Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Signs – Stretched or tensioned
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-10-23
Browne, Lynne A. (Department: 3629)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Signs
Stretched or tensioned
C403S319000, C040S590000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305111
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to advertising displays and, more particularly, to a self-tensioning display panel and mounting system for exhibiting advertisements on trucks, billboards and the like.
2. Description of the Background
There is a great demand for advertising displays for use on the sides of trucks, tractor trailers, and for other generally flat surfaces. However, in this type of application the display must be able to withstand high speeds, and the display must provide for convenient interchangeability of the ads themselves. A number of improved displays have been proposed which are more resistant to wind and weather. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,361 illustrates a display tensioning frame for tautly retaining a large display panel. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,765 to the above-named inventor disclosed a low-profile, light-weight advertising display for exhibiting advertisements on trucks, billboards and the like. The advertising display shown in the '765 patent is provided with a self-tensioned display panel which resists sagging and wrinkling by virtue of its own elasticity, and a display panel mounting which allows for more convenient installation and removal. The installation approach described in the '765 patent is to first mount a series of inner retainers
22
(see
FIG. 1
herein) around the periphery of the mounting surface. The inner edges of the panel edge stiffeners are then inserted into the inner retainers
22
and secured with a series of outside retainers
20
,
30
. This procedure is illustrated in the '765 patent. However, due to the size and flexibility of the panel as well as the force required to tension the panel, it is not an easy task to install the outer retainers
20
,
30
. Also, each time the panel is removed it is necessary to remove all the outer retainers
20
,
30
. This is a time consuming process, and each step in the process cannot be performed by one individual without great difficulty.
It would be greatly advantageous to reduce the installation time and effort by providing an improved approach to securing the panel to the surface which eliminates the need to remove and install retainers every time a new advertisement is displayed. The new approach would make it feasible for one individual to perform each step in the operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improvement to the invention shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,765 to the inventor herein, the improvement being a new approach to securing the panel to the surface by which one-piece retainers (which consolidate the prior inner and outer retainers) can be permanently mounted on the surface, thereby eliminating the need to remove and install retainers every time a new advertisement is displayed.
According to the present invention, the above-described and other objects are accomplished by providing an advertising display for mounting an advertisement on a supporting structure. The advertising display includes an elastic display panel with at least two opposing edges reinforced by elongate stays. In addition, a plurality of upper attachment fittings are spaced lengthwise along the top of the supporting structure. Each upper attachment fitting comprises an inwardly-disposed upper lip to provide a pivotal seating for one edge of the upper stay, and an inwardly-disposed lower lip to provide a catch for the other edge of the upper stay. A corresponding plurality of lower attachment fittings are spaced lengthwise along the bottom of the supporting structure. Each of the lower attachment fittings comprises an inwardly-disposed upper lip to pivotally seat an edge of the lower stay, and an inwardly-disposed lower lip. A plurality of retaining clips are also provided each for attachment to the lower lip of a corresponding lower attachment fitting for the purpose of retaining the other edge of the lower stay, thereby holding the lower stay captive. The display panel can be tautly suspended over the surface of the supporting structure between the upper and lower attachment fittings. The supporting structure may be a billboard, the side of truck, or any other substantially planar surface. In any case, this approach to securing the display panel to the surface using one-piece attachment fittings and retainers (which consolidate the inner and outer retainers of the prior art) can be permanently mounted on the surface, thereby eliminating the need for removal and reinstallation every time a new advertisement is displayed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3225407 (1965-12-01), Daniels
patent: 3805873 (1974-04-01), Bloomfield
patent: 4539734 (1985-09-01), Messerschmitt
patent: 4547987 (1985-10-01), Stelling
patent: 4580361 (1986-04-01), Hillstrom et al.
patent: 4631786 (1986-12-01), Curry
patent: 4756107 (1988-07-01), Hillstrom
patent: 4773174 (1988-09-01), Boeniger et al.
patent: 4800947 (1989-01-01), Loomis
patent: 5039246 (1991-08-01), Woodruff et al.
patent: 5058299 (1991-10-01), Suzuki
patent: 5239765 (1993-08-01), Opdahl
patent: 5373655 (1994-12-01), Suzuki
patent: 5896689 (1999-04-01), Bassouls et al.
patent: 6088942 (2000-07-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 6101751 (2000-08-01), Hicks
patent: 6176634 (2001-01-01), Yamashita
Browne Lynne A.
Thompson Kenn
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