Patent Publication Number: US-7722100-B2

Title: Sign holding extrusion-attachment arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to an apparatus for attaching and removing elongated sign-holding extrusions from magnetic attachment to overhead ceiling supports such as inverted “T” shaped ceiling rails which are utilized primarily in a commercial establishment. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Attaching and removing signs in a commercial establishment such as a retail store or the like is an ongoing process. It may often be done by unsophisticated personnel working in areas which are not necessarily easily accessible. It is intended that any such tool or apparatus permit the attachment and removal in the briefest of time and which will accommodate a variety of ceiling rail suspension arrangements. 
   The present invention is an improvement over our existing sign attaching and removal apparatus, shown in our earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,764, which is incorporated herein by reference by its entirety. 
   It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
   It is a further object of the present invention, to provide a sign support apparatus which is adaptable to a variety of “T” rail configurations. 
   It is yet a further object of the present invention, to provide a tool arrangement for attaching and removing a sign support apparatus which provides leverage, when such apparatus is utilized with particularly strong magnets. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a sign holding attachment tool for attaching and removing an elongated sign supporting extrusion from an inverted T-rail which is part of a ceiling tile-support arrangement. The sign holding extrusion attachment tool “assembly” may comprise an elongated pole having an extrusion tool on its uppermost end. Note that the extrusion tool may be utilized by itself, without its being attached on the end of a pole. 
   The extrusion tool comprises a cylindrical shaft having a first end which may mate as an assembly, with an opening at the upper or distal end of the elongated pole. The shaft has a T-frame transversely attached thereacross. The extrusion tool shaft has a tip end extending beyond the edge of the T-frame. The T-frame has a first end and a second end. The T-frame has an elongated rear flange which is parallel to the shaft of the T-frame, and connected to the shaft by an elongated bridge member. 
   The elongated rear flange has a first side, which faces the shaft or bias arm of the extrusion tool. An elongated boss is unitary with and situated on the first face of the elongated rear flange. The elongated boss extends from the first end of the elongated rear flange to the second end of the elongated rear flange. The elongated boss has an elongated angled first face which tapers away from the first side of the flange, towards a thicker dimension in the direction of the elongated bridge. The elongated boss at each end thereof, has a generally triangularly shaped tapered first face and a second generally triangularly shaped tapered second face which each of which taper towards a point at their respective ends of the elongated rear flange. The elongated boss has a lower lip extending from the outwardmost point defined by the first and second triangles and constitutes a lowermost side of the elongated boss. The lower lip or lowermost side of the elongated boss is thus spaced-apart from and generally parallel to the elongated bridge connecting the elongated rear flange to the tool shaft extending perpendicular therepast. 
   Such a sign holding extrusion attachment tool assembly or extrusion tool by itself, is to be utilized to raise and attach (and remove) a sign supporting extrusion to an inverted elongated T-rail ceiling tile support. 
   A sign supporting extrusion itself, has an elongated upper channel therein in which one or more magnets are adjustably arranged. The sign supporting extrusion has a lowermost edge portion with a central channel extending therethrough. The central channel is defined by a pair of opposed J-shaped flanges which between them define a lower gap which opens to the central channel. 
   To hoist and attach a sign supporting extrusion onto an inverted T-rail in a ceiling structure, the elongated rear flange may be pushed into the gap between the opposed J-shaped flanges along the bottom edge of the elongated extrusion. The elongated lowermost face on the elongated boss is in abuttable engagement with one of the opposed J-shaped flanges. The shaft (bias arm) on the extrusion tool has an extrusion engaging face which is flat, and parallel to the elongated rear flange. A portion of the elongated sign supporting extrusion is supportively disposed between the elongated rear flange and the flat face of the shaft on the extrusion tool. That extrusion tool may preferably be pushed orthogonally onto supportive engagement of the sign supporting extrusion when it is desired to lift that extrusion and its associated magnets up into magnetic contact with the inverted T-rail. 
   The extrusion tool may also, in one embodiment, be slid on/off of the end at one opening thereof when it is desired to attach/remove that extension tool with respect to an elongated sign holding extrusion. 
