CA2348194A1 - Banner hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

A banner hanger for gripping an edge region of a poster consists of an elongate extruded piece, having upper and lower parts. The lower part is hinged for receiving a poster when in an open position and gripping the poster in a closed position. The upper part is for biasing the lower part in either of an open or closed position and for exerting an over-center biasing force. The upper part consists of two side walls, each of which joins the lower part, in a bridging member, with flexure of the upper part providing the necessary biasing force. In one version, the banner hanger is symmetric about an imaginary vertical plane, for suspending a poster from a ceiling or other overhead member. A matching clip fitting within a central slot in the upper part, may be used together with the hanger for suspension from a ceiling.
In another aspect, a locking mechanism holds the lower part in a closed position to provide an additional gripping force. The locking mechanism consists of separate overlapping components in the upper and lower parts, which engage each other when the lower part is closed.

Description

' -1-BANNER HANGER
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to display hanging devices. In particular, the invention relates to hanging devices which may be easily fabricated from extruded materials such as plastics. More particularly, the invention relates to a one-piece extruded banner hanger for hanging flexible sheets of material such as banners or posters.
Background of the Invention For many applications but particularly for retail trading, there is a need for convenient ways to hang signs and cards from walls, shelves, cases and ceilings.
Therefore, there is a need for producing sign holding devices which are easy to use and which permit the user to engage or disengage a sign or a poster therefrom, without damaging the sign or the poster. There is also a need for sign holding devices capable of withstanding rude climatic conditions as well as relatively light impacts.
Typically, a banner or poster hanging device is a clip which comprises a pair of opposed gripping members having a slot or channel therebetween within which the poster is retained when the opposed members are shut. This may be accomplished by providing an elongate member having a channel, the lips of which include one or two flanges biased against a member to grip a sheet. The flange may be flipped or snapped open to permit replacement of the poster, and then flipped shut to firmly grip the poster between the gripping members.
Display hanging devices of this general type in which the poster is held by a spring bias action have been described in numerous patents, and several of these have achieved commercial success in the market. For example, U.S. Patent No.
6,009,652 to Smith discloses a clip element for holding a sign. The clip is adapted to be used outdoors and includes an extruded thermoplastic channel having a generally circular cross section. The channel comprises an arcuate U-shaped bight and opposed flanges having outwardly flared portions at their free edges.
The plastic material of the channel has sufficient resilience to allow it to be snapped open and flipped shut to grip the edge of the sign. The bulbous cross-section of the channel allows the device to firmly grip the sign.
In a similar fashion, U.S. Patent No. 5,718,402 to Hoffman et al. discloses an elongated extruded plastic clip element including a channel. The clip which comprises a planar base portion and a planar leg joined together by a bridging portion, operates according to essentially the same principle of operation as the Smith patent. U.S. Patent No. 5,863,019 to Rose et al. also discloses a poster gripping elongated extrusion featuring a channel. The device comprises a planar base, a channel, elongated legs attached to the channel and arranged to be rotatable into a poster holding orientation by movement about a hinge extending from the channel, thereby defining two spaced apart pressure strips biased against the planar base, for the pinching of a poster therebetween.
There is still a need for hanging devices presenting a greater degree of efficiency and which are additionally, simple to manufacture and assemble, which provide a low failure rate in operation and which tightly and securely grips a poster.
There is a particular need for a simple system for suspending a poster from a ceiling or other overhead member.
It will be noted that the terms "sign", "poster" and "banner" are used generally interchangeably to refer to any flexible sheet of material such as a banner, poster, paper, card, fabric or plastic sheet or the like.
It will be further understood that the invention is described herein in a particular orientation, namely with the elongate extruded clip member horizontal, and positioned to hang a poster downwardly. However, such reference is only for convenience of description. The device may be positioned and used in any orientation, with references such as "up", "down" etc. changed accordingly.
References to "outwardly" are relative to an imaginary plane extending vertically through the central axis of the clip.
Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved banner hanger formed in a single extrusion process from extruded material such as plastic or the l0 like, for tightly but releasably gripping and securing a poster, and which may be readily fastened or engaged with a variety of substrates.
In one aspect, is a banner hanger clip, consisting of an elongate extruded member consisting of upper and lower parts. The lower part consists of a pair of spaced apart wall members defining an interior space therebetween, the wall members meeting at their upper edges, and separable along their lower edges to grip a poster therebetween. The upper part is joined to the lower part and provides a biasing force to urge the wall members together when the clip is in the closed, poster gripping position and urges the lower wall members apart when the clip is 20 in an open position. As will be described herein, the clip is maintained in either its open or closed position by virtue of an over-center mode of operation. The upper part consists of a pair of spaced apart legs, joined by a bridging member. The legs are each fastened at their lower edge to a corresponding wall member. The upper part has a degree of resiliency. The lower wall members are joined where they meet along their upper edges by a hinge, preferably a living hinge formed by a co-extrusion. The combination of the central hinge and resiliency of the upper part provides the elements of an overcenter biasing means.
