TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to a flag for hanging along a vertical surface. More particular the subject disclosure relates to flag for hanging on the outside of a door, a turn window or tilt window and a flag for hanging under a turn window or top hung window.

BACKGROUND ART

Flags are often used to indicate their affiliation with something. Some examples of what people feel connected to are a football team, sports team, country, municipality and person.

Flags are usually hung on a flagpole. The flagpole is placed in a flagpole holder that is attached to a vertical surface, for example a wall. USD505, 886S discloses a window flag.

US2013/0047478A1 discloses a sign display device and system for interchangeable signs, banners and flags on a variety of surfaces and objects with increased structural simplicity and minimum parts. The sign display device comprises at least one support or frame member, at least one opening in the banner sleeve to expose said support and at least one mounting member. The exposed support or frame member engages one or more mounting members in such fashion as to allow the banner to be mounted on it easily, as well as allow it to be removable and replaceable.

USD735072S discloses a universal door banner that wraps around a typical door. The banner is placed along the top and bottom of the door and tightened with two tension threads between a topside and underside of the banner at the back of the door. USD906165S discloses a door cover display wherein the two tension threads are replaced by a long, narrow strip of fabric

US2006/0115620A1 discloses a decorative door covering including a first cover panel and a second cover panel. The decorative door covering also includes a connector strip for connecting each of the first and second top edges of the first and second cover panels, respectively, in order to allow the connector strip to be placed on the top side of the door in order to hang each of the first and second cover panels on the opposed first and second door sides of the door. The decorative door covering further includes attachment means in the form of hook and loop straps for attaching and securing each of the first and second bottom edges of the first and second cover panels, respectively, about the bottom side of the door in order for the hook and loop straps to position and place each of the first and second interior sides of the first and second cover panels, respectively, in contact with the first and second door sides of the door, respectively.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present technology to provide an alternative sign display product for a door, tilt window or turn window that overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the sign display products described above.

According to an aspect of the subject technology, this object is achieved by a sign display product having the features of claim 1 . Advantageous embodiments and further ways of carrying out the present technology may be attained by the measures mentioned in the dependent claims.

A sign display product according the subject-technology comprises a first part of fabric-like material, the first part of fabric-like material comprising a sign section having a topside, a bottom side, a left side and a right side. The sign section is configured to be displayed at least 90% before a front side of a door, tilt window or turn window. Only the topside of the sign section is provided with means for attaching the flag. The first part of fabric-like material further comprises an attachment section extending from the entire top side of the sign section. The topside of the sign section coincides with a connection side of the attachment section. An edge of the attachment section opposite the connection side of the attachment section comprises a channel forming a side of the first part. The channel comprises a left-hand cut-out and a right hand cut-out providing access for fastening elements configured for securing the attachment section to a back side of the door, tilt window or turn window, wherein the sign display product further comprises fastening elements which are provided with a first coupling structure that allows coupling with the backside of the door, tilt window or turn window, and a second coupling structure that when placed in the left-hand cut-out I right hand cut-out allows coupling with the channel (120). The concept behind the subject technology is based on the idea of having a flag which can be used without a flagpole and which has only one attached side, so that it cannot move freely on this side alone due to the wind. However, the flag must be fastened firmly enough. The use of suction cups to secure the flag at two corners on, for example, a flat surface will not be sufficient to hold the flag in strong gusts of wind. By extending the flag at the top, it becomes possible to hang it over, for example, a door so that it is visible from the outside. By attaching the extension with, for example, suction cups to the back of the door, the flag will stick to the door when the door is open. When the door is closed, the flag is clamped between the top of the door and the rebate. This clamping provides a strain relief which will virtually eliminate the force of wind gusts on the suction cups.

In an embodiment, the first part further comprises a visual alignment feature which defines the topside of the sign section and a connection side of the attachment section, the visual alignment feature defines a line which is parallel to the channel.

The visual alignment feature allows a user to hang the flag straight down at the front while standing behind the door and not seeing the sign section of the sign display product. When the flag is hanging over the door, the user knows that if he positions the visual alignment feature on the top edge of the door, the sign will hang correctly before the front of the door.

