Flexible roller arrangement

Abstract

An elongated poster support arrangement comprising an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, a tapered sidewall. The sidewall angularly extends from the uppermost wall. A support wall is arranged adjacent said tapered sidewall to define a longitudinal chamber between the tapered sidewall and the support. A plurality of flexibly connected gripping members are loosely disposed within the longitudinal chamber, the chamber arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securement between the gripping members and the support wall. The gripping members comprise a plurality of generally cylindrically shaped roller links connected longitudinally together by a flexible connecting line. The roller links are formed of resilient material.

1 . An elongated poster support arrangement comprising: 
 an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, at least one tapered sidewall, said sidewall angularly extending from said uppermost wall;    a support wall arranged adjacent said tapered sidewall to define a longitudinal chamber between said tapered sidewall and said support; and    a plurality of flexibly connected gripping members loosely disposed within said longitudinal chamber, said chamber arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securement between said gripping members and said support wall.    
   
   
       2 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said gripping members comprising a plurality of generally cylindrically shaped roller links connected longitudinally together by a flexible connecting line.  
   
   
       3 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said roller links are formed of resilient material.  
   
   
       4 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said roller links are of a common diameter.  
   
   
       5 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said roller links are spaced apart a distance no greater than their diameter.  
   
   
       6 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said roller links are of generally cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       7 . A method of making a roller link arrangement comprising the steps of: 
 arranging a plurality of spaced apart mold openings in a pair of matable mold housings;    stretching a taut flexible line in central, axial alignment with and between said spaced apart mold openings;    mating said mold openings together; and    injecting a resilient material into said mated mold openings to form said roller links of a set diameter about said flexible line.    
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , including the step of: 
 spacing said mold openings axially apart from one another a distance no greater than said set diameter of said roller links.    
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said mold openings are arranged in linear alignment in a pair of half mold housings.  
   
   
       10 . A roller link arrangement for use with a gripping apparatus to permit a pinching of an item between a plurality of said roller links and an adjacent surface, said roller links having a common diameter, said link arrangement comprising: 
 a plurality of generally cylindrically shaped members of resilient material connected in axial alignment by a flexible line.    
   
   
       11 . The roller link arrangement as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said flexible line extends centrally through each of said cylindrically shaped members.  
   
   
       12 . The roller link arrangement as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said shaped members are spaced apart a distance no greater than their common diameter.  
   
   
       13 . The roller link arrangement as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said adjacent surface comprises a further set of roller links.  
   
   
       14 . An elongated poster support arrangement comprising: 
 an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, a pair of tapered sidewalls, said sidewalls angularly extending from said uppermost wall and each having a lowermost edge, with an elongated gap between their lowermost edges for receipt of a poster therewithin, said sidewalls comprising a longitudinal chamber therebetween;    a pair of sets of flexibly connected gripping members loosely disposed within said longitudinal chamber and parallel to one another, said chamber arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securement between said pairs of gripping members.    
   
   
       15 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said sidewalls each have an uppermost edge spaced apart from one another to define a receiving slot for supporting said poster support arrangement.  
   
   
       16 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said sidewalls have an end cap mounted on each end thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said end caps has a slot arranged therein to permit a poster to be removed from said extrusion.  
   
   
       18 . The elongated poster support arrangement as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said gripping members comprise an elongated plurality of flexibly interconnected soft roller members which frictionally engage any posted inserted into said extrusion.