US20040238702A1

US20040238702A1 - Bracket for mounting banner to a truck wall

Info

Publication number: US20040238702A1
Application number: US10/447,669
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Britten; Jon Lapekas; David Gress
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-29
Filing date: 2003-05-29
Publication date: 2004-12-02

Abstract

A mounting bracket for affixing a banner to a side panel of a truck body, the truck body having a top panel, a side panel, and a top rail extending along a side of the top panel and a top of the side panel and joining the top and side panels. The mounting bracket includes the top rail having a first attachment member projecting outwardly therefrom and a mounting channel having a second attachment member projecting therefrom. The mounting channel has a channel for receiving a keder bead affixed to a top edge of the banner. The second attachment member of the mounting channel mates with the first attachment member of the top rail. The first and second attachment members are illustratively opposed dovetails that mate together.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to banners affixed to panels of vehicles, such as to side panels of truck bodies, and more particularly, to a mounting bracket used to affix the banners to the side panels of truck bodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sides of vehicles, commercial trucks in particular, can be used for advertising, in effect, providing a “rolling billboard.” Companies often paint the sides of their trucks and truck trailers, such as semi-tractor trailers, with their company names and logos. More recently, banners have been affixed to the sides of trucks with the advertisement printed on the banner. These banners can be removable which allows the advertisement to be changed.

One type of removable advertising banner is marketed under the trademark TRUCKSKIN by Truckskin of Traverse City, Mich. As shown in FIG. 1, the TRUCKSKIN

banner

100 is a sheet or substrate 102 in a generally rectangular shape. This banner has a nylon reinforced rubber keder or keder bead 104 attached to a top edge 106 of sheet 102 and to the front and rear

vertical edges

108, 110 of sheet 102. This keder or keder bead 104 is illustratively welded or sewn into the top, front and

rear edges

106, 108, 110 of sheet 102 of the banner 100. Keder 104 attached to top edge 106 is shown expanded in FIG. 2 and keder 104 attached to rear edge 110 is shown expanded in FIG. 3.

A

lower edge

112 of sheet 102 of banner 100 has a sewn, or permanently welded, lengthwise pocket 114 for receiving a rod 116. Pocket 114 is illustratively divided into a plurality of sections, each receiving a rod 116, with spaces between each section that allow the banner 100 to be folded. Each of the plurality of pocket sections have one or more openings 118 with a strap 120 passing through each opening 118 and around the rod 116. Each strap 120 has at a distal end or clip or other attachment mechanism 122 for attaching the strap 120 to a portion of the body of the truck to which banner 100 is affixed. Each strap 120 has a ratchet 124 or other device for tensioning the strap to tighten the banner 100 when it is affixed to a truck body. It should be understood that straps 120 can also or alternatively be affixed to the front and/or

rear edges

108, 110 of sheet 102 of banner 100 in the same manner.

The top, front and rear edges of the truck body to which

banner

100 is affixed have mounting channels 500 (FIG. 5) affixed thereto. Each mounting channel 500 illustratively has a cylindrical channel section 502 and a flange 504 on one side of cylindrical channel section 502. Flange 504 has a plurality of holes 506 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 5) extending therethrough. Cylindrical channel section 502 has a slot 508 therein.

Mounting channels

500 are affixed to the top, front and rear edges of a side of a truck to which banner 100 is to be affixed by rivets or screws (not shown) which are passed through holes 506 in flange 504 into the side of the truck. Banner 100 is then affixed to the side of the truck by inserting the keder or keder beads 104 on the top, front and

side edges

106, 108, 110 of sheet 102 of banner 100 into the cylindrical channel sections 502 of the respective mounting channels 500. Clips 122 of straps 120 are then fastened to the truck body and straps 120 tightened.