In an embodiment, a line defined by the visual alignment feature is parallel to the channel. These features ensure that when the channel is attached horizontally to the back of the door, the sign section on the front of the door hangs straight down.

In an embodiment, the visual alignment feature is a difference in pattern and/or colour of a topside area of the sign section and a connection side area of the attachment section. This is an inexpensive embodiment of the visual alignment feature.

In another embodiment, the visual alignment feature is a stitching from the left side to the right side of the sign section. This is another inexpensive embodiment of the visual alignment feature which also allows the use of different materials for the sign section and the attachment section. In another embodiment, the attachment section narrows symmetrically from the connection side toward the channel, wherein the visual alignment feature is the start of the symmetrical narrowing. This is another inexpensive embodiment of the visual alignment feature that is defined by the shape of the left and right side of the first part. An angle formed by the left side of the sign section and the left side of the attachment section defines the left point of the alignment feature. An angle formed by the right side of the sign section and the right side of the attachment section defines the right point of the alignment feature. The alignment feature is a virtual straight line between the left point and right point. By positioning both the left and right point on the top of a door, the user can correctly position the sign section before the front of a door without seeing the sign section. In a further embodiment, the attachment section has an inclined left and right side with respect to the left side and right side of the sign section.

In an embodiment, the left hand cut-out and the right hand cut-out are indentations in the perimeter of the first part of fabric-like material. In an alternative embodiment, the left hand cut-out and the right hand cut-out are holes through the fabric like material of the channel from the front to the rear of the first part. The latter embodiment has the advantage that the support rod can be more easily inserted into the channel. Furthermore, the support rod supports the first part over the entire length of the channel, which reduces the chance of the duct material cracking

In an embodiment, the attachment section comprises further an elongated opening through the attachment section between the channel and the connection side. In a further embodiment, seen from the bottom side to the topside of the first part, the elongated opening is positioned between the left-hand cut-out and a right hand cut-out. These features allow for easy attachment of a pennant to the first part.

In a further embodiment, the sign display product comprises a second part of fabric-like material forming a pennant having a width corresponding to the elongated opening and provided with a hook and loop strap to form a loop of the fabric-like material of the second part to accommodate the section of the first part from the elongated opening up to and including the channel. In an embodiment, the channel is configured to accommodate a support rod. The sign display product further comprises the support rod, the support rod being a strip-like element having two holes, the two holes being aligned with the left and right cut-out when the support rod is placed in the channel. The support rod ensures that the flag is supported along its entire length when forces pull on the flag. As a result, creases are less likely to appear and the material is less likely to be pulled out of shape. In a further embodiment, the support rod and channel have corresponding lengths. These characteristics provide the best support for the first part with minimal material use for the support rod.

In an embodiment, the first coupling structure of the fastening elements comprises a suction cup. The use of a suction cup makes it easy to secure and release a fastening element on a door with a smooth surface without damaging the surface.

In a further embodiment, the second coupling structure of the fastening elements comprises a threaded rod and an element with a threaded hole mating with the threaded rod. In this way, the flag can be fastened in such a way that the support cannot inadvertently become detached from the element to which it is attached and the flag can fall down, while the flag can easily be detached and reattached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, properties and advantages will be explained hereinafter based on the following description with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like or comparable parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the sign display product;

Fig. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a pennant;

Fig. 3 schematically shows the portion of the sign display product that can be seen in front of a door;

Fig. 4 schematically shows the portion of the sign display product that can be seen at the back of a door; Fig. 5 schematically shows the portion of the sign display product including a pennant that can be seen in front of a door;

Fig. 6A schematically shows an expanded view of the portion of the sign display product including a pennant that can be seen at the back of a door;

Fig. 6B schematically shows the portion of the sign display product including a pennant that can be seen at the back of a door; and,

Fig. 7 schematically shows a second embodiment of the attachment section.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the sign display product. A sign display product can be any type of flag and/or banner. A flag is an emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design representative for a country, group, club, movement, or person. A flag is often used to show a personal commitment to something. The emblem may have other shapes than rectangular.

