Abstract:
A menuboard system provides curvable mounting rails formed of laminated elements that may slide with respect to each other to accept a curve and then be tightened together to resist straightening after the curve is set. Display panels may be hung from the mounting rails by angled mounts allowing flexible orientation of the display panels as held by the curved mounting rails.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/584,285 filed Jun. 30, 2004, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     --  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to menuboards and more particularly to menuboards providing a number of separate display panels above a counter or the like.  
         [0004]     Particularly in fast food restaurants, there may be one or more menuboards presenting the restaurant menu and the prices of the menu items offered for sale. Typically these menuboards consist of a number of display panels showing different photographic reproductions of the items offered for sale, together with prices and description. Quite often these menuboards are backlit with the photograph, letters and numbers translucent to emit the light. The backlighting may be contained in a housing behind the display panel which is normally mounted to a wall often specially constructed over the counter.  
         [0005]     Conventional menuboards are not easily customized for different restaurants. Menuboards with complex shapes, for example, those which follow a curved counter, must be custom fabricated at great expense. Generally, the menuboards with many display panels are visually massive and may detract from a sense of space and openness desired by some restaurants.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a menuboard system that may be flexibly adapted to provide a variety of curved configurations. A set of display panels are hung on curvable mounting rails comprised of thin strips of metal or the like separated by a flexible spacer layer, for example, rubber. The mounting rails may be curved on-site to a desired shape; then clamped to retain that curve. The length of the mounting rails may be adjusted by cutting or splicing using portable tools. The curved mounting rails may be hung from the ceiling to present an open framework supporting multiple display panels at different angles.  
         [0007]     Specifically then, the present invention provides a menuboard mounting system having at least one mounting rail including a front and rear flexible strip extending along a longitudinal axis on either side of a spacer separating the front and rear flexible strip. Clamps, when clamped, restrain the front and rear flexible strips against relative sliding along the longitudinal axis so that the front and rear strips may be flexed to curve along the longitudinal axis and then set to hold that curve with the clamps. A set of supports attaches to the mounting rail and supports the mounting rail with respect to building structure.  
         [0008]     Thus it is one object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a curvable mounting rail whose separate elements are flexible to allow simple curvature of the rail for specialized mounting locations without special tools or fixtures. It is another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a mounting rail that, when assembled, provides considerable strength and yet whose separate elements may be trimmed or spliced using simple techniques.  
         [0009]     The flexible strips may be flexible only within a plane defined by a lateral and longitudinal axis: for example, by using strips having a transverse height substantially greater than their lateral thickness.  
         [0010]     Thus it is another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a flexible mounting rail system multiple parallel rails, when curved, maintain their parallel relationship.  
         [0011]     The strips may be metal.  
         [0012]     It is thus an object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a mounting rail with metallic outer faces for durability, improved surface finish and strength.  
         [0013]     The spacer may be a substantially continuous strip of elastomeric material between the front and rear flexible strips.  
         [0014]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a visually monolithic rail that is nevertheless light in weight. It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a compliant spacer that allows clamping without gaps around the spacer to prevent slippage of the front and rear flexible strips. It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a mounting rail that provides an intrinsic absorption of applied physical shocks and the like.  
         [0015]     The clamps may be bolts passing laterally through holes in the front and rear strips and the spacer, the bolts compressing the front and rear strips about the spacer between a bolt head and a nut.  
         [0016]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a simple clamping mechanism that works in conjunction with an elastomeric spacer.  
         [0017]     The holes may include longitudinally extending slots.  
         [0018]     It is another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a clamping mechanism that may accommodate relative length differences upon curvature of the inner and outer flexible strips and yet which allows fabrication of the holes prior to installation or curvature.  
         [0019]     The menuboard may include at least two transversely separated mounting rails held by transverse struts.  
         [0020]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide an additional dimension of mounting such as may better stabilize and support display panels.  
         [0021]     The struts may be releasably attached to the mounting rails with bolts passing through holes in the mounting rails. The menuboard system may include splice elements attaching front or rear strip portions to form greater lengths.  
         [0022]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a menuboard system that may be easily shipped and assembled on-site.  
         [0023]     The splice elements may be portions of the struts attaching front and rear strip portions with bolts passing through the holes.  
         [0024]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide an efficient method of making splices without the need for additional elements that may be visually disrupting.  
         [0025]     The menuboard system may include an adjuster receiving the supports to adjust a separation of the mounting rail from the building structure. For example, the supports may be threaded rods and the adjuster may be a nut engaging the threaded rod in at least one mounting rail. The threaded rod may have a shroud covering its exposed portion.  
         [0026]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a simple method of attaching the mounting rails to the building that accommodates variations in supporting structure and that allows easy leveling of the menuboard system.  
         [0027]     The menuboard system may include a series of display panels having mounts attached to the rear surface of the display panels for receiving a mounting rail to support the display panels on the mounting rail.  
         [0028]     It is another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a menuboard system that may flexibly accommodate different numbers of display panels.  
