PUBLICITY AFFIXING DEVICE

Abstract

A publicity device may be used to affix a banner to a pre-existing road sign fixed to the ground, developing in a vertical direction and thus extraneous to the device. The device includes at least one first and at least one second structural unit, coupleable to a locking fixed directly to the pole, and uncoupleable therefrom, independently of each other, where at least one is coupleable to a locking fixed to the pole in one point, varying according to the dimension of the banner. Each of the structural units may include a coupling to the banner, which are active both in a coupled condition, where the banner is in traction, and in an uncoupled condition of the structural units where traction of the banner therebetween is absent.

Claims

1. A publicity device for affixing a banner to a pre-existing road sign fixed to the ground, developing in a vertical direction and extraneous to the device, comprising: at least one first and at least one second structural unit, wherein the structural units are independently coupleable to a locking fixed directly to a pole and independently uncoupleable therefrom, where at least one of the first and second structural units is coupleable to a locking fixed to the pole in one point varying according to the dimension of the banner, each structural unit being provided with: a means for coupling to the banner, which are active both in a coupled condition when the banner is in traction, and in an uncoupled condition when traction of the banner is absent.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the banner comprises at least one pair of eyelets, parallel and spaced apart from each other, and the means for coupling comprise at least one rod, transverse to said vertical direction, which can be inserted into one of said eyelets, coupleable and uncoupleable from a remaining part of the structural unit, wherein the rod can be coupled stably to said remaining part in the uncoupled condition.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the rod is coupled to the remaining part of the structural unit by means of a removable tilting pin.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one structural unit comprises a pole tightening means comprising a pair of jaws

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one structural unit comprises a pole tightening means comprising a band.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two structural units comprises traction means for the banner in said vertical direction.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the two structural units comprises at least one transverse rod transverse to said vertical direction, which can be coupled to the banner, and pole tightening means, wherein elastic traction means are operatively interposed between the transverse rod and the pole tightening means.

8. A publicity device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two structural units comprises at least one rod, transverse to said vertical direction, coupleable to the banner, where said transverse rod tilts about a vertical axis, and at least one of the structural units comprises elastic means for contrasting such tilting.

9. A publicity device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two structural units comprises at least one transverse rod transverse to said vertical direction and coupleable to the banner, wherein said transverse rod is elastically deformable, wherein elasticity in the transverse rod brings the transverse rod back to a substantially rectilinear configuration.

10. A method for affixing publicity banners to a pre-existing road sign planted in the ground, developing in a vertical direction, comprising: arranging at least one pair of structural units in a condition in which at least one is uncoupled from a pole to which the sign is mounted; in said uncoupled condition, joining the banner stably to the two structural units in a loose condition; distancing the structural units from each other to a distance that gives traction of the banner, locking the structural units fixed to the pole at said distance of traction between each other.

11. A method according to claim 10, characterised wherein the method repeats the preceding steps with a second banner having a different vertical dimension from the banner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of an indicative and non-limiting example. In such drawings:

[0056] FIG. 1 schematically shows a device according to the present invention coupled to banners of varying dimensions;

[0057] FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of a device in FIG. 1 coupled to a pole;

[0058] FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a device in FIG. 1 where parts have been removed for descriptive necessity;

[0059] FIG. 4 schematically shows a view similar to the one in FIG. 3, partially in section;

[0060] FIG. 5 schematically shows a sectional view according to the plane V in FIG. 7;

[0061] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 schematically show a view from above and a front view of the device in the previous figures;

[0062] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a variation with a windproof leaf spring, in particular, FIG. 9 represents a detail on an enlarged scale in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 represents a view from above of the device in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0063] Below, reference is made to the embodiment represented in FIGS. from 1 to 7. FIG. 1 shows a series of publicity devices for affixing banners, where each of these is globally indicated with numeral reference 1.

[0064] The devices 1 in the series are all equal and coupled to respective banners 5 having different dimensions, in particular a different height H1, H2, H3.

[0065] Each of the devices 1 is coupled to a support 10, which is separate from the device. A support is referred to below, for simplicity, given by a pole 10, which has a vertical longitudinal development coinciding with the direction of traction of the banner 5, meaning that other supports are possible, such as, for example, walls, fences, etc. Such pole is, for example, a road sign, such as a lamppost or a pole of a road sign, and represents the commonest pre-existing support in the place of affixing.

