Patent Application
20080216974
1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to an arrangement of elongated fabric-gripping extrusions for supportively hanging a flexible fabric therebetween, from a support structure.
2. Prior Art
In the commercial merchandising field, it is often desirable to display a banner which has been fabricated from a flexible fabric. The problem is, that these sheets or banners typically require their ends to be sewn with pockets to accept dowels or other straightening means. Maintaining these banners or sheets in a generally flat configuration, while permitting them to be easily changed from one promotion to another, has not always been easily accomplished.
It is an object of the present invention, to overcome the disadvantages that are common with the prior art.
It is still a further object of the present invention, to provide a banner support arrangement for holding the upper and lower edges of a flexible fabric material in a proper and attractive suspended manner.
It is another object of the present invention, to provide a support and holding arrangement for a flexible fabric material which may accommodate that fabric material in a readily changeable manner.
The present invention relates to a pair of elongated extrusion assemblies which lockingly grab the upper and lower edges of a fabric panel, for support thereof, from an overhead or other suspension or support structure. Each elongated extrusion assembly is the mirror image of its corresponding elongated extrusion assembly arranged parallel thereto. Such an elongated extrusion assembly has an elongated suspension means engagement channel disposed on a first edge thereof, to permit the uppermost elongated extrusion assembly to be suspended by a support means which is attached to a structure, such as for example, an overhead ceiling rail. Each elongated extrusion assembly comprises an elongated, extruded, manipulable fabric clamp assembly which is slidingly received within an elongated central chamber of an elongated outer-house extrusion. The elongated fabric clamp comprises an first fabric-frame which is preferably connectibly attached by a living hinge to a parallel second fabric-frame. The first fabric-frame has a first elongated “L”-shaped, bendable flange adjacent a distal edge thereof. The first fabric-frame has a second “L”-shaped elongated bendable flange facing the first elongated “L”-shaped bendable flange. The first elongated “L”-shaped bendable flange and the second “L”-shaped elongated bendable flange face one another and define an open “receiving” space therebetween.
The second fabric-frame comprises a first outer flange along a first elongated edge flange thereon, and a second outer flange along a distalmost elongated edge thereon. A first snap finger and a second snap finger, each being elongated, face one another in a V-shaped distalmost configuration thereat, defining between them, in a spaced-apart relationship, a fabric locking channel. A generally rectangularly-shaped fabric or flexible banner or the like, which is desired to be supported between the pair of elongated extrusions on parallel sides thereof, is first set into a first elongated fabric clamp by the first side edge of the fabric being laid against the second fabric-frame wherein an elongated fabric lock-extrusion may be pressed and sandwiched against the fabric and into the fabric locking channel, wherein the first snap finger and the second snap finger biasedly receive the fabric and the elongated fabric lock snapped therewithin. One edge of the fabric is thus laid within the second fabric-frame and against the first outer flange thereof.
The fabric thus lies in a somewhat sinusoidal pattern against the second fabric frame and over the first snap finger, lying lockingly within the fabric locking channel with the elongated fabric lock pressed thereagainst, and around the second snap finger and into a channel between the second snap finger and the second outer flange. The first fabric frame is then in one preferred embodiment, bent around and pressed against the inner face of the second fabric frame. The bending is taking place along the elongated living hinge between the first fabric frame and the second fabric frame. In a further preferred embodiment of the fabric clamp, the first fabric frame and the second fabric frame thereof may also be formed of two separate pieces without any “living hinge” connecting them together, while all other structural aspects thereof remaining as recited.
