Aerial display sign

Claim 2

A sign to be carried by an aircraft comprising a mat in an open position, means on said mat to display a message, means mounting said mat to said aircraft, said mounting means comprising a plurality of stabilizing lines operatively connected to a plurality of auto feed spring tension reels, said reels being resiliently mounted to said aircraft, reduce vibration, and means to withdraw said mat to a closed position to permit said aircraft to land without damaging said mat.

Claim 3

A display sign in accordance with claim 1 wherein said auto-feed spring tension reels are mounted on booms, said booms being mounted on said aircraft in order to give said stabilizing lines a better angle to control the stability of said mat.

Claim 4

A sign to be carried by an aircraft comprising a mat in an open position, said mat being comprised of a plurality of panels joined together by a continuous rubber coated hinge to prevent vibration, means mounting said mat to said aircraft, and means to withdraw said mat to a closed position to permit said aircraft to land without damaging said mat.

Claim 5

A sign to be carried by an aircraft comprising a mat in an open position, said mat being comprised of a plurality of panels joined together by a continuous rubber coated hinge to prevent vibration, means mounting said mat to said aircraft, and means to withdraw said mat to a closed position to permit said aircraft to land without damaging said mat.

Claim 6

A display sign to be carried by an aircraft comprising a mat in an open position having top and bottom edges, an elongated member carried by said aircraft for rotation about its own axis, said elongated member supporting said sign at said top edge, a first elongated stabilizing member mounted along said lower edge, a second elongated stabilizing member mounted intermediate said first elongated member and said second elongated stabilizing member, means on said mat to display a message, and motor means to rotate said elongated member to wind said mat thereon.

Claim 7

A display sign to be carried by an aircraft comprising a mat in an open position having top and bottom edges, an elongated member carried by said aircraft for rotation about its own axis, said elongated member supporting said sign at said top edge, a first elongated stabilizing member mounted along said lower edge, a second elongated stabilizing member mounted intermediate said first elongated member and said second elongated stabilizing member, means on said mat to display a message, and motor means to rotate said elongated member to wind said mat thereon.

Claim 8

A display sign in accordance with claim 4 wherein said mat has a third elongated stabilizing member mounted intermediate said first and second elongated stabilizing members.

Claim 9

A display sign in accordance with claim 4 wherein said bottom stabilizing member contains stabilizing lead inserts.

Claim 10

The combination of an aircraft and a longitudinally disposed, collapsible sign having top and bottom portions, said combination comprising first and second support means carried by said aircraft, said first support means comprising an elongated member disposed longitudinally of said aircraft and being coupled to the top portion of said sign, said second support means being coupled to the bottom portion of said sign, said second support means being biased to urge said sign into its collapsed position, and means connected to said elongated member for moving said sign between open and collapsed portions.

Claim 11

The combination of an aircraft and a longitudinally disposed, collapsible sign having top and bottom portions, said combination comprising first and second support means carried by said aircraft, said first support means comprising an elongated member disposed longitudinally of said aircraft and being coupled to the top portion of said sign, said second support means being coupled to the bottom portion of said sign, said second support means being biased to urge said sign into its collapsed position, and means connected to said elongated member for moving said sign between open and collapsed portions.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said second support means includes a plurality of elongated flexible members and a plurality of reels biased to a normally wound position when said sign is in its open position, and each of said flexible members have one end fixed to said sign and another end fixed to each of said reels.

Claim 13

The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said aircraft is a helicopter, said flexible members are fixed to said bottom portion of said sign at opposite ends thereof, and said reels are supported in forward and aft positions on said helicopter.

Claim 14

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said elongated member is an elongated bar mounted for rotation about its own axis, drive means are connected to said elongated bar for rotating it in opposite directions so that said sign is moved between open and collapsed positions by being wound and unwound therefrom.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said aircraft is a helicopter, said second support means is spaced laterally from said elongated member and includes a plurality of elongated flexible members and a plurality of reels biased to a normally wound position when said sign is unwound, and each of said flexible members has one end fixed to said sign and another end fixed to each of said reels.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said bottom portion has a bottom edge and said flexible members are fixed to said bottom edge.

Claim 17

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said top and bottom portions are interconnected for pivotal movement so that said sign can be collapsed by being folded on itself under said aircraft at said interconnection.

Claim 18

The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein said aircraft is a helicopter, said elongated member is an elongated bar disposed on one side of the center line of said helicopter and mounted for rotation about its own axis, drive means connected to said elongated bar for rotating it in opposite directions, and said second support means includes a plurality of elongated flexible members and a plurality of reels biased to a normally wound position when said sign in unfolded.

Claim 19

The combination as defined in claim 14 wherein said bottom portion has a bottom edge, a first plurality of said flexible members are connected to said sign at said interconnection, a second plurality of said flexible members are connected to said sign at said bottom edge, and said reels are disposed on the other side of said center line and are operative to draw said interconnection toward said reels and said lower edge toward said elongated bar when said elongated bar is rotated to move said sign to its folded position.

Claim 20

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said sign supports a plurality of selectively actuable lights that are operative to form said display, and each of said lights comprises a bulb supported by a member comprised of a resilient material.

Claim 21

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said top and bottom portions of said sign are substantially rigid members, said top portion of said sign and said first support member being coupled to said aircraft, said bottom portion of said sign being disposed below said top portion when said sign is in its open position, and said second support means holding said bottom portion of said sign in overlying relation to said top portion when said sign is in its collapsed position.

Claim 22

The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein said aircraft is a helicopter, said first support and said top and bottom portions of said sign being disposed on one side of the center line of said helicopter, said second support means comprising a plurality of elongated flexible members, reel means for reeling said flexible members, each of said flexible members having one end connected to said bottom portion and having its other end connected to said reel means, and means for driving said reel means to move said bottom portion of said sign between open and collapsed positions.

Claim 23

The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said upper portion of said sign includes first and second elongated mutually facing and outwardly projecting retaining members, said upper portion of said sign including stop members, said stop members being positioned adjacent the lower part of said upper portion of said sign, and said lower portion of said sign is constrained for movement between open and closed positions by said retaining members, and being supported by said stop members when in said lower position.

Claim 24

The combination of a helicopter having landing gear and a longitudinally disposed sign mounted thereon comPrising a frame supporting said sign, said frame including upper and lower elongated edges, and means for mounting said frame on one side of said helicopter so that said upper elongated edge is disposed below the helicopter rotor disc and said lower elongated edge is disposed above said landing gear.

Claim 25

The combination of a helicopter having landing gear and a longitudinally disposed sign mounted thereon comPrising a frame supporting said sign, said frame including upper and lower elongated edges, and means for mounting said frame on one side of said helicopter so that said upper elongated edge is disposed below the helicopter rotor disc and said lower elongated edge is disposed above said landing gear.

Claim 26

The combination as defined in claim 20 wherein said frame is coupled to said helicopter by a plurality of brace members and at least some of said brace members are connected between said frame and the landing gear on the opposite side of said helicopter.

Claim 27

The combination as defined in claim 21 wherein a portion of said lower elongated edge is coupled to the adjacent landing gear.

Claim 28

The combination as defined in claim 20 including a bottom frame supporting a second sign, said bottom frame being movable between an open position where it is disposed below said first frame and a collapsed position where it is in overlying relation to said first frame, a plurality of reels coupled to said upper elongated edge, a plurality of elongated flexible members entrained over said reels, each of said elongated flexible members having one end coupled to said second sign, and means for winding said elongated flexible members so that said second frame moves between open and collapsed positions.