EP1029320B1 - Device for supporting a banner or similar flexible panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A support system for vertically hanging a flexible banner, the system including two horizontally extending arms for supporting a banner tautly. A dampener is connected at an inner end of each respective arm, the dampener including: a) a movable first element on which is fixed a respective horizontally extending arm; b) a fixed bracket second element for securement to a vertical support surface; and c) an intermediary elastic member mounted between the first and second elements.

Description

The present invention relates to a device adapted to ensure the support in a vertical plane of a banner or a similar flexible panel, advertising or decorative purpose, realizing its power supply so that it remains always in flat, without wrinkling, and simultaneously conferring on it the possibility of resisting the influence of the wind, all the more sensitive as the panel is stretched and thus has a relatively rigid flat surface, this panel being permanently brought back in its vertical plane.

Many embodiments of support devices for banners, pavilions or flexible panels of this kind, which consist in having a vertical mast or the like carry at least one horizontal bracket on which the upper edge of the banner is attached, are already known. or "flapping", for example by providing along this edge a sewn hem in which the stem is engaged, or by hooking this edge on the latter by eyelets or similar fasteners.

The panel is thus suspended under the bracket and, in the absence of wind, extends in a vertical plane, especially if it is expected to properly sink its opposite bottom edge. A return halyard may also be attached to this lower edge and also attached to the mast, below the flexible panel, to limit the floating movements of the panel. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide in this lower edge a hem as in the upper edge, so as to slip a stick that stiffens the panel and facilitates its maintenance in its plan.

With these solutions, however, as soon as the wind speed rises, it exerts on the flexible panel a thrust of the air that meets, causing more or less violent vortices and in any case a pushing force on the panel which tends to drag and twist it on itself, or even to wrap around the mast, which no longer allows to see properly its surface, with the disadvantages that result if it is to 'an advertising sign bearing inscriptions or signs.

The present invention relates to a device for supporting a flexible panel of the kind mentioned above, which overcomes these disadvantages, not only by allowing to maintain the substantially vertical panel and properly tensioned between its upper and lower edges, but also resist the effects of the wind by means of return that bring the panel back to its original position, opposing the thrust forces exerted on it.

For this purpose, the support device considered, for a banner or a similar flexible panel, of generally rectangular shape, arranged and stretched in a vertical plane, this panel being secured along its upper and lower edges in this plane, respectively of two rods substantially horizontal, forming gallows, adapted to immobilize and rigidify these edges, these rods being carried by a vertical mast or similar element, is characterized in that each horizontal rod is provided, in the vicinity of the vertical mast, a support member on it, associated with a means of temporary immobilization on the mast, each rod and its support element being joined by a spring adapted to oppose a lateral torsion torque exerted on the rod, by permanently reducing this in the vertical plane of the panel, the spring being housed between the rod and the support element.

According to another characteristic of the support according to the invention, each support element on the mast of a horizontal rod is realized by means of a rigid and continuous wire, shaped to constitute a V-shaped stirrup, this stirrup being extended at its open ends by two branches supported on the lateral surface of the mast according to parallel generatrices thereof, one these branches having a connecting element with the return spring joined to the horizontal rod, the bisector plane of the V-shaped stirrup coinciding with the vertical plane of the panel.

According to another characteristic also, each horizontal rod comprises, opposite its current portion joined to the return spring, an end portion which forms with this current portion a very open angle, adapted to stretch the corresponding edge of the panel.

In a preferred embodiment, the temporary immobilization means of the support member are constituted by adjustable straps, each comprising a closure loop of the strap on itself around the vertical mast. Advantageously, the closure loop of each strap comprises a progressive tension mechanism, with blocking step by step.

Also preferably and in this embodiment, each adjustable strap comprises two separate strands, adapted to be respectively joined to the two branches of the V-stirrup, in the vicinity of the two ends of these branches.

According to yet another characteristic, the return springs of the two horizontal rods respectively integral with the upper and lower edges of the panel, are spiral springs, the V-stirrups of the support elements associated with the two rods being arranged symmetrically with the one with respect to the other, vis-à-vis a horizontal plane extending substantially in the middle of the height of the panel.

• La Figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation du dispositif considéré pour le support d'un panneau souple par un mât vertical.
• Les Figures 2 et 3 sont des vues à plus grande échelle, respectivement en élévation et de dessus, du dispositif considéré.
• La Figure 4 est une vue en perspective partielle d'une des tiges du dispositif avec son ressort et son étrier d'appui, ainsi que des moyens d'immobilisation de celui-ci sur le mât vertical.

Other characteristics of a support device established in accordance with the invention will still appear through the following description of an exemplary embodiment, given by way of indication and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of the device for supporting a flexible panel by a vertical mast.
• Figures 2 and 3 are views on a larger scale, respectively in elevation and from above, of the device in question.
• Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of one of the rods of the device with its spring and its support bracket, and means for immobilizing it on the vertical mast.

In Figure 1, the reference 1 schematically denotes a banner or flag, more generally a flexible panel that can be used for advertising or decorative purposes, this flexible panel can be made of a suitable textile material, or in any other similar material suitably armed to give it mechanical strength adapted to the intended use.

