AU2021104795A4

AU2021104795A4 - Guideposts

Info

Publication number: AU2021104795A4
Application number: AU2021104795A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Allen Renwick YOUNG
Original assignee: Tranex Roads & Traffic Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Tranex Roads & Traffic Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-02
Filing date: 2021-08-02
Publication date: 2021-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-02

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a guidepost comprising an elongate body having a front face and a rear face, wherein substantially the entire surface of the front face is retroreflective. There is also provided a method of manufacturing a guidepost, comprising: applying retroreflective film to one or both faces of a substrate sheet; dividing the sheet into a plurality of strips; and pressing each strip to form an elongate body of the guidepost. 8 81 10 FU E FIGURE 2

Description

81

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FU E

FIGURE 2

Guideposts

[0001] The invention relates to guideposts and methods of making same.

[0002] Guideposts such as roadside posts and utilities markers are ubiquitous for improving safety and providing users (eg drivers, pedestrians, construction workers) with warnings and other important information. Guideposts can only be effective if they are visible and the safety function of guideposts are typically even more crucial during nighttime or in low visibility conditions.

[0003] In this context, there is a need for guideposts with improved visibility.

[0004] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guidepost comprising an elongate body having a front face and a rear face, wherein substantially the entire surface of the front face is retroreflective.

[0005] Substantially the entire surface of the rear face may be retroreflective.

[0006] At least about 80% of the surface of each of the front and rear faces may be retroreflective.

[0007] The retroreflective surface may also be fluorescent.

[0008] The guidepost may be a roadside post, and may further comprise a delineator portion on one or both of the front and rear faces, the delineator portion being retroreflective.

[0009] The retroreflectivity of the delineator portion may be of a different class compared to the retroreflectivity of the remainder of the front and/or rear faces.

[0010] The guidepost may be a utilities marker.

[0011] The elongate body may be manufactured of a metal or metallic alloy, and the retroreflectivity may be provided by a retroreflective film.

[0012] The elongate body may be manufactured of aluminium.

[0013] The elongate body may be extruded from a polymer, and the retroreflectivity may be provided by a retroreflective film.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a guidepost, comprising: applying retroreflective film to one or both faces of a substrate sheet; dividing the sheet into a plurality of strips; and pressing each strip to form an elongate body of the guidepost.

[0015] The substrate sheet may be made of a metal or metallic alloy.

[0016] The substrate sheet may be manufactured from a polymer.

[0017] The retroreflective film may be laminated to said one or both faces of the substrate sheet.

[0018] The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates guideposts as roadside posts according to examples of the present invention, compared with a conventional roadside post (right-most post) shown in daylight; and

Figure 2 illustrates the roadside posts of Figure 1 shown under headlight illumination in the dark.

[0019] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate guideposts 1 as roadside posts la, 1b, 1c and 1d according to examples of the present invention, compared with a conventional roadside post 10, shown in daylight and simulated nighttime conditions respectively. While the guideposts 1 appear similar to the conventional post 10 in bright/daylight conditions, the guideposts 1 are significantly more visible under headlight illumination in nighttime conditions (as shown in Figure 2). It will be appreciated that the increased visibility will also be significant in other low light conditions such as in fog, rain, snow etc.

[0020] The guidepost 1 comprises an elongate body 3 having a front face 2 and a rear face (not shown), wherein substantially the entire surface of at least the front face 2 is retroreflective. Preferably, at least about 80% of the surface of the front face 2 is retroreflective. More preferably, at least about 90% of the surface of the front face 2 is retroreflective.

[0021] In preferred embodiments, substantially the entire surface of the rear face is also retroreflective, such that substantially the entire surface of the guidepost 1 is retroreflective. In such embodiments, at least about 80% of the surface of the rear face is retroreflective. More preferably, at least about 90% of the surface of the rear face is retroreflective.

[0022] For example, with reference to the roadside posts la, 1b, 1c and 1d of Figures 1 and 2, an upper section 4 of the post is retroreflective, but a portion 6 at the base of the post is not retroreflective. This bottom portion 6, when installed, will be located underground. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that most (if not all) of the visible surface of the guidepost 1 is retroreflective.

[0023] Where the guidepost 1 is a roadside post, it may further comprise a delineator portion 8 on one or both of the front 2 and rear faces. The delineator portion is also retroreflective. The delineator portion 8 may have dimensions of 200mm by 50mm or 100mm by 50mm.

[0024] The retroreflectivity of the delineator portion 8 may be of a different class compared to the retroreflectivity of the remainder of the front 2 and/or rear faces. For example, the delineator portion 8 may be of retroreflectivity class 1A (alternatively known as class 1100 according to standards AS/NZ 1906.1), while the retroreflectivity of the rest of the front 2 and/or rear faces may be of engineering grade retroreflectivity (alternatively known as class 100 according to standards AS/NZ 1906.1). Alternative combinations of reflectivity may be provided.

