Real Estate Brouchure Dispenser

Abstract

An exterior housing, which can be mounted directly to a real estate sign, provides an interior cavity for the storage of a supply of real estate brochures. A hand actuated wheel allows users to remove a single brochure from the holder by means of a shaft and rollers. The supply of brochures maintains contact with the rollers by means of a spring assembly. Dispensed brochures are pushed upwards and out a dispensing slot which is sized sufficiently to reduce the ability of bugs entering the cavity. The dispensing slot also keeps the elements from entering into the interior cavity and from ruining the supply brochures. The front of the housing contains a window which allows the realtor to always maintain one sheet visible to customers even when the supply of flyers is empty.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/998,096 filed on Oct. 9, 2007.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED R&D

Not applicable to this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a brochure dispenser and more particularly to a real estate brochure dispenser that protects the supply of paper within from becoming damaged by moisture, bugs and vandalism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Real estate signage is well known in the art. Although the signage may be any of the well known varieties, typically, rectangular signs are hung from wooden posts secured to the ground. These signs generally are limited to displaying company and realtor contact information. For a large percentage of homes for sale additional information is provided by attaching a supply of paper brochures, or flyers, to the signage.

Current designs of real estate brochure holders, although mass produced at a low cost, have numerous drawbacks. First, most holders do not adequately seal the paper from the environment. After a rain or snow fall, it is not uncommon to see the stack of papers wilted into a useless mess. Even if a potential buyer can remove a single sheet from the mess, it is unlikely that the sheet is legible. Wind often raises the doors or lids of existing boxes and adds to the sealing issue. Some boxes have spring loaded lids to help keep doors closed after customers leave them open. Second, bugs are an issue within typical brochure holders. It is not uncommon to pull out an individual flyer, or open the lid, and find a spider. Third, some holders are designed tubular and create a permanent set into the paper which makes them more difficult to handle and read. Fourth, because the user has complete access to the entire supply of flyers, vandals can remove the entire supply of paper. Fifth, it is common to see litter and garbage stuffed into existing boxes. With typical real estate brochures, or flyers, made from color printers, each potentially costing over a dollar, it can be seen that the prior art has significant limitations and disadvantage.

In these respects, the low real estate brochure holder according to the present invention substantially departs from conventional concepts of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily designed for the purpose of reliability providing potential home buyers a clean and insect free sales flyer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore aims at providing a real estate brochure holder that reliably provides a potential home buyer a clean brochure. The present invention also protects the investment of the realtor by protecting the supply of brochures from the elements and potential vandals.

An exterior housing, which can be mounted directly to a real estate sign, provides an interior cavity for the storage of a supply of real estate brochures. A hand actuated wheel allows users to remove a single brochure from the holder by means of a shaft and rollers. The supply of brochures maintains contact with the rollers by means of a spring assembly. Dispensed brochures are pushed upwards and out a dispensing slot which is sized to deter insects from entering the cavity. The dispensing slot also keeps the elements from entering into the interior cavity and from ruining the supply brochures. The front of the housing contains a window which allows the realtor to always maintain one sheet visible to customers even when the supply of flyers is empty.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with the reference to the following accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a real estate sign having a novel real estate brochure holder, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the real estate brochure dispenser according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the real estate brochure of FIG. 2, with the front door open for loading a new supply of brochures within;

FIG. 4 is a section view through the middle of the brochure holder of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the top portion of the present invention showing how paper is fed through the top and bottom guides and out the outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention are described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for a person of ordinary skill in the art or science to understand the invention; therefore they will not be discussed in detail.

As used herein, “realtor” is generally used to describe the person that loads, or makes available, the brochures into the present invention. Because any number of people may potentially perform this function, for example but not limited to home owners, the present invention should not be construed to be limited to realtors. Also, the terms “buyer”, “user”, or “shopper” as used herein, are all used to describe the person that has the desire to remove a single brochure from the present invention. Again, the present invention is not limited to any of these such words, or terms.

FIG. 1 shows real estate sign system 10, comprised of real estate sign assembly 11 and real estate brochure holder assembly 20. Real estate sign assembly 11 has vertical member 14 and horizontal member 16. The lower end of vertical member 14 is typically placed into the ground or placed into a stable structure such as concrete. Horizontal member 16 provides support for a real estate sign 12. Real estate sign 12 provides contact information for the realtor. Real estate sign assembly 11 is common in the art and further discussion is not needed for one skilled in the art to understand the present invention. One skilled in the art should also appreciate that the present invention is not limited to any particular version of real estate sign assembly 11. In some geographies, real estate sign assembly 11 may be a metal wire construction that is placed on a lawn. Although FIG. 1 shows one common style of a real estate sign assembly, the present invention should not be construed to be limited to any particular version.

Real estate brochure holder assembly 20 can both display a brochure and store a supply of brochures. Typically, brochures are color, or black and white papers that provide additional information about the home that is not available on sign 12. Brochures are well known in the art and although 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper is shown, brochures and the present invention are not limited to any particular size or type. Real estate brochure assembly 20 houses a supply of brochures 50 and displays a single brochure 27 which is held by a window 24. Window 24 is preferably plastic and shaped in a “U” as to have a front side and a back side. Single brochure 27 is placed in the “U” as to be semi-permanent wherein it remains even if the supply of brochures 50 are all removed by users. Other users may not be able to get a brochure but are still able to view single brochure 27. Single brochure 27 may be removed and replaced when opening brochure assembly 20.

