AU2017201326B2 - Joint component for a traffic lantern housing - Google Patents

Joint component for a traffic lantern housing Download PDF

Info

Publication number
AU2017201326B2
AU2017201326B2 AU2017201326A AU2017201326A AU2017201326B2 AU 2017201326 B2 AU2017201326 B2 AU 2017201326B2 AU 2017201326 A AU2017201326 A AU 2017201326A AU 2017201326 A AU2017201326 A AU 2017201326A AU 2017201326 B2 AU2017201326 B2 AU 2017201326B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
joint component
periphery
display direction
traffic
face
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
AU2017201326A
Other versions
AU2017201326A1 (en
Inventor
Andrew Bull
Daniel Youngman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braums Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Braums Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2016900753A external-priority patent/AU2016900753A0/en
Application filed by Braums Pty Ltd filed Critical Braums Pty Ltd
Publication of AU2017201326A1 publication Critical patent/AU2017201326A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2017201326B2 publication Critical patent/AU2017201326B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Landscapes

  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Developing Agents For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

Described herein is a tapered joint component for a traffic lantern housing having a first aspect for a first display facing a first display direction and a second aspect for a second display facing a second display direction. The first aspect has a bottom surface and the 5 second aspect has a top surface. The combination of the joint component and the traffic lantern housing is referred to herein as a traffic lantern assembly. The joint component includes a top face and a bottom face. The arrangement is such that when the top face is sealingly mounting to the bottom surface of the first aspect and the bottom face is sealingly mounting to the top surface of the second aspect, the first display direction is at 10 a predetermined angle to the second display direction. FIG 1A 1/4 \\NN RMI \01 mINEEMENIN ....................... ........................ .................. ........ MOOOMN, .................. .................. ............................................ .................................. ................................... . ................................ .................................. . ................................ . ................................. ......... .......................................... . ....... ... ..................... ........ ....................... ..... ......... . ....... ........... ...................................... .................................................. .. .................................................. .. .................................................. ................................................................. ................................................................. ................................................................. ................................................................. ............................................................................................ ........... ........................... ...................................................... ........... ............ ............ ......................... ................. ............... .............. ........ xw X.M. ........... ............ ........... .... mm ..................... ............... ......................... .................... ............ ...... .......................... ......................... .......................... ............... .......................... ............... .. ......................... ...................... .. .......................... W ... ................ ....... \\ --\\ ' N . ......... ........ . ....................... ... .................... W ............... ....... ............................. ............................ ... ***:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.,n :.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: .:.: ...... -XXXXXXXX .......... .......... ......... N . . ..................... ................. wo WSW ... ................. X ............ ........................................ ............. .......... .... .... ...... .... ................... . .... ............... .............. .......... ........ . .......... ................ ........... ............. ........................ ... ............ ..... ..................... MI W X . :XIM ........................ ........4 .0 . ...... ............ ............... .. * ' I I. ...... , ....... .................................... R .. . -:: x .................. ........................................ - :: :: :: : .................. ........ ... M ........................................ ............ ... ... ....................... ............................................................... ........................................ . ......... . ................... ............. ......... ................................................................ ..................................... ......... .. .......... ....................................................................... ...................................... ....... ....................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................ ....................................... .................................................. ...................... ....................................................................... ........................................ ........................................................................ ........................................................................ ...... ........................ ................................................................ .... ............................... ..... ...................................... ....................... .. ....................... ....................................... ........................................... ....................................... ...... . ................................. ................................... ........ ............................................................................. ................................................... .... ....................................... .................................................................................................................. ....................................... ............ :A . .... ...... ............................... . .. ..................................................................................................................... ....................................... ................................... . .................... ....................................... .. ............................................................................................................................................................................ .. .. .................................................................................................................. ................................ . .......................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Figure 1A 112 .......... .................. ....................................................................... .................. .................. ...................................................................... ............................. ...................................................................... ...................... ... ...................................................................... ............................... a ...................................................................... .............................. ...................................................................... ................................ .................................................................... ................................ .................................................................... ................................ .................................................................... ................................ .................................................................... ................................ .................................................................... .................... .................................................................... ..................... IFFI N ................................................................. . ......... ....... .......................... ...... .............. ....... ...................... ............. ...................... ............ .. ........... ........... .......... ........................ .. .... ....... ..... .............................. xxxx ,: * ........... ................................ ... . ..... ............ ............................... MMEEM. M .................................. MWE .......................... ............ .................... ................... X W ............ MM ....................... EX .... ................... .... ........................ ....................... ......................... ...................... IMILL., I INS ............ R.n, .. . ......... M \ ................................. ............... ............... .............. .. ... .............. ............... .......... ............... ............... ................ ........................... ............... ........ . ..................... ... .............................. , ..................... ................. ........... ................ ....... .............. ........................... ............................. .......... ....... ....... .......... .................... : : xxxxx ............ .............. ................... ............... .... ...... .... ...... ...... .......... . ........... .............. ........................................ .................................. .. I X . ......... ........ ................................... ..... ......... . .................... ..... ...... .............................. ..... .............................. X . .................... ................. . .. ................. ................................ .................. A ...... ........ .... ............................................................... ...................................................... .................. .................... ....................................................... ................ ......... ........................................................... ........ ................................ ............................. ...................................... ........ ................................ ... 111100 .... ................................ .............................. ....... ........................ ................. ................. .. ...... .... .............................. .............. .............................. .. ...... .... .................................................................................... ................. ................................ ..................................................................................................... ........... .................................................. ................................................................................................... ........................... .................................................. ................................................................................................................. ........................................................................... . ............ ...................................................... ................................................................................. ............... ......................................................................... .1 3 133 ::::::::: .: . .............................................................................. ...................... ... ............................. .. ............. ...................................................... ....................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Figure 1 B

