US2960784A

US2960784A - Horizontal banner mounting construction

Info

Publication number: US2960784A
Application number: US702008A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frey Edward; Iii Samuel J Mollet; Elliott J Kies; Guy L Huey
Original assignee: MASSILLON CLEVELAND AKRON SIGN CO
Current assignee: MASSILLON CLEVELAND AKRON SIGN CO; MASSILLON CLEVELAND AKRON SIGN
Priority date: 1957-12-11
Filing date: 1957-12-11
Publication date: 1960-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-22

Description

Nov. 22, 1960 E. FREY Emu.` HORIZONTAL BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. l1, 1957 EDWARD FREIYNVENTORs SINON I NSSLLET m Ui? L. H'EY /waa ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1960 E. FREY ETAL 2,960,784

HORIZONTAL BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTORS EDWARD FREY 18% LET m Y L. HU'EY weg - ATTORNEYS HORIZONTAL BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Edward Frey, Akron, Samuel J. Mollet III, Elliott J. Kies, and Guy L. Huey, Massillon, Ohio, assigner-s to 'Elie Massillon-Cleveland-Akron Sign Company, Massillon, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 11, 1957, Ser. No. 702,008

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to a mounting construction for banners and signs, -and more particularly it pertains to a tensioned sup-port for mounting horizontal banners on a single vertical standard.

In recent years flexible banners or signs composed of clotu or other sheetlike material have been adapted for advertising with increasing popularity. For example, many oil companies have used such banners as advertising media such as pole signs on filling station premises. ln the earlier stages of the development of flexible banners for use as pole signs, the banners were mounted between two spaced poles or standards by means of corner ties extending from opposite ends of the banners to the poles. Such signs soon became undesirable for two reasons. First, the corner ties deteriorated due to expansion and contraction caused by changing weather conditions. For another reason, most filling stations have a single permanent pole or standard on the premises for a p-ermanent sign instead of two or more spaced poles.

The next stage in the development of flexible banners or signs was their adaptation for use on the single pole or standard. Such signs were generally elongated vertical members on which the advertising copy was disposed in one or two words per line with a plurality of lines to read. An example of a vertical sign of that type is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,764,830. However, vertical signs are not suitable `for all advertising messages.

There is an advantage to reading advertising copy that is horizontally disposed rather than vertically. It is easier to read more words in fewer lines than it is to read fewer wo-rds in more vertically spaced lines. Usually a passing motorist in a given length of time will read a horizontal sign quicker than he will a vertical sign.

A diflculty therefore arose in the adaptation of a horizontally disposed flexible banner on a single vertical pole or standard, i.e., a `banner mounted transverse to the upright. The necessity of maintaining a flexible sign taut and tensionally mounted to permit the material forming the sign to contract and expand under varying weather conditions was a formidable ditliculty.

Another pro-blem yinvolved the use of a knockdown or compact construction for shipping economy. The ordinary flexible banner is used for approximately ninety days. During that time the advertising matter gradually fades due to Weather elements and the sign is then replaced by another sign of similar or different advertising matter while the banner tender means for mounting the sign is usually composed of metal andv therefore is of relatively permanent construction.

830. rl`he Abanners held` in 'fixed positions lon opposite sides of the pole provide for better display of the advertising message that is readable from opposite directions.

Still another difliculty in providing a mounting means Vfor a horizontally disposed banner was the provision of 4member is inserted to maintain the banner flat and unwavy during its use. Ordinarily the sleeves are sewn in substantially parallel rows so that the sleeve axes are perpendicula-r to the axis of the elongated banner. Unfortunately, in the manufacture of the banners, the hems are not always sewn uniformly and are frequently not parallel in the final product. As a result, additional individual tensioning and -adjusting means must be provided at each corner at opposite ends of each banner so that a particular banner having non-parallel sleeves will nevertheless be mounted4 in a taut flat plane most advantageous for reading at a glance by the passing motorist.

One more difficulty related to the problem of providing knockdown construction and individual tensioning means was that of providing a rigid boxlike two-faced sign in which'the flexible banners or signs may be mounted positively in place ina readily understood manner, preferably Without the use of tools of any kind.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a horizontal banner tender in which flexible sign units may be mounted horizontally on a single vertical pole.

It is another object of this invention to provide a horizontal lbanner tender in which a sign may be mounted in tension at spaced vertical ends on a single vertical pole.

