AU728069B2 - Sign - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT The Invention is titled

"SIGN"

The following statement is a full description of this invention,, including the best method of performing it known to me.

SIGN

This invention relates to improvements in sign devices used mainly to control or guide drivers of vehicles or pedestrians at school crossings, road and other construction sites, police control points and in similar situations.

The sign devices used presently for such purposes can become less effective or ineffective in circumstances of poor visibility such as in fog, rain, smoke, dust, darkness, or where such signs can blend into backgrounds of similar colouring.

Motorists do not get sufficient warning from the presently used sign devices in such circumstances and this indicated the need for a more effective sign device if the danger to roadworkers school crossing supervisors, pedestrians and others is to be reduced.

Also, at road and other work sites there is a need at times to display different wording or symbols on the faces of sign devices to suit the specific circumstances, for example there may be a need for STOP/SLOW or STOP/GO or STOP/STOP sign devices. The disadvantage presently is that three different sign devices would be required. However, the same result could be achieved by using one sign device with appropriate replaceable faces.

These problems are overcome by my present invention, which provides a sign that has interchangeable sign faces which are attached to a lightweight preferably hollow supporting or telescopic holding pole. The sign in turn is used to support preferably, light emitting diodes (Leds) and electronic circuitry that is placed around the periphery of both sign faces.

Each sign face shall consist preferably of coloured plastic or acrylic material that preferably shall have bonded to the sign face, different coloured words or symbols to create each sign face.

Each sign face preferably shall have light emitting diodes (Leds) fixed and projecting through holes in the sign face to light up the outline of the sign and made to flash in an uneven manner to capture the attention of the observer.

The telescopic holding pole is attached to the sign faces by two screws and has a battery placed within the bottom section of the pole to supply the flasher unit contained on each sign face. The packing used to hold both sign faces apart is preferably a waterproof type, which has a rubber cover strap linking both sign faces together and are glued for added strength.

ature Dated ,i i/0 Ze,-

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3 To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show several examples of the invention. In the drawings the components of the sign device are numbered according to the following list.

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 21 22 23 24 26 27 20 28 29 31 32 33 5 34 36 36 37 38 Sign Preferred location for words or symbols to be displayed Pole portion First face Second face Holes Top pole Bottom pole Lock ring Frame Through bolts and nuts Cover ring Red light emitting diodes (LEDS) Green light emitting diodes (LEDS) Flasher circuitry Lower end Optional elastomeric cushion Battery enclosure Batteries Cables Switch First flasher unit Second flasher unit 5

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0 Fig. Shows one example of the sign device 1 according to this invention preferably for the use by a person. Consisting of a hollow adjustable pole 8 and 9 case of Fig 1 it is extended ).The top pole 8 which houses the cables 34 has a switch 36 inserted near the top to allow ease of control for the operator. Affixed to the top pole in the frame section 22 are two sign faces 4 and 6 which are attached to the top section of the pole 8 by appropriate bolts and nuts 23 two parts of the frame solid styrene foam 22 are placed between the two sign faces 4 and 6 to fill the area between the signs due to the thickness of the top pole 8.

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Dated Fig.1 (Cont.) On each sign face are attached a sufficient number of light emitting diodes (LEDS) 26 which are housed in holes 7 placed around the periphery of each sign face 4 and 6 to highlight each face.

The cables 34 carrying the DC supply via the switch 36 travel to the top of the top pole 8 where they are connected to the electronic flasher units 37 and 38 via a plug and socket arrangement which allows the releasability of each sign face to occur.

A cover ring or strap 24 is placed around the periphery of both sign faces 4 and 6 to seal electronics and to hold the faces together.

To change a sign face to other wording or symbols the cover ring 24 is removed and the DC supply is disconnected, the appropriate sign face 4 or 6 is removed from the nuts and bolts 23 the required sign face 4 or 6 is connected to the DC supply, placed on to the bolts, the nuts tightened and the cover ring or strap replaced.

Fig.(2) Shows another example of such sign device with the preferred adjustable pole 3 in the collapsed position.

Fig.(3) Shows another example of such sign device with the preferred adjustable pole 3 in the extended position.

20 Fig.(4) Shows a side view of such sign device with the pole in the extended position and indicating the preferred location for the switch 36 used to allow the light emitting diodes (LEDS) to be lit from a direct current (DC)source 32.

Also viewed are the nuts 23 that hold the sign faces to the top pole 8.

Shows the extendable pole 3 with a sectional view of one example of 25 a framing system 22, releasable face attachment system 23 and 24 a system supporting the wiring used to connect the light emitting diodes (LEDS). 26 and 27 the top pole 8 and the flasher unit 28.

Fig.(6) Shows the preferred battery pack 32 which can be housed in the bottom section of a pole 29 and used to light the light emitting diodes 30 (LEDS). 26 or 27.

Fig.(7) Shows the basic electronic circuit used in connection with the lighting of the light emitting diodes (LEDS) 26 or 27 in the sign faces 4 or 6.

It will be noted the battery 33 and the battery enclosure may not always be required because of other DC supplies being available. The use of styrene foam may vary and the elastomeric cushion may not always be requirAf Signed Dated "aML-