BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to advertising displays, and specifically, to an apparatus for displaying a visual image along the surface of a segmented door, such as a rear roll-up door of a truck, trailer, or van.

2. The Prior Art

Referring to

FIG. 1

, segmented roll-up doors

110

are common in many industries, including the trucking and transport industries, and their typical designs are well known. A typical door

110

has a leading edge

112

, an opposite trailing edge

114

, a first edge

116

transverse to the leading edge

112

, an opposite second edge

118

, an exterior surface

120

, and an opposite interior surface (not shown). Many such doors consist of a plurality of elongated segments

122

linked to each other along their longitudinal sides

124

to form a substantially continuous door

110

. The leading and trailing edges of the door

110

correspond to the longitudinal side

124

of the elongated segments

122

that form the exterior segments of the door

110

, while the first edge

116

and second edge

118

correspond to the latitudinal edges

126

of the plurality of elongated segments

122

. Because of its linked construction, the door

110

is flexible along the axis corresponding to the direction of the longitudinal sides

124

of the elongated segments

122

. As a result, such doors

110

are suitable for roll-up applications. Roll-up doors are well known in the trucking and transport industries, and have been commonly utilized on the rear and sides of trailers and truck exteriors.

Systems for displaying advertising images on the exterior of moving vehicles such as vans, trucks, and trailers have been developed in response to ever-increasing demand for innovative advertising media. In addition to direct application of the advertisement to the vehicle exterior by painting or otherwise directly applying an adhesive film containing an advertisement, display systems have been developed wherein a sheet containing an advertisement is removably attached to the exterior surface of the vehicle. Such systems allow for removal of the advertisement without damage to the vehicle and allow rapid conversion between advertising displays. However, as most such systems utilize flexible advertising displays, maintenance of a consistent and controlled tension within the panel is critical, as excessive tension may cause failure of the panel or mounting hardware, and insufficient tension may allow sag, flutter, damage, or dislocation of the panel under use conditions.

Prior art mobile advertising display systems are not ideal for use in applications in which variations in tension across the panel are frequent. For instance, prior art systems are not tailored for use on a roll-up trailer door, such as one in which a segmented door that is substantially flat in the closed position is rolled along a curved path in reaching its open position. Prior art systems have the disadvantage that they were not designed to provide adequate release and restoration of tension within the display panel to allow retraction of the roll-up door without causing tearing or other damage to the display panel or failure of the mounting hardware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is an apparatus for displaying images on a segmented roll-up trailer door. The door is defined by a leading edge, an opposite trailing edge, a first edge transverse to the leading edge, an opposite second edge, an exterior surface, and an opposite interior surface. A flexible display panel capable of carrying an image and having a first attaching area and a second attaching area is attached to the segmented door. A spline, affixed to the first attaching area of the display panel, is engaged by a receiving member that may be attached to the exterior surface of the door adjacent the leading edge. The receiving member defines a keyway which is complementary in shape to the spline. The second attaching area of the display panel is connected to an attaching structure, which may extend along the trailing edge of the door, by a plurality of spaced apart elastic members, which maintain and regulate tension in the panel throughout the range of motion of the door.

In another aspect, the invention includes an attaching member including a plurality of spaced apart eye-bolts, each affixed to the door along the trailing edge. The second attaching area of the display panel is defined by a plurality of spaced apart grommets passing there through. Each grommet defines an opening, engaging a plurality of elastic members, and has an elastic coupling capable of engaging a grommet. An S-hook engages each elastic coupling and connects the elastic coupling to an eye-bolt.

In yet another aspect, the invention includes an attaching member that is substantially L-shaped in cross section. The attaching member includes a first elongated plate attached to the door along the trailing edge and a second elongated plate transversely extending from the first elongated plate member. The second elongated plate defines a plurality of spaced apart holes extending there through, wherein each hole is capable of engaging an elastic member.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a schematic view of a prior art rear roll-up door of a tractor trailer.

FIG. 2

is a schematic view of an embodiment according to the present invention installed on a rear roll-up door of a tractor trailer.

FIG. 3A

is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the spline as it engages the display panel.

FIG. 3B

is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the spline as it engages the display panel.

FIG. 3C

is a schematic view of another embodiment of the spline as it engages the display panel.

FIG. 4

is a schematic view detailing one embodiment of the receiving member as it engages the spline.

FIG. 5A

is a sectional schematic view detailing one embodiment of the attaching structure, comprising a plurality of spaced apart eye-bolts.

FIG. 5B

is a sectional schematic view of an embodiment of an eye-bolt, taken along direction

5

B—

5

B of FIG.

5

A.

FIG. 6

is a sectional schematic view of an orientation of elastic members utilized to retain the second attaching area of the display panel to the attaching structure.

FIG. 7A

is a sectional schematic view detailing a second embodiment of the attaching structure, comprising a section of angle iron.

FIG. 7B

is a sectional schematic view of the spaced apart holes in the second elongated plate of the second embodiment of the attaching structure, taken along direction

7

B—

7

B of FIG.

