GB2412002A

GB2412002A - Sign hanging system

Info

Publication number: GB2412002A
Application number: GB0405620A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graeme Ellis; Bryan Francis; Raymond Daniell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-12
Filing date: 2004-03-12
Publication date: 2005-09-14
Also published as: GB0405620D0

Abstract

A sign hanging system wherein a sign (30) is supported by a pair of cords (56, 58) wound around an elongate shaft (15) secured on a ceiling or the like and driven by a motor (14) mounted on one end of the shaft, the spacing between the cords may be made adjustable, or the cords may support a horizontal track (50), similar to a curtain track, on which the sign is suspended from two or more runners (54) slidable along the track to vary the spacing between points of attachment (36, 38) to the top of the sign. The drive motor is preferably operated by remote control.

Description

24 1 2002 - 1 -

SIGN HANGING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a system for hanging signs which may need to be changed from time to time, for example in shop or warehouse premises.

In supermarkets, signs are often hung from the ceiling over the aisles so that it can be seen from a distance which products are for sale in each aisle. Since product ranges are often moved from one aisle to another, it becomes necessary to change these signs from time to time.

In most shops, the aisle signs are suspended on wires from fixed points on the ceiling, and an employee has to climb a stepladder whenever a sign needs to be changed.

These signs are quite often large, heavy and awkward to handle, and accidents can easily happen. There is therefore a need for a sign hanging system which can be operated from floor level.

Various systems have been proposed for raising and lowering signs to avoid the need for ladders, for example that disclosed in US-A-5529274, in which a shop sign is suspended on a single cord, one end of which is secured to a fixed point on the ceiling and which runs down through a rail on which a shop sign is hung. The cord passes around a pair of pulleys at spaced points along the rail and back up to a motor driven drum on the ceiling which can be remotely controlled. The sign is secured to the underside of the rail by a row of bolts or the like. While such a sign is safer to use than one on fixed cords, its r, 2 - construction is complicated and because the cord runs through the rail and around the two pulleys, there are a number of points at which jamming or friction could cause the sign to stick or hang crooked.

The present invention provides a sign hanging system wherein the sign is supported by a pair of cords wound around an elongate shaft secured on a ceiling or the like and driven by a motor mounted on one end of the shaft.

The spacing between the cords is preferably made adjustable. They may, for example, be mounted on respective flanged spools so as to restrict their axial movement along the shaft, the spools themselves being positionally adjustable.

In another embodiment of the invention the cords support a horizontal track, similar to a curtain track, the sign itself being suspended from two or more runners which are slidable along the track to vary the spacing between points of attachment to the top of the sign.

The term "cords" as used herein is intended to include any elongate flexible member which can be wound onto a shaft and has sufficient tensile strength to support a sign. Cords of plastics or wire may be used, for example, and nylon tapes are considered particularly

suitable.

The drive motor is preferably operated by remote control. - 3

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention) and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 1, a sign hanging device comprises an elongate main housing 12 secured to a ceiling 10 or other fixed structure above the point at which a sign is to be hung. The main housing encloses an electric motor (not shown) within a motor housing 14 at one end, and at the opposite end of the main housing is a bearing housing 16.

A shaft 15 is supported at one end in the bearing housing 16 and at its opposite end is directly connected with the drive motor, to be driven reversibly in rotation.

Mounted on the shaft 15 are spools 22 and 24, on which are wound respective nylon tapes 26, 2S, retained on the spools by flanges 21, 23. Nylon tapes are particularly suitable.

The spools 22, 24 are secured against rotation relative to the shaft, for example by being keyed into an elongate slot or channel running parallel to the shaft axis, and are normally held against axial movement. They may however be made axially adjustable to accommodate signs of different size. In use however they are retained - 4 - against axial sliding, for example by friction or by an internal catch engaging the shaft.

At the bottom of cords 26, 28 are spring clips 32, 34 which engage in respective eyes 36, 38 located at spaced positions along the top edge of a sign 30 to suspend the sign.

The motor in housing 14 can be operated by remote control, and to this end is connected to an infrared sensor 20 on the underside of motor housing 14.

To change a suspended sign, a hand-held infrared remote control 40 is used to operate the motor to drive the shaft 15 in a direction to unwind the cords 26, 28 wound on the spools so that the suspended sign is lowered to a height at which it can be comfortably handled by personnel on the ground. The sign 30 can then be changed for another one, and the motor is then driven in the opposite direction to hoist the sign up to the desired height.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the nylon tapes 56, 58 are wound directly onto the shaft 15 at 51, 52. These tapes could also be wound between fixed annular flanges on the shaft, to restrict their axial movement.

Instead of supporting the sign 30 directly, the tapes 56, 58 support a horizontal track 50, similar to a curtain track, by spring clips 62, 64 attached to brackets 66, 68 on the track.

The track 50 has a number of hooked runners 54 which are slidable horizontally. Two of these runners support wires 55, at the lower ends of which are hooks or spring clips 40, 42 engaging the eyes 36, 38 on the top edge of the sign 30. The runners 54 can thus be used to suspend signs of different width, or with different spacing between the eyes on their upper edges.

Instead of using a hand-held remote control, the motor may be one of several wired to a central control system.

It can be seen that the sign suspension system of the present invention is extremely simple, using a minimum of moving parts so as to reduce the risk of jamming. Because the two spools are mounted on a common shaft, and have the same diameter, the sign will always hang level, something which cannot be guaranteed with a sign hung on a single cord.

Claims

CLAINS: 1. A sign hanging system wherein a sign is supported by a pair of

cords wound around an elongate shaft securable on a ceiling or the like and driven by a motor mounted on one end of the shaft.
2. A sign hanging system according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between the cords wound around the shaft is adjustable.
3. A sign hanging system according to claim 2 wherein the cords are mounted on respective flanged spools so as to restrict their axial movement along the shaft, the spools themselves being positionally adjustable on the shaft.
4. A sign hanging system according to claim 1 wherein the cords support a horizontal track, the sign itself being suspended from two or more runners which are slidable along the track to vary the spacing between points of adjustment to the top of the sign.
5. A sign hanging system according to any preceding claim wherein the cords comprise nylon tapes.
6. A sign hanging system according to any preceding claim wherein the drive motor is operated by remote control.
7. A sign hanging system according to any preceding claim wherein the shaft is directly connected with the drive motor, to be driven reversibly in rotation. t