[0066] As can be seen better in FIGS. 2 and 3, each device 1 comprises a pair of structural units 15 and 20 designed for coupling both to the banner 5 and to the pole 10.

[0067] The structural units 15 and 20 are disjointed from each other and freely movable with respect to each other. They are locked, one to the other, only through the locking thereof to the pole 10.

[0068] Each of these comprises respective means for coupling 25a and 25b to the banner 5 and means for attaching 30a and 30b to the pole 10.

[0069] The coupling means 25a and 25b each have a rod 26 designed to be inserted in respective eyelets 27 of the banner and said below beams, because, in an affixing condition, they are orthogonal to the vertical pole 10.

[0070] The coupling means each have a fork element 28 inside which the central portion of the beam 26 is received.

[0071] The eyelet 27 of the banner 5 has a central opening 29 for the passage of the fork 28.

[0072] The beam 26 is locked in the fork in a tilting position about a vertical axis by means of a pin 40.

[0073] For this purpose, the fork 28 has two arms 41 and 42 parallel to each other and facing in a vertical direction, at least one being provided with a through hole 43 and 44 aligned with a through hole 45 of the central portion of the beam 26. The beam 26 is held in the fork 28 by means of the tilting pin 40 passing through said holes, it is, for example, a screw, a bolt or a pin. In this way, the beam 26, and consequently the banner, can be coupled stably to the affixing means 30a, 30b independently of the action of traction of the banner, thus, even before the two structural units are mutually locked, fixing them to the pole. Furthermore, the beam 26 and the banner are separable from the affixing means to replace the banner.

[0074] Each affixing means 30a, 30b comprises at least one pair of flanges 50, 51, with the function of jaws, which can be coupled and uncoupled for tightening the pole 10 between them.

[0075] For this purpose, the flanges each have a pair of holes 52 aligned with the corresponding holes of the other flange, inside which respective tightening screws 53 are inserted. Preferably, the flanges are shaped so as to form a convex seat for receiving the pole 10.

[0076] When the flange 51 is removed, the flange 50 remains anchored to the relative structural unit and can be attached to a flat surface, such as, for example, a wall, inserting special screws into the holes 52.

[0077] One preferred alternative solution is represented by a band, capable of being tightened about the pole.

[0078] Thus, it is possible to lock the structural units to the pole at a distance from each other, which can be modified depending on the dimension of the banner. Thus, the pole tightening points 2a and 2b are random and vary according to the dimensions of the banner.

[0079] At least one of the structural units 15, 20 is provided with traction means 60 for the banner. In the illustrated example, the traction means 60 are on the unit 15.

[0080] They comprise a device capable of elastically opposing the mutual distancing of the units 15 and 20 when they are connected to the banner. In detail, the illustrated traction means 60 comprise a first element with vertical longitudinal development, thus parallel to the pole 10, coinciding with the direction of traction of the banner, said below first upright 61.

[0081] The first upright 61 is fixed with respect to the respective affixing means 30a.

[0082] The traction means 60 comprise a second upright 62 sliding in a telescopic manner with respect to the first upright 61 in a vertical direction.

[0083] The fork 28 slides with respect to the first upright 61 in an integral manner to the second upright 62.

[0084] An elastic element 63 is operatively interposed between the first and the second upright, for example, a helicoidal spring, so as to recall the second upright upwards when the unit 15 is mounted higher than 20 and they mutually tension a banner in a vertical direction. If the traction means 60 had been present on the lower unit 20, or also thereupon, they would have been oriented so as to recall the movable upright 62 downwards, i.e. away from the upper unit 15.

[0085] This recall mechanism allows the banner to be kept with a correct tension between the units 15 and 20 when they are in a condition fixed to the pole, thus, mutually locked.

[0086] To minimize volume and maintain functionality, preferably, the elastic element 63 is generally housed in the second upright 62. The latter is provided with a groove 64, inside which a pin 65 slides, coupled to the first upright 61. The elastic element 63 insists on such pin, exerting the thrust between it and the second upright. Preferably, the elastic element 63 is a helicoidal spring with a direction of compression coinciding with the direction of sliding.