This panel 1 has a generally rectangular shape and is arranged to be supported in a vertical plane by a mast 2 with the aid of a device 3 essentially comprising, according to its upper and lower edges respectively, two metal rods 4 and 5 forming stems , being substantially horizontally and provided to be secured each of the vertical mast 2 by a support member 6, each rod being joined to the corresponding support member by a spiral spring 7, the structure and implementation of the device 3 more clearly apparent from Figures 2 to 4.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 and 3, which more particularly illustrate the structure of one of the rods horizontal, here the rod 5, being specified that the two rods are strictly identical, it consists of a rigid metal wire shaped to achieve in one piece, with the rod, the support element 6 and the return spring 7.

The support element 6 is in particular in the form of a V-shaped stirrup 8, whose ends on the side of its opening are extended by two rods, respectively 9 and 10, which are applied against the outer surface of the mast. vertical 2, in particular according to two parallel generatrices thereof. One of these rods, here the rod 9, is folded at 90 ° to form a connecting element 11 with the return spring 7, which is thus slightly offset laterally vis-à-vis the mast 2.

The return spring 7 thus joins the support member 6 to the rod 5, which comprises a horizontal portion 12 horizontal, extending by a terminal portion 13, slightly bent and making this current part a very open angle.

The rods 4 and 5 are secured to the upper and lower edges of the flexible panel 1 by any suitable means. Preferably, this panel has in these edges, a sewn or otherwise formed hem in which can slide the corresponding rod, the end opposite the return spring 7 can be advantageously threaded to receive an end ball 14 to maintain the panel on its rods and to prevent it from slipping on them and does not escape unexpectedly.

The rods 4 and 5 of the support device of the panel 1 are also fixed on the mast 2 by means of an assembly which advantageously comprises two adjustable straps 15 and 16, as more particularly illustrated in FIG. 4.

Advantageously, each of these straps is secured to a connecting and reinforcing strip 17, provided with eyelets 18 for threading these strips on the branches 9 and 10 of the support element 6, in particular to arrange each of these straps near the ends of these branches before they surround the mast and are clamped thereon by means of a loop 19, preferably of the kind progressive tightening loop with step-by-step locking of the tension created.

As seen elsewhere in Figure 1, the two rods 4 and 5 of the support device 3 are thus fixed on the vertical mast 2, and adjusted thereon so that the panel 1 is properly stretched between these rods in a vertical plane, which is substantially the bisecting plane V-stirrups 8 of each of the rods on the mast. In addition, the support elements 6 and the return springs 7 of the two rods are arranged symmetrically on either side of the median vertical plane of the panel, so that the end portions 13 of these rods exert on the ends of the upper and lower edges of the panel 1, due to the angle they form with the common parts 12 of these rods, an increased tension force, keeping the panel perfectly flat in its vertical plane.

In the absence of wind, the inscriptions or various signs worn on the panel can be perfectly readable from the outside.

When the force of this wind increases and creates a thrust force on the panel, the torsion torque exerted on the rods is then cashed by the springs 7, the stirrups 8 remaining permanently rigidly locked against the mast by the straps. 15 and 16. These springs in turn provide a restoring torque on the panel, so that it is permanently returned to its vertical plane, without risk of it being twisted and in particular wraps around the mast.

A very simple, efficient and inexpensive design device is thus realized, allowing optimal use of billboards or the like, even in a turbulent environment, with significant winds.

Of course, it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment more specifically described above with reference to the accompanying drawings; it encompasses all the variants covered by the claims.

Claims (7)

1. Support device, for a banner or similar flexible panel (1) of rectangular overall shape, arranged and kept taut in a vertical plane, this panel being secured along its upper and lower edges in this plane respectively to two approximately horizontal rods (4 and 5), which form brackets and are capable of immobilizing and stiffening these edges, these rods being borne by a vertical pole or similar element (2), wherein each horizontal rod is equipped, near the vertical pole, with a bearing element (6) for bearing against this pole, this bearing element cooperating with a means of temporary immobilization (15, 16) on the pole, characterized in that each rod and its bearing element are connected by a spring (7) capable of opposing lateral torque exerted on the rod, constantly returning the latter to the vertical plane of the panel, the spring being located between the rod and the bearing element.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that each bearing element (6) for bearing against the pole (2), belonging to a horizontal rod (4, 5), is made of a rigid and continuous metal wire, shaped to form a V-shaped bow (8), this bow being extended at its open ends by two branches (9, 10) which bear against the lateral surface of the pole along parallel generatrices thereof, one of these branches comprising a connecting element (11) for connecting to the return spring (7) connected to the horizontal rod, the plane which bisects the V-shaped bow coinciding with the vertical plane of the panel (1).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each horizontal rod (4, 5) comprises, at the opposite end to its running part (12) connected to the return spring (7), an end part (13) which forms a very obtuse angle with this running part, so as to keep the corresponding edge of the panel (1) taut.
4. Device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (15, 16) for temporarily immobilizing the bearing element (6) consist of adjustable straps, each comprising a buckle (19) for closing the strap on itself around the vertical pole (2).
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the buckle (19) for closing each strap comprises a progressive tensioning mechanism that can be locked in position step by step.
6. Device according to any of Claims 4 or 5, characterized in that each adjustable strap comprises two separate strands which can be connected respectively to the two branches (9, 10) of the V-shaped bow (8), near the two ends of these branches.
7. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the return springs (7) of the two horizontal rods (4, 5) secured respectively to the upper and lower edges of the panel are spiral springs, the V-shaped bows (8) of the bearing elements (6) associated with the two rods being arranged symmetrically one with respect to the other with respect to a horizontal plane extending approximately in the middle of the height of the panel (1).

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