The following are incorporated by reference in their entirety:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,281,
U.S. Publication No. US 2005/0056744 A1.
A variety of reasons exist to suspend substantial sized structures along a vertical pole. Examples would be banners, signs, information, and decorations. However, the manner to suspend these things should be practical. It should be economical, flexible, adaptable to different applications, and robust enough for a variety of purposes, including use in outdoors environments.
An example relates to sports field lighting. Such lighting uses relatively tall poles (e.g. 35 feet to over a 100 feet tall) to elevate lights to illuminate large areas such as sports fields. The poles are usually made as small in diameter as possible, for economies in materials and minimization of wind load, especially in outdoor applications. Therefore, the surface of the pole does not present enough area to apply indicia or structures that are intended to be read or comprehended from substantial distances (e.g. sometimes hundreds of feet away).
Furthermore, it is counter-intuitive to add anything to such a pole, other than what might be essential for the functionality of the lights. One cannot add anything that would compromise the structural integrity of the pole. One would stay away from unbalancing the load on the pole. Additionally, great care has to be taken to avoid addition of substantial wind load. Any of these things could result in failure of the pole, especially in outdoor conditions where wind load, as an issue, is well-known in the art.
Musco Corporation, the owner of the present application, has developed one system for mounting things along the side of existing sports poles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,281, to inventors Crookham et al., discloses a system of suspending triangular-shaped, thin but rigid, plastic pennants from a pole. A strap is cinched around the pole and holds a bracket through which a rod or tube is held. The pennants, approximately 3′ by 5′, are hingeably attached at one side of the rod. The hinging allows them to shed the wind. They are light weight. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,281, which is incorporated by reference herein, this works well for that type of structure.
However, a need has been identified to hang larger structures or hang them in a different fashion. One example would be a rectangular banner larger than the pendents of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,281 patent. Such a banner could be made of thin, light weight, and flexible vinyl or plastic sheeting. Unlike the pennants of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,281 patent, it thus needs to be supported at least towards opposite sides or ends.
A need has also been identified for mounting structure that would allow easier attachment and removal of the thing that is suspended and which allows easier attachment or removal of the structure supporting the item on the pole. In other words, a need has been identified for a system that allows temporary mounting of a banner or other item on the pole that utilizes minimal labor, equipment, and tools.
Still further, a need has been identified for such a system that is adaptable to a variety of different things to suspend or applications or situations. For example, there is a need for a mounting structure that can be adjusted in length or size to accommodate different sized banners (or other things) or different mounting points on the pole. It is therefore a principle object, feature, aspect or advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, method, system, and kit that solves problems in the art or improves over the state of the art.
For example, the present invention has the following objections, features, aspects or advantages:
a) provides a way to place a substantial sized banner or other device along the side of a relatively tall vertical pole;
b) allows a substantial sized banner or other device to be easily installable yet easily removable;
c) allows a substantial sized banner or other device to be effectively removable for such things as bad weather, to deter vandalism or theft, or for seasonal or periodic changing of banners or other devices on them;
d) efficiently removable for storage;
e) in one aspect, can be removed and effectively stored;
f) does not add substantially to the weight or wind load of a pole; and
g) is economical and durable.
These and other objects, features, aspects or advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.
The present invention relates to an apparatus, system, method, or kit for suspending items of relatively large size but relatively light weight, along the side of a vertical pole. In one aspect of the invention, a bracket is releasably connectable along the side of a pole and has mounting structure to which can be mounted, an item to be suspended.
In another aspect of the invention, a bracket comprises mounting cross-arms for the item to be suspended in two spaced apart positions, and a middle connecting member. In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the middle connecting member can be made of varying or adjustable lengths to allow adjustability of the distance between the cross arms, or can be broken down into shorter lengths when disassembled. Alternatively, a mount for at least one cross arm can be adjusted over a range of positions along the middle connecting member to adjust the distance between cross arms.
In another aspect of the invention, a mounting bracket can include structure allowing it to be releasably connected to two locations along the pole. An optional feature involves the ability to lock the bracket to the pole.
For specific examples of the invention, the following drawings will be referred to in combination with corresponding written description.
