Patent Publication Number: US-7716860-B1

Title: Retractable banner display

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   Aspects of this document relate generally to signs used in advertising and other communication. 
   2. Background Art 
   The use of signs is found in almost every commercial or business setting. Choice of sign materials and structure is often determined by whether a sign will be permanent or temporary and to what surface it will be mounted. For temporary signs, a wide variety of sign designs attempt to balance factors such as size, cost, ease of installation, image quality, and others to meet specific needs. Among these designs are retractable banner displays. Conventional signs utilize a flexible banner displaying graphics and other information that is capable of retracting into a housing. 
   SUMMARY 
   Implementations of a temporary sign with a retractable banner are disclosed in this document. 
   Aspects of this disclosure relate to a retractable banner display assembly that includes an easily replaceable banner core. The banner core includes a roller, end pegs, the end pegs being biased to a rest position with respect to the roller, and a banner wrapped around the core. Housing for the banner core includes end caps to receive and retain the end pegs of the core against tension caused when the banner is drawn from its retracted position to its extended position. At least one of the end pegs includes a height larger than its width so that it may be inserted into a reentrant opening extending from a top edge of an end cap and when inserted its rotation is restricted. The reentrant opening further includes a locking element such as a notch or locking latch to retain the end peg within the reentrant opening. A banner support is included and configured to couple to the distal end of the banner when the banner is moved to its extended position. A plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for the core is formed by the top edge of the end cap and a majority of the banner crosses the plane of the top edge when the banner is moved from its retracted to its extended position. The top edge of the end cap may be directed substantially in the pulling direction of the banner. 
   Specifically, the locking member may include one or more notches of various shapes or a pivoting or otherwise locking bar to engage the end peg and restrict its movement. Housing may be included that encloses and protects at least a portion of the banner core on at least three sides, and implementations are contemplated that include housing along at least a portion of the top edge of the banner core as well. In particular implementations of retractable banner display assemblies, the core tension may be retained in the core by locking the core through reorientation of the core. Specifically, this may be accomplished through the use of at least one bearing and a bearing race within the core cap. In a first orientation the bearings mechanically interfere with rotation of the roller with respect to the end peg. In a second orientation, the bearings, if free to move, do not interfere with rotation of the roller. The assembly may be configured with a plurality of replaceable cores each having a different banner thereon, at least one different banner displaying a different image. 
   A banner support adapter comprises a knob, a sleeve sized to rotatably mate with a post, and an adapter post. The sleeve is cylindrical in shape and includes a center axis. The adapter post, while not necessarily cylindrical, also includes a center axis. The center axis of the cylindrical sleeve hole and the center axis of the adapter post have an angle between them that allows for adjustment of the angle at which the banner support retains the support pole. The support adapter couples between the banner support and the support pole. 
   The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a particular implementation of a retractable banner assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a particular implementation of a retractable banner assembly with a side of the housing removed; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of a particular implementation of a retractable banner assembly; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a front view of an end cap showing a particular implementation of a reentrant opening with a half circular opening for locking a roller end peg; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a front view of an end cap showing a particular implementation of a reentrant opening with an opening for locking a roller end peg including two half circular openings; 
       FIG. 4   c  is a front view of an end cap showing a particular implementation of a reentrant opening with an opening for locking a roller end peg including a notch with a curved edge; 
       FIG. 4   d  is a front view of an end cap showing a particular implementation of a reentrant opening including a slanted portion with a notch for locking a roller end peg and a recess for retaining the roller end peg when the retractable banner display is overturned; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a particular implementation of a banner support post adapter. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended purposes of a retractable banner display and/or assembly procedures for such a display will become apparent for use with particular implementations from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular banner, housing, pole, and roller components and materials are disclosed, such materials and implemented components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such materials and implemented components, consistent with the intended operation of a retractable banner display. 
