| WO/1994/027272 | C-CHANNEL FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR A SIGN |
| JP06259025 | PRODUCTION OF FLAG |
| JP2011118320 | ROAD CROSSING HAND-FLAG SET |
| CLAIMS 1 . A post for a banner comprising a series of rigid, hollow sections connectable in end to end relationship through a pair of inserts each providing a spigot for introduction into one end of contiguous sections and providing at least one spigot and socket connection between adjacent ends of the inserts and including guide means for aligning the sections when the post is assembled. 2. A post as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide means is provided by the at least one spigot and socket connection having its engaging members of non-circular cross-section. 3. A post as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which there are oppositely directed sockets at facing ends of the inserts having spigots provided by opposite ends of a common spigot. 4. A post as claimed in claim 3 in which the common spigot is secured in and protruding from one of the inserts. 5. A post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the inserts are longitudinally split and formed as a pair of identically moulded halves. 6. A post as claimed any of the preceding claims in which the inserts have exterior, longitudinal ridges to provide an interference fit into the open ends of the post sections. 7. A post as claimed any of the preceding claims in which adjacent ends of the sections are connected by a flexible, elasticized cord, threaded through the inserts and connecting spigots. 8. A post as claimed any of the preceding claims in which the sections are made from lightweight metal tubing. 9. A banner including a post as claimed any of the preceding claims and a sheet of flexible material securable to the post with an edge of the sheet corresponding substantially to the shape of the post and having a seam along the edge into which the post may be inserted. 10. A banner as claimed in claim 10 in which the seam is made from elasticized material. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a post of the kind used for banners having a sheet of material generally elongate in its height and supported along a side and upper edge of the material.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Such banners are available in a variety of constructions. They are a popular means of advertising and are particularly suited for use outdoors. A number of banners are often used arranged in a line on the side of the road or at events.
One variety of these banners uses a support which is resiliently flexible at least at its tip section. The resilient flexibility of the support or end portion thereof serves to tension the sheet. These versions often have a seam along an edge that is curved near the top of the sheet.
Other versions have a rigid support, often bent to form a horizontal arm at the upper end. The sheets are rectangular, secured to the upright portion and draped from the arm. Whereas a conventional flag relies on the wind to hold it out to be seen, these banners are held open by the structure of support.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel post and connection for a banner that is simple and robust.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention there is provided a post for a banner comprising a series of rigid, hollow sections connectable in end to end relationship through a pair of inserts each providing a spigot for introduction into one end of contiguous sections and providing at least one spigot and socket connection between adjacent ends of the inserts and including guide means for aligning the sections when the post is assembled.
The invention further provides for the guide means to be provided by the at least one spigot and socket connection to have its engaging members of non-circular cross-section; for there to be oppositely directed sockets at the facing ends of the inserts, having spigots provided by opposite ends of a common spigot member; for the common spigot member to be secured in and protruding from one of the inserts; and for these spigot and socket members to be of square cross-section.
Further features of the invention provide for the inserts to be longitudinally split and formed as a pair of identical moulded halves having exterior, longitudinal ridges to provide an interference fit into the post sections for the inserts to be fixed in the ends of the sections; for adjacent ends of the sections to be connected by a flexible cord; for the cord to be elasticized and threaded through the inserts and connecting spigots; and for the sections to be made from lightweight metal tubing, preferably aluminium.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a banner including a post as defined above and a sheet of flexible material securable to the post with an edge of the sheet corresponding substantially to the shape of the post and having a seam along the edge into which the post may be inserted.
This aspect of the invention further provides for the seam of the sheet to be made from elasticized material and for the post sections to be made from lightweight metal tubing, preferably aluminium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view of a banner; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a post for the banner; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a connection for the post; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the spigot and socket connection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The drawings show a banner (1 ) with an edge (2) which has a curve along part of its length. The curve is more specifically adjacent to the operatively upper portion and along one side of the banner (1 ). The banner (1 ) has a post (3) with a shape corresponding to the curved edge (2). The post provides a support for the banner (1 ). Five rigid sections (4) are connected end to end to provide the post (3). The post (3) is made from metal tubing, preferably aluminium. The tubing will be cut to an appropriate length as required for the full length of the post. The tubing is then rolled from one end to provide the desired curved portion of the post (3). Once this is done, the tubing is cut into the sections (4). The number of sections (4) which make up the post (3) may be varied.
In the illustrated embodiment, the curved portion of the post (3) is rolled to correspond to a minor segment of a circle having a diameter of 2.5 meters. It is anticipated that the post (3) will be varied to have a curve based on a circle with a diameter of between about 1.5 to 4.5 meters.
The components of the post (3) are shown more clearly in Figure 2.
To enable connection, the sections (4) will be provided with spigot and socket connections (5). It is a feature of the invention that, the spigot and socket connections (5) include guide means (6) to ensure that proper alignment of the sections (4) is maintained when the post (3) is erected and in use.
Suitable inserts (7) are provided for each section end which requires connection to another section end. The inserts (7) are made up as two halves (8), each of which is moulded from suitable plastics material. When the halves (8) are fitted together, they form a cylindrical insert (7) having a square cross-sectioned passage extending through its length.
The insert (7) has an end wall (10) at one end. A small opening (11 ) is provided through the centre of the end wall (10). The insert (7) further has an outwardly extending peripheral flange (12) at the open end.
Each half (8) of an insert (7) is identical and made by a single mould. The halves (8) have cooperating pintles (13) and sockets (14) which engage when they are fitted together. Both inserts (7) are adapted to receive a spigot (15) of square cross-section. This will conveniently be provided by square steel tubing.