A lock means is provided to increase the gripping force of the lower part when the 30 same is in its closed, poster-gripping position. The lock means comprises a pair of overlapping ribs, a first rib protruding upwardly from the lower part, and a mating second rib depending downwardly from the upper part. The ribs have sufficient resiliency to permit them to flex sufficiently to slide past each other as the clip is opened. However, they are of sufficient rigidity such that when the clip is in the closed position, and the ribs overlap and contact each other, they resist opening of the clip. The ribs are positioned such that when the clip is closed, the locking means urges the lower part into a tightly closed position. Preferably, two sets of similar lock means are provided, one on either side of the clip. Conveniently, the upper rib may depend downwardly from the bridging member of the upper part, forming a molded in place protrusion or extension of the upper part, whilst the lower rib forms a similar molded protrusion from the lower part.
In a further aspect the clip is symmetric about a central vertical plane extending lengthwise for suspension of the clip from a ceiling or other overhead member and for hanging a poster from the suspended clip.
According to another aspect the central hinge joining the side walls of the lower component comprises a living hinge which is co-extruded with the clip.
Further, each of the legs of the upper part may be similarly hinged to opposing sides of the lower part, each by way of a similarly co-extruded living hinge.
According to yet another aspect, the opposed side members each have an exterior face on which is located a position whereby each of said lower edges of said wall members is hinged, the two positions being directly opposed to each other and being slightly above a plane coinciding with the widest plane of said lower part.
According to another aspect, the banner hanger is formed from first and second co-extrusions, wherein at least one of said living hinge means comprises said first co-extrusion, said second co-extrusion comprising other elements of said banner hanger.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a banner hanger according to the present invention, -S-in the closed position;
Figure 1A is a sectional view of a portion of the banner hanger;
Figure 2 is a further sectional view showing the banner hanger in a fully open position;
Figure 3 is a further sectional view showing the banner hanger in the over-center position;
Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a banner hanger according to the invention, in the closed position;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a banner hanger according to the present invention, in the closed position, showing a poster engaged and supported therewith;
Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, of another embodiment of a banner hanger according to the invention, in the closed position; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a T-clip for suspending the banner hanger.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. In this version, the hanging device is composed of a generally elongate plastic extrusion 10, having an upper part 12 and a lower part 14. The extrusion is symmetrical about an imaginary vertical bisecting plane which extends lengthwise along the extrusion.
Thus, the right and left lateral sides are mirror images. The lower part 14 has a generally annular cross section and is partially covered by the upper part.
The two parts define a closed hollow interior space 16. The upper part, which includes a bridging portion 38 and a pair of opposed strip-like leg members 42a and 42b has the configuration of a channel or track 30 opening upwardly to the periphery of the banner hanger for permitting the device to be attached to an external support (not shown). The leg members border the elongate upward sides of the bridging portion and the elongate downward sides are bordered by wall members 43a and 43b. The legs 42a and 42b curve together upwardly such that their respective upper edges 44a and 44b face toward each other. The wall members 43a and 43b are slightly curved upwardly.
The lower part 14 of the extrusion has opposed curved side members 15a and 15b, which, when the device is in the closed position, form a hollow ovaloid or cylindrical space 16 for receiving a poster, a banner or the like 50 (Figure 5).
Opposed lips or flanges 18a and 18b extend downwardly and outwardly from the lower edges of the sides members. The flanges flare outwardly and downwardly, permitting the user to open the side members to insert a poster. A first living hinge 24 joins the side members 15a and 15b, at their respective upper edges 26a and 26b. The living hinge 24 is both resilient and stretchy in order to assist in the overcenter biasing of the lower part, as will be described below.
On the interior face of each flange member 18a and 18b, and proximate to the upper edge of the flange is respectively located a pair of soft beads 20 on one interior face 19a, arranged in spaced apart parallel relationship, and a single soft bead 22 on the other interior face 19b. The pair of beads 20 and the single bead 22 are arranged in such a way that, when the device is in the closed position, the single bead 22 on one interior face fits between the paired beads 20 on the other interior face. The beads provide a soft and resilient gripping contact when a poster is engaged between the two gripping members 18a and 18b. Not shown but contemplated are a plurality of beads 20 and 22 arranged in parallel rows.
The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 are hinged together via second and third living hinges 32a and 32b joining respectively each lower edge 34a and 34b of the wall members, to a position located on the exterior face of each of the side members 15a and 15b. The living hinges 34 are also resilient and may have a degree of stretchiness. The two positions are directly opposed to each other and are at or slightly above the midline of the lower part 14, the midline being defined by the horizontal plane coinciding with the widest plane of the lower part 14.