   When it comes time to remove the extrusion tool from an “in-place” elongated extrusion and any associated signs supported therewith, the extrusion tool (and the elongated pole) having already raised the elevation of that sign supporting extrusion to the ceiling support, the first or second end of the elongated rear flange which was initially pushed into insertion through the gap between the opposed J-shaped flanges thereof, is pivoted. That is, the extrusion tool (and elongated pole) is pivoted in a plane which is parallel to the elongated rear flange of the extrusion tool. The angled triangularly shaped second face then wedgingly permits the elongated boss to be pulled outwardly by camming action of that second triangle with the boss, thus expanding the gap between the opposed J-shaped flanges, permitting that boss and that elongated rear flange to pop out from between that aforementioned gap between the J-shaped flanges. Each distal edge of those opposed J-shaped flanges are now removed from pinching of the elongated rear flange at its narrow portion between the boss and the elongated bridge. 
   To fully remove that elongated sign supporting extrusion (and any sign) from an overhead ceiling support, the (elongated pole) extrusion tool (thereattached), is orthogonally pushably inserted into engagement with the channel in the sign holding extrusion and is (are) pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the elongated rear flange lies. The flat face on the bias arm of the shaft of the tool first helps to locate the tool in proper orientation with the gap on the elongated extrusion, and then permits a “lever action” between the elongated boss and the face of the shaft of the bias arm against the side of the elongated support extrusion so as to pivot the magnets arranged in the upper channel of the elongated sign supporting extrusion away from the lower flange on the inverted T-rail. That sign supporting extrusion and sign thereattached may thus be removed and changed and re-applied as necessity requires. 
   Thus there has been shown a unique system for attaching and removing a sign holding extrusion from an inverted T-rail ceiling support arrangement. Such an extrusion tool is preferred, particularly when strong magnets are utilized which may be dimensionally narrow but magnetically strong so as to be utilized on any variety of T-rails or magnetic attachments and alignments therewith. The tool also permits attachment and removal of a sign from the safety of the floor, without the inherent risks and dangers of ascending a ladder in order to manually change a sign. 
   The invention thus comprises a sign hanging tool assembly for the attachment of a sign holding extrusion to a ceiling support rail in a ceiling, comprising: an extrusion tool which may be mounted on an end of an elongated pole, the extrusion tool comprising a T-frame and a bias arm shaft. The T frame has a rear flange for engagement with a slot on the sign holding extrusion. The bias arm shaft is spaced apart and parallel to the rear flange for locating and engaging the sign holding extrusion therebetween. The rear flange has an elongated boss thereon to permit wedging exit of the extrusion tool from the sign holding extrusion. The bias arm shaft has a flat face thereon which is parallel to the rear flange. The elongated boss preferably has an angled face sloping towards to the bias arm shaft. The elongated boss preferably has a tapered surface at each end thereof The rear flange is attached to the bias arm shaft by an elongated bridge member connectively spaced therebetween. The tapered surface at each end of the elongated boss comprises a generally triangularly shaped first face and a generally triangularly shaped second face. The flat face on the bias arm shaft and the rear flange are spaced apart so as to snugly support a sign holding extrusion therebetween. 