Description

1/4 \\NN RMI
mINEEMENIN \01
....................... ........................ .................. .................. ........ .................. MOOOMN, .............................................. .................................. ................................... ................................ .................................. ................................. ..... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... .................. ................. . ........... ... . . . ....................... .. ... ......... . ...... . ........... ...................................... .................................................. ................................................................... .................................................. ................................................................... .................................................. ........... ........................... ................................................................. ................................................................. ............................................................................................ ...................................................... ........... ............ ............ ......................... ................. ............... .............. ........
xw X.M. ........... ............ ........... .... mm ..................... ............... .................... ......................... ............ ...... .......................... ......................... .......................... ............... .......................... ............... ...................... . ........... ......................... .......................... ... ....... \\ ................ --\\ 'N ........
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ....................... . :.. .:..:. ,n :. :. :. :. :. :.:.: . . . W... ....................
. . . . ... . . . . . . - . X . . . XXXXXXX. . . . . . . . . * * : . N. .... . . . . . . wo . . . . . . WS. . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... X. . .
. . ..... . ..... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .... . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . .... .. .. . . .. X ................... W ............. . ......................:.X.. I.M.....................
. ................ ............................. .................................... :: :: :: ..:-:: . ............ MIM x*R'.. ................... ......... . . . .I................................................................. ..I....... ...,. ..... .. ........................ ........4.0 . ...... - . ......... . . ................... ........................................ ..................................... .................................. ......... . .................. .. ... ... ......... ......... .......... ........................................................................ ....................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................ . .
....................................... ........................................ .................................................. ...................... ........................................................................ ....................................................................... . ....................................... ...... .. ........................ . ................................................................ ...................................... ................................................... ....................................... ....................... ............ ...... . .... ................................... ................................. .... .... ........ ....................... ............................... ........................................... ..... ............................................................................. .................................................................................................................. ............................... ....................................... ...... :A .. ....................................................................................................................... ................................... .................... ....................................... .................................. ................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................ .. .................................................................................................................. .......................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................ . ........................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .
Figure 1A
.......... 112 . ............... ...... ..... ........... ... .......... ...... . ......... .................. . ................ ............................. .................. . .. ..... ........... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. a .
. . . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. . . ......... ...... ... ... . ........... . . .......... . . .. .. .. .. .... .. ... . .. .... .. .. ... .... ........ .. . . . .. .... ... .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ....... ...... .. .. .. . . .. . . .. .. .. .. ......... ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . ...... ...... ..... ... ........ . IFFIN....................................................................... ...... .... ... ........... ...... . . .... ......... . ........ ...... .... . .. .... ... .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... . ........... ......... ... ..... . .. .. . . * .
....... ....xxxx ,: .............................. ........... ................................ ... . ..... .
............ ............................... MMEEM. MWE .................................. ............ .......................... .................... ................... X MM WM . IINS ...... ......................... ........................ ....................... ................. ....................... ...................... .
EX , IMILL. ............ R.n, M\ .. . ......... ................................. ............... ... .. ............. ............................. ............. ............... ................ ............... .......... ............... ...................... ............... .
