AU632901B2

AU632901B2 - A road sign

Info

Publication number: AU632901B2
Application number: AU70825/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Peter Bailey; Robert Drummond Carr; Alan John Cookson; Michael Alan Hull; Brian William Rowe; James Byam Wight
Original assignee: Roads Corp
Current assignee: Roads Corp
Priority date: 1990-05-17
Filing date: 1991-02-06
Publication date: 1993-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-06
Also published as: AU7082591A

Description

AU ST RA L IA 6 Q 'fI PATENTS ACT 29,0 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ORI GI NAL (FOR OFFICE USE) ClIa ss In t ClIass Application Number: Lodged: i.:Complete Specificat P. r Reae Art 0 se ion Lodged: Accepted: Publ ished: "~:%Name of Applicant COR9~D~~RPORATION, T/A. WIC P 0O Address of Applicant(s): 290 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, Vic, 3122 Actual Inventor(s) ymW hDavid Peter BailIey Ropbert, ,Dummond Cr.Alan John Cookson, Michael Al an Hull, Address for Servicv PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingworth Parade, Box Hill, Victoria 3128 Complete specification for the, invention entitled: A ROAD SIGN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us...

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.4 A ROAD SIGN This invention relates to signs, and particularly although not exclusively, to road signs for indicating road works sites to oncoming traffic or for warning of other traffic hazards short distances ahead of approaching traffic.

The road signs used to indicate road works sites presently take numerous forms. One known form comprises a metal frame which supports a sign panel bearing the desired markings or indications displayed to approaching traffic. This kind of sign ee is sufficiently massive to be stable under most weather 0o conditions, particularly in windy conditions, however this kind r0O of sign is expensive and if under extreme conditions it is biown over, the sign can be damaged and/or can be itself a serious hazard to approaching traffic. Also if the sign is accidentally -A contacted by a vehicle, significant damage can be caused to the vehicle and the sign itself can be irreparably damaged.

S: It is an object of the present invention to provide a sign suitably for use as a road sign which can be relatively inexpensive, yet effective and durable in operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a sign a sign for use as a temporary road sign erected on a road surface, the sign including a main body which comprises a display panel and a support which extends from the road surface to a top portion of the display panel so that the display panel and support in side view have an inverted generally V shape, the display panel being operative to support, or to have provided thereon sign elements, the sign also including two fastener means for respectively fastening the display panel to the road *S4

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surface and the support to the road surface, each fastener means comprising a foot portion for lying generally flat on the road surface and for being secured thereto and a relec.sable retainer for retaining the foot portion to a lower portion of the display panel or a lower portion of the support as the case may be so that the main body can be selectively released from the two fastener means.

In the preferred embodiment, the display panel and the o* support are pivotally movable about their connection which is .0 provided at the upper edge of the display panel and at the upper eo end of the support so that the display panel and support can be folded flat against each other for storage and transportion. In this arrangement, the support may comprise a support panel, the display panel and the support panel being integral and being formed from a rectangular sheet have a fold line defining the pivotal connection between the display panel and the support panel, the fold line in use being generally horizontal.

The main body may be composed of a single sheet of material having a rigidity to resist folding or bending in a longitudinal direction greater than its rigidity to resist folding or bending in a lateral direction, the sheet being folded about a lateral fold line so as to form two panels constituting the display panel and the support. Preferably, the main body is composed of a single panel of plastics material consisting of opposed face sheets separated by ribs or webs which are integral with or connected to the opposed face sheets, the fold line being parallel to the ribs or webs between the spaced face sheets.

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1 I Each of the fastener means may comprise a generally L-shaped fastener member in the form of a strip of plastics material bent along a transverse line to form the L-shape and thereby forming a foot portion securable to the road surface and a generally upright portion which is releasably securable to the main body. The releasable retainer for retaining the foot portion to the lower edge portion of the associated display panel or associated support may comprise co-operating Velcro portions, the upright portion of the L-shaped fastener member O.0 being provided with one of the co-operating Velcro portions and the lower edge portion of the associated display panel or the associated support as the case may be is provided with the othe-r co-operating Velcro portion.

A single fastener means may be provided at the lower edge portion of the display panel and a single fastener means may be provided at the lower edge portion of the support, although more than one fastener means may be provided at each lower edge if desired.

ee ur Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawing are not to be construed as limiting on the scG^e of the invention. In the drawing, which is marked Fig. 1, there is a perspective view of a road sign according to a possible embodiment of the present invention.