[0087] With reference to FIGS. from 8 to 10, a variation is shown where the same elements described previously are indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0088] The device 1 in FIGS. from 8 to 10 differs from the previous one in that it comprises, in each structural unit 15 and 20, an elastic element 70 operatively interposed between the beam 26 and the affixing means, so as to oppose the tilting of the beam due to the effect of the wind and so as to bring it back into a base position after the movement thereof.

[0089] Said elastic element 70, is, for example, a leaf-shaped spring with a convex shape, so as to have a central part 71 corresponding to the bottom of the convexity and two side arms 72 corresponding to the free ends.

[0090] The centre 71 of the leaf is coupled in a fixed manner to the fork 28 behind the beam (i.e. it is placed between the beam 26 and the fork 28), for example, by means of one or more screws (not shown), and the two side arms 72 insist on the back of the beam.

[0091] As can be noted, it is illustrated by way of example that the affixing means 30a or 30b can have more than one pair of flanges 50, 51. Shown in FIG. 10 and successive are the affixing means 30a with two pairs of flanges locked to the first upright 61 and spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of development thereof.

[0092] In use, in an initial released position, at least one of the two structural units 15, 20, preferably the lower one 20, is free, i.e. it is not fixed to the pole 10 or to another support and it is freely movable with respect to the other unit, which has already preferably been fixed, instead, and thus locked, to the support 10.

[0093] In such condition, each beam 26 is uncoupled from the fork 28 by removing the pin 40, and in such free condition it is inserted into the respective eyelet 27 of the banner 5. The eyelets of the banner are preferably made at the ends thereof and in any case, parallel and spaced apart from each other.

[0094] Thus, the beams 26 are coupled again to the forks reinserting the pins 40 in the holes 43, 44 and 45 due to the passage in the banner offered by the central openings 29. Thus, in such condition, it is not possible to unhook the banner from the units 15 and 20, even though the relative movement thereof in the direction of traction is not locked.

[0095] The two structural units 15 and 20 are distanced from each other to put the banner in traction, until triggering the reaction of the elastic element 63.

[0096] In such traction condition, the two units 15 and 20 are mutually locked by fixing to the support, for example, to the pole 10. If, in the starting condition, one of the two units had already been fixed, it will suffice to only attach the second.

[0097] Although a vertical pulling direction of the banner between the structural units has been described herein, it cannot be excluded that it is oriented in any other direction. This can easily be achieved, for example, with a wall fixing.

[0098] Clearly, it is possible to use one or more of other pairs of structural units to create, between them, other pulling directions of the banner intersected with the pulling direction defined for the first pair. For example, two pulling directions can be defined, both inclined with respect to the vertical direction. This allows the banners to be arranged with various orientations, increasing the attraction thereof.

[0099] In this case, it is possible to provide the banners with eyelets on several sides, or comprise means for attaching the structural units to the edges of the banners of any other nature, such as, for example, with jaws, or by fusion or gluing to an interchangeable rod of the structural units.

GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF THE TERMS

[0100] In understanding the object of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended as open-ended terms that specify the presence of declared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other undeclared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The above also applies to words, which have similar meanings, such as the terms “comprised”, “have” and their derivatives. Furthermore, the terms “part”, “section”, “portion”, “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the double meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the above executive form, the following directional terms “forward”, “backward”, “above”, “under”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse”, as well as any other similar directional term, refers to a banner affixed so as to have a direction of vertical traction with respect to the ground. Consequently, these terms, used to describe the publicity device, should be interpreted in relation to a publicity device, which supports a banner in such position. Finally, terms of degree, such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately”, as used herein, are intended as a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the final result is not significantly changed.

[0101] While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent from this description to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, position or orientation of the various components can be modified as needed and/or desired. The components shown directly connected or in contact with each other can have intermediate structures arranged between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. All the advantages of a particular embodiment do not necessarily have to be present at the same time. Any characteristic that is original compared to the prior art, alone or in combination with other characteristics, should also be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such characteristics. Therefore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.