GB2226175A - Support system for display signs - Google Patents

Description

1 1 Supi)ort System for.Display Signs The present invention relates to a

support system with displaceable tensioning means for display screens which has the advantages of having a strong structure and of having a means for adjusting the tension of the flexible member constituting the display screen. This structure may be used, in particular. in luminous face walls, both when the lights are located behind the screen if the screen is translucent and also when the lights are arranged externally on the upper part of the screen.

According to the present invention there is provided a support systems for display screens, comprising a frame and one or more support assemblies slidingly engagable therewith, the or each support assembly having two spaced apart arms each having retaining means for retaining respective portions of a flexible display screen, at least one of the retaining means being displaceable so as to enable the tension of the display screen to be adjusted.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and without limiting 2 the scope of the appended claims.

The support system with displaceable tensioning and retaining means for luminous signs forming the subject of the present invention is preferably constituted by a frame and one or more support assemblies which are uniformly distributed and are connected at the top and or bottom by the rear part of a hollow support arm and cover with an internal partition wall. This arm accommodates the tensioning means, for the actual sheet of the sign, in a row of uniformly distributed points.

The vertical support assembly is slidingly engaged with a track by means of U-shaped projections enclosing the top and bottom of the track with vertical flanges inside the arms of the U and a supporting track which is fixed by its centre to a vertical supporting profile by means of a screwthreaded stud and nut. In its continuation. the cross section of the suport system has the form of an inverted U. defining the face wall of the vertical supporting profile of rectangular hollow section. The support assembly continues so that it forms a longitudinal double duct hollow with the partition wall. The first duct has a stepped bottom and the second duct has a bottom portion which ends with a concave portion having a longitudinal cylindrical moulding at the highest part. The beginning of the 3 hollow closest to the support and the partition wall have, at their edges. horizontal flanges which fit in the grooves in the lower extensions of a longitudinal cover which covers the hollow in a transverse direction. The cover over the arm is rounded at its end in order to form. together with the cylindrical moulding, a guide surface for the web of the sign.

The horizontal screw rod passes through the internal partition wall in the hollow support arm and, at its end closest to the supports, carries the adjusting nut with washer, the tension spring being arranged between the nut and the vertical partition. In the interior of the arm, the horiztontal rod continues with the tensioning hook which holds the bar at the corresponding end of the flexible web of the sign. Angle piece supports, with a vertical side placed against the vertical support assembly and a stepped upper side which can be connected to the bottom of the support arm, are provided at the positions of the vertical supports and on the lower face of the longitudinal profiles. The outer extreme vertex of the angle support piece has a projection with a groove which is connected to a horizontal longitudinal projection on the exterior of the bottom of the outer hollow of the support arm. The vertical side of the angle piece placed against the vertical support has a fin-shaped extension placed against the stand to which 4 it is connected. The right angle of the angle piece is adapted to the internal face of the joint between the support arm and the vertical supporting stand. The longitudinal hollow with tensioning means and cover which connects the upper and lower ends of the vertical supports, completes the setting for the sign.

An embodiment of the support system with displaceable tensioning means for luminous signs. forming the subject of the present invention. is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings; in which:Figure 1 shows a detail of an upper tensioning anchor in a vertical section, and Figure 2 shows the assembly of an entire sign in a central vertical section.

The drawings show the rear framework which has suitably spaced, vertical beams 1, having, at their top with bent fin 2. the fixing screw 3 in the centre of the track component 4, the upper and lower edges of which are introduced into the grooves 5 in the fixing part of th structural canopy profile. These grooves are vertically opposed and are made between the projections of the edges of the arms 6 of the U-shaped piece having 1 core 7 behind the support assembly. The upper edge 10 with a plate having a rear closure 11 is fitted between the vertical extension 8 of the core of the U and a vertical fin 9 protruding from the exterior of the lower arm.

The upper part of the core 7 of the U region of thestructural support assembly is extended by a flat part 13 which rests on the upper face wall of the vertical support 12, continuing with a vertical portion, the lower part 14 of which is placed against the front part of the vertical support 12. The portion 14 is continued, by its lower part, along an arm which forms a longitudinal housing with stepped horizontal portion 15, 16 for accommodating the tensioning device. The horizontal part 16 of the support assembly continues with an inclined portion 17 which forks into a horizontal portion 18 and a vertical portion 19. The portion 18 continues with an inclined concave surface 20 to end in the form of a cylindrical guide surface moulding 21 which serves to support and guide the screen towards the retaining means to change the direction of the web of the sign. The vertical portion 19 of the fork ends with an outwardly directed, longitudinal horizontal flange 22. The upper part 23 of the vertical portion 14 is bent to form an outwardly directed, horizontal fin 24, at the same level as the flange 22.

6 The inclined external face 25 of the support assembly which is concave at the top and carries the moulding 21 has, at its bottom, a horizontal fin 26 directed toward the vertical support 12.

