GB2033945A

GB2033945A - Street Posts

Info

Publication number: GB2033945A
Application number: GB7933979A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GRADJEVINSKI INST
Current assignee: GRADJEVINSKI INST
Priority date: 1978-10-09
Filing date: 1979-10-01
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: SE7908326L; YU237078A; NO793216L; SE8004664L; BE879224A; SE434285B; GB2078829A; YU39850B; IT1164834B; FR2438712B1; IT7950501A0; BE883982R; FR2438712A1; DE2939979A1

Abstract

A traffic sign post has a vertical support post 2 spaced laterally from the road and carries an arm 3 which terminates in a free end overhanging the road shoulder and carries a direction member such as a reflector stud 4 or road marker stick 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Traffic Direction Post The present invention relates to traffic direction posts, i.e. posts adapted to be located adjacent to a road to provide directions or information to users of the road.

It is usual for existing kinds of traffic direction posts to be located on and to extend vertically from the shoulder of the road. However, such traffic direction posts are vulnerable to damage by machines and vehicles used for road cleaning, for example snow clearance, or for maintenance of the road shoulder, for example grass cutting. The presence of said traffic direction posts also hinder road cleaning and shoulder maintenance in that care has to be taken in order to avoid damaging the posts and, in the case of shoulder maintenance, delays are encountered when dealing with the immediate environment of the posts. Frequently, the immediate environments of the posts are neglected enabling soil, snow, grass, weeds and the like to partly or even completely hide the posts from the view of passing road traffic.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved traffic direction post which is less vulnerable to damage and less of an inconvenience during road clearance or shoulder maintenance than the aforementioned existing traffic direction posts.

According to the present invention, there is provided a traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member adapted to extend substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced laterally from a road; an arm extending laterally from said support member to terminate in a free end for overhanging the shoulder of the road; and for a direction member bearing a traffic-information or direction indication and carried at said free end of the arm for suspension above the road shoulder.

The invention also provides the traffic direction post in use, i.e. a traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member extending substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced from a road; an arm extending laterally from said support member to terminate in a free end overhanging the shoulder of the road; and a direction member bearing a trafficinformation or-direction indication and carried at said free end of the arm whereby it is suspended above the road shoulder.

Usually, the arm of the traffic direction posts will extend substantially perpendicularly from the support member whereby said arm extends substantially horizontally in use. Preferably, the arm is rotatable about the elongate axis of the support member. The arm can be rigidly carried by the support member.

The support member of the traffic direction post preferably has a predetermined weakened zone at which the said member will break is subjected to a predetermined load. When the arm is rigidly carried by the support member and is rotatable about the elongate axis of said member, the said load can be a predetermined torque.

The direction member of the traffic direction post can comprise a reflector element, especially a stud, and/or a road marker stick which stick extends substantially vertically when the post is in use. The direction member can be rotatable about the elongate axis of the arm on which it is carried.

The following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a traffic direction post in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a traffic direction post in use; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the traffic direction post of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a curved section of a road having positioned therealong traffic direction posts of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures, a traffic direction post comprises an elongate support post 2 extending vertically upwards from a staking element 1. The support post 2 has a weakened zone 8 adapted to break if the load on the post exceeds a predetermined load. An arm 3 is rigid with the support post 2 and extends perpendicularly therefrom at its upper end. The arm 3 carries at its free end a reflector stud 4 and a vertical direction stick 5. The stud 4 and stick 5 can be rotatable about the arm 3 and the arm 3 and post 2 are capable of rotational movement about the elongate axis of the post.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the traffic direction post is located at a position spaced laterally from the road shoulder 6. Conveniently, the staking element 1 is mechanically or manually driven into a pre-drilled hole of about 10% smaller diameter than the element 1.

Advantages of the traffic direction posts of the invention compared to traditional direction posts include the following: (a) they permit easier, quicker and higher quality shoulder and pavement maintenance in respect of grass mowing, humus, snow and dirt removal, (b) they simplify and accelerate placing of direction posts in winter, (c) they substantially reduce possibilities of considerable damage and are easy to repair if damage occurs, and (d) it is possible to easily regulate their height and disassemble them, if necessary.

With these advantages, security of traffic participants and better highway maintenance quality is obtained and, finally, this has favourable economic effects.

