Display sign mounting system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6594932
  • Patent Number
    6,594,932
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 6, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 22, 2003
    22 years ago
Abstract
A display sign mounting system allows quick and easy mounting and tensioning of a display sign. The display sign has a substantially planar surface to which support members are mounted to form a perimeter frame. Bracket assemblies are attached to the support members. The bracket assemblies retain the substrate and allow for selective tensioning of the substrate to create a taut display as desired. A bracket assembly may have rotatable members to facilitate installation of the substrate. The substrate is wound on a spool assembly to facilitate transporting the substrate to and from a display sign location.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of mounting display signs. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of adjustably mounting vinyl displays on billboards. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to adjustable and fixed brackets mounted to a surface that receive a vinyl sheet to create a display sign.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Display signs have been used for a variety of purposes and in a variety of applications, typically for promoting a business or a product. Conventional billboards generally comprise a planar rigid support surface, or a plurality of such surfaces mounted adjacent one another, upon which the advertising message is painted. Alternatively, the advertising material may be painted or printed on paper or another sheet-like material that is then affixed to the planar rigid support surface, typically by means of adhesives. In many cases, the billboard comprises a freestanding structure mounted on the ground or on a building or the like, and it may be illuminated by spotlights, or the like, to provide visibility during the nighttime. In some cases, advertising material is applied directly to the surfaces of a building structure itself because the building structure cannot support the weight of a billboard support structure. Those types of conventional billboards are very expensive to erect and maintain because preparation and maintenance, in particular, are labor intensive operations. The appearance of conventional billboards is also apt to deteriorate rapidly due to weather conditions such as sun, precipitation, changes in temperature, and the like.




Signs comprising a substantially rigid sheet of transparent or translucent material upon which an advertising message has been applied have also been utilized, generally by mounting them in a cabinet and illuminating the sheet material bearing the advertising message from inside the cabinet. Those types of display signs generally exhibit less deterioration due to weather conditions, but the size of the display sign is quite limited, since transport and installation of a large, substantially rigid sheet is impracticable. In addition, those materials exhibit at least some resiliency, which limits the practical dimensions of the sign, and tends to result in distortion or bowing of the sign due to the weight of the material and due to adverse weather conditions, such as high winds.




Recent innovations in the advertising industry include the use of a flexible, fabric-like sheet material which is light, relatively impervious to weather, and may be illuminated from behind to provide an attractive and effective display. This material is preferably suspended in a taut condition to provide a planar display surface. The costs associated with installation and maintenance of display signs comprising a flexible sheet material are generally less than those associated with conventional signboards and billboards, since the advertising message may be applied at a central location, and the sheet material may be rolled or folded for convenient transport to the display location. The flexible, fabric-like sheet material may be applied over or suspended from a conventional billboard support surface or a building support structure.




Therefore, a need exists for apparatus for and a method of providing quick and efficient mounting and tensioning of display signs.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Surprisingly, it has been found that provision of a display sign mounting system in accordance with the present invention provides a quick and efficient mounting and tensioning system for display signs.




The present invention includes mounting a support member to the periphery of a substantially planar surface to create a frame corresponding to the desired size of the display. A lower bracket assembly is attached to the lower support member and extends substantially continuously along the lower edge of the frame. The lower bracket assembly includes a lower bracket member that receives a substrate and a fastener that secures the lower bracket member to the lower support member. A nut on the fastener adjusts the distance of the first bracket member from the lower support member, which allows for selective tensioning of the substrate.




A side bracket assembly is attached to each of the side support members and extends substantially continuously along each of the side edges. The side bracket assembly includes a first side bracket member and a second side bracket member that is releasably attached to the second bracket member. A gap is formed between the first and second side bracket members for receiving and retaining the substrate. A fastener secures the first side bracket assembly to the side support member along each of the side edges.




An upper bracket assembly is attached to the upper support member and extends substantially continuously along the upper edge of the frame. The upper bracket assembly includes an upper bracket member having a groove, a channel positioned in the groove, and a first and second series of rotatable members disposed within the channel. A gap is formed between the first and second series of rotatable members for receiving and retaining the substrate therebetween and for facilitating drawing the substrate through the display mounting assembly.




Preferably, the material used for the display sign has a rigid member, such as rope, fixed to the periphery of the material. The material may then be folded or rolled onto a spool and delivered to the location where the display sign is to be constructed. The rigid member secured to the periphery of the material to provide the material with extra width to prevent the material from slipping out of the brackets following insertion of the material into the brackets.




