Cover for an adverisement structure

Abstract

Disclosed herein are implementations, including a system comprising an advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board pivotably coupled to the first board along respective top edges of the boards such that when the boards are pivotably actuated from a folded to an unfolded position, the boards define a tent-shaped structure. The system further includes one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure at a first side of the advertising structure, and a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the advertising structure and the handles, and a second opening through which the handles displaced through the enclosure are received. The second opening is of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/546,657, filed on Aug. 17, 2017, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Advertisement boards and signs (e.g., of selling agents and companies) are expensive to produce and regularly need to be replaced. When subjected to prolonged use, such as being placed into a car trunk or stored in a storage area, e.g., garage-like area, piled on top of each other, etc., the boards may be bumped up against one another, resulting in the scratching of the paint and gloss of these advertisement boards and signs. The advertisement boards and signs also need to be regularly moved, and consequently the boards and signs can be damaged and may no longer be legible (and thus lose the effectiveness of their purpose, e.g., legibility deteriorates and detracts from the image of the company).

SUMMARY

In some variations, a system (or assembly) is provided that includes an advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of the first board and the second board such that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure. The system further includes one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure at a first side of the advertising structure, and a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the advertising structure and the one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure, and a second opening through which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosure are received. The second opening is of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

Embodiments of the system may include at least some of the features described in the present disclosure, including one or more of the following features.

The first board and the second board may be rectangular boards.

The cover structure may define a rectangular bag with first two opposite-facing sides and second two opposite-facing sides, with the first opening being located at one of the first two opposite-facing sides and the second opening is located at another of the first two opposite-facing sides.

Each of the first two opposite-facing sides of the cover structure may include a length of between 25 and 35 inches, and each of the second two opposite facing sides of the cover structure may include a length of between 20 and 30 inches.

Each of the two sheets of the cover structure may include one or more of, for example, a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.

Each of the two sheets may include at least two attached sheet layers, with each of the sheet layers including one or more of, for example a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.

The at least two attached sheet layers may each include an outer sheet with an exterior surface defining a visible exterior of the cover structure, and one or more felt lining surfaces affixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet to prevent the respective outer sheet of each of the two sheets of the cover structure from adhering to each other. The one or more felt lining surfaces may include multiple felt lining strips affixed to edges of the interior surface of the outer sheet.

The two sheets coupled to form an enclosure may be coupled using one or more of, for example, sawing thread, coupling staples, and/or adhesive materials.

The cover structure may further include a closing mechanism to close, at least partly, the first opening. The closing mechanism may include one or more of, for example, at least one magnet disposed on a first one of the two sheets of the cover structure and at least one other magnet disposed on the second one of the two sheets of the cover structure with the two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled to each other, and/or Velcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the cover structure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other to close the first opening of the cover structure.

In some variations, a bag to cover a displaceable advertising structure is disclosed. The bag includes a first sheet, and a second sheet coupled to the first sheet using a coupling mechanism to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the displaceable advertising structure coupled to one or more handles, with the displaceable advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of the first board and the second board such that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure. The enclosure formed by the first sheet and the second sheet further includes a second opening through which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosure are received, the second opening being of a second size smaller than, the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

Embodiments of the bag (or cover structure) may include at least some of the features described in the present disclosure, including at least some of the features described above in relation to the system.

Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-B are different views of an example system comprising an advertisement structure received within a cover structure (bag).

FIGS. 2A-B are different views of another example system comprising an advertisement structure received within a cover structure (bag).

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are cover structures/devices (e.g., bags), and assemblies comprising such cover structures, to cover and protect, for example, advertisement signs such as tent signs (e.g., “open house” tent signs that can be unfolded to form a tent-like structure). A cover structure (or simply “cover” or “bag”) is configured to slip off and slips on just before putting the sign in/out of storage (e.g., a trunk of a car used to transport the advertisement sign or placement in a storage area). The cover structure is configured to protect an advertisement sign from wear and tear (e.g., to maintain paint or gloss on the tent sign, when protected by this cover, in a condition as closely as possible to the condition of a new sign). The use of the systems and cover structures described herein reduces the need to replace advertisement boards/advertisement signs, thus allowing a purchaser of an advertisement board/sign to not have to replace the sign for many years. In some embodiments, the cover structure may be constructed from fabrics/materials that include, for example, plastic with felt backing (of different colors, such as black and white). In some embodiments, the cover structure may be constructed from clear heavy plastic. The fabric sheets used (e.g., plastic or some other material) may be sewn together leaving, for example, a 6 inch opening at the top for handles to easily slide through. The cover structure may include a slightly weighted hemmed bottom for ease of slipping the cover over the sign. The cover structure's dimensions may be such that a width of the cover structure is between 25 and 35 inches (and in one particular embodiment, may be 27-29 inches across), and a length of between 20 and 30 inches (and in a particular embodiment, may be approximately 22-24 inches down).

