GB2324640A

GB2324640A - Sign assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2324640A
Application number: GB9807276A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neal Thomas Strand
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1997-04-25
Filing date: 1998-04-03
Publication date: 1998-10-28
Also published as: GB9807276D0

Abstract

This invention provides for even tension along a support structure 12 of a sign assembly by flipping a bar 16 attached to the sign face material 10 over and up. The bar is then secured to the structure with pop rivets or self drilling screws or any suitable attachment method. Less fasteners are required because the tension and load are concentrated on the bar. Both structure and method are disclosed.

Description

Flexible Sign Face Tensioning Structure and Method Field of Invention This invention provides a method of tensioning flexible sign face material on support structures that are fabricated out of standard structural shapes available worldwide.

Background of Invention Sign face material is typically stretched by using a custom fabricated extrusion system with individual attachment points. Stretching sign face material over standard structural shapes is typically done by stretching the material around a corner with a clamp tool such as a flat bill vise grip. The material is then attached to the structure with pop rivets or self drilling screws. At the attachment points stress is concentrated around the fastener. Fasteners have to be positioned so that they support the design load required based on the size of the structure and the strength of the attachment method.

A number of commercial vendors produce conventional tensioning systems of differing types. For example, a presently preferred system is produced by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) of St. Paul, Mlsi, USA including under the brand PANAFLEX Sign Faces.

The tensioning system used in the sign industry ranges from sophisticated extrusion systems to simply attaching the material to a sign structure with screws, rivets and staples. Some of these systems are explained here.

Extrusion Systems - These systems typically have a tensioner that is attached to the sign face material by wrapping the material around an object. The tensioner is clamped or slid onto the object securing it in place. The tensioner is then attached to the extrusion. The method varies from screws to snapping into slots or caming over and securing with clips. These systems are typically "point attachment" methods. Tension is applied to the sign material by moving the tensioner away from the sign face material.

Rope And Grommets - Grommets are placed around the perimeter of the sign face material. The rope is laced through the grommets and around the support structure. The rope tensions the sign face material.

Screws And Pop Rivets - The sign face material is wrapped around the support structure and tensioned by applying a force with a clamp oll the sign face material. While the material is tensioned a fastener is put through the sign face material into the support structure, securing that position to the structure. Some times a metal bar is placed on top of the sign face material to help distribute the tension load over a larger area.

Wedge Clamp - The clamp is attached to the sign face material. The clamp is attached to the support structure via a threaded bolt. By tightening the nut on the bolt tension is applied to the sign face material.

Summary of Invention This invention provides substantially even tension along the support structure by flipping a bar attached to the sign face material over and up. The bar is then secured to the structure with pop rivets or self drilling screws or any other suitable attachment method. Less fasteners ar rc:quiled because tile tension and load are concentrated on the bar and evenly distributed about the perimeter of the support structure.

One aspect of the invention is a signage assembly comprising a support structure at each edge of a sign face material and a corresponding flip bar associated with each edge of the sign face material, wherein each flip bar is wrapped over a portion of the corresponding edge of the sign face material before being secured to the support structure.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of assembling a sign face material on a support structure, comprising the steps of placing a flip bar a certain distance from an edge of the support structure and associated with an edge of the sign face material and sequentially wrapping the edge of the sign face material over the flip bar and securing the flip bar to the support structure while rnaintaining the sign face material under tension.

A feature of the invention is a simple and elegant means of tensioning flexible sign face material about the perimeter of a support structure.

An advantage of the invention is the ease of assembly and assurance of proper tensioning of the sign face material substantially evenly about a support structure.

Further features and advantages will flow from a description of the embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of a significant step of the method of the invention: proper positioning of a support structure or frame and flip bars in relation to the sign face material to be tensioned.

Fig. 2 is another step in the method of the invention showing the beginning of tensioning and flipping a bar toward the support structure or frame.

Fig. 3 is another step in the method of the invention showing flipping of a bar against a section of the sign face material within the distance D as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is another step in the method of the invention showing the mounting of the sign face material to one edge of the support structure.

Fig. 5 is another step in the method of the invention showing the placement of a flip bar wrapped with sign face material against the support structure.

Fig. 6 is another step in the method of the invention showing the condition of the assembly before tensioning a second edge of the sign face material.

Fig. 7 is another step in the method of the invention repeating the effort shown in Fig. 2 for another edge of the sign face material.

Fig. 8 is another step in the method of the invention repeating the effort shown in Fig. 3 for another edge of the sign face material.

Fig. 9 is another step in the method of the invention repeating the effort shown in Fig. 4 for another edge of the sign face material.

Fig. 10 is another step in the method ofthe invention repeating the effort shown in Fig. 5 for another edge of the sign face material and showing the completed tensioned sign assembly.

Embodiments of Invention Tensioning Structure Any structural shape can be used for the support structure to frame the sign. Some of the common shapes are angle, channel, square tube, I-beam, rectangular tube, bar and zees. These are available in a variety of sizes and metals.

The frame described in Figs. 1-10 is designed to replace a rigid sign face in a rigid sign face cabinet. In Figs. 1-10, the frame is 3.81 cm X 3 81 cm X 0.32 cm thick aluminum angle.

Flip bars can be made of any sturdy material that can accept the wrapping of a flexible sign face material and an adhesive to provide initial placement of the flip bar in rclation to the support structure and the sign face material. The thickness of the flip bar is important to the method of the present invention The thickness can range from about 0.15 cm to about 2.54 cm and preferably from about 0.15 cm to about 0.65cm. The width of the flip bar is also important to the method of the present invention. The width can range from about 0.60 cm to about 30 cm and preferably from about 1.27 cm to about 5.1 cm. Preferably, as seen in Figs. 1-10, the flip bar is 0.31 cm thick X 3.175cm wide. The length should match the length of the support structure.

