Patent Application
20170053571
The present invention relates to advertising signs, and more particularly, to modular banner assemblies.
Advertisements, such as banners and other large signs often require professional installation. A common method of displaying a banner, for examples, is to mount it to a wall. Often, screws are driven through grommet holes of a banner into the wall surface, thereby affixing the banner to the wall. In such cases, it will be necessary to transport a large wall surface to the banner display location, and the mounting process will be labor intensive and time consuming.
Other assemblies feature purpose-built frames, but these can be expensive to build and ship and/or time-consuming and difficult to assemble at a desired location. Accordingly, further improvements are possible.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved banner assembly and display method. The banner assembly includes a banner mounting frame having a plurality of releasably connected frame sections defining a banner mounting area therebetween. The plurality of releasably connected frame sections include at least a first side section and a second side section, the banner mounting frame being configured for connection to an underlying surface with the banner mounting area being held thereabove. A banner is mounted in the banner mounting area. A plurality of mounting cords are connected along peripheral edges of the banner and secured to the banner mounting frame. The plurality of mounting cords includes at least a first mounting cord and a second mounting cord secured to the first side section and to the second side section. Exerting a connecting force through the first mounting cord, the banner and the second mounting cord pulls the first side section toward the second side section. Prior to connection to the underlying surface, the plurality of releasably connected frame sections are freely disconnectable except for the connecting force.
These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawing and following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
Referring to
In the depicted embodiment, the mounting frame 12 includes the first and second side sections 20, 22, an intermediate vertical support section 24 and an intermediate horizontal extension section 26. The side sections 20, 22 each include a vertical post 34 connected to a C-shaped bracket 36 having two horizontal ends. The intermediate vertical support section 24 includes a vertical post 40 connected to upper and lower horizontal cross-members 42, 44. The horizontal extension section 26 includes separate upper and lower horizontal members 48, 50.
The connections within the side and intermediate sections 20, 22, 24 can be made via welds, adhesives, threaded fasteners or the like. For example, threaded fasteners 52 can be used to connect the horizontal cross-members 42, 44 of the intermediate vertical support section 24 to the vertical post 40. To reduce packing/shipping volume, this connection could then be made by the end user prior to final assembly and placement of the banner assembly 10. Aluminum or other durable, lightweight metal is a preferred material for the frame sections.
As noted above, the sections 20, 22, 24, 26 are freely releasable from one another. Advantageously, abutting horizontal ends of the sections feature complementary male and female ends 54, 56 which are held in engagement by the engagement force exerted by the mounting cords 16 via the banner 14. To prevent rain intrusion, open ends of the vertical posts 34, 40 are sealed by end caps 58. Plastic or other suitable material could be used for the end caps 58.
The banner 14 includes a plurality of grommets 62 located around a peripheral edge thereof, through which the mounting cords 16 are routed. The mounting cords 16 are preferably elastic cords, also known as bungee cords, which are looped through the grommets and around adjacent portions of the banner mounting frame 12. The number of bungee cords is determined according to the size of the banner 14 to be mounted. Preferably, two cords 12 are used at each corner of the banner 14.
The mounting stakes 32 preferably include a pointed lower end for ease of insertion into the underlying surface 18. Upper ends of the stakes 32 are received within hollow lower ends of the vertical posts 34, 40. The stakes can be made of any suitably durable material, such as fiberglass. Washers 64 are arranged around the stakes 32 to prevent the lower ends of the posts 34, 40 from sinking into the underlying surface.
In use, referring also to
It will be appreciated that, in addition to the ease of manufacture and assembly offered by the banner assembly of the present invention, it can readily by configured to hold different sized banners. For example, the foregoing embodiment is dimensioned to hold a finished banner approximately 120 inches wide by 36 inches high within the banner mounting area 30 elevated approximately 16 inches over the underlying surface 18. Referring to
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments is provided for illustrative and exemplary purposes; those skilled in the art will appreciated that the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these and other modifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, are possible within the scope of the invention herein shown and described, and of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/197,101 filed on Jun. 29, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/185,936, filed on Jun. 29, 2015, the contents of which applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62185936 | Jun 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15197101 | Jun 2016 | US |
| Child | 15341635 | US |
