CA2025462A1 - Framing system for canopy contours and large rectangular signs - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The new framing system for rectangular signs and canopy contours provides a uniform illumination of the flexible face material. It has stretching devices to maintain a uniform tension of the flexible face material to compensate for the loss of tension in the sign's face which may occur in warm weather, or after a strong wind or simply due to the aging of the material. The new sign system is fabricated in place with fasteners installed from the inside of the casing. The exposed surfaces of the casing skins are free from fastener perforation.

Description

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DISCLOSUR~

This invention relates to a framing system for canopy contours and large rectangular signs which have a sheet of flexible sign material stretched across the front plane of the sign.

It is a common practice with signs which have a flexible face material to use expanding rods installed at regular intervals along the length of the sign, to push the sides of sign outwardly and thus stretch the flexible sign material. It is also another common practice to strengthen the sides of the sign with stiffener bars, and to stretch the face material with adjustable clips installed on the edges of the flexible face material. In both cases, the expanding rods or stiffener bars are installed inside the frame of the sign, between the flexible face material and the light fixtures illuminating the sign. Therefore, it is a common fact with these signs to see the rods' shadows through the face material.

Moreover, the tension in the face material which is applied with expansion rods or adjustable clips is fixed. There is no provision to compensate for a loss of tension in the face material which may occur after a strong wind, or in varying climates, or simply due to the aging of the material itself.

It is also a common practice with canopy contours and large rectangular signs to assemble these signs with screws and rivets installed from the outside of the sign casing. Such perforations in the casing offer the possibility for leakage of water or moisture inside the slgn's casing.

202~62 It is further a common practice with canopy contours and large rectangular signs to build these signs using several pre-fabricated sections. These sections are transported from the fabrication shop to the installation site, and lifted in place using hoisting machinery.

It is an objsct of the present invention to provide an improved illuminat10n of the sign. Thts is done with a framing system which does not require expanding rods or stiffener bars inside the sign casing. This is done also by install1ng reflectors to reflect the light toward the low illumination areas of the face material.
, It is also an object of the present invention to maintain a uniform tension of face material, and thus maintain the original appearance of the sign faca, in all climates and over the sign's entire - -life.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a framing system in which the fasteners retaining the frame members together are installed from the interior of the casing. This method of fabrication ensures a casing which has no perforation frQm fasteners on its exposed sides, and therefore which has a leak free top surface.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a sign framing system which can be build in place by workers working on ladders and scaffolds, and without the need for hoisting machinery.

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The flexible face material used for this invention has pockets formed at precise distance and along the full length of its longer sides. The pockets can be formed using machine stitched seams, melted seams, glued ssams, or by using staples or other clips at regular intervals. The face material is pre-painted, and delivered to the installation site in a rolled-up form. During the installation, pieces of rectangular rigid bars are inserted in the pockets along the face material. These bars provide anchorage to retain the flexible face material into extrusions installed at the top and bottom edges of the sign.

The extrusions are attached to the frame members.
The frame members are installed at regular intervals along the length of the sign. The lower arm of each frame member is pivoted at its joining point. The arm is spring loaded with a leaf spring or with other spring configuratione using a compression, tension or torsion spring, so that it will force the lower extrusion downward and stretch the face material.

The sides of the sign are made of two pieces of sheet metal bent at 90 degree along their length.
The top piece~overlaps longitudinally over ths lower piece, on the back part of the sign. The front edges of the sheet metal casing are secured tightly in the top and bottom extrus;ons. The sheet metal casing can be formed on the installation site into continuous pieces. This is done from a coil of pre-painted sheet metal, and by using a portable sheet metal roll former. Otherwise, the sheet metal casing is formed using standard length sheets overlapped at the joints. The sealing of the casing 2023~2 4 is done by using a sealing compound between the lap of the sheets. A series of holes may be provided in the bo~tom casing skin to drain condensation or moisture from the sign casing. These drain holes do not constitu~e a limitation to the present invention.

The fabrication of a large rectangular sign or canopy contour starts by securing the sheet metal casing to a backing structure. Then the frame members are installed at regular intervals inside the casing with screws through the sheet metal casing and into the backing structure. The top and bottom extrusions are attached to the frame members with screws driven from the inside of the casing.
The light fixture modules are attached to the frame members in such a way to ensure an overlap at each end of the lamp tubes.

The reflectors and leaf springs are clipped into places at each frame members. The lower arm of each frame member is forced upward with a clamping tool, and held in that position dwring the installation of the face material. The releasing of the lower arm causes the leaf spring to apply a downward force on the lower extrusion, and thus stretches the flexlble face ma~e r ial. The installation of the sign is completed by closing the ends with sheet metal covers, and placing a corner trim cap over the peripheral extrusions.

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202~62 In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention;
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- Figure no. 1 is a general arrangement of a large rectangular sign or a canopy contour.

- Figure no. 2 i8 an elevation of the framing system showing the principal components of the sign.

- Figure no. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3 - 3 of the Figure no. 1.

- Figure no. 4 is a sectional view of the dstailed view no. 4 of Figure no. 3.

