Abstract:
A staff-mountable banner that can be affix to a diagonally-positioned banner staff whereby the banner hangs flat without a fold or pleat. The banner can be made of a flexible material and can have the shape of a right trapezoid. The banner has a sleeve along its angled side through which the staff extends to secure the banner to the staff.

Description:
CROSS-REFERECNE TO RELATED APPLICAITONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/663,779, filed Mar. 21, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Businesses, government offices and individuals display a wide variety of flags and banners. Flags include national, state, city and local governments, organization and association flags, as well as novelty designs. Individuals and companies display the flags from flagpoles and other flag and banner supports.  
         [0003]     Flags and banners are typically square or rectangular in shape. Some have a triangular shape, such as a pennant, while others may have a curvilinear shape with at least one side straight where the flag is attached to the flag pole or staff. There are various ways of arranging the flag staff when a flag or banner is displayed. One traditional way is to orient the staff vertically (normal to the ground). In this arrangement, a flag will typically drape and fold downward under its own weight. It is usually only possible to see the flag or banner&#39;s full display when a brisk wind is blowing, and the flag is blown straight outward, or when the staff is further equipped with a horizontally-extending support member, from which the flag or banner is supported. Another way then that a staff can be oriented is horizontally, where the flag is attached to the horizontal staff along a top edge, and the flag or banner drags downward under its own weight. This type of top-edge supported flag or banner will have a straight, horizontally-arranged top edge, with straight sides to assume a rectilinear or pennant shape, or with curvilinear sides or shape. A horizontally-supported banner can hang generally flat with few folds or draping, to provide a generally full display of the flag or banner and its design. However, only a portion of all flags and banners displayed are horizontally supported.  
         [0004]     Another more popular way of orienting the staff, particularly for residential use, is on an angle, typically between about 30 and 45° downward from vertical. Such staffs and banners are typically mounted on the side of homes and buildings, and can use either a staff that is secured in place, or a removable staff that is inserted into a holder. The design and display of a flag or banner (the terms being used hereinafter interchangeably) that is flown from a diagonally-arranged staff is more easily seen and recognized than when the same banner is displayed from a vertical staff, although there generally remains a significant amount of draping and folding that generally obstructs its display.  
         [0005]     Therefore, there remains a need to provide a banner, and a banner-and-staff assembly, which can hang flat, with only nominal folding or draping, and which can be displayed from a diagonally oriented pole or staff without significant draping that can obscure the view of the design of the banner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention relates to a banner that is configured to hang flat from a diagonal staff without a fold or pleat.  
         [0007]     The invention also relates to a banner made from a flexible material in the shape of a right trapezoid, configured for securement only along its angled side, to a staff.  
         [0008]     The invention also relates to a banner made from a flexible material and configured to hang flat from a staff that is positioned at an acute angle θ down from vertical, the banner having at least three sides and comprising: a) a first side configured with a means for securement only along the length of the staff, where the first side has an upper end and a lower end, b) a second side extending from the upper end of the first side, and forming an angle α with the first side that is less than or equal to θ; and c) a third side extending from the lower end of the first side, and forming an angle β with the first side that is less than 180°−θ.  
         [0009]     The invention further relates to a staff-mounted banner, comprising: 1) a staff having a first fixed end and a second distal end, positioned at an angle θ down from vertical, and 2) a banner having at least three sides, comprising: a) a first side configured for securement along the length of the staff, where the first side has an upper end and a lower end, b) a second side extending from the upper end of the first side, and forming an angle α with the first side that is less than or equal to θ; and c) a third side extending from the lower end of the first side, and forming an angle β with the first side that is less than 180°−θ. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a front elevation an embodiment of a banner in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a banner and staff assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of a banner and staff assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of a banner and staff assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a banner and staff assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  shows yet another embodiment of a banner and staff assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a left side elevation view of the banner of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  shows a right side elevation view of the banner of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  shows a back elevation view of the banner of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention relates to banners, flags, pennants and other flexible displays (hereinafter referred to as a group referred as “banner”) made from a flexible material, selected from cloth, plastics, and fabrics. A preferred fabric is woven nylon.  