A sign display product 100 according to the present application is for use with a door, tilt window or turn window, or another opening of a house that can be opened/closed with a closing object. The sign display product comprises a first part 102 of fabric-like material and a support rod 124. The first part of fabric-like material comprises a sign section 102A and an attachment section 102B. The sign section 102a comprises the emblem that has to be shown to other persons. The sign section has a topside 104, a bottom side 106, a left side 108 and a right side 110. The first part 102 is configured such that at least 90% of the sign section 102A can be displayed before a front side of the door, tilt window or turn window, when the first part is affixed to the backside of the door, tilt window or turn window.

The first part of fabric-like material comprises an attachment section 102B at only one side of the sign section. The other sides are not provided with provisions to fasten the display product to an object. This allows the sign section to move like a flag when the wind blows along the sigs section. The attachment section is an extension to the sign section 102A of fabric-like material. The material of the sign section and attachment section may be the same, but can also be different. The attachment section extends from and along the entire length of the top side 112 of the sign section, i.e. from the upper left corner of the sign section to the upper right corner of the sign section. The transition from the sign section to the attachment section includes a visual alignment feature 114. The visual alignment feature defines the topside of the sign section, i.e. the emblem that has to be shown and consequently a connection side 116 of the attachment section. The connection side 116 is against the top side 112.

The visual alignment feature 114 is used by a user to correctly position the sing section 102A in front of the front of i.e. a door. When a user wants to show the sign section in front of a door 300, as shown in Fig. 2, he has to stand as the backside of an opened door. Then he throws the sign section 102A over the topside 304 of the door 300 to have the sign section before the front side 302 of the door. At that moment, he cannot see whether the sign section is hanging properly in front of the door, i.e. whether the sign section is in the upright position. The upright direction of the sign section is indicated by the arrow with reference numeral 150 in Figure 1. The visual alignment feature 114 defines a line which is perpendicular to the upright direction of the sign section. Then the user has to move the first part of the sign display product 100 such that the visual alignment feature 114 is on the topside 304 of the door or parallel and near the topside at the back 306 of the door 300. In that case, he knows the sign section is hanging properly and in upright position before the front side of the door.

The visual alignment feature 114 can be a difference in pattern and/or colour of a topside area of the sign section and a connection side area of the attachment section. In Fig. 1 the visual alignment feature 114 is both a difference in pattern and colour. The visual alignment feature 114 can also be a stitching from the left side of the first part 102 to the right side of the first part 102. The visual alignment feature can also be a straight of dotted line. In Fig. 1 the attachment section narrows symmetrically from the connection side 116 toward an outer edge 118 of the first part. The start 130 of the symmetrical narrowing can be used as visual alignment feature. In that case, the kinks 130 in the left side and the right side of the first part are used as marker to identify the visual alignment feature, and the transition between the sign section and attachment section is defined by a virtual line between the two kinks.

An edge 118 of the attachment section opposite the connection side the first part. The channel is configured to accommodate a support rod 124 and comprises a left-hand cut-out 126A and a right hand cut-out 126B. The left-hand cut-out and the right hand cut-out provide access for fastening elements 128 configured for securing the attachment section to a back side 306 of the door 300 when the support rod 124 is positioned in the channel. This can be seen in Fig. 4 and in more detail is Fig. 6B. The channel 120 can be formed by folding the fabric-like material of the attachment section. However, other possibilities to create a channel are commonly known to the skilled person. In Figs. 1 and 6A, the left hand cut-out 126B and the right hand cut-out 126A are indentations in the perimeter of the first part 102 of fabric-like material. Fig. 7 the left hand cut-out 126B and the right hand cut-out 126A are holes 702 through the fabric like material of the channel from the front to the rear of the first part.