For better understanding of the invention, a few examples of how to make and use the invention will now be described in detail. Frequent reference will be made to the appended drawings. Reference numerals will be used in some of the drawings to indicate certain parts and locations in the drawings. The same reference numerals will be used to indicate the same or similar parts or locations throughout all of the drawings unless otherwise indicated.
These examples will be described in the context of mounting items along the side of a sports lighting pole or wide area lighting pole. As can be appreciated, it is applicable to any vertical pole of relatively substantial height. The examples will also be discussed in the context of suspending a flexible vinyl sheet banner. As can be appreciated, other items can be suspended including but not limited to multiple items from the same mounting bracket, light weight rigid items, panels, and perhaps even some lighter weight equipment or functioning devices. These examples are for illustration only and not limitation to the invention.
As illustrated in
Banner 12 is part of what will be referred to as banner assembly 10. Banner 12 includes a plurality of holes 14 along top and bottom edges. Brass grommets 16 are placed in those holes.
Bracket 20, part of banner assembly 10, is shown in more detail
A connecting piece or tube 26 (e.g., a few inches diameter aluminum) extends between top and bottom cross-arms 22 and 24. A hanger 28 is fixed at the top of bracket 20 (either welded to or otherwise attached to the top of connecting tube 26 or top cross-arm 22). A bottom sleeve/socket 30 is connected to tube 26 and has structure to allow it to be padlocked to a tab 34 along pole 2. Hanger 28 has a structure that allows it to be hung from a bracket 32 attached along pole 2 (see
As illustrated in
Padlock sleeve/socket 30 has two tabs 56A and B extending outwardly from it in a parallel fashion with aligned holes 58A and B in each tab 56A and B (see
Note also that padlock sleeve 30 is configured to be slideable along bottom pole section 42 and adjustably fixed in position by set-screws 64. This allows bracket to be easily adjusted for any differences in distance between brackets 32 and 34 (
Note also that cross-arm sleeve 66 (
Bottom cross-arm sleeve 66 can then be locked in place by turning set screw 64 appropriately. Padlock sleeve 30 can be slid onto connecting tube 26 before or after cross-arm sleeve 66. The entire bracket 20 can then be moved to pole 2 and elevated (for example by a worker lifted by a cherry picker, crane or lift vehicle, or even climb a ladder or stand on a raised platform). Pin 50 can be moved into the slot and pole bracket 32 on pole 2. The bottom of bracket 20 can be moved next to pole 2. Padlock sleeve 30 can be slid up along connecting tube 26 until it aligns with tab 34 on pole 2. Padlock 36 can be locked through padlock tabs 56 on padlock sleeve 30 and tab 34. Banner 12 is therefore secured in place along pole 2. Note that it is possible that bracket 20 could be attached to pole 2 by just hanger bracket 28 to pole bracket 32. This would allow bracket frame 22/24/26 to hang from pole 2 by the capture of pin 50 in pole bracket 32. The use of a second hanger bracket, namely padlock sleeve 30 and tabs 56 with pole tab 34 and padlock 36, can releasably attach bracket 20 to another point on pole 2.
As can be appreciated, and as indicated in
Brackets 32 and 34 would have to be added to pole 2. This could be done at the manufacturing of the pole or retroactively. Such brackets could be welded in place or otherwise secured. Enclosure hanger 28 could be essentially the same as the hanger bracket 18 shown in
Also, pin 50 of hanger bracket 28 could be a bolt 50 and nut 51 (
It will be appreciated that the present invention can take various forms and embodiments. Variations obvious to those skilled in the art will be included within the scope of invention.
Embodiments based on the invention can take various forms and configurations. They can vary in dimensions. For example, a typical banner for a sports pole might be 6′, 8′ 10′ or even more feet in length. This could vary however, as well as the width.
The drawings illustrate exemplary dimensions and structural characteristics. These can vary according to need and desire. One example is chain links 18. In this embodiment they are metal ¼″ chain links. This could vary.