................. ...... .............................. ......... ....., . ...................... ................... . .............. ........................... ............................. .
.......... .......... ....... .................... ....... : : xxxxx ............ .................. ............... ... ................ .
..... ... . .......... I . ...... X ...... ........... .. .............. ........................................ . ........................................ ................................... ... ..... .......... ...... . .................... . .............................. ..... .............................. ..... ...... ................................ A X . . .. ..................... ................. ................. ................ . ...... ........ ... .. ... ...... ... ................................................................ ..... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ........................................................... ................................. . ............ ........................ . .. .. .. ......................... ......................... ....................... ............... .............................. ..................... . .
111100 .... ................................ ... .. ....................................................... ...... .. .
.. . .. .. .... ...... . . ... ........... .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .... . .. . .. .. ...... .. .......... . ... .......... .. .. ....... ..... .... ....... .... . . . ........................ .................. ... .... ... .... .... ..... . .. ............... .... ..... . ................................................................................................................. ... .. ....... .. .. . .... . .. ... ... ....... .. .. ... .... ..... ...... ..... ................ ... ..... .. . . .
. ...... . . .... . .... .... ... .. .... .... .. ..... .... . ..... ......................................................................... .... ... ... .... .... .. ... . . . . . . ...... .1 . 3 ... ... 133... .... .... ... .. .... .... . .. .......... ... ..... .
: : : : : . : . . . .. .... .......................... .... .. .... ..... . ... ... . . ......... ... ...................................................... ... . . .... .... ... ... .... .... .. .... ..... . .... ..... .. ... ....................................................................... .. .... .. ............................................................................................................................................................ . . ............................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Figure 1 B
JOINT COMPONENT FOR A TRAFFIC LANTERN HOUSING FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to traffic light assemblies and in particular to a joint component for a traffic lantern. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
[0003] Traffic lights have become a vital part of any functioning city and/or society. Known traffic control lanterns typically have a housing assembly and a plurality of control lights commonly referred to as aspects. The lantern is usually mounted on a post or the like and positioned so that the lights only aim to control traffic approaching from a particular direction. Traffic lights are typically mounted in a vertical position whereby the light lenses are also vertically mounted (and horizontally facing).
[0004] However, there are instances where a traffic light is viewable from a position where that traffic light is not intended to be followed from that position. For example, particularly in a central business district environment, a set of traffic lights from an intersection can be seen from several intersections away. Due to human beings behaviour, specifically where a person will instinctively react to something in a certain way due to repetition of that action, it is a common that drivers will see a green light within their field of vision and start accelerating the vehicle they are driving as a react. This becomes a problem when that green light that is seen is not from the traffic light in the drivers immediate vicinity and, therefore, should be followed. If, for example, a driver waiting at a first set of traffic lights sees a second set of traffic lights in the distance turn green and reacts to this, whilst the first set of traffic lights is still red, this may well cause a traffic accident possible resulting in damage, injury and/or death to drivers or pedestrians.
[0005] This problem has arguably been exacerbated by the conversion of many incandescent traffic lights to LED traffic lights which are much brighter and can therefore be seen from a further distance (this conversion being carried out for energy saving and maintenance purposes).
[0006] Accordingly, traffic light manufacturers and Road Traffic Authorities have come up with a number of measures to reduce the chance of a driver seeing a traffic light that is not intended to be followed from by driver and provide a more direct signal to a driver and/or pedestrian.
[0007] Traffic lights include visors which are primarily to shield the signal from sunlight but also limit visibility from directions other than in front of the traffic light. Within the traffic light housing, one such measure (which has been around for some time and used as well with incandescent traffic lights) is to include a shroud or guard to limit the visibly of a traffic light from positions other than those of which the light is intended to be seen and followed, that is, at the stop bar and immediately behind the stop bar. Another similar measure includes the use of louvers again to limit the visibility of light from positions other than those intended to see that traffic light. Such methods are directional and inhibit light from being seen from certain angles. However, louvers also generally inhibit the view of the light entirely and are prone to birds nesting between louvers.
[0008] Entire traffic light housings are also known to be tilted forward to direct the lights more towards the stop bar. However, this tilting is not ideal as all aspects (for example, red, yellow and green) are fixed to one another thereby unnecessarily tilting the upper aspect or aspects as well as the lower aspect or aspects. Although this could be done by creating a single housing for all three traffic control lights and by using a longer mounting strap at the top of the traffic light than at the bottom, this was not preferable as the angle of the green control light could not be changed individually, for example, to match the contours of a particular intersection and would therefore be much less effective at some intersections compared to others.