Other advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.











DRAWINGS




Referring now to the drawings that form apart of the original disclosure:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a display sign mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the display sign mounting system of

FIG. 1

, without the substrate and bracket assemblies, having support members mounted along the periphery of a display board;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of mounting brackets attached to the support members of

FIG. 2

;





FIGS. 4 and 5

are top and front elevational views, respectively, of a typical section of the support members of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 6

is a side elevational view of a bottom mounting bracket connected to the support member according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a top plan view of a side mounting bracket connected to the support member, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8

is an exploded top plan view of the first and second bracket members of the side mounting bracket of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is top plan view of the first and second bracket members of

FIG. 8

connected together;





FIGS. 10

,


11


and


12


are end elevational views of the first bracket member, the second bracket member, and the first and second bracket members connected together, respectively;





FIG. 13

is a side elevational view of a top mounting bracket connected to the support member, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 14

is a side elevational view of a channel member of the top mounting bracket of

FIG. 13

;





FIGS. 15A and 15B

are front elevational views of ball bearings and roller bearings, respectively, used in the channel of

FIG. 14

;





FIG. 16

is a side elevational view in cross-section of a substrate with a rigid member received by a bottom mounting bracket of

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 17

is top view of a bottom and side mounting bracket connected to the support member, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 18

is a side view of a top mounting bracket connected to the support member, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and





FIGS. 19 and 20

are perspective views of a sign feeder system used to feed and retrieve display sign material into and from the display sign mounting system.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




As shown in

FIGS. 1-20

, the present invention relates to assemblies for and methods of quickly and efficiently mounting and tensioning display signs. A display sign


11


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, has a substantially planar surface


13


that has an upper edge


15


, a lower edge


17


and two side edges


19


and


21


, as shown in FIG.


2


. The planar surface does not have to be continuous. For example, the surface may have a hole for passing light through to illuminate the display sign. An upper support member


23


is attached at the upper edge


15


of the surface


13


. A lower support member


25


is attached at the lower edge


17


of the surface


13


. Side support members


27


and


29


are attached at each of the side edges


19


and


21


of the surface


13


. The upper, lower and side support members form a perimeter frame


31


at the periphery of the substantially planar surface


13


. Bracket assemblies are attached to each of the support members, as shown in

FIG. 3

, and preferably extend along the entire length of the edge to which the respective support members are attached. The bracket assemblies retain a flexible substrate


12


and allow for selective tensioning of the substrate to create a taut display.




The flexible substrate is a flexible material, for example, vinyl, plastic, a flexible fabric, such as cotton, cotton mesh and wire mesh. The flexible substrate may have media, such as a film, within the substrate for providing an effect to the flexible substrate, for example, causing the substrate to glow to provide better viewing during poor lighting conditions. Preferably, the flexible substrate is a vinyl sheet. Preferably, a rigid member


14


is attached to the periphery of the substrate


12


to facilitate retention of the substrate by the bracket assemblies, as shown in FIG.


16


. One such method is to position a rope near the periphery of the substrate so that the substrate may be folded over the rope. The folded over portion of the substrate is then sewn to the substrate, thereby enclosing the rope within the periphery of the substrate.




Preferably, the support members


23


,


25


,


27


and


29


are L-shaped. The support members may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, including aluminum and iron. Lower support member


25


is shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. Upper and side support members are similar to the lower support member, so only the lower support member will be discussed in detail. The only differences between support members are variations in the length used on each side depending on the size of the display sign to be created. The lower support member


25


is L-shaped and has two faces. A first face is a surface face


59


, as shown in

FIG. 4

, and is attached to the surface


13


. Openings


61


in the surface face receive fasteners to secure the support member to the board. Preferably, the openings


61


are elongated such that the support member may be moved with respect to the surface


13


once the fastener has been inserted through the opening


61


and into the board or to adjust the size the display created for surfaces having preexisting fastener holes. The other face of the support member


25


is a bracket face


60


, as shown in FIG.


5


. Preferably, the bracket face


60


extends substantially perpendicularly from the surface face


59


. The bracket face


60


has openings


62


for receiving fasteners for attaching the lower bracket assembly to the lower support member


25


. Support members may be of any size, such that a single support member extends along the entire length of the surface


13


, or such that more than one support member is required to extend along the entire length of the surface. Alternatively, the support members need not extend along the entire length of a side of the surface. The support members may be spaced along each edge of the surface.




