EP2370639A1

EP2370639A1 - System for handling of a road sign and a method for manufacturing of a road sign

Info

Publication number: EP2370639A1
Application number: EP09833739A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joakim Lindberg; Jan Lindberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-18
Filing date: 2009-12-15
Publication date: 2011-10-05
Also published as: WO2010071576A1; EP2370639A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for handling road signs, comprising a support intended to be placed along a road section, on which support a road sign can be placed, wherein said road sign comprises an information carrier in the form of a surface section which will be positioned in a substantially vertical plane when the road sign is placed on said support, characterized in that said system comprises a pair of interacting connecting means, said connecting means comprising a first profiled unit (3), preferably a keder strip, along an upper edge of the road sign, and a second profiled unit (1) which is placed on the support and is adapted in shape to said first profiled unit. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an inventive road sign, and a method for manufacturing a sign cover.

Description

SYSTEM FOR HANDLING ROAD SIGNS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A ROAD SIGN

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presen: invention relates to a system for handling road signs. The system comprises a lightweigtit road sign, a support for the road sign, a lightweight support base and a sign holder intended for foldable anchoring of the road sign in a support base, a pair of attachment:; for a lightweight road sign, and a sign cover. The system and its included components/devices are intended to be used for signposting along a road section, primarily temporary signposting along road construction sites, but are also suited for permanent use. Furthermore, the system comprises a sign holder adapted to support a convention il road sign for foldable anchoring in base. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a road sign, and a method for manufacturing a sign cover.

STATE OF THE ART The presem invention pertains to the field of handling of and carriers for road signs, primarily for road construction sites, but permanent use may also occur. Methods, arrang ϊei merts and constructions related to the above-mentioned technical field are previously mown in a plurality of different embodiments, however, never as a complete system in a ;cordance with the present invention. The previously known solutions do not have the de sign and handling ability offered by this system. The present systems comprise h< avy and cumbersome signs and base plates which are to be handled out on the road coi struction site, which makes the systems complicated. It is of the greatest importance and safety concern that the work with setting up up-to-date road signs and taking dowji out-of-date road signs, for example at a road construction site, takes place in a quick abd easily handled manner, but it is also important to simplify and structure the storage handling.

It is known that signs used along roads, especially signs set up temporarily in connection with road construction sites, are subjected to heavy wear. The wear consists of damages caused in connection with signs being hit or run over. Soiling, primarily splashing during surfacing works, constitutes another major problem, causing extensive wear on the signs, especially in connection with their cleaning. During the winter period, it is a problem that, when there is simultaneous snowfall and strong wind, the same message and design as required by law, but the road sign is affixed to a flexible surface.

According to further aspects of the invention, the system according to the present invention contributes to a simplified handling of road signs. Instead of having to select suitable road signs before the transport out to the road construction site, the selection of road signs can take place out on the road construction site, thanks to the fact that the support used for the road signs out on the road construction site is provided with the strip according to the invention which can accommodate a selection of the road signs allowed by law to be used. Also during transport or handling in storage rooms or similar storage locations, the advantages with this system are very great. The system occupies small space, and all moisture or the like can easily run off, also after cleaning of the road signs.

The present invention is also of great value when it comes to arranging road signs out on the construction site. This can be achieved in that the system according to the invention comprises a lightweight base plate which, in spite of its low weight, has very good stabilizing ability thanks to at least one, preferably at least a pair of downwardly directed engagement members, projecting toward the support surface. The road sign is placed on the base plate with the aid of a specially designed, flexible sign holder, which implies that if a road sign is run into by a vehicle, it can fold down without being demolished, which results in great economical savings.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sign holder comprises a lower coupling member and an upper coupling member and an articulated, flexible and/or resilient connecting member, that is adapted to connect said first coupling member to said second coupling member. According to an alternative embodiment, the sign holder comprises a pair of interacting plates, each with a respective profiled portion forming a resilient attachment for articulated anchoring of the road sign to the support base. Thanks to these sign holders, damages to conventional sign systems, i.e. damages to signs and support bases, can be avoided or at least substantially reduced. Furthermore, a possibility is provided to use a lightweight sign according to the invention together with a conventional rubber base, at the same time as a mounting is obtained which reduces the risk of damages to the sign. According to the inventive idea, also a holder for fixedly mounting a road sign to a lightweight support base, which provides folding of the sign in case it is run into, is provided. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to minimize the wear caused by use on signs, to reduce the need for cleaning these signs, and to reduce the costs related to wear and cleaning. This can be achieved by means of a sign cover being included in the system, which comprises a thin, transparent panel adapted in shape to the shape of the sign it is intended to protect and adapted to be placed in close abutment against the front side of the sign, and in that the sign cover also comprises an attachment means by means of which the panel is detachably attached along at least one edge of the sign.

Additional advantages can be achieved by means of a road sign being included in the system, which is designed with a side oriented attachment for a holder/support base. Thereby, the sign will become side-centered in the support base, as far away from the traffic as possible. Furthermore, the system comprises a spring clamp for a road sign holder according to the invention which is adapted to be positioned on a concrete barrier (commonly called a concrete car stopper). Also a spring clamp, for a road sign holder according to the invention, which is adapted to be positioned on a sheet metal or wire rope crash barrier, is included within the scope of the inventive idea.

According to another object of the invention, it is desired to provide a cost effective manufacturing method for the sign cover according to the invention. This is achieved in that the manufacturing method comprises vacuum forming of the transparent panel in a plastic moulding tool, where the tool part which forms a mould for the front surface of the sign cover directed toward the viewer has been provided with a prismatic surface structure whereby the sign cover gets a non-reflecting surface in connection with the vacuum forming. A method for manufacturing a road sign according to the invention is also included in the invention, wherein the method comprises applying a road sign symbol to an information carrier of a flexible material, affixing the information carrier to a frame, whereby the information carrier obtains a substantially planar surface portion in the area which then will be surrounded by said frame, applying a first profiled unit along an upper edge of the road sign.