[0009] As such, traffic light manufacturers then looked at changing the direction of different aspects within the entire traffic light housing, essentially changing the aspect of an individual light signal. For example, for a standard vehicular traffic light with a top aspect as red, a middle aspect as yellow and a bottom aspect as green, all three lights are usually positioned substantially vertical as on a vertical post (the vertical position referred to above). However, Road Traffic Authorities and or installation contractors were now angling the bottom aspect (the green light) in a downward direction so it was directed more towards the traffic at or close to the relevant stop bar and less towards the traffic in the distance.
[0010] As such, a solution to this was to mount the bottom aspect manually so that the direction of that bottom aspect could be changed independently to the other aspect or aspects. However, the ad-hoc nature of this arrangement meant that the bottom aspect could be inadvertently rotated sideways with respect to the other aspect or aspects, therefore not only tilting the bottom downwards, but also rotating it away from the front facing plane. Furthermore, even if it was mounted in the correct direction, an object (such as a truck) hitting the bottom aspect would cause it to misalign.
[0011] Furthermore, the ad-hoc nature of this arrangement also compromised the sealing integrity of the traffic light. This appropriate sealing is very important due to the light being constantly outdoors and needing to withstand the elements in order to minimize ingress of foreign objects and moisture that may cause the traffic light to malfunction or fail completely.
[0012] Furthermore, installation and fastening of a multi-housing traffic light is an extremely onerous task it includes not only fastening of the housings to each other and the support pole, but also a need for a manual sealing procedure to ensure the traffic light will substantially withstand ingress of water and other foreign matter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a joint component for a traffic lantern housing having a first aspect for housing a first display facing a first display direction and a second aspect for housing a second display facing a second display direction, the first aspect having a bottom surface and the second aspect having a top surface, the joint component including:
a top face for sealingly mounting to the bottom surface; and
a bottom face for sealingly mounting to the top surface, such that when the top face is sealingly mounting to the bottom surface and the bottom face is sealingly mounting to the top surface, the first display direction is at a predetermined angle to the second display direction.
[0014] In an embodiment, the predetermined angle is about a horizontal axis, the axis being perpendicular to the first display direction, thereby to maintain vertical alignment of the first and second aspects. In another embodiment, the component is tapered at the predetermined angle.
[0015] In an embodiment, the periphery of the top face is substantially the same as the periphery of the bottom surface such that the periphery of the top face and the periphery of the bottom surface are contiguously sealingly mounted. In another embodiment, the periphery of the top face includes a protruding top edge for facilitating the contiguously sealing mounting.
[0016] In an embodiment, the periphery of the bottom face is substantially the same as the periphery of the top surface such that the periphery of the bottom face and the periphery of the top surface are contiguously sealingly mounted. In another embodiment, the periphery of the bottom face includes a protruding bottom edge for facilitating the contiguously sealing mounting.
[0017] In an embodiment, the top face includes a top guide formation and the bottom face includes a bottom guide formation, the top and bottom guide formations configured to abuttingly interlockingly engage with each other for facilitating the stacking of multiple joint components such that the periphery of the bottom face of one component and the periphery of the top face of another component are contiguously sealingly mounted.
[0018] In an embodiment, the predetermined angle is 5°.
[0019] In an embodiment, the preceding claims wherein the traffic lantern housing has an overall predefined Ingress Protection (IP) rating and the mounting of the joint component to the first and second aspects at least maintains the Ingress Protection (IP) rating. In a preferable embodiment, the IP rating is at least IP35.
[0020] In an embodiment, the component is formed from a polycarbonate material.
[0021] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a traffic lantern assembly including:
a first aspect for a first display facing a first display direction;
a second aspect for a second display facing a second display direction; and
a first joint component accordingly to any one of the preceding claims for setting the first display direction at a first predetermined angle to the second display direction.
[0022] In an embodiment, the assembly further includes a second joint component stacked on top of the first joint component for setting the first display direction at a second predetermined angle to the second display direction, wherein the second predetermined angle is double the first predetermined angle. In a preferable embodiment the assembly has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of at least IP35.
[0023] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a joint component for a traffic lantern housing having a first aspect for housing a first display facing a first display direction and a second aspect for housing a second display facing a second display direction, the first aspect having a bottom surface and the second aspect having a top surface, wherein the joint component is tapered at a predetermined angle, the joint component including:
a top face for sealingly mounting to the bottom surface; and
a bottom face for sealingly mounting to the top surface, such that when the top face is sealingly mounting to the bottom surface and the bottom face is sealingly mounting to the top surface, the periphery of the bottom surface and the periphery of the top surface are respectively sealed, and the first display direction is at the predetermined angle to the second display direction.
