DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an end view of a beaded planar sheet mounted in the attachment and tensioning system of WO 03/060333A2.
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of planar sheet prepared for mounting in the attachment and tensioning system of this invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded end view of a locking arrangement according to this invention.
FIG. 4 is an end view of a planar sheet locked in the top rail and opposite floating rail of an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 5 is an end view of a planar sheet locked in the top rail and opposite floating rail of an embodiment of this invention showing the bottom floating rail and bottom fixed rail or rail section locked together by levering members
FIG. 6 is a simplified elevation of a truck including a mounted and tensioned sign according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mounted and tensioned sign according to another embodiment of this invention.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 depicts the attachment and tensioning mechanism disclosed in published patent application WO 03/060333A2. FIG. 1 presents basic features of a planar structure attachment and tensioning arrangement, such as an example sign display system for use with a vehicle, in a relaxed, non-tensioned position. As shown in FIG. 1, components of the attachment and tensioning mechanism 60 are attached to the surface of an object 61, such as a truck side or other attachment surface. The system comprises edge beading 64, 66 for the sign or other planar structure and a combination of aluminum extrusions. A fixed rail 62 for securing one side of the planar structure 63 (e.g., a sign or other advertising medium) is firmly attached to the surface of the object 61. To attach one edge of the planar structure 63 (e.g., upper edge, as shown in FIG. 1), for example, the planar structure 63 includes a beaded top edge 64, which is insertable into a slotted feature 65 of fixed rail 62.
Opposite beaded top edge 64 is beaded bottom edge 66, which is introduceable into an open section of floating rail 70, which is not attached to the surface of the object 61, but is free floating and spans the length of the side (here the bottom) of the image. Tension can be applied to planar structure 63 normal to beads 64, 66 by a frame-wide tensioning lever arm 71. One side 72 of tensioning arm 71 is coupled to the moveable rail 70 via a coupling 73 that receives one side of the tensioning lever arm 71. The other side 74 of tensioning lever arm 71 is coupled to one end of a frame-wide beam 75, which in turn is coupled via, for example, an open trough, to lower frame-wide fixed rail 76 that is firmly attached to the surface of the object 61.
The image is tensioned when the cam lever or tensioning arm 71 is closed, thereby pulling floating rail 70 away from top rail 62. Tensioning lever arm 71 pivotally rotates within the coupling 73 of floating rail 70. Pivotal rotation of tensioning lever arm 71 causes pivotal rotation of the beam 75 about both the coupling 77 of the tensioning lever arm 71 and the coupling of lower fixed rail 76. Once the lower side 74 of tensioning lever arm 71 passes over the center of the beam 75, tensioning lever arm 71 becomes locked in a tensioned position and the planar surface 63 is in “the drum taught position.” To secure the frame-wide levering arm in its locked, tensioning position, end caps are applied and secured to the truck or other surface.
FIG. 2 shows sign 1, a flexible, rectangular, planar sheet readied for beadless mounting according to this invention. Sign 1 has four comers 3 removed so as to create foldable edges 5 that are foldable along registration marks 2. Optionally corner areas may be reinforced by sewing or other reinforcing means indicated at 4. Sign 1 is marked with peripheral registration marks 2 for alignment during mounting. In the embodiment depicted, two additional sets of registration marks (unnumbered) are added, one set inside marks 2 and one set outside marks 2, for possible adjustment.
FIG. 3 shows an exploded end view of a locking mechanism according to this invention. An edge 5 of sign 1 (FIG. 2) is wrapped around non-rotating insert 10 that contains portion 11 of non-circular cross section. Registration marks 2 are utilized to fix the location of sheet 1 relative to insert 10. Insert 10 and wrapped edge 5 are inserted into lock 20 which contains portions 21 of non-circular cross section that pressingly clamp portion 11 of insert 10. Insert 10 is flexible lengthwise but shape-retaining in cross section. It might be a durable plastic extrusion, but it could also be an aluminum extrusion. It has rounded comers so as not to damage sheet 1. Insert 10 may be multiple pieces placed end-to-end, for example, two eight-ft (2.7 m) lengths and one four-ft (1.35 m) length for a sign twenty feet (6.8 m) wide. Lock 20 is preferably a plastic extrusion, for example, nylon. It is resiliently flexible in order that it can be snapped over insert 10 and folded edge 5 and later gently pried off without ruining the sign, the insert, or the lock itself and reused when sign 1 is changed. Friction between the interior surface of lock 20 and sign I prevents edge 5 from slipping during use. Clamping portions 21 of lock 20 include flared ends with rounded corners so as to protect sheet 1 (see FIG. 4). As with insert 10, lock 20 may be multiple pieces placed end-to-end. We prefer that joints between lengths of lock 20 are offset from joints between lengths of insert 10 so that the assembled construction can be handled as a single unit. Insert 10 and the cooperating inner surface of lock 20 are of non-circular cross section such that insert 10 is prevented from rotating within the lock when tension is applied to sheet 1, thus preventing locked edge 5 from unwinding. Numerous cross-sectional profiles for insert 10 will fulfill these requirements, as will be appreciated. All four edges 5 of sheet 1 are so locked.