As mentioned, the uses of bracket 20 can vary. As previously mentioned, the exemplary embodiments primarily discuss suspending a sheet-like device. As can be appreciated, this can be a conventional banner such as are seen hanging on street light poles with seasonal information or indicia, or information about events related to municipalities or communities. The sheet-like device can be flexible fabric with colors, wording, graphics and designs, cut-outs, overlays, and sometimes even lighting or three dimensional or quasi-three dimensional objects. Alternatively, a sheet-like device can be made to simulate a fabric banner. Examples range from a flexible vinyl to a more rigid plastic, and even to sheet metal or combinations or laminations of materials. Banners 12 can contain information, advertising, promotional material, team names and colors, fund raising information, etc. But further, the sheet-like device could be semi-rigid or rigid, such as a plastic panel, metal panel or sheet, or a wood panel or sheet (e.g. plywood), or combinations of the same. Still further, the framework 22/24/26 could take different forms and embodiments. It does not have to have cross-arms and a central spine. Also, the framework 22/24/26 could be used to hang or suspend non-sheet like devices along the side of a pole. For example, it could be used to suspend three-dimensional holiday ornaments or lights such as are typically done by municipalities during Christmas time, as but one example.
As can be appreciated, the examples 1 and 2 are easily and efficiently removable and installable onto poles. Hanger bracket 28 or 50/52 serve not only as a hanger bracket from which the whole banner and banner bracket can be initially hung and supported, but also as a locater device to assist the worker to accurately position that combined assembly relative the pole without tools or measuring or other alignment steps. Then, if the lower hanging bracket 30 is utilized, the entire frame (cross-arms 22 and 24, with elongated interconnecting piece 26) can simply be swung down to align tabs 56 with tab 34 on pole 2 to fix the lower end of the banner and brackets to pull it (padlock 36 or other locking mechanism could be used to lock it into place). Also, the entire assembly can be removed in reverse fashion and easily and quickly taken off pole 2. The arrangement can also efficiently and quickly be moved to storage. Furthermore, it can be easily and quickly disassembled. For example, banner could be relatively easily and quickly removed from the banner bracket 20. Alternatively, the whole assembly, with banner attached, could be stored. Still further, top part 40 of the connecting member 26 could be released from socket 44 and sleeve 66 unfastened from lower section 42 and slid off of lower section 42 such that vertical part of the banner bracket 20 could be disassembled into two shorter pieces and the banner folded up or otherwise stored.
The ease of removeability of bracket 20 allows them to be taken down in bad weather or to deter vandalism or theft. They can also simply be temporarily placed (e.g. for certain season(s) only).
The length of connecting tube 26 or any of its sub-pieces, if it has sub-pieces, can vary.
Cross arms 22 and 24 do not necessarily have to be straight. They could be curved or non-linear in multiple directions.
The embodiments in the drawings are relatively lightweight (on the order of 10 lbs.). However, poles of these types can usually support higher weights, but it is preferred to keep it as low as possible.
Boss plates 62 and 68 can be incorporated on the outside of sleeves 30 and 66, respectively, to strengthen the area and provide internally threaded apertures for operative use with set screws 65 and 64, respectively. Similar boss plates can be used on sleeve 80 with set screws 82.
The banner assembly could be sold as a kit. It could contain a banner 12, and a bracket 20 having at least two separable sections of connecting tube 26, as well as the mounting structure to connect banner 12 to cross arms 22 and 24, and pieces 32 and 34 for connection to pole 2, as well as the other parts shown in the drawings to allow adjustability of distance between cross arms 22 and 24 and distance between hanger 28 and padlock sleeve 30.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of provisional application Ser. No. 60/717,686 filed Sep. 15, 2005, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1872682 | Cockle | Aug 1932 | A |
3449847 | Howell | Jun 1969 | A |
3675356 | Gilmoure | Jul 1972 | A |
4176480 | Euzarraga et al. | Dec 1979 | A |
5423281 | Crookham et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
6493973 | Nelson | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6618973 | Nelson | Sep 2003 | B2 |
7237754 | Sparkowski | Jul 2007 | B2 |
20050056744 | Ware et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20070057126 A1 | Mar 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60717686 | Sep 2005 | US |