   The invention also includes a method of effecting securement of a sign holding extrusion relative to a ceiling frame support member, comprising one or more of the following steps: moving an elongated rear flange of an extrusion tool pressably into a channel of the sign holding extrusion; snappingly securing the rear flange into the sign holding extrusion; lifting the sign holding extrusion into magnetic seurement to a ceiling frame support member, and pivoting the extrusion tool (and the elongated pole) so as to effect dis-engagement of the extrusion tool from the sign holding extrusion. The method may include pivoting the extrusion tool and the elongated pole in a plane parallel to the sign holding extrusion to effect dis-engagement and removal of the rear flange from the sign holding extrusion. The sign holding extrusion may be attachable to said ceiling support member preferably by a magnetic arrangement. The method may include one or more of the following steps: arranging the shaft spaced apart from the rear flange of the extrusion tool to locate the gap in the elongated extrusion, thus properly locating the tapered elongated boss; pushing the tapered elongated boss orthogonally into a gap on the sign holding extrusion to permit the extrusion tool to securely engage the sign holding extrusion; tapering at least one end of the elongated boss to facilitate removal of the rear flange from the pinch gap on the sign holding extrusion; and pivoting the elongated pole in a plane transverse to the sign holding extrusion to effect dis-engagement of the sign holding extrusion from the ceiling support member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an elongated sign supporting extrusion magnetically attached to an inverted t-rail ceiling support arrangement with an extrusion tool supported thereagainst, held in place by the upper end of an elongated pole; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the elongated t-rail, the elongated sign supporting extrusion and the extrusion tool being removed from that sign supporting extrusion; 
       FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of an inverted t-rail and a sign holding extrusion being pivotally removed therefrom by an elongated pole and extrusion tool engaged therewith; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the extrusion tool of the present invention mated with the upper end of an elongated pole; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view taken along the lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken along the lines A-A of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 5B  is a sectional view taken along the lines B-B of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an elongated sign supporting extrusion with a poster supported therefrom, and a pair of magnets attached to the upper edge of that elongated extrusion. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the present invention which comprises a sign holding attachment tool assembly  10  for attaching and removing an elongated sign supporting extrusion  12  from a ceiling support, such as for example, a inverted T-rail  14 , which is part of a ceiling tile-support arrangement. The sign holding extrusion attachment tool assembly  10  comprises an elongated pole  16  having an extrusion tool  18  on its uppermost end, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 . 
   The extrusion tool  18  comprises a cylindrical shaft  20  having a first end  22  which mates with an opening at the upper or distal end of the elongated pole  16 , as represented in  FIG. 3 . The shaft  20  has a T-frame  24  transversely attached thereacross, as best represented in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 . The extrusion tool shaft  20  has a tip end extending beyond the edge of the T-frame  24 . The T-frame  24  has a first end  26  and a second end  28 , as represented in  FIG. 4 . The T-frame  24  has an elongated rear flange  30  which is parallel to the shaft  20 , and connected to the shaft  20 , by an elongated bridge member  32 , as best represented in  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A and  5 B. 
   The elongated rear flange  30  has a first side  34 , which faces the shaft or bias arm  20  of the extrusion tool  18 . An elongated boss  36  is unitary with and situated on the first side  34  of the elongated rear flange  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  5 A and  5 B. The elongated boss  36  extends from the first end  26  of the elongated rear flange  30  to the second end  28  of the elongated rear flange  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The elongated boss  36  has an elongated angled first face  38  which tapers away from the first face  34  of the rear flange  30 , and towards a thicker dimension in the direction of the elongated bridge  32 , as represented in figure SA. The elongated boss  36 , at each end thereof, has a generally triangularly shaped tapered first face  40  and a generally triangularly shaped tapered second face  42 , each of which taper towards a point at their respective ends  26  and  28  of the elongated rear flange  30 , as represented in  FIG. 4 . The angularity and taper of those first and second generally triangularly shaped faces  40  and  42  may be seen in section in  FIG. 5A . The elongated boss  36  has a lower lip  44  extending from the outwardmost point defined by the first and second triangles  40  and  42  and constitutes a lowermost side of the elongated boss  36 . The lower lip or lowermost side  44  of the elongated boss  36  is thus spaced-apart from and generally parallel to the elongated bridge  32  connecting the elongated rear flange  30  to the tool shaft  20  extending perpendicular therepast, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
   Such a sign holding extrusion attachment tool  10  is to be utilized to raise and attach (and also later remove) a sign supporting extrusion  12  to an inverted elongated T-rail  14  supporting a ceiling  52 , as represented in  FIG. 3 . The sign supporting extrusion  12 , has an elongated upper channel  54  therein, as represented in  FIG. 3  in which one or more magnets  56  are longitudinally adjustably arranged, as represented in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  6 . The sign supporting extrusion  12  has a lowermost edge portion with a central channel  60  extending therethrough, as represented in  FIG. 3 . 
