Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SIGN SUPPORT FOR ENGAGING A SUSPENDED CEILING
BACJ~Q~OUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for hangin~ a sign
from a ceiliny.
In stores and similar situations where display signs are
required, it is often desirable to suspend a si~n from the ceiling so
that it can depend~downwardly toward the passersby in a particular
area of the building within which the sign is located. Many buildin~s
are clad with a suspended ceilin~ in the form of a plurality of parallel
lon~itudinal support bars each of which defines a horizontal flan~e
alon~ each side onto which an ed~e of an acoustic ceiling panel is
placed with the panel spannin~ the space between one bar and the
next adjacent bar.
It is highly desirable, therefore, to be able to provide an
arran~ement which attaches to the suspended ceilin~ and can support
a suspended si~n or banner at any required location across the
ceiling.
One example of an arran~ement of this type is shown in
U. S. Patent 4,564,165 [Grant] and this comprises a clip member
which en~a~es over the conventional T-runner of the ceilin~ at the
flan~e of the T. The clip then receives a si~n en~a~in~ and
supportin0 member which snaps around the clip. This arran~ement is
disadvantaQeous in that it is limited to a particular orientation that is
ion~itudinally of the T-runners and in addition the attachment of the
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elements to the ceiling is relativel~/ difficult and r~quires generally a
person to climb up to a position at the ceiling. This is undeslrable
both from the point of view of the necessity for stepladders and the
like and from the point of view of the danger of climbing.
Another example is shown in U. S. Patent 3,883,972
[Propst] which discloses a similar form of clip with a channel at one
end for enyaginy onto a support. However again the clip is of a type
which requires the installer to climb to the hei~ht of the support and
again there is little ability for adjustment.
U. S. Patent 3,604,672 [Askesjo] discloses a teachin~
aid which is suspended from the ceilina. This comprises a ~rame
arrangement which is firstly attached to the ceiling and on this is
carried a bracket which supports a roll map, screen or the like. This
arrangement is not intended for nor suitable for attachment to the T-
bars of a suspended ceilin~.
U. S. Patent 3,181,274 [Izenour] discloses a special form
of ceiling arrangement defining tracks which can receive a horizontal
head of a vertical support stud attached to a sign. This system
requires a special form of suspended ceiling and ~hus is unsuitable for
already existin~ conventional types of ceilin~s.
Other patents that have been identifled in this field are
U.S. Patents 4,412,478 [Osher], 4,229,913 [Corrigan], 4,646,997
lFadley], 2,650,056 lMasoner] and 2,074,660 [Masoner;. None of
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these is relevant to the support of a si~n on a conventional suspended
ceilin~ arran~ement.
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to
provide an improved support apparatus for han~in~ a si~n from a
suspended ceiling in which the sign and the apparatus can be
attached to the ceiling from ~round level without the necessity for
climbing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus of this type which is readily attached to a suspended
ceilin~ without difficulty and without dama~in~ the ceiling itself.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus of this ~eneral type in which the orientation of
the si~n can be adjusted re~ardless of the orientation of the ceilin~
structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordin~ to a first aspect of the invention there is
provided apparatus for han0in~ a si~n from a ceiling comprisin~ a
ceilin~ en~a~in~ member for en~a~in~ a ceilin~ so as to be supported
thereby, si~n support means arran~ed for receiving and supportin~ a
han~in~ si~n dependin~ therefrom, means interconnectin~ the ceilin~
en~agin~ member and the siQn support means, and a handle member
for effectin~ attachment of the ceilin~ en~a~in~ member to the
ceilina, the handle member comprisin~ an elon~ate manually
maneuverable handle and an operatin~ member on an end of the
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handle, the operating member and ceilin~ en~a~in~ member bein~
cooperatively shaped so as to provide support of the ceilin~ enga0in~
member on the handle member, so as to communicate upward force
from the handle member to the ceilin~ engagin~ member and so as to
communicate rotation of the handle member about a lon~itudinal axis
of the handle member to the ceilin~ enga~ing member.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided apparatus for han~in~ a si0n from a ceilin~ comprisin~ a
ceilin~ en~a~ing member for enga~in~ a ceilin~ so as to be supported
thereby, si~n support means arran~ed for receivin~ and supportin~ a
han~in~ si~n dependin~ therefrom, and means interconnectin~ the
ceilin~ en~a~in~ member and the si~n support maans, wherein the
ceilin~ en~a~in~ member comprises an elon~ate bar and a pair of tab
members each extendin~ lon~itudinally outwardly from a respective
end of tha bar substantially at a horizontal upper surface of the bar.
