Cross arm yard sign support

Claim 2

A support post for signs and the like comprising: a vertical post formed from a hollow metal tube having a plurality of vertical internal splines; a downward projecting spike assembly attached to the lower end of said vertical post and adapted to be forced into the ground by foot pressure or the like; and a horizontal crossarm attached to said vertical post near the upper end thereof, said horizontal crossarm formed from a hollow metal tube having a first channel formed in the lower surface thereof and a second channel formed in the upper surface thereof, said first channel adapted to accept sign supporting screws at any selected point along said first channel, said second channel for accepting a pliable insert having a groove therein for accepting the lower edge of an auxiliary sign whereby said sign is held in a vertical position by friction between said sign and said insert; said vertical post having a cutout portion thereof, said cutout portion being cut through at least some of said vertical internal splines, and said horizontal crossarm having a cutout portion thereof adapted to match with and fit into said vertical post cutout, said crossarm cutout portion cut to provide a face of said first channel and a face of said second channel to bear against said vertical post cutout portion, and portions of said upper and lower surfaces arranged to bear against said cut spline surfaces to thereby form a rigid vertical post/horizontal crossarm joint.

Claim 3

The support post as defined in claim 1 in which: outside surfaces and inside surfaces of said vertical post are scored to facilitate production of said cutout portion without requiring vertical cutting thereof; and said horizontal cross arm is scored along inside and outside surfaces thereof to facilitate production of said cross arm cutout portion without requiring longitudinal cutting thereof.

Claim 4

The support post as defined in claim 1 in which said first channel in said horizontal cross arm includes two elongate C-shaped members formed in said lower surface of said cross arm, the two open faces of said C-shaped members being horizontally opposed and spaced to permit said sign holding screws to be threaded through said lower opposed portions and upper portions of said C-shaped elements.

Claim 5

The support post as defined in claim 1 in which: said spike assembly includes at least two metal spikes having a downward projecting pointed portion for insertion in the ground, a horizontal extending portion connected to said downward extending portion forming a step like area to be used for forcing said downward projecting portion into the ground, and a vertical upward extending portion connected to the inner end of said step like portion, said upward extending portion having mounting holes therein; stabilizer block means for insertion into the lower end of said vertical post, said stabilizer block having grooves formed therein for matching said vertical splines, said vertical splines and said grooves forming an opening for receiving said vertical portions of said spike assembly, and said lower end of said post and said stabilizer block having holes therethrough for matching said mounting holes in said vertical portions of said spike assembly, and mounting bolts inserted through said holes in said vertical post, said stabilizer block, and said vertical portions of said spike assembly for securing said spike assembly to said post.

Claim 6

A support post for yard signs and the like of the type to be temporarily installable and removable and having a cross arm for supporting a primary sign and an auxiliary sign, comprising: an interior vertical post formed from hollow metal tubing having a plurality of vertical interior splines, said post having a cutout portion adjacent the upper end thereof, said cutout portion being cut through at least some of said vertical internal splines; a horizontal cross arm formed from a hollow metal tube having a first longitudinal channel along the upper surface thereof, a screw receiving second longitudinal channel along the lower surface thereof, and a cutout portion arranged to create an interlocking mortised joint between said vertical post and said horizontal cross arm, said cross arm cutout portion cut to provide a face of said first channel and a face of said second channel to bear against said vertical post cutout portion, and portions of said upper and lower surfaces arranged to bear against said cut spline surfaces to thereby form a rigid mortised joint; primary-sign supporting screws threaded into said second channel to support a primary sign, said second channel adapted to allow said sign supporting screws to be inserted at selected locations along said lower surface of said horizontal arm in accordance with the primary sign to be supported; auxiliary sign support insert disposed in said first channel, said insert formed from polypropylene plastic and having a longitudinal slot formed therein, said slot adapted to permit insertion of the lower edge of an auxiliary sign thereinto, whereby said insert serves to maintain said auxiliary sign vertical and to permit said auxiliary sign to be easily installed and removed; a plurality of post support flat metal spikes, each of said spikes having an outer downward projecting pointed section thereof, a horizontal inward directed step portion thereof attached to said downward projecting portion, and an upward projecting portion attached at the inner end of said horizontal step portion, said upward projecting portion having mounting holes therein; and stabilizer block formed to fit snugly into the lower end of said vertical post, said stabilizer block having mounting holes therethrough and spike receiving grooves therein, said stabilizer block adapted to be inserted in said lower end of said vertical post, said lower end of said post having spike mounting holes matching said mounting holes in said stabilizer block, said grooves in said stabilizer block cooperating with said vertical splines to form slots for receiving of said upright portions of said spikes, and adapted to receive bolts through said holes in said vertical post, said upright portions of said spikes, and said stabilizer block thereby forming a rigid base portion of said vertical post adapted to be inserted in the ground by downward force on said horizontal step portions of said spikes.