[0024] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
[0025] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1A is a perspective top view of a joint component for a traffic lantern according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 1B is a perspective bottom view of the joint component for a traffic lantern of Figure 1A;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a traffic lantern according to an embodiment of the invention shown with one joint component;
Figure 3 is a side view of a traffic lantern of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a side view of a traffic lantern according to an embodiment of the invention shown with two joint components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Referring initially to Figures 1A, 1B and 2, there is provided a tapered joint component 100 for a traffic lantern housing 200 having a first aspect 201 for housing a first display(not shown) facing a first display direction 202 and a second aspect 203 for housing a second display (not shown) facing a second display direction 204. Aspect 201 has a bottom surface 205 and aspect 203 has a top surface 206. The combination of joint component 100 and traffic lantern housing 200 is referred to herein as a traffic lantern assembly 250.
[0028] Joint component 100 includes a top face 101 for sealingly mounting to bottom surface 205 and a bottom face 102 for sealingly mounting to top surface 206. The arrangement is such that when top face 101 is sealingly mounting to bottom surface 205 and bottom face 102 is sealingly mounting to top surface 206, display direction 202 is at a predetermined angle of 5 to display direction 204. Joint component 100 is tapered at the angle (as shown in Figure 1A with the angle denoted by reference number 105) so that the mounting of the first and second aspects 201 and 203 with joint component 100 ensures the 5° difference in the directions of displays 202 and 204. The difference in angles of the display is best illustrated in Figure 3.
[0029] In other embodiments, the predetermined angle (and hence the angle of tapering) is other than 5°. For example, in another embodiment, the predetermined angle is 2.5°. In yet another embodiment, the predetermined angle is 10.
[0030] Referring back to Figures 1A, 1B and 2, the periphery of top face 101 is substantially the same as the periphery of bottom surface 205 such that the periphery of the top face and the periphery of the bottom surface are contiguously sealingly mounted and flush along the peripheries. Similarly, the periphery of bottom face 102 is substantially the same as the periphery of top surface 206 such that the periphery of the bottom face and the periphery of the top surface are contiguously sealingly mounted and flush along the peripheries. This arrangement is best shown in Figure 2 where the top and bottom faces 101 and 102 and the bottom and top surfaces 205 and 206 are completely concealed when all components of traffic lantern assembly 250 are mounted together. In other embodiments, different cross-sectional profiles are used and joint component 100 will be manufactured to match that profile to maintain the consistent cross-sectional profile for the entire traffic lantern assembly, as it is in the illustrated embodiments.
[0031] The periphery of top face 101 includes a protruding top edge 111 and the periphery of bottom face 102 includes a protruding bottom edge 112 each for facilitating the respective contiguous seal mounting.
[0032] Top face 101 includes a top guide formation in the form of elevated ridges 115, 116, 117 and 118. Ridges 115 and 116 are disposed on top face 101 and are a mirror image with respect to one another in terms of both formation and position. Similarly, ridges 117 and 118 are disposed on top face 101 and are a mirror image with respect to one another in terms of both formation and position. Bottom face 102 includes a bottom guide formation in the form of elevated ridges 125, 126, 127 and 128. Ridges 125 and 126 are disposed on bottom face 102 and are a mirror image with respect to one another in terms of both formation and position. Similarly, ridges 127 and 128 are disposed on bottom face 102 and are a mirror image with respect to one another in terms of both formation and position.
[0033] Joint component 100 includes five circular mounting apertures 130, 131, 132, 133 and 134 for receiving respective fastening screws (not shown) thereby to fasten joint component 100 to each of first aspect 201 and second aspect 203. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, less than all five mounting apertures are utilized to receive screws and mounting apertures will not be utilized. In yet other embodiments, other than five mounting apertures are present and the apertures may be other than circular. Apertures 131, 132, 133 and 134 each include elevated locating guides on both top face 101 and bottom face 102 for facilitating ease of location of the fastening screws and for providing greater stability to the overall assembly. Top face 101 includes a circular ridge 135 substantially concentrically disposed about aperture 130. Bottom face 102 includes a circular flat elevation 136 substantially concentrically disposed about aperture 130.
[0034] Referring to Figure 4, another embodiment of traffic lantern assembly denoted by reference 400 includes first aspect 201 and second aspect 203 (collectively traffic lantern housing 200) and two identical joint components 401 and 402 (which in turn are identical to joint component 100 described above). The individual joint components are designed such that when components 401 and 402 are stacked, ridges 115, 116, 117 and 118 of joint component 402 respectively abuttingly interlockingly engage with ridges 125, 126, 127 and 128 of joint component 401. This ensures the stacking of components 401 and 402 results in the periphery of the bottom face of component 401 and the periphery of the top face of component 402 are contiguously sealingly mounted. The top face of component 401 and the bottom face of component 402 are respectively mounted to aspects 201 and 203 as described above for the single use of the joint component.
