Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: FRAMING SYSTEM FOR SIGNS
SPECIFICATIONS
This invention relates to a FRAMING SYSTEM FOR
SIGNS having a sheet of flexible sign material
stretched across the opening of a frame.
It is a common practice with signs which have a
flexible face material to use expanding rods
installed at regular intervals along the length of
the sign, to push the sides of the sign outwardly
and thus stretch the flexible sign material. It 1s
also another common practice to strengthen the sides
10 of the sign with stiffeners, and to stretch the face
material with adjustable clips installed on the
edges of the flexible face material. In both cases,
the expanding rods or stiffeners are installed
inside the frame of the sign, between the flexible
face material and the light fixtures illuminating
the sign. Therefore, it is a common fact with these
signs to see the rod's shadows through the face
material.
It is also a common practice to stretch the
20 flexible face material with adjustable clips
installed at a precise distance from the edge of the
flexible sign material. The installation of these
clips requires the marking of lines, or the sewing
of pockets, along the edges of the flexible sign
material.
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It is also a common practice to stretch the
flexible sign material with adjustable clips which
are retained to the edge of the sign framing with
screws. These screws are used to locate the clips
at a position which is more or less distant from a
shoulder at the edge of the sign, and thus providing
a mean of varying the tension of the face material.
Another common practice is to use adjustable
clips having a series of serrations on one of its
10 sides, which mates with an identical series of
serrations on the edge of the sign. The adjustment
of the tension of the flexible face material is done
using special pliers to engage the clips onto few
or several serrations.
It is a common fact with the adjustable clips
described, that the installation of the face
material, and the re-opening of sign for maintenance
require special tooling, and precise dimensions for
the flexible sign material.
Another common practice with these signs is that
the periphery of the sign is made of two or more
extruded sections, joined together with screws. I t
is further a common practice with the said signs to
cover the exposed corner on the periphery of the
sign with a cap. This corner cap is usually
installed with screws. Such perforations in the
casing offer the possibility for leakage of water
or moisture inside the sign's casing. It is further
a common fact with these sign, that the installation
30 of the corner cap, and the re-opening of the sign
for maintenance also require special tooling.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved illumination of the sign. This
is done with a framing system which does not require
expanding rods or stiffeners between the face
material and the light source.
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It is also an object of the present invention to
provide a method of stretching the flexible face
material using tensional devices which can be
installed along the edge of the face material by
hand. Moreover, the invention provides a method by
which the face material does not require accurate
dimensions, marking or sewing of pockets along its
edges. The stretching of the flexible sign material
is done by pushing the tensional devices into a slot
10 along the opening of the sign's frame. The push of
the devices is done by hand, with or without the use
of a slot type blade screw-driver.
It is also an object of the present invention to
provide a sign framing system having its sides made
in one piece, and thus to prevent leakage of water
or moisture inside the sign's casing.
It is also an object of the present invention to
provide a sign framing system having a corner cap
which is installed manually without fasteners. The
20 cap is installed by engaging its rear portion into
a retaining lip and by twisting it in its final
position causing a set of mating lips to engage and
retain it in place.
It is further an object of the present invention
to provide a framing system which can be re-opened
for maintenance with minimum tooling. The invention
provides a fram;ng system where the corner cap is
removed by twisting it manually inwardly along its
length. The invention provides a framing system
30 where the tensional devices are removed by prying
with a slot type blade screw-driver to disengage its
embossments from the frame's serrations.
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According to the present invention, the framing
system comprises a rigid extrusion covering the
periphery of the sign, and a sheet of metal covering
the rear opening of the frame. A series of C-frames
are attached to the sign support structure with
screws through the backing skin of the sign. The
C-frames are attached at regular spacings inside the
sign casing, to the side extrusions using screws
driven from the inside of the sign casing. The C-
10 frames provide the rigidity and the accuracy oflocation for the side extrusions.
Each side extrusion has a slot at its edge along
the front opening of the sign. The slot has a
series of serrations on one of its inside face to
engage with embossments on the tensional devices.
The serrations provide adjustment in the location
of the tensional devices and thus provide adjustment
in the tension of the flexible face material.
The tensional devices are closed on the edge of
20 a pre-cut flexible sign material by hand. The
closing of the devices pushes two prongs protruding
from one of its side through the flexible sign
material and through two mating holes on its other
side.