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a bag to cover a displaceable advertising structure is provided. The bag includes a first sheet, and a second sheet coupled to the first sheet using a coupling mechanism to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the displaceable advertising structure coupled to one or more handles. The displaceable advertising structure (that the bag/cover structure covers) includes a first board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of the first board and the second board such that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure. The enclosure formed by the first sheet and the second sheet of the bag further includes a second opening through which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosure are received, the second opening being of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

In some additional implementations, a system (or assembly) is provided that includes an advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of the first board and the second board such that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure. The system further includes one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure at a first side of the advertising structure, and a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the advertising structure and the one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure, and a second opening through which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosure are received. The second opening is of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

Thus, with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, different views of an example system 100 comprising an advertisement structure (in this case a tent-sign) 110 received within a cover structure (bag) 130 is shown. The advertising structure 110 includes a first board 112 and a second board (not visible in FIG. 1 or 2), with the first board 112 pivotably coupled to the second board 114 along respective top edges (FIG. 1B shows a top edge 116 of the board 112; the second board would have a top edge that couples to the top edge 116 of the first board 112). The first board 112 and the second board may be rectangular boards, but may have other shapes. The boards may be constructed from a variety of different materials, such as plastic, cardboard, fiberglass, foamboard, wood, wood composite, etc. Typically, one of the boards will include advertising and/or decorative information (in this example, the information pertains to “Open House” advertisement). The first board's shape and/or dimensions may be different from the second board's shape and/or dimensions. In some embodiments, the boards of the advertising structure may have legs, or other support structures, extending from the base portion of the boards. Thus, for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, legs 114a-b extend from the board 112. Similar legs may extend from the other (second) board pivotably coupled to the first board 112. As noted, the first board 112 is pivotably coupled to the second board in such a way that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position (in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first board and the second board are depicted in their folded position) to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board (pivotably coupled to the first board) define a tent-shaped structure.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B, the advertising sign may be protected by placing it in a cover structure (e.g., bag) 130 comprising at least two sheets 132 and 134 coupled to form an enclosure comprising a first opening 150 of a first size to receive the advertising structure (such as the advertising structure 110, or some other advertising structure) and one or more handles (as more particularly shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) coupled to the advertising structure. In the example FIG. 1A, the bag is constructed from transparent material (thus allowing the information written on the first board 112 to be visible through the bag). The cover structure 130 also defines a second opening (as also illustrated in FIGS. 2A-B) through which the one or more handles are received. The second opening is of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure (such as the advertising structure 110) from passing through the second opening.

In some embodiments, the cover structure 130 may define a rectangular bag with first two opposite-facing sides 140 and 142 and second two opposite-facing sides 136 and 138, with the first opening being located at one of the first two opposite-facing sides 140 and 142 and the second opening being located at another of the first two opposite-facing sides (140 and 142). Depending on the specific configuration of the bag, the first two opposite facing sides may be shorter or longer than the second two opposite-facing sides. For example, in some embodiments, the first two opposite-facing sides 140 and 142 (where the first and second openings may be defined) may have example dimensions of between 25 and 35 inches, while the other (second) two opposite-facing sides (136 and 138) may have a length of between 20-30 inches.