Further advantages are evident from the description of the different embodiments, and from the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the attached figures of the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a first connecting means according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, constituting one part of a pair of interacting connecting means according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of a jointing means; Figs. 3a-c show a road sign according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a number of road signs hung up on a strip according to the invention; Fig. 5 shows a road sign trailer in a front view; Fig. 6 shows a road sign trailer with a road sign; Fig. 7 shows the principle of manufacturing a road sign; Fig. 8 shows a road post for permanent use and the integral components required for manufacturing the same; Fig. 9 shows a stackable base for a road sign; Fig. 10 shows a perspective sketch of a sign holder according to the invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; Fig. 11 shows a conventional delineator panel placed in a holder according to the invention;

Fig. 12 shows a conventional support base in a perspective view from above; Fig. 13 shows a longitudinal section through a conventional support base; Fig. 14 shows, in a front view, the principle of mounting a lightweight wire sign according to the invention in a conventional support base;

Fig. 15 shows a sign cover according to the invention; Fig. 16 shows in detail a preferred embodiment of the edge of the sign cover; Fig. 17 shows, in a front view, a principle sketch of a road sign having a pair of diametrically positioned, side oriented attachments for a support base; Figs. 18a-c show, in a perspective view from above, a spring clamp according to the invention for a concrete barrier, and an associated rotatable angle element for applying a resilient holder according to the invention on the spring clamp, and a non-resilient holder intended to be mounted on the angle attachment; Fig. 19 shows, in a side perspective view from the side, a spring clamp for a sheet metal or wire rope crash barrier; Fig. 20 shows, in a perspective view obliquely from above, a principle sketch of a light-weight support base having a holder according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 21 a-cshow a cross-section of the holder according to an alternative embodiment, and show the principle of the interaction of the holder with the sign from an upright to a folded-down position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a side view of a first connecting means 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The first connecting means is preferably a profiled unit, from now on called a suspension strip, made of aluminium, plastic, wood or other material. In this embodiment, the suspension strip is designed as a shelf plane having several grooves 12 arranged in parallel on the bottom side, for enabling one or several road signs to be suspended. At the rear edge, the suspension strip comprises a section provided with holes 11 by means of which the suspension strip can be mounted on a support, a wall, or the like. The grooves are preferably arranged at several levels in the vertical direction in order to minimize the forward projection of the suspension strip and to get a more efficient use of material. In this embodiment, the grooves are semi- cylindrical with a downwardly directed opening/slit, to form fit a second connecting means 3, arranged at the upper edge of the road sign, which in this preferred embodiment comprises a keder strip.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a jointing strip 2 which can be used for joining together several fabrics. The strip is preferably provided with two diametrically positioned grooves 15 having such a shape that provides a form fit against a lower edge of a road sign on the top side and its upper edge on the bottom side. According to one example, these shapes can be similar, e.g. adapted to keder strips along both the upper and lower edge of the road sign, but it is of course also conceivable to let the lower edge of the road sign have a different shape than the upper one, and to adjust the upper groove of the jointing strip accordingly.

Figure 3a shows a road sign according to the invention intended for temporary signposting along e.g. a road construction site. In a preferred embodiment, the road sign comprises an information carrier 5 in the form of a flexible material, preferably a fabric of a shape-retaining, water repellent and light material, e.g. a PVC-coated fibre fabric. It can be an advantage if the material also has a certain permeability to air (mesh) in order to reduce the load on attachments from wind or wind blasts caused by passing vehicles.

At its upper edge, the road sign also comprises a second connecting means 3, preferably a keder strip, and according to one embodiment of the invention, namely in applications where the law prescribes that a supplementary sign is used together with the road sign, it also comprises a third connecting means 3' at its lower edge. Thanks to the fact that the road sign comprises a keder strip or another type of connecting means having a symmetrical shape, which can be turned/slided into the connecting means 1 of the support, regardless of which side is facing forward, the road sign can be provided with different messages (road sign symbols) on front and back side, respectively. There are large advantages with applying different messages on the front and back side, respectively, of the fabric, such as simplified handling out at the road construction site and with regard to traffic safety and economic aspects.

Furthermore, the road sign comprises an edge strip 4, which provides stability to the flexible material and reduces the risk of wear of the outer ends of the attachment between the flexible material and the two connecting means 3, 3'. It is also an advantage if the road sign comprises some kind of attachment device in the lower part for attachment against the support. Most simply, this is constituted of a pair of holes 9 in the flexible material 5, in connection with the two lower corners of the road sign, through which holes a pair of screws can be passed and attached by screwing to the support, but it is also conceivable to use a similar strip as in the upper part of the support, but with the grooves directed upward, and to screw the lower edge of the road sign thereinto. However, the road sign might still need to be anchored by means of screws to the support so that it does not run the risk of sliding out of the strip in strong winds. One alternative is of course to insert some kind of locking element into the groove on both sides of the road sign.

Figure 4 shows a number of road signs according to the invention hung up on a strip according to the invention. The embodiment shown in the Figure is primarily intended for space-saving storage of road signs. For signposting out alongside the road, shorter suspensions strips, the lengths of which have been adapted to the maximum width of a road sign, are used. The size of the road signs used for road construction signposting varies. Depending on the message, the height can vary between 200 - 2500 mm, preferably 200 - 1300 mm, and the width can vary between 200 - 2500 mm, preferably 200 - 1200 mm, depending on whether warning signs or supplementary signs are in question. As indicated in the Figure with the two pairs of arrows, the road signs are put up and taken down by pushing in, and pulling one of the connecting means of the road sign out of a groove in the suspension strip, respectively,

Figure 5 shows a road sign trailer 40 in a front view. The road sign trailer comprises a support for the suspension of road signs, here hi the form of a tubular frame 14 placed on a wheeled under carriage 43. The tubular frame 14 comprises three vertical tubes separated by and fixed to two transversely extending tubes, one in the upper part comprising holes 41 for mounting a suspension strip, and one in the lower part with an additional pair of holes 42 for fixing the road sign with screws in accordance with what has been described previously. Also the under carriage can comprise a pair of holes 44 for fixing a second road sign, connected to the first road sign by a jointing strip 2 according to the embodiment shown in Figure 6. At the top of the trailer, there is also a pair of warning lamps 45.

Figure 6 shows a road sign trailer with a road sign according to the invention suspended for the purpose of informing road users about existing traffic regulations. As is evident from the Figure, a road sign has been slipped into the suspension strip 1 and hangs clearly visible to the road users. A supplementary sign panel 6 has been suspended from the lower edge of the road sign by using the previously described jointing strip 2. In the left-hand corner of the road sign, it is illustrated that the road sign has been fixed with a screw 10. Furthermore, it is evident that the hundreds digit 8 on the supplementary sign is fitted in a transparent pocket 7 comprising an open upper edge, wherein the hundreds digit 8 is replaceable through being capable of being lifted out of the pocket via the opening in the upper edge. Thus, it is easy to change the distance from, for example, 700 m to 300 m by replacing the seven with a three. Of course, several digit positions can be provided with pockets for easy replacement. In a similar way, speed signs can be designed with transparent pockets for replaceable numbers. The transparent pocket 7 is preferably fixed by high frequency welding, which is a quick and simple process, but it is of course also conceivable to sew or glue the pocket to the flexible material.

