Overhead sign hanging system
View Patent ↗An overhead sign display system is provided for facilitating the hanging of overhead retail signs, banners and the like upon a line stretched across opposing horizontal supports suspended from the ceiling or affixed to an upright support from the floor or other fixture in a safe, efficient and sturdy manner and to provide an efficient way of maintaining tension on the line. The system includes a free floating reel constructed of a rod around which is coiled a line held in place by a spacer, washers and nuts and which is then inserted into a first end of a horizontal support housing such that the line can be stretched taut across and fastened to the opposing support or fixture then tightened by turning the reel in an opposite direction and securing the reel in place inside the housing. Opposing bolts are threaded through the horizontal support or an optional locking sleeve to engage the reel assembly so as to affix the reel assembly in place and maintain tautness of the line.
1. A sign hanging system comprising:
a horizontal support member with at least one open end;
a reel assembly inserted into the open end, the reel assembly comprising:
a rod;
a line coiled around the rod;
a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer is operatively associated with the rod to stabilize the rod inside the horizontal support member; and
wherein the reel assembly is configured to allow the line to be drawn out from the horizontal support member to a distant location opposed to the support member and affixed tautly in place to a stationary fixture.
2. The sign hanging system of claim 1 , wherein the rod includes a first end, a second end, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first end has a larger diameter than the remaining portion of the rod, wherein the sign hanging system further comprises at least a first washer, a spacer, at least a second washer, and an elastomeric tube, wherein the rod receives the first washer, the spacer, the second washer and the elastomeric tube, wherein the first end receives the first washer, wherein the spacer is adjacent the first washer and located between the second end and the first washer, wherein the second washer is adjacent the spacer and located between the spacer and the second end, wherein the elastomeric tube is adjacent the second washer and located between the second washer and second end, wherein the elastomeric tube is configured to grip the rod and not turn relative to the rod, wherein the sign handing system further comprises at least a third washer, a fastener, and a terminal clasp, wherein the fastener is operatively connected to the reel assembly to secure the spacer, the third washer, and the elastomeric tube in place on the rod, wherein the line is coiled around the tube with a loose end at the terminal clasp.
3. The sign hanging system of claim 2 wherein the fastener is a first standard hexagonal nut and the terminal clasp comprises a lock washer and second standard hexagonal nut.
4. The sign hanging system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a locking sleeve, wherein the locking sleeve comprises:
a housing, wherein the housing has a first open end, a second open end opposed to the first open end, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side,
wherein the housing is of sufficient size and configuration to slide over the open end of the support member, wherein the first side has a first threaded aperture,
wherein the third side has a second threaded aperture, wherein at least one of the first side and the third side or both has a slit;
a first bolt, wherein the first bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the first aperture such as to engage a first side of the first standard hexagonal nut; and
a second bolt, wherein the second bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the second aperture such as to engage the second side opposing the first side of the first standard hexagonal nut so as to affix the reel assembly in place and maintain tautness of the line.
5. The sign hanging system of claim 4 , further comprising a third bolt, wherein the locking sleeve has a third threaded aperture on one of the sides, wherein the third bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the third aperture to abut an exterior side of the exterior of the supporting housing to hold the locking sleeve in place when in use.
6. The sign hanging system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a fourth bolt;
a wrench;
a wire;
wherein the locking sleeve has a fourth threaded aperture on one of the sides,
wherein the fourth bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the fourth aperture,
wherein the wrench is configured to engage a hexagonal nut,
wherein the wire is attached to the wrench and configured to be attached to the fourth bolt by a looped end so as to retain the wrench in close proximity and available to the user at all times.
7. The sign hanging system of claim 6 further comprising an end cap, wherein the end cap is configured to fit snugly over the locking sleeve.
8. The sign hanging system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support member is an elongated bar affixed to a vertical post.
9. The sign hanging system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support member is a horizontal bar suspended from the ceiling.
10. A sign hanging system comprising:
a horizontal support member with at least one open end;
a reel assembly inserted into the open end, the reel assembly comprising a rod;
a line coiled around the rod; and
at least a first washer, wherein the rod receives the first washer, wherein the first washer is configured to cooperate with the horizontal support to hold the reel assembly in place inside the horizontal support member but allow the reel assembly to turn to allow the line to be drawn out from the horizontal support member to a distant location opposed to the support member and affixed tautly in place to a stationary fixture.
11. The sign hanging system of claim 10 , wherein the rod includes a first end, a second end,
a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first end has a larger diameter than the remaining portion of the rod, wherein the sign hanging system further comprises, a spacer, at least a second washer, and an elastomeric tube, wherein the rod receives the spacer, the second washer and the elastomeric tube, wherein the first end receives the first washer, wherein the spacer is adjacent the first washer and located between the second end and the first washer, wherein the second washer is adjacent the spacer and located between the spacer and the second end, wherein the elastomeric tube is adjacent the second washer and located between the second washer and second end, wherein the elastomeric tube is configured to grip the rod and not turn relative to the rod, wherein the sign handing system further comprises at least a third washer, a fastener, and a terminal clasp, wherein the fastener is operatively connected to the reel assembly to secure the spacer, the third washer, and the elastomeric tube in place on the rod, wherein the line is coiled around the tube with a loose end at the terminal clasp.
12. The sign hanging system of claim 11 wherein the fastener is a first nut and the terminal clasp comprises a lock washer and second nut.
13. The sign hanging system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a locking sleeve, wherein the locking sleeve comprises:
a housing, wherein the housing has a first open end, a second open end opposed to the first open end, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side,
wherein the housing is of sufficient size and configuration to slide over the open end of the support member, wherein the first side has a first threaded aperture,
wherein the third side has a second threaded aperture, wherein at least one of the first side and the third side or both has a slit;
a first bolt, wherein the first bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the first aperture such as to engage a first side of the first nut; and
a second bolt, wherein the second bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the second aperture such as to engage a second side opposing the first side of the first nut so as to affix the reel assembly in place and maintain tautness of the line.
14. The sign hanging system of claim 13 , further comprising a third bolt, wherein the locking sleeve has a third threaded aperture on one of the sides, wherein the third bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the third aperture to abut an exterior side of the exterior of the supporting housing to hold the locking sleeve in place when in use.
15. The sign hanging system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a fourth bolt;
a wrench;
a wire;
wherein the locking sleeve has a fourth threaded aperture on one of the sides,
wherein the fourth bolt is configured to be threadably inserted into the fourth aperture,
wherein the wrench is configured to engage a nut,
wherein the wire is attached to the wrench and configured to be attached to the fourth bolt by a looped end so as to retain the wrench in close proximity and available to the user at all times.
16. The sign hanging system of claim 15 further comprising an end cap, wherein the end cap is configured to fit snugly over the locking sleeve.
17. The sign hanging system of claim 10 , wherein the horizontal support member is an elongated bar affixed to a vertical post.
18. The sign hanging system of claim 10 , wherein the horizontal support member is a horizontal bar suspended from the ceiling.