If ever the adjustment of the tensional devices
reaches its limit due to the aging of the flexible
face material, or for other reasons, the tensional
devices can be re-positioned. This is done by
trimming off with scissors a portion at the edge of
30 the flexible face material, and by relocating the
tensional devices.
The framing system described can be built on the
job site using modular components. It can also be
delivered as pre-fabricated sections and hoisted in
place.
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The flexible face material used for this
invention is pre-painted, and delivered to the
installation site in a rolled-up form. The roll of
flexible face material is unwounded on a reel which
rolls along the sign frame, supported by trolley
wheels rolling on the upper extrusion.
Embodiments of the invention will now be
described by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
10 - Figure no. 1 is a general arrangement of a
large rectangular sign, covering two faces of
a corner.
- Figure no. 2 is an elevation of the framing
system showing the principal components of the
sign.
- Figure no. 3 is a sectional view along the
line 3-3 of the Figure no. 1.
- Figure no. 4 is a sectional view of the metal
extrusion at the periphery of the sign.
20 - Figure no. 5 is a sectional view along the
line 5-5 of the figure no. 6. The figure shows
a cross-section of the tensional device.
- Figure no. 6 is a plan view of the tensional
device.
- Figure no. 7 is an elevation view of the
tensional device.
- Figure no. 8 is a perspective view of the
tensional device.
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Figure no. 9 is a sectional view of the
serrated slot, the tensional device and the
small size corner cap.
Figure no. 10 is a variation of the figure no.
9 showing a large size cap.
Figure no. 11 is a sectional view of an
extrusion which is used to refit existing signs
with the present invention.
Figure no. 12 is a sectional view of the
serrated slot to explain the installation of
the tensional device.
Figure no. 13 is a sectional view of the
extrusion to explain the installation and
removal of the corner cap.
Figure no. 14 is a sectional view of the
extrusion to explain the removal of the
tensional devices.
Figure no. 15 is a plan view of the sign
structure to explain the framing of corners.
Figure no. 16 is a plan view of the sign
structure to explain the framing of ends.
Figure no. 17 is an enlarged view of the
framing of corners.
Figure no. 18 is a plan view of the sign
structure to explain the framing of vertical
joints in the flexible sign material.
Figure no. 19 is a sectional view of a cap to
cover a vertical corner in the sign framing.
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Figure no. 20 is a sectional view of a cap to
cover a vertical joint in the flexible sign
material.
Figure no. 21 is a perspective view of the
joining details for the corner cap.
Figure no. 22 is a perspective view of the
horizontal joining details for the side
extrusions.
Figure no. 23 is a perspective view of the
joining details for the side extrusions at the
ends of the sign.
Figure no. 24 is a perspective view of an
alternate method for joining the side
extrusions.
Figure no. 25 is a perspective view of an
alternate method for joining the side
extrusions at the ends of the sign.
Figure no. 26 is a plan view of the lamp
fixtures and of the wiring troughs.
Figure no. 27 is an elevation view of the lamp
fixture module showing the ballast and the
wiring troughs.
Figure no. 28 is an elevation view of the
overlapping of two light fixture modules.
Figure no. 29 is an elevation view for an
alternate method for the overlapping of two
light fixture modules.
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- Figure no. 30 is a sectional view along line
no. 30 on the Figure no. 29. It shows the
arrangement for the cap covering the wiring.
- Figure no. 31 is a sectional view along line
no. 31 on the figure no. 28. It shows the
arrangement for the wiring underneath the
ballast.
- Figure no. 32 shows the light reflection
pattern along the edges of the sign.
10 - Figure no. 33 is a sectional view of the reel
to unwind the roll of flexible sign material.
- Figure no. 34 is an enlargement of the detail
no. 34 on the figure no. 33. It explains the
details of the trolley wheels rolling on the
top extrusions.
- Figure no. 35 is the elevation view of the
linkage holding the trolley wheel and the lower
guide wheel at the proper distance from one
another.
The new framing system illustrated on figures
no. 1, no. 2, and no. 3 comprises a flexible face
material 1 which is supported by tensional devices
2. The tensional devices are adjusted into a metal
extrusions 3 around the periphery of the sign. The
framing system also comprises a backing sheet of
metal 4 and a series of C-frames 5 spaced equally
and bolted to the sign support structure using
fasters driven from the inside of the casing, and
through the back;ng sheet 4.