The sign in the drawing is suitable for use as a temporary road sign and includes a nain body 10 ccmprising a display panel 11 and a support 12 which extends from the road surface 13 to a 4 I top portion 14 so that the display panel 11 and support 12 in side view are an inverted generally V shape. The display panel 11 supports or has provided thereon sign elements 15. The road sign also includes fastener means 20 for fastening of the Each fastener means 20 comprises a foot portion 21 for lying flat on and being secured to the road surface 13. A releasable s. retainer 25 retains the foot portion 21 to the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11 or to the support 12 as the 10 case may be so that the main body 10 can be selectively released s e* from the fastener means The display panel 11 and the support 12 are pivotally movable about their connection 14. The connection 14 is provided at the upper edge of the display panel 11 and the upper end of the support 12 so that in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the display panel 11 and support 12 can be folded :flat against each other for storage and transportation.

The support 12 comprises a panel. The display panel 11 and support panel 12 are integral and may be formed from a ectangular sheet having a fold line defining the pivotal connection 14 between the display panel 11 and the support panel 12, the fold line 14 in use being horizontal.

In the preferred embodiment, the main body 10 is made of a single sheet of material having a rigidity to resist folding or bending in a longitudinal direction greater than the rigidity to resist folding or bending in a lateral direction. The sheet is folded about a lateral fold line 14 so as to form the two panels constituting the display panel 11 and the support panel 12. The .4 preferred material comprises a plastics materia consisting of

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opposed face sheets 16 separated by parallel ribs or webs 18 which are integral with or connected to the face sheets 16. A suitable material is manufactured under the trade mark Fluteboard which is a one piece extruded sheet consisting of two opposed face sheets 16 connected by ribs or webs 18normal to the face sheets 16. This material is made by Corex Plastics Australia Pty Ltd from polypropylene copolymer and has physical 4 durability and chemical resistance properties making it suitable S for a wide range of applications. The material has substantial L 0 strength and is used for example, for real estate agents sign boards. The material is durable and of light weight. When I. using a Fluteboard or similar material, the fold line 14 is preferably parallel to the ribs or webs 18 between the spaced face sheets 16. Fluteboard having a thickness of 6mm has been S:00.01 found suitable.

The fastener means 20 comprises a generally L-shaped fastener member such as a strip of plastics material bent across 9 so a transverse line 22 to form the L-shape. The fastener member may be made of the same material as the main body, such as Fluteboard. The fastener member 20 may comprise a strip of Fluteboard of about 60mm width and 200mm length, the strip being folded transversely approximately half way along its length to form the foot portion 21 securable to a road surface 13 and a generally upright portion 26 which is releasably secured to the main body The foot portion 21 in use may be secured to the road surface 13 in any suitable manner. For example, the foot portion may be secured by nail 28 to the road surface 13, the material of the foot portion 21 providing resistance to the head 6 l of the nail 28 pulling through the foot portion under normal conditions. In another possible arrangement (not shown), the foot portion 21 may be adhered to the road surface 13 by a suitable adhesive material such as a butyl rubber adhesive. In a further possible embodiment (not shown), the foot portion 21 may be releasably secured to the road surface 13 by means of co-operating portions. For example, the foot portion 21 and the road surface 13 may be provided with the co-operating portions of Velcro fastening system, namely one portion comprising a number of resilient small hook members which co-operate with a fabric comprising a number of loops with which the hooks 0* co-operate to hold the portions together. In use, one Velcro portion may be adhered to the road surface 13 e.g. by a suitable adhesive, the other being G uured to the foot portion 21 on its under surface. For example, there may be the Velcro portion which is provided with the hooks secured to the undersurface of o. the foot portion 21.* Each Velcro portion may be for example a strip of about 50mm width and 75mm length.

The releasable retainer 25 by which the foot portion 21 is releasably secured to the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11 or the support panel 12 may be of any suitable construction and operation. For example, a press stud arrangement may be provided with a co-operating pair of members one of which is provided on the upright portion 26 of the L-shaped fastener member and the other being provided at the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11 or the support panel 12. With this arrangement, the display sign may be erected in the desired position with the foot portions 21 releasably secured to the lower edge portions 17 of the display r 1 panel 11 and the support panel 12 and the foot portions 21 overlying the road surface 13 to which they are then secured.

To enable the main body 10 to be releasably attached from its operative position, the press studs can be simply disengaged.