Tensioning Method Below is the description of the invention and how it is used to tension a sign face in relation to the various drawings: Fig 1 1. Layout the sign face material 10 on a flat surface, decoration side down.

2. Lay the support frame 12 on top of the sign material.

3. Apply transfer adhesive or double coated tape 14 to the entire length of all ofthe flip bars 16.

4. Position each of the bars 16 away from the support frame 12 at a distance determined by the following equation: Distance = Bar Width + 2 times the bar thickness + 2 times the tape thickness stretch factor.

Expressed in a different way, the equation is: D = Widths + (2 X Thicknesss") + (2 X Thicknes5ape) - Stretch Factor51 Face 5. Position the flip bars 16 around the perimeter of the support structure 12.

The thickness of adhesive tape 14 can range from about 0.0025 cm to about 0.25 cm. Adhesive tape can be selected from any suitable commercial tape used for signage. Nonlimiting examples of acceptable commercial adhesive tapes include Scotch brand &num;665 (0.0076 cm) thick tape or VHBTM &num;4950 tape, both from 3M.

The Stretch Factor sip Face is knonvn cr capable of determination by those skilled in the art that are familiar with the commercially available sign face material 10 such as Panaflexm Sign Face Material from 3M. Stretch Factors can range from about OO/o to about 0.5 % for such PanaflexTM Sign Face Material.

Other materials, particularly those without internal scrim mesh, can exceed these values for Stretch Factor and can be determined by those skilled in the art.

Fin. 2-5 6. Tension the longest dimension ofthe support structure 12 first.

On one side, flip bar 16 as shown in the direction of Arrow A progressing from Fig.

2 to Fig. 5 and secure it to the support structure 12 with a suitable clamp (not shown). Noniiiniting examples of suitable clamps include C-clamps, over-center cam locking clamps, and bar clamps.

Figs. 6-10 7. Flip the bar 16 on the opposite side as shown in the direction of Arrow B progressing from Fig. 6 to Fig. 10. Secure flip bar 16 to the support structure 12 with a suitable clamp (not shown).

After all four sides of the structure 12 are tensioned, secure the bars 16 to the support frame with a suitable fastening system, such as pop rivets, blind rivets, self drilling screws, or sheet metal screws conventionally employed. The flip bars 16, sign face material 10 wrapped around the flip bars 16, and the support structure 12 are drilled in increments of about 0.3 meters and at corners for assured securement and even tensioning because of the use of flip bars 16 along the edge of the support structure.

As seen in the above description of embodiments of the invention, the tensioning system is simple and elegant compared with the conventional types of tensioning systems. Yet the structure and method of the present invention is remarkably effective in its ability to establish and secure a tension on a conventional sign face material.

Tension of a sign face material is important to its utility. The sign face material should not be so tensioned as to possibly distort its graphic appearance. Moreover, the sign face material should be capable of withstanding strong winds and other natural effects to maintain its appearance and durability.

The amount of tensioning capable of being created for Panaflexm brand sign face material, particularly Panaflex 600 Series material, can range from about 0 to about 1748 Newtons/meter (10 lbs!linear inch). Preferably, to provide strong structure yet avoid distortion of graphics, the amount of tensioning can range from 43.7 N/m (0.25 lbsfinch) to about 349 N/m (2 Ibs/inch).

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The claims follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A signage assembly, comprising: a support structure at each edge of a sign face material and a corresponding flip bar associated with each edge of the sign face material, wherein each flip bar is wrapped over a portion of the corresponding edge of the sign face material before being secured under tension to the support structure.

2. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein supporting structure has a shape comprising angle, channel, square tube, rectangular tube, bar or zee about a perimeter ofthe sign face graphic.

3. The assembly of Claim I, wherein each flip bar is positioned away from the support structure at a distance equal to the equation: D = Widths" + (2 X Thicknesssar) + (2 X ThickneSS,pe) - Stretch Factors;, Face

4. The assembly of Claim I, further comprising an adhesive to secure an edge of the sign face material to a flip bar.

5. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein the support structure and the flip bars maintain the sign face material in tension of an amount ranging from about o to about 1748 Newtons/meter.

6. The assembly of Claim 5, wherein the support structure and the flip bars maintain the sign face material in tension of an amount ranging from about 43.7 Newtons/meter to about 349 Newtons/meter.

7. A method of assembling a sign face material on a support structure, comprising the steps of (a) placing a flip bar a certain distance from an edge of the support structure and associated with an edge ofthe sign face material, (b) sequentially wrapping the edge of the sign face material over the flip bar and (c) securing the flip bar to the support structure while maintaining the sign face material under tension.

8. The method of Claim 7, wherein each flip bar in step (a) is placed away from the support structure at a distance equal to the equation: D = Widths, + (2 X ThicknessB,r) + (2 X ThicknessT,p) - Stretch Factorsi, Face

9. The method of Claim 7, fiurther comprising during step (b) the placement of an adhesive to secure an edge of the sign face material to the associated flip bar.

10. The method of Claim 7, wherein the tension maintained in step (c) ranges from about 0 to about 1748 Newtonsimeter.

11. The method of Claim 10, wherein the tension maintained in step (c) ranges from about 43.7 Newtons/meter to about 349 Newtons/meter.

12. A signage assembly as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of assembling a sign face material on a support as claimed in Claim 7 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.