AU2019201332A1 - A Roadside Signpost - Google Patents

Abstract

A signpost 10 comprises an elongated member 11 made from a fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) material. The signpost 10/elongated member 11 may have a rectangular hollow section with four integrally formed walls 18, 20, 22 and 24. Two 5 internal webs 26 and 28 extend longitudinally of the elongate member and connecting one wall 18 of the elongate member 11 with another wall 22. The internal webs 26, 28 are spaced on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis 30 of the signpost 10.

Description

A ROADSIDE SIGNPOST

Technical Field A roadside signpost is disclosed for supporting a sign such as a speed limit or traffic management rule.

Background Art A road side sign post is usually made of metal such as steel or aluminium. The post is typically of a hollow rectangular or circular section and in use is fixed at one end to the .0 ground or other base. A sign is attached to the post by mechanical fasteners such as nuts and bolt that pass through holes in the sign and the post. The holes in the post may be pre drilled or drilled on site. The sign post must pass certain crash tests. One of these relates to the post breaking on impact with a vehicle. The test is designed to assess the risk of the post breaking on impact .5 and a broken portion acting as a projectile. This creates a substantial safety risk to other road users and pedestrians.

Summary of the Disclosure In one aspect there is disclosed a roadside signpost comprising an elongate member made .0 from a fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) material. Being made from a FRP material provides signpost with a potential benefit over a metallic sign post in that the fibrous component of the FRP material acts to prevent separation of one part of the signpost from another upon impact with the vehicle. This then minimises the risk of a portion of the signpost acting as a projectile. .5 In one embodiment the elongate member has a hollow section. In one embodiment the elongate member is formed with at least two internal webs extending longitudinally of the elongate member and connecting one wall portion of the elongate member with another wall portion of the elongate member. In one embodiment the at least two internal webs are spaced on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis of the signpost. In one embodiment the one wall portion has a flat exterior surface. In one embodiment the signpost comprises a track extending along the elongate member and an insert capable of sliding along the track and being a releasably fixed at a location along the track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the signpost as set forth in the Summary, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to becoming drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of cross section a first embodiment of the disclosed roadside signpost; Figure 2 is a front view of the signpost shown in Figure 1 carrying a sign; Figure 3 is a section view of a second embodiment of the disclosed signpost; Figure 4 is a section view of a third embodiment of the disclosed signpost without its corresponding inserts; Figure 5 is a section view of the signpost shown in Figure 4 with the inserts shown in corresponding tracks formed in the signpost; Figure 6 is a plan view of an insert incorporated in the embodiments of the signpost shown in .0 Figures 3 and 5; and Figure 7 is a section view of a fourth embodiment of the disclosed signpost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the disclosed signpost 10. The signpost 10 .5 comprises an elongated member 11 made from a fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) material. A sign 12 is shown fixed to the post 10 in Figure 2. To facilitate the fixing of the sign 12 the post 10 is provided with a plurality of holes 14 that align along a transverse axis of the post 10. A portion of the fibrous component 16 of the FRP material can be seen in Figure 1. The fibrous material 16 in one embodiment is provided as sheets of fibrous mat. 'O The signpost 10/elongated member 11 in this embodiment is a rectangular hollow section with four integrally formed walls 18, 20, 22 and 24. The walls 18 and 22 are the opposed long walls of the rectangular hollow section while whilst 20 and 24 are the opposed short walls of the rectangular hollow section. This embodiment of the signpost 10/elongated member 11 is formed with two internal webs 26 and 28 extending longitudinally of the elongate member and connecting one wall 18 of the elongate member 11 with another wall 22 of the elongate member 11. The internal webs 26, 28 are spaced on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis 30 of the signpost 10. Due to the rectangular section of the elongated member 11 the wall 18, (and indeed each of walls 20, 22 and 24) is formed with a flat exterior surface. The sign 12 is fixed by bolts 32 against the flat exterior surface of the wall 18 as shown in Figure 2. The embodiment of the signpost 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 has been tested and certified it as complying with the prescribed Australian Roadside Sign Pole Crash Test Standards for vehicle impact at 110Km/h. The signpost was of a, width of 76 mm and depth 38mm, with a wall thickness of about 3mm. However, the wall thickness can be varied to suit the required strength needed to comply with a particular test standard. One range of wall thicknesses for embodiments of the post is 2mm to 8mm. Testing of the signpost 10 has shown that when cracking does occur due to impact with vehicle, the fibrous component 16 of the FRP material acts to prevent separation of one part of the signpost. Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the signpost designated as 10a comprising an elongate member 11a. The same reference numbers are used to denote features of the signpost 1Oa is used in relation to the first embodiment of the signpost 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The signpost 10a differs from the signpost 10 shown by the inclusion of a track 34 extending along wall 22 of the elongate member and an insert 36 capable of sliding along the track 34 and being a releasably fixed at a location along the track. The insert 36 is of a length sufficient to receive two spaced apart bolts 32 to enable the sign 12 to be fixed thereto. With reference to Figure 2 this length may be greater than the distance between the two bolts 32, though it may vary in accordance with the dimensions of the sigh 12 itself. A hole 38 (see Figure 6) is formed through the insert 36 for receiving the bolt 32. A washer 40 is provided for location between the head of the bolt 32 and the sign 12. .0 In one embodiment the hole 38 may be provided with an internal thread to enable the sign 12 to be fixed to the insert 36. In this embodiment the bolt 32 is formed of a length so that once the sign 12 has been fixed to the insert 36, and taking account of the thickness of the washer 40 (which may be varied to suit) a tail part of the boat is able to push against the wall 22 in the track 38 to frictionally lock the insert 36 and thus a sign 12 at a desired height or .5 location along the signpost 10a. This method of fixing of the sign 12 enables the height of the sign 12 to be varied without the need to drill any holes in the signpost 10a Although in an alternate embodiment once the desired height or location of the sign 12 is determined, appropriate holes can be formed in the signpost 10a to receive the bolts 32 which may then be fixed by use of corresponding nuts thereby releasably fixing the sign 12 .0 to the signpost 10a.