In the hollow 27 in the arm between the vertical portion 14 and the partition wall 19 of the structural support assembly is the tensioning device constituted by a horizontal screw rod 28 which passes through the vertical partition 19 and ends in a tensioning hook 29 accommodated in the hollow recess 30 remaining above the portions 18 and concave guiding surface 20. A spring 33 enveloping the screw rod 28 is arranged on the rear part of the vertical partition 19 and between two washers 31 and 32. The tension of the spring is adjusted by the nut 34.

The tensioning devices are distributed uniformly.

The cover having a flat upper face 35 is provided in order to change the hollows 27 and 30 of the upper face of the structure profile in the support arms. this closing cover having. on its lower face. by the vertical support (rear), an angular fin having a short vertical portion 36 followed by a horizontal portion 37 which is linked to another vertical portion 38. The recess between the lower face of the rear edge of the cover and Z 7 the horizontal portion 37 receives the extension 24 of the vertical portion 23 of the support assembly while the vertical portion 38 is placed against the internal face of the portion 23 of the support assembly and joined by horizontal screws having axis 39. Simultaneously with this fitting of the flange 24 of the support assembly in the cover, the end of the horizontal flange 22 is introduced into the groove between the lower face of the cover 35 and an projection having vertical portion 40 and horizontal extension 41. The cover is put on the horizontal extension 22, and the housings are completed with vertical (screws) having axis 42. The projecting extension 43 of the cover 35 covering the hook 29 has a rounded end 44, the space for the passage of the PVC coated web 45 forming the front of the actual sign remaining between this and the moulding 25.

At the fixing points of the support assembly corresponding to the position of the rail supports, there are provided angle support pieces which constitute bracing and supporting brackets between the vertical beams and the arm which forms the support assembly with closing cover. The light sources which illuminate the coated web can be located inside the structure between angle supports or above the closing cover.

8 The angular support triangular shape has a vertical leg 46 which is placed on the external face of the vertical support 12. while the horizontal upper leg is transformed into an uneven line connected to the lower shape of the hollow support arm. This connection is produced by placing the horizontal straight portion 47 against 15. by the steps between 47 and 48 which are adapted to the steps between 15 and 16, by the inclined region 49 placed against the inclined side 17 and the portion 50 placed against the portion 18. Likewise, the angular support piece having a hypotenuse 51 has, at the lower vertex between the hypotenuse 51 and the side 46. an extension 52 of this side 46 which is placed against the vertical support 12 and carries a connecting screw having axis 53.

Likewise. there is a horizontal projection 54 with a central groove 55 on its exterior at the upper vertex connecting the hypotenuse 51 to the uneven side of the arm. The projection 26 on the lower side of the support arm fits into this groove. The hook 29 holds the longitudinal calibrated bar 56 which is connected to the corresponding extreme end of the web 45.

In this way, the sign assembly is given rigidity by the connection between the assembly of the structural supports and cover. which are longitudinal and t, t 1 9 horizontal with respect to the display, and the construction of the vertical frame support stands 1 and 12, track support 4 and angle pieces.

As shown in Figure 2. the hollow arms are found at the top and bottom of the sign, the rest of the bracing being produced by supports 1 and 2. To make the structure impervious, the hollows in the arms. especially towards the rear. are covered with metal plates duly connected thereto.

The support system with displaceable retaining tensioning means for luminous signs. forming the subject of the present invention, is produced using materials suitable for its component parts, variation of its shape, finish, dimensions and other details not affecting, changing or modifying the essence thereof.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A support system for display screen, comprising a frame and one or more support assemblies slidingly engageable therewith. the or each support assembly having two spaced apart arms each having retaining means for retaining respective portions of a flexible display screen. at least one of the retaining means being displaceable so as to enable the tension of the display screen to be adjusted.

2. A support system as claimed in claim 1. wherein the retaining means are located part way along the arms and each arm terminates in a guide surface which guides the screen or means attached thereto towards the retaining means carried by the arm.

3. A support system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each arm is provided with a cover which engages the arm so as to define therewith a hollow enclosure housing the retaining means.

4. A support system as claimed in claim 3. wherein the retaining means is supported by a lug which extends substantially perpendicularly from the arm into the hollow enclosure.

q A

5. A Support system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the displaceable retaining means comprises a partially threaded rod which projects in the direction of the arm through the respective lug and which has a hook at one end for connection to the screen with resilient biasing means acting with the threaded portion of the rod and the lug to adjustably tension the screen.

6. A support system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the arms are supported by a triangular structure which is fastened to the support assembly.

7. A support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each support assembly slides over a track which is secured to the frame.

8. A support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990 at The Patent Office. State HcLsc-66 7. High Hclborn. London WClR4TP Ftnrtner copies may be obtained from The Patent office Sales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BRI- 3RID Printed by Mlilt-; 'E-x techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent. Con 1 8-