One of the problems with

mounting channel

500, particularly the one affixed to the top edge of the truck body, is that of holes must be drilled along the top edge of the truck body to receive the rivets or screws used to fasten the mounting channel 500 in place and the rivets or screws must be fastened. For large trucks, such as semi-tractors, a considerable number of holes must be drilled and a commensurate number of screws or rivets fastened in them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mounting bracket for affixing a banner to a side panel of a vehicle body, such as a truck body. The truck body has a top panel, a side panel, and a top rail extending along a side of the top panel and a top of the side panel and joining the top and side panels. The mounting bracket includes the top rail having a first attachment member projecting outwardly therefrom and a mounting channel having a second attachment member projecting therefrom. The mounting channel has a channel for receiving a top edge of the banner. The second attachment member of the mounting channel mates with the first attachment member of the top rail. In an aspect of the invention, the first and second attachment members are opposed dovetails that mate together.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0010]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art banner affixed to a truck body; [0011]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the section indicated by the circle [0012] 2-2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the section indicated by the circle [0013] 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the section indicated by the circle [0014] 4-4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a prior art mounting channel; [0015]
FIG. 6 is a side view of a mounting bracket in accordance with an aspect of the invention; [0016]
FIG. 7 is a side view of a mounting channel of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6; [0017]
FIG. 8 is a side view of a top rail of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6; [0018]
FIG. 9 is a side view of a truck body having the mounting bracket of FIG. 6; [0019]
FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line [0020] 10-10 of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 11 is a side view of a variation of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6;[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. [0022]
Referring to FIGS. 6-8, an improved [0023] mounting bracket 600 for affixing banner 100 to a top edge 902 of a body 900 (FIG. 9) of a vehicle, such as a truck, is described. Mounting bracket 600 includes a top rail 602 and a mounting channel 604. Top rail 602 is a longitudinal rail extending along the top edge 902 between a top panel 1000 (FIG. 10) and a side panel 1004 of body 900 and joins top panel 1000 to side panel 1004. That part of top rail 602 that joins top panel 1000 to side panel 1004 is generally of conventional construction. In this regard, top rail 602 has first and second vertically extending offset sections 606, 608 with a first horizontally extending section 610 joining a bottom edge 612 of first vertically extending section 606 to a top edge 614 of second vertically extending section 608. A top flange 616 extends across a top edge 618 of first vertically extending section 606 and a second flange 620 extends laterally inwardly (with respect to the body of the vehicle) from first vertically extending section 606 in spaced relation to an inner section 622 of top flange 616. Inner section 622 of top flange 616 and second flange 620 define a channel 624 therebetween for receiving an edge section 1002 of top panel 1000 (FIG. 10) of body 900. A side panel 1004 is received against second vertically extending section 608 with a top edge 1006 of side panel 1004 adjacent to horizontally extending section 610.
[0024] Top rail 602 deviates from conventionally constructed top rails for joining top and side panels of truck bodies in that it has an attachment member 626 to which a corresponding attachment member 628 of mounting channel 604 mates, as described in more detail below. Attachment member 626 is illustratively an upwardly opening dovetail extending outwardly from second vertically extending section 608 between top edge 614 and a lower edge 630 of second vertically extending section 608. In a variation, attachment member 626 is located at lower edge 630 of second vertically extending section 608 (FIG. 11).
[0025] Top rail 602 including first and second vertically extending sections 606, 608, horizontally extending section 610, top flange 616, flange 620 and attachment member 626, is illustratively formed as a single extruded part, such as of aluminum. It should be understood, however, that one or more of these elements of top rail 602 could be formed as separate pieces that are then joined together, such as by welding.
[0026] Mounting channel 604 illustratively has a longitudinally extending cylindrical channel section 632 and a flange 634 extending upwardly therefrom on one side of cylindrical channel section 632. Flange 634 includes attachment member 628. Illustratively, an upper edge 636 of flange 634 is formed to provide attachment member 628, which is illustratively an inwardly projecting, downwardly opening dovetail. Cylindrical channel section 632 has a longitudinally extending slot 638 therein for receiving the keder or keder bead 104 of top edge 106 of banner 100, in a manner similar to that described above with respect to mounting channel 500. Mounting channel 604 including cylindrical channel section 632, flange 634 and attachment member 628, is illustratively formed as a single extruded part, such as of aluminum. It should be understood, however, that one or more elements of mounting channel 604 could be formed as separate parts which are joined together, such as by welding.
[0027] Top rail 602 is part of body 900 and is installed during construction of body 900. Mounting channel 604 can be affixed to top rail 602 during construction of body 900 or thereafter. Mounting channel 604 is affixed to top rail 602 by mating attachment member 628 of mounting channel 604 to attachment member 626 of top rail 602. Mounting channel 604 is preferably further secured to top rail 602 by appropriate fasteners. Illustratively, adhesive 640 is placed between an inner surface 642 of flange 634 of mounting channel 604 and an outer surface 644 of top rail 602 (or outer surface 1008 of side panel 1004 in the variation shown in FIG. 11). Adhesive 640 may illustratively be 4611 VHB adhesive tape available from 3M of Minneapolis, Minn. It should be understood that other types of fastenings can be used to further secure mounting channel 604 to top rail 602, such as rivets, screws, and the like.
While [0028] attachment members 626 and 628 are illustratively mating dovetails, it should be understood that other mating attachments can be utilized for attachment members 626, 628, such as hooks, flanges, and the like.
[0029] Side panel 1004 of truck body 900 further includes mounting channels 500 (FIG. 5) affixed to front and rear vertical edges 904, 906 of truck body 900 (FIG. 9).
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. [0030]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting bracket for affixing a banner to a side panel of a track body, the truck body having a top panel, a side panel, and a top rail extending along a side of the top panel and a top of the side panel and joining the top and side panels, the mounting bracket comprising the top rail having a first attachment member projecting outwardly therefrom and a mounting channel having a second attachment member projecting therefrom, the mounting channel having a channel therein for receiving a top edge of the banner, the second attachment member of the mounting channel mating with the first attachment member of the top rail.

2. The mounting bracket of claim 1 wherein the first attachment member of the top rail includes an upwardly opening dovetail and the second attachment member of the mounting channel includes a downwardly opening dovetail that is received in the upwardly opening dovetail of the first attachment member.

3. The mounting bracket of claim 1 wherein the channel of the mounting channel receives a keder bead affixed to the top edge of the banner.

4. The mounting bracket of claim 2 wherein the mounting channel is fastened to at least one of an outwardly facing side of the top rail and an outwardly facing side of the side panel by at least one fastener.

5. The mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the at least one fastener comprises adhesive disposed between an inwardly facing side of the mounting channel and the at least one of the outwardly facing side of the top rail and the outwardly facing side of the side panel.

6. A mounting bracket for affixing a banner to a side panel of a track body, the truck body having a top panel and a top rail extending along a side of the top panel and a top of the side panel and joining the top and side panels, the mounting bracket comprising the top rail having a first attachment member projecting outwardly therefrom and a mounting channel having a second attachment member projecting therefrom, the mounting channel having a channel therein for receiving a keder bead affixed to a top edge of the banner, the first attachment member including an upwardly opening dovetail that mates with a downwardly opening dovetail of the second attachment member.

7. A truck body to which a banner can be attached, comprising a top panel joined to a side panel by a top rail extending along a side of the top panel and a top of the side panel, the top rail having a first attachment member projecting outwardly therefrom that mates with a second attachment member projecting from a mounting channel, the mounting channel having a second attachment member projecting therefrom and a channel for receiving a top edge of the banner.

8. The truck body of claim 7 wherein the first attachment member of the top rail includes an upwardly opening dovetail and the second attachment member of the mounting channel includes a downwardly opening dovetail that is received in the upwardly opening dovetail of the first attachment member.

9. The truck body of claim 7 wherein the channel of the mounting channel receives a keder bead affixed to the top edge of the banner.

10. The truck body of claim 8 wherein the mounting channel is fastened to at least one of an outwardly facing side of the top rail and an outwardly facing side of the side panel by at least one fastener.

11. The truck body of claim 10 wherein the at least one fastener comprises adhesive disposed between an inwardly facing side of the mounting channel and the at least one of the outwardly facing side of the top rail and the outwardly facing side of the side panel.

12. The truck body of claim 9 and further including a second mounting channel affixed to at least one of a front and rear edge of the side panel, the second mounting channel having a channel therein for receiving a keder bead affixed to a corresponding one of a front and rear edge of the banner.

13. The truck body of claim 12 and further including a third mounting channel affixed to the other of the front and rear edge of the side panel, the third mounting channel having a channel therein for receiving a keder bead affixed to the other of the front and rear edge of the banner.