[0025] In contrast, conventional posts 10 are typically powder-coated or painted with a white paint or extruded from a white plastics material. Conventional posts 10 may have a retroreflective delineator portion 18, but the remainder of the front and rear faces of the post is not retroreflective.

[0026] In preferred embodiments, the elongate body 3 of the guidepost 1 is manufactured of a metal or metallic alloy. For example, the elongate body is manufactured of aluminium. An aluminium substrate may have improved corrosion-resistance and improved ease of handling and installation compared to conventional steel posts. Alternatively, the elongate body 3 may be formed or extruded from a polymer.

[0027] In preferred embodiments, the retroreflectivity of the guidepost 1 is provided by a retroreflective film or sheet. Retroreflective film is typically more durable (and resistant to moss, dirt, etc) and provides a more serviceable surface compared to conventional powder-coated surfaces or uncoated raw plastics extrusions. In one example, the retroreflective film may an engineering grade (or higher grade) retroreflective film, for example the retroreflective film sold under the trade name ORALITE 5710. It will be appreciated that any other suitable retroreflective film may be utilised.

[0028] In some embodiments, for example roadside posts la and 1b, the retroreflective surface is also fluorescent. Preferably, the retroreflective and fluorescent surface(s) of the guidepost 1 is provided by a retroreflective and fluorescent film. For example, the guidepost 1 may be in the form of fluorescent orange retroreflective snow markers, provided by a retroreflective and fluorescent film. In comparison with conventional powder-coated or plastic extruded snow markers, fluorescence provided by retroreflective film is typically more reflective, more durable, more fluorescent and more resistant to ultraviolet (UV) fading.

[0029] The guidepost 1 according to the invention may alternatively be in the form of a utilities marker (not shown). For example, the guidepost 1 may be utilities marker indicating an underground gas line, power cable or other service. The utilities marker comprises an elongate body having a front face, wherein substantially the entire surface of at least the front face is retroreflective. The retroreflective surface of the utilities marker may additionally be coloured according to colour-coding standards/guidelines. The retroreflective surface may additionally comprise markings, eg numbers, branding, safety messages, etc.

[0030] In contrast, the elongate body of conventional utilities markers is typically painted/coloured in accordance with colour-coding standards/guidelines. Conventional markers may have a small reflective strip on which safety markings are printed, but the remainder of the front and rear faces of the marker is not retroreflective.

[00311 The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing a guidepost, comprising applying a film to one or both faces of a substrate sheet, dividing the sheet into a plurality of strips and forming or pressing each strip to form an elongate body of the guidepost.

[0032] In one example, the film may be a retroreflective film. In another example, the film may be a white film, to replace the white powder coating of conventional roadside posts. The film is preferably applied to one or both faces of the substrate sheet by laminating the film thereon. The film may additionally be printed with markings where required.

[00331 The substrate sheet is preferably made of a metal or metallic alloy, such as aluminium. In another embodiment, the substrate sheet is formed or extruded from a polymer.

[0034] In contrast, conventional guide posts are typically manufactured of steel and roll-formed in a continuous strip, then powder coated or painted (eg with a white paint for conventional roadside posts).

[00351 While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

[00361 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

[0037] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A guidepost comprising an elongate body having a front face and a rear face, wherein substantially the entire surface of the front face is retroreflective.

2. The guidepost of claim 1, wherein substantially the entire surface of the rear face is retroreflective.

3. The guidepost of claim 2, wherein at least about 80% of the surface of each of the front and rear faces is retroreflective.

4. The guidepost of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retroreflective surface is also fluorescent.

5. The guidepost of any one of the preceding claims, being a roadside post, and further comprising a delineator portion on one or both of the front and rear faces, the delineator portion being retroreflective.

6. The guidepost of claim 5, wherein the retroreflectivity of the delineator portion is of a different class compared to the retroreflectivity of the remainder of the front and/or rear faces.

7. The guidepost of any one of claims 1 to 4, being a utilities marker.

8. The guidepost of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate body is manufactured of a metal or metallic alloy, and wherein the retroreflectivity is provided by a retroreflective film.

9. The guidepost of claim 8, wherein the elongate body is manufactured of aluminium.

10. The guidepost of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the elongate body is extruded from a polymer, and wherein the retroreflectivity is provided by a retroreflective film.

11. A method of manufacturing a guidepost, comprising:

applying retroreflective film to one or both faces of a substrate sheet;

dividing the sheet into a plurality of strips;

pressing each strip to form an elongate body of the guidepost.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate sheet is made of a metal or metallic alloy.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the substrate sheet is manufactured from a polymer.

14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the retroreflective film is laminated to said one or both faces of the substrate sheet.

1d 1c 02 Aug 2021

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