Once the support members have been attached to the surface


13


to form a perimeter frame


31


, as shown in

FIG. 2

, a bracket assembly is attached to the bracket face of each support member. As with the support members, a single bracket assembly may extend along the entire length of the support member to which the bracket assembly is attached, or more than one bracket assembly may be required to extend along the entire length of the support member to which the bracket assembly is attached.

FIG. 3

shows a surface


13


to which upper support member


23


, lower support member


25


and side support members


27


and


29


have been attached. Bracket assemblies are then attached to the support members.




A lower bracket assembly


33


is attached to the bracket face


60


of the lower support member


25


along the lower edge


17


of the surface


13


, as shown in FIG.


6


. The lower bracket assembly


33


has a first bracket member


35


for receiving a substrate


12


(FIG.


16


). A gap


41


in the lower bracket member


35


is smaller than the largest width of the rigid member


14


attached to the periphery of the substrate


12


, as shown in

FIG. 16

, to retain the substrate within the lower bracket member. A fastener


37


secures the lower bracket member


35


to the bracket face


60


of the lower support member


25


. The lower bracket member


35


may be moved along the fastener


37


to selectively tension the substrate once the display sign has been fully assembled. Preferably, a nut


39


is positioned on the fastener


37


that allows a distance


43


between the lower bracket member


35


and the lower support member


25


to be adjusted, thereby selectively tensioning the substrate


12


. Preferably, the lower bracket member


35


has a channel


40


for receiving the nut


39


. The channel substantially prevents unintentional rotation of the nut relative to the bracket, while allowing the bracket to move axially when the substrate is intentionally tensioned. Adjusting the nut along the fastener


37


in either direction moves the first bracket member


35


with the nut. Enclosing the nut


39


in the channel


40


also prevents undesired movement of the lower bracket assembly


33


due to wind or other forces acting on the substrate


12


once the display sign


11


(

FIG. 1

) has been assembled, since both the lower bracket member


35


and the nut


39


must be moved along the fastener


37


.




A side bracket assembly


45


is attached to the bracket faces


68


of each of the side support members


27


and


29


along each of the side surface edges


19


and


21


, as shown in

FIG. 7

(showing only side support member


27


as side support members


27


and


29


are identical). The side bracket assembly


45


includes a first side bracket member


47


and a second side bracket member


49


that is releasably attached to the first side bracket member. When the first and second side bracket members are releasably connected, as shown in

FIG. 7

, a gap


51


is formed therebetween for receiving and retaining the substrate


12


(similar to FIG.


16


). A fastener


53


secures each of the side bracket assemblies


45


to the respective side support members


27


and


29


. The first side bracket member may be moved along the fastener to selectively tension the substrate once the display sign has been fully assembled. Preferably, a nut


55


is positioned on the fastener


53


that allows a distance


57


between the second bracket member


47


and the side support member


27


,


29


to be adjusted, thereby selectively tensioning the substrate


12


. Preferably, the first side bracket member


47


has a channel


56


for receiving the nut


55


(similar to nut


39


and channel


40


) so that adjusting the nut along the fastener


53


in either direction moves the first and second side bracket members


47


and


49


with the nut.





FIGS. 8-12

show the second side bracket member


49


being releasably attached to the first side bracket member


47


. The top surface


48


of the second bracket member


47


has at least one notch


52


, as shown in FIG.


8


. Preferably, the notches


52


are L-shaped and have a first leg


46


of the notch substantially perpendicular to a second leg


58


of the notch. The top surface


50


of the second side bracket member


49


has at least one rivet


54


adapted to engage the notches


52


in the first side bracket member


47


, as shown in FIG.


8


. The second side bracket member


49


is aligned with the first side bracket member


47


so that the rivets


54


correspond to the first legs


46


of the notches


52


. The rivets


54


are then inserted into the first legs


46


of the notches


52


, and then slid perpendicularly into the second legs


58


of the notches to lock the second side bracket member


49


to the first side bracket member


47


.




An upper bracket assembly


73


is attached to the bracket face


64


of the upper support member


23


along the upper edge


15


of the surface


13


, as shown in FIG.


