US3102353A

US3102353A - Banner mounting construction

Info

Publication number: US3102353A
Application number: US107183A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elliott J Kies
Original assignee: MASSILLON CLEVELAND AKRON SIGN CO
Current assignee: MASSILLON CLEVELAND AKRON SIGN CO
Priority date: 1961-05-02
Filing date: 1961-05-02
Publication date: 1963-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-03

Description

Sept. 3, 1963 155 3,102,353

BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY Elbiotk JKzJes 9W,M W8 M ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1963 E. J. KIES J 3,102,353

BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 35 PI 28 INV EN TOR.

BY ELM/0% JKzJes ,M&Wa.& M

ATTORNEYS BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTEUN; 1 Elliott JrKiES, Massilion, Ohio, assignor to The Massi llon-f Cleveland-Akron Sign Company, Massilion, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio FiledMay 2, 1961, Seral lo. 107,183 i 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-128) i This invention relates to banners or signs composed of fabricor other flexiblesheetiike material and more par- I 'ticularly it pertains to means for mounting a flexible banner in ,a taut position to prevent its deterioration due to flapping or whipping caused by the wind which otherwise occurs where the banner is not mounted tautly in place.

Signs and banners of the flexible type which are composed of sheetlike fabric materials have been widely accepted as an advertising medium because of their low cost and upkeep. Such banners have a relatively short life compared to signs composed of other materials such as metal. Nevertheless, the lifev of fabric signs can be increased considerably by mounting the signs in such a manner that they will not sag or bulge or crease due tot-henormal action of wind,

Ithas been found that sheetlike banners composedof fabric materials can be used as signs for greatly extended periods of time where the banners are mounted tautly in suchta mannerthat the entire banner, rather than any portio nof it, moves with the wind. In that manner the action of the wind does not bend the surface of the sign and thereby cause the threadcomposing the fabric .-tobend back and forth and subsequently break and result in a tear in the material. Likewise, the fabric material of which the sign is composed is particularly recep- {tive to paint and where the fabric is permitted to yield, the paint is gradually loosened and subsequently peels from the surface.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide "abanner mounting construction which yields to various forces such as the wind without causing the usual sagging and whipping of the fabric material of which the banner is composed.

It isanother object of this invention to provide a banner mounting construction which permits the banner to yield entirely to the 'actionof wind or other objects a United States Patent I V 3,102,353 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 ice . :2 which isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims'forming part hereof.

Generally, the banner mountingconstruction "of the present invention may be described as comprising a sheetlike banner or sign composed of flexible fabric material,

the banner" being rectangular and having hem portions along opposite ends and edges, a rigid stiffening member disposed in each end hem POI'il0l'l,=6ZlCh stiffening member and correspondingbanner hem portionhaving aligned apertures located-on the longitudinal axis of the banner,

banner mountingmeans including a bracket at each end of the banner, each bracket having a V-shaped configuration including alower apex and upper end portions, each bracket being disposed along the surface of the banner and having its apex aligned withthe apertures of the end hem portion and stiffening member, means extending without permitting any portion of the banner surface to bend, twist or sag and thereby resultinultimate local deterioration of the sign. l

, It is another object of this invention to provide a banner mounting construction which permits the entire sign-to swaywith movements of the wind or other objects by maintaining the banner in a rigid single plane.

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, and

the described difficulties overcome, by the apparatus,

constructions, arrangements, combinations, subcombinations, elements, parts, and principles, which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the foregoing general statements, a preferred embodiment of which-i-llustr-ative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and

noticed by potential customers.

through said apertures for securing the apex of said bracket to the banner, and the upper end portions of each bracketbeing pivotally attached to 'a bracket plate and each bracket plate being attached to the end surface of a horizontal member and spaced from each other by a distance substantially equal to the length of the banner.

In the drawings in which the preferred embodiment is shownby way of example:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a flexible banner or sign mounted at its upper edge to the under surface of a -portico or doorway of a service station;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the banner or sign yields to the movement of a high vehicle when necessary;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary clevational view of one of the' FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the bracket in the storage position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

L As shown in FIG; 1, a banner or sign is generally indicated at 1 and is attached to the under surface of a portico or canopy 2 which extends outwardly from a filling station 3. Likewise, a banner or sign 4 having a construction identical with that of the sign 1 is similarly mounted on the head 5 of-a doorway 6. Each banner 1 and 4 is provided with banner mounting means including a V- shaped bracket 7 at each end of the banner.