7

A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

As shown in

FIG. 2

, in one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus

100

for displaying images on a segmented roll-up door

110

. One embodiment of the invention includes a flexible display panel

130

having a first attaching area

132

, an opposite second attaching area

134

, a first surface

136

, and an opposite second surface (not shown), in which the first surface

136

and the second surface are each capable of carrying an image. The panel

130

may be of any shape desired by the user, including rectangular, square, or circular. Any panel

130

shape capable of connection to the door

110

as described herein may be interchangeably utilized according to the invention. In the disclosed embodiment, the panel

130

has a generally similar shape to the door

110

, but is smaller than the door

110

so that the perimeter of the panel

130

does not extend beyond the perimeter of the door

110

. The panel

130

comprises a first attaching edge

133

, an opposite second attaching edge

135

, a first side edge

137

, an opposite second side edge

138

, a first surface

136

and an opposite second surface (not shown), the first surface

136

and the second surface each capable of carrying an image.

The “display panel”

130

may be constructed of any material capable of carrying an image thereon. The panel

130

may be capable of carrying an image on the first surface

136

or on the second surface, or on both surfaces such that the panel is reversible and may be installed with either the first

136

or second surface facing exteriorly of the door

110

. Typically, the panel

130

will be made from a material that is capable of withstanding unfavorable weather conditions and strain caused by dynamic air flow around the panel

130

. Such materials could include a vinyl laminated, coated or extruded polyester fabric, or a vinyl laminated, coated or extruded nylon fabric. The panel

130

should also be flexible, to allow for travel of the panel

130

along the non-linear path followed by the door

110

. The advertising image may be applied to the panel

130

by hand painting, by automated or computerized printing, or by other techniques generally known to the art of display advertising.

As further shown in FIG.

2

and

FIGS. 3A

,

3

B and

3

C, the first attaching area

132

of the display panel

130

is affixed to the door

110

by a spline

140

. The spline

140

includes an attaching member

142

and an adjacent bead member

144

. The attaching member

142

is affixed to at least a portion of the first attaching area

132

of the display panel

130

.

FIGS. 3A

,

3

B and

3

C illustrate the spline

140

in greater detail.

FIG. 3A

shows a first embodiment of the spline

140

, wherein the bead member

144

and the attaching member

142

are molded, extruded or otherwise formed as a unitary assembly. The bead member

144

may be of a solid or hollow construction.

FIGS. 4 and 3C

illustrates another embodiment of the spline

140

, wherein the bead member

144

and attaching member

142

are separate pieces which are joined to form the spline

140

. In such an embodiment, the bead member

144

may be constructed of semi-rigid polyethylene, and the attaching member

142

may be constructed of vinyl polyester or vinyl nylon fabric. The fabric may be wrapped around the bead member

144

and the resulting overlapping edges sewn or welded to capture the bead member

144

, said overlapping sewn or welded edges forming the attaching member

142

. Welding of the fabric around the bead member

144

to construct the spline may be accomplished by Radio Frequency (“RF”) welding, wherein pressure and mechanical vibrations at radio frequencies are applied to the overlapping edges of fabric to bond the fabric edges to each other. The weld may also be accomplished by other welding methods or by utilization of an adhesive to effect the intimate contact between the overlapping fabric edges.

The spline

140

may be connected to the display panel

130

by welding the attaching member

142

to the first attaching area

132

of the panel

130

. This connection may also be accomplished by stitching or sewing the attaching member

142

to the first attaching area

132

of the panel

130

.

In another embodiment, the spline

140

may be formed directly from the first attaching area

132

of the panel

130

. In such an embodiment, a hem may be formed by forming a tube or pocket of the panel material in the first attaching area

132

. The bead member

144

may then be inserted in the hem, and the hem material stitched, sewn or welded as described above to capture the bead member

144

. In such an embodiment, the hem forms the attaching member

142

.

FIG. 3B

shows a second embodiment of the spline

240

, wherein the attaching member

242

comprises a pair of opposite flaps

246

, which may receive the first attaching area

132

of the panel

130

therebetween, and be affixed by welding, sewing, or stitching as described above.

Referring again to

FIG. 4

, retention of the first attaching area

132

to the door

110

is accomplished by retention of the spline

140

by the receiving member

150

, attached to the exterior surface

120

of the door

110

. In one embodiment, the receiving member

150

is attached to the door

110

adjacent the leading edge

112

, but in other embodiments, the receiving member may be attached to the door

110

at other locations along its length. Depending on the desired location of the display panel

130

, the location of the receiving member

150

may be selected by the user. The receiving member

150

generally defines a keyway

152

which is capable of engaging and retaining the bead member

144

so as to attach the spline

140

to the receiving member

150

. The bead member

144

may be substantially circular in cross section, and the receiving member

150

may complementarily define a substantially circular keyway

152

for receiving the bead member

144

therein. Alternately, the keyway

152

and the bead member

144

may be of any cross sectional shapes (e.g. square or triangular). The keyway

152

used in conjunction with any particular bead member

144

, however, must be of a shape which is capable of receiving and retaining the selected bead member

144

therein.

