Sign positioning and changing device

Abstract

A sign positioning and changing device is provided that positions a sign at any desired height, suspending the sign from a cord that is retractable into a housing mounted on or near the ceiling and which is lowerable to the floor for ease of changing the sign, and which when released at any desired height will stop and remain at that height. Preferably, the device includes two such cords, both of which are retractable into the housing at points spaced from one another. The mechanism for retracting the cord is a spring loaded retrieving device of the type that loads a coil spring when line is withdrawn from a spool within the device and uses the energy stored in the spring to retrieve the cord. In particular, the type of retriever used in the present invention is the type that permits retrieval of the cord at a slow steady speed, but stops retrieval and latches the spool when the rate of retrieval exceeds a certain predetermined speed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for positioning and changing signs suspended from the ceiling, said apparatus comprising: 
 a housing mounted to said ceiling, said housing containing at least one spring actuated spool;    a cord wound on said spool and descending from said housing to suspend said sign, said cord being lowerable to the floor for ease of changing said sign, and said cord being raisable to any height above said floor; and    means responsive to release of said sign at any desired height for retaining said sign at said desired height.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing contains two spring actuated spools, each of said spools having a cord wound on said spool and descending from said housing to suspend said sign.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said spools are mounted in said housing for counter rotation with one another and said cords are wound on said spools in opposite directions from one another, whereby said cords descend tangentially from said spools adjacent opposite sides of said housing, and are thereby laterally spaced apart.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further including a bracket supported by said two cords, said bracket having lateral contact points spaced apart for hanging said sign.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said lateral contact points are spaced at least as far apart as said cords.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said housing includes a rotating portion to permit rotational orientation of said cords with respect to said ceiling to achieve directional orientation of said sign.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said bracket includes a third contact point to facilitate positioning of said sign when said sign is attached to said bracket.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said third contact point is centrally located with respect to said bracket and is positioned generally between said lateral contact points.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said third contact point is adapted to receive a positioning actuator for positioning said sign at any desired height.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said positioning actuator is a pole with a hook at one end, and said third contact point is adapted to receive said hook.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for positioning and changing signs suspended from the ceiling, said apparatus comprising: 
 a base secured to said ceiling;    a generally cylindrical housing mounted on said base and having two spring actuated spools mounted in said housing for counter rotation with respect to one another, each having a cord wound thereon, whereby said cords descend tangentially from said spools laterally spaced from one another on opposite sides of said housing;    a bracket suspended by said cords, said bracket having means for attaching to the lower ends of said cords, means for attaching to and suspending said sign, and means for receiving a positioning actuator for positioning said sign at any desired height; and    means in said housing for permitting lowering of said cords and bracket to the floor for changing said sign, and for permitting raising of said sign to any desired height above the floor, said means being responsive to release of said sign at any desired height to retain said sign at said desired height.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said means on said bracket for attaching to and suspending said sign is a pair of laterally spaced contact points that are spaced apart laterally at least as far apart as the laterally spaced cords.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said positioning actuator is a pole with a hook on one end, and said means for receiving said positioning actuator is a centrally located contact point adapted to be contacted by said hook.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said housing is rotatably secured to said base to permit rotational orientation of the plane of said said cords with respect to said ceiling in order to achieve directional orientation of said sign.