Brochure assembly 20 can be fastened to vertical member 14 using any commonly known fastening method. Preferably, brochure assembly 20 is attached using screws (not shown) though a base assembly 30. Base assembly 30 houses the supply of brochures 50 by means of capturing the supply between an edge guide 33, a top guide 36, and a panel 32. Sizing base assembly 30 can provide the ability to hold between one and hundreds or more brochures. Between panel 32 and base 30 is a spring 43. Spring 43 pushes panel 32, and resulting supply of brochures 50 towards a roller 42. Panel 32 is pivotably mounted to base 30 by means of a fastener 34. Fastener 34 is on the left side as shown, and also on the right side (not shown). By pivotably mounting panel 32 to base 30, a near constant force is applied to the supply of brochures 50 and roller 42. Top guide 36 constrains the corner of the supply of brochures 50, and keeps supply 50 from falling out when assembly 20 is in the open position (as shown in FIG. 3). When roller 42 is rotated, a vertical force is applied to supply of brochures 50 which causes a single sheet of supply 50 to jump outside of top guide 36 and towards a rear bend guide 54 and a front bend guide 52. Bend guides 54 and 52 are connected to base 30 and are in a spaced apart fashion as to create a converging channel. An opening 58 allows a dispensed brochure 56 to exit assembly 20 and be further removed by the hand of a user.

A front cover 22 is pivotably mounted to base 30 by means of a pivot 26. In the closed position (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) a lock 45 restricts access to the supply of brochures 50. In the open position (FIG. 3), the realtor is able to access the supply of brochures 50. Lock 45 may be a common fastener as shown, or can be a key lock. Lock 45 connects with base 30 in the closed position. In addition, front cover 22 has window 24 attached to it. Window 24 can be permanently mounted by means of adhesive, or can be snapped in place and sealed with a gasket.

Mounted through front cover 22 is an axle 40. Axle 40 is preferably made from a metallic material as to not have excess deflection. Attached to axle 40 is roller 42 (a left and a right). Roller 42 is preferably a rubber material that creates significant friction between it and supply of brochures 50. Also attached to cover 22 is knob 28. As shown in the drawings herein, a right and a left knob 28 is shown, however the present invention could also use a single knob 28. Knob 28, roller 42 and a gear 44 are shown press-fit onto axle 28, but can also be attached using a set-screw or other commonly known attachment method. In the closed position, gear 44 is in contact with a lever 46 which is attached to base assembly 30. Lever 46 allows for rotation of axle 40 in only the desired direction.

The realtor uses assembly 20 by opening front cover 22 by means of lock 45. In the open position, the realtor installs a single brochure 27 in cover 24. The realtor installs the desired number of sheets in supply of brochures 50 into base assembly 30. The assembly is then closed by means of pushing front cover 22 against base assembly 30 and retaining it in the closed position by means of lock 45.

The user is able to see the single brochure 27 inside of window 24 and if he/she further desires a brochure of their own, they turn knob 28. Knob 28 turns axle 40 which cause roller 42 to apply a force onto the front sheet of the supply of brochures 50. The front sheet of supply 50 pops out of top guide 36 and towards front guide 52 and rear guide 54. Guides 52 and 54 direct the travel of brochure 56 out of opening 58. The user can then grab brochure 56 and pull it the remaining length of the way out of assembly 20. Assembly 20 is then ready for another user.

Other embodiments of the present invention are possible. For instance, an electric motor can replace knob 28. A button could be placed on front cover 22 wherein the user only pushes a button in order to get a brochure dispensed.

While the real estate brochure holder constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise form of assemblies, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A brochure holder comprising:

a housing base capable of being secured to a sign structure, said base having an interior cavity;

a supply of paper supported with said interior cavity;

a roller assembly in contact with said supply of paper, said roller assembly having one or more actuators located outside said interior cavity; and,

wherein said roller assembly is capable of moving a sheet of paper from said supply of paper through an outlet of said interior cavity.

2. The brochure holder of claim 1, wherein said housing base includes a transparent front cover.

3. The brochure holder of claim 1, wherein said supply of paper is greater than 50 sheets.

4. A brochure holder comprising:

a housing base capable of being secured to a sign structure, said base having an interior cavity, a cover, and an outlet;

a supply of paper supported with said interior cavity;

a roller assembly in contact with said supply of paper, said roller assembly connected to one more actuators located outside said interior cavity; and,

wherein said roller assembly is capable of serially moving a sheet of paper from said supply of paper through said outlet.

5. The brochure holder of claim 4, wherein said cover is transparent.

6. The brochure holder of claim 4, wherein said supply of paper is greater than 50 sheets.

7. An advertising apparatus comprising:

a housing assembly having an interior cavity and an outlet;

said interior cavity capable of selectively restraining a supply of paper and positioning said supply of paper towards said outlet;

a roller assembly at least partially within said interior cavity and capable of being in contact with said supply of paper; and,

at least one actuator located external to said interior cavity and connected to said roller assembly.

8. The brochure holder of claim 7, wherein said supply of paper is greater than 50 sheets.