The first elongated “L”-shaped bendable flange and the second “L”-shaped bendable flange of the first fabric-frame are pressed just outside the first snap finger and the second snap finger respectively, the first elongated “L”-shaped bendable flange bending slightly outwardly and the second “L”-shaped bendable flange bending slightly outwardly so as to yield and subsequently snap against an inner “waist” portion of the first snap finger and the spaced-apart second snap finger. The first elongated “L”-shaped bendable flange and the second L-shaped elongated bendable flange thus bias the fabric between themselves and their respective adjacent first snap finger and second snap finger. The fabric is also biasedly engaged within the fabric locking-channel with the elongated fabric lock wedged between the spaced apart first snap finger and the second snap finger with their associated V-shaped troughs facing and securably pinching the fabric thereat.
Each elongated extruded fabric clamp with its fabric therein (at opposite and parallel sides of the fabric) is/are then slid within the elongated central chamber of their respective elongated outer housing extrusions comprising the upper and lower portions of the fabric being suspended from a support structure.
The elongated outer housing extrusion comprises a first “C”-shaped shell facing in an open manner a corresponding second “C”-shaped shell. Each elongated first and second “C”-shaped shell are connected to one another by an elongated bridge member at a “near”-central portion thereof. Each “C”-shaped shell has a first distalmost edge which between them define and elongated slot through which the suspension means may extend. The bridge connecting the first “C”-shaped shell and second “C”-shaped shell has a pair of parallel hinge alignment flanges extending therefrom, and into the elongated central chamber. Each “C”-shaped shell may have an “L”-shaped elongated fabric clamp side-guide extending from an inner surface thereof and spaced apart from one another. Each “C”-shaped shell has a second “J”-shaped elongated edge which define a gap between one another at the second edge of the elongated housing extrusion.
The fabric clamp assembly, once formed into a generally “U”-shaped arrangement in its “living hinge” embodiment, thus is bent so as to permit the first fabric-frame and the second fabric-frame to mate respectively with one another, with the fabric pinched therebetween, and permits a portion of the fabric to extend out through the gap between the fabric clamp end-guides at the second edge of each respective elongated outer housing extrusion.
Thus, with an elongated outer housing extrusion and a fabric clamp arranged along two spaced apart parallel edges of a fabric, such fabric may be supported from a suspended overhead support with the elongated clamps and elongated housings maintaining a weight and proper alignment support for the fabric for a proper display from a structure.
The invention thus comprises a fabric support arrangement for maintaining a flexible fabric in a straight and aligned manner, from a support structure, comprising: an elongated housing extrusion having an elongated central chamber therein, an elongated fabric clamp assembly, folded in one embodiment thereof, along an elongated mid-portion thereof, and receivingly disposed within the elongated central chamber, the fabric clamp assembly having an first fabric frame and a second fabric frame. In a further embodiment of the fabric clamp assembly, the first fabric frame is separate from the second fabric frame. In either embodiment of the first and second fabric frame members, a flexible fabric is biasedly secured in a generally sinusoidally shaped path of the fabric clamp assembly between the first fabric frame and the second fabric frame. The sinusoidal path helps maintain the fabric in place and in proper alignment. The fabric is also releaseably secured into a fabric locking channel in the second fabric frame by an elongated generally cylindrically shaped fabric lock. The elongated fabric lock is pinchably received between a pair of parallel, spaced apart snap fingers, unitarily extruded with the second fabric frame. The first fabric frame has a first “L”-shaped bendable flange and a second “L”-shaped flange thereon which define a first receiving channel between one another. The parallel, spaced apart snap fingers are mateably received in the first receiving channel. The fabric is disposed in a generally sinusoidal pattern between the first fabric frame and the second fabric frame.
