Patent ID: 7481013
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: F16B,G09F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a frame having a plurality of opposing horizontal and vertical frame sections defining a periphery thereof, a front side of the frame defining a flat plane, wherein at least one of the frame sections comprises: at least two riser members extending generally vertically between the opposing horizontal frame sections, the at least two riser members having surfaces defining a flat riser member plane; a plurality of spaced, generally vertically arranged support posts extending downwardly into a supporting surface and upwardly along a back side of the frame; at least two stringer members carried generally horizontally by the plurality of support posts, wherein the at least two stringer members are aligned for defining a vertically oriented plane; a clip carried by each of the at least two riser members and attaching the at least two riser members to the at least two stringer members, wherein the riser member plane is aligned with the vertically oriented plane, thus securing the frame to the plurality of spaced, generally vertically arranged support posts with the flat plane being vertically oriented; a flexible substrate extending across a periphery of the frame, wherein a message carrying surface of the flexible substrate faces outwardly from the front side of the frame, and wherein a periphery of the flexible substrate extends across the periphery of the frame to the backside thereof; and a plurality of tensioning elements carried about the periphery of the frame and operable with the periphery of the flexible substrate for a stressing thereof in generally horizontal and vertical directions, thus providing a generally smooth planar message carrying surface defined by the frame.