According to one aspect of the invention, it is desirable to be able to provide a possibility of an illuminated road sign. So-called VMS-signs (variable message signs), where messages and warning lights are achieved by means of diodes mounted on panels, can be mentioned as examples of known solutions. These signs are heavy to handle and comparatively expensive. For the purpose of providing a more easily handled and less costly illuminated road sign, a lightweight road sign according to the invention, which in accordance with the inventive idea is primarily intended for suspension in a road sign trailer, can be provided with a light emitting film which illuminates when it is electrified. A light emitting film useful for the purpose is marketed by the company Metalor, www.metalor.com under the name Briflex. This light emitting film is composed of laminated layers, and through different techniques the film can be designed so that the entire film can be caused to illuminate, or so that certain portions can be caused to illuminate, simultaneously or alternately. Naturally, also other road signs according to the invention, which have been designed with connecting devices or attachments for use together with a support base or a holder in accordance with the embodiments described in the present application, can be provided with a light emitting film, to thus provide the possibility of illuminating stand-alone signs.

Thanks to the fact that the light emitting film is light and flexible, it is very well suited for use in this context, hi one embodiment, it can be affixed to the information carrier 5, so that it will constitute an integral part of the road sign panel. For instance, patterns corresponding to the message on the road sign can be formed by the light emitting film which is applied on top of the message of the road sign symbols. In an alternative embodiment, the light emitting film is applied on top of the information carrier 5 and the portions which should be possible to illuminate are printed on top of the light emitting film, for example by screen printing as described by Metalor. Another method is that the portions which should not illuminate are screened off e.g. with dark colour which is printed on the light emitting film. According to another embodiment, the light emitting film can be provided with a keder strip at its upper edge and be suspended from the suspension strip in front of the road sign panel itself, that is to say, not be integrated with the road sign panel. In that embodiment, the light emitting film can preferably be designed with portions which can be caused to illuminate corresponding to the message of the road sign symbol.

It is appreciated that the road sign trailer is suited for storing current sources for the light emitting film, e.g. solar cell, battery, and that the road sign trailer provides a possibility to lay electrical lines for current supply of the light emitting film in a protected manner. Furthermore, it is appreciated that connectors for connection of the light emitting film can be positioned in the suspension strip. The road sign trailer also provides storage for equipment for light control of the road sign, which can occur in different ways. For instance, the sign panel can illuminate/flash for a certain period of time, alternatively illuminate when a vehicle is approaching by distance sensor detection, for example radar. Several signs can of course be controlled via said distance sensors with the objective of keeping costs low, e.g. be linked via wireless communication. In accordance with future regulations, signs notifying vehicle drivers of an upcoming road construction site should for example be illuminated when work is in progress.

Figures 7a-e show the principle of manufacturing a road sign. An information carrier 5, see Figure 7b, of a flexible material is affixed to a wire frame 13, see Figure 7a, of metal wire or another suitable material, by folding the edges of the material around the wire frame, whereupon they are sewn, glued, or even more preferably high frequency welded together, see the cross-section in Figure 7c. In this preferred embodiment, a keder strip 3 is applied around the wire frame and the flexible material, along the upper edge of the road sign. Preferably, also this strip is attached by high frequency welding. In order to reinforce the edge and protect the connection of the flexible material around the wire frame, an edge strip 4 of some weather resistant material can be applied along the lower edge and sides thereof. In Figure 7d, a cross-section of a finished road sign is seen, and in Figure 7e, the road sign is seen from the front.

It has been found that the road signs according to the invention not so easily run the risk of being covered by snow as traditional road signs of sheet metal or plastic, which is a great advantage. The reason for this is probably that the traditional sign in itself holds a cooling mass which causes the snow to stick to the road sign. The thin material probably contributes to the snow not sticking, due to the fact that it cannot hold as large a cooling mass as sheet metal or plastic. Also, since the flexible material will move a little bit because of draughts from passing vehicles and wind, this probably also contributes to enabling snow to shake off.

Since the road sign has a considerably lower weight than a traditional road sign, road sign posts can be made in thinner dimensions. This is an advantage with regard to material consumption, and an important advantage from a traffic safety point of view is achieved, since a thinner post does not pose as a great a danger to a road user in case of collision. Figure 8a shows a perspective view of a road post 21 for permanent use and the component parts required for the manufacture of the same. Four rods 17, see Figure 8b, of weather resistant and strong material, e.g. galvanized iron rods having a diameter of 5 - 10 mm, form a kind of lattice post 21 by being attached in a square pattern to a first attachment plate 19, see Figure 8c, which is provided with holes 17 for screw joint attachment to a base plate along a road or in another location. A number of stabilizing rings 18, herein quadrangular, and attached by welding or in another way, see Figure 8d, enclose the four rods and provide stability to the post. At the top of the rods, there is a holder, here in the form of a second attachment plate 19' for a road sign according to the invention. The road sign according to the invention suitably comprises some kind of holding element, in this embodiment a third attachment plate 19" attached by welding to the wire frame along the lower edge of the road sign, see Figure 8e. The road sign is attached to the post by screwing the third attachment plate 19" to the second attachment plate 19'. It is appreciated that a road sign holder in the form of a vertical pocket, in accordance with what will be described further below, can be used at the top of the post. The holder can be slipped down into a slot in the second attachment plate 19', in order to enable use of a road sign having been provided with an attachment at its lower edge in accordance with the principles which will be described further below.

Figure 9a shows, in a view from above, a lightweight and a stackable base plate 20 for a road sign according to the invention. The road sign base plate, preferably made of sheet metal of light metal or steel in order to be easy to handle, comprises a substantially planar surface 23, on the top side of which a holder 22 for a road sign is arranged. Furthermore a grip 26 is arranged on the holder, most simply by means of a grip-friendly hole in the plate. The base plate further comprises at least one, but preferably a plurality of downwardly directed, projecting contact means 24 which engage the support surface so that the base plate stands firmly in place, and does not blow away in strong winds. Thanks to the fact that the road sign according to the invention has a very low weight, about 1-5 hg depending on size, and is also permeable to a certain air flow, it has been found to be fully sufficient that the base plate according to the invention has a maximum weight of 5 kg, more preferably around 2 - 3 kg. This should be compared to the present base plates which have a weight in the range of 15 - 28 kg, which is required to be able to stabilize the present road signs, which have a tenfold higher weights than those according to the invention, normally around 2,5 kg, and which do not allow any through flow of air.

In a preferred embodiment of the road sign base plate, the holder is resilient or articulated at its attachment to the top side of the plate, giving it the advantage that the road sign and the holder will be folded down in case a vehicle runs into a road sign. By manufacturing the holder of a resilient material, the holder can spring back up again when the road sign has been run into. If the impact is not too strong, the road sign will remain in the holder and spring back up again when the vehicle has passed. According to a preferred embodiment, the holder has the shape of a vertical pocket into which the road sign can be pressed down.