         [0020]     In a first embodiment, the invention provides a staff-mountable banner in the shape of a right trapezoid, shown in  FIG. 1 . The banner  10  has a first side  12  that forms the diagonal side of the banner, along which the banner is affixed, or secured, to a staff. The banner is typically affixed to a staff that is disposed at an angle to vertical. The banner has second side  18  and third side  20 , shown extending in parallel downward from the first or lower end  14  and the second or upper end  16 , respectively, of the first side  12 . A fourth side  22  joins the lower ends of the two parallel sides  18  and  20  at substantially right angles, to form a right trapezoid shape. Generally, the third side  20  can be at least about 5% longer, at least about 10% longer, at least about 20% longer, at least about 50% longer, and at least about 100% longer, than the length of the second side  18 . Typically the acute angle of the right trapezoid is between 30° and 80°.  
         [0021]     The banner can have any design or pattern  200  of shapes, lines, pictures, and the like, on either or both surfaces of the banner. The banner can optional have one or more opening or cut-out penetrating through the material of the banner, either within or along the perimeter of the banner.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the banner  10  secured to a staff  100  along the first edge  12  using a securement  50 , shown as a sleeve  52  that runs the full length of the side  12 , and through which the staff extends. The sleeve comprises a tubular loop of material with an axial opening there through. Alternatively a plurality of sleeves can be disposed at the ends or along the length of the side  12 . A loop  56  can be formed proximate the upper end of the first side  12  of the banner, to affixed to a hook or pin  104  extending from the distal end  102  of the staff, to prevent the sleeve of the banner form sliding down the length of the staff. The banner preferably is affixed only along its first side to the staff, and is free from attachment along its remaining second, third or additional sides.  
         [0023]     Alternative means for securing the banner staff can be used, such as grommets formed along the edge  12 , typically at least at each end  14  and  16 , that can secured with rope to the staff. Other securements well known to persons skilled in the art can be used.  
         [0024]     The staff  100  used to mount the banner  10  is typically itself mounted onto a wall W or other vertical, or near vertical, surface with a holder (not shown) to which, or into which, the base end  108  of the staff can be inserted or secured. Typically the staff is an elongated cylinder. The staff  100  is typically positioned at an angle θ down from vertical of more than 0° and less than 90° degrees, more typically between 30° and 80°.  
         [0025]     In the illustrated embodiment, an angle α is formed by the first edge  12  and the third side  20  of the banner, and an angle θ is formed by the first edge  12  and the second side  18  of the banner. The angle α is typically greater than 0° and less than 90°, and more typically between about 20° and 80°, while the angle β is typically greater than 90° and less than 180°, and more typically between about 100° and 160°. Preferably the banner  10  is a right trapezoid, and the angle θ is configured or set whereby the angle α is about equal to angle θ. This configuration provides that the second and third edges  18  and  20  depend vertically downward from the first and second ends  14  and  16  of the first edge  12 , and enables the banner to hang flat, with only nominally-sized folds or draping. This configuration of banner and staff allow for maximum or optimum display of the design  200  provided on the banner.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of a banner of the present invention, having only a first securement side  12 , and second and third sides  18  and  20  that join to form the shape of a triangle. This banner is also formed with banner angles a and β. The angle α in this embodiment is typically between about 20° and 80°, while the angle β is typically between about 60° and 160°.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a banner of the present invention, having four total sides, where either or both of the second and third sides  18  and  20  are configured at angles β and α, respectively, and both sides extend inwardly from vertical lines, shown as lines V. The fourth line  22  is shown joined to the second and third lines  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows yet another embodiment of a banner of the present invention, where the second and third sides  18  and  20  are curvilinear.  
         [0029]     In can be understood that a banner of any of the embodiments having a longer (or shorter) length and width is within the scope of the invention.  
         [0030]     In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 6 , the staff  100  can comprise an adjustable hinge  120  that is typically positioned proximate the base end  108 , for adjusting the angle θ of the staff. A fixed member  122  is typically rigidly secured to the vertical surface W, and has a distal end  124  that forms one portion of the adjustable hinge  120 , that cooperates with a second portion  126  formed at the base end of the staff. The typical, well-known adjustable hinge can comprise a pair of confronting, engageable ratchet elements, each ratchet element comprising a plurality of radially disposed ratchet teeth. A hinge adjustment means, such as a handled bolt  128  can be loosened or tightened to release or fix, respectively, the confronting ratchet elements of the hinge. The embodiment allows the staff to be set to any desired angle θ to accommodate banners of various sizes and types, as provided herein.  
         [0031]     While specific embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.