Optionally, the attachment section comprises further an elongated opening 140 through the attachment section 102B at a location between the channel 120 and the visual alignment feature 114 and thus also the connection side 116. Seen from the bottom side 106 to the topside 112 of the first part, the elongated opening 140 is positioned between the left-hand cut-out 126A and a right hand cut-out 126B. The elongated opening 140 is provided to attach a pennant 202 to the first part 102 of the sign display product 100. When the pennant 202 is sold in combination with the first part 102 of the sign display product, the pennant is regarded to be a second part of fabric like material of the sign display product 100. Fig. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a pennant. A Velcro 204 strap comprising a loop strap and a hook strap is attached to a side of the pennant. The look and hook strip allow to form a loop around the channel 120 and the part of the attachment section between the elongated opening 140 and the channel. Fig. 6A shows how the path of pennant 202 is over the first part of the sign display product through the elongated opening 104 and around the channel 120 between the left-hand cut-out 126A and a right hand cutout 126B. In Fig. 6A the look and hook strips are not coupled together. Fig. 6B shows schematically the portion of the first part 102 and the portion of the pennant 202 that can be seen at the back of the door after fixing the support rod 124 which is positioned in the channel, to the back side of the door by fastening elements 600. The pennant 202 having a width corresponding to the elongated opening forms a loop of the fabric-like material of the second part accommodating the section of the first part from the elongated opening (140) up to and including the channel 120.

The fastening elements 600 comprise a first coupling structure 602 and a second coupling structure 604. The first coupling structure is configured to allow coupling with a vertical surface of the door and the second coupling structure is configured to couple with the channel 120. In this way, the first part is coupled by means of the fastening elements 600 to the door. A first component of a fastening element comprises the first coupling structure and protrusion in the form of a threaded rod. The threaded rod is a first part of the second coupling structure. The second coupling structure further comprises a nut-like component that can be screwed onto the threaded rod.

The support rod 124 is a strip-shaped element made of a light material, for example wood or plastic. The support rod 124 comprises two holes 702 at a distance from each other corresponding to the distance between the cutouts 126A, 126B in the material forming the channel 124 and such that when the support rod 124 is positioned in the channel the cut-outs 126A, 126B and the holes 702 are aligned. This allows a threaded rod 606 of a second coupling structure 604 of a fastening element 600 to pass through a hole of the support rod. By screwing a component 608 of the fastening element with an opening having an internal thread on the threaded rod, the support rod can be clamped between the first coupling structure 602 and the second coupling structure 604 of a fastening element 600. In the embodiments in the present application the fastening element 128, 600 comprises a suction cup to fasten the fastening element to the back of the door. In an alternative embodiment the fastening element is attached to the door or glass of a tilt or turn window by means of a first coupling structure having an adhesive layer instead of a suction cup. In an alternative embodiment, the second coupling structure is in the form of a protrusion which, when pressed into an opening of the support rod, becomes trapped in the opening by clamping forces. If the support rod is not used and the left-hand cut-out and right hand cutout are holes as shown in Fig. 7, the edges of the holes should be reinforced to provide the necessary clamping forces. This can be done, for example, by applying elastic material or a grommet along the edges forming the cut-outs.

In the embodiments shown, the channel and the support rod have a length which is smaller than the width of the top side of the sign section. This allows the size of a package for selling the product to be reduced. A further advantage is that when the sign display product is used in combination with a tilt window or turn window, the attachment section and support rod are not visible from outside as they are hidden behind the sign section of the first part.

The fabric-like material may be any material suitable for making a flag, and may thus be made entirely of fabric, plastic or any combination thereof.

The sign display product comprises preferably at least three different components to enable a user to show and emblem, the first part with the emblem printed on its display section, a support rod and two fastening elements. The support rod is not an essential component, to obtain a sign display product having the advantageous of the invention. The support rod ensures that the sign section stays neatly in front of the door and the fabric-like material is less likely to be pulled out of shape.

Optionally, the sign display product can include a second part being the pennant. When attached to a door, tilt window or turn window, the support rod ensures that the first part does not fall down and also stays straight without pleats when the door is open or opened. When the door, tilt window or turn window is closed, the first part is clamped over its entire width between its upper side and frame. The clamping between upper side and frame acts as a strain relief for forces of the wind acting on sign section, so that the forces of the wind do not act directly on the fastening elements. Moreover, when the wind dies down, the sign section will hang down again without any pleats.

While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and upon study of the drawings. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Changes can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.