GB2302806A - Identification means for a building - Google Patents

Abstract

Means to identify a building comprises, Figure 1, a mounting plate 1, e.g. of high density foam, having an elliptical slot accommodating a transparent display plate 2 bearing on its underside self-adhesive label 11 with a reflective backing. Alternatively, the display plate may be held to the mounting plate by a snap-fit ring (13, Figure 5, not shown). The mounting plate has holes 5 for wall plugs each comprising, Figure 4, slit nylon plug 7 expanded by hardwood plug 8.

Description

"Identification Means" This invention relates to identification means for a building.

Unlike cars, which have numberplates as recognised standard means of identification, buildings tend to be haphazardly labelled with no uniform means of identification.

Consequently, unless a label is prominently displayed, a particular building may be difficult to identify.

However if, when attempting to locate a building, one knows exactly what to look for, any label immediately becomes more apparent.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided identification means for a building comprising a mounting plate for attachment to an exterior surface, fastening means to attach the mounting plate to the exterior surface and a display plate, the mounting plate being configured to accommodate the display plate.

Preferably the mounting plate is provided with an aperture to accommodate the fastening means. The mounting plate preferably has more than one aperture, and these may be in pre-ordained standard configuration.

Preferably a hole is provided on the exterior surface.

The exterior surface preferably has more than one hole, and these may be in pre-ordained standard configuration.

Preferably the fastening means is in two parts. The fastening means may comprise a fastener which fits in the aperture in the mounting plate, and a plug. The fastener preferably has an internal tapered aperture and vertical slits running part way from the base up either side. The plug is preferably tapered, having a taper similar to that of the aperture in the fastener.

The fastening means may be used to attach the mounting plate to the exterior surface, preferably by use of the plug to secure the fastener in the hole provided.

Preferably the mounting plate has a recess on the face non-adjacent to the exterior surface. The recess may be an elliptical slot.

Preferably the recess accommodates the display plate.

The display plate is preferably of size and shape similar to the recess wherein it is configured to fit.

Preferably the mounting plate and the display plate are mated by insertion of the display plate into the recess. The fit should be such that, once mated, the mounting plate and display plate are difficult to separate.

Preferably, the fastening means does not impinge upon this recess.

Preferably the display plate is transparent and any label to be displayed may be affixed to its mating side. The label may be formed from letters and numbers made of vinyl.

Reflective material may be placed between the display plate and the mounting plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided identification means for a building comprising a mounting plate for attachment to an exterior surface, a display plate, and retaining means for securement of the display plate.

Preferably, the retaining means is configured to cooperate with the mounting plate.

Preferably, the retaining means secures the display plate against the mounting plate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided identification means for a building comprising a transparent display plate through which a label may be read, and a reflective backing for the display plate.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of an identification means for a building in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention Figure 2 is a cross-section of a mounting plate of the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section of a display plate of the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross section of a fastening means of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a pictorial representation of an identification means for a building in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross section of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an exploded cross-section of Figure 5 across X-X; Figure 8 is an exploded cross-section of Figure 5 across Y-Y; Figure 9 is a cross-section of Figure 5 across X-X; Figure 10 is a detail of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a cross-section of Figure 5 across Y-Y; Figure 12 is a pictorial representation of a perspective view of identification means for a building in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention and; Figure 13 is an exploded cross section of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, an identification system for a building comprises a mounting plate 1 and a display plate 2 which is transparent and behind which is displayed the name or number of a building.

The mounting plate 1 is elliptical in shape and has depth. It is formed by injection moulding. On one face it has a recessed slot 3 to accommodate the display plate 2. This slot is elliptical. The mounting plate 1 requires to be sufficiently stiff to retain the display plate 2, once the mounting plate 1 and the display plate 2 have been mated, and is thus made of high density latex foam.

The mounting plate 1 may have a lip 4 as an additional means of retention of the display plate 2.

Alternatively, the display plate 2 may be held in position by a retaining ring 13. The retaining ring has four integral wedge clips 14 which click-fit over the edge of the mounting plate 1 when the display plate 2 is positioned against the mounting plate 1 to secure the display plate 2 in position. The retaining ring 13 is made of uPVC.

It is intended that an exterior surface of a building will have three pre-drilled holes in pre-ordained standard configuration.

The mounting plate 1 has three apertures 5 in preordained positions in the plate. The configuration of these apertures 5 correspond to that of the holes predrilled on an exterior surface for the purpose of accommodating such a mounting plate 1.

Fastening means 6 are provided for securement of the mounting plate 1 to the exterior surface. A fastening means 6 comprises a fastener 7 and a plug 8 and fits in an aperture of the mounting plate 1 for the purpose of securing the mounting plate 1 to the exterior surface.

The design is such that the fastener 7 is inserted in the mounting plate 1. The fastener 7 is of such a size that it does not impinge upon the recess 3 provided for the display plate 2.

The fastener 7 has a thin vertical slit in either side running from its base for 3/5 of the length of the fastener 7. The fastener 7 also has a tapered aperture down its centre. The fastener 7 is made of nylon.

The plug 8 is tapered and the taper is similar to that of the fastener aperture 10. Thus the plug 8, which is made of hardwood, can be placed in the fastener 7. The fastening means 6 attaches the mounting plate 1 when the plug 8 is forced further into the fastener aperture 10. This swells the fastener 7 securing it in the predrilled hole. Three fastening means 6 secure the mounting plate 1 on the exterior surface.

The display plate 2 is shaped to be the virtually the same size as the recess 3 in the mounting plate 1 in which it is intended to fit.

In the first embodiment the display plate 2 is mated to the mounting plate 1, and in the second embodiment the retaining ring 13 is mated to the mounting plate 1 and associated display plate 2, by means of 'click-fit'.

This 'click-fit' is one-way and once fitted together the display plate 2 and the mounting plate 1 are not easily separated.

The display plate 2 is made of clear perspex or acrylic. Prior to assembly of the identification means, a label 11 for identification purposes is attached to the mating side of the display plate 2 and is able to be read though the perspex. Lettering or numbering for the label 11 is made of vinyl. This vinyl is self-adhesive and cut on a computer controlled cutting machine. The letters, numbers or combination thereof of which the label 11 is comprised, adhere to the mating side of the display plate 2.

A reflective material 12 is applied as backing for the label. This reflective material 12 is similar to that used in car number plates.

Thus when the display plate 2, with a label 11 affixed thereon, is mated with the mounting plate 1, which is already attached to an exterior surface of a building, one has a simple identification means for that building. This way of labelling buildings could become a simple standard means of their identification.

Improvements and modifications can be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. Identification means for a building comprising a mounting plate for attachment to an exterior surface, fastening means to attach the mounting plate to the exterior surface and a display plate, wherein the mounting plate is configured to accommodate the display plate.

2. Identification means for a building as claimed in Claim 1 comprising retaining means for securement of the display plate, configured to cooperate with the mounting plate.

3. Identification means for a building comprising a transparent display plate through which a label may be read, and a reflective backing for the display plate.

4. Identification means as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the mounting plate is provided with apertures in pre-ordained standard configuration to accommodate the fastening means.

5. Fastening means for use with the identification means of any preceeding Claim which comprise a fastener with an internal tapered aperture and a tapered plug, wherein the plug secures the fastener in a hole.

6. Identification means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.