WO2003088196A1

WO2003088196A1 - Panel hanging system

Info

Publication number: WO2003088196A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/010910
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert A. Spurr
Original assignee: Spurr Robert A
Priority date: 2002-04-08
Filing date: 2002-04-08
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Also published as: AU2002314737A1

Abstract

Securing at least a first portion of a panel to a surface generally includes a base plate that is secured to the surface and a rail that is engaged by the base plate and that defines a first channel capable of receiving the first portion of the panel. The surface may include a billboard and the panel may include an advertisement applied to the billboard. A cover (60) may be secured over the rail (40). The cover may include an outwardly extending tongue (64) that engages the first channel to secure the first portion of the panel in the first channel.

Description

Docket No.: 12999-002WO1

PANEL HANGING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to panel hanging systems in general, and in particular to systems for hanging advertising panels from walls or other vertical surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In any advertising campaign, many companies rely on printed billboards secured to walls or other vertical surfaces in order to promote their goods and services. Traditional methods of hanging a billboard from a wall may involve painting the wall with an adhesive glue. After the glue has become partially cured, multiple vinyl sheets having printed images or text may be arranged on the wall by removing a backing layer from the vinyl strips to expose a pressure sensitive adhesive. Next, the vinyl strips typically are pressed onto the adhesive wall to form a tight bond. These methods of hanging a billboard from a wall may not create a good bond between the adhesive and the vinyl strips due to the weather. Also, it may be difficult to align the billboard on the wall and to remove the strips from the wall without damaging the underlying surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one general aspect, securing at least a first portion of a panel to a surface generally includes a base plate that is secured to the surface and a rail that is engaged by the base plate and that defines a first channel capable of receiving the first portion of the panel.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the surface may include a billboard and the panel may include an advertisement applied to the billboard. The rail may include an elongated length relative to a width of the first channel. The first portion of the panel includes an edge of the panel. The rail may include more than one rail and the rails may form a frame.

A cover may be secured over the rail. The cover may include an outwardly extending tongue that engages the first channel to secure the first portion of the panel Docket No.: 12999-002WO1 in the first channel. The cover and the rail may include at least one hole sized to receive a fastener to secure the cover over the rail. The tongue may include two outwardly biased members that press the first portion of the panel against a wall of the first channel. The cover may include more than one cover. The rail may define a second channel that receives a second portion of the panel, which includes a welt. The second channel may include a C-shaped channel.

An end of the cover may include an outwardly extending lip and the rail may include a third channel to receive the lip on the end of the cover. The outwardly extending lip on the end of the cover may form a hook and the third channel may be defined by a pair of walls, where at least one of the walls includes a hook to engage the hook on the end of the cover. The first channel may be defined by a pair of walls, where at least one of the walls includes at least one bite and at least one groove.

The surface may include a vertical structure, such as, for example, a wall.

These general and specific aspects may be implemented using a system, or method, or any combination of systems and methods.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates a system for securing a panel to a surface. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an extruded metal rail that secures an edge of a panel to a surface.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an extruded rail for securing a panel to a surface.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an extruded rail for securing a panel to a surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 illustrates a system for hanging a panel to a wall or other surface. Although the example shown illustrates hanging a panel to a wall, the system also Docket No.: 12999-002WO1 may be useful for hanging a panel on any surface including the sides of buses, trucks, stand-alone billboards or other structures that may be used to hang panels.

A panel 10 may include a fabric panel, a sheet of vinyl mesh and/or the housing for an electronic medium used to display advertising images and/or text. To hang the panel 10 on a building wall 12, a number of extruded rails 14 typically are secured to the wall 12 forming a frame into which the edges of the panel 10 are secured. The extruded rails 14 may be secured to the wall 12 or other surface using lag bolts or other fasteners. The top of the frame may include an extruded C-channel 16 that is secured to the wall 12 with suitable fasteners. The C-channel 16 may receive a welt 18 that is incorporated into the top edge of the panel 10. With the welt 18 inserted into the C-channel 16, a top rail 14A may be placed over the C-channel 16 and secured to the wall 12.

Each of the extruded rails 14 that form the frame may include a center channel 20 over which an edge of the panel 10 is laid. To secure the panel 10 in the center channel 20, one or more of the extruded rails 14 may include an associated cover 24. Because the top edge of the panel is held to the wall 12 by the welt 18 that is secured within the C-channel 16, there may not be enough panel 10 above the welt 18 to extend over the top rail 14 A. Therefore, the cover 24 on the top extruded rail 14A may be for decorative purposes. The covers 24 include a tongue 26 on their back surfaces. The tongue 26 typically includes two outwardly biased members that fit within the center channel 20 in the rails 14 and pinch the panel 10 against the walls of the center channel 20. The covers 24 generally include a width that may be substantially equal to the width of the extruded rails 14 and may be niitered at their corners to create a finished look. In one implementation, the covers 24 may secure the bottom and side edges of the panel 10 to the extruded rails 14. Additionally or alternatively, the covers 24 may secure the top, bottom, and side edges of the panel 10 to the extruded rails 14.