It is another object of -this invention to provide a banner tender for a pair of spaced signs which is mounted tautly in flat planes free from contact with the mounting means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a banner tender for horizont-ally disposed signs on a single pole having separate tensioning and adjusting means at each corner of the sign to sustain a flat reading surface at all times.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved horizontal b-anner mounting construction which substantially eliminates the dificulties enumerated and which obtains the foregoing desiderata in a simple and effective manner.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained, the stated results achieved andthe described difficulties overcome by the discoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, combina-tions, subcombinations, and elements which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following statement, preferred embodiments of which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claim forming part hereof.

The improved banner tender construction of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including an upright pole or standard, two horizontal banner components, means for mounting the banner components on the pole including a pair of elongated horizontal arms mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the pole, the

arms extending from each side of the pole and having spaced aligned extremities, a spacer extending between aligned extremities of each pair of arms, the spacers being longer than the diameter of the pole, the arms having a bowed or arcuate shape and preferably being disposed in a horizontal plane, a vertical support at each extremity of each arm, each support having a right-angled transverse cross section, one banner component extending tautly between the vertical supports of one arm and the other banner component extending tautly between the supports of the other arm, each banner component having an aper ture at four corners adjacent one ange of the corresponding vertical support, a spring-tensioned hook bolt at each end of each vertical support, each hook bolt engaging an aperture on one of the banner components and retaining the end of the component tightly against the ange of the corresponding support, whereby the banner lcomponents are tautly disposed on the pole in parallel planes spaced from each other and the pole and contacting no part of the mounting means except the vertical supports and the hook bolts.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vertical pole having a pair of horizontal banner components mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the assembly showing the manner in which a pair of spaced banner components are tautly disposed on opposite sides of the pole;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the assembly;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the mounting members without the sign components;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the unit shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view having the center portion broken away and showing the opposite ends of one banner component;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View showing the manner in which one corner of a banner component is attached to a vertical support and locked in place by a spring-tensioned hook bolt;

Fig. S is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the unit shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of the clamp shown in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. l, a horizontal banner tender, generally indicated at 1, is mounted on a vertical pole or standard 2 on which a pair of spaced banner components or signs 3 and 4 are mounted for advertising purposes. The signs 3 and 4 are composed of a flexible sheetlike material such as cloth. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the banner tender 1 includes means generally indicated at 5 for mounting the signs 3 and 4 having a pair of elongated arms 6 and 7 mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the pole 2 by attaching means generally indicated at 8. 'Ihe means 8 include a pair of spaced similar clamps 9 mounted on the arm 6, a pair of spaced clamps 10 mounted on the arm 7, and a pair of spaced clamp bolts 11 having nuts 12 for tightening the clamps 9 and 10 securely on the pole 2 as shown. The clamps 9 and 10 are preferably composed of angle or V-shaped members having legs 9a and 9b and 10a and 10b, respectively. The legs 9a and 9b are mounted with their edges welded at 13 to the arm 6 with the legs 9b contacting the standard 2. However, the legs 10a and 1Gb are mounted with the legs 1Gb welded at 14 hat against the arm 7 and with the legs 10a extending inwardly forming an edge contact with the standard 2. The clamps, however, may be mounted on the arms 6 and 7 as shown in Fig. 9 in which four clamps 9c are mounted similar to the clamps 9.

The arms 6 and 7 are provided with

similar extensions

15 and 16, respectively, at opposite ends (Fig. 2). As shown more particularly in Fig. 4, the arms 6 and 7 and the

extensions

15 and 16 are channel members telescopically fitted together and secured by similar bolts 17.

The means 5 for mounting the banner components or signs 3 and 4 also include a pair of vertical supports 18 and 19 at the remote extremities of the extensions 15. A pair of vertical supports 20 and 21 are similarly provided at opposite ends of the extensions 16. The upright supports 1S-21 are preferably angle members as shown by the particular supports 18 and 26 in Fig. 4. Each support 18-21 includes

legs

22 and 23 disposed preferably at right angles to each other. The legs 22 are adjacent and parallel to the

arm extensions

15 and 16. The legs 23 are perpendicular to the legs 22 and to the arms 6 and 7.

As shown in Fig. 4, each support 18-21 is secured to the outer extremities of the

extensions

15 and 16 preferably centrally of the support. For this purpose, the legs 22 extend across the anges of the

extensions

15 and 16 and an alignment block 24 is secured to the leg 22, such as by welding, and inserted between the flanges of the

extensions

15 and 16 to retain the supports 18-21 vertical; that is, perpendicular to the

extensions

15 and 16.