   1. Structure 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a particular implementation of a retractable banner display  100  is illustrated. In this particular implementation, the display  100  includes a banner  110  and a housing  120  with end caps  130  and  132 . The banner  110  may be constructed of materials known to those in the art such as, by non-limiting example, fabric, vinyl, plastic, paper, and the like. Within the housing  120  is a core  210  to which the banner  110  is attached. The banner  110  is supported by a pole  200  attached to a foot  140  which is coupled with the housing  120 . The pole  200  includes a banner support  220  at its top for holding the banner  110  in an extended position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a detailed view of a particular implementation of a housing  290  for a retractable banner display is illustrated. The housing  290  illustrated in  FIG. 3  includes a foot plate  145  from which a pole post  370  extends, together forming an optional support. The support is coupled to the housing  290  to provide additional support to an erect display such as display  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The pole post  370  in this implementation is configured to couple with a pole  200  such as that shown in  FIG. 2 . The housing  290  comprises sides  310  and  320  that serve to cover portions of the core  315  on three sides. The core  315  includes a roller  300  to which an end of the banner is attached. The banner end is conventionally rolled around the roller  300  and either glued to the roller  300  or clamped inside or to the outside of the roller  300  or core  315 . The core  315  includes core cap  302  rotatably supporting a round end peg  330  and core cap  304  rotatably supporting a flat end peg  340 , through which the roller  300  is permitted to rotate along the roller&#39;s axis of rotation  335 . The core  315  contains an internal mechanism to bias the flat end peg  340  to a rest position. The “rest position” describes the condition when the flat end peg  340  is not under the influence of tension from the core  315 . The end pegs  340  and  330  couple with the housing at the end caps  130  and  132 . The core  315  may be placed under tension (or biased) by rotating the core  315  with respect to the flat end peg  340 . Much like a tensioned window shade, pulling the banner from the roller  300  while restricting the rotation of the flat end peg  340  causes the banner to extend and build tension in the banner that tends to draw the banner in toward the roller  300  and re-wind the banner around the roller  300 . Unlike a window shade, however, the core  315  of particular implementations of the retractable banner display disclosed herein do not lock to hold the tension experienced by the core  315 . 
   In a particular implementation of a retractable banner display, the core  315  is configured so that in one orientation, the core  315  coupled to a banner acts like a window shade that locks to hold the tension and in another orientation the core cannot lock and therefore remains under constant tension until the tension is released. An example of a core  315  that is capable of locking in a first orientation to hold tension and being incapable of locking in a second orientation so that the core remains under constant tension until the tension is released includes window shade rollers available from Draper, Inc., Spiceland, Ind. that are configured to include bearings and a bearing race within the core cap. The bearings are configured to roll to one end of the bearing race to lock the core and the roller position with respect to the flat end peg to hold the tension in one orientation, and configured to roll to another end of the bearing race to release the core in a second orientation and allow release of the core tension. 
   The end caps  130  and  132  may be of different shapes, including, by non-limiting example, square, round, triangular, or irregularly dimensioned. While the particular implementation shown in  FIGS. 1-3  illustrates end caps  130  that are flat and square, many other end cap shapes may be included in other implementations including those that are not flat, are rounded, or include other three dimensional decorative or functional features such as logos or knobs. 
   Each of the end caps  130  and  132  includes a top edge  410 . The top edge  410  of an end cap  130  or  132  is the edge or portion of the edge that is in the general direction of the supported, extended banner for a retractable banner display. For example, in the implementations shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the top edge  410  is the edge of the end cap  130  and  132  facing the direction in which the pole  200  and banner  110  extend. The top edges  410  of the end caps  130  and  132  may be positioned at a level where the end of the core  315  is visible. The top edges  410  of the end caps  130  and  132  define a plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation  335  of the roller  300 . This plane conforms to the particular shape of the top edges  410  of the end caps  130  and  132 , which, depending on the shape of the top edges  410  of the end caps  130  and  132 , could be curved, straight, or irregular. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   d , several particular implementations of end cap  130  of the housing  120  are illustrated for the end cap  130  used to support to the flat end peg  340 . When the core  315  is biased or under tension, as when the banner  110  is fully extended, maintenance of the bias is accomplished by holding the flat end peg  340  in a fixed position so that it cannot rotate. While holding the flat end peg  340  in the fixed position can be accomplished by fixing the peg  340  in a corresponding rectangular hole in the end cap  130 , a rectangular hole renders it difficult for users of the retractable sign display  100  to remove the core  210  to change the banner  110  being displayed. 
   Conventional retractable banner display systems trap the banner in the housing so that lay users of the display system cannot change the banner and are required to send the display system back to the manufacturer for a different image or are required to use special tools to change the banner core. To allow users of a retractable banner display system to more easily exchange the core  315 ,  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   d  illustrate a variety of implementations of end cap  130  that each includes a reentrant opening  420 ,  422 ,  424  or  426  on the top edge  410  of the end cap  130 . The reentrant openings  420 ,  422 ,  424  and  426  are each wider that the smallest dimension of the rectangular flat end peg  340 , but narrower than the largest dimension of the flat end peg  340  to allow the flat end peg  340  to slide in and out but not rotate within the openings  420 ,  422 ,  424  and  426 . For each example implementation provided, an end view of a flat end peg  340  is included within the reentrant opening  420 ,  422 ,  424  and  426  to illustrate how the position of the flat end peg  340  may be fixed with respect to the housing  290  through use of an appropriately configured end cap. 
     FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show reentrant openings  420  and  422 , respectively, extending inward from the top edge  410  with a notch  430  and  432 , respectively, recessed from a side of the reentrant openings  420  and  422 . For  FIG. 4   a , when the core is tensioned so that the flat end peg  340  is biased clockwise, the flat end peg  340  locks itself into the notch  430  and prevents the core from inadvertently falling out of the reentrant opening  420  even when the housing is turned upside down. In use, as explained more fully below, the core  315  is intended to be loaded into the housing and end cap  130  with the core  315  pretensioned. For  FIG. 4   b , the flat end peg  340  will lock itself into one of the notches  432  regardless of which direction the flat end peg  340  is biased. 
   Note that the reentrant openings  420 ,  422 ,  424  and  426  are positioned substantially in the center of the end caps  130 . Although this is not a requirement, configuring the end cap  130  so that the axis of rotation  335  is substantially in the center of the end cap  130  will allow manufacture of the respective housing to be minimized as much as possible to fit the size of the core  315  with the banner rolled on it. 
   Additionally, because a banner attached to the core  315  is under constant tension when attached to a support pole in the extended position, and the flat end peg  340  is kept biased into the notch  430 ,  432 ,  434  and  436 , particular implementations of a retractable banner display can be used with the banner extended horizontally, vertically, in a diagonal orientation, or even downward with the housing  290  above the banner. In these various orientations, the top edge  410  of the end cap  130  remains as defined previously. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d , other particular implementations of an end cap  130  with a reentrant opening  424  and  426 , respectively, and respective notches  434  and  436  are illustrated. The notch  434  or  436  may extend on either side of the reentrant opening  424  or  426 . The shape of the notch is not crucial provided it allows the flat end peg  340  to engage within the reentrant opening. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4   c , the notch  434  may be a rounded section jutting off the side of the reentrant opening  424 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4   d , the reentrant opening  426  may extend inward from the top edge  410  and angle  425  toward the center of the end cap  130 . The example in  FIG. 4   d  also includes a second reentrant opening  440  extending toward the top edge  410  from within the first reentrant opening  426 . This second reentrant opening  440  provides an additional safety to catch the flat end peg  340  if the housing is turned upside down when the flat end peg  340  is not under bias (i.e. the core  315  is not under tension or the core  315  tension has been locked). 
   As an alternative to including a notch, such as the notch examples shown in  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   d , or in addition to the notch, a locking latch assembly may be coupled to the end cap that pivotally, or otherwise, engages the flat end peg  340  or releases it when removed at the option of the user. With a locking latch in the form of a pivoting arm or retention bar to engage the flat end peg  340 , for example, a notch may not be needed at all or at least its function would be additionally reinforced. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a banner support  560  is illustrated. The support  560  of this particular implementation includes an adapter  510  that may be coupled between the pole post  370  and a support pole, such as pole  200  of  FIG. 2 . The adapter  510  of this implementation includes an adapter pole post  540 , a knob  530  and a sleeve  520  with a hole  525  extending lengthwise into the sleeve  520 . The drawing in  FIG. 5  shows the sleeve  520  in cross-section to show the hole extending into the sleeve. The adapter  510  is formed so that the adapter pole post  540  is at an angle  550  with respect to vertical when the sleeve  520  is placed on a vertical pole post  370 . Although the angle  550  shown in  FIG. 5  is exaggerated to emphasize the angle, it provides an example of the intended angle  550 . The effect of angle  550  may be created in many ways including, but not limited to, forming the hole  525  within the sleeve  520  that is at an angle with respect to the sleeve  520  sides, forming a hole  525  that is at an angle with respect to the adapter pole post  540 , forming an adapter pole post  540  that is at an angle with respect to the sleeve  520  and hole  525 , and combinations thereof. 
   To maintain stability in a retractable banner display as the banner gets taller, tilting the banner slightly backward to a different support angle is desirable. In particular implementations of a retractable banner display, like that shown in  FIG. 3 , because the banner core may be easily replaced by the end user, and may be replaced by a banner having a different length than was originally installed into the housing  290 , the ability to adjust the angle at which the banner is held erect is also desirable. Additionally, a retractable banner display that can more readily adapt to different floor types and environments would make the display more rugged and robust. In particular implementations of a retractable banner display, the angle  550  of the adapter  560  is configured between 0 and 7 degrees from vertical. The particular angle selected for a particular implementation depends on several factors including, but not limited to, pole strength and size, banner weight and height, and environmental conditions. For example, for a ⅞ inch outer diameter aluminum pole, with an 8 foot high banner zero degrees adjustment is needed. When a ⅝ inch outer diameter aluminum pole, however, approximately 2-3 degrees is more appropriate. For a 12 foot high banner using a ⅞ inch outer diameter aluminum pole, 2-3 degrees is needed. Different angles are needed for different conditions and implementations. 
