Pull-down display assembly

Abstract

An apparatus releasibly attachable to a wall or overhead support surface includes a horizontally elongated roller assembly which accommodates a spirally wound compliant sheet, and a track member which rotatably supports the roller assembly. The track member is supported by at least two clamps which permit releasible connection to the track member. The sheet has a meaningful appearance when deployed downwardly to a display state having a vertically elongated rectangular contour.

1 ) An apparatus releasibly attachable to a support surface for vertically deploying and retrieving a compliant sheet, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a rigid straight track member elongated upon a center axis between anchoring and passive extremities and bounded by a front surface and a rear surface having spaced apart opposed retaining lips directed toward said axis,   b) a securing arm attached to each extremity and forwardly directed from said front surface,   c) an elongated roller assembly extending between anchoring and passive extremities which engage said securing arms and comprised of a cylindrical drum, a retaining rod centered within said drum and having a tensioned coil spring wound thereupon, said rod being interactive with said anchoring extremity, and clutch means releasibly interactive between said spring and drum,   d) a compliant sheet of fabric material spirally wound upon said drum in a storage state, said fabric being of durable, wrinkle-resistant construction having an appearance which is meaningful in a downwardly deployed rectangular format, and terminating in a straight leading edge,   e) a rigid horizontal member which engages said leading edge to facilitate downward deployment of said sheet from said storage state to a display state against the biasing effect of said spring, and adapted to abut with said drum and track in said storage state to prevent uncontrolled winding of said sheet onto said drum, and   f) at least two clamps amenable to attachment to said support surface and equipped with spring-urged gripping means adapted to engage said retaining lips.   
   
   
       2 ) The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said support surface is a wall or overhead surface. 
   
   
       3 ) The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said sheet is a flag or banner configured to be deployed to a downwardly elongated rectangular configuration. 
   
   
       4 ) The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said sheet is permeable to light, and whose appearance is enhanced by backlighting. 
   
   
       5 ) The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said securing arms are comprised of a first securing arm interactive with said anchoring extremity and a second securing arm interactive with said passive extremity, each securing arm having an angled tab which engages said opposed retaining lips to provide greater strength of association. 
   
   
       6 ) The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said roller assembly has a spring urged retaining button centered within its passive extremity that rotatively penetrates said second securing arm, thereby permitting easy release from said track of said roller assembly and spirally wound sheet. 
   
   
       7 ) The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said track member is an integral extruded metal structure.