System and method for mounting a sign

• US 7,168,197 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Siegenthaler
• Original Assignee: John Siegenthaler
• Inventors: Siegenthaler, John
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US11/138,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 40603-604, 160/378, 160/404, 381/029.1
• US Class Current: 40/603
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0025 display surface tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/186 suspended, e.g. secured to the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A system and method for mounting a flexible material sign to a billboard structure includes a plurality of tensioning clamps affixed to the billboard structure. Each of the plurality of clamps includes a bracket adapted to be secured to the billboard structure and an adjustable J-bolt moveably secured to the bracket. The J-bolt includes a hooked section for passing through and hanging the flexible material sign to the billboard structure. To tautly mount the flexible material sign to the billboard structure, the brackets are secured to the billboard structure with fasteners. The hooked sections of the J-bolts are passed through the sign to hang the sign from the billboard structure. The J-bolts are adjusted relative to the bracket to hang the sign a preselected distance from the billboard structure and to apply a tension to the sign to maintain a desired tautness of the sign.

Claims

1. A system for tautly mounting a flexible material sign to a billboard structure, comprising:

a plurality of tensioning clamps affixed to an associated billboard structure, each of said plurality of clamps including;

a bracket adapted to be secured to said associated billboard structure, and

an adjustable J-bolt movably secured to said bracket, said J-bolt including a hooked section for passing through and hanging an associated flexible material sign to said associated billboard structure,

wherein said J-bolt is adjustably movable along a first axis to selectively apply a tension to said associated flexible material sign to cause said associated sign to be taut between said plurality of tensioning clamps and wherein said J-bolt is further adjustably movable along a second axis for positioning said associated sign a selected distance from a show surface of said associated billboard structure.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a first threaded member is threadedly received on a threaded section of said J-bolt to counteract a tension force applied to said sign for maintaining said J-bolt in a selected position along said first and second axes.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein a second threaded member is threadedly on said threaded section in abutting relation to said first threaded member to lock said J-bolt in said selected position along said first and second axes.

4. A system for tautly mounting a flexible material sign to a billboard structure, comprising:

a plurality of tensioning clamps affixed to an associated billboard structure, each of said plurality of clamps including;

an L-shaped bracket adapted to be secured to said associated billboard structure, said bracket having a first leg section secured to said billboard structure by at least one fastener and a second leg section extending in a direction away from said billboard structure,

an adjustable J-bolt movably secured to said bracket, said J-bolt including a hooked section for passing through and hanging an associated flexible material sign to said associated billboard structure, said second leg section of said bracket having an aperture defined therein for receiving said J-bolt therethrough.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said aperture is a slot extending in a direction approximately normal relative to a plane in which said associated flexible material sign resides, a locking assembly disposed on said bracket to limit movement of said J-bolt along said slot.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said locking assembly includes a bolt received through said slot adjacent said J-bolt and a threaded member threadedly received on said bolt to lock said bolt in a desired position along said slot and to said bracket.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said threaded member is a wing nut and an optional locking washer is disposed on said bolt axially between said wing nut and said bracket.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein a washer is disposed on said bolt axially between a head of said bolt and said bracket.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of tensioning clamps permit a pasted or painted sign to be applied and viewed on said associated billboard structure when said plurality of tensioning clamps are not hanging said associated flexible material sign to said associated billboard structure.

10. A system for mounting a sign, comprising:

a first clamp affixed to a sign carrying structure, said first clamp including a first clamp bracket for securing said first clamp to said sign carrying structure and a first clamp hook adjustably secured to said bracket, said first clamp hook received through a first aperture in a flexible material sign to hang said sign; and

a second clamp affixed to said sign carrying structure at a location spaced from said first clamp, said second clamp including a second clamp bracket for securing said second clamp to said sign carrying structure and a second clamp hook adjustably secured to said bracket, said second clamp hook received through a second aperture in said flexible material sign to further hang said sign,

wherein said first and second clamp brackets are each L-shaped brackets and each include a clamp section affixed to said skin carrying structure by at least one fastener and a second section extending outwardly from said skin carrying structure, said second section defines an aperture therethrough for receiving a respective one of said first and second clamp hooks therethrough.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said first and second clamp hooks are adjustably movable relative to their respective first and second clamp brackets to (i) apply a tension to said flexible material sign to cause said sign to be taut therebetween and (ii) position the sign a selected distance from said sign carrying structure.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said first and second clamp hooks each include a threaded portion and a first threaded member threadedly received on said threaded portion to counteract tension of said sign.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said first and second clamp hooks each further include a second threaded member threadedly received on said threaded portion in abutting relation to said first threaded member to lock said first threaded member in a desired position.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said first and second clamp brackets each includes a leg section extending away from said sign carrying structure, said leg section defining a slot for receiving a respective one of said first and second clamp hooks therethrough, a clamping assembly including a bolt and a threaded fastener is also received through said slot to limit movement of said respective first and second clamp hooks along said slot.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said clamping assembly further includes at least one of a fender washer and a locking washer.

16. A method for tautly mounting a flexible material sign to a billboard structure, comprising:

securing clamp brackets with J-bolts to the billboard structure with fasteners, each of said clamp brackets being an L-shaped bracket having a first leg section secured to the billboard structure by at least one fastener and a second leg section extending in a direction away from the billboard structure, said second leg section having an aperture defined therein for receiving a respective one of said J-bolts therethrough;

passing hooked sections of said J-bolts through the sign to hang the sign from the billboard structure; and

adjusting said J-bolts relative to said clamp bracket to hang said sign a preselected distance from the billboard structure and to apply a tension to the sign to maintain a desired tautness of the sign.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

positioning a first threaded member on a threaded portion of each J-bolt to maintain said J-bolt in a selected position; and

positioning a second threaded member on said threaded portion to lock said J-bolt in said preselected position.