The outer extremities of the

extensions

15 and 16 are preferably equally disposed from the pole 2 and a spacer 25 extends between the

extensions

15 and 16 on one side of the pole 2. A similar spacer 26 is disposed between

extensions

15 and 16 on the other side of the pole, as shown in Fig. 2. The spacers 25 and 26 have

similar end flanges

27 and 28, respectively, which are apertured to receive connecting bolts 29 for attaching the corresponding supports, extensions, and spacers together as shown in the drawings.

One purpose of the spacers 25 and 26 is to reinforce the outer extremities of the boxlike assembly of the means 5 for mounting the banners. In addition, the spacers 25 and 26 are substantially longer than the clamp bolts 11 so that the assemblies of the arms 6 and 7 with their

extensions

15 and 16 are bowed or arcuate, each with its convex side adjacent the pole. Thus, the banner components 3 and 4 are supported in parallel planes spaced from the pole 2 as well as from the means 5 for mounting the components.

The extremities of the supports 18-21 are apertured at 30 (Fig. 7) to receive an adjustable spring tensioned member or hook bolt 31. Each hook bolt 31 includes an outturned hook 32 at one end and an eye 33 at the other end. A coil spring 34 is mounted on the bolt 31 between the eye 33 and the leg 23 of each support 18-21. As shown in Fig. 7, the hook 32 of each bolt 31 is disposed at an angle 35 of slightly less than 90 (preferably Sil-) to the axis of the bolt.

Each banner component 3 and 4 includes a sleeve or hem 36 at each end which is provided by sewing one or more rows of stitches 37 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each banner component 3 and 4 by folding over each end portion of the banner 3 and 4. An elongated rigid member 38, such as a wooden stick, extends through each sleeve 36. The members 38 and sleeve 36 are provided with aligned

apertures

40 and 39, respectively, near each end, which apertures are in alignment with apertures 30 and hook bolts 31 on the supports 18-21. The hook 32 of each bolt 31 passes through the aligned

apertures

39 and 40 and extends toward the leg 22 of the corresponding support. The foregoing construction provides a twofold means for preventing the ends of the banners 3 and 4 from becoming disengaged from the hook bolts. First, the angle of the hook 32, being less than serves to retain the ends of the banner components in engagement with the hook bolts 31. Second, the hook 32 extending toward the leg 22 of the support 20 locks the banner between the bolt 31 and said leg 22.

The use of four spaced hook bolts 31 near the corners of the rectangular banner components 3 and 4 serves as a means for retaining the components in flat, unwavy planes between the supports 18 and '19 on vone side of the pole 2 and between the supports 20 and 21 on the other side .of the pole 2. Each bolt 31 is separately spring-tensioned by its particular coil spring 34 so that the forces applied to each end of each banner component are dependent upon the tension applied to each bolt 31 through its particular spring 34. Each spring- Atensioned 4bolt 31 provides individual tensioning and adjusting means at the four corner positions of each rectangular banner component.

The stitches 37 at veach end of each banner component are supposed to be absolutely perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each banner component. However, due to the human element, the stitches 37 may be provided an an angle other than 90 to the longitudinal axis so that one end 41 on the left end of the banner component 4, as shown in Fig. 6, may be crooked, i.e., out of perpendicular with the longitudinal axis o-f the banner 4. Thus, when the banner is mounted as shown in Fig. 6, the end 41 may be spaced from the upper end of the leg 23 by a clearance 42 which is substantially less than the clearance 43 near the lower extremity of the end 41. The discrepancy due to the crooked stitches 37, however, does not prevent the use of the banner cornponen-t 4 because each bolt 31 is separately tensioned by its particular coil spring 34. Accordingly, the banner component 4 may be mounted and sustained in a taut, unwavy plane.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 in which a pair of extensions (channel members) a and 16a are provided and inverted from the position shown for

similar extensions

15 and 16 in Fig. 4. With Ithe construction of the

extensions

15a and 16a, the

supports

18 and 20 may be mounted between the

extensions

15a and 16a and the end flanges 27 of the spacer and bolted in p-lace. With such construction the extremities of the

extensions

15a and 16a are in abutment with the legs 23 of the

supports

18 and 20, as shown in the cutaway portion of Fig. 5, whereby there is no need for the alignment blocks 24, as shown in Fig. 4.