FIG. 4 shows an end view of the components that hold the top and bottom edges 5 of sign 1. Top edge 5 is shown wrapped around an insert 10 and inserted into a lock 20, as described in connection with FIG. 3. Bottom edge 5 is similarly locked. Fixedly mounted, by bolting or riveting, on surface 41, which may be a truck or trailer side, is top rail 42, that includes a coupler or shaped recess 44 for receiving locked top edge 5, outwardly (in this case upwardly) extending mounting side 43. Floating, that is, not fixedly attached to surface 41, is floating rail 45, that includes a coupler or shaped recess 46 for receiving locked bottom edge 5 and outwardly (in this case downwardly) projecting portion comprising coupler 47. The system is the same for vertical edges 5 of sheet 1 (see FIG. 6). One vertical fixed rail 81 is identical (except perhaps for length) to fixed top rail 42, and the opposite side has a vertically oriented floating rail 83 identical (except perhaps for length) to floating rail 45. Each lock 20, carrying an insert 10 and a locked edge 5, is slidingly inserted into respective coupler 44 or 46 by feeding from an end. Lock 20 and insert 10 are shaped relative to couplers 44, 46 such that they do not rotate when in place, and lock 20 protects its locked edge 5 from contacting the coupler edges. By flaring both ends of locks 20 as depicted, which we call an “omega” construction, a single construction can be used for all four sign edges.
FIG. 5 shows the lower tensioning portion of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4. Outside (here below) floating rail 45 is a fixed mounting means and lockable tensioning means, which in this embodiment and not continuous across the width of the sign (see FIG. 6). Although the mounting means and the tensioning means may be preassembled as a unit affixable to surface 41, they need not be preassembled. A preferred mounting means is bottom fixed rail section 52 that includes coupler 53, which may be a section of the same aluminum extrusion as top rail 42 (FIG. 4). The mechanism for tensioning sheet 1 includes tensioning lever arm 48 and beam 54. Arm 48 includes cylindrical end 49 pivotally engaged in coupler 47 of floating rail 45. Beam 54 contains cylindrical ends 55, 56 pivotally engaged in coupler 50 of arm 48 and coupler 53 of fixed rail 52. As indicated, elements 52, 54 and 58 may be a preassembled unit, and stops (not shown) may be included to prevent cylindrical ends 55, 56 from sliding out of their couplers 53, 50, thereby forming permanent hinge joints. When lever arm 48 is pivoted downwardly, that is, away from sign 1, by 15 pushing on its end 51, floating rail 45 is pulled downwardly, tensioning sheet 1, until ann 48 reaches its locked tensioning position shown in the figure. Lever arm 48 and beam 54 have circular holes 58, 59 that align with rivnut 57 when in the locked tensioning position. Flanged button head cap 60 is removably inserted into rivnut 57 through holes 58, 59 to prevent the system from becoming inadvertently unlocked. The tensioning vertical side is identically constructed (see FIG. 6). Vertical floating rail 83 is tensioningly secured in the identical manner utilizing horizontally placed tensioning arms 48 and their related beams 54 and outer fixed rail sections 52 (not visible in FIG. 6).
FIG. 6 shows the embodiment described above installed on side panel 41 of a truck 80 with a tensioned sign 1. Top fixed rail 42 is continuous but in sections. Floating rail 45 is also continuous but in sections. A series of preassembled mounting and tensioning units (FIG. 5) are affixed to side 41 and tensioningly connected to bottom floating rail 45. Lever arms 48 are visible in this view. Horizontal tensioning is the same. It includes fixed rail 81, floating rail 83, and a plurality of mounting and tensioning units including lever arms 48. Tension arm 48 could be continuous in each case, but it is shown here as a series of discrete units about six inches (15 cm) wide spaced along floating rails 45, 83. We prefer spacing of very approximately three feet (1 m) with floating rail joints covered.
FIG. 7 shows a portion of a second embodiment of a tensioned sign system according to this invention that includes tensioning components different from those utilized in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-6. FIG. 7 shows a section of surface 41 and a central vertical portion planar sheet 1. In this embodiment upper rail 42 is the same as the previous embodiment described in connection with FIG. 4. Also, insert 10 and lock 20 are the same as described in connection with FIG. 39 as are their assembly with top and bottom sign edges 5 and sliding installation into the rails. In this embodiment floating rail 71 is very much like top rail 42 but placed “upside down.” It includes coupler 72 that is identical to coupler 44 and flat mounting side 76, which is identical to side 43 except that it includes large grommeted holes 73 for receiving tie-down straps. Located outside (here beneath) floating rail 71 is a series D-rings 74 fastened to surface 41 beneath grommeted holes 73. Self-locking plastic ties 75, commonly called zip ties, are passed through holes 73 and D-rings 74 and pulled tight in order to tension planar sheet 1 in the vertical direction. Rotating the image of FIG. 7 by 90 degrees shows the same mechanical elements and method for horizontal mounting and tensioning planar sheet 1. In this embodiment ties 75 are simply cut and replaced when removing a first sign 1 and constructing a tensioned sign system with another sign 1.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, different cross-sectional shapes for an insert 10, lock 20 and cooperating rail recess 44 could be utilized. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20080086923