To ensure that the covers 24 do not come loose from the extruded rails 14, one or more fasteners 28 may be used to secure the covers to the extruded rails 14. Such fasteners 28 may include any form of fastener, such as, for example, sheet metal screws or nylon pop-in fasteners similar to those commonly used to secure upholstery Docket No.: 12999-002WO1 in car doors. The fasteners 28 may be removable such that the panel 10 can be easily removed from the wall 12 and replaced. However, if a permanent installation is desired, other fastening techniques, such as welding or the use of adhesives, could be used to secure the covers 24 to the extruded rails 14. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of an extruded rail 14. The rail 14 includes two legs 30a, 30b that may be perpendicular to and engage the surface to which the rail 14 is secured. The legs 30a, 30b typically support relatively flat lands 32a, 32b that are spaced from and parallel to the wall 12 to which the rail 14 is secured. Between the lands 32a, 32b is a channel 24 into which a panel 10 may be secured. For example, the channel 24 may include a generally square shape. As discussed above, lag bolts or other fasteners, which may be used to secure the extruded rail 14 to the wall 12, may be drilled through the area of the lands 32a, 32b on the outer surface of the rail 14. Alternatively, the fasteners may be placed in the center channel 24.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-section of one implementation of an extruded rail 40 used to secure a panel 10 to a wall 12 or other surface. The extruded rail 40 may include a relatively flat base plate 42 that engages the wall 12 or other surface to which a panel 10 is to be secured. Extending outwardly from the base plate 42 are a pair of walls 44 A, 44B that define a channel 46 on the outer surface of the extruded rail 40. In one instance, the walls 44A, 44B may extend outwardly from approximately the center of the base plate 42 to define a semi-circular channel 46 on the outer surface of the extruded rail 40. Adjacent the wall 44A may be a relatively flat land 43 that provides a surface through which a fastener (not shown) can be placed to secure the rail 40 to a wall.

Adjacent the wall 44B may be a semi-circular wall 50 that defines a C-channel 52 in the rail 40. The C-channel 52 generally includes an opening 54 that is smaller than the diameter of the C-channel 52 such that a welt 18 that is sewn into a panel 10 can be threaded into the C-channel 52 at an end of the rail 40 and held in place. Adjacent the C-channel 52 may be a relatively flat land 56 in the rail 40 that provides a surface in which a fastener (not shown) can be placed to secure the rail 40 to a wall or other surface. Docket No.: 12999-002WO1

Cover 60, having an outer surface 62, may be fitted over the extruded rail 40. The cover 60 may be slightly curved. The rear surface of the cover 60 may include a tongue 64 having a pair of outwardly biased members 66 that fit within the channel 46. The members 66 may have hooks 68 at their outer ends that fit with corresponding grooves 70 in the bottom of channel 46 to further retain the members 66 in the channel 46.

To secure a panel (e.g., a fabric panel) to a wall or other structure, a number of extruded rails 40 may be secured to the wall to outline the frame of the panel. At the top edge of the frame, a welt 18 included in the panel maybe threaded through the C- channel 52. On the remaimng sides, the panel is stretched over the channel 46 and the outer cover 60 is snapped into place such that the tongue 64 pushes the panel against the side walls 44 A, 44B of the channel 46. hi some installations where the panel is not large or subject to windy conditions, the panel may omit the welt and all sides of the panel may be secured to the rail using the covers 60 that pinch the panel into the channels 46. hi general, the sides of the panel may include one or more tabs with grommets in them spaced along its lengths. The tabs are pulled using ratcheted stretchers or by hand to remove any wrinkles from the panel prior to securing the panel in place using the covers 60. Once in place, the tabs may be cut off. In addition, the outer surface 62 of the covers 60 may be colored or may have graphics to match the graphics of the panel being secured.

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-section of one implementation of an extruded rail 40 used to secure a panel 10 to a wall 12 or other surface. Extruded rail 40 may be used in place of, or in addition to, any or all of the configuration illustrated in Fig. 1, including components 14, 14A, 16, and 20. h this implementation, the walls 44A, 44B that define the channel 46 may include one or more bites and grooves 45 on the inner surface of walls 44 A, 44B. The bites and grooves 45 may be used to grip and hold the panel within the channel 46. Additionally, the outwardly biased members 66 of tongue 64 may include hooks 68 at their outer ends that fit with the bites and groove 45 to further retain the members 66 in the channel 46. Docket No.: 12999-002WO1

As discussed above, one or more fasteners 28 may be used to secure the cover 60 to the extruded rail 40. Fastener 28 may be fastened through a hole 29 in the cover 60 and a corresponding hole 31 in the extruded rail 40.