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The sign is illuminated by light fixture 6
mounted in tandem and overlapping at each end. The
light is reflected toward the edges of the sign on
reflectors 61 installed at the top and bottom of the
sign. The tensional devices 2 and the edge of the
extrusion is covered by a corner cap 8.
Referring to Figure no. 4, the extrusion 3 is
positioned on the C-frame 5 using locating lips 12,
13 and 14. The extrusion 3 is retained to the C-
10 frame ~ with a screw 16 driven from the inside ofthe casing through lip 12. The lip 14 forms a
cavity 15 to mate with the edge of the backing sheet
4. The extrusion 3 is attached to the backing sheet
4 using screws 17 or rivets through lip 18 of the
extrusion. The extrusion 3 is made in one piece to
prevent leakage of water or moisture inside the
sign's casing.
The extrusion 3 has a slot 10 at the edge facing
the front of the sign. The outside wall of this
20 slot 10 has a series of serrations 11 to mate with
embossments on the tensional device 2.
Referring to figures no. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the
tensional device 2 is made of two halves with a thin
section 19 along the centre line of its long axis.
One half has two prongs 20 protruding from its
surface. The other half has two tapered holes 21
to mate with the prongs 20 when the device is bent
fully along the thin section 19. Each prong 20 has
a pointed end and a recess in its diameter below the
30 point. This recess forms a sharp edge 22 which is
slightly wider than the small diameter of the taper
hole 21.
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The tensional device 2 is installed on the
flexible face material 1 by bending the device 2
manually along its thin edge 19, over the edge of
the face material. The two prongs 20 will puncture
through the face material 1. The sharp edge 22
locks through the taper holes 21 to keep the device
2 closed over the face material.
The tensional device has two shallow slots 23 on
its edge near the prongs. The provision for the
10 slots 23 is to pry the device open with a slot type
blade screw-driver, for re-positioning it to a new
location.
The tensional device 2 has two sets of sharp
embossments 24 to engage in the serrations 11 of the
extrusion 3. The tensional device 2 has a recess
25 between the embossments 24. This recess is used
to pry the devices out of the serrations 11 using
a slot type blade screw-driver.
The tensional device has another embossment 26
20 over its entire length. This embossment acts as a
pivot point when the tensional device is pushed over
the serrations 11 inside the slot 10, as it can be
seen of the figure no. 9. The embossment 26 gives
leverage to the tensional device 2 and forces it to
rotate and to apply more pressure toward the
serrations 11 when a tension is applied on the
flexible face material.
The rib 27 on the extrusion 3 adds stiffness to
the inside wall of the slot 10. The rib prevents
30 excessive sagging between the supports 5, under the
load applied by the flexible face material.
1 0
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The cap 8 is installed on the extrusion 3 by
clipping it in place. The lip 28 on the cap is
engaged with the lip 29 of the extrusion. The cap
is pivoted towards the front of the sign until the
lip 30 on the cap slides over and clips on lip 31
on the extrusion. The cap 8 is prevented to
disengage from the locked position by lip 32 which
comes in contact with the flexible material, before
the lip 28 releases from lip 29.
The removal of the cap 8 for maintenance purposes
is done by forcing this lip 32 against the flexible
face material 1 as it can be seen on the figure no.
13. The lips 30 and 31 can slide into one another
until lip 28 disengaged from lip 29. The removal
of the cap 8 is done manually by twisting it towards
the inside of the sign's frame.
A wider cap 9 can also be used. In this case,
the joining of two sections of caps is done with a
piece of flat metal 36 caps which fits precisely
20 between lips 32 and 34 inside the face of the caps.
This is illustrated on figure no. 10, and figure no.
21.
A conventional sign may be refitted with the new
framing system using the extrusion no. 37. The
installation of this extrusion over an existing sign
is done with screws through the tongue 38, and into
the existing frame. The reinforcement of this
extrusion at the joints is done with a flat piece
of metal between grooves 39 and 40, which overlaps
30 the two sections.
Referring to Figure no. 12. the illustration
explains the turning of the tensional block 2 over
the flexible material 1 before it is pushed inside
the slot 10 of the extrusion 3.