Each of the two sheets 132 and 134 of the cover structure may include one or more of, for example, a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or a felt-based flexible sheet layer. In some embodiments, each of the two sheets may include (e.g., may be constituted from) at least two attached sheet layers (and in some cases, more than two layers may constitute each sheet with each of the sheet layers including one of, for example, a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or a felt-based flexible sheet layer. In the example system 100 depicted in FIGS. 1A-B, each of the sheets 132 and 134 is made from one or more layers of clear, flexible plastic. The two sheets of the cover structure 130 are coupled to each other to form the enclosure 150 (into which the advertisement sign is received) using one or more of, for example, sewing threads, coupling staples, adhesive materials, or some other coupling material or mechanism. In another example, two sheets of polyester felt lining layer may be attached to the respective inner sides of the sheets 132 and 134 of the cover structure 130 (i.e., the sides that directly face each other and define the inner walls of the cover structure 130). The felt lining sheets may have dimensions similar to those of the sheets 132 and 134 and may be congruently affixed (e.g., by gluing, sewing, stapling, etc.) to the inner sides of the sheets 132 and 134 to prevent or inhibit the sheets 132 and 134 from adhering to each other. In other examples, multiple strips of the felt lining sheets may be affixed to approximately the edges of the inner sides of the sheets 132 and 134 to inhibit the sheets 132 and 134 from adhering to each other, while requiring less felt lining material to achieve this functionality. Alternatively, the felt lining layer may be structured according to different shapes and aesthetic choices (such as color). For example, the felt lining sheets or strips may have a white color that creates an aesthetically pleasing contrast with dark (e.g., black) colored sheets used to form the sheets 132 and 134.

Thus, in some embodiments, at least two attached sheet layers may each include an outer sheet with an exterior surface defining a visible exterior of the cover structure, and one or more felt lining surfaces affixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet to prevent the outer sheet of each of the two sheets of the cover structure from adhering to each other. The one or more felt lining surfaces may include multiple felt lining strips affixed to edges of the interior surface of the outer sheet.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cover structure 130 may further include, in some implementations, a closing mechanism to close, at least partly, the first opening. For example, the cover structure may include a magnet-based closing mechanism that comprises at least one magnet 160 disposed on a first one of the two sheets, and at least one other magnet 162 disposed on the second one of the two sheets of the cover structure, with the two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled to each other. The closing mechanism may also include, additionally or alternatively, a Velcro-based mechanism comprising Velcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the cover structure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other to close the first opening of the cover structure. Other types of closing mechanisms (to at least partly close the first opening) may be used. The closing mechanism may impede the advertisement structure 110, once it has been placed within the enclosure 150 defined by the coupled sheets 132 and 134 of the cover structure 130, from slipping out of the enclosure.

FIG. 2A shows another example system 200 that may be similar to the system 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the example system 200, a structure 210, which may be similar to the advertisement structure 110 of FIGS. 1A-B, is placed within the cover structure (bag) 230. The advertisement structure 210 includes two boards (not visible in FIG. 2A or 2B) that are pivotably coupled at one end, and are configured to be unfolded to form a tent-shaped structure. Extending from each of the boards are legs 220a and 222a (from a first board), and legs 220b and 222b (from the other board).

The cover structure 230 may be similar to the cover structure 130, except that the material comprising the sheets coupled together to form the cover structure 230 may include a black-colored material (e.g., plastic) which may be lined, on the interior face of the sheet, with a felt-backing. In FIG. 2B, a system 250, which may be similar to the system 200, is shown, in which the cover structure 260 (which may be similar to the cover structure 230) is constructed from a white-colored material (e.g., plastic). As shown in both FIGS. 2A and 2B, the systems 200 and 250 each includes a set of handles 240 and 270, respectively, that are attached to the respective advertisement structures. The handles 240 and 270 are passed through respective openings 242 and 272 of the cover structures 230 and 260 (these openings are smaller than the openings at the opposite side of the cover structures 230 and 260), and allow the entire system (advertisement structure, cover structure, and handles) to be easily moved and transported from one location to another.