Accordin~ to a third aspect of the invention thers is
provided apparatus for hangin~ a si~n from a ceilin~ comprisin~ a
ceilin~ enga~in~ member for releasably en~agin~ a T-bar support of a
suspended ceilin~ so as to be supported thereby, si~n support means
arranged for receivin~ and supporting a hanging si~n dependin~
therefrom, and means interconnecting the ceilin~ en~a~in~ member
and the si~n support means, wherein said interconnsctin0 means is
arran~ed to connect the ceiling en~a~in~ member to the si~n support
means at a midpoint therealon~ for rotational movement of the si~n
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support means relative to the ceilin~ en~a~in0 member about a
vertical axis extending therethrou~h.
One embodirnent of the inven~ion will now be described
in conjunction with the accompanying drawin~s in which:
BR~EF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE C)RAWINGS
Fi~ure 1 is an isometric exploded view of one
embodiment of apparatus for han0in~ siyns.
Fi~ure 2 is a vertical lon~itudinal cross-sectional view
throu3h the apparatus of Figure 1.
Fi~ure 3 is a cross-sectional view alon~ the lines 3-3 of
Fi~ure 2 on an enlaryed scale.
Fi~ure 4 is an exploded view of the apparatus of Fi~ure 1
incorporatin~ an extension system for suspendin~ the si~n at a lower
position.
In the drawin~s like characters of reference indicate
correspondin~ parts in the different fi~ures.
DETAII.EI:) DESCRIPTION
The apparatus for suspending a hangin~ si~n is ~enerally
indicated at 10 for supportin~ a si~n 11 from a ceilin0 12. The ceilin~
is of the type comprisin~ a plurality of spaced parallel support bars 13
between which are suspended horizontal ceilin~ panels 14. Each of
the support bars 13 is of inverted T-shape often known as a T-runner
thus definin~ horizontal flan~es 15 and 16 on which the panels 14 sit.
` `~
2 1 0 3 8 ~ 1~
The apparatus 10 comprises a ceilin0 en~a~in~ member
17 and a si~n supportin~ rnember 18.
The ceilin~ en~a~in0 member 17 comprises an elon~ate
bar formed from a portion of an extruded profile, the cross-section of
which is best shown in Fi~ure 3. The cross-section thus comprises a
first rectan~ular section defined by a first side wall 19, a second
parallel side wall 20, a top wall 21 and a bottom wall 22. The bottom
wall 22 has a central vertical slot 23. Above the top wall 21 is
defined a horizontal slot 24 formed by flanges 25 and 26 parallel to
the top wall 21 and spaced upwardly therefrom. The flanges 25 and
26 are separated to define a vertical slot 27 therebetween. On an
outer side of the side wall 20 is provided a vertical flan~e 28 which
defines between the vertical flan~e and the side wall 20 a vertical slot
29 facin~ downwardly of the profile.
The ceilin~ en~a~in~ member further comprises a central ~-
raised button 30 which is arranged centrally of the bar and comprises
a disk shaped top portion, a neck 31 extendin~ throu~h the vertical
slot 27 and a bottom retainer 32 slideable within the horizontal slot
24. Thus the raised button 30 can be inserted lon~itudinally o~ the ~ r
slot 27 and moved alon~ the bar to approximately the center position
at which is remains by frictional en~a~ement with ~he bar.
The ceilin~ enga~in0 member ~urther comprises a pair of
tab members 34 and 35. Each of these includes an insert 36 and a
horizontal tab plate 37. The insert 36 basically comprises a flat plata
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which slides into the end of the horizontal slot 24. The Insert further
includes a raised rib 38 alon~ the top surface thereof for en~a~in~
into the vertical slot 27 thus maintainin~ the insert in fixed position in
the end of the slots 24 and 27 by frictional en~a~ement therewith.
The tab plate 37 is stepped relative to the main plane of the insert so
that the tab plate, as best shown in Fi~ure 2, lies in ~he plane of the
top surface of the bar defined by the flanges 25 and 26. The width
of the tab plate 37 is substantially equal to the width of the bar. The
bar is thus ~enerally rectangular in cross-section and the tab plates
form simply horizontal elements at the top of the bar.
The apparatus further includes a handle member for
movin~ the ceiiing en~a0in~ member into position in en~a~ement with
the ceilin~ and for releasin~ the ceilin~ enga~ement member from its
en~a~ed position. The handle member comprises an elon~ate handle
41 which can be manually manipulated and maneuvered from a
person standing on the floor thus spaced from the ceiling. The handle
member further includes a blade portion 42 which is generally
transverse to the handle 41 and attached to the handle by a sleeve
43. The blade has a width si~nificantly ~reater than the handle so the
rotation of the handle causes the blade to rotate about the
lon~itudinal axis of the handle. As shown in Fi~ures 2 and 3, the
blade is inserted into the slot 29 so that upward force on the handle
41 pushes the blade upwardly and thus pushes the ceilin~ en~a~in~
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member upwardly. Also rotation of the handle about its lon~itudinal
axis causes the ceilin~ member to be rotated similarly about the axis.
