WO2021254664A1

WO2021254664A1 - Banner system

Info

Publication number: WO2021254664A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/025215
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graeme Wilson; Niven WHITEOK
Original assignee: Niven Truck Bodies Limited
Priority date: 2020-06-18
Filing date: 2021-06-17
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Also published as: GB202009368D0; GB2596136A

Abstract

A banner system (10) comprises a spindle for storing a banner thereon, a spindle housing (12) having first and second ends and banner tensioning means, and a banner end attachment arrangement. The spindle is operable to carry a banner (16) rolled thereon. The banner end attachment arrangement is operable to attach to a free end of a said banner. The tensioning means is operable to apply a tension on the said attached banner between the spindle and the attachment arrangement.

Description

BANNER SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to banner systems and particularly banner systems for displaying information which may be, for example, public information, public safety, advertising and marketing.

BACKGROUND

Various types of banners are known and used for advertising and marketing different products and delivering information such as public safety information and for providing a queuing route. Banners are often fabricated on a backing material of a plastics material. The banner industry has developed from using traditional vinyl cut banners to banners printed by large ultra-wide format inkjet printers on various vinyl and fabric materials using solvent inks and ultraviolet-curable inks.

Banners are used in many different industries to present information and deliver organizational brand awareness with current on-point messages or brand promotion to a targeted viewer. It is recognized that it is important for the banner to display and deliver a well-presented and clear message.

Banners can be displayed in many different situations such as, for example, by hanging from an existing feature, fixed directly to a wall or free standing. When hung or suspended, it is necessary to use some method of attachment to prevent the banner from tearing or becoming detached and blown away by adverse weather conditions. This can look untidy, irresponsible and can be potentially dangerous to passing pedestrians and vehicles. For businesses, this can have a detrimental effect on public perception of the company’s brand and reputation.

Known methods of attachment of banners include plastic ties or bungee-type retainers, which are passed through eyelets formed in the banner. Use of such attachment methods is usually relatively time consuming, requires trained installers and the use of tools such as scissors, knives, screwdrivers and ladders.

Moreover, it is usually impossible for the banner fitter to be able to achieve sufficient tension in the banner such that it has the appearance of a solid quality display providing professional delivery of a well-presented and clear message, which is desirable in the industry.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a banner system which addresses the desires in the industry and which provides means for a professional quality display banner, which is relatively easy, safe and cost effective to install.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a banner system comprising: a spindle for storing a banner thereon; a spindle housing having first and second ends and banner tensioning means; and a banner end attachment arrangement; wherein the spindle is operable to carry a banner rolled thereon, the banner end attachment arrangement is operable to attach to a free end of a said banner and the tensioning means is operable to apply a tension on the said attached banner between the spindle and the attachment arrangement.

The banner end attachment arrangement is advantageously operable to detachably attach to a said free end of the said banner.

The banner tensioning means may be disposed on the first end of the spindle housing.

The spindle housing advantageously comprises a worm gear.

The banner system may further comprise a tensioning handle for manually driving the worm gear.

Alternatively, the banner system may further comprise a tensioning powered driver for power driving the worm gear.

The banner system may further comprise a spindle housing pillar on which the spindle housing is disposed.

The banner system may further comprise a banner attachment arrangement pillar, on which the banner end attachment arrangement is disposed. The spindle housing advantageously comprises spindle engagement means.

The spindle engagement means is advantageously operatively connected to the tensioning means.

The spindle engage means is advantageously disposed on the first and second ends of the spindle housing and operable

The banner attachment arrangement advantageously comprises a banner attachment member, a banner attachment member retainer operable to retain the banner attachment member, and a banner attachment housing engageable with the attachment member retainer.

The banner system may further comprise a banner, wherein the banner may have a free end comprising an attachment aperture operable to receive the banner attachment member.

The attachment aperture advantageously comprises a hem formed at the free end of the banner.

The banner system may form part of a vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a banner system according to the first aspect of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a drawing generally showing a banner system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a drawing from above of the banner system of Figure 1 ;

Figures 3, 3a, 3b and 3c are drawings of a spindle housing of the banner system of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a drawing of one end of the spindle housing of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows an end portion of a banner end attachment arrangement of the banner system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows the opposing end of the banner end attachment arrangement of Figure 5;

Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show attachment of a banner to the banner end attachment arrangement of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 shows the end portion of a banner end attachment arrangement of Figure 5, in an assembled state; and

Figure 9 shows the spindle housing of Figure 3 and 4 having means for attachment to a horizontal surface.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a banner system 10, according to the present invention, comprises a spindle housing pillar 12 and a banner attachment pillar 14, which, in use is spaced apart from the spindle housing pillar 12. In use, a banner 16 extends from the spindle housing pillar 12 and is attached to the banner attachment pillar 14. The banner 16 is formed from a flexible material

The spindle housing pillar 12 and/or the banner attachment pillar 14 may be attached to a portion of ground or an upright surface such as a wall. In an alternative embodiment, either the spindle housing pillar 12 or the attachment pillar 14 is attached to the ground in a fixed position and the other pillar (either spindle housing pillar 12 or the attachment pillar 14) is mobile around the fixed pillar.