The elongated housing extrusion comprises a pair of generally “C”-shaped shells arranged to face one another, connected by a bridging member unitarily disposed therebetween. Each of the “C”-shaped shells preferably has an “L”-shaped side guide extending off of an inner portion thereof, and towards one another. The bridging member preferably has a pair of hinge alignment flanges extending therefrom and into the elongated central chamber. The elongated mid-portion of the fabric clamp assembly preferably comprises a “living hinge”. In another preferred embodiment the second frame and the first frame members of the fabric clamp are separate individual members and are connected only when sandwiched about a piece of fabric. In the “hinged” embodiment, the hinge alignment flanges preferably extend from the bridging member are in sliding contact with the living hinge during assembly, to keep the fabric clamp assembly in alignment in the elongated housing extrusion. The “L”-shaped side guide extending inwardly from each of the “C”-shaped shells help centrally align the fabric clamp in the elongated housing extrusion. The elongated housing extrusion has a first edge having a slot therealong, the bridging member and the first edge of the elongated extrusion housing being preferably comprised of said “C”-shaped shells defining a suspension means engagement channel to enable a suspension means to be slidingly received therein. The elongated housing extrusion has a second edge having a slot therealong, the second edge of the elongated housing extrusion comprised of said “C” shaped shells each having a “J”-shaped elongated fabric clamp guide and defining an elongated second slot therebetween. The second slot disposed between the “J”-shaped elongated fabric clamp guide has the fabric extending therebetween. The fabric support arrangement also comprises a second elongated housing extrusion and a corresponding elongated fabric clamp received therein, wherein each of the elongated housing extrusions are secured to opposite parallel edges of the fabric, an upper one of the housings attached to suspension means and a lower one of the housings functioning as an alignment means for keeping the fabric straight and evenly hanging.
The objects and, advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to
The elongated fabric clamp assembly 20, best represented in
The second fabric-frame 30 comprises a first outer flange 38 along a first elongated edge 40 thereon, and a second outer flange 42 along a distalmost elongated edge 44 thereon. A first snap finger 46 and a second snap finger 48, each being elongated, face one another with a V-shaped distalmost configuration 50 thereat, defining between them, in a spaced-apart relationship, a fabric locking channel 52, as best represented in
The fabric 12 thus lies in a somewhat sinusoidal pattern against the second fabric frame 30 and over the first snap finger 46, lying lockingly within the fabric locking channel 52 with the elongated fabric lock 54 pressed thereagainst, and around the second snap finger 48 and into a channel 60 between the second snap finger 48 and the second outer flange 42.
The first fabric frame 26 is then bent around, as represented by arrow “A” in
The first elongated “L”-shaped bendable flange 32 and the second “L”-shaped elongated bendable flange 34 thus bias the fabric 12 between themselves and their respective adjacent first snap finger 46 and the second snap finger 48. The fabric 12 is also biasedly engaged within the fabric locking-channel 52 with the elongated fabric lock 54 wedged between the spaced apart first snap finger 46 and the second snap finger 48 with their associated V-shaped troughs 50 facing and securably pinching the fabric 12 thereat.
Each elongated extruded fabric clamp 20 and 20′ with its fabric 12 therein (at opposite and parallel sides of the fabric), as represented in
The elongated outer housing extrusion 24 (and 24′) comprises a first “C”-shaped shell 72 facing in an open manner a corresponding second “C”-shaped shell. 74, as represented in
Each “C”-shaped shell 72 and 74 has a second “J”-shaped elongated edge 86 which define a gap 88 between one another at a second edge 90 of the elongated housing extrusion 24 (or 24′).
The fabric clamp assembly 20, once formed into a generally “U”-shaped arrangement with its living hinge 28 bent so as to permit the first fabric “guide” or frame 26 and the second fabric “guide” or frame 30 to mate respectively with one another, with the fabric 12 pinchably secured therebetween, permits a portion of the fabric 12 to extend out through the gap 88 between the fabric clamp guards 26 and 30 at the second edge 90 of each respective elongated outer housing extrusion 24 (and 24′).
Thus, with an elongated outer housing extrusion 24 and 24′ and a fabric clamp assembly 20 arranged along two spaced apart parallel edges “U” and “L” of a fabric 12, such fabric 12 may be supported by connective support means 18 from a support structure (not shown) with the elongated clamps 20 and elongated housings 24 and 24′ thus maintaining a weight and proper alignment support for the fabric 12 for a proper display from a support structure.