The square tubing (15) will be cut to a length suited to occupy substantially the full length of two aligned inserts (7). One insert (7) will be fitted with the square spigot
(15). The spigot (15) will be drilled to provide a passage in line with openings (16) provided through the sidewall of the insert (7). A rivet or other suitable fastener (not shown) is used to secure the spigot (15) in the one insert (7) as a fixed spigot and socket joint while a second releasable spigot and socket connection (5) is provided in the second insert (7).
The outer surface of the inserts (7) are provided by spaced apart longitudinal ridges (18). The ridges (18) provide an interference fit to the interior of the aluminium tube sections (4). Once the inserts (7) are properly located inside the tube ends, the sections (4) will be crimped or punched on opposite sides at (16.1 ) to fix the inserts (7) in place.
The lowermost section (4) of the post will receive a mounting assembly (19) to hold the banner (1 ) erect. An insert similar to those already described but preferably longer provides a sleeve (20) for a pin (21 ) to be retained as shown at (22) and is supported by a ground spike (23). The sleeve (20) is elongate with a socket (not shown) of circular cross-section. The sleeve (20) is also provided in two identical halves. The halves provide an anchor (26) at the inner end and an annular flange
(27) at the outer end of the sleeve (20).
It will be appreciated that the ground spike can be replaced by other suitable mountings for example a mounting which is fixed to a solid surface or to a weighted base.
Before the inserts (7) are fitted to the tube sections (4), a flexible elasticized cord
(28) is tied to the anchor (26) of the sleeve (20). The cord (28) is threaded through the lower section (4) and through the first spigot and socket connectors (5) - this is the main purpose for having the openings (11 ) in the end walls (10). The sleeve (20) is then fitted with the flange (27) abutting the lower end of the post (3). Ridges (29) similar to those on the inserts (7) provide the required interference fit to keep the sleeve (20) place.
The cord (28) is threaded through second and third sections (4) and the other spigot and socket connections (5), which are also then fitted into the tube sections (4). The flanges (12) of the inserts (7) locate against the tube ends when the inserts (7) are fitted in place. When the cord (28) has been threaded through the top section (4), its free end is tied to an anchor (30) provided on a plug (31 ).
The plug (31 ) also has ridges (31.1 ) and a flange (31.2) but is moulded as a single component. Once the uppermost end is fitted with the plug (31 ), the assembly of the components of the post (3) is complete. The elasticized cord (28) will be pulled taut before it is fastened in place on the plug (31 ). This holds the section ends in relatively close proximity when the post is disassembled but allows the sections to be separated and folded into a compact and easily stowed condition. The assembly allows for repeat assembly and disassembly.
A square cross-section for the spigot and socket formations is convenient, particularly in that it allows the use of a standard square tubing to be cut to provide the spigots (15). It will however be appreciated that the same result may be achieved using a number of other non-circular profiles to the spigot and socket formations. Any shape cross-section with an angle or flat surface or some protrusion and matching groove could serve this purpose and prevent relative rotation or pivoting between the connected ends of the sections.
By correctly aligning the spigot and socket formations (5) on assembly of the post sections (4), the guide means (6) in the form of the square spigot and socket assemblies will serve to maintain proper alignment of the sections when the post (3) is erected for use of the banner (1 ). Markers, such as arrows, adjacent the ends of the sections (4) will be used to conveniently indicate the proper alignment when mating the spigot and socket connections (5).
For each joint or connection (5), the spigot insert (7.1 ) will be located in the lower tube end and the socket insert (7.2) in the upper tube end to, in use, fit over the upwardly extending spigot. This is done to provide the four connections which are required to erect the post (3) from the five demountable tube sections (4).
A sheet (32) of banner material is cut with an edge (33) to correspond substantially to an assembled post (3). The edge (33) is fitted with an elasticized seam (34) that is sized to receive the post (3). The other, free edge of the sheet (32) is straight as can be seen from the drawings.
When the sheet (32) is fitted to the post (3), the banner (1 ) assumes a tensioned condition under the combined effect of the inherent resilience of the sheet material (32), the elasticized seam (34) and the post (3). The size and cut of the sheet (32) is selected to achieve this result. A tie (not shown) will hold the lower end of the sheet (32) securely in place on the post (3). A suitable bracket (37) will be provided to anchor the tie.
The bracket (37) is moulded as a single piece, made up of a curved strap (38) with a pair of matching hook formations (39) at either end. The hook formations (39) have corresponding openings (40) which line up when the strap (38) is wrapped around the lowermost section (4). With the bracket (37) in the correct position suitable spaced from the bottom of the post (3), a screw and threaded nut (not shown) are connected through the openings (40) and tightened to secure the bracket (37) in position. The hook formations (39) together form a single downward facing hook on which to conveniently anchor the tie. The post is simple to manufacture and avoids the need for a resilient end section or component which is commonly used to make such banners.
The spigot and socket formation of the inserts prevent twisting between the sections and ensure a symmetrical curve is maintained along the upper portion of the post. Twisting between the section ends would otherwise result in a distorted shape of the banner. This can be particularly problematic where a banner is used in windy conditions. While the guide means used in this embodiment has been selected for reasons of cost effectiveness and convenience, it will be appreciated that a variety of profiled spigot and socket formations may be used to achieve the same results.
It will be appreciated that the height and size of the banner (1 ) can be varied to suit different requirements. As already mentioned in the background, the sections and connections are equally suited for use as a support for banners of the kind having a post which is bent to form a horizontal arm at the upper end.
Instead of aluminium, the rigid tubing used for the sections (4) may also be provided from other suitable materials such as, synthetic resins, or other composites. For example, the post may be made of extruded fibre glass.
The post is lightweight but robust, providing a rigid support for banners of various shapes and configurations. This construction of the post also enables the use of large and tall banners which maintain the desired shape.
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