In Figures 1 and 2, the spindle housing pillar 12 and the banner attachment pillar 14 have a rectangular cross-section profile. However, in other embodiments, the profile of the pillars may be of a different shape depending on the application or for aesthetic appearance. For example, a pillar may have a partially arcuate or round profile, which is preferable if a pillar is used as an intermediate pillar disposed between the spindle housing pillar 12 and the banner attachment pillar 14 to provide additional support to the banner 16 or cause a change in direction of the banner 16. Referring also to Figures 3 to 4, the banner system 10 comprises a spindle housing 18 for housing a detachably attachable spindle on which the banner 16 is rolled for storage and transportation.

The spindle housing 18 has an open front portion 20, at least one closed side portion 22, a first end portion 24 and a second end portion 26.

The spindle housing 18 further comprises banner tensioning means 28 comprising a worm gearing 30 driven by a manual or power tool through a worm gearing engagement aperture 32, wherein a suitably dimensioned manual or power tool (not shown) is inserted into the engagement aperture 32 to drive the worm gearing 30. In other embodiments, alternative gearing mechanisms can be used provided they are operable to assert a tension on the banner 16.

The spindle housing 18 further comprises spindle engagement means provided by a first spindle engagement member 34, disposed at the first end 24, and a second spindle engagement member 36, disposed at the second end 26. The first and second spindle engagement members, 34 and 36, are disposed in a spaced apart relationship to oppose each other on a corresponding longitudinal axis extending across the length between the ends, 24 and 26, of the spindle housing 18. The first and second spindle engagement members, 34 and 36, are free to rotate relative to the spindle housing 18.

Each of the spindle engagement members, 34 and 36, have a spindle engaging end, 38 and 40 respectively, operable to engage with corresponding engaging end of the spindle (not shown).

The spindle housing 18 is disposed on the spindle housing pillar 12.

Referring also to Figures 5 to 8, the banner system 10 further comprises a banner attachment arrangement 42. The banner attachment arrangement 42 comprises a banner attachment housing 44, a banner attachment member retainer 46 and a banner attachment member 48.

Referring specifically to Figures 5 and 6, the banner attachment housing 44 has a first end 50 and a second end 52. The first end 50 has a retainer engagement member 54, which extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the banner attachment housing 44. The second end 52 has a wall portion 56 having a retaining receiver 58 disposed to align with the retainer engagement member 54 disposed on the opposing first end 50.

The banner attachment housing 44 also has a side wall 60 at least a portion of which is formed into a curved edge to act as a banner guide 62 to guide and/or protect the banner 16 in use.

The banner attachment member retainer 46 has a first end 64 and a second end 66. The first end 64 has end stop portion 68, which has an internal retainer engagement member receiver (not shown). The second end 66 is formed having a two spaced apart regions of greater diameter extending partially around its circumference to form a circumferential retaining groove 70 therebetween.

Referring to both Figures 5 and 6, the banner attachment member retainer 46 further comprises a longitudinal inner channel 72 extending from the first end 64 to the second end 66. The longitudinal inner channel 72 has a narrower longitudinal opening 74 extending for the length of the inner channel 72, between the first and second ends, 64 and 66.

The banner attachment member 48 is a pole-like member having a first end 76 and second end 78. The banner attachment member 48 is dimensioned to be displaceable into the longitudinal inner channel 72 through the second end 66 of the banner attachment member retainer 46 but has a diameter greater than the narrower longitudinal opening 74 and therefore cannot pass through the opening 74 and is only able to be displaced along the longitudinal axis of the inner channel 72 of the banner attachment member retainer 46. The banner attachment member 48 also has a handle 80 disposed on the second end 78.

Referring to Figure 7a, in use the banner attachment member retainer 46 is disposed in the banner attachment housing 44 with the retainer engagement member 54 inserted in the retainer engagement member receiver (not shown), of the banner attachment member retainer 46, and the circumferential retaining groove 70, of the attachment retainer member 46, disposed to engage the retaining receiver 58, of the banner attachment housing 44, at the second ends, 52 and 66, respectively, thereof. A free end portion 80 of the banner 16 has an attachment aperture 82 formed from hemming the end portion 80 of the banner 16.

