EP2642473A2

EP2642473A2 - Traffic warning sign

Info

Publication number: EP2642473A2
Application number: EP13380009.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Leonardo Nortes Cano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Grupo Pf Seguridad Vial SL
Priority date: 2012-03-23
Filing date: 2013-03-22
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Also published as: EP2642473A3

Abstract

A traffic warning sign, self-supporting, to prevent collisions with vehicles that have had an accident or have broken down, which are stationary on the road.

It is an innovative proposal as it is self-supporting, due to its objective to indicate the obligation to keep a safe distance when overtaking a vehicle that has stopped or broken down.

This sign could be compulsory for motor vehicles that have stopped because of an accident or breakdown, to prevent collisions and grazes or side approaches. This sign will warn other drivers of the need and obligation to keep a safe distance (currently established by the DGT - National Department of Traffic- for overtaking) from the side facing the road of the vehicle that has stopped as a result of an accident or breakdown.

This sign is a complement to the current compulsory triangle that fails to clearly indicate the need to move away from the side of the stationary vehicle that has broken down or had an accident on the road.

Description

TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

The warning sign can be located within the automobile sector with application in the road safety sector.
A luminous traffic sign which seeks to give a clear warning to vehicles travelling in the same lane of a vehicle having stopped in the same lane, indicating the need to keep a safe distance in order to prevent any accidents and collisions between vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A compulsory vehicle warning triangle is currently used for this purpose. The latter is a device that cannot be seen at a distance when visibility is poor, such as when it is raining or foggy, or at nighttime.
In addition to this, it does not indicate the obligation of keeping a safe distance when overtaking a stationary vehicle or one that has broken down on the road.
These insufficiencies lead to situations that may pose a real threat to one's life and physical integrity, giving rise to serious accidents that could be prevented with another more appropriate type of device.
There also exists a similar utility model, ES1009398U , which has the same purpose as our traffic warning sign, but which, unlike the latter, presents a complex and a not very practical illuminating system. Besides, the said model does not guarantee the obligation of keeping the safety distance when overtaking a stationary vehicle or one that has broken down, since it is designed to be placed on the roof of the vehicle.
The traffic warning sign has special characteristics that improve the utility model ES1009398U , as well as other models seeking a similar purpose, as a result of its very simple structure and mounting process, comprising just two parts that are joined together to make the full sign, not having any legs or any other complex structural support additional elements, nor any connections to external power sources.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is a luminous device, which is self-supporting and independent of the motor vehicle to which is attached by means of an inverted U-shaped plastic support, a magnet or a suction pad, which will be placed directly onto the vehicle's metallic surface when it stops in the hard shoulder.
The sign will consist of a "flexible" metal or plastic support, in such a way that in the event of collision no harm will come to the vehicle carrying it or to the one it collides with, and with an arrow-shaped print, in alternating red and white reflective bands, with the vertex of the said arrow the furthest away from the vehicle bearing it.
The design can also be, instead of an arrow shape, a rectangle with these alternating, arrow-shaped red and white reflective bands on the inside, forming an angle of 90° between each one, in order to indicate the direction.
The alternating red and white bands will be printed on reflective materials, alternating red and white luminous leds, or any other kind of reflective material appropriately determined.
This sign is adhered to the vehicle that has broken down or stopped by means of an inverted U-shaped plastic support, a magnet or a suction pad, which will be placed directly onto the vehicle's metallic surface. It will be placed on the side of the vehicle where the traffic lane is in the direction of travel, indicating the obligation of keeping a safe distance when overtaking a stationary vehicle or one that has broken down on the road, unlike the triangle currently in use, which fails to indicate clearly the need to move away from the side of the stationary vehicle that has broken down or had an accident on the road.
The traffic warning sign is compatible with the said triangle, as well as having the advantage that it is much more visible than the latter at a distance and when visibility is poor, such as when it is raining or foggy, or at nighttime.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is the design of the self-supporting sign with a white arrow in the operating position.
Letter "B" indicates White.
Letter "R" indicates Red.
Figure 2 is the design of the self-supporting sign without the white arrow superimposed.
Letter "B" indicates White.
Letter "R" indicates Red.
Figure 5 depicts the design of the mortise mount of the two parts of the sign, the sign itself and the support for attaching it to the vehicle (Figure 6), in the form of a hanger (Figure 3) or magnet (Figure 4).
Figure 7 depicts the part containing the male side of the mortise mount, at the end of the sign (Figures 1 & 2) itself.
Letter "S" indicates the joint between the sign and the support.

Claims

A traffic warning sign characterised in that it is a sign of an elastic consistency with a plastic or metal support (1)
A traffic warning sign according to Claim 1 characterised in that it is made of reflective materials, alternating luminous leds or any other type of reflective material appropriately determined.
A traffic warning sign according to aforementioned claims characterised in that it is attached to the vehicle that has broken down or stopped by means of an inverted U-shaped plastic support (3), a magnet or a suction pad (4) that are attached to or are placed directly on the vehicle side nearest to the lane in which the other vehicles are travelling, according to the direction of travel.
A traffic warning sign according to aforementioned claims characterised in that it is the mounting means consist of a male mortise (7), which is joined to its support that can be a magnet sign (4) or hanger (3), joint that will be made by means of a mortise or a plastic hinge (5).
A traffic warning sign according to aforementioned claims characterised in that it is its measurements are compatible with the containers of the triangles currently in use, measuring 400 mm long and 90 mm wide as minimum standards.