         [0029]     The mounts may receive two mounting rails separated along a transverse axis and each mount may define a front mounting angle supporting the rear of the display panel and a rear mounting angle attachable to the two mounting rails.  
         [0030]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to allow an arbitrary downward canting of the display panels depending on the requirements of the site.  
         [0031]     The mounts may include an adjuster allowing a relative difference between the front and rear mounting angle to be adjusted. Further the mount may include a left and right mount having different front and rear mounting angles.  
         [0032]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to allow a downward canting of the display panel in conjunction with an arbitrary curvature of the mounting rails.  
         [0033]     The display panels may provide edge lit transparent sheets.  
         [0034]     It is thus another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide visually lightweight display panels that may compliment the lightweight visual quality of the mounting strips.  
         [0035]     These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front elevational view of the menu panel system of the present invention showing curved mounting rails separated by struts as suspended by vertical supports;  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of one strut where it attaches to a mounting rail showing laminated construction of the mounting rail and the adjustable connection of the vertical support to the strut;  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing the relative sliding of the outer portions of the mounting rail with respect to each other as accommodated by slots when the mounting rail is curved;  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a perspective front view of the mounting rail of  FIG. 1  supporting different types of display panels having different degrees of downward canting as provided by rearward mounts;  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of one mount of  FIG. 4  as assembled to provide for a given downward cant and showing hooks for attaching the mount to the mounting rails of  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting rail of  FIG. 5  showing its various elements.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a menu panel system  10  having a curvable support frame  12  comprised, in a preferred embodiment, of two horizontal mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b  that may curve gently along a generally longitudinal axis  15 .  
         [0043]     The mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b  are spaced transversely by a series of struts  16  perpendicular to the mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b . The struts  16  attached at their upper end to mounting rail  14   a  and the lower end at mounting rail  14   b.    
         [0044]     The support frame  12  is suspended on a series of threaded support rods  19  which, at their lower ends, attach to the upper ends and lower ends of struts  16 . The upper ends of the threaded support rods  19  may be received by mounting structure  21  within the ceiling of the restaurant such as tie points attached to ceiling joists or the like.  
         [0045]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , each of the mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b  provide a laterally laminated front flexible strip  18 , rear flexible strip  20 , and rubber spacer layer  22  of equal transverse height. Generally, the transverse height of each of the front flexible strip  18 , rear flexible strip  20 , and rubber spacer layer  22  is substantially greater than their lateral thickness so these elements may flex in a lateral direction to curve along the longitudinal axis  15 , but generally will not flex transversely.  
         [0046]     The laminated elements of flexible strips  18 ,  20  and rubber spacer layer  22  are retained together by a series of clamping bolts and nuts  24 , the bolt shanks passing through longitudinally slotted holes  26  in the front flexible strip  18 , rear flexible strip  20 , and rubber spacer layer  22 .  
         [0047]     Initially, the front flexible strip  18  and rear flexible strip  20  may be assembled about the rubber spacer layer  22  with the clamping bolts and nuts  24  holding them loosely together. In this state, the mounting rails  14  may be curved. Referring also to  FIG. 3 , generally, this curvature will result in the convex side of the curve, in this case the side towards flexible strip  18  having a greater path length  30  along the curve than the path length  32  along the concave side of the curve, in this case the side towards flexible strip  20 . This difference in path length is accommodated by the slotted holes  26  in the flexible strips  18 ,  20  and rubber spacer layer  22  which allows relative sliding between flexible strips  18 ,  20 , and rubber spacer layer  22 .  
         [0048]     When the clamping bolts and nuts  24  are tightened, the friction developed between the flexible strips  18 ,  20  and rubber spacer layer  22 , caused by the compression of flexible strips  18  and  20  against the elastic surface of the rubber spacer layer  22 , prevents relative sliding between the flexible strips  18 ,  20  and rubber spacer layer  22  and thus holds the curvature in place. It will be understood that the laminations of the mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b  provide an effective truss structure whose height also resists torsion along the longitudinal axis  15  and which offers good support for display panels to be hung on the mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b  as will be described.  
         [0049]     Preferably, the flexible strips  18  and  20  are steel, however, other materials such as fiberglass composites may also be used provided they exhibit the necessary compression and tension strength necessary to hold a curve when assembled in the mounting rails  14 . The outer flexible strips  18  and  20  may be provided with attractive surface finishes suitable for metal or other materials as will be understood in the art.  
         [0050]     The resilience of rubber spacer layer  22  provides for a locking effect on the clamping bolts and nuts  24  by providing a lock washer-type outward force. The elasticity of rubber spacer layer  22  also provides a dampening effect on the laminated mounting rails  14  resisting shock, deadening acoustic noise transmission, and accommodating differences in expansion rates of the materials. It will be understood that other materials for the spacer layer may be used and that a continuous spacer layer, while desirable, is not required so long as a clamping can be obtained to prevent relative shifting of the front and rear flexible strips  18  and  20  about the spacer layer.  