   The central channel  60  is defined by a pair of opposed J-shaped flanges  62  and  64  which between them define a lower gap  66  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , which opens to the central channel  60 . To hoist and attach a sign supporting extrusion  12  onto an inverted T-rail  14  in a ceiling structure, the elongated rear flange  30  may preferably be pressed perpendicularly (orthogonally) into the gap  66  between the opposed J-shaped flanges  62  and  64  along the bottom edge of the elongated extrusion  12 , as shown by arrow “Z” in  FIG. 1 , or possibly slid from an open end thereof. The elongated lowermost face  44  on the elongated boss  36  is in abutting engagement with one of the opposed J-shaped flanges  64 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The shaft (bias arm)  20  on the extrusion tool  18  has an extrusion engaging face  68  which is flat, and parallel to the elongated rear flange  30 , as shown in FIGS.  3 ,  5 ,  5 A and  5 B. A portion of the elongated sign supporting extrusion  12  is supportively disposed between the elongated rear flange  30  and the flat face  68  of the shaft  20  on the extrusion tool  18 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . That extrusion tool  18  may thus be pressably snapped into supportive engagement of the sign supporting extrusion  12  when it is desired to lift that extrusion  12  and its associated magnets  56  up into magnetic contact with the inverted T-rail  14 , as represented in  FIG. 1 . 
   The extrusion tool  18  may also, in one embodiment, be slid on/off of the end at one opening thereof when it is desired to attach/remove that extension tool  18  from a now magnetically attached elongated extrusion  12 . 
   When it comes time to remove the extrusion tool  18  from the elongated extrusion  12  and any associated sign  50  supported therewith, the extrusion tool  18  having already been orthogonally pushed into the gap  66 , between the opposed J-shaped flanges  62  and  64  thereof, is then pivoted in a plane which is parallel to the elongated rear flange  30  of the extrusion tool  18 , as represented by the arrow “S” as shown in  FIG. 2 . The angled triangularly shaped second face  42  then wedgingly cams itself out of the gap  66  and wedgingly permits the elongated boss  36  to be pivotably pulled outwardly by a camming action of that boss  36 , thus expanding the gap  66  between the opposed J-shaped flanges  62  and  64 , permitting that boss  36  and that elongated rear flange  30  (and hence the tool  18 ) to slip out from between that aforementioned gap  66  between the J-shaped flanges  62  and  64 . Each distal edge of those opposed J-shaped flanges  62  and  64  are now removed from the pinching of the elongated rear flange  30  at its narrow portion between the boss  36  and the elongated bridge  32 , such pinching being represented in  FIG. 3 . 
   When it is desired to fully remove that elongated sign supporting extrusion  12  itself from a ceiling support, such as for example, an inverted T rail  14 , the attachment tool assembly  10 , that is, the elongated pole  16  and extrusion tool  18  thereattached, are attached to the elongated extrusion  12 , using shaft  20  to guide the rear flange  30  in proper orientation to be pushed in the gap  66 . The attachment tool assembly  10  is pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the elongated rear flange  30  lies, as represented by the arrow “P” in  FIG. 3 . The flat face  68  on the bias arm shaft  20  of the tool  18  permits a “lever action” between the elongated boss  36  and the face  68  of the shaft bias arm  20  against the side of the elongated support extrusion  12  so as to pivot the strong magnets  56  arranged in the upper channel  54  of the elongated sign supporting extrusion  12  away from the lower flange on the inverted T-rail  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . That sign supporting extrusion  12  and sign  50  thereattached (shown in  FIG. 6 ), may thus be removed and changed and re-applied as necessity requires. 
   Thus there has been shown a unique system for attaching and removing a sign holding extrusion from an inverted T-rail and a ceiling support arrangement. Such an extrusion tool is preferred, particularly when strong magnets are utilized which may be dimensionally narrow so as to be utilized on any variety of T-rails or magnetic attachments and alignments therewith. The tool also permits attachment and removal of a sign from the safety of the floor, without the inherent risks and dangers of ascending a ladder in order to manually change a ceiling supported sign.