The banners 1 and *4 are rectangular members for hor-izontal display which are adapted for temporary use in conspicuous locations where they cannot escape being Each banner .1 and 4 is a sheetlike member composed of a flexiblematerial such as a fabric. The banner 1 includes an end hem portion '8, one of which is shown in FIG. 4, which is provided by folding over an end portion of the material and securing it to the back side of the rigidly in place.

movement of traffic under the fabric material, their useful life is banner bystitching 9.- .A stiffening member 19 such as a wood slat is enclosed in each hem portion 8.

I f In addition, each banner 1 is provided with opposite edge hem portions 11 and 12 in which flexible stifiening members 13 such as rope are provided and secured in place by stitching 14. .Moreover, an elongated envelope l5,which is composed of a fabric-similar to that of the banner 1, is provided at spaced intervals along the banner'l which envelo e as shown in FIG. 5, is com osed r P 3 p of a folded over portion of material and stitched longitudinallyv at 16. In; addition, a stretcher or stiffening member 17 is contained in each envelope which extends substantially'between the upper and lower edge hem portions 11 and 12.

' 7 As shown in FIG. 4,. the upper and lower ends of the i envelope are secured in place at 18 and U by the stitchingswhich form the upper andlower edge hem portions-11 and 12. As shown in FlGQF at least two envelopes-15 having stiffeners 17 mounted thereinmay be provided between opposite ends of the banner 1 in-order' to stretch ,the center portion and prevent the flat surface of thebanner from becoming distorted due totheweather elements over a period of time.

As shown in FIG. 4, one of the pair' of \/.-s haped brackets 7 is mounted on the back of the banner 1. The bracket includes a vertical portionzilr and an inclined portion 21 which form an apex 22 at their lower ends, which apex is aligned with apertures (notshown) extending I through the fabric forming the hem '8 and an aperture in the wood slat 10. A nut and bolt assemblyidextends through the apertures and the apex 22 and for conven- ,ience a Washer 24 (FIG. 7) is secured, such 'asby weldthe nut and bolt assembly 23' ing, at the apex to hold The upperends of the vertical and inolined portions and 21 are provided with

outturned end portions

25 and 26, respectively. Each

endportion

25 and 26 is pivotally grnounted in a bearing 27, which in turn is seated in a pillow block 28. Each pillow block 28 is in turn secured by a rivet 29 to a-mounting plate 30. Each plate 30 is attached to the under sunfia'ce of a portico or the heads. of a doorway by spaced toggle bolts 31, as shown in FIGS. 4

and 8. The spacing between the upper ends of the verti cal and

inclined portions

20 and 21 is preferably main tained by a spacer 3 2, the ends of which are secured to said portions by similar welds 33.

By such "construction the banner mounting means or gbrackets 7 are held tightly in place at a spaced interval from each other, as shown in FIG. 3. portions of the banner 1 are-held snugly against the verti- Ihe end surface cal

andinclined portions

20 and 21 which reinforce the banner and prevent it from twisting and turning in the wind. The inclined portions 21 hold the banner tautly in place between the brackets 7 by preventing the lower apices 22 from moving together slightly and thereby causing the banner to sag.

- may be rigidly mounted in place and sustainedfin a flat v to be broadly construed.

tautly in the rain and sun.

During the periods when the sitionshown in FIG. 7. The latch 34 is a turn button pivotally mounted at 35011 the plate 30. By turning the I latch 34 to the position shown in FIG. 7, it is disposed in the path of movement of the spacer 32 and therebyholds thebracket in the horizontal position.

The device of the present, inventionprovides a and other objects withoutdetrimentto the sign; By providing the-spaced V-shaped brackets, the cloth banner plane whereby it is free to sway with the wind as a rigid unit.

' The banner mounting construction of the present invent-ion permits the fabric of the banner to stretchanddry In the windthe entire unit is likewise preserved from flapping and sub-sequent fraying and tearing of-the threads because the. entire unit swings back and forth in the-wind with noresulting damage whatsoever. The ropes in the edge margins prevent the banner from stretching unduly out of shape.

p In the foregoing description certain terms have-been used for brevity, cle-arness andunderstanding, but no unnecessary limitations have been implied therefrom as such words are used for descriptive purposes and are intended Moreover, the embodiments of the tothe exact construction shown.