Figure 9b shows, in a front view, a road sign according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, intended to be used together with the above-described lightweight and stackable base plate. In this case, a delineator panel for use in a narrowing road section, for example at a road construction site or a traffic accident, is shown. The lower edge of the road sign has been provided with an attachment device in the form of a U shaped yoke 46. The yoke preferably constitutes an integral part of the wire frame 13. Instead of a yoke, the attachment device can be constituted of panel which is pushed down into the pocket. It is of course also conceivable to provide the road sign with one or several legs which are slipped down in some holes or recesses in the base plate.

In order to prevent the holder from breaking when a vehicle runs into the road sign, the holder is preferably so designed that the road sign is pulled out of the holder if the impact is sufficiently strong. If the holder is made of rubber or another elastic material, this advantage can be achieved without requiring any special arrangements. If, on the other hand, the holder is made of more rigid materials (and therefore is made articulated to enable it to be folded down), some kind of load-actuated release mechanism can instead be arranged in the holder, for example a spring-loaded snap fastener which engages the yoke, or a magnetic attachment. Naturally, the road sign can instead be provided with a resilient attachment device which engages the holder and yields at a certain load.

In a preferred embodiment, the contact means 24 constitute an integral part of the substantially planar surface, and have been formed by bending the sheet obliquely downward outward at least along two opposing sides, so that the road sign base plate has a trapezoidal shape, as seen from the side in a direction along the bending line, see Figure 9c. A number of contact means similar to teeth, projecting toward the support surface, are arranged along the lower edge of the bent edge, e.g. by punching. However, the skilled person will appreciate that also other embodiments are conceivable. For example, the contact means can instead be constituted of spikes or other protruding devices along the bottom side of the base plate, and which can be fixed to the plate for example by welding, gluing, pop riveting, or by being screwed into threaded holes, or by means of screw and nut joints, or in another suitable way. In Figure 9c, also the holder 22 into which the U-shaped yoke of the road sign is slipped, is seen.

From a space-saving point of view, it is desirable that several road sign base plates can be stacked on top of each other both during storage and transport. This is achieved partly by the trapezoidal shape, and partly by the holder and the grip being symmetrically positioned on the road sign base plate and adapted in shape to each other, so that the holder can be slipped through the grip hole by alternately rotating the road sign base plate half a revolution during the stacking operation. It is of course also conceivable to design the road sign base plate with a holder in the form of a recess in the planar surface with as small a stacking height as possible, so that a possibility of compact stacking is preserved, alternatively to adapt the holder in shape to the grip hole so that it can slide down through the hole during alternating rotation in accordance with the same stacking principle as has been described above.

Figure 10 shows a perspective sketch of a sign holder 41 according to the invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The sign holder is adapted to support a sign 59 and to be anchored to a support base 48 (shown in Fig. 13). It comprises a lower coupling member 42 and an upper coupling member 43, an articulated, flexible and/or resilient connecting portion 44, which is adapted to connect said first coupling member to said second coupling member. The coupling between the holder and the support base should be as simple as possible for allowing workers to quickly mount and dismount the sign. For that reason, the holder is based on the principle of a female-male assembly. This also applies to the coupling between the holder and the sign.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper coupling member 43 comprises an upwardly directed pocket 45 intended to accommodate a connecting device, adapted in shape to the pocket, at the lower edge of the sign. At each side of the pocket, there is arranged a transversely positioned groove 54. The connecting portion 44 and the upper coupling member 43 preferably constitute an integral unit. Furthermore, the lower coupling member 42 comprises a downwardly extending, plate-shaped coupling portion 46. In the preferred embodiment, the holder is arranged in the support base by pushing the coupling portion 46 down into the slot 48.

Furthermore, the lower coupling member 42 is designed as an angled plate, wherein the coupling member 42 also comprises an attachment portion 52 to which the connecting portion is attached. In the preferred embodiment, the coupling member is made of rubber which has been vulcanized to the attachment portion 52 on the plate which, for that purpose, has been provided with a few apertures (not shown). In this embodiment, the plate is made of galvanized sheet metal.

The attachment portion extends substantially transversely to the downwardly extending coupling portion. In the shown embodiment, the plate is angled about 90°, which implies that, when the holder is placed in the support base, the attachment portion will extend in plane substantially parallel with the top side 50 of the support base and preferably rest on the top side of the support base. This results in a further improved support of the sign both in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The skilled person will appreciate that it is an advantage from a stability point of view that the attachment portion rests against the top side of the support base and that the lower coupling member therefore should be adapted to the shape of the support base, so that the desired stability is achieved.

For the purpose of exemplifying the use of a holder according to the invention and describing some of its advantages, Figure 11 shows a conventional delineator panel placed in a holder according to the invention. Here it is seen how the shape of the vertical pocket 45 fits well to the shape of the lower portion of the sign which has been pushed down into the pocket and provides a tight contact both against the planar portion 56 of the delineator panel and against its stiffening strips 55 at the sides. Due to the fact that the pocket is made of an elastic material, e.g. rubber, the opening in it can be made slightly smaller than the connecting member of the sign. The sign then has to be pushed down into the pocket, which is stretched out a little, which results in the sign being held by spring force.

Due to the fact that the pocket is made of rubber and integrated with the connecting portion, a resilient attachment to the attachment portion 52 is obtained. Thereby, the advantage is obtained that the sign can be resiliency deflected or folded down if it is run into, which reduces the risk of the sign and the holder being broken. Likewise, the advantage is obtained that the sign springs up again when the vehicle has passed.

Figure 12 shows, in a perspective view from above, a conventional support base 47. The support base has the shape of a rectangular plate having a thicker central portion in which a slot 48 for the attachment of a sign is arranged. As is evident from the figure, the slot has the same shape as the opening in the previously described pocket 45 in the holder 41. The support base further has two grip-friendly openings 49 at each short end.

Figure 13 shows a longitudinal section, along the sectional line XIII - XIII, of the support base in Figure 13. The support base has a thicker central portion having a substantially planar top side, which provides good support for the sign which is placed in the slot. The top side is substantially parallel with its bottom side, which implies that, when the holder according to the invention is placed in the slot, the pocket 45 will be directed substantially perpendicularly upwards from the support surface (the road/verge). In order to reduce the weight, its short ends are chamfered. The handle openings 49 are positioned in this chamfered portion. The support base is homogenous and made of recycled rubber (e.g. old car tires), which gives good resistance to wear. Thanks to the choice of material and shape of the support base, the risk of damage to a vehicle tire running over the base is reduced. Figure 14 shows, in a front view, the principle of mounting a lightweight wire sign 58 according to the invention in a conventional support base 47 by means of a sign holder 41 according to the invention. The wire sign 58 according to the invention, in the form of a delineator panel, is provided with a wire frame 57. This wire frame also constitutes the connecting device 51 of the sign. In order provide good support in the vertical direction, the wire frame is adapted to be accommodated in the planar portion of the pocket, i.e. in the space inside the transversely positioned grooves which are intended to accommodate the stiffening strips of a conventional delineator panel. Furthermore, it is appreciated that the thickness of the wire frame should be adapted to the width of the gap of the pocket, in order to obtain a resilient but stable engagement of the wire frame in the pocket. It should also be understood from the Figure that the downwardly directed coupling portion 42 of the sign holder is pushed down into the slot 48 of the support base 47 until its attachment portion 52 rests against the top side 50 of the support base.