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The tensional block 2 can be removed from the
slot 10 by prying with a slot type screw-driver
blade 41 between the serrations 11 and the devices
2, to force the embossments 24 out of the
serrations 11. The removal of the device is
completed by pushing in the flexible face material
1 to increase its tension and pull the device out
of the slot 10, as it can be seen on Figure no. 14.
The Figure no. 15 illustrates the overlapping of
10 the light tubes 6 at corners and it illustrates the
location of the wiring trays 42. The Figure no. 15
illustrates also the components used to stretch the
face material 1 longitudina11y at corners. The
flexible face material 1 is cut at corners. A
special extrusion 43 having two slots 10 side by
side and two series of serrations 11 is used to
retain two series of tensional devices 2, each set
holding to one edge of the flexible face material.
An enlarged view of this is shown on Figure no. 17.
20 The same extrusion 43 is used to make joints in the
flexible face material 1 as shown on Figure 18.
The extrusion 43 is attached to the framing
extrusion 3 with clip angles 47 and screws, at each
of its extremities.
The slots 10 and the tensional devices 2 in the
extrusion 43 are covered with a corner cap 44 at
corners and with a flat cap 45 at joints. 80th caps
have legs 46 which can flex to fit between the
extrusion 43 and the tensional device 2. The
30 deflection of the legs 46 causes the legs to apply
an outward pressure against the opening of the slot
10. This pressure together with the squeezing force
of the tens;onal device over the leg 46 keep the cap
in place.
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Several methods of joining the extrusions 3 at
corners is illustrated on Figures no. 15, 16, 22,
23, 24, and 25. A variety of combinations of
stiffeners can be used. Vertical corners can be
joined using corner tubing 48, clip angles 49 and
full width angles 50. Horizontal corners and
horizontal joints can be made with joining plates
51, straight tubing 52, and flat bar 53. In all
cases these stiffeners are attached to the
10 extrusions 3 and 43 using screws.
The light fixture cas;ngs 7 can be used as a
single string of lamp tubes in a narrow sign. The
light fixture casings 7 can be grouped two or more
together with connection trays 42, to accommodate
for wider signs. The light sockets 54 are wired
with electrical conductors 56 passing through the
fixture casing 7 to the ballast 55. The wiring
connections for the electrical supply to a light
fixture module, or in between adjoining light
20 fixture modules, are done in a connection tray 42.
The tray 42 is normally covered by the adjoinin~
light fixture module. Otherwise, and in cases where
the width of the fixture casing 7 is not sufficient
to cover the tray 42, sheet metal covers are used
to cover the tray entirely.
The Figure no. 30 illustrates a sheet metal cover
58, which is used with a ballast 57 having its
wiring 56 coming out from the end. The Figure no.
31 illustrates a sheet metal cover 59 which is used
30 with a ballast 55 having its wiring 56 coming out
from the bottom. Both types of covers 58 and 59 are
attached to the connections trays 42 with screws 60.
The light tubes 6 and light fixtures 7 are
installed on the frame members 5 near the centre
line of the sign. The reflectors 61 send an even
distribution of light to the outer edges of the
sign. The reflectors 61 are installed on the frame
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member 5 with screws.
The Figures no. 33, 34 and 35 illustrate one of
many possible methods to install the flexible face
material 1. The flexible face material is delivered
to the installation site in a rolled up form. A
reel plate 62 and reel axle 63 are used to unwind
the roll of flexible sign material 1. The reel
assembly is supported by trolley wheels 64 which
roll on the top extrusion 3. The weight of the reel
10 assembly is counter balanced with a set of
horizontal wheels 66 rolling against the nosing of
the lower extrusions 3. Additional trolley wheels
65 lock the reel assembly in place. These wheels
65 are free to slide up and down in slots 67. These
are held in the upper position, against the lower
face of extrusion 3 and behind lip 27, by the latch
blade 68. The latch blade 68 pivots on the axle of
the trolley wheel no. 64. The latch blades 68 are
used to secure the reel in place on the sign frame
20 or to remove it after completion of the face
material installation.
The reel assembly is adjustable to different
height of signs. Its central support member 69 is
made of two hollow sections sliding into one
another. A bolt 70 through a combination of holes
in the support member 69 is used to adjust the
height of the reel assembly.