   In practice, with the angle  550  established in the rotatable adapter, an end user need only turn the adapter  560  until the adapter pole post  540  is at an appropriate angle relative to vertical at which to hold the banner in its extended position regardless of the implementation or condition. If the banner display is at an unstable angle for any reason, the end user may simply turn the knob  530  to change the angle at which the banner is held by the pole extending from the adapter pole post  540 . 
   2. How to Use 
   To load a core into housing for a particular implementation of a retractable banner display that includes a core  315  and housing  290  (like that in  FIG. 3 ), a banner is coupled at a first end to the core  315  and rolled around the roller  300 . The banner may be coupled to the core  315  before the core caps  302  and  304  are attached or after depending upon the method of coupling. Particular core implementations include a slit along the top of the core and a retention bar within the core that allow a banner with a loop at its first end to have the loop slid over the retention bar within the core so that the banner extends through the slit along the top of the core. Once the core caps  302  and  304  are coupled to the ends of the core  315  in this implementation, the banner is retained on the core  315  and thereafter rolled around the core  315 . 
   With the banner rolled around the core  315 , the core  315  is then oriented in an orientation that causes the core  315  to hold the tension it receives, and the flat end post  340  is pretensioned in relation to the rest of the core  315  to establish an initial tension for the core  315 . It has been found that winding the flat end post  340  between 5 to 10 turns is an effective amount of tension for the core in this implementation, though this is not required and greater or fewer turns is contemplated for other implementations. A wind-up device conventionally used to pretension window shade cores is known in the art and distributed by Draper, Inc., Spiceland, Ind., a maker of cores appropriate for this implementation. Alternatively, hand winding may be used, but is more difficult. 
   Once the core  315  has been locked to hold the core tension, it may be reoriented and still maintains the lock and core tension until the flat end peg  340  is twisted to release the lock. With the core  315  locked to hold the tension, the core  315  is reoriented approximately 180 degrees and the core  315  with the banner wound around it is loaded into the housing by inserting the round end peg  330  into an opening in the housing end cap  132  and sliding the flat end peg  340  into the reentrant opening in the housing end cap  130 . The lock may then be released by slightly turning the roller  290  in relation to the flat end peg  340  which causes the tension to be released. 
   The banner wrapped around the core  315  is adapted so that its second end includes a support  225  ( FIG. 2 ) extending the width of the banner. This support not only helps to keep the banner taut when supported by the support pole  200  and support hook  220 , it also acts to prevent the second end of the banner from retracting too far into the housing  290  ( FIG. 3 ) by interfering with the housing  290 . When the core lock is released, the banner support  225  end contacts the housing  290 , causing the core tension to hold with the flat end peg  340  biased toward the notch (examples in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d ) to lock the core  315  into the housing  290 . In this configuration, the banner may be pulled from the housing  290  and it will unwind from the core  300  until it is extended for proper display. 
   In a particular implementation for use, the housing  290  further includes a foot  145  and pole post  370  (like that in  FIG. 3 ) and a support pole  200  ( FIG. 2 ). The support pole  200  is placed over the pole post  370  and the banner  110  is extended to the extent of the support pole  200 . The banner support  225  is coupled to the end of the pole  200  to maintain the banner  110  in its extended position. The banner  110  extends from the housing  290  in the general direction of the top end  410  ( FIG. 4   a ) of the end cap  130 . In particular implementations, the reentrant opening  420  also opens in the general direction that the banner stands when erect. In very specific implementations, the reentrant opening channel extends into the end cap  130  at an angle that is within 10 degrees of the banner when the banner is in its extended position supported by the support pole  200 . 
   For longer banners, an adapter  560  ( FIG. 5 ) may be used between the pole post  370  and the pole  200  to adjust the angle at which the support pole  200  holds the banner  110 . To change the angle  550 , the user simply turns the knob  530  on the adapter  560  and the pole  200  angle may be changed within a range of angles. As the pole  200  angle changes, the display angle of the banner  110  correspondingly changes. The knob  530  can be turned to ensure the display angle of the banner  110  is in a particular direction, for example, exactly vertical. The use of the adapter  510  is particularly helpful when the banner  110  is tall because support poles  200  for tall banners tend to naturally bend over their length. The adapter  560  allows adjustment of the display angle of the banner  110  to compensate for the bend in a long pole  200 . Additional frictional elements may be included within the post, or additional structure may be added, to help in maintaining the adapter position once the proper angle is chosen if determined desirable for a particular implementation. 
   It will be understood that various implementations described and mentioned herein are not limited to the specific components disclosed, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a retractable banner display may be utilized. Accordingly, for example, although particular housing, banner, roller, or pole materials may be disclosed, such components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a retractable banner display may be used. 
   In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of a retractable banner display, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other types of banner displays that are fixed or movable. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.