The side members 15a and 15b may be selectively maintained in either of an opened position as illustrated in Figure 2 or a closed position as illustrated in Figure 1, by means of an over-center principle of operation. Their movement is effected around the living hinge 24. When in the closed position, the side members are biased firmly against each other, thereby allowing the gripping of a poster between the flanges 18a and 18b. The upper part 12, in cooperation with hinge 24, urges the sides 15a and 15b towards both of the fully closed and fully opened positions. The forces urging the sidewalls 15 together are generated by flexure of the sides of the upper part 12, which flatten as the lower part open. The upper part 12 is arranged to provide at all times a biasing force towards the closed position. In the open position of Figure 2, this force will be high, whilst in the closed position of Figure 1, the forces will still urge the sides of the upper part together but by a lesser amount. The biasing force applied by the upper part acts to either urge the lower part to the open position or the closed position depending on which side of the overcenter position the lower part is residing. A portion of the lower part is urged downwardly when the device is in the open position (Figure 2), and is urged upwardly when the device is in the closed position (Figure 1 ).
As the device moves from the closed position to the opened position, it passes an over-center position (Figure 3). The first, second and third living hinges 24, 32a and 32b are stretchy and resilient to absorb pulling and compressive forces exerted between the wall members 43a and 43b, and the side members 15a and 15b.
Further, the central hinge 24 stretches when in the open position (Figure 2) to countervail the forces generated by the upper part, which in the fully open position urge the sidewalls 15 apart. The hinge 24 thus limits the extent of opening of the lower part.
As seen with particularity in Figure 1 A, on either side of the extrusion is positioned _$_ a pair of overlapping resilient ribs or nubs consisting of a lower nub 60 and an upper nub 62. When in the closed position of Figure 1, the nubs overlap and contact each other, thereby resisting opening of the device. The nubs are co-extruded with the extrusion 10, and are composed of a material having sufficient resiliency to permit the overlapping nubs to flex as the device is opened in order to slide past each other as the clip 10 is opened. However, the nubs have sufficient rigidity to provide a degree of locking force when the device is in the closed position. The nubs 60 and 62 may alternatively be composed of the same composition as the main extrusion 10 rather than comprising a co-extruded member.
Operation of the device will now be described by reference to Figures 1 to 5, commencing in the opened position as illustrated in Figure 2. The fully open position is maintained by the converging retractive forces exerted by the wall members 43a and 43b on the side members 15a and 15b, balanced by the pulling force exerted by living hinge 24. This combination of forces will tend to maintain the side members in a fully open position. The hinge 24 is stretched horizontally and resists further movement of the sidewalls 15. As the lower part is closed, the upper part is forced to open still further, thus progressively resisting closure of the lower part. However, when the lower part reaches the position shown in Figure (the "overcenter position"), the tension exerted by the upper part is balanced by the generally linear positioning of the sidewalls 15 of the lower part 14. At the over-center position, the enclosed portion of the lower part is close to planar and the living hinge 24 is compressed (Figure 3). At this stage, continued rotation of the side members has the effect of changing the effect of the retractive forces of the upper part 12, such that the sidewalls 43 now act to urge the lower part towards the closed position. This effect is achieved at least in part by the resiliency of the second and third living hinges, while the rotation of the side members is achieved at least in part by the resiliency of the first living hinge. As the side members are closed, the first living hinge flexes and is snapped upwardly, absorbing at least some of the compressive forces exerted by the wall members on the side members and by each side member on the other one. Since the side members 43 are relatively rigid, i.e. they resist flex along their axis, the compressive force exerted thereby increases as they close.
Figure 6 illustrates a slight variation of the device according to the invention, wherein no peripheral hang track is provided. The leg members 42a and 42b are absent and apertures 40 located on the bridging portion 38 are provided.
Apertures 40 are preferably drilled into the extrusion. The remaining elements are the same as in Figures 1 to 5. This embodiment allows for an alternate suspension, wherein the device is suspended from hooks inverted into apertures 40 located on the bridging portion.
Figure 7 illustrates a form of "T-clip" which may be used for suspending the banner hanger from a ceiling or other overhead member. In a contemplated use, the banner hanger may be suspended from the T bar of a suspended or hanging ceiling. The T-clip comprises a central vertical fin 72, having two L-shaped legs 74 at its lower edge. The legs 74 oppose each other and each terminate in outwardly-extending foot 76. One or more apertures 78 extend through the fin 72, for tying a cord 80 thereto. The cord 80 may in turn be tied to a T-bar or other overhead member. The legs 74 may be pushed together, as shown by the arrows in Figure 7, against the natural biasing urge of the legs 74 which tend to urge the legs outwardly apart from each other. Pushing the legs together thus creates an outward force on the legs 74. With the legs thus in the closed position, the clip 70 may be slidably engaged with the banner hanger, by sliding the lower part of the legs 74 into the interior space 30 defined by the upper part 12. Once released, the outward biasing of the legs 74 prevents the hanger from slipping relative to the clip 70. The fin 72 extends through the uppermost slot between legs 42(a) and (b).
Conveniently, the gripping device 10 according to the invention is formed in a single extrusion. The living hinge 24, 32a and 32b as well as the soft beads and 22 and ribs 60, 62 may be co-extruded with the other rigid elements.