13


. The upper bracket assembly


73


includes an upper bracket member


75


that has at least one groove


77


. Preferably, as shown in

FIG. 13

, the upper bracket member


75


has a first groove


77


and a second groove


79


. A first channel


81


is positioned in the first groove


77


and a second channel


83


is positioned in the second groove


79


. A first series of rotatable members


85


is disposed within the first channel


81


and a second series of rotatable members


87


is disposed within the second channel


83


. A gap


89


is formed between the first and second series of rotatable members


85


and


87


for receiving and retaining the substrate. The gap


89


is smaller than the diameter of the rigid member attached to the periphery of the substrate, thereby preventing the substrate from being pulled out of the upper bracket member


75


. The rotatable members


85


and


87


facilitate installation of the substrate by reducing the friction that must be overcome when drawing the substrate through the display mounting assembly. Preferably, the rotatable members are roller bearings


95


or ball bearings


85


, as shown in

FIGS. 15A and 15B

. Each rotatable member has a pin


93


that is received by a notch


91


in the channels


81


and


83


. A fastener


99


secures the upper bracket member


75


to the bracket face


64


of the upper support member


23


.




In a second embodiment of the invention, the lower and side bracket assemblies


33


and


73


attached to the lower and side support members


25


,


27


and


29


, respectively, are replaced by a single adjustable bracket assembly


101


, as shown in FIG.


17


. The adjustable bracket assembly


101


has a first bracket member


105


that is releasably connected to a second bracket member


103


. The first and second bracket members


103


and


105


may be attached in a manner similar to that described above for the first and second side bracket members


47


and


49


of the side bracket assembly


45


. Alternatively, a fastener may be used to connect the first and second bracket members


47


and


49


. When the first and second bracket members are releasably connected, as shown in

FIG. 17

, a gap


113


is formed therebetween for receiving and retaining the substrate


12


. A fastener


107


secures each of the adjustable bracket assemblies


101


to the respective support members


25


,


27


or


29


. The first bracket member


105


may be moved along the fastener


107


to selectively tension the substrate once the display sign has been fully assembled. Preferably, a nut


109


is positioned on the fastener


107


that allows a distance


115


between the second bracket member


105


and the respective support member


25


,


27


, or


29


to be adjusted, thereby selectively tensioning the substrate


12


. Preferably, the first bracket member


103


has a channel


111


for receiving the nut


109


so that adjusting the nut along the fastener


107


in either direction moves the first and second bracket members


103


and


105


with the nut.




An upper bracket assembly


117


in the second embodiment of the invention replaces the upper bracket assembly of the first embodiment. The upper bracket assembly


117


of the second embodiment is attached to the bracket face


64


of the upper support member


23


and extends substantially continuously along the upper edge


15


of the surface


13


, as shown in FIG.


18


. The upper bracket assembly


117


is identical to the upper bracket assembly


73


of the first embodiment, except that roller bearings


95


are used as the rotatable members.




Installation is the same for both embodiments of the invention. For reasons of simplicity, installation and removal of a flexible substrate will be discussed with reference to the first embodiment of the invention depicted in

FIGS. 1-16

.




Preferably, the substrate


12


is rolled onto a spool for transport to a mounting location once the rigid member has been attached to the periphery of the substrate. The spool assembly


119


is easily mounted to the upper and lower support members, as shown in FIG.


19


. The entirety of the second side bracket member


49


is temporarily removed from the first side bracket member


47


of the second bracket assembly along both of the side support members


27


and


29


. A section of each of the upper and lower bracket assemblies


33


and


73


are temporarily removed from the upper and lower support members


23


and


25


so that the spool extension arms may be attached. Upper spool extension


123


and lower spool extension


125


are attached to the upper and lower support members


23


and


25


, respectively. The substrate


12


is then fed into the upper and lower bracket assemblies


33


and


73


, as shown in FIG.


20


. The rigid member in the upper and lower edges of the substrate is retained within the bracket assemblies since the diameter of the rigid member is larger than the gaps (


41


and


89


of FIGS.


6


and


13


). The first and second series of rotatable members (


85


and


87


of

FIG. 13

) facilitate drawing the substrate through the upper and lower bracket assemblies. Preferably, the substrate


12


has been manufactured to match the size of the display sign so that when the first substrate end


127


reaches the first side bracket member


47


along right-hand support member


29


, the opposite end of the substrate is aligned with the first side bracket member


47


along left-hand support member


27


. When the substrate


12


has been fully unrolled from the spool


121


, the second side bracket members


49


are reattached to the first side bracket members


47


, thereby capturing the rigid member of the substrate within each of the side bracket assemblies


45


. The substrate is retained within the side bracket assembly


45


since the diameter of the rigid member is larger than the gap


51


between the first side and second side bracket members


47


and


49


of the side bracket assembly


45


(FIG.