[0035] The stacking of components 401 and 402 within traffic lantern assembly 400 enables a first display direction 403 (equivalent to direction 202 of the single joint component embodiment) at a second predetermined angle of 100 to the second display direction 404 (corresponding to direction 204 of the single joint component embodiment). It is noted that the second predetermined angle is clearly equated by the use of two identical joint components that, as specified previously, are tapered at a 5 angle.
[0036] In other embodiments, more than two joint components 100 can be used to join aspects 201 and 203, with the number of joint components used depending on the angle required for display direction 204/404. Each additional joint component used will increase the angle by a further 5°. In other embodiments, joint components with different degrees of tapering are used so that increments other than 5 can be utilized. For example, in one embodiment, the angle of tapering is 20. Furthermore, non-identical joint components can be used in embodiments, for example, a component is a 5 tapering can be used with a component of 2.5 to get a collective tapering of 7.5°. In another embodiment, a component is a 5 tapering can be used with a component of 20 tapering to get a collective tapering of 25.
[0037] It is advantageous to have what is essentially an adjustable angle, as the final angle (from the number of joint components used) can be chosen based on a particular intersection and the contours of that intersection. For example, a downhill facing traffic light assembly may need a great angle than an uphill facing assembly.
[0038] Referring specifically to Figure 2, it is emphasised that first display direction 202 and second display direction 204 differ in angle only about a horizontal axis X, the axis being perpendicular to first display direction 202. The use of joint 100 maintains the vertical alignment of first and second aspects 201 and 203 so that there is no rotation of aspect 203 about a vertical axis Y with respect to aspect 201. Put another way, both first display direction 202 and second display direction 204 remain perpendicular to axis X.
[0039] Aspects 201 and 203 each include respective an interior cavities 211 and 213 for housing respective control lights (not shown). When the control lights are housed in cavities 211 and 213, cavities 211 and 213 are sealed to an Ingress Protection 35 (IP35) rating which is the Australian industry standard. The arrangement is such that the mounting of joint component 100 in assembly 250 (as shown in Figures 2 and 3) and/or the mounting of multiple joint components 401 and 402 in assembly 400 (as shown in Figure 4) will not degrade the IP35 rating of the assembly. In other embodiments, the arrangement is such that the mounting of joint component 100 will degrade the IP rating to a predefined acceptable level.
[0040] Lantern assembly 250/400 is mounted to a support in the form of a post (not shown) to maintain the assembly in an elevated stationary position above a road.
[0041] In the embodiments described herein, aspects 201 and 203 are substantially identical. However, in other embodiments, aspects 201 and 203 are not identical in volume, but will have identical top and bottom surfaces for compatibility with component 100.
[0042] In yet other embodiments, the traffic lantern includes more than two aspects. For example, in another embodiment, the traffic lantern housing includes three aspects and the traffic lantern assembly includes one joint component between adjacent aspects, such that the display direction of the middle aspect is 5° from the display direction of the top aspect and the display direction of the bottom aspect is 10 from the display direction of the top aspect and 5° from the display direction of the middle aspect. In other embodiments, the traffic lantern assembly includes zero or more joint components between each adjacent aspect.
[0043] Joint component 100 is formed from polycarbonate compatible for use with traffic lanterns that are typically formed from the same (or similar) polycarbonate material or from pressurized die cast aluminium. Polycarbonate is particularly preferable due to the level of seal it provides when forcefully abutted with the same material or a metal.
[0044] In other embodiments, joint component 100 is formed from other than polycarbonate, such as another type of plastics material.
[0045] As noted above, joint component 100 is fastened to aspects 201 and 202 by way of screws (not shown) that extend from cavity 211, through one of a plurality of apertures in bottom face 205, through one of apertures 130 to 134 corresponding to the aperture in bottom face 205, through apertures in top face 206 that corresponds the aperture in bottom face 205. The fastening is such that top edge 111 is sealingly engaged with bottom face 205 and bottom edge 112 is sealingly engaged with bottom face 206 to maintain the IP rating. In other embodiments, an adhesive is use on abutting surfaces to further ensure the sealing engagement.
[0046] In another embodiment, joint component 100 is fastened to aspects 201 and 202 by way of bolts (not shown) that extend from cavity 211, through one of a plurality of apertures in bottom face 205, through one of apertures 130 to 134 corresponding to the aperture in bottom face 205, through apertures in top face 206 that corresponds the aperture in bottom face 205. The bolts are fastened tightly with a nut (not shown) in the usual fashion so that top edge 111 is sealingly engaged with bottom face 205 and bottom edge 112 is sealingly engaged with bottom face 206 to maintain the IP rating.
[0047] Referring back to Figure 1A, joint component 100 has a dimension of 200mm along it longest edge, denoted by reference numeral 140. In other embodiments, joint component 100 has a dimension of 300mm along it longest edge.
INTERPRETATION
[0048] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.
[0049] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.
[0050] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.
[0051] It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, various features of the disclosure are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, Figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.
[0052] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the disclosure, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.
[0053] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.
[0054] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims (14)