In a further possible and preferred embodiment as illustrated, the releasable retainer 25 for retaining the foot portion 21 to the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11 or the support panel 12 comprises co-operating Velcro portions a o. 30. Similarly to what has been described above for securing of S0 the foot portion 21 to the road surface 13 by Velcro fastener portions, the upright portion 26 of the L--shaped fastener member may be provided with one of the co-operating Velcro portions while the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11 or the support panel 12 is provided with the other co-operating Velcro portion 30. The sizes of the Velcro portions may be for example about 50mm by In the preferred embodiment, a single fastener means 20 is provided at the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11 and a single fastener means may be provided at the lower edge portion of the support panel 12. These single fastener means may be each located generally centrally along the width of the associated panel edge. However, if desired, more than one fastener means 20 may be provided at the lower edge portion 17 of the display panel 11, e.g. two fastener means at opposite 25 ends of the bottom edge. Similarly, more than one fastener means 20 may be provided at the bottom edge portion of the support panel 12.

The foot portions 21 of the fastener means 20 in use preferably extend outwardly from the lower edge portions 17 of 8 1' 71

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the display panel 11 and support panel 12. However, if desired, the foot portions 21 may extend inwardly so as to lie beneath the inverted V shape formed by the display panel 11 and support panel 12.

It will be seen that the road sign as herein described and illustrated enables a relatively simple construction to be used. The road sign has sufficient strength and rigidity to remain in position during almost all normal encountered weather conditions, particularly windy conditions. The sign, if .0 contacted by a vehicle, enables the main body to release from the fastener means so that the likelihoou of irreparable damage to the main body being caused by the contact with the vehicle is reduced. The releasable fastening means enables the main body to be re-erected in the event of being dislodged by wind or by *:00i contact with a vehicle. The display panel and support can be e removed from the fastener means by the users, e.g. a road sign can be removed during an interruption to the road works, e.g.

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overnight and the road sign can be readily resited when the road work is resumed. The fastener means may be left attached to the road surface during such temporary removal of the main body so as to facilitate resiting and re-erection of the road sign. If the fastener means are damaged, e.g. by normal wear and tear or by vehicles continually driving over the fastener means when left on site, the main body can continue to be used at new sites 25 simply by using new fastener means.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as herein described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims

1. A sign for use as a temporary road sign erected on a road surface, the sign including a main body which comprises a display panel and a support which extends from the road surface to a top portion of the display panel so that the display panel and support in side view have an inverted generally V shape, the display panel being operative to support or to have provided thereon sign elements, the sign also including two fastener Smeans for respectively fastening the display panel to the road .10 surface and the support to the road surface, each fastener means comprising a foot portion for lying generally flat on the road e. surface and for being secured thereto and a releasable retainer for retaining the foot portion to a lower portion of the display panel or a lower portion of the support as the case may be so that the main body can be selectively released from the two a 0 S S I. 9 :O fastener means.

2. A sign as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the display panel and the support are pivotally movable about their connection which is provided at the upper edge of the display panel and at the upper end of the support so that the display panel and support can be folded flat against each other for storage and transportion.

3. A sign as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the support comprises a support panel, the display panel and the support panel being integral and being formed from a rectangular sheet have a fold line defining the pivotal connection between the display panel and the support panel, the fold line in use being generally horizontal. i i L_ :4!

4. A sign as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the main body is composed of a single sheet of material having a rigidity to resist folding or bending in a longitudinal direction greater than its rigidity to resist folding or bending in a lateral direction, the sheet being folded about a lateral fold line so as to form two panels constituting the display panel and the support.

A sign as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the main body is composed of a single panel of plastics material consisting of .10 opposed face sheets separated by ribs or.webs which are integral with or connected to the opposed face sheets, the fold line being parallel to the ribs or webs between the spaced face sheets.

6. A sign as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each fastener means comprises a generally L-shaped fastener member in the form of a strip of plastics material bent along a transverse line to form the L-shape and thereby forming a foot portion securable to the road surface and a generally upright portion which is releasably securable to the main body.

7. A sign as claimed in Claims 6 wherein the releasable retainer for retaining the foot portion to the lower edg portion of the associated display panel or associated support comprises co-operating Velcro portions, the upright portion of the L-shaped fastener member being provided with one of the co-operating Velcro portions and the lower edge portion of the associated display panel or Ithe associated support as the case may be is provided with the other co-operating Velcro portion.

8. A sign as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a single fastener means is provided at the lower edge portion of the display panel and a single fastener means is provided at the lower edge portion of the support.

9. A sign substantially as herein before described with particuiar reference to the accompanying drawing. Dated this 20th day of December, 1990 i *6 6 46 6 *6 q~. .40 A, 0.-a 0 6666 6S S. PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for ROADS CORPORATION 0 I