In operation, an advertisement structure, such as the advertisement structure 110, which is attached to handles such as the handles 240 of FIG. 2A, is passed through a first (large) opening defined in a cover structure (such as the cover structure 130 of FIG. 1A). The advertisement structure is displaced through the enclosure of the cover structure until the handles emerge through a smaller opening at the opposite side of the cover structure. Optionally, a closing mechanism may be actuated to close the larger opening in the cover structure (e.g., the closing mechanism may be implemented using magnets, Velcro strips, etc.), and the entire system/assembly can then be carried away. At a location where the advertisement structure is to be displayed, the closing mechanism is opened, and the advertisement structure is retracted, via the larger opening in the cover structure, from the enclosure of the cover structure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly or conventionally understood. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element. “About” and/or “approximately” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, encompasses variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5%, or +0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein. “Substantially” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, a physical attribute (such as frequency), and the like, also encompasses variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5%, or +0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items prefaced by “at least one of” or “one or more of” indicates a disjunctive list such that, for example, a list of “at least one of A, B, or C” means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C), or combinations with more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Also, as used herein, unless otherwise stated, a statement that a function or operation is “based on” an item or condition means that the function or operation is based on the stated item or condition and may be based on one or more items and/or conditions in addition to the stated item or condition.

Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims, which follow. Some other aspects, advantages, and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the claims provided below. The claims presented are representative of at least some of the embodiments and features disclosed herein. Other unclaimed embodiments and features are also contemplated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of the first board and the second board such that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure;

one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure at a first side of the advertising structure; and

a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the advertising structure and the one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure, and a second opening through which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosure are received, wherein the second opening is of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first board and the second board are rectangular boards.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cover structure defines a rectangular bag with first two opposite-facing sides and second two opposite-facing sides, wherein the first opening is located at one of the first two opposite-facing sides and the second opening is located at another of the first two opposite-facing sides.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the first two opposite-facing sides of the cover structure includes a length of between 25 and 35 inches, and wherein each of the second two opposite facing sides of the cover structure includes a length of between 20 and 30 inches.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the two sheets of the cover structure comprises one or more of: a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the two sheets comprises at least two attached sheet layers, wherein each of the sheet layers comprises one of: a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least two attached sheet layers each comprises:

an outer sheet with an exterior surface defining a visible exterior of the cover structure, and

one or more felt lining surfaces affixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet to prevent the respective outer sheet of each of the two sheets of the cover structure from adhering to each other.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more felt lining surfaces comprise multiple felt lining strips affixed to edges of the interior surface of the outer sheet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the two sheets coupled to form an enclosure are coupled using one or more of: sawing thread, coupling staples, or adhesive materials.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover structure further comprises:

a closing mechanism to close, at least partly, the first opening.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the closing mechanism comprises one or more of: at least one magnet disposed on a first one of the two sheets of the cover structure and at least one other magnet disposed on the second one of the two sheets of the cover structure with the two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled to each other, or Velcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the cover structure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other to close the first opening of the cover structure.

12. A bag to cover a displaceable advertising structure, the bag comprising:

a first sheet; and

a second sheet coupled to the first sheet using a coupling mechanism to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the displaceable advertising structure coupled to one or more handles, with the displaceable advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of the first board and the second board such that when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure;

wherein the enclosure formed by the first sheet and the second sheet further comprises a second opening through which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosure are received, the second opening being of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

13. The bag of claim 12, wherein the first sheet coupled to the second sheet define a rectangular enclosure with first two opposite-facing sides and second two opposite-facing sides, wherein the first opening is located at one of the first two opposite-facing sides and the second opening is located at another of the first two opposite-facing sides.

14. The bag of claim 13, wherein each of the first two opposite-facing sides of the bag includes a length of between 25 and 35 inches, and wherein each of the second two opposite facing sides of the bag includes a length of between 20 and 30 inches.

15. The bag of claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism to couple the first sheet and the second sheet comprises one or more of: sawing thread, coupling staples, or adhesive materials.

16. The bag of claim 12, wherein each of the two sheets comprises one or more of: a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.

17. The bag of claim 12, wherein each of the two sheets comprises at least two attached sheet layers, wherein each of the sheet layers comprises one of: a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.

18. The bag of claim 17, wherein the at least two attached sheet layers each comprises:

an outer sheet with an exterior surface defining a visible exterior of the cover structure, and

one or more felt lining surfaces affixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet to prevent the respective outer sheet of each of the two sheets of the cover structure from adhering to each other.

19. The bag of claim 12, further comprising:

a closing mechanism to close, at least partly, the first opening.

20. The bag of claim 19, wherein the closing mechanism comprises one or more of: at least one magnet disposed on a first one of the two sheets of the cover structure and at least one other magnet disposed on the second one of the two sheets of the cover structure with the two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled to each other, or Velcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the cover structure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other to close the first opening of the cover structure.