Flexibly supported video display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9741271-B2
Application number	US-40549109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2009
Priority date	May 20, 2008
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A method of displaying a video display system, assembling a video display system, and a video display system are disclosed. The video display system can include a flexible support, a display device detachably engaged to the flexible support, and a coupling device engaged to the flexible support and the display device at a first location on the display device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of arranging a video display system, the method comprising:
engaging a flexible support with a first coupling device, the flexible support having a longitudinal extent and a lateral extent perpendicular to its longitudinal extent and having an upstream portion securable to an architectural member at a height above a reference surface such that the flexible support will be in a suspended disposition with at least a portion of its longitudinal extent intermediate the upstream portion and a downstream portion extending vertically and the flexible support having a dimensionally varied portion longitudinally intermediate its upstream portion and its downstream portion formed with a first ring clamp, a second ring clamp and a third ring clamp, each of the first ring clamp, the second ring clamp and the third ring clamp including a lateral cross-section area that has a greater lateral dimension relative to a maximum lateral dimension of an adjacent upstream and downstream portion of the flexible support, wherein the first ring clamp is positioned at a first location intermediate the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the second ring clamp is positioned a second location between the first location and the downstream portion, and the third ring clamp is positioned at a third location between the second location and the downstream portion;
disposing a first display device at a support at which the first display device can be loaded onto the flexible support to thereafter be supported on the flexible support by the first coupling device that engages the flexible support with an engaging portion having a lateral dimension configured relative to the enlarged dimension lateral cross sectional area of the first ring clamp of the flexible support so as to be intercept able at a top face of the first ring clamp in a manner which precludes the first coupling device from traveling downstream beyond the top face of the first ring clamp;
moving at least one of the flexible support and the support relative to one another such that a second display device can be loaded at the support onto the flexible support to thereafter be supported on the flexible support by a second coupling device in engagement with the flexible support;
positioning the first display device after it has been loaded on the flexible support such that the first display device exerts a force in the downstream direction on the enlarged dimension lateral cross-section area of the ring clamp of the flexible support at the top face of the first ring clamp; and
at the support, engaging the second display device on the flexible support such that, as a sufficient force in the downstream direction is applied on the second display device, at least a portion of the weight of the second display device will thereafter be supported on the flexible support via the second coupling device, the engagement of the second display device and the flexible support occurring only after the step of positioning the first display device after it has been loaded on the flexible support, and the second coupling device engaging the flexible support with an engaging portion having a lateral dimension configured relative to an enlarged dimension lateral cross-section area of the second ring clamp of the flexible support so as to be interceptable at a top face of the second ring clamp by the enlarged dimension lateral cross-section area of the second ring clamp of the flexible support in a manner which precludes the second coupling device from traveling downstream beyond the top face of the second ring clamp, wherein the first display device is detachable from the first location of the flexible support and re-attachable at the third location on the flexible support in which the third location is between the second location and the downstream portion while the second display device is maintained at the second location.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each engaging portion of the each corresponding coupling device includes a travel stop component disposable between a blocking disposition and a non-blocking disposition such that, in the event that the dimensionally varied portion of the flexible support has a relatively enlarged lateral cross-section, the travel stop component in its blocking disposition forms a lateral cross-sectional area narrower than the dimensionally varied portion of the flexible support having its relatively enlarged lateral cross-section, and, in the event that the dimensionally varied portion of the flexible support has a relatively reduced lateral cross-section, the travel stop component in its blocking disposition forms a lateral cross-sectional area narrower than the adjacent downstream portion of the flexible support, and the travel stop component, in its non-blocking disposition, does not preclude each corresponding coupling device from traveling downstream below the respective one of the dimensionally varied portion of the flexible support having a relatively enlarged lateral cross-section or the adjacent downstream portion of the flexible support.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each coupling device includes a first counterpart portion and a second counterpart portion, the first counterpart portion and the second counterpart portion being releasably connectable to one another and operatively connected to the engaging portion of a corresponding coupling device such that, when the first counterpart portion and the second counterpart portion are connected to one another in a manner in which a portion of the longitudinal extent of the flexible support is located between the first counterpart portion and the second counterpart portion, the travel stop component is in its blocking disposition.

4. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising a releasable interlock element, the releasable interlock element being operable to releasably maintain the first counterpart portion and the second counterpart portion of each coupling device in a fastening ready position with one another.

5. The method according to claim 4 and further comprising a fixture element disposable between a fastening disposition in which it secures a corresponding coupling device against inadvertent dislodgement from the flexible support and a non-fastening disposition in which the corresponding coupling device can be removed from engagement with the flexible support, and the releasable interlock element being operable to releasably maintain the first counterpart portion and the second counterpart portion of the corresponding coupling device in the fastening ready position with one another while the fixture element is manipulated from its non-fastening disposition into its fastening disposition.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the fixture element includes a fastener having a threaded portion and a compatibly configured threaded receptacle for threadingly receiving the threaded portion of the fastener.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the interlock element includes a projection on the first counterpart portion of the corresponding coupling device and a compatibly configured recess secured to the second counterpart portion of the corresponding coupling device and operable to receive therein the projection on the first counterpart portion of the corresponding coupling device.

8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the interlock element includes a pair of initial hold pieces movable relative to one another between a start position and an end position and the initial hold pieces being operatively engageable with one another in a manner such that the initial hold pieces have engaged one another at the latest upon the disposition of the initial hold pieces into their end

Assignees

• Tait Michael
• Davis Adam
• Fairorth James
• Tait Towers Mfg Llc

Inventors

• Tait Michael
• Davis Adam
• Fairorth James

Classifications

• G09F19/226

  External wall display means; Facade advertising means · CPC title

• G09F19/22

  Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated · CPC title

• G09F9/33 Primary

  being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes · CPC title

• G09F9/335 Primary

  being organic light emitting diodes [OLED] · CPC title