- Figure no. 5 is also a sectional view of the detailed view no. 4 of FiQure no. 3 in which the corner trim cap has been removed. This view shows a recommended procedure to remove a retaining clip using the blade of a screw-driver.

- Figure no. 6 is a detailed view of the leaf ~`
spring arrangement.

- Figure no. 7 shows an alternate arrangement with a coil spring instead of the leaf spring.

- Figure no. 8 is the plan v1ew of the coil spring arrangement. -..
- Figure no. 9 shows another possible ;
arrangement using a coil spring.
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- Figure no. 10 is a sectional view along the line 10 - 10 of Figure no. 1.

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¦ - Figure no. 11 is an elevation of the framing system showing the details of the end section.

- Figure no. 12 is an enlarged view of detailed view no. 12 of Figure no. 11.

- Figure no. 13 is the inside view of the end piece of the sign casing.

- Figure no. 14 is a sectional view along the line 14 - 14 of Figure no. 1.

- Figure no. 15 is a sectional view along the line 15 - 15 of Figure no. 14.

- Figure no. 16 is the top view of the light fixture module.

- Figure no. 17 is the plan view of the light fixture module.

; - Figure no. 18 is the plan view of the overlapping of the light fixture modules.

- Figure no. 19 shows a 17ght reflection pattern using a circular reflector.
i ~ , - Figure no. 20 shows a light reflection pattern `
using a flat reflector. -- Figure no. 21 shows a light reflection pattern using a flat reflector being positioned at an angle which is slightly different from the angle of the reflector shown on Figure no. 20.

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202a~62 - Figure no. 22 shows a light reflection pattern using a parabolic shaped reflector.

- Figure no. 23 i8 a sectional view along the line 3 - 3 of Figure no. 1 showing a clamping de~ice used to bend the leaf spring, during the installation of the flexible face material.

The new framing system illustrated comprises a flexible face material 1 which has pockets 2 formed along its longer edges. The flexible face material 1 is secured to aluminum extruslons 4 mounted on the perimeter of the sign, by a rectangular bar 3 which is inserted in the pocket 2 and pushed in a recess 25 of the extrusion 4. The rectangular bar 3 is then locked in place using retaining clips 5 at regular intervals as it can be seen on Figure no.

2. The Figure no. 2 shows also the corner trim caps 6 to cover the extrusions 4 along the top and bottom of the sign, and it shows another corner trim cap 7 to cover the end extrusion 4. The new framing system comprises also, frame members 8 which have clips 10 to retain the reflector 13. The lower part of the frame member 8 and the lower frame arm 9 have clip angles 12 in which the leaf spring 11 is seated. Thelframe~members 8 are installed inside the sheet metal casings 14 and lS.

The sign is illuminated by light tubes 18 which are mounted on a light fixture casings 17. The light fixture module comprises also a ballast 19 and a wiring connection tray 20.

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The Figure no. 2 shows a connection of the extrusion 4. This connection is made with a piece of hollow tubing 16 attached with screws, to the ends of the joining extrusions 4.

The lower end of frame member 8 has a "U shape bracket which has an opening wider than the thickness of frame arm 9. The lower frame arm 9 is free to rotate on a pivot 33 at the lower end of the frame member 8, as it can be seen on Figure 3.

The details of the extrusion 4 are more clearly seen in Figure 4. The extrusion 4 is mounted on the frame member 8 and secured in place with a screw 24.
The extrusion 4 has a recess 25 to retain the rçctangular bar 3, by forcing the bar 3 downward with a wedge like clip 5. This clip 5 is pushed in place manually.

The extrusion 4 has a lip 30 and a sloped cavity 32 to force the edge of the sheet metal casing 14 against the outside wall 31 of the cavity 32. This is to ensure a tight connection between the casing 14 and the extrusion 4. This is also to raise the front edge of the top casing sheet, to drain water from rain~ dew or snow toward the back of the sign.
The extrusion 4 also ha~ another protrusion 29 to mate with a lip 28 in the cover trim cap 6, to retain the top part of the cap 6. After the lip 28 ts engaged on the protrusion 29, the cover trim cap 6 is snapped in place by pwshing downward until the lip 27 engages over the lip 26 of the clip 5.

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The removal of the cap for maintenance purposes is done by reversing the movements described above.
The removing of the flexible face material 1, for changing light tubes 18 or for other maintenance work, is done by removing the clip 5 from the extrusion 4. This is done with a screw-driver 23 by prying, on the shoulder 22 of the clip 5, against the top lip 21 of the extrusion 4.

The leaf spring 11 can be replaced by other arrangements as the one illustrated on Figure 7 and 8. This arrangement shows a coil spring 39 which is centred on a bolt 38 which has a pointed end 42 which sits in a bracket 34. The coil spring 39 pushes on a cap 37. The force is transmitted through pivots 41 to arms 35 and 36. The arms 35 and 36 are ended with traneversal pieces 40 which sit in the clip angles 12 and thus force the lower arm 9 to rotate downward, to stretch the flexible face material 1. Another possible arrangement using a coil spring is shown on Figure 9. The spring 6B
is installed diagonally on two angled brackets 65.
Similarly as with the other arrangements, the arm 9 is forced to rotate downward, to stretch the flexible face material 1.