Having now described theinvention, construction, op-

eration and use of apreferred. embodiment, thereof and f the advantageous, new and usefulresults' obtained there by; the new and useful banner mounting construction and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious. to those skilled in the art are setforth'in the appended .1

claims. What is claimed is:' ,1 I

l. A banner mounting construction for fastening on a horizontal structure including an elongated banner composed of flexible sheetlike material and'havingvertical hem portions at opposite ends thereof, --an elongated reinforcing member in andcoextensive with eachhem portion and havinga flat surface, a pair of banner inount- I ing brackets pivotally mounted attheir upper ends on Accordingly, the spacing for the wood slats 10 at each end of. the banner 1 is equal to the spacing between the apices 22 of the brackets 7. In that manner the bannerl is free to swing back and forth on an axis extending,

.7, which are composed of elongated metallic rods. Ac cordingly, the banners 1 and 4 are preferably used intermittently fied nature, such as the introduction of anew product or service. f i i 60. through the aligned bearings 270i the spaced brackets 7. In addition, :as shown in FIG. 2, when a high vehicle a horizontal structure and depending therefrom, the

' brackets being spaced from each other byv a distance substantially equal to the length of the banner, each bracket being a;V-shape d member having diverging leg pontions, providing an apex at the lower end thereof, the leg portion of one bracket nearer the other bracket being inclined upwardly, means detachablyzmounting each end I portion of the, banner on one correspondingbracket at its apex and holding the flat surface of the upper portion of the corresponding reinforcing member against one leg portion of the bracket to prevent rotation of-said reinforcing member aboutithe horizontal axis passing between I "the spaced apices of the brackets, the detachablefmountsuchas during advertising campaigns of a speciing means also holding said flatportion against the other leg portion to prevent rotation of said reinforcing member about its longitudinal axis, whereby the flexible sheetlike banner is held tautly between the brackets in a Wrinkle-free'manner by the upwardly extending legs ofeach bracket and whereby the snug contact between the other signs 1 "and 4 are not in use the brackets 7 are'st'ored in a horizontalp'osition, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, by turning each bracket 7 up. i wardly from the vertical to the horizontalposition and f maintaining that position by turning !a latch 34 into the 'pobanner mounting construction in which afiexible fabric banner may be used as a highly effective advertising medium for aspecific advertising campaign. The devices provides a relativelyinexpensive cloth'bannerw-luch is mounted and sustained in a single plane responsive to-forces of the wind In that ,m'tanner the sign doesnot sag, wrinkle, crease, or bulge, which frequently results in repeated bend-- Y ingand subsequent breaking of the threads of the fabric improved ,cons-truction illustrated and described herein are by way ofcxams pleand the scope of the present invention is not limited 5 leg of each bracket and the upper end portion of the reinforcing member prevents rotation of the banner about its horizontal axis.

2. The banner mounting construction of claim 1 in which each V-shaped bracket has aperture means at its 5 lower vertex, in which the detachable mounting means includes a nut and bolt assembly extending through the aperture means, in which the upper end portions of the legs of the V-brackets are turned outwardly for pivotal connection on a horizontal structure, and in which the 10 turned-out end portions of both brackets are disposed in a single axis of rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cranmer May 8, Murphey et .al May 12, Carson Feb. 19, Lippold Feb. 11, Farrell Aug. 19, Schott Dec. 8,

Claims

1. A BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION FOR FASTENING ON A HORIZONTAL STRUCTURE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BANNER COMPOSED OF FLEXIBLE SHEETLIKE MATERIAL AND HAVING VERTICAL HEM PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, AN ELONGATED REINFORCING MEMBER IN AND COEXTENSIVE WITH EACH HEM PORTION AND HAVING A FLAT SURFACE, A PAIR OF BANNER MOUNTING BRACKETS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS ON A HORIZONTAL STRUCTURE AND DEPENDING THEREFROM, THE BRACKETS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER BY A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF THE BANNER, EACH BRACKET BEING A V-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING DIVERGING LEG PORTIONS PROVIDING AN APEX AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, THE LEG PORTION OF ONE BRACKET NEARER THE OTHER BRACKET BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY, MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTING EACH END PORTION OF THE BANNER ON ONE CORRESPONDING BRACKET AT ITS APEX AND HOLDING THE FLAT SURFACE OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CORRESPONDING REINFORCING MEMBER AGAINST ONE LEG PORTION OF THE BRACKET TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBER ABOUT THE HORIZONTAL AXIS PASSING BETWEEN THE SPACED APICES OF THE BRACKETS, THE DETACHABLE MOUNTING MEANS ALSO HOLDING SAID FLAT PORTION AGAINST THE OTHER LEG PORTION TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBER ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, WHEREBY THE FLEXIBLE SHEETLIKE BANNER IS HELD TAUTLY BETWEEN THE BRACKETS IN A WRINKLE-FREE MANNER BY THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING LEGS OF EACH BRACKET AND WHEREBY THE SNUG CONTACT BETWEEN THE OTHER LEG OF EACH BRACKET AND THE UPPER END PORTION OF THE REINFORCING MEMBER PREVENTS ROTATION OF THE BANNER ABOUT ITS HORIZONTAL AXIS.