Hanging Device For Display Elements On Changeable Copyboards

Abstract

A hanging device for mounting changeable display elements such as letters, characters, and other indicia, particularly pictorial display panels onto changeable copyboards including an adjustable portion adjustably attachable to the pictorial panel and a mounting slot opposite the adjustable portion for engaging a hanger bar on the copyboard background, the position of the hanging device being adjustable on the pictorial panel for adjustably aligning the panel on the copyboard background, and fastening members at the adjustable portion for securely attaching the hanging device to the panel. A reversible handing device in which there are provided on each respective opposite sides thereof both an adjustable portion and a hanger bar mounting slot, so that when in use the adjustable portion and the complementary mounting slot on opposite sides are in use, the handing device being reversible so that if desired the other adjustable portion and its complementary mounting slot on the opposite side of the hanging device can be used in order that the panel can be hung on any one of several different types of hanger bar copyboard backgrounds corresponding respectively to one of the two mounting slots.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to changeable copyboards and in particular to hanging devices for detachably mounting various indicia bearing elements on the copyboard.

Conventional copyboards or displays containing changeable characters are often used at various establishments such as theaters, motels, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. Such copyboards normally include a number of parallel, horizontal hanger bars or tracks mounted in spacially separated, vertical positions on the copyboard and with the individual changeable characters normally detachably mounted between two adjacent hanger bars. Recently, it has been desirable to mount other indicia bearing display members, such as panels containing pictorial displays onto the standard hanger bars forming the copyboard background.

However, such pictorial displays are normally much larger in overall dimensions than the changeable characters, and are thus conventionally placed on large panels which extend over a number of hanger bars on the copyboard background. Since the pictorial display panel is usually hung by providing slots in the vicinity of the top and bottom of the panel frame for engagement with the hanger bars, if the hanger bars are mounted slightly off horizontal alignment, the location of the slots may not coincide with the position of the top and bottom hanger bars making panel hanging difficult if not impossible. In some instances, while the pictorial panel may be hung, it will not be aligned on the copyboard, and instead will be noticeably tilted.

Additionally, since there are a number of different types of hanger bars or tracks currently in use, it is desirable to mount the new type of pictorial display panels onto any of such copyboard backgrounds. Examples of the variety of copyboard backgrounds are shown for instance in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,607,146; 2,633,652; 3,274,719; 3,274,720; 3,142,124; 3,258,869; 3,298,123; 3,531,884; 3,532,317 and 3,574,964, and in various patents cited therein, many of which are repetitive of the above. Presently, there exists not only the problem of matching the hanger bars with the mounting slots in the pictorial panel, but the additional problem of mounting the panels in the desired position and providing some means for position adjustment so as to enable proper alignment and use of the panel on at least some of the currently available copyboard backgrounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is provided a hanging device adjustably mountable on an indicia bearing member, such as a pictorial display panel for securably hanging the panel to a copyboard background, with the position of the panel being adjustable on the background so as to afford desired alignment therewith. Additionally, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a reversible hanging device so that the pictorial display panel can be hung on any one of the several currently available hanger bars or tracks of the particular copyboard background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a changeable copyboard utilized in connection with a theater marquee incorporating a hanging device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view, partly cut away to illustrate mounting of the hanging device on the opposite flange of a pictorial display panel;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the hanging device according to the present invention adjustably mounted to a pictorial display panel for hanging on a changeable copyboard employing angled hanger bars;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional plan view illustrating the adjustable hanging device on one flange of a pictorial display panel mounted in position on a copyboard having angled hanger bars;

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view of a reversible hanging device adjustably mounted to an indicia bearing member in use for hanging the member on a copyboard having an alternate form of hanger bar or track;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating an alternative adjustable mounting detail between the hanging device and the flange of an indicia bearing member; and

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view illustrating a still further alternative embodiment of the adjustable mounting details between a hanging device and an indicia bearing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a standard changeable copyboard display 10 as used in a theater marquee and having a number of substantially parallel, horizontal hanger bars or tracks 12 securely mounted thereto and forming the copyboard background. Changeable indicia bearing members, such as the changeable characters 14 extend between and are normally mounted to two adjacent parallel hanger bars.

Any of a variety of hanger bars 12 are currently in use with corresponding changeable characters 14 so that the characters can be readily mounted and changed when desired on the copyboard background.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pictorial display panel 16 is also mounted to the copyboard background. The panel 16 is formed of a lightweight, transparent plastic material to which is taped, cemented, or otherwise attached a pictorial display sheet 17 (see FIGS. 2, 4, 5). At least two reversible hanging devices 18 are provided on opposite flange sides of pictorial display panel 16 for mounting the panel on the copyboard. The present invention is particularly concerned with providing a reversible hanging device for pictorial display panels such that the mounting position is adjustable and can be accomplished on any of the hanger bars or tracks 12 currently in use.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, there is illustrated one embodiment of a hanging device in accordance with the principles of the present invention adjustably mounted on opposite side flanges of a pictorial display panel for mounting the panel on an angled hanger bar 20. The hanging device 18 comprises a block of resilient material having an H-shaped cross section as shown for instance in FIGS. 3 and 4. An intermediate web 22 generally divides the block into two sections-one for receiving a side flange such as flange 24 of the panel 16 and the other for mounting on a copyboard background such as the angled hanger bar 20. A pair of legs 26, 28 extend from the intermediate web 22 on one side of the hanging device 18 with an open space between the legs to define a receiving portion. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, one of the side flanges 24 of the panel 16 can be inserted into the receiving portion between legs 26 and 28. Two or more threaded apertures 30 are provided through the legs 26 and 28 and threaded fastening members 32 are insertable into the threaded apertures for securely attaching the hanging device 18 to the pictorial display panel 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the panel 16 is of generally rectangular outline and is positioned on the copyboard background with the shorter side extending across a number of the hanger bars 12. While only a top and bottom hanging device have been illustrated as attached to the panel 16, three or more of such devices can be used, depending of course, on the size of the panel and the various other factors such as wind conditions, etc., encountered. Whereas in the past each panel 16 incorporated a slot within its opposite side flanges such as flanges 24 so that the panel was in effect custom made for the particular copyboard background, the hanging device 18 can readily be adjusted on the side flanges to any position required. After adjustment of the hanging device to the proper desired position, the fastening members 32 are tightened so as to securely attach the hanging devices to the panel.