The extruded rail 40 also may include a channel 47 defined by walls 49 A, 49B that may extend outwardly from one end of the base plate 42. Channel 47 may be used to receive an end of the cover 60. In one instance, at least one of the walls 49 A, 49B that define channel 47 may include a hook 51. An end of the cover 60 may form a hook 53 that may be used to secure the end of the cover 60 in channel 47 by mating under hook 51. Additionally, at least one of the walls 49 A, 49B may narrow at the top of the wall to an approximate point 73 that may be used to hold the panel taut prior to placing the cover 60 over the extruded rail 40.

Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the particular shape of the metal extrusions used to secure the panels to the walls may be varied depending upon the desired application. Additionally or alternatively, the mechanism used to secure the panel in the channel of the extrusion may vary. For instance, the tongue on the rear surface of the covers may include a rubber or polyurethane member that expands when compressed into the channel.

Claims

Docket No.: 12999-002WO1 What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for securing at least a first portion of a panel to a surface, the apparatus comprising: a base plate that is secured to the surface; and at least one rail that is engaged by the base plate and that is structured and arranged: to define a first channel capable of receiving the first portion of the panel, and to define a second channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the surface includes a billboard such that the base plate is secured to the billboard, and the panel includes an advertisement applied to the billboard.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail includes an elongated length relative to a width of the first channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the panel consists of an edge of the panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail includes more than one rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rails form a frame on the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cover secured over the rail, the cover including an outwardly extending tongue that engages the first channel to secure the first portion of the panel in the first channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cover and the rail include at least one hole sized to receive a fastener to secure the cover over the rail. Docket No.: 12999-002WO1

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tongue includes two outwardly biased members that press the first portion of the panel against a wall of the first channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: more than one rail is secured to the surface, and the cover includes more than one cover.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the panel includes a second portion having a welt, and the rail is structured and arranged to define the second channel capable of receiving the welt.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second channel includes a C- shaped channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: an end of the cover includes an outwardly extending lip, and the rail is structured and arranged to define a third channel capable of receiving the lip on the end of the cover.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: the outwardly extending lip on the end of the cover forms a hook, and the third channel is defined by a pair of walls wherein at least one of the walls includes a hook to engage the hook on the end of the cover.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first channel is defined by a pair of walls, at least one of the walls including at least one bite and at least one groove. Docket No.: 12999-002WO1

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface includes a vertical structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface includes a wall.

18. A method for securing at least a first portion of a panel to a surface, the method comprising: positioning the first portion of the panel relative to a first channel and a second channel defined by a rail that is secured to the surface; and inserting a cover over the rail, the cover including an outwardly extending tongue that engages the first channel to secure the first portion of the panel in the first channel.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising positioning the first portion of the panel over an extrusion that extends outwardly from the rail that is structured and arranged to engage the first portion of the panel and to hold the panel taut prior to inserting the cover over the rail.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein: the surface includes a billboard, and the panel includes an advertisement applied to the billboard.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein positioning the first portion of the panel includes positioning an edge of the panel relative to the first channel of the rail.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the rail includes more than one rail and further comprising forming a frame with the rails.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein: the cover and the rail each include at least one hole sized to receive a fastener, and Docket No.: 12999-002WO1 inserting the cover over the rail includes inserting the fastener through the hole in the cover and the rail to secure the cover over the rail.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein: 5 the rail includes more than one rail, and the cover includes more than one cover.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein: the panel includes a second portion having a welt, and o further comprising inserting the welt into the second channel.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein inserting the cover over the rail includes engaging the first portion of the panel by inserting the cover into the first channel. 5

27. The method of claim 18 wherein inserting the cover over the rail includes using the cover to increase tension of the panel by inserting the cover into the first channel.

0 28. The method of claim 25 wherein: the rail defines a third channel capable of receiving an end of the cover, and inserting the cover over the rail includes using the end of the cover to increase tension of the panel by inserting the end of the cover into the third channel and inserting the outwardly extending tongue into the first channel. 5

29. An apparatus for securing at least a first portion of a panel to a surface, the apparatus comprising: a first means that is secured to the surface; and a second means that is engaged by the first means and that: 0 defines a first channel to receive the first portion of the panel, and defines a second channel. Docket No.: 12999-002WO1

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the surface includes a billboard such that the first means is secured to the billboard, and the panel includes an advertisement applied to the billboard.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the second means includes an elongated length relative to a width of the first channel.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the first portion of the panel consists of an edge of the panel.

33, The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the second means form a frame on the surface.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a cover means secured over the second means, the cover means including an outwardly extending tongue that engages the first channel to secure the first portion of the panel in the first channel.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the panel includes a second portion having a welt, and the second means defines the second channel to receive the welt.