Referring to Figures 7a, 7b and 7c, in use, the attachment aperture 82, of the banner 16, is inserted into the longitudinal inner channel 72, of the banner attachment member retainer 46, through the narrower longitudinal opening 74, as shown in Figure 7b. With the attachment aperture 82, of the banner 16, inserted into the longitudinal inner channel 72, the first end 76 of the banner attachment member 48 is inserted into the banner attachment aperture 82 and pushed, using the handle 80, through the inner channel 72 to the first end 64 of the banner attachment member retainer 46. With the banner attachment member 48 fully inserted, the banner 16 is securely attached to the banner attachment housing 44, as shown in Figure 7c. The assembled banner attachment arrangement 42 is shown in Figure 8, without a banner attached for the benefit of clarity.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8, a banner fitter will arrive with a banner 16 stored on a spindle. The spindle is attached to the spindle engaging ends, 38 and 40, of the spindle housing 18. The banner 16 is unwound from attached spindle and extended from the spindle housing pillar 12 to the banner attachment pillar 14. At the banner attachment pillar 14 the end portion 80 of the banner 18 is attached the banner attachment arrangement 42 as shown in Figures 7a to 7c.

Also referring to Figure 9, with the banner 16 attached to the banner attachment arrangement 42, a tool 84, such as a mechanical tensioning handle, is inserted into the worm gearing engagement aperture 32. In an alternative embodiment, the tool may be a power tool. Activating the tool 84 actuates the worm gearing 30 to rotate the first spindle engagement member 34 and thereby engage the spindle through the spindle engaging end 38, thereby rotating the spindle to induce the required tension on the banner 16.

Figure 9 also shows the spindle housing 18 attached to a horizontal surface 86 through an attachment plate 88. The horizontal surface 86 maybe, for example, a portion of ground or flooring. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the spindle housing 18 maybe similarly attached to a vertical surface such as, for example, a wall using an attachment plate (not shown). Additionally, the banner attachment arrangement 42 maybe similarly attached to horizontal or vertical surfaces using a appropriate attachment plate (not shown). In another embodiment, the spindle housing pillar 12 and the attachment pillar 14 mate be attachable to horizontal or vertical surfaces.

In an alternative embodiment, the banner system 10, according to the present invention, may form part of a vehicle (not shown), such as the side of a trailer.

In all embodiments, the banner system may optionally further include a lighting system to illuminate the banner.

In another embodiment, the banner system further comprises behaviour monitoring means (not shown) operable to monitor the behaviour of passers-by, such as, for example, people, vehicles and traffic passing the banner system. The behaviour monitoring means may comprise, one or more motion sensors to determine, for example, how many passers-by stop at the banner and the duration of time that the passer-by stops at the banner. The one or more sensor may include, for example, an infrared beam operable to detect the behaviour of passers-by as the passers-by break the infrared beam.

Information from the one or more sensors is stored on memory in the banner system before being transmitted to server for analysis. The behavior monitoring means may alternatively be a web or App based cloud data processing system. The collected information may be transmitted using a wireless (e.g. Bluetooth) or wired communication link.

The wireless or wired communication link may also be used to adjust the tension on the banner.

Claims

1. A banner system comprising: a spindle for storing a banner thereon; a spindle housing having first and second ends and banner tensioning means; and a banner end attachment arrangement; wherein the spindle is operable to carry a banner rolled thereon, the banner end attachment arrangement is operable to attach to a free end of a said banner and the tensioning means is operable to apply a tension on the said attached banner between the spindle and the attachment arrangement.

2. A banner system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the banner end attachment arrangement is operable to detachably attach to a said free end of the said banner.

3. A banner system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the banner tensioning means is disposed on the first end of the spindle housing.

4. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle housing comprises a worm gear.

5. A banner system as claim in claim 4, further comprising a tensioning handle for manually driving the worm gear.

6. A banner system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a tensioning powered driver for power driving the worm gear.

7. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a spindle housing pillar on which the spindle housing is disposed.

8. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a banner attachment arrangement pillar, on which the banner end attachment arrangement is disposed.

9. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle housing comprises spindle engagement means.

10. A banner system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spindle engagement means is operatively connected to the tensioning means.

11. A banner system as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the spindle engage means is disposed on the first and second ends of the spindle housing and operable

12. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the banner attachment arrangement comprises a banner attachment member, a banner attachment member retainer operable to retain the banner attachment member, and a banner attachment housing engageable with the attachment member retainer.

13. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a banner, wherein the banner has a free end comprising an attachment aperture operable to receive the banner attachment member.

14. A banner system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the attachment aperture comprises a hem formed at the free end of the banner.

15. A banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the system forms part of a vehicle.

16. A vehicle comprising a banner system as claimed in any of the preceding claims.