AU2009100558B4

AU2009100558B4 - Photo-luminescent guideposts

Info

Publication number: AU2009100558B4
Application number: AU2009100558A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeffery Bernard Rankmore
Original assignee: JEFFERY RANKMORE
Current assignee: JEFFERY RANKMORE
Priority date: 2009-05-27
Filing date: 2009-06-10
Publication date: 2009-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-10
Also published as: WO2010135774A1; AU2009100558A4

Description

1 PHOTO-LUMINESCENT GUIDEPOSTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to guideposts, and more particularly, to a flexible photo-luminescent guidepost for delineating roadways 5 and foot paths. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Guideposts are used to indicate the varying contours and directions of the approaching section of road to drivers. However, a problem with prior art roadside guideposts is that they only reflect light in the direction of the light 10 source (that is, they are retroflective). Thus, the contours of the road beyond a vehicle's headlights are not easily visible to the driver. This can be a safety hazard on unlit or poorly lit roads. The same problem applies to pedestrians walking or jogging on unlit or poorly lit foot paths. Roadside guideposts are often damaged by accident or vandalism. 15 Upon impact, timber guideposts fracture and metal guideposts deform. Flexible plastic guideposts are more resistant to impact. Consequently, they do not require replacing as often as timber and metal guideposts, and so are more cost effective to install in the long term. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 20 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photo luminescent and flexible guidepost. According to the present invention there is provided a guidepost comprising a body made of a plastic polymer integrated with photo-luminescent crystals so as to make the guidepost photo-luminescent. 25 Preferably, at least a portion of the body is made of a plastic polymer which has a high level of elasticity and resilience, so as to make the guidepost flexible. 03/06/2009 2 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body of the guidepost comprises a thermal energy storage cell. More preferably, the guidepost comprises a base portion which is adapted to flexibly and resiliently attach the body of the guidepost to the 5 ground. It is preferred that the guidepost includes at least one retroflective surface. SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into 10 practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a first photo-luminescent guidepost according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of a second photo-luminescent guidepost 15 according another preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the guidepost of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a base portion of the guidepost of Figs. 2 and 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 20 The guidepost 10 shown in Fig. 1 is depicted on a roadside 12 next to a highway 14, the boundary of which is delineated by line 16. The guidepost 10 has a body 17 made of a plastic polymer, such as polyethylene, which is integrated with photo-luminescent crystals which are activated by exposure to visible light, ultra violet light or ambient infra-red radiation. Light or heat causes 25 an electron exchange to take place between the atoms of the photo luminescent crystals so that the guidepost 10 glows (as represented by lines of glow 18). 03/06/2009 3 Luminescent light is not measured in watts, but millicandelas. Its soft distinctive glow 18 will not dazzle drivers or pedestrians, yet the effect of the glow 18 is highly visible at night from long distances over many hours in complete darkness. Moreover, the present invention requires no power, no 5 purchase and maintenance of expensive lights and may be used on footpaths or roadsides. The guidepost 10 has a base portion 19 that includes a hinge 20 as a flexure point in the event of impact by a vehicle of the body 17. The guidepost 10 is made of a plastic polymer which is both elastic and resilient so that the 10 guidepost 10 can resume an upright position after impact. As the guidepost of the present invention is adapted for flexibility, it will not require replacement as frequently as prior art timber or metal guideposts which are often permanently and irreparably damaged after impact. The guidepost 10 includes a retroflective surface 22, which allows light 15 24 to be reflected in the same direction as a vehicle's headlights to indicate a driver's present position on the road, while the glow 18 allows the driver to clearly delineate the road ahead. Light from oncoming vehicles may activate the photo-luminescent crystals and cause the guidepost 10 to glow. The guidepost 26 shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is another embodiment of 20 the present invention and comprises a thermal energy storage cell 28. The cell 28 may be filled with a fluid adapted to absorb and retain thermal energy from solar heat during the day and gradually emit the heat over night. The heat conducted through the cell 28 will activate and excite the photo-luminescent crystals within the body 30 to enable the guidepost 26 to glow 32 long after all 25 light has been removed from the guidepost 26. The cell 28 may also enable the guidepost 26 to glow more brightly in cold environments. 03/06/2009 4 The fluid may be poured into the cell 28 by opening the lid 34 of the body 30. The lid 34 may be screwably attached or bonded by some other means to the body 30 of the guidepost 26. The body 30 may also have a retroflective surface 36 attached thereto. 5 The body 30 may be supported by a base member 38 which includes a hinge 40 made of a flexible piece of plastic polymer which is supported by a spring 42 so as to enable to the guidepost 26 to resume an upright position after impact. The hinge 40 may be glued, moulded or otherwise bonded to the underside of the body 30 and the top of the metal plate 44. 10 The spring 42 may glued, welded, or mechanically engaged with the body 30 and the plate 44, as is shown in Fig. 4. The spring 42 has a flange 46 which may be rotated to enter the passage 48 in the plate 44, whereupon the flange 46 resumes a position orthogonal to passage 48 so as to prevent its removal therefrom in the event of an impact on the body 30. The underside of 15 the body 30 (which is not illustrated) features a similar passage for flange 50. The metal plate 44 has holes 52 adapted to engage with spring loaded pistons 54 emanating from member 56. The member 56 features a recess 58 adapted to engage a tool (not shown) to press the spike 60 into the ground (not shown) and turn the thread 62 to bury the base member 38 underground. In 20 the event of an impact on guidepost 26, the base member 38 secures the body 30 in position and provides support for the hinge 40 to swing the guidepost 26 back to an upright position. Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. 25 03/06/2009

Claims

1. A guidepost comprising a body made of a plastic polymer integrated with photo-luminescent crystals so as to make the guidepost photo-luminescent, wherein the body comprises a thermal energy storage cell.

2. The guidepost of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body is made of a plastic polymer which has a high level of elasticity and resilience, so as to make the guidepost flexible.

3. The guidepost of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the guidepost further includes a removably attachable lid for accessing the thermal energy storage cell within body.

4. The guidepost of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guidepost comprises a base portion which is adapted to flexibly and resiliently attach the body to the ground.

5. The guidepost of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guidepost includes at least one retroflective surface. 7R1 f/2000