Patent Publication Number: US-RE38463-E

Title: Sign suspension system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a system for suspending signs from the ceiling and for readily raising them to, and lowering them from, the ceiling. The system is particularly useful in retail stores. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many instances in which a retailer desires to hang a sign from the ceiling, or near to the ceiling, of his store. This has, in the past, been a problem in that it has often involved obtaining and using a ladder, or otherwise getting access to the ceiling area. 
     The present invention obviates that problem. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention utilizes a remote-controlled motor-driven drum as a winder, to wind and unwind a cord which is secured between a ceiling fixture and the drum and is holding a sign carrier. The sign carrier, which has telescoping rails, is adjustable in width, so as to hold different size signs. Its center rail includes two equally-spaced sheaves to receive the cord and lead it from the motor-driven drum to an end secured to the ceiling. Thus, motion of the drum serves to raise and lower the sign carrier and a sign carried by it. The equal spacing between the sheaves on the carrier and between the ceiling fixture and the drum serve to make the unit self-balancing. 
     The user attaches a sign to the carrier when it is in its lowered position and then uses the motor to raise the sign and carrier to the ceiling. The motor, which is reversible, is remotely controlled either by wires leading between the motor and a switch or by radio control (with a control similar to that used on a garage door). Reversing the motor, of course, serves to lower the sign so that it can be replaced. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sign suspension system with the sign carrier and its sign raised to the ceiling. The user, holding the remote control, is seen below the sign. 
     FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view, with the sign and carrier lowered so that the user can attach his desired sign to the carrier. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation showing details of the suspension system. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partially broken away, of the portion of the sign carrier which carriers one of the sheaves. It is shown in a dotted circle in FIG.  3 . The other sheave is similar. 
     FIG. 5 is a section, taken on line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4, showing details of the sheave, suspending cord, and its interconnection to the central sign-carrying rail. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the sign-carrying rails and of one of the associated sheaves: 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation, partially broken away, of the motor-drum section of the system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Our self-balancing sign  1  is carried by supporting rails  3 . Rails  3  include a center main rail  5  and side rails  7  and  9 ; and the side rails have T-shaped members  10  which telescope into slots  33  in center rail  5  (FIG.  6 ). The T-shaped members  10  are locked in position in rail  5  by holding bolts  11 . The sign itself is held in the rails by thumb screws  13 . 
     Center rail  5  carries sheaves  25  and  27 , spaced equidistantly from the ends of rail  5 . A supporting cord  23  passes through the sheaves, entering and leaving rail  5  through openings  6 . Sheaves  25  and  27  are mounted in frames  29  and have drums  31  to carry the cord. 
     One end of the cord  23  is secured to the ceiling at ceiling attachment member  41 , and the other end is wrapped around drum  53 . Preferably the spacing between sheaves  25  and  27  is the same as the spacing between of the member  41  and the drum  53 . This results in the sign balancing more readily. 
     Sign support system  21  includes rails  3 , cord  23 , sheaves  25  and  27 , ceiling attachment  41 , and motor-operated drum unit  43 . Drum unit  43  includes a control circuit  45 , with antenna  47 , a reversible motor  49 , and reduction gear  51  leading from motor  49  to drum  53 . Control circuit  45  is operated by remote control unit  15  (FIG. 1) and antenna  47  in a manner similar to radio-controlled garage doors. Alternatively, control unit  15  can be wired directly to control circuit  45  or be operated by infra-red. The control unit has off, forward, and reverse positions. 
     To use our sign suspension system, motor  49  is actuated in a direction so as to lengthen the cord  23 , lowering the rails  3  from the ceiling. Main rail  5  and side rails  7  and  9  are then adjusted to provide a total length equal to the width of the sign  1  to be displayed  9  (with side rails  7  and  9  being extended equal amounts); and the holding bolts  11  are then tightened. The sign  1  is inserted between the rail sections, and thumb screw  13  is passed through the sign and the rail sections and tightened. Motor  49  is then operated in the opposite direction, to shorten cord  23 , thus raising the sign to the ceiling. The sign will self-balance and hang horizontally at any height desired.