Preferably, the main extrusion is formed from a relatively rigid plastic material such as PVC.
The banner hanger according to the invention may be positioned to hang a poster in any orientation. It may also be used either individually or in a pair. In particular, a poster may be suspended or mounted between two of its opposed sides by using two banner hangers of the invention, arranged in either vertical or horizontal orientation.
It will be further understood that although the present invention has been described in detail by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will be able to make numerous modifications and variations to the invention. These variations and modifications will still remain within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is described and characterized within appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. A banner hanger for gripping an edge region of a poster comprising an elongate extruded member comprising upper and lower joined parts, generally symmetric about an imaginary vertical plane extending lengthwise, said lower part comprising two opposed spaced apart sidewalls each having a lower edge region and an upper edge region, said lower edge regions meeting when closed to grip said poster therebetween, said upper edge regions joined together by a central hinge, said upper part comprising two spaced apart legs arranged for partially covering said lower part, symmetrically spanning said central hinge, each leg being flexibly joined to a corresponding sidewall of said lower part, said upper part being resilient such that opening of said lower part causes said legs to diverge and a region of said lower part between said legs to displace downwardly, said upper part for maintaining said lower part in either of an open or closed position by an overcenter manner of operation.

2. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein said central hinge comprises a resilient and elastic living hinge.

3. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower part comprises curved side walls, forming a generally oval or round cross-sectional configuration when closed.

4. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein said legs of said upper part comprise curved walls which converge towards a central uppermost slot like opening, said walls being joined by a cross member spaced, beneath said opening.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein lower edge regions include at least one soft bead for providing a soft and resilient gripping of a poster.

6. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, further comprising outwardly splayed flanges extending from the lower edge regions of said lower part for improved gripping by a user.

7. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper part is joined to said lower part at a position at or slightly above the midline of said lower part.

8. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein the said legs of said upper part are arranged to bow outwardly when said lower part is closed and to generally flatten as said lower part is opened, the resiliency of said upper part comprising the biasing force for said overcenter operation.

9. A banner hanger as defined in claim 2, wherein said upper part, lower part and living hinge are co-extrusions with each other.

10. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, comprising a single strip-like member for suspending a poster therefrom.

11. A banner hanger as defined in claim 10, further comprising a second of said strip-like members for gripping a lower edge of a poster, for suspending a poster between said first and second members.

12. A method of hanging a poster from a ceiling or other overhead member, comprising the steps of:
providing an elongate extruded banner hanger symmetric about an imaginary vertical plane extending lengthwise, said hanger comprising upper and lower joined parts, said lower part comprising two opposing spaced apart sidewalls each having a lower edge region and an upper edge region, said upper edge regions joined together by a central hinge, said upper part being resilient and comprising two opposing spaced apart legs arranged for partially covering said lower part symmetrically spanning said hinge, said legs being flexibly joined to said side walls of said lower part, said upper part;
opening the sidewalls of said lower part for separating the lower edge regions thereof, until said central hinge is displaced downwardly past an overcenter position, for biasing the side walls of said lower part towards an open position;
positioning a portion of a poster at said lower part, in a suitable position for being gripped by said lower regions thereof; and closing said lower part, past said overcenter point wherein when said overcenter point is passed, said upper part urges the sidewalls of said lower part together by the resiliency of said upper part, thereby gripping said poster between said lower edge regions of said lower part.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said overcenter urging of said lower part into either of an open or closed position is by providing one or more stretchy resilient living hinges comprising said central hinge, or between said upper part and said lower part.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, comprising the further step of providing a second of said banner hangers, and attaching said second banner hanger in like fashion to a lower edge region of said poster, for gripping said poster between said first and second banner hangers at upper and lower edge regions thereof.

15. A banner hanger for gripping an edge region of a poster comprising an elongate extruded member comprising upper and lower joined parts, said lower part comprising two opposed spaced apart sidewalls, each having a lower edge region and an upper edge region, said lower edge regions meeting when closed to grip said poster therebetween, said upper edge regions joined together by an elastic living hinge, said upper part being resilient and comprising two spaced-apart legs arranged for partially covering said lower part, each leg being flexibly joined to a corresponding sidewall of said lower part, said upper part for maintaining said lower part in either of an open or closed position by an overcenter manner of operation, and first and second lock means on said upper and lower parts respectively, said lock means being positioned to overlap when in the closed position to resist opening of said hanger.

16. A banner hanger as defined in claim 15, wherein said lock means each comprise a resilient rib having sufficient resiliency to permit opening of said hanger by flexing sufficiently to slide past each other, whilst having sufficient rigidity to resist opening of said hanger.

17. A banner hanger as defined in claim 15, comprising first and second sets of said lock means on either side of said living hinge.

18. A banner hanger as defined in claim 1, further comprising a removable clip for suspending said banner hanger from an overhead member, said clip comprising a central member for fastening said clip to said overhead member, and a pair of side members on either side of said central members, and means for urging said side members apart from each other to engage said upper part of said hanger, said upper part having an elongate slot therein to receive said side members.