US2655749A

US2655749A - Sign structure

Info

Publication number: US2655749A
Application number: US267155A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fontaine Timothy J La
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-01-18
Filing date: 1952-01-18
Publication date: 1953-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-20

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 T. J. LA FONTAINE SIGN STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 18. 1952 INVENTOR.

r/Mo r//r J. A ,fawn/N5 BY Patented Qct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PTENT FFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to signs and particularly to advertising signs and banners which are supported in display position by flexible tensioning elements such as cords, ropes, wire and the like.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved sign structure which is intended to be suspended by flexible elements across relatively wide areas and which is reinforced in a novel manner to hold the longitudinal side edges of the sign in substantially parallel relationship from one end to the other end thereof. Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel reinforcement for the sign which absorbs the forces and strains imposed thereon and maintains the body of the sign relatively ilat and taut throughout its extent. A further important object of this invenion is to provide an inexpensive sign structure of this type including the provision of relatively rigid members or rods for absorbing the forces and strains to which the sign body is subject, which rods are designed in a novel manner for securement to the sign body.

In carrying out the objects of the inventionl the sign structure of the present invention comprises a fabric sheet constituting the body of the sign and tensioning elements which are secured to the corners of the sheet and may extend lengthwise along the longitudinal marginal portions of the sheet to assist in holding the same in relatively taut condition. Located on each end of the sign body is a stiffening or reinforcing member. An important feature of these reinforcing members is their construction and relation to the sign body. They are preferably formed of rigid tubular rods each having their opposite end portions flattened for facial engagement with the adjacent portion of the sign body. These flattened portions of the reinforcing rods are secured by fastening means to the sign body adjacent to the tensioning elements.

By virtue of their rigidity, these reinforcing members serve to hold the sign body taut with the longitudinal marginal portions thereof extending parallel to one another throughout the longitudinal dimensions of the sign body. As a result of this invention, fabric signs having lengths of twenty or thirty feet or more may be supported in taut condition with their longitudinal edges in parallel relationship throughout the length of the sign.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following specication, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with this invention showing the opposite en-d portions thereof with the reinforcing rods associated therewith,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View of one side edge of the sign taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one longitudinal marginal portion of the sign body taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one corner of the sign taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a conventional sign of this character illustrating the bowed character of the longitudinal marginal portions of the sign body, and

Fig. '7 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the condition resulting from the use of the present invention.

In order to understand the advantages of the present invention, reference is first made to Figs. 6 and 7 wherein there are shown two sign structures, the one illustrated in Fig. `6 employing conventional supporting elements and the other in Fig. '7 employing the reinforcing elements of the present invention. Comparison of these iigures will show that in Fig. 6 the longitudinal top and bottom edges of the sign body are not parallel to one another, but bow inwardly toward one another, whereas in Fig. 7 the top and bottom edges extend parallel to one another through the `length of the sign body. It is an important object of this invention to provide reinforcing elements which tension the sign body I0 in such a manner as to hold the longitudinal side edges thereof in substantially parallel relationship throughout their extent, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Thus, for signs or banners of twenty or more feet in length the long sides thereof are held in parallel relationship which improves the appearance and attractiveness of the sign.

Referring to the remaining figures of the drawing, the sign body which is indicated at lll is in the form of an elongated rectangular flexible sheet composed of textile fabric, canvas, ber or other suitable material. The right and left fragmentary portions of the sign structure are shown in Fig, 1, it being understood that the sign body I0 is rectangular in formation and elongated horizontally any desired distance, for example, twenty, thirty or more feet in length.

The sign is usually supported in vertical or upright position, but may lie in any other plane if 3 desired. For support, flexible tensioning elements |2-I2 are employed. These elements may be composed of cord, rope, tape, or any suitable material for such purpose. Rope or cord is shown in the drawing. The cords l2-I2 extend along the opposite longitudinal sides of the sign body or sheet I@ and outwardly laterally from the corners of the sign structure for securement to suitable spaced supports. When the sign is supported in upright position, such as shown in Fig. l, the cords extend along the upper and lower longitudinal marginal portions of the sign body. These marginal portions of the sign body 'are folded over the cords or ropes, as indicated at I@ in Figs. 1 and 4, and form hems enclosing the cords therewith. The folded portions I6 of the sign body are secured to the main body portion by lines of stitching, such as indicated at 4. One line of stitching may extend through the cord 12 enclosed by each marginal portion. The cords or ropes |2-I2 exert a tension or strain upon the flexible sign body l and assist in maintaining the sign in relatively taut condition when subject to wind currents.

