FR2803941A1 - DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A FLEXIBLE STEM BANNER OR FLEXIBLE PANEL - Google Patents

Abstract

The support consists of a hollow mast (1) with two or more holes (4, 5, 6) through it in separate planes (P, P') lying perpendicular to the mast's vertical axis (Y), so that a supporting arm inserted through opposite holes in the two planes is held in place by gravity alone. The holes can be fitted with grommets to improve the mechanical anchoring of the arm and form a seal. In variants of the design the mast can have holes all the way up to allow several supporting arms to be fitted in different positions, and the arms can be replaced by loops of cable passed through the holes and fastened to blocks inside the mast.

Description

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  The present invention relates to a device suitable for providing support in a vertical plane of a flag, flag or similar flexible panel, for

advertising or decorative.

  Numerous embodiments of support devices for flags, pavilions or flexible panels of this kind are already known, which consist in having a horizontal pole on which the upper edge of the flag is attached, carried by a vertical mast or the like.

  gallows crossing the mast and being immobilized in it

  this using one or more necklaces. The main drawback of this device lies in its difficult implementation. In addition, when it is necessary to change the orientation of the flexible panel supported by such a device, the mast must be turned around its axis in order to

  to redirect the panel according to the wind for example.

  In addition, the mast thus supporting the bracket is generally manufactured from extruded aluminum or steel and possibly coated with a protective and finishing layer. It is also very often produced in several sections, each comprising connection sleeves. Such a production method has many drawbacks, in particular that of the relatively high cost price. A mast is therefore advantageously used in the present invention, made from a strip of recyclable cardboard used for food packaging (said strip being wound in spirals around a vertical axis in order to form the substantially cylindrical mast), or a steel or fiber mast

pultruded.

  The present invention therefore aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing in particular a device by which the mechanical anchoring system of the bracket on the mast is very simple and economical to make and also allows, in a simple and rapid manner, to change the orientation of the gallows according to the direction of the wind for example or possibly to position several

gallows on the same mast.

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  To this end, the support device, object of the invention, for flags, pavilions or similar flexible panels comprising a mast or similar element with a vertical axis, at least one bracket carrying a flag or the like panel, and at least two orifices practiced on an external surface of said mast is characterized in that said stem made of flexible material cooperates with two of the orifices which are located in two planes each passing through a center of one of said two orifices, perpendicular to the vertical axis of said mast and strictly parallel to each other, to allow its mechanical anchoring

  in the mast under the sole action of gravity.

  Other features and advantages of this

  invention will emerge from the description given below, in

  reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof devoid of any limiting character. In the figures: - Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a mast according to the invention, carrying a flag; - Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the upper section of a mast carrying a bracket; - Figure 3 is a plan sectional view along II-II of Figure 2; - Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention; - Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a

beveled mast according to the invention.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it essentially comprises a mast 1 of vertical axis Y, at least one bracket 2 made of flexible material such that it can deform in the event of wind and then return to its position initial, and a mechanical anchoring system of the bracket (s) on the mast. On said stem 2 attaches the upper edge of a flag, flag or similar flexible panel 3, for example by providing along this edge a sewn hem in which the stem is engaged, or by hanging this edge on the latter by eyelets or similar fasteners. The

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  flexible panel 3 is thus suspended under the bracket 2 and,

  in the absence of wind, extends in a vertical plane.

  We will now describe an embodiment of the mechanical anchoring system. In FIG. 2, the reference 4 designates a plurality of orifices arranged on the external surface of the mast 1. The diameter of said orifices 4 is slightly greater than that of a bracket 2 to be supported so that said bracket can pass through the mast 1 of axis Y right through and thus protrude on the side opposite to that of its introduction. In addition, said bracket is "threaded" on the mast 1 via the orifices 4 so that the angle thus formed between the bracket

  and said vertical mast is slightly greater than 90 degrees.