7


). The removed portions of the upper and lower support members


23


and


25


are reattached once the spool assembly has been removed, providing a display sign


11


as shown in FIG.


1


.




Once the bracket assemblies have been reattached and the substrate


12


is fully retained within the bracket assemblies, the lower and side bracket assemblies


33


and


45


along the lower and side support members


25


,


27


and


29


may be selectively adjusted to obtain proper tensioning of the substrate to provide a taut display sign, as shown in FIG.


1


. Adjustments are made by moving a bracket member along its fastener. If an adjusting nut is used, then the nut


39


,


55


or


109


is adjusted along fastener


37


,


53


or


107


, respectively, to obtain the desired tension of the substrate. Threading the nut toward the support member to which the bracket assembly is attached increases the tension of the substrate, while threading the nut away from the support member to which the bracket assembly is attached loosens the substrate within the sign. The adjustable bracket assemblies allow quick and easy tensioning of the substrate of the display sign at any time.




The process of installing the substrate may be performed in reverse order to remove the substrate from the bracket assemblies and onto a spool


121


. This allows for quick and easy changing of the substrate


12


of the display sign


11


, thereby providing a versatile display sign. Wrapping the substrate on the spool assembly also facilitates transporting the substrate to and from a display sign location.




As used in this application, directions are intended to facilitate the description of the display sign mounting system of the present invention. Such terms are merely illustrative of the display sign mounting system of the present invention and do not limit the invention to any specific orientation.




While advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A display mounting assembly, comprising:a substantially planar support surface having an upper edge, a lower edge and two side edges; upper, lower and first and second side support members attached proximal to said upper, lower and side edges of said surface to form a perimeter; a lower bracket assembly attached to said lower support member and extending substantially continuously along said lower edge, said lower bracket assembly, including: a lower bracket member for receiving a substrate; and a fastener for securing said lower bracket member to said support member, wherein said lower bracket member is movable along said fastener for selectively tensioning the substrate; a side bracket assembly attached to each said support member along each of said side edges and extending substantially continuously along each of said side edges, said side bracket assembly, including: a first side bracket member; a second side bracket member releasably attached to said first side bracket member, said first and second side bracket members forming a gap therebetween when connected for receiving and retaining the substrate; and a fastener for securing said first side bracket member to said support member along each of said side edges, wherein said first side bracket member is movable along said fastener for selectively tensioning the substrate; and an upper bracket assembly attached to said support member at said upper edge and extending substantially continuously along said upper edge, said upper bracket assembly, including: an upper bracket member having a groove; a channel positioned in said upper bracket member groove; and a first and second series of rotatable members disposed within said channel, a gap being formed between said first and second series of rotatable members for receiving and retaining the substrate and for facilitating drawing said substrate through said display mounting assembly.
  • 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said support members are substantially L-shaped in transverse cross section.
  • 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support members are angle irons.
  • 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second series of rotatable members are selected from a group consisting of ball bearings and roller bearings.
  • 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper bracket member has two grooves, a channel positioned in each of said grooves, and a series of rotatable members positioned in each of said channels.
  • 6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a roller assembly attached to said upper and lower support members for feeding and retrieving the substrate into and from said display mounting assembly.
  • 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said second side bracket member has a rivet and said first side bracket member has a notch for receiving said second side bracket member rivet.
  • 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first side bracket member notch is substantially L-shaped.
  • 9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprisinga nut on said lower bracket assembly fastener for controlling tensioning of the substrate.
  • 10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprisinga channel in said lower bracket member for receiving said nut and fixing said nut axially relative to said lower bracket member.
  • 11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a nut on each of said side bracket assembly fasteners for controlling tensioning of the substrate.
  • 12. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising a channel in each of said side bracket members for receiving said nut and fixing said nut axially relative to said side bracket member.
  • 13. A display mounting assembly, comprising:a substantially planar support surface having an upper edge, a lower edge and two side edges; upper, lower, and first and second side support members attached proximal to each of said four edges of said surface to form a perimeter; lower and side bracket assemblies attached to said lower and side support members, respectively, and extending substantially continuously along said respective support members, each of said lower and side bracket assemblies, including first and second bracket members releasably connected together, said first and second bracket members forming a gap therebetween when connected for receiving and retaining a substrate; and a fastener for securing each said first bracket member to said support member, said first bracket member being movable along said fastener for selectively tensioning the substrate; an upper bracket assembly attached to said upper support member and extending substantially continuously along said upper support member, said upper bracket assembly, including: a third bracket member having a groove; a fastener for securing said third bracket member to said upper support member; a channel positioned in said third bracket member groove; and a first and second series of rotatable members disposed within said channel, a gap being formed between said first and second series of rotatable members for receiving and retaining the substrate and for facilitating drawing the substrate through said display mounting assembly.
  • 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein each of said support members are substantially L-shaped in transverse cross section.
  • 15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said support members are angle irons.
  • 16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second series of rotatable members are selected from a group consisting of ball bearings and roller bearings.
  • 17. The assembly of claim 13, whereinsaid third bracket member has two grooves, a channel positioned in each of said grooves, and a series of rotatable members positioned in each of said channels.
  • 18. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising a roller assembly attached to said upper and lower support members for feeding and retrieving the substrate into and from said display mounting assembly.
  • 19. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising a nut on each said lower and side bracket assembly fasteners to control the selective tensioning of the substrate.
  • 20. The assembly of claim 19, further comprisinga channel in each of said first bracket members for receiving said nut and fixing said nut axially relative to said first bracket members.
  • 21. A method of mounting a display sign, comprising the steps of:attaching an upper, lower and two side support members to an upper, lower and two side edges, respectively, of a substantially planar support surface; attaching a lower bracket assembly to said lower support member at said lower edge, said lower bracket assembly being a first distance from said lower support member and extending substantially continuously along said lower edge; attaching an upper bracket assembly to said upper support member at said upper edge, said upper bracket assembly being a second distance from said upper support member and extending substantially continuously along said upper edge; attaching a side bracket assembly to each said of said two side support members at said side edges, said side bracket assemblies being a third and fourth distance, respectively, from said side support members and extending substantially continuously along each of said side edges; attaching a roll assembly containing a flexible substrate having a perimeter to said upper and lower support members; unwinding said flexible substrate from a spool of said roll assembly and drawing said substrate through said upper and lower bracket assemblies; enclosing said perimeter of said flexible substrate within both said side bracket assemblies; adjusting tension of said flexible substrate by varying distances between said upper, lower and side bracket assemblies and said upper, lower and side support members, respectively; and removing said roll assembly from said upper and lower support members.
  • 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:reattaching said roll assembly to said upper and lower support members; removing said flexible substrate from both of said side bracket assemblies; and feeding said flexible substrate through said upper and lower bracket assemblies and winding said flexible substrate onto said spool of said roll assembly.
  • 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising feeding said flexible substrate through a plurality of rotatable members disposed substantially within said upper bracket assembly to facilitate said drawing said flexible substrate through said lower and upper bracket assemblies.
  • 24. The method of claim 21, wherein attaching said lower, upper and side bracket assemblies to said lower, upper and side support members, respectively, comprises attaching each of said bracket assemblies with a bolt and a nut, said nut fixed axially relative said bracket assembly; and adjusting tension by moving said nut along said bolt and varying said distances.
  • 25. A display mounting assembly, comprising:a substantially planar support surface having an upper edge, a lower edge and two side edges; upper, lower and first and second side support members attached proximal to said upper, lower and two side edges, respectively, to form a perimeter; a first bracket assembly attached to said lower and side support members, said first bracket assembly, including: a first bracket member adapted to receive a substrate; and a fastener for attaching said first bracket member to said lower and side support members, said first bracket member being movable along said fastener for selectively tensioning said substrate; and a second bracket assembly attached to said upper support member, said second bracket assembly including a second bracket member adapted to receive a substrate; a fastener for attaching said second bracket member to said upper support member; rotatable members disposed within said second bracket member for facilitating moving said substrate through said first and second bracket assemblies.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional No. 60/270,176, filed Feb. 22, 2001.

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Number Name Date Kind
1718183 Smith Jun 1929 A
3280521 Keathly Oct 1966 A
3373517 Halperin Mar 1968 A
4478268 Palmer Oct 1984 A
4800947 Loomis Jan 1989 A
4922988 Loomis May 1990 A
5042182 King Aug 1991 A
5046545 Loomis et al. Sep 1991 A
5349772 Pardue Sep 1994 A
5373653 Suzuki Dec 1994 A
5398436 Suzuki Mar 1995 A
5845423 Hicks Dec 1998 A
6041535 Holloway et al. Mar 2000 A
6101751 Hicks Aug 2000 A
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/270176 Feb 2001 US