The opposite end marginal portions of the sign body I0 are preferably folded over upon themselves, as indicated at 20., and the stitches indicated at 22 may serve as the form of securement for these folded portions. To reinforce the folded portions l 6 and 20 of the sign body, there may be inserted within each side marginal fold l5 and within yeach end marginal fold 29 a iiexible filler or webbing indicated at 24 in Figs. 2 and 5 composed of fabric, plastic or like material. Preferably when making up the sign body, the end marginal portions 213- are folded over and secured before the longitudinal side marginal portions IB-I 6 are folded over to form their respective hems. In this manner, the opposite end portions of the transverse marginal portions 20--29 are folded with the side margins Iii-I6 forming a quadruple thickness of the sign body material at each corner thereof. The ller or webbing 24 in each end portion 20 is folded with the same so that at each corner -there are six plies of material, the resulting condition of which is slightly exaggerated in Figs. 2 and 5 for purpose of clarity.

A novel form of reinforcement is provided which holds the frame in such a taut condition f that the side marginal portions I-IS extend parallel to vone another throughout the extent of the sign structure, as shown in Fig. 7. Each end of the sign structure is provided with this reinforcement. This reinforcement preferably comprises Ya tubular ymetal member or rod 2B which extends transversely to the cords I2-l2 and substantially bridges the space therebetween. For the major portion of its length each rod 26 is tubular and by virtue of its tubular construction the rod is extremely resistant to any forces tending to bend or warp the same. The opposite end portions of each rod, indicated at 28-28, are correspondingly flattened, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in order to bear facially against the hem portions I6 of the sign body. Preferably, the length of each rod is such that it terminates just short of the two cords I2-l2, as shown in Fig. 1.

The flattened end portions 28-28 of each metal rod 26 is secured to the sign body by any suitable means, such as a wire stitch, rivet, or a bolt. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a metal stitch 30 is provided for fastening each flattened end of the rod to the sign body. The -rnetal stitches 30 pass through the attened portions 23-28 of each rod and through the thickened corner material of the sign body thereby rigidly securing the latter to the rod. The rod is otherwise free of securement throughout its length and the adjacent end portion 20 of the sign body merely .lies alongside of the tubular portion of each rod, as shown in Fig. 3.

In use, the reinforcing rods 26-26 serve to hold the sign body in stretched condition and, with the assistance of the cords i2-I2, the sign body is held under such a strain that the longitudinal edges of the body extend parallel to one another throughout the full vlength of the sign. The attened Aend portions of the rods are disposed immediately adjacent to the corners 'of the sign body from which the tensioning elements or ycords l2 project and any tearing strain which the cords might impose on the body are taken by these metal rods. i

What I claim is:

V1. A sign comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of fabric material forming the body of the sign, a pair of tensioning elements extending lengthwise of the sheet along the opposite longitudinal marginal portions of the sheet, said marginal portions being folded over said tensioning elements to form hems enclosing the latter therein, a pair of stiffening members extending transversely across the face of the sheet adjacent to the opposite shorter sides thereof and substantially bridging the space between the tensioning elements, the end portions of said members spaced from the adjacent tensioning kelements, said stiiening members each being formed of a tubular metal rod having its opposite vend portions flattened, and fastening means extending through said attened portions of each stiifening member and through the adjacent portions of the sheet to secure the same together.

2. A sign comprising, in combination, an elongated flexible rectangular sheet `of fabric material formingl the body of the sign, a pair of flexible tensioning elements extending lengthwise of the sheet along the opposite longitudinal mar-- ginal portions of the sheet, each of said longitudinal marginal portions being folded over its respective tensioning element t-o form a hem enclosing the sa-me therewithin, a vrigid metallic tubular rod located adjacent each-shorter side of the sign body and overlying a face of the sheet and extending transversely to the .tensioning elements to bridge the space therebetween, each of said rods having its opposite end portions flattened and overlying said hems spaced from said tensioning elements, and fastening means Aextending through said hems and through said flattened portions of the rods and securing the Same together, the rods being otherwise free of the sheet between its opposite ends.

TIMOTHY J. LA FONTAINE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,177,327 Oberlin Oct, 24, 1939 2,252,764 Farrell Aug. 19, 1941