The end of the sign is covered with a sheet metal cap 44. The end of the face material 1 is secured in an extrusion 4. The end of the face material 1 has no pocket. The material is cut to length, folded around the rectangular bar 3 and secured in the extrusion 4 using clips 5, in a similar manner as for the top and bottom edges. The end extrusion 4 is retained to the top and bottom extrusion 4 with 2 pieces of "L" shaped hollow tubing 43, as illustrated on Figure no. 12.

202a4~2 ' The end sheet mstal cap 44 is bent at its top to form a flap 47 to fit inside the sheet metal casing 14. Similarly, the end cap is bent at its rear edge to form a flap 48 to fit inside the casing 14 and 15. The end cap 44 is secured to the backing structure with screws through its rear flap 48. The front edge of the end cap 44 is secured under the lip 31 of the end extrusion 4 in the same manner as for the top and bottom edges of the sheet metal casings 14 and 15.

The end cap 44 has a flap 46 attached inside its lower end with spot weldments 49. This detail is illustrated on the Figures no. 11, 12 and 13. The lower side of the sign casing 15 has a sheet metal angle 45 attached to it with spot weldments. This angle 45 retains the lower end of the end cap 44 to the casing 15. The angle 45 is free to slide between the end cover 44 and the flat 46, and thus allowing for movement of the lower side of the sign during installation.

The end extrusion 4 and the cover trim 7 are cut to length and installed after the installation of the end cap 44; and after the flexible face material 1 has been stretched in place, so that the lower part of the sigr, is at its final position.

The Figure no. 14 illustrates the overlapping of the light fixture modules at corners, and it illustrates the location of the wiring tray 20. The Figure no. 14 illustrates also the components used to stretch the face material 1 longitudinally at corners. The face material 1 is clamped between two hollow tubing 52 by means of screws 53. Then, the tubing 52 are pulled inside a channel 55 by 2~25~62 11 means of screws 54, and thus the face material 1 is pulled and stretched against the sides of the channel 5~. The çhannel 55 is free to slide into brackets 51 located at the top and at the bottom of the corner. The bracket 51 is attached to a L"
shapa hollow tubing 50. The tubing 50 retains the adjoining extrusions 4, to form the horizontal corners of the sign. The vertical corner of the sign is covered with a sheet metal cap 56 which is retained at the top and bottom under the cover trim caps 6.

The light fixture casings 17 can be used as a single string of lamp tubes in a narrow sign. The light fixture casings 17 can be grouped two or more together with flat bar spacers 57, to accommodate for wider signs. The light sockets 58 are wired with electrical conductors 59 passing through the fixture casing 17, to the ballast 19. The wiring connections for the electrical supply to a light fixture module, or in between adjoin~ng light fixture modules, are done in a connection tray 20.
The tray 20 is normally covered by the adjoining light fixture module. Otherwise, and in case where the width of the fixture casing 17 is not sufficient to cover the tray 20, sheet metal covers are used to cover the tray 20 entirely.
, The light fixture modules are installed on the frame members 8 near the centre line of the sign.
The illumination of the upper and lower portion of the face material 1 is done with reflectors. The reflector 13 reflects rays of light 60 to an area covering the centre of the sign to the lower edge.
The reflector 61 sends an even distribution of light to the lower portion of the face material 1. The ,, ~ - ~ .

202~462 reflector 82 reflscts light at a narrower area than the reflector no. 61. The reflector 63 concentrates more light at the very edge of face material 1. The application of a specific reflector depends on the width of the sign, the depth of the sign's casing and the colouring of the face material 1.

The clamping tool 64 illustrated on the Figure 23 does not constitute a limitation to this patent application. The carpentry clamp 64 illustrates a means of compressing the spring 11 during the installation of the face material 1, and during the ~ -opening of the face material 1 for maintenance purposes. - :

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

- 1. A rectangular sign or canopy contour which has its face material stretched by means of springs installed on either its top framing members, or on its bottom framing members.

- 2. A rectangular sign or canopy contour as described in claim no. 1 which has reflectors installed longitudinally on the inside corners of the casing to reflect light to the outside edges of the face material.

- 3. A rectangular sign or canopy contour as described in claim no. 1 which has a framing system in which the springs have spare displacement to maintain a tension on the face material, to compensate for the face material elongation or face material shrinkage, due to climate changes, material aging, or due to fatigue from wind forces.

- 4. A rectangular sign or canopy contour as described in claim no. 1 and which has no perforation from fasteners on the exposed surfaces of its casing skins.

- 5. A rectangular sign or canopy contour as described in claim no. 1 and which can be fabricated on the installation site using modular components and a pre-painted rolled-up face material.

- 6. A rectangular sign or canopy contour as described in claim no. 1 and which can be built in place by workers working on ladders and scaffolds, and without the need for hoisting machinery.