The present disclosure relates to locking clips for holding and maintaining a generally flat sheet of material in a tensioned or stretched condition on a billboard using a cable framework upon which to mount the sheet.
Large printed vinyl sheets have generally replaced pasted paper signs in the outdoor advertising industry. Installation of large printed vinyl sheets requires two or more workers who push light weight fiberglass or similar non-conductive rods through pockets heat-sealed in each of the four end surfaces of a sheet, which forms the advertising face of a billboard.
The vinyl sheets typically have to be hung down from the top of a billboard after the top rods are secured to the billboard frame and pulled or tensioned horizontally and vertically across the metal backing of the billboard. Various tensioning devices have been used and generally require at least two workers to complete the installation process, taking on average approximately 20 to 30 minutes or more from beginning to end.
The industry recently developed light weight vinyl sheets which cost less but are not as strong as the vinyl in predominate use today. Its lighter weight and lesser strength make it unsuitable for heat-sealing pockets and more subject to tearing from excess tensioning and repeated installations and removal. Printed vinyl sheets are frequently moved from one billboard location to another to save on printing and material costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,295 discloses a clamp apparatus for application to a plate, sheet, fabric or thin film by gripping two opposite sides of the object. Additionally, the only accommodation for a cable connection will place this apparatus at a 90 degree angle to the face of a billboard panel, which may result in twisting and wrinkling of the vinyl sheet.
It would be desirable to have a clip which could attach to a laterally running cable and which will minimize or eliminate twisting and wrinkling of the vinyl sheet. It would be further desirable to have a clip which would allow application to a cable running parallel to the face of the clip. It would be further desirable to have a clip that could be retained on the cable when a sheet is being dismounted, remounted or when the clip is not in use so that the clip is not dropped or lost. It would be further desirable to have a two-piece clip which will allow for limited movement of the two pieces with respect to each other when a sheet is unattached from the clip yet prevent complete separation of the two pieces.
The present disclosure provides a clip for use in a cable tensioning system. One aspect of the present disclosure provides a clip having (a) a base plate comprising a generally flat base member having a top surface comprising a front portion having a gripping surface and a rear portion, a pair of opposing first retaining arms extending upward from the top surface, each first arm having an angled portion angled toward the other arm, the first retaining arms capable of engaging the top member, a bottom surface having a hook extending therefrom, the hook having a channel defined therein capable of receiving a portion of a cable, a front edge and a rear edge, and at least one slot formed in the base member; and, (b) a top member comprising a top surface having a hook extending upward therefrom, the hook and the top surface defining a channel capable of receiving a portion of a cable, a bottom surface having at least one nub protruding therefrom, the nub being capable of being received at least partially within the base member slot, and, a front portion and front edge and a rear portion and rear edge, the front portion being wider than the rear portion.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:
The present disclosure relates to a locking clip for a conventional cable tensioning system. In a typical installation, a cable is hung on slides along the four sides of a billboard face, hidden from view by the face frame. A number of clips are attached to the vinyl sheet at selected intervals approximately 2-3 feet apart. The clips releasably hold a portion of the sheet under tension. The clip has a lip or hook with a channel or guideway through which a portion of the cable passes. For the purposes of the present disclosure the cable may refer to a portion of the cable, as the context reflects. As tension is increased on the cable by means of a spring-loaded dual arm locking mechanism, the grip of the clip on the vinyl sheet is increased. An example of a cable tensioning system is disclosed in co-pending PCT patent application No. PCT/US2008/060505, commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
At least one, and, preferably, a plurality of nubs 47 project from the bottom surface 24 (see
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
As shown in
Optionally, the top member 20 may optionally have one or more open or reduced thickness areas 49A and 49B which reduce the amount of material needed and the weight of the part. The areas 49A and 49B may be recessed areas extending from the surface partially toward the opposing surface, or, may be from one surface through to the other surface.
In a variation of this embodiment (shown in
The base plate 50 has at least one, and preferably a plurality of, recessed areas or slots 72. The slots 72 can slidingly accommodate the nubs 47. When the top member 20 is inserted through the retaining arms 54, 56 the beveled front edge 47A of the nub may deform slightly and pass into the slot 72. Reverse movement of the top member 20 causes the rear edge 47B of the nub 47 to hit against the wall 75 of the slot 72. The interaction of the nubs 47 and slots 72 allow limited movement of the nubs 47 within the slots 72 yet restrict the separation of the base plate from the top member until so desired.
Optionally, the base plate 50 may have recessed areas or openings 74, which reduce material and weight and also accommodate the manufacturing process of the base plate 50.
The hook 76 extends from the bottom surface 58 of the base plate 50 and has a vertical post portion 78 and a generally horizontal portion 80 (see
The base plate 50 may optionally include at least one, and in one exemplary embodiment, a pair of posts 92 extending therefrom (see
The clip 10 in one exemplary embodiment is assembled and used as follows and as shown in
The clip 10 gives the operator the option of attaching the clips 10 to a sheet 12 off-site in a weather-protected facility. After attaching the clips 10 to the sheet 12, the worker can transport the sheet 12 to the installation site where the clips 10 are attached to the cable 15 using the lip 40 or hook 76 on either the cable top member 20 or the base plate 50, respectively. Once a clip 10 is attached to the cable 15 using the hook 40 or 76, it is difficult to inadvertently separate the two clip parts, 20 and 50 because of the location of the cable 15 in relation to the hook 40 to the retaining arms 54, 56 without disengaging the clip 10 from the cable 15. Another optional installation, shown in
When an operator needs to replace the sheet 12, the clip 10 parts are loosened by sliding the front edge 28 toward the main part of the sheet 12, which “unwedges” the top member 20 from between the retaining arms 54, 56 and allows the operator to remove the sheet 12. The nubs 47 slide within the slots 72 until they contact the wall 75, thereby preventing the clip 10 from separating completely into two parts. The clip 10 remains attached to the cable 15 and the operator can attach a replacement sheet 12 to the clip 10. In a similar fashion, if the cable 15 is engaged on the hook 76 and posts 92 on the base plate 50, the sheet 12 can be removed while maintaining the clip 10 on the cable 15.
A single operator can install the sheet 12 in comparison to conventional systems, which require several workers. The reduction in time to install the sheet represents a significant time and expense savings to the installation company.
It is to be understood that the locking clip 10 of the present disclosure can be used or adapted to be used with other types of systems or be used to grip any suitable type of surface, such as, but not limited to, tent fabric, paper, film, cotton or other natural or synthetic fiber (woven or nonwoven material), and the like. The clip of the present invention can be adapted to secure relatively inflexible surfaces (such as, but not limited to, metal sheeting, glass, plastic, wood, composites, ceramic, and the like) by incorporating a rubberized, nonslip, tacky or other friction-type surface on or as part of the engaging surfaces 22 and 52.
Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. It should further be noted that any patents, applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
All patents, patent applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/104,257, filed Apr. 16, 2008, which is a nonprovisional application of provisional Application No. 60/912,058, filed Apr. 16, 2007, and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/174,449, filed Jul. 16, 2008, which is a nonprovisional application of provisional Application No. 60/950,025, filed Jul. 16, 2007, all of which are commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090038124 A1 | Feb 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60912058 | Apr 2007 | US | |
60950025 | Jul 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12104257 | Apr 2008 | US |
Child | 12246167 | US | |
Parent | 12246167 | US | |
Child | 12246167 | US | |
Parent | 12174449 | Jul 2008 | US |
Child | 12246167 | US |