A solution according to another aspect of the sign system according to the invention will now be explained in Figures 15 and 16. The solution seeks to minimize the wear on signs caused by use, to reduce the need for cleaning of these signs, and to reduce the costs related to wear and cleaning.

According to this aspect of the invention, the aim can be achieved by applying a transparent cover to the front side of a sign. In Figure 15, a sign cover 60 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is seen. The sign cover comprises a thin, transparent panel 62, preferably of plastic, which is adapted in shape to the shape of the sign it is intended to protect. It is adapted to be placed in close abutment against the front side of the sign, and also comprises attachment means 62, here in the form of a rim arranged along the edges of the panel, by means of which the panel can be detachably attached to the sign. In the area 65 of the downwardly directed connecting device of the sign, the rim is missing and, likewise, the upper end of the sign cover is provided with an area 66 missing a rim, since the signs here are provided with grips. The panel preferably has a front surface, directed toward the viewer, which is non-reflecting. This can be achieved in that the front surface is given a prismatic pattern. Another way of achieving this is to use a panel material which has been made non-reflecting by the addition of some substance which makes the plastic non-reflecting, in accordance with methods known to the skilled person. Figure 16 shows a detail of the area indicated with XVI in Figure 15. As can be seen here, the rim 62 constitutes an integral part of the panel 61. It extends in a rearward direction, transversely to the plane of the panel, and is adapted to hold the protecting panel by spring force. A projecting portion 64, directed toward the edge of the sign, is arranged along an edge/edge portion of the rim 63. The resilient rim 63 with its projecting portion 64 is adapted to at least partially enclose an edge of the sign and to retain the protecting panel on the sign by spring force.

It shall be appreciated that this solution shown in Figure 15 and 16 also can be implemented for signs having a different design than what is shown in the present application. However, it can be added that the combination of a sign cover according to the invention and a road sign according to the invention is particularly advantageous for reasons mentioned above.

Furthermore, the invention includes a method for manufacturing such a sign cover. The method comprises manufacturing a transparent panel by thermo forming, preferably vacuum forming, which provides a very rational and cost effective production. For the purpose of achieving the non-reflecting surface on the front side of the sign cover, the method comprises the step of bringing the forming material into abutment against a surface, having a prismatic surface structure, in the plastic moulding tool. This prismatic surface structure of the plastic forming tool can be achieved e.g. by rough blasting the surface.

Figure 17 shows, in a front view, a principle sketch of a road sign 81 having a pair of diametrically positioned, side oriented attachments 82 for a support base 83. If the sign is a lightweight wire frame sign according to the invention, the attachment is suitably formed as a yoke directly in the upper and lower frame of the wire frame. Since the attachments are side oriented, i.e. placed to the side of a vertical symmetry line of the sign, suitably alongside to the corners of the sign, the sign will be side centered in the support base and the sign will be positioned as far away from the traffic as possible. The support base is a conventional rubber support base, or a lightweight support base according to the invention of the kind which has been described in previous patent applications. By also providing the wire sign with an attachment along its upper edge, in accordance with a previous description, a sign which can be turned upside down in order to get the "two signs in one function" is obtained, at the same time as this additional side centering function can be provided. It is appreciated that the attachments do not always have to be diametrically positioned. According to the invention, it is an object to be able to provide a spring clamp enabling road signs to be attached to conventional concrete barriers which are used for roadway delineation. By placing the road signs on concrete barriers instead of on the roadway, the risk that the road signs are damaged by being run into is virtually eliminated. This in its turn means that workers working along signposted road sections avoid the element of risk inherent in replacing or erecting hit signs. Figure 18a shows, in a perspective view from above, a spring clamp 84 according to the invention for a concrete barrier. The spring clamp, which in this embodiment is made of metal, has the shape of a U shaped yoke with two interacting clamping means in the form of two downwardly directed legs 85 and an intermediate portion 86 extending therebetween. The yoke is adapted to be slipped down transversely over an upper edge of a concrete barrier for the attachment of a road sign thereon. The intermediate portion comprises an upwardly directed, threaded pin 87, intended for the attachment of an angle element (shown in Figure 18b). Along at least one of the downwardly directed legs 85, there is at least one, suitably at least two adjustment devices 88 by means of which the spring clamp can be tightened to the concrete barrier. The adjustment devices 88 are most simply constituted of a pair of screws which each, at their front ends directed toward the inside of the yoke, can be provided with a respective pressure-relieving plate 89. At the rear end of the screws, there is suitably a screw driver slot for adjusting their position, whereby the spring clamp is tightened to and released from the concrete barrier.

Figure 18b shows a rotatable angle element 90 provided with a hole 91, 92 in each angle portion. The angle element is attached by screwing to the intermediate portion 86 of the spring clamp, suitably by means of a screw-nut joint, wherein the angle element becomes rotatable in the horizontal plane.

Figure 18c shows a non-resilient holder 93, comprising two opposing plates 94, 95 which can be used for the attachment of a road sign to the spring clamp 84. The lower attachment 82 of the road sign (see Fig. 17) is placed between the plates 94, 95, which are screwed tight around the attachment 82 in connection with them being mounted to the vertical angle portion of the angle element. As an alternative embodiment, a resilient holder with a vertical pocket can be attached to the angle element (not shown), wherein the road signs become easily replaceable. Thereby, the advantages which can be obtained with a resilient attachment, which have been described in a previous patent application, can be obtained also in this embodiment. According to the invention, it is also an object to be able to provide a spring clamp making it possible to attach road signs to crash barriers. Figure 19 shows, in a perspective view from the side, such a spring clamp for a sheet metal or wire rope crash barrier.

The spring clamp intended for crash barriers, hereinafter called a crash barrier attachment 100, comprises a pair of opposing clamping means (plates) 101, 102, provided with holes, which are adapted to be positioned on respective sides of the delineator rail, alternatively the wire ropes, of a crash barrier. One plate forms a back portion 101, and at its upper and lower end there is at least one gripping arm 103 extending substantially perpendicularly in the same direction outward from the back portion 101. The gripping arms are terminated by a respective shoulder or hook 103 being directed toward each other, which acts as a counterstay for the other plate 102. The other plate 102 also acts as a clamping piece relative to the back portion 101.

