Patent ID: 7367462

Claim:
A lightweight hoist system for raising and lowering vinyl sign faces or extensions for a billboard having a billboard structure including a walkway, the hoist system comprising: a pole member having a first portion and a second portion, wherein a bend is situated between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion and the second portion being at an angle, wherein the pole member has a length, the length and the angle being sufficient to provide adequate height and reach to handle the vinyl sign faces or extensions from the walkway for installation and for removal; a mounting structure allowing the pole member to be fastened and unfastened from a raising and lowering position by a single person and wherein the mounting structure is able to be attached to the billboard structure, wherein the mounting structure is for relative permanent attachment to the billboard structure and has a first member at a first position above the walkway and a second member at a second position below the first member, wherein the pole member is easily fastened to and unfastened from the first member and the second member; and a winch assembly having at least one component coupled to the pole, the winch assembly being capable of winding a flexible line, wherein the winch assembly can be used to raise or lower the vinyl sign faces or extensions via the flexible line.