) are preferably of the same length.