The arrangement of the members may be further varied in a manner different from the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in Fig. 8, the

supports

13 and 20 may be mounted against the web of the

channel extensions

15a and 16a rather than spanning the flanges thereof as shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, a spacer 44 may be composed of two portions 44a and 44b which are extendible to any desired length and secured together by a pair of bolts 45 in a conventional manner.

Finally, the separate assemblies of the

extensions

15a and 16a, their corresponding supports 18 and 2i), and spacer portions 44a and 44h are secured together by the similar bolts 29 with the end flanges of the spacer 44 disposed against the web of the

extensions

15a and 16a between the flanges thereof and on the opposite sides of the

supports

18 and 20. In this manner, the

supports

18 and 20 may be rotated slightly about the bolts 29 to adjust for any deviations from manufacturing standards in the other parts.

As was set forth above, the aligned extremities of the horizontal arms 6 and 7, including their

extensions

15 and 16, are laterally spaced from each other by a distance greater than the spacing between the center portions of the arms 6 and 7 because the end spacers 25 and 26 are of greater length than the spacing between the mounting means 8 at the pole 2. The resulting arcuate or bowed configuration of the arms 6 and 7 provides a mounting means for the banners 3 and 4 which prevents said banners from contacting any portion of the banner tender 1 except at their opposite ends.

In addition, by providing the separate tensioning and adjusting bolts 31 at opposite corners of the rectangular banner components, each banner component is sustained Itautly in place. The tensioning springsv 34 are suicient to yield slightly to strong -gusts of wind acting upon the surfaces of the banner components 3 and 4 without yielding sullciently to permit the ends of the banner components 3 and 4 to become disengaged from the respective hooks 32 to which the banners are attached and locked in place against the legs 22 of each support `18-21.

The device of the present invention is an improvement over prior constructions because it provides an effective means for mounting exible banners or signs horizontally for display of advertising matter on a single upright pole or standard rather than between a pair of spaced standards. The banner tender is of knockdown construction to permit economy of shipping and is adjustable for `use -with banner components of varying lengths, which components are of relatively short life compared with that of the members constituting the banner tender itself.

More particularly, the banner tender construction is a boxlike member with the banner components attached and comprises a pair of arcuate or bowed frame members, which members in combination with the individual tensioning hook bolts, sustain the flexible banner components in planes spaced from the banner parts and thereby prevent the banner components from being whipped against the parts of the banner tender and becoming damaged thereby.

Moreover, the separate tensioned and adjusting bolts separately adjust themselves -to any unevenness of spacing between upper and lower pairs of bolts and thereby retain the banner component in a at unwavy plane conducive to the best reading by a passing motorist. Such construction also yields to unusually strong gusts of Wind and automatically returns the banner cornponents to their original taut positions without permitting Ithe 'banners to become permanently deformed due to such wind action. The bolts also compensate for any elongation or contraction of the fabric constituting the banner components due to changing Weather conditions and thereby sustain the banner components in a yieldingly taut position.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of ythe prior art, because such Words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limi-ted to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the features, constructions, and principles of the invention, the characteristics of the horizontal banner mounting construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results provided; the new and useful discoveries, principles, parts, elements, combinations, subcombinations, structures, and arrangements, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

Horizontal banner and banner tender construction including an upright standard, a pair of generally horizontally -extending mounting arms, means clamping the arms to the standard with the standard between the arms and each arm extending laterally in both directions from the standard, the clamping means including a pair of spaced V-shaped members mounted on one arm and another pair of spaced V-shaped members mounted on the other arm, said one pair of V-shaped members each having a pair of V-legs forming an apex spaced inwardly from the arm and having leg edges attached to the arm, said other pair of V-shaped members each having a pair of V-legs one of which legs is adjacent and secured to the other arm and the other of which legs `between the banner support members on each arm, each end of each banner being secured to the corresponding banner support member, and means on each banner support member for engaging the corresponding ends of the banners and for holding the banners tautly in place.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 86,481 Burdick Apr. 4, 1905 8 Brumbaugh May 13, Fischer Aug. 15, Simmons Mar. 20, Fitzgerald Mar. 18, Pistocco Feb. 19, Grifn Mar. 4, Castleton Jan. 11, Berstein Aug. 23, Wood et al. Dec. 413, De Wees Sept. 26, Andreson May 22, Austin Dec. 15, Vernon June 6, Frey Oct. 2,