  1. We claim: 1. Ajoint component for a traffic lantern housing having a first aspect for housing a first display facing a first display direction and a second aspect for housing a second display facing a second display direction, the first aspect having a bottom surface and the second aspect having a top surface, wherein the joint component is tapered at a predetermined angle, the joint component including:
    a top face for sealingly mounting to the bottom surface; and
    a bottom face for sealingly mounting to the top surface, such that when the top face is sealingly mounting to the bottom surface and the bottom face is sealingly mounting to the top surface, the periphery of the bottom surface and the periphery of the top surface are respectively sealed, and the first display direction is at the predetermined angle to the second display direction.
  2. 2. A joint component according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined angle is about a horizontal axis, the axis being perpendicular to the first display direction, thereby to maintain vertical alignment of the first and second aspects.
  3. 3. A joint component according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the periphery of the top face is substantially the same as the periphery of the bottom surface such that the periphery of the top face and the periphery of the bottom surface are contiguously sealingly mounted.
  4. 4. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the periphery of the top face includes a protruding top edge for facilitating the contiguously sealing mounting.
  5. 5. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the periphery of the bottom face is substantially the same as the periphery of the top surface such that the periphery of the bottom face and the periphery of the top surface are contiguously sealingly mounted.
  6. 6. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the periphery of the bottom face includes a protruding bottom edge for facilitating the contiguously sealing mounting.
  7. 7. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the top face includes a top guide formation and the bottom face includes a bottom guide formation, the top and bottom guide formations configured to abuttingly interlockingly engage with each other for facilitating the stacking of multiple joint components such that the periphery of the bottom face of one component and the periphery of the top face of another component are contiguously sealingly mounted.
  8. 8. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the predetermined angle is 5°.
  9. 9. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the traffic lantern housing has an overall predefined Ingress Protection (IP) rating and the mounting of the joint component to the first and second aspects at least maintains the Ingress Protection (IP) rating.
  10. 10. Ajoint component according to claim 9 wherein the IP rating is at least IP35.
  11. 11. A joint component according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the component is formed from a polycarbonate material.
  12. 12. A traffic lantern assembly including:
    a first aspect for a first display facing a first display direction;
    a second aspect for a second display facing a second display direction; and
    a first joint component accordingly to any one of the preceding claims for setting the first display direction at a first predetermined angle to the second display direction.
  13. 13. A traffic lantern assembly according to claim 12 further including a second joint component stacked on top of the first joint component for setting the first display direction at a second predetermined angle to the second display direction, wherein the second predetermined angle is double the first predetermined angle.
  14. 14. A traffic lantern assembly according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the assembly has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of at least IP35.
AU2017201326A 2016-03-01 2017-02-27 Joint component for a traffic lantern housing Active AU2017201326B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2016900753 2016-03-01
AU2016900753A AU2016900753A0 (en) 2016-03-01 Joint component for a traffic lantern housing