Similarly to the principle of attaching the spring clamp intended for the concrete barrier, the attachment to a rail crash barrier takes place by screwing at least one adjustment device (e.g. a not shown screw) into a hole 105 in the back portion, and bringing its front end into abutment with the rail. Suitably, however, at least two adjustment devices are used and, as shown in the Figure, the plates 101, 102 are provided with a plurality of opposing holes 105, 105' in order to provide a flexible use for different types of rail crash barriers. The holes are preferably provided with self locking threads, and the screws can suitably have the same design as has been described in connection with the spring clamp intended for a concrete barrier. When tightening the crash barrier attachment by screwing in said screw/screws, the back portion with its gripping arms will perform a parallel displacement away from the rail until the clamping piece 102 has been tightened against the shoulders/hooks 104, and the crash barrier attachment thus is held in place around the sheet metal of the rail. If the crash barrier attachment instead is used on a wire rope crash barrier, the back portion 101 and the clamping piece 102 are screwed together by means of the screws which are screwed through the pairs of opposing holes 105, 105' of the back portion 101 and the clamping piece 102, so that the crash barrier attachment thereby is held in place around the wire ropes.

Also the crash barrier attachment comprises an upwardly directed, threaded pin 106 intended for the attachment of an above-described rotatable angle element 90. The pin 106 is positioned on the top side of a plate 107 which forms a substantially right angle with the back portion 101. It is appreciated that the plate 107 can constitute an integral part of the upper gripping arm 103.

In accordance with the inventive idea, according to an alternative embodiment, a lightweight sign according to the invention can instead be fixedly mounted to the base plate (support base), however with its functionality to be able to fold down, if run into by a vehicle, preserved. The solution is primarily intended for a lightweight sign having a connecting device in its lower part which is constituted of a bent wire in accordance with what has been described previously, but is should be understood that the solution also can work together with conventional road signs, which will then have to be modified in a suitable manner.

Figure 20 shows, in a perspective view obliquely from above, how a lightweight sign according to the invention is mounted on a lightweight support base 20 by means of a holder according to this alternative embodiment.

In this embodiment, the connecting device 13, 51 in the lower part of the lightweight sign is provided with two transversely extending, parallel cross members 120, 121 (see Fig. 21a) positioned above each other. A gap is formed between the upper cross member 121 and the lower cross member 120. Preferably, the lower cross member 120 is postioned at the bottom between the lower ends of the two vertical wire portions of the connecting device 13, 51, and these suitably constitute an integral unit in the form of bent wire. The cross members extend horizontally in the same plane as the one the information carrier of the sign panel extends in or at least in parallel to this plane. In the preferred embodiment, the two cross members 120, 121 have a circular cross-section, and the lower cross member 120 constitutes an integral part of the bent wire frame 13, 51 around the information carrier. For other reasons which will become more clearly apparent hereinbelow, there are additional advantages with the cross members having at least a rounded top side, without any sharp corners.

The holder consists of two plates 122, 123 which, in a way known to the skilled person, are placed on top of each other and attached at the front and rear edge against the top side of the base plate. The upper plate 122 is made of a resilient material, preferably spring sheet metal, whereas the lower plate 123 is made of a non-resilient material, preferably sheet steel. Both plates are profiled with an upwardly bulging profile 130, 131, each forming at the bottom a respective transverse groove 130', 131' transversely to the respective plate. When the holder is mounted on the base plate, the grooves 130, 131' are oriented in the transverse direction of the base plate, which implies that the lightweight sign becomes foldable in the direction of the roadway. The profile 130 of the upper plate symmetrically encloses the profile 131 of the lower plate, when these are mounted on the base plate. Preferably, the lower profile 131 in the lower plate 123 is U shaped, whereas the upper profile 130 in the upper plate 122 has a triangular shape. The triangular profile forms a groove which is larger than the lower profile, and thereby a space is formed between them, hereinafted called a tilting groove 132. Thanks to the fact that the profiles are bulging upward, the risk of accumulation of water and dirt in the grooves, which would otherwise risk impairing the function, is reduced. When mounting the sign on the base plate, the lower cross member 120 in the connecting device of the sign is adapted to move in the lower groove 131 and the upper cross member 121 is adapted to move in the tilting groove 132. Suitably, the U shaped groove should be adapted both in shape and in size to the lower cross member 120 of the wire frame. The dimension of the U shaped groove should preferably be designed with a play of the order of a few millimetres, so that the cross member will be completely accommodated in the groove, but will still be unable to move back and forth to any appreciable extent between the side walls of the groove, since this could influence the tilting function. The planar portions of the plate, on both sides of the groove, can preferably abut against the top side of the base plate and the sign will thereby be retained by the lower plate 123.

In the preferred embodiment, the upper profile 130 is shaped like an isosceles triangle and, in principle, the base of the triangle can be said to coincide with the top side of the lower plate, or slightly above it, so that the central axis of the wire in the lower cross member 120 at least almost coincides with the base line of the triangle. The base of the triangle is twice as long as the height of the triangle. The height of the triangle should be so adapted to the upper cross member that the upper cross member reaches up to the bottom side of the resilient plate at the top of the triangle when the sign is in an upright position. Thereby, the upper cross member will abut against the bottom side of the resilient plate, which thus will actuate the cross member with its spring force. In a folded down position, the upper cross member will instead be positioned in one of the lower corners of the triangle.

For the purpose of illustrating the function of the holder, Figures 21a-c show a cross- section across the grooves 130', 131' in the holder, and show the principle of the interaction of the holder with the cross members 120, 121 of the sign from a folded down position to an upright position of the sign. Since the upper profile is triangular, while the upper cross member performs a circular motion when it is folded up or down, the upper cross member will press the resilient plate upward a small distance, and the sign will be held in place by spring force in an upright position (see Figure 21c), or an folded-down position (see Figure 21a). These positions constitute "stable" positions, while positions in between (shown in Figure 21b) constitute "unstable" positions where the resilient plate 122 will be pressed upward by the upper cross member 121. The spring force in the plate will act to press the upper cross member, and thereby the sign, to one of the stable positions. When the sign is run into, the resilient attachment plate will thus be resiliently deflected and the sign can be folded down. However, owing to the way the attachment plate is designed, the sign will not be able to spring back into the raised position, but has to be erected manually.