         [0051]     Fasteners  34  passing through slotted holes in the upper and lower ends of the strut  16  may attach the struts  16  to the flexible strips  18  and  20  at regular intervals. In this way, the struts  16  may be attached to the rails  14   a  and  14   b  on-site to provide a compact shipment volume.  
         [0052]     The individual flexible strips  18 ,  20 , and rubber spacer layer  22  may be easily cut to shorter lengths with simple portable tools on-site or before shipping. Alternatively, longer mounting rails  14   a  and  14   b  may be created using splice plates overlapping longitudinal ends of two portions of flexible strips  18  and  20  and joined to the flexible strips  18  and  20  with fasteners on each side of the seam. Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the splice plate may be provided by the upper end of the strut  16  with a splice seam positioned beneath the strut  16 , so that the strut  16  bridges seam and fasteners  34  hold the ends of the flexible strips  18  and  20  to the overlapping strut  16 .  
         [0053]     At the top and bottom of strut  16 , typically positioned to the rear of the support frame  12 , are lateral flanges  36  extending rearward from the strut  16 . The inner opposed surfaces of the flanges  36  may have a welded nut  38  aligned with a central hole  40  that may receive the vertical threaded support rods  19 . Rotation of the threaded support rods  19  thus allows adjustment of the height of the support frame  12  with respect to the mounting structure  21 . The lower end of the strut  16  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) is generally a mirror image of the upper end of the strut  16 .  
         [0054]     The tensile and compressive resistance of the vertical threaded support rods  19 , unlike a chain. for example, together with the curvature of the mounting rails  14  limits bending of the vertical threaded support rods  19  by converting torque along longitudinal axis applied to the mounting rails  14  to compression and tension of the multiple unaligned vertical threaded support rods  19 . In addition, the two points of connection between the support frame  12  and the stiffness of the threaded support rods  19  resists tipping of the support frame  12  under offset loads  
         [0055]     A decorative shroud  42  may be placed around the threaded support rods  19  between the support frame  12  and the mounting structure  21  if desired.  
         [0056]     Generally, during installation, once curvature of the support structure is established and clamping bolts and nuts  24  tightened, the support frame  12  may be positioned beneath the ceiling and appropriate marks made on the ceiling, for example, using a plumb bob or the like made to locate the necessary mounting points.  
         [0057]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a number of display panels  50  may be attached to the front of the support frame  12  to display menu items to customers. Each of the display panels  50  may include a display surface  52 , for example, supporting a film or other translucent or transparent elements depicting pictures or text and numbers related to the menu items. The display surface  52  may be the front of a light box  54 , for example, of a type as generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,540, entitled Modular Sign System, assigned to the assignees of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. The light box  54  may include a number of lamps so as to backlight the display surface  52 . Electrical connections to the light boxes  54  may be made by cables (not shown) passing along the rear of the rails  14   a  or  14   b . Alternatively, edge lit display panels may be used as described in co-pending U.S. application entitled: Thin Profile Light Board, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. In this way, a visually lighter design may be created using the open support frame  12  with thin, edge lit display panels having relatively low visual mass.  
         [0058]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 , the display panels  50  may be mounted to the rails  14   a  and  14   b  by means of angulation mounts  60  attached to the left and right edge of the rear of the light boxes  54 . The angulation mounts  60  allow a canting of the display surface  52  about the longitudinal axis  15  so that the display surface  52  may be more easily viewed by customers of the restaurant.  
         [0059]     Each angulation mount  60  provides generally a pivot point along pivot axis  62  positioned near the lower rail  14   b . The pivot point is provided by a pivot pin  64  joining the apex of two triangular adjustment plates  66  and  68  having bases  70  positioned near the upper rail  41   a . The bases  70  overlap and may slide from a fully overlapped configuration to a partial overlap to expand like a fan and thus to change an angle between a front edge  72  of plate  66  and a rear edge  74  of plate  68 . The area of overlap of each of the bases  70  includes aligned slots  76  through which a fastener  80  may be inserted to hold the plates  66  and  67  locked with a particular angle between edges  72  and  74  as desired by the user.  
         [0060]     The front edge  72  of plate  66  includes a perpendicularly extending flange  78  that may be attached to a rear planar surface of a display panel  50  to define the angle of that display panels  50  with respect to the vertical orientation of edge  74  that may abut the rails  14   a  and  14   b.    
         [0061]     Plate  68  also includes a perpendicular flange  82  at edge  72  extending in the opposite direction of flange  78  and providing a mounting surface to which clips  84  may be attached. The clips  84  have downwardly extending tabs that may fit over the tops of the edges of the mounting rails  14  to allow mounting thereon.  
         [0062]     Generally, the curvature of the rails  14   a  and  14   b  may require different angle settings of the angulation mounts  60  for a particular desired orientation of the display surfaces  52  of the light boxes  54 .  
         [0063]     It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.