Figures 4 and 5 show a third embodiment of the signpost 10b comprising an elongate member 11b. The same reference numbers are used to denote features of the signpost 1Ob is used in relation to the first and second embodiments of the signpost 10 and 1Ob. The signpost 1Ob is very similar to the signpost 10 a but differs by the provision of a second track 34 extending along the wall 18 with a corresponding insert 36; and by having walls 20 and 24 of greater depth than those of the earlier embodiments. By virtue of these differences the signpost 1Ob is capable of supporting a sign 12 on any one of or both the walls 18 and 22. The method of fixing the sign 12 to the post 1Ob may be the same as that described above in Jo relation to the signpost 10a. Whilst a number of specific embodiments have been described, it should be appreciated that the signpost maybe embodied in many other forms. For example, the signpost need not be limited to a rectangular cross section. Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the signpost 1Oc having a section of a circle with an arc portion bound by a chord removed. The signpost 10c comprises an elongated member 11c made from a FRP material and has one planar exterior surface formed on a wall 18 against which a sign (not shown) can be affixed. The elongate member 11c is also provided with two interior webs 26 and 28 that extend between the inside of the wall 18 and a curved portion 23. Holes 14 are shown for receiving a bolt (not shown) used to attach the sign to the signpost 1Oc. As in the previous embodiments two or more bolts may be used in respective holes for attaching the sign. Additionally, in some embodiments it is not essential for the post to include one or more internal walls. For example, in low speed zones or areas, such in a car park or where other traffic management systems exist to reduce vehicle speed, posts without internal walls may be used. As an example, with reference to Figs 1 and 7 such posts would have a cross-section of an appearance shown in these Figs minus (i.e. without) the internal walls 26 and 28.

In yet a further variation an embodiment of the disclosed signpost may be made by modifying the curved wall 23 of the signpost 10c by shaping it to be provided with a second flat wall shown by dotted lines 42 that runs along another chord parallel to the wall 18. Any discussion of the background art throughout this specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such background art is prior art, nor that such background art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field in Australia or worldwide. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" .0 and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features of the signpost as disclosed herein.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A roadside signpost comprising: an elongate member made from a fibre reinforced plastics material having first and second opposed ends.
2. 2. The roadside signpost according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member has a hollow section with at least two internal webs extending longitudinally of the member and connecting one wall portion of the elongate member with another wall portion of the elongate member. .0
3. 3. The roadside signpost according to claim 2 wherein the at least two internal webs are spaced on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis of the signpost.
4. 4. The roadside signpost according to any one of claims 1-3 comprising a track extending .5 along the elongate member and an insert capable of sliding along the track and being a releasably fixed at a location along the track.
5. 5. The roadside signpost according to any one of claims 1-4 comprising at least one flat exterior surface. .0