From a purely practical point of view, it is crucial for the function that the sign is held in an upright position, and that it can be folded down under the influence of an applied force. Accordingly, the pressure of the resilient plate against the upper cross member has to be adapted so that it yields and enables folding down of the sign by a force which does not exceed the force required to deform the wire frame. It is also appreciated that the pressure force from the resilient plate should be sufficiently high to keep the sign in an upright position in wind or draughts from passing vehicles. The pressure force required for the function can be adapted by placing the upper cross member 121 higher up or lower down on the vertical wire portions. Furthermore, of course, the thickness of the resilient plate has an influence. In practical trials, a sheet thickness of about 0.8 mm has proven to be useful, but as a rough estimate, plate thicknesses within the range 0.5 — 2 mm should work for the intended use along road construction sites, where certain standard sizes are available for the signs set up on or along the roadway. Despite a very simple design, the embodiment described above fulfils these conditions.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The invention is not limited by what has been described above, but can be varied within the scope of the following claims. For instance, it is appreciated that the profiled strip which is mounted on the road sign trailer also can be used as a storage strip when storing road signs according to the invention in a depot, for which reason such a storage strip does not need to be part of the system which has been described and sought protection for here, but could be made the subject of an independent patent claim. The storage strip can be made longer, which is cost effective from a manufacturing point of view, and e.g. be mounted on a wall in a depot, or on a transport carriage which can be pushed forward when "loading" road sign trailers. Furthermore, storage strips can be prefϊlled with all road signs required for the purpose, and these strips can be brought out into the field and be mounted on road sign trailers. Furthermore, it is of course conceivable to manufacture a storage strip with a profile which instead is adapted to the lower edge of the road sign, in case it has another shape than the upper edge.

For instance, the use is not limited to signposting along roads, but a sign according to the invention can of course be used for other kinds of information, e.g. for advertising purposes. A sign which is provided with a light emitting film can e.g. be used on warning vehicles travelling together with road construction vehicles and warning road users, and thus does not need to be part of the system which has been described and sought protection for here, but could possibly be made the subject of an independent patent claim. The mounting of a wire sign can be done in a strip having only one groove and being mounted e.g. on a wall or a support. Naturally, lightweight and material saving lattice frames, which are provided with a plurality of single grooved strips for easy and quick mounting and also replacement of advertising signs, can be manufactured. Such an embodiment could be made the subject of a divisional application. Also another type of mounting than in strips according to the invention is conceivable. For instance, also the upper edge of the road sign can be provided with holes which can be slipped onto hooks, or attached by screwing to the support. Preferably, these holes are allowed to pass through the frame at the upper edge of the sign. However, a suspension according to the invention extending along the entire upper edge is preferable, since it provides good stability to the sign, and it is appreciated that this also can be solved by the upper strip of the sign being slipped in from the front into a groove in a suspension strip, instead of from the side.

Accordingly, the sign holder described in the application, comprising a vertical flexible pocket, which can be used together with existing road signs and base plates present on the market, can justify an independent protection.

Furthermore, it is appreciated that the coupling member of the holder can be designed in another way. For example, it does not need to have the shape of a pocket, but the upper coupling member can instead be designed with two opposing, upwardly directed supporting sides intended to support a connecting device, adapted in shape to the supporting sides, at the lower edge of the sign.

The skilled person will appreciate that other signs than delineator signs can be provided with a connecting device at their lower edge which has a shape similar to the one on a delineator panel. The design of the holder also allows that other connecting devices having a thickness which is adapted in shape to achieve good attachment to the holder, are used. For example, plate-shaped connecting devices without stiffening strips at the sides can of course be used. The opposite is also conceivable, i.e. connecting devices solely consisting of extensions of the stiffening strips and only using the grooves at the side of the pocket. It should further be appreciated that the holder can be designed for connecting devices having other shapes, e.g. projecting tubes or rods.

In accordance with the principle of female-male assemblies, the holder can of course constitute a male member, whereas the connecting device constitutes a female member. In one conceivable embodiment according to this variant, the lower coupling member of the holder can be designed to be sliiped up through the slit from the bottom side of the support base. The coupling member cold have a L or T shape, where the upwardly directed plate is terminated by an articulated, flexible and/or resilient part which can be connected to the upper coupling member on the top side of the support base, which then has to be designed with a female member adapted in shape. The advantage of this arrangement is that a system with different versions of upper coupling members can be used, depending of which sign system is used. Furthermore, the production becomes cheaper, since the two members do not have to be joined together.

The holder according to the invention for fixed mounting of the sign on a lightweight base plate can also be modified within the scope of the inventive idea. The upper resilient plate can be designed with another profile providing the same or a similar function. Furthermore, it is conceivable to make the upper cross member resilient in the vertical direction, for example through a spring-loaded attachment to the vertical wire parts. According to another conceivable alternative, the lower cross member can be given a non-symmetrical shape which together with a lower plate being resilient provides the same function. In such a variant, the lower cross member could be given a square cross-section with rounded corners. When folding down, the diagonal between two corners will form the slope in the groove which lifts the resilient plate in the unstable position.

Additional advantages could be achieved if signs are provided with a connecting device also along the upper edge. Thereby, the signs can be turned upside down, which would provide a "two signs in one-effect" for certain symbols. A smooth solution to this is to design the grip which often is present in a projecting portion along the upper edge of this type of signs, so that it also serves as a connecting device, which can be slipped down into a holder on a base plate in accordance with the principle of the invention.

The attachment means for attaching the protecting panel of the sign cover can have the shape of a separate resilient strip, similar to the U shaped clamping strips used for hanging up posters and banners, which can hold the protecting panel against the sign with clamping force. This sign cover can of course be used for other signs than the ones described within the scope of the system according to the invention, and can for that reason justify an independent protection. It is also appreciated that the attachment means can be constituted of short elements, of clamping clips type, which are applied along the edges of the sign. Furthermore, it is appreciated that the attachment means does not have to be applied along each side of the sign cover and not along the entire side.

The manufacture of a lightweight wire sign can of course be modified within the scope of the inventive idea. It shall be appreciated that the information carrier, i.e. the flexible material, does not necessarily have to be attached permanently around the wire frame as mentioned previously and then preferably by means of high frequency welding, which would result in synergy effects with the application of the road sign symbol itself on the information carrier. It can be advantageous to instead attach the information carrier against the wire frame by means of some kind of holder, which can be integrated with the information carrier. It is also conceivable to design the wire frame as a U and to use channels at the sides of the information carrier which are slipped over the vertical wire portions at the sides of the frame, or to design the information carrier as a hood which is slipped over the wire frame. Furthermore, it is of course conceivable to provide the information carrier with holes e.g. lined with eyelet rings along the edges, and to lace it to the wire frame, or to slip the eyelet ring holes over some kind of attachment pegs on the wire frame. This results in a possibility of an easy replacement of information carrier, e.g. in case it is broken or dirty. From a manufacturing point of view, it provides a possibility to have the manufacture of information carriers taking place in another location than the assembly of wire frame and information carrier.