It is advisable that the panel 16, and particularly the flanges 24 be formed of a resilient plastic material which provides flexibility, durability and compressibility. Compressibility is especially desired to insure secure attachment of the hanging devices. Particularly if the fastening members 32 are formed of nylon, the members 32 can compress directly into the flanges 24 so as to provide exceptional holding power. Thus, proper alignment of the panel 16 on the copyboard 10 is readily provided with the hanging device 18 of the present invention.

The hanging device 18 also includes another pair of legs 34 and 36 extending from the intermediate web portion 22 in a direction opposite to that of the legs 26, 28. Each of the legs 34, 36 includes a generally V-shaped slot 38 extending from a closed end 40 adjacent the intermediate web 22 and opening outwardly along the legs towards the leg ends 42. The V-slots 38 are shaped so as to accommodate in a wedged locking engagement an angled hanger bar 20 generally in use and as shown for instance in U.S. Pat. No. 3,274,720.

In use, the desired number of hanging devices 18 are loosely attached to the panel side flanges 24 and the panel 16 hung on the copyboard 10. After proper placement and alignment of the panel 16 are attained, the threaded fastening members 32 are tightened to securely attach the hanging device to the panel.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated another aspect of the invention, wherein the hanging device 18 can be utilized for hanging display members on another type of hanger bar or track currently in use. As noted most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the legs 34, 36 each includes at least two threaded apertures 44. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is an open space provided between the legs 34 and 36 extending from the intermediate web 22 to the leg ends 42 for defining an alternative receiving portion for mounting display members to the hanging device 18.

Thus, FIG. 5 illustrates an indicia bearing member such as a pictorial display panel 16 having opposite side flanges 24 one of which is inserted between the legs 34 and 36 for securely mounting thereto by means of the threaded fastening members 32. A suitably shaped slot 46 is provided in the legs 26 and 28 for hanging the panel onto an alternative hanger bar 48 of copyboard 50. The hanger bar or track 54 is an alternative type of hanging element currently in use for hanging changeable characters thereto. Thus, simply by reversing the hanging device 18 from the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to that shown in FIG. 5, the same hanging device can be utilized for mounting onto both the angled tracks and the T or L shaped tracks which are currently in use. In either instance, the hanging device 18 is readily adjustable on the panel 16 so that proper placement and alignment of the panel on the particular copyboard can readily be accomplished.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternative means for mounting the hanging device 18 to the panels 16. As shown in FIG. 6, a series of grooves 50 are provided in opposite side flanges 52 of an indicia bearing member such as panel 54, so that the grooves 50 alternate with a smooth surface 56. The hanging device 18 is then adjusted on the side flange 52 until proper placement and alignment of the panel 54 is achieved on the particular copyboard. The threaded fastening members 32 are then tightened so as to engage the respective grooves 50.

FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative mounting arrangement wherein a series of cavities 58 are provided in a side flange 60 of indicia bearing member such as panel 62. The hanging device 18 can be attached to the panel by tightening the fastening members 32 until they securely engage the cavities 58 after suitable adjustment for proper panel alignment on the copyboard background.

It is to be understood that although the hanging device 18 has been illustrated herein in connection with a pictorial display panel 16, this is by way of example only, and the hanging device can as well be applied to other indicia bearing members, such as the changeable characters 14, and particularly to those changeable characters 15 (see FIG. 1) which extend over more than two hanger bars or tracks on the copyboard background.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a changeable copyboard structure, including a copyboard frame, a plurality of hanger bars extending substantially across said frame and a pictorial display panel having at least two opposite side flanges for mounting said panel to said hanger bars, said panel transversely extending over more than two adjacent hanger bars, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of adjustable hanging devices for mounting said panel to said copyboard frame, each including,

a generally H-shaped block formed of resilient material having respective pairs of legs oppositely extending from an intermediate web;

at least one of said pairs of legs on one side of said intermediate web spacially separated and insertable onto said display panel with said legs enveloping a portion of one of said flanges;

a pair of threaded apertures spacially separated on and extending through at least one of the legs of said last mentioned pairs of legs;

at least two fastening members threadably engaging said threaded apertures for depressingly contacting said side flange to securely attach said hanging device thereto; and

a hanger bar mounting slot in the other of said pairs of legs engageable with said hanger bar.

2. A changeable copyboard structure as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of elongated grooves in said panel opposite side flanges engageable in locking contact with said fastening members.

3. A changeable copyboard structure as claimed in claim 2, including a plurality of cavities in said opposite side flanges engageable in locking contact with said fastening members.