Patents Assigned to Apco Graphics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9633583
    Abstract: A sign assembly have a chassis assembly for supporting indicia plates and for providing proper horizontal alignment of the indicia plates. The chassis assembly includes two chassis members having a medial receptacle for receipt of a support panel and a receptacle for receipt of alignment members. The indicia plates include mating members on distal edges for cooperating with the chassis member alignment members. The mating members and alignment members have cooperating surface configurations to facilitate proper indicia plate horizontal alignment. A tamper resistant assembly prevents unintentional removal of the indicia plates from the chassis assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Cobb, Dillon P. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell, Daniel L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8695254
    Abstract: A customizable display and method for selectively and securely displaying important information, such as a sign for use in healthcare environments. The display includes a cover and a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a frame, which supports a plurality of tracks, and a plurality of slides positioned on the tracks. The slides receive interchangeable indicia plates, which bear the important information wherein the slides are positioned behind the cover to selectively display the interchangeable indicia plates. The frame defines a locking channel for receiving a locking system having at least one elongate locking member for cooperating with a slide coupling to secure the slides in the extended or concealed position. The slides are biased in the concealed and extended positions and the locking system is obscured by the cover to prevent unauthorized or accidental movement of the slides to alter the displayed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben H. Bell, Jeff B. Cobb
  • Publication number: 20120272553
    Abstract: A customizable display and method for selectively and securely displaying important information, such as a sign for use in healthcare environments. The display includes a cover and a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a frame, which supports a plurality of tracks, and a plurality of slides positioned on the tracks. The slides receive interchangeable indicia plates, which bear the important information wherein the slides are positioned behind the cover to selectively display the interchangeable indicia plates. The frame defines a locking channel for receiving a locking system having at least one elongate locking member for cooperating with a slide coupling to secure the slides in the extended or concealed position. The slides are biased in the concealed and extended positions and the locking system is obscured by the cover to prevent unauthorized or accidental movement of the slides to alter the displayed information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben H. Bell, Jeff B. Cobb
  • Patent number: 7797868
    Abstract: A sign assembly having a sign post, a first arcuate nesting component and a first sign panel. The sign post has a sign post perimeter, a sign post longitudinal axis and a sign post elongated slot extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first arcuate nesting component is adapted to be secured to the sign post. The first sign panel is adapted to be retained by the first arcuate nesting component. The sign post and the first arcuate nesting component are configured and arranged such that when the first arcuate nesting component is secured to the sign post there is substantially no gap between the first sign panel and the sign post, and the first arcuate nesting component extends around a portion of the sign post perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Cobb, Ben Bell
  • Patent number: 7143535
    Abstract: A sign assembly having a support surface including a first side frame portion, a second side frame portion and a back plate. The first side frame portion includes a longitudinal first recess having a bottom and a top, and the second side frame portion includes a longitudinal second recess having a bottom and a top. The sign assembly also includes a third side frame portion, a fourth side frame portion, a front panel and a locking pin. At least one of the third side frame portion and the fourth side frame portion includes at least one protuberance. The front panel includes a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. The locking pin is adapted to be inserted into the longitudinal second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Cobb, Ben Bell
  • Patent number: 6883260
    Abstract: A sign assembly having a support surface including a first side frame portion, a second side frame portion and a back plate. The first and second side frame portions each include a longitudinal recess having a top and a bottom. The sign assembly also includes a third side frame portion, a fourth side frame portion, a front panel and a locking pin. The front panel includes a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. The locking pin is adapted to be inserted into the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Apco Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Cobb, Ben Bell
  • Patent number: 6493975
    Abstract: A sign assembly having a frameless-appearing sign face may be removed from and replaced into the assembly. The sign assembly includes a sign face having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral side. The assembly also includes a sign frame having a sign face channel that is adapted to receive a portion of the sign face adjacent to the peripheral side. The sign face channel is defined by an inner frame portion and an outer frame portion. The assembly also includes a mounting component having a face support that is attached to the inner surface of the sign face adjacent to the peripheral side of the sign face, an inner support that is adapted to bear against the inner frame portion of the sign frame, and an outer support that is adapted to bear against the outer frame portion of the sign frame. The invention also includes a method for mounting a sign face on a mounting component and a method for converting a framed assembly into a frameless-appearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: 6421940
    Abstract: A directory sign assembled from individual modular sign plates, and an improved mounting clip for supporting the sign plates in assembly. The mounting clips have multiple sets of prongs spaced so that prongs of separate sets engage mounting flanges of one or more sign plates. The mounting flanges extend back from the front face of the sign plates to conceal the prongs and related attachment structure, and the end mounting clips have bases that conceal the ends of the sign plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: 5621994
    Abstract: A sign frame for directory or other applications, and having adjustable corners permitting the sign to assume orthogonal and nonorthogonal configurations. Each adjustable corner connector has first and second elements that respectively connect to contiguous ends of adjacent edge members making up the sign. The elements of the adjustable corner connector are pivotably interconnected at hubs that are spatially displaced from the edge members, so that the hubs fit within the outline of the assembled frame without interfering with the edge members making up that frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell, Jeff A. Hampton, Danny L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5481816
    Abstract: A sign displaying characters in a manner emulating a digital display, in that the characters are formed using character elements to define parts of a particular font of characters. However, unlike a digital character that uses electrical control to activate character elements making up particular characters in the font, the present sign defines particular characters by covering the character elements not required for that character. The digital characters are formed on one or more sign inserts that removably fit within a sign body. The sign body includes a window exposing to view the character elements of each insert. The sign inserts may be of ferrous material and the cover members of magnetic material attachable to the inserts, so that the cover members are readily repositionable to change the message displayed by the digital characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Cobb, Jerry L. Kilgore
  • Patent number: 5343646
    Abstract: Sign apparatus for directory or other applications and having removable sign inserts positionable at any location along a dimension of the sign. The sign inserts are held in place by a number of elongated rails located behind the inserts. Each rail contains an elongate track with a slotted opening facing the back side of the sign inserts. The tracks receive an end of an elastically-deformable fastener attached to the back of the sign insert. Each fastener expands within the track to prevent unimpeded removal of the insert, while permitting the insert to slide within the track for longitudinal positioning of the insert along the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Apco Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: D510109
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: D469473
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: D476695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: D476696
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell
  • Patent number: D613981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Ben Bell, Danny Roberts
  • Patent number: D333357
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Apco Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Cobb
  • Patent number: D403360
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Cobb, Benjamin H. Bell, Ray C. Bowling, Charles Nicolaides
  • Patent number: D664204
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc
    Inventors: Ben H. Bell, Jeff B. Cobb
  • Patent number: D665456
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: APCO Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben H. Bell, Jeff B. Cobb