Abstract:
A banner mount for hanging a banner between first and second surfaces is provided. The banner mount utilizes a single rope to couple a banner having a pair of support brackets to the first and second surfaces. Disposed on the first and second surfaces as well as coupled to the brackets are a set of pulleys which, when used in conjunction with the single rope, allow for a centered stable mounting of the banner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/451,459 filed on Mar. 3, 2003. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the construction for mounting a banner and, more particularly, to a construction for mounting a banner between a pair of support poles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A banner for displaying advertising or other information usually take the form of an elongated rectangular strip which is secured at its corners, to support poles utilizing cables. Such banners are usually displayed in an outdoor setting, and are subject to wind and other conditions of air turbulence. In order to secure the banners to the poles, individual cables are coupled to each corner of the rectangular banner. As seen  FIG. 1 , each individual cable is then fixedly coupled by tying to upper and lower locations of the pole. The position of these cables take a significant amount of time. Furthermore, it is often necessary to adjust the lengths of the cables to ensure that the banner is properly located between the support poles. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a banner mounting construction which will reduce the amount of time it takes to raise the banner between the poles. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a construction which will be durable and which will respond well to forces generated by strong winds and other turbulences. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a banner construction for securing to a pair of support poles, the banner having a plurality of mounting locations. The construction has a pair of banner support members each having a pair of fixedly mounted poles and coupling mounting locations. The coupling mounting locations are coupled to the plurality of mounting locations on the banner. A single support cable is threaded through the banner mounting members so as to be in contact with the banner support member. The cable is further fixably coupled at one end to one support pole at a fixed location and is further coupled to the first and second poles utilizing at least one pulley mounting point on each pole. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a banner support system according to the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a banner support system according to the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a close up of one-half of the banner support system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a close up of the use of one banner support bracket shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  represent alternate banner support brackets according to the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  represents the use of the banner support system shown in  FIGS. 2–5 ; 
       FIG. 7  represents a perspective view of the banner mounting system  10  in its stored position; and 
       FIG. 8  represents an alternate banner support bracket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 2–4  which depict a banner support mechanism  10  according to the teachings of the present invention, the banner support mechanism  10  utilizes a pair of support poles  12  and  14  to support a banner  16  therebetween. Coupled to opposite ends of the banner  16  are banner support brackets  18  and  20 , which function to support the banner utilizing a single flexible member such as a rope or cable  22 . The cable  22  is coupled to the first pole  12  at a ground point which is optionally located at a fixed medial support location  24  at a first end  25  of the cable  22 . The cable  22  is then threaded through the banner support bracket  18  and threaded through an upper pulley  26  on the first pole  12 . The cable then passes above the banner to a second pulley  28  formed on the second pole  14  and again through the second banner supporting bracket  20  to a lower mounting location  30  on the second pole  14 . It should be noted that the lower mounting location  30  can take the form of a pulley mount or a bearing surface such as a pin which allows the cable to pass through the lower mounting location  30 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , each banner support bracket  18  and  20  has a pair of pulleys  32  and  34  which are configured to apply tension from the cable  22  to the banner  16 . The pair of pulleys  32  and  34  allow the rope to be fed in past the lower pulley  34  to the upper-pulley to allow the raising or lowering of the banner  16 . While pulleys are shown, it is envisioned that having fixed pins or surfaces with sufficient clearance and surface finish to allow the passing of the flexible member can be used, and is a substitutable equivalent. 
     FIG. 4  represents a close up of the banner support bracket  20  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The bracket  20  is generally formed of a U-shaped member having first and second side walls  38  and  40  and coupled with a pin (not shown). The pulleys  32  and  34  are rotatably disposed between the first and second side walls  38  and  40  and coupled with a pin (not shown). Defined on the first and second side walls  38  and  40  are a plurality of banner mounting locations  42   a  and  42   b . Disposed between the mounting locations  42   a  and  42   b  and a hole  46  defined in the banner  16  is a coupling member  44 . It should be noted that the coupling member  44  can either be stiff or can be elastic. In this regard, the elastic can take the form of a helical spring or, alternatively, can be an elastomer. 
     FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  represent an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5   a  depicts a banner support bracket  48  having an upper and lower members  52  and  50 . The upper member  52  has a telescopic extension portion  54  which is slidably received within a cavity  56  defined in the lower member  50 . The telescopically extending portion  54  defines a plurality of apertures  58   a  and  58   b  which are configured to receive a locking member  62  defined in the lower portion  50 . Coupled to the locking member  62  is a handle  60  which can be elastically biased so as to configure the locking pin  62  in its closed position. The banner support bracket  48  further defines an upper and lower mounting structure  64  and  66 , which define apertures  68  which are used to couple the banner support bracket to the banner (not shown). Both the upper and lower members  50  and  52  have a pair of pulleys  70  and  72  which are rotatably mounted to the banner support bracket. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 5   b , the telescopic member  54  can be slid within the cavity  56  to adjust the overall length of the banner support bracket  48 . It is envisioned that this will allow adequate sizing of the banner support bracket  48  to accommodate various size banners  16 . 
     FIG. 6  depicts the use of the banner support system  10  shown in  FIGS. 2–5 . As can be seen, a first end  25  of the cable  22  is fixedly coupled to a medial support or ground location  24  of the first pole  12 . The cable  22  is then fed past a lower pulley  36  on the first banner support bracket  18  and through the banner support bracket  18  past the upper pulley  32  to the upper mounting location  26 . The cable  22  is then fed through the upper mounting location  28  of the second pole  14  and through the second banner support bracket  20  to the lower mounting or ground location  30  of the second pole  14 . The cable is pulled to suspend the banner and is fixedly coupled at its second end  74  at a operator accessible tying or ground location  75  of the second pole  14 . 
   In order to lower the banner  16 , an operator will release the cable  22  from its coupling at location  75 . In releasing the cable  22 , cable material travels past the pulleys of the fixed locations and though the banner mounting brackets to allow the banner assembly to be lowered towards ground level. At this time, the banner  16  can be disconnected by disconnecting the coupling members  44  from the banner brackets  18  and  20 , and a new banner  16  can be fixed to the banner support assembly. Alternatively, the tension in the cable  22  can be increased such that the banner support brackets  18  and  20  can be pulled adjacent to the first and second support poles  12  and  14  for storage. 
     FIG. 7  depicts the banner support mechanism in a stored condition. To attach a second banner to the brackets  18  and  22 , an operator need only now allow the cable  22  to be fed through the brackets and pulleys to bring the banner support brackets  18  and  20  down to ground level. 
     FIG. 8  represents an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  depicts a banner support bracket  80  having first and second bracket members  82  and  84 . The first and second bracket members  82  and  84  are pivotally coupled at one end by a pivot pin  88 . Disposed about the pivot pin is a pulley  86  which functions to support the banner support bracket  80  using the cable  22  as described above. Disposed between the first and second brackets  82  and  84  is a separator bar  90  which is coupled to a plurality of holes  92  disposed within the first and second bracket members. The spacer bar  90  can be adjusted into any number of holes  92   a ,  92   b  defined within the first and second bracket members  82  and  84  to allow the adjustment of the span of the banner support bracket  80 . The banner support bracket  80  is coupled to the banner  16  using coupling members  44  as described above. 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.