Abstract: An interlocking plastic display has a first member formed as a first shot of an injection molding process. The first member includes a submerged grid system which is formed only where necessary to connect otherwise unconnected portions of the top layer or to stabilize the top layer where openings may be relatively large. An array of spacers is formed beneath those portions of the top layer having material therein, to space the top layer from the bottom of the mold used during a second shot of injection molding. No spacers are formed beneath completely spaces of the top layer in which no material is disposed. The arrangement of the spacers provides an open area underneath the top layer, so that the second member may be formed in the second shot and allows the second shot material to flow around the spacers on the bottom of the mold to interlock the two members.

Abstract: A display device has two interlocked contrasting elements. A display element includes indicia and a first locking member. The background element includes a second locking member complementarily shaped to conform to the shape of the first locking member. The first locking member has two portions. The first portion is a waffle plate which tapers from top to bottom. The second portion includes a plurality of frusto-conical pads disposed beneath nodes of the waffle plate of the second portion.

Abstract: A display device has two interlocked contrasting elements. A first element is of a first color, and has a top surface configured to resemble desired indicia, e.g. one or more letters or numerals. The first element also has a bottom surface which includes a plurality of first locking members. A second element has a plurality of second locking members which interlock with the first locking members, and is of a second color. The second color preferably contrasts with the first color. The interlocking action of the first locking members with the second locking members serves to interlock the two contrasting elements, thereby providing a good mechanical locking action therebetween. In a first embodiment, the first and second elements together form a generally flat top surface, while in a second embodiment, the two elements are of different top levels, so that the indicia may be either raised or recessed with respect to the background.