The ceilin~ member can thus be inserted into the position
shown in Fi~ure 2 in which it is engaged with the T-runners by
movin~ the bar up to the ceilin~, rotating the bar slightly so that the
bar is arranged at an an~le different from 90 degrees to the T-runners
and the tabs 37 are arran~ed just inside the T-bars and then by
pushinQ the bar upwardly to sli~htly lift the respective ceilin~ panel 14
away from the T-runners. The bar is then rotated to a position at
ri~ht an~les to the T-runners so that the tabs 37 en~a~e over the top
surfaces of the flan~es of the T-runners to sit in place on those
flan~es and to be carried thereby. The central raised button 30
en~a~es the underside of the panel and assists it in allowin~ rotation r
of the bar relative to the panel, particularly bearin~ in mind that some
of the panels include a rou~hened surface for attractive appearance.
Thus from ~round level usin~ the handle and the blade, the ceilin~ ~
en~agin~ member can be lifted, pushed and sli~htly twisted into the r~ -
en~a~ement position shown in Fi~ure 2. It can of course be removed ~-
simply by reversin0 the process.
The sign support member 18 comprises a similar bar
formed from an extruded profile, the cross-section of which is shown
in Fi~ure 3. The cross-section of ~he profile 18 includes a~ain a basic
rectangular section defined by a side wall 50, a second parallel side
wall 51, a bottom wall 52 with a vertical slot 53, and a top wall 54.
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Above the top wall 54 is defined a horizontal slot 55 formed by
flan~es 56 and 57 similar to the flan~es 25 and 26. Between the
flanges 56 and 57 is provided a vertical slot 58.
The bar 17 is attached to the bar 18 by a central
couplin~ element 16 includin~ a rectan~ular head 61 slideable along
the top surface of the bottom wall 22 and a circular head 62 slideable
alon~ the undersurface of the flanges 56 and 57, the heads 61 and
62 bein~ connected by a neck 63 passin~ through the slots 23 and
58. The couplin~ member 60 is en~a~ed as a friction fit with the bar
17 and 18 ~enerally thus holdin~ them in parallel position as shown in
the Fi~ures. However it will be appreciated ~hat the bar 18 can be
rotated about the axis of the neck 63 simply by pivotal movement of
the bar 18 on the neck 63. This allows the si~n support bar 18 to
take up a position parallel to bar 17, at ri~ht an~les to the bar 17 or
at any position intermediate.
As shown in Fi~ure 3, the width of the bar 18 is equal to
the width of bar 19 excludin~ the flan~e 28 so that the blade 42 can
pass alon~side the bar 18 into the slot 29.
The sign 11 can be attached directly ~o the bar 18 simply
by slidin~ a bead lnot shownl at the top of the si~n into the slot 53.
In an alternative mounting arrangement shown in Figure
1, there is provided pair of T-shaped support elements 70 and 71
each of which includes a vertical plate slideable alon~ the slot 53 and
a horizontal crossbar which sits on the top surface of the bottom wall
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52. The vertical plate 72 includes a hole 73 for receivin~ an S-hook
74atatopofthesign 11.
As shown in Fi~ure 4, a modified arran~ement of the
support elements 70 and 71 is shown in which the vertical support
plate 75, 76 is elongated by providin~ additional straps 77 and 78
and bottom coupling elements 79 and 80. This allows the len~th of
the vertical bars to be adjusted so as to lower the top ed3e of the
si~n 11 to a required hei~ht when the ceilin~ is particularly hi~h. In
the arrangement shown in Fi~ure 4, a further portion of the profile of
the si~n en~a0ing bar indicated at 18A and 18B is attached to the top
and bottom of the si~n 11 by a bead alon~ the top and bottom ed3e
of the sign 11. The slot 24 of the bar 1 8A is then used to receive the
bottom transverse bars 81 and 82 of the couplin~ elements 79 and
80.
The si~n support system of the present invention can
thus be used simply from 0round level to be enga~ed with the ceilin~
and to be removed allowiny the sign to be replaced, cleaned or the
like. The orientation of the sign can be adjusted as required
independently of the direction of the T-runners of the ceilin~. The
apparatus is manufac~ured inexpensively and simply from portions of
extruded profile and a number of minor injection molded elements
providin~ the tabs, couplin~s and the raised button.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention
as herein above described, and many apparen~ly widely different
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embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without departin~ from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all
matter contained in the accompanying ~pecification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limitin~ sense.