Furthermore, it is appreciated that the lightweight road sign can have an attachment at each corner along the lower and upper edge, respectively. The downwardly directed legs 85, 85' on the spring clamp for concrete barriers do not have to be positioned in parallel, but can be given a conically opening posture to fit concrete barriers with diagonal sides, i.e. with a conical cross-section. The clamping means on the spring clamps can of course be given curved or profiled shapes for form-fitting abutment against fences or concrete barriers. Other materials than metal can of course be used when manufacturing the spring clamps. For example, weather resistant and UV resistant plastic can be suitable. The adjustment devices can of course be designed in another way. Resilient yoke clamps and eccentric locking devices are conceivable alternatives.

Furthermore, it is appreciated that the devices included in the system are not limited to be used conjointly, as has been exemplified in the description. It should be understood that they can be used separately in applications for which they are suitable and, in addition to the concrete examples indicated here, other, aspects of the devices according to the invention can form the basis of independent patent claims related to individual devices or use together with one or several of the other described devices.

Claims

1. A system for handling road signs, comprising a support intended to be positioned along a road section, on which support a road sign can be placed, wherein said road sign comprises an information carrier in the form of a surface section which will be positioned in a substantially vertical plane when the road sign is placed on said support, characterized in that said system comprises a pair of interacting connecting means, said connecting means comprising a first profiled unit (3), preferably a keder strip, along an upper edge of the road sign, and a second profiled unit (1) which is placed on the support and is adapted in shape to said first profiled unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said surface section comprises a flexible material which is joined to said profiled unit (3), that said surface section has a height of between 200 - 2500 mm, preferably 200 - 1300 mm, and a width of between 200 - 2500 mm, preferably 200 - 1200 mm, and that said flexible material is enclosed by a frame (13), preferably a wire frame.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said profiled unit (3) comprises a longitudinally extending projection which is adapted in shape to a longitudinally extending recess of said second unit (1) for shear connection of the road sign to the sign post.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that a lower edge of said road sign comprises a second profiled unit (3').

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the system also comprises a jointing unit (2), which is designed with two profiled units (3, 3') adapted in shape to said first and second profiled units (3, 3'), whereby a second road sign can be joined to said first road sign and thus be hung on the support.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said second profiled unit (1) is provided with a plurality of profiles, adapted in shape to and suitably arranged in parallel with said first profiled unit (3), whereby a plurality of road signs can be stored simultaneously on said second profiled unit (1).

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a base plate/support base (47) for the erection of individual signs, wherein said base plate/support base comprises a sign holder (22, 41, 122,123) for said road sign, and at least one, preferably at least a pair of downwardly directed contact means (24) projecting towards the support surface.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that said base plate has a trapezoidal shape and is made of a thin material, e.g. a plate of light metal or steel or moulded plastic, which allows several base plates to be stacked on top of each other in order to save space.

9. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that said sign holder (41) is adapted to support a sign (59) and to be anchored to said support base (47), that the sign holder comprises a lower coupling member (42) and an upper coupling member (43), and an articulated, flexible and/or resilient connecting portion (44), which is adapted to connect said first coupling member to said second coupling member.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the coupling between the sign holder (41) and the support base (47) and/or between the sign holder (41) and the sign (59) is designed as a female-male assembly.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper coupling member (43) comprises an upwardly directed pocket (45) intended for accommodating a connecting device (51), at the lower edge of the sign, which is adapted in shape to the pocket.

12. The system according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connecting portion (44) and the upper coupling member (43) constitute an integral unit.

13. The system according to claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lower coupling member (42) comprises a downwardly extending, plate-shaped coupling portion (46), which is adapted to be arranged in a slot (48) in the top side (50) of the support base.

14. The system according to claim 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lower coupling member is designed as an angled plate, wherein the coupling member also comprises an attachment portion to which the connecting portion is attached, that said attachment portion extends substantially transversely to the downwardly extending coupling portion, which attachment portion will extend in a plane substantially parallel with the top side (50) of the support base, and preferably rest on the top side of the support base, when the holder is placed in the support base.

15. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a sign holder (122, 123) adapted to support a sign (59) and to be anchored in said support base (47), wherein said sign holder comprises a pair of interacting plates (122, 123), each with a respective profiled portion (130, 131) forming a resilient attachment for articulated anchoring of the road sign in the support base.

16. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the road sign (58, 81) comprises an attachment (82) along a lower edge of the road sign for positioning the road sign in a holder (41, 93, 122, 123) or a support base (23, 47, 83), that said attachment is side oriented, i.e. placed to the side of a vertical symmetry axis of the sign.

17. The system according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a spring clamp (84, 100) adapted to attach said road sign to a delineator device along a road section, e.g. a concrete barrier or a crash barrier, characterized in that the spring clamp comprises a pair of interacting clamping means (85, 85', 101, 102), that at least one of said clamping means (85,

85', 101, 102) comprises at least one adjustment device (88) for tightening the clamping means to the delineator device.

18. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sign cover (16) comprising a thin, transparent panel (61), which is adapted in shape to the shape of the sign it is intended to protect and which is adapted to be placed in close abutment against the front side of the sign, that it also comprises an attachment means (62) by means of which the panel is detachably attached along at least one edge of the sign.

19. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the panel has front surface, directed toward the viewer, which is non-reflecting.

20. The system according to claim 19, characterized in that the attachment means (62) constitutes an integral part of the panel (61) and has the shape of a resilient rim (63) extending rearward, transversely to the plane of the panel, which rim is adapted to hold the protecting panel by spring force.

21. The system according to claim 20, characterized in that a projecting portion (64), directed toward the edge of the sign, is arranged along an edge/edge portion of said rim (63), said projecting portion being adapted to at least partially enclose an edge/edge portion of the sign.

22. A method for manufacturing a road sign according to any one of claims 1-4 and/or 16, characterized in that its comprises applying a road sign symbol of a flexible material to an information carrier (5) of a flexible material, affixing the information carrier (5) to a frame (13), wherein the information carrier obtains a substantially planar surface section in the area which then will be enclosed by said frame, applying a first profiled unit (3) along an upper edge of the road sign.

23. The method for manufacturing a road sign according to claim 22, characterized in that the road sign symbol, the information carrier and/or the profiled unit are applied by means of high frequency welding.

24. A method for manufacturing a sign cover according to any one of the claims 18-21, characterized in that the method comprises the manufacture of a transparent panel (61) through thermo forming, preferably vacuum forming.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises forming a front surface of said panel (61 ) by bringing the forming material into abutment against a surface in a plastic forming tool having a prismatic surface structure, whereby the front surface of the sign cover obtains a non-reflecting surface.