Claims

1. A traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member adapted to extend substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced laterally from a road; an arm extending laterally from said support member to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Traffic Direction Post The present invention relates to traffic direction posts, i.e. posts adapted to be located adjacent to a road to provide directions or information to users of the road. It is usual for existing kinds of traffic direction posts to be located on and to extend vertically from the shoulder of the road. However, such traffic direction posts are vulnerable to damage by machines and vehicles used for road cleaning, for example snow clearance, or for maintenance of the road shoulder, for example grass cutting. The presence of said traffic direction posts also hinder road cleaning and shoulder maintenance in that care has to be taken in order to avoid damaging the posts and, in the case of shoulder maintenance, delays are encountered when dealing with the immediate environment of the posts. Frequently, the immediate environments of the posts are neglected enabling soil, snow, grass, weeds and the like to partly or even completely hide the posts from the view of passing road traffic. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved traffic direction post which is less vulnerable to damage and less of an inconvenience during road clearance or shoulder maintenance than the aforementioned existing traffic direction posts. According to the present invention, there is provided a traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member adapted to extend substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced laterally from a road; an arm extending laterally from said support member to terminate in a free end for overhanging the shoulder of the road; and for a direction member bearing a traffic-information or direction indication and carried at said free end of the arm for suspension above the road shoulder. The invention also provides the traffic direction post in use, i.e. a traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member extending substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced from a road; an arm extending laterally from said support member to terminate in a free end overhanging the shoulder of the road; and a direction member bearing a trafficinformation or-direction indication and carried at said free end of the arm whereby it is suspended above the road shoulder. Usually, the arm of the traffic direction posts will extend substantially perpendicularly from the support member whereby said arm extends substantially horizontally in use. Preferably, the arm is rotatable about the elongate axis of the support member. The arm can be rigidly carried by the support member. The support member of the traffic direction post preferably has a predetermined weakened zone at which the said member will break is subjected to a predetermined load. When the arm is rigidly carried by the support member and is rotatable about the elongate axis of said member, the said load can be a predetermined torque. The direction member of the traffic direction post can comprise a reflector element, especially a stud, and/or a road marker stick which stick extends substantially vertically when the post is in use. The direction member can be rotatable about the elongate axis of the arm on which it is carried. The following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a traffic direction post in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a traffic direction post in use; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the traffic direction post of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a curved section of a road having positioned therealong traffic direction posts of Figure 1. Referring to the Figures, a traffic direction post comprises an elongate support post 2 extending vertically upwards from a staking element 1. The support post 2 has a weakened zone 8 adapted to break if the load on the post exceeds a predetermined load. An arm 3 is rigid with the support post 2 and extends perpendicularly therefrom at its upper end. The arm 3 carries at its free end a reflector stud 4 and a vertical direction stick 5. The stud 4 and stick 5 can be rotatable about the arm 3 and the arm 3 and post 2 are capable of rotational movement about the elongate axis of the post. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the traffic direction post is located at a position spaced laterally from the road shoulder 6. Conveniently, the staking element 1 is mechanically or manually driven into a pre-drilled hole of about 10% smaller diameter than the element 1. Advantages of the traffic direction posts of the invention compared to traditional direction posts include the following: (a) they permit easier, quicker and higher quality shoulder and pavement maintenance in respect of grass mowing, humus, snow and dirt removal, (b) they simplify and accelerate placing of direction posts in winter, (c) they substantially reduce possibilities of considerable damage and are easy to repair if damage occurs, and (d) it is possible to easily regulate their height and disassemble them, if necessary. With these advantages, security of traffic participants and better highway maintenance quality is obtained and, finally, this has favourable economic effects. Claims

1. A traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member adapted to extend substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced laterally from a road; an arm extending laterally from said support member to terminate in a free end for overhanging the shoulder of the road; and a direction member bearing a traffic-information or-direction indication and carried at said free end of the arm for suspension above the road shoulder.

2. A traffic direction post comprising an elongate support member extending substantially vertically from the ground at a position spaced from a road, an arm extending laterally from said support member to terminate in a free end overhanging the shoulder of the road; and a direction member bearing a traffic-information ordirection indication carried at said free end of the arm whereby it is suspended above the road shoulder.

3. A traffic direction post as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said arm extends substantially perpendicularly from the said support member.

4. A traffic direction post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said arm is rotatable about the elongate axis of the said support member.

5. A traffic direction post as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the said arm is rigidly mounted on the said support member.

6. A traffic direction post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said support member has a predetermined weakened zone at which the said member will break if subjected to a predetermined load.

7. A traffic direction post as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said load is a predetermined torque.

8. A traffic direction post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said direction member comprises a reflector element.

9. A traffic direction post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said direction member comprises a road marker stick which, in use, extends substantially vertical.

10. A traffic direction post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said direction member is rotatable about the elongate axis of the said arm.

1 A traffic direction post as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Console direction posts composed of vertical and horizontal elements, characterized by a vertical part placed beyond the shoulder surface, that carries a horizontal part overhanging the shoulder and basic direction elements.

13. Console direction posts according to Claim 12 characterized by a basic element flexibly hanging on a horizontal part with possibility of circuling around the axis of the horizontal part.

14. Console direction posts according to Claims 12 and 13 characterized by a direction stick vertically standing etthe ending of the horizontal part.

15. Console direction posts according to Claims 12, 13, and 14 characterized by a possibility of circulation around the axis of vertical part, causing the safety device to break, if certain factors on the vertical part are exceeded.

16. A plurality of traffic direction posts as claimed in any one of the preceding claims arranged at spaced intervals along a road to mark the road shoulder.