Referring again to

FIG. 2

, the second attaching area

134

of the display panel

130

is retained to the door

110

by a plurality of spaced apart elastic members

160

that connect the second attaching edge

134

to an attaching structure

170

. Again, in one embodiment, the attaching structure

170

may be attached to the door

110

adjacent the trailing edge

114

. In other embodiments, the attaching structure

170

may be affixed to the door

110

at any location selected by the user, depending on the size of the panel

130

and the desired location of the panel

130

within the door

110

.

A plurality of elastic members

160

may be utilized to retain the panel

130

. In an embodiment wherein a display panel

130

of rectangular or square shape is employed, best results will be obtained by utilizing a minimum of two elastic members

160

, one to secure each comer of the second attaching area

134

of the display panel

130

. By making use of greater numbers of elastic members

160

, the user may increase the tension maintained within the display panel

130

. Alternatively, tension may be adjusted by utilizing elastic members

160

of varying weights or elasticities. Elastic members

160

which exert a greater tensioning force when stretched will provide greater tension within the display panel

130

. As shown in

FIG. 5A

, the attaching structure

170

may include a plurality of spaced apart eye-bolts

172

affixed to the door

110

along the trailing edge

114

, wherein each eye-bolt

172

is capable of engaging an elastic member

160

. Fender washers

176

on the inside and outside of the door

110

, secured with a nut, may be utilized to attach the eye-bolt

172

to the door.

Referring now to

FIG. 6

, the second attaching area

134

of the display panel

130

is fastened to the attaching structure

170

by a plurality of elastic members

160

. Each elastic member

160

includes an elastic coupling

162

and an S-hook

164

engaging the elastic coupling

162

, wherein the S-hook

164

connects the elastic coupling

162

to the attaching structure

170

. The elastic coupling

162

includes a length of elastic shock cord, commonly referred to as “bungee” cord. In the embodiment pictured in

FIG. 6

, the elastic coupling

162

is made up of a loop of bungee cord which is threaded through grommets

190

, and its looped ends retained to the attaching structure

170

by S-hook

164

. Alternate embodiments of the elastic member

160

may include a multitude of devices, including a length of bungee cord with integrally connected hooks attached to its ends, rubber or elastic bands, metal springs, rubber stripping, and spring scales (not shown). By utilizing elastic members

160

in fastening the second attaching area

134

of the panel

130

, the elastic members

160

maintain and regulate tension in the panel

130

throughout the range of motion of the door

110

.

The elastic members

160

engage the second attaching area

134

of the panel

130

by engaging a plurality of spaced apart grommets

190

, each defining an opening passing through the second attaching area

134

of the panel

130

. As further demonstrated in

FIG. 6

, the second attaching area

134

of the panel

130

is fastened to the attaching structure

170

by connecting each grommet

190

to a generally corresponding and generally vertically aligned eye-bolt

172

. It has been observed that such an arrangement of elastic members

160

provides the desired degree of retention of the display panel

130

during use. In another embodiment, elastic members

160

may be fastened to the second attaching area

134

only at the corners thereof, providing for retention of the display panel

130

. Various quantities of elastic members

160

arranged in various configurations will provide satisfactory retention of the display panel

130

. Elastic members

160

of greater elasticity will provide less tension within the panel

130

, while increasing the number of elastic members

160

used to retain the panel

130

will correspondingly increase the tension provided within the panel

130

. The selected arrangement of elastic members

160

should provide tension within the panel

130

throughout the range of motion of the door

110

so that the panel

130

is maintained securely in position without damaging the panel

130

or the mounting devices.

In another embodiment, as depicted in

FIG. 7A

, the attaching structure

370

comprises an angled section or sections

374

such as the L-shaped angle iron shown. Each angled section

374

has a first elongated plate

376

attached to the door

310

along the trailing edge

314

. A second elongated plate

378

extends transversely from the first elongated plate

376

. The second elongated plate

378

defines a plurality of spaced apart holes

380

extending through the second elongated plate

378

. Each hole

380

is capable of engaging an elastic member

360

. The angled section

374

may be formed of iron, steel, aluminum, hard plastic, or other rigid materials. The first and second elongated plates

376

and

378

may form a 90-degree angle therebetween, or any other angle which allows the user to access the spaced apart holes

380

with the elastic members

160

.

Other embodiments of the attaching structure

170

may be employed, so long as they provide a structure securely affixed to the door

110

that is capable of engaging a plurality of elastic members

160

in order to secure the display panel

130

to the door

110

. For example, attaching structures

170

which utilize hook and loop (velcro) fasteners, snap fasteners, or magnets may be employed. Additionally, alternate bolt designs may be substituted for the eye-bolts

172

described above. For example, eye-bolts with a unitary shoulder portion, elevator bolts, carriage bolts or pad-eyes, which are known in the art, may be substituted for eye-bolts

172

.

The above described embodiments are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.