Claim 7

A support post for yard signs and the like of the type to be temporarily installable and removable and having a cross arm for supporting a primary sign and an auxiliary sign, comprising: an interior vertical post formed from hollow metal tubing having a plurality of vertical interior splines, said post having a cutout portion adjacent the upper end thereof, said cutout portion being cut through at least some of said vertical internal splines; a horizontal cross arm formed from a hollow metal tube having a first longitudinal channel along the upper surface thereof, a screw receiving second longitudinal channel along the lower surface thereof, and a cutout portion arranged to create an interlocking mortised joint between said vertical post and said horizontal cross arm, said cross arm cutout portion cut to provide a face of said first channel and a face of said second channel to bear against said vertical post cutout portion, and portions of said upper and lower surfaces arranged to bear against said cut spline surfaces to thereby form a rigid mortised joint; primary-sign supporting screws threaded into said second channel to support a primary sign, said second channel adapted to allow said sign supporting screws to be inserted at selected locations along said lower surface of said horizontal arm in accordance with the primary sign to be supported; auxiliary sign support insert disposed in said first channel, said insert formed from polypropylene plastic and having a longitudinal slot formed therein, said slot adapted to permit insertion of the lower edge of an auxiliary sign thereinto, whereby said insert serves to maintain said auxiliary sign vertical and to permit said auxiliary sign to be easily installed and removed; a plurality of post support flat metal spikes, each of said spikes having an outer downward projecting pointed section thereof, a horizontal inward directed step portion thereof attached to said downward projecting portion, and an upward projecting portion attached at the inner end of said horizontal step portion, said upward projecting portion having mounting holes therein; and stabilizer block formed to fit snugly into the lower end of said vertical post, said stabilizer block having mounting holes therethrough and spike receiving grooves therein, said stabilizer block adapted to be inserted in said lower end of said vertical post, said lower end of said post having spike mounting holes matching said mounting holes in said stabilizer block, said grooves in said stabilizer block cooperating with said vertical splines to form slots for receiving of said upright portions of said spikes, and adapted to receive bolts through said holes in said vertical post, said upright portions of said spikes, and said stabilizer block thereby forming a rigid base portion of said vertical post adapted to be inserted in the ground by downward force on said horizontal step portions of said spikes.

Claim 8

A support post for yard signs and the like having a crossarm for supporting a primary sign and an auxiliary sign comprising: a vertical post formed from hollow metal tubing having a plurality of vertical interior splines, said post having a cutout portion adjacent the upper ends thereof, said cutout portion being cut through at least some of said vertical internal splines; and a horizontal crossarm formed from hollow metal tubing, said crossarm tubing having a first longitudinal channel means projecting inwardly from the lower surface thereof, said first channel means having a first function of accepting primary sign hangers for suspending a primary sign therefrom, said crossarm tubing having a second longitudinal channel means projecting inwardly from the upper surface thereof, said second channel means having a first function of accepting and supporting an auxiliary sign, said crossarm tubing having a cutout portion complementary to said vertical post cutout portion and arranged to create an interlocking mortised joint between said vertical post and said horizontal crossarm, said first and second channel means having second functions of providing bearing surfaces for contacting cut portions of said vertical post in said vertical post cutout portion and portions of said upper and lower surfaces of said crossarm tubing arranged to bear against said cut spline surfaces and cut portions of said vertical post to thereby form a rigid mortised joint between said vertical post and said crossarm.

Claim 9

A support post for yard signs and the like having a crossarm for supporting a primary sign and an auxiliary sign comprising: a vertical post formed from hollow metal tubing having a plurality of vertical interior splines, said post having a cutout portion adjacent the upper ends thereof, said cutout portion being cut through at least some of said vertical internal splines; and a horizontal crossarm formed from hollow metal tubing, said crossarm tubing having a first longitudinal channel means projecting inwardly from the lower surface thereof, said first channel means having a first function of accepting primary sign hangers for suspending a primary sign therefrom, said crossarm tubing having a second longitudinal channel means projecting inwardly from the upper surface thereof, said second channel means having a first function of accepting and supporting an auxiliary sign, said crossarm tubing having a cutout portion complementary to said vertical post cutout portion and arranged to create an interlocking mortised joint between said vertical post and said horizontal crossarm, said first and second channel means having second functions of providing bearing surfaces for contacting cut portions of said vertical post in said vertical post cutout portion and portions of said upper and lower surfaces of said crossarm tubing arranged to bear against said cut spline surfaces and cut portions of said vertical post to thereby form a rigid mortised joint between said vertical post and said crossarm.