  To do this, we pass the bracket 2 for example through two orifices 5 and 6 chosen so that a plane P passing through a center of the orifice 5 and perpendicular to the axis Y of the mast 1 is strictly parallel with a plane P 'passing through a center of the orifice 6 and also perpendicular to the axis Y. The planes P and P' are therefore not confused. Thus arranged, and thanks to the sole weight of a flexible panel 3, an upper edge of which is attached to the bracket 2, the latter is anchored in the mast 1 and can only slide in one direction as in the other under the user action. As seen in fact in Figure 3, the weight of the flexible panel 3 exerts, via the bracket 2, a vertical force in the direction of arrow F on the wall of the mast 1 at the bore 6 thus balancing the weight of the panel 3 and thus allowing the stem to come to rest in the mast. It will also be noted that the mast 1 has a plurality of orifices 4 on its outer wall so as to allow several possible arrangements of the bracket 2. This allows, for example, to reposition it in the direction of the wind or even to position several brackets on the same mast so

  to support several flexible panels.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, means 7 such as a grommet, cable gland and the like are placed on the bracket 2 so as to

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  improve its mechanical anchoring in the mast 1 and ensure good sealing of the device. Preferably, these means 7 are optionally placed directly in the orifices 4 intended to receive the bracket, then the latter is threaded through said mast. Said means 7 are then fixed to the bracket using nuts or the like. According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lower edge of a flexible panel 3 is attached in the same way as its upper edge is fixed to a bracket 2, on a second bracket which will itself be positioned on the mast 1 analogously to the positioning of the bracket 2 and this so as to limit the movements of said panel and to facilitate its maintenance

in its vertical plane.

  According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the orifices 5 can be arranged all along the mast 1, from top to bottom in order to be able to position several brackets each supporting a flexible panel. Similarly, the inclination of the bracket (s) can be easily modified, while remaining greater than 90 degrees, by suitably choosing the orifices through which the

or the gallows.

  According to another embodiment of the support device illustrated in Figure 4, the bracket 2 can be replaced by a hooking member 8 formed for example from a piece of rope 9 or the like, one of the ends is provided with a rigid articulated part 10 which, after passing through one of said orifices 4, protrudes inside the mast 1 thus preventing the withdrawal of said end 9. The latter is then fixed to the flag, flag or similar flexible panel 3 through a grommet or similar fastener. Advantageously, there are thus two hooking members making it possible to attach an upper corner and a lower corner of said flexible panel 3. It is also possible to anchor a second hooking member lower in the mast and install a halyard to go down and up. pavilion 3 or

  combine a stem 2 with such a hooking member.

  Alternatively (Figure 5), the mast 1 can be bevelled in its upper part at an angle advantageously close to 60 in order to achieve an aesthetic effect. A very simple, efficient and inexpensive design device is thus produced, making it possible both to position several flexible panels on the same mast, and

  to change their orientation without tools or effort.

  It remains to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described and shown above, but that it encompasses all variants thereof.

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Claims (4)

  1 - Support device for flags, pavilions or similar flexible panels comprising a mast (1) or similar element with vertical axis (Y), at least one bracket (2) to which is attached an upper edge of a flag (3 ) or similar panel, and at least two orifices (4) formed on an external surface of said mast (1) characterized in that said stem made of flexible material cooperates with two of the orifices (4) which are located in two planes (P and P ') each passing through a center of one of said two orifices (4), perpendicular to the vertical axis (Y) of said mast and strictly parallel to each other, to allow its mechanical anchoring in the mast (1) under the sole action of gravity.   2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bracket (s) (2) comprise means (7) at the orifices (4) so as to improve the mechanical anchoring of the bracket (s) (2) in the mast (1) and the tightness of said device.   3 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the orifices (4) are produced uniformly over the entire height of the mast (1) making it possible to position several brackets (2) from top to bottom of said mast.   4 - Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that   gallows is attached to a lower edge of the flag (3) or similar panel and anchored to the mast (1) so as to limit   the waving movements of said flag.   - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bracket (2) is replaced by a hooking member (8) formed from an end (9) of rope or the like, one of the ends of which is provided with 'a articulated rigid part (10).