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2017201326A1 AU2017201326A1 (en) 2017-09-21
AU2017201326B2 true AU2017201326B2 (en) 2022-04-21

Family

ID=59886955

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2017201326A Active AU2017201326B2 (en) 2016-03-01 2017-02-27 Joint component for a traffic lantern housing

Country Status (1)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2017201326B2 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN201048017Y (en) * 2007-06-06 2008-04-16 西安青松科技股份有限公司 LED display screen
US8408737B2 (en) * 2010-03-10 2013-04-02 Cooper Technologies Company Light emitting diode sign lighter
EP2304710B1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2014-08-13 Barco, Inc. Alignment angle method and apparatus for a display

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN201048017Y (en) * 2007-06-06 2008-04-16 西安青松科技股份有限公司 LED display screen
EP2304710B1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2014-08-13 Barco, Inc. Alignment angle method and apparatus for a display
US8408737B2 (en) * 2010-03-10 2013-04-02 Cooper Technologies Company Light emitting diode sign lighter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2017201326A1 (en) 2017-09-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20180257582A1 (en) Combinatory sensor apparatus
US9328470B2 (en) Illuminated dissuader device
US8773283B2 (en) Road traffic control system
EP2971942B1 (en) Compact multi-function led lighthead
AU2017201326B2 (en) Joint component for a traffic lantern housing
KR102161398B1 (en) Camera booth
US10124719B1 (en) Emergency vehicle light array
US20140293421A1 (en) Three-sided reflector for use on sign post
KR102070133B1 (en) Emergency LED Indicators for Vehicle Installation
KR102271463B1 (en) Anti-reverse vehicle safety unit
KR102329547B1 (en) Providing method of GS-based image processing system
US8947264B2 (en) Structure for crosswalk providing both advertising effect and pedestrian safety
CN106016066A (en) Fog lamp and method for improving traveling safety in fog area
US20090231155A1 (en) Emergency/hazard warning system
CN209836802U (en) Security fence is used in bridge maintenance construction
IE20150388A1 (en) Illumination unit
DE202016001255U1 (en) Reflective car breakdown signal ceiling for faster perception of a defective parked car / motor vehicle
KR102100329B1 (en) Frame for traffic signs
KR20220099643A (en) Traffic light display
US20170335543A1 (en) Guard Rail with Insert
JP2005098066A5 (en)
KR101583319B1 (en) Delineator for Curved Zone of Roadway
JP2013221279A (en) Guard fence for road
KR102329549B1 (en) Providing method of GS-based image processing system
CN216663942U (en) Luminous safety isolation net

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FGA Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent)