US1963772A - Aerial banner - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS MLLl/Nf 4. fio/m/wvon C4020 5. 6/455??- W. A. BOHANNON ET AL AERIAL BANNER Filed June 29, 1953 June 19, 1934;

u ATrbRNEY June 19, 1934. w. A. BOHANNON El AL AERIAL BANNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1933 INVENTO 5 W/LLMM fiol/mm/o/l/ C401? 5. Ga a/e7 ATTORNEY Patented June 19, 1934 AERIAL BANNER William A. Bohannon, Mineola, and Clara B.

Gilbert, New York, N. Y. 7

Application June 29, 1933, Serial No. 678,154

9 Claims. (01. 40-127) Our invention relates to aerial advertising devices, and is more particularly concerned with banners or the like adapted to be towed by aircraft.

"5 One object of the invention is to provide an aerial banner which is adapted to be towed and flown in a generally vertical plane, and in which whipping, ripple, oscillation and drag are reduced to an absolute minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aerial banner which is made up of a plurality of interchangeable panels or sections, the interchangeable panels, in each instance, comprising separable panel sheets arranged back to back, and

5 the panel sheets, in each instance, having indicated thereon one or more letters or other symbols which in the aggregate portray an advertising message or sign.

A further object of the invention is to so interconnect the several panels and panel sheets as to admit of the banner being dismantled or knocked down; the sign, in its assembled condition, being clearly readable, without distortion, from either side of the banner.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the banner, as an integral part thereof, one or more wind sacks or drag devices, the devices, in each instance,- being intersected vertically by the rearmost banner section, and the banner,

at its trailingedge, being effectively stabilized by and as a result of the air reactions induced through the wind sack disposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the banner a towing bridle which, in and of itself, and by reason of its surface area, lends to the banner improved stability and steadiness in flight,

A still further object of the invention is to provide for the banner a fabric towing bridle which is lighter, stronger, neater in appearance,

' and less resistant than the open type rope bridle heretofore more or less extensively used.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the banner;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken from the opposite side;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the rear or wind sack banner; I

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the towing. bridle;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the details of construction of one of the panel,

j V M Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the combined clamping and spreader bars; and i Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of towing bridle.

In the embodiment of the invention selecte for illustration, an aerial banner comprisingga plurality of detachable panels is shown. Except 6.5 for the bridle panel 10 and the drag panel 11, the panels are freely interchangeable and the length of the banner is wholly dependent upon the length and nature of the message which it is desired to display. Said interchangeable panels are designated as 12 and a greater or less number than the number shown can be used. 7

The panels 12 are generally similar in construc-; tion. Unlike the panels 10 and 11, the panels'12 comprise separable panel sheets 12 and 12" disposed back to back and having indicated on their outer surfaces the letters, numerals or other symbols 13 which go to make up the sign. Said; letters or other symbols are preferably stenciled on the fabric of the sheets, although other means, 8.0-. maybe employed to effect such showing.

Being interchangeable, any word or combination of words may be spelled out through a proper. selection of panel sheets. For instance, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a banner in which the hyphenated word Sky-Ads is displayed."- Byselecting panel sheets depicting the letters com prising said word, andarranging said sheets back to back in proper relation, said word ismade legible and clearly readable (without distortion) from either side of the,banner. On one side, the panel-sheet depicting the first letter of the word is placed adjacent to the bridle panel 10, whereas on the opposite side, the corresponding sheet is placed next adjacent to the drag panel 11. 95. In other words, the .sign, viewed from one side of the banner, reads from front to rear, whereas onits opposite side the reading isreversed; For convenience, but a single letter or symbol 13 is depicted on each panel sheet so that any word 10 or combination of words may be properly assembled.

The means employed for detachably fastening the panel 10 to the forward panel 12, the panels 12 to eachother, and the rear panel 12 tothe rear panel 11, is in each instance identical. Said means comprises a plurality ofpairsof metal strips 14 which function as clamps and also as spreader bars. The strips 14 shown are of channel section, are disposed back to back, and are 1 10 held together, with the overlapping panel edges clamped therebetween, by bolts 15 or other quick detachable fastening devices. To separate the panels it is only necessary to withdraw the clamping bolts and remove the strips comprising the respective pairs of clamping devices. Eyes or holes (not shown), through which the bolts extend, are formed in the edges of the panels. If desired, the overlapping edges of the several panels may be appropriately re-enforced, as indicated at 16, the re-enforcement, by its engagement with the opposite longitudinal edges of the clamping strips, preventing said panels or panel sheets from being pulled apart. The clamping strips, moreover, by reason of their channel section, lend transverse stiffness and rigidity to the banner at intervals of space along its length.

Unlike the interchangeable panels 12, the panels 10 and 11 consist of but one sheet of fabric. Viewed from the side, the panel 10 is of generally triangular shape. At its forward or apex end it is provided with a tow ring 17 through which suitable re-enforcing tapes 18 are passed. Said tapes or strips 18 extend along both edges of the bridle sheet, as well as along its longitudinal center line. They re-enforce the bridle in the vicinity of its lines of maximum towing stress, and at the same time distribute such stress equally throughout the width of the banner. Preferably said tapes lie fiat against both faces of the bridle sheet and thus offer a minimum of drag. The tow line 19, which is fastened at one end to the tow ring 17, is fastened at its opposite end to the aircraft (not shown) behind which the banner is adapted to be towed. Due to its relatively smooth and large surface area, the bridle 10 gives to the banner improved stability and steadiness in night.

The drag panel 11 is in effect a banner rudder. The wind sacks 20, of which there are two or more, are so relatively arranged as to extend out,

symmetrically, one above the other, from opposite sides of the panel sheet. In other words, the panel sheet, which is longer than the wind sacks, intersects said sacks and the banner, at its trailing portion, is effectively stabilized by and as a result of the air reaction induced through the wind sack arrangement. The "sacks, it will be noted, are'openat their opposite ends and i are of generally frusto-conical form, with the smaller cone ends directed rearwardly. From said sacks the air emerges with equal force on opposite sides of the panel sheet. In this way, the objectionable oscillation and whipping action'generally induced at the trailing edge of the banner is wholly and completely eliminated.

The means for mounting or fastening the sacks to the drag panel sheet comprises fore and aft substantially semi-circular hoops or bands 21 and 2 2. The forward bands 21 are fastened to the panel sheet as indicated at 23, andare re-enforced'or braced at their outer extremities by suitabledrag braces 25 carried across the leading edge of the drag panel. The rear or smaller bands22 are similarly fastened to the panel sheet as at'25 and may be, if desired, adjusted vertically to vary the angular setting of the sacks and hence the resulting lift. I r

In the modification of Fig. 9, a different type of towing bridle is shown. Instead of the flat sheet type, the bridle is open, as it were; and generally resembles the rope type" bridle heretofore employed. The tow line 30 of the bridle'is fastened to the leading edge spreader bar or clamp 31 at its upper end. To said line there is clamped an adjustable fitting 32 from which a pulley 33 is hung. Over said pulley a bridle line 34 is passed. By fastening the opposite ends of the bridle line to the leading edge of the banner at an intermediate point and at its lower forward edge, respectively, the towing stresses are equalized, and the banner made to ride in the air stream at the selected or desired angle. Equalization of towing stresses, however, is in this way obtained at a sacrifice .of stability, lightness and strength.

A banner constructed as herein set forth is a distinct improvement over previously existing devices. It is possessed of longer life due to the fact that all panels are kept constantly in tension, thereby lessening ripple and whip. It is clearly readable from either side and any selected color combination can be employed. It offers less resistance on the towing aircraft, due to the fact that the air flow over the banner is smooth and unobstructed. And last, but not least, it is markedly advantageous in that its letter panels are I instantly interchangeable, thus permitting of the uniform display of any two of a variety of messages, the background of which is unaffected by changing skies.

While we have described our invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it-will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after under standing our invention, that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. We aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes; I

What is claimed is:

1. In an aerial banner, a display sheet; a bridle panel of generally triangular section having its apex end directed forwardly, means-for detachably fastening said bridle panelto said displaysheet, a tow line fastened to said bridle'panel at said apex, and means for re-enforcing said bridle lines'in parallelism with the lines of maximum towing stress.

2. In a knock-down aerial banner, aplurality of separately formed generally similar flexible panels, said panels being interchangeable as to position and adapted, when assembled, to trail in the air stream one behind another, means extending crosswise of the banner for spreading its opposite longitudinal edges apart as well as for detachably fastening adjacent panelstogether, and air resistant means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep said connected panels and hence the banner taut during flight. 3. In a knock-down aerial banner, a plurality of separately formed generally similar panels having reenforced fore and aft edges,- said panels being interchangeable as to position and adapted, when assembled, to trail in the air stream one be hind another with the reenforced edges of adjacent panels disposed in overlapping relation} means extending crosswise the overlapping edges of adjacent panels for detachablyfastening said panel carried longitudinally of its length along panels together, and air resistant means fastened of "separately formed generally similar panels,

said panels being interchangeable-as to position and'adapted, when assembled, to trail in the air stream one behind another, means extending crosswise of the banner for detachably clamping adjacent panels together, said means providing for said banner a plurality of transverse spreader bars whereby the opposite longitudinal edges of the banner are reenforced against collapse, and air resistant means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep said connected panels and hence the banner taut during flight.

5. The combination, in a knock-down aerial banner, of a plurality of separately formed generally similar panels each comprising separate coextensive panel sheets of flexible material arranged back to back, said panel sheets and panels being interchangeable as to position, and the panels, when assembled, being adapted to trail in the air stream one behind another, means for detachably fastening the panel sheets comprising adjacent panels and hence adjacent panels together, and air resistant means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep said connected panels and hence the banner taut during flight.

6. The combination, in a knock-down aerial banner, of a plurality of flexible panel sheets arranged in pairs back to back and having indicated thereon, each upon its outer surface, a sign or other symbol, said sign or other symbol being readable from either side of the banner, the pairs of panel sheets, in each instance, constituting a panel, and the panels, in each instance, being disposed one behind another to trail in the air stream with the edges of adjacent panels disposed in overlapping relation, means extending crosswise the banner along the overlapping edges of adjacent panels adapted to detachably fasten said panel sheets and hence said panels together, and air resistant means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep said connected panels and hence the banner taut during flight.

"I. The combination, in a knock-down aerial banner, of a plurality of flexible panel sheets arranged in pairs back to back and having indicated thereon, each upon its outer surface, a sign or other symbol, said sign or other symbol being readable from either side of the banner, the pairs of panel sheets, in each instance, constituting a panel, and the panels, in each instance, being disposed one behind another to trail in the air stream, means extending crosswise of the banner adapted to detachably fasten said panel sheets and hence said panels together, and air resistance means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep said connected panels and hence the banner taut during flight.

8. In a knock-down aerial banner, a plurality of separately formed generally similar flexible panels, said panels being interchangeable as to position and adapted, when assembled, to trail in the air stream one behind another, air resistant means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep the assembled panels and hence the flexible banner taut, and a fastening means for detachably uniting adjacent panels, said means comprising opposed clamp bars between which the edges of adjacent panels are adapted to be firmly clamped.

9. In a knock-down aerial banner, a plurality of separately formed generally similar flexible panels, said panels being interchangeable as to position and adapted, when assembled, to trail in the air stream one behind another, means reenforcing the opposite transverse edges of adjacent panels, air resistant means fastened to the banner and adapted to exert a drag force thereon tending to keep the assembled panels and hence the flexible banner taut, and. a fastening means for detachably uniting adjacent panels, said means comprising opposed clamp bars between which the re-enforced edges of adjacent panels are adapted to be firmly clamped, the re-enforcing means and the clamping bars jointly providing at each panel joint a spreader means tending to re-enforce the opposite longitudinal edges of the banner against collapse.

WILLIAM A. BOHANNON. CLARA B. GILBERT.

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