GB2275125A

GB2275125A - Road safety

Info

Publication number: GB2275125A
Application number: GB9302136A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beverley Elizabeth Alexan Ward
Original assignee: MEDI MARK Ltd
Current assignee: MEDI MARK Ltd
Priority date: 1993-02-03
Filing date: 1993-02-03
Publication date: 1994-08-17
Also published as: GB9302136D0

Abstract

A road vehicle has a reflective road sign at the back located in a housing but being movable to an in-use display condition to direct traffic as required. Suitably, the sign is on a sheet of flexible material (1) which may be spring biased to a rolled-up stored condition in a bumper-mounted housing. The sign may show an arrow-like element (4), which may be pivotally mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

ROAD SAFETY The invention relates to road safety and in particular to apparatus for use in warning following traffic that a vehicle has broken down and presents an obstacle.

If a lorry or other large vehicle breaks down on e.g. a motorway it is usual for the Police to provide a warning sign to direct traffic to the right or left of the stationary vehicle. The sign may be a blue circle containing an arrow formed of reflective material and mounted on a large collapsible frame. It is necessary for a policeman to place the sign a distance from the vehicle to give sufficient advance warning to following traffic travelling at speed. It can be dangerous for the policeman to place the sign on the road and there can be a delay before a patrol vehicle arrives. The sign is the property of the Police and must be returned to or collected by them.

It is one object of this invention to solve these problems. In particular, the invention is based on the realisation that if a sign is stored on each vehicle to be used when required these problems will be solved and there will be other advantages too.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a road vehicle having a reflective road sign bearing a symbol to direct traffic, e.g. an arrow-shaped traffic symbol, the sign being mounted in a housing therefor, the housing being mountable at the rear of the vehicle, the sign being contained within the housing in a stored condition and being movable to an in-use display condition in which the symbol is displayed in a conspicuous manner at the rear of the road vehicle.

The invention also provides a reflective road sign bearing a symbol to direct traffic and contained within a housing in a stored condition and movable to an in-use display position, the housing being mountable at the rear of a road vehicle.

Preferably the housing is constituted by a bumper member which extends in the direction of the width of the rear wall of the vehicle. Preferably the bumper includes an elongate slot through which the sign may pass when in the display condition.

Conveniently, the sign may be pulled downwardly through a slot in the base or lower circumference of the bumper but alternative arrangements in which the sign is pulled out, e.g. sideways, may be adopted.

In a preferred aspect the sign comprises a sheet of flexible natural or synthetic material, the sheet carrying the symbol on one face thereof, the sheet being mounted on an axle in the housing and being spring biased to a rolled-up stored condition.

Preferably the sign includes means to maintain the sign in a substantially straight vertically downward disposition when in the display condition.

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that there is one symbol which is arranged to point to the left or right of an observer of the sign. More specifically the symbol preferably comprises a symbol element in the form of a shaft and arrow head, the element being pivotally mounted on the sign about a pivot point in the shaft whereby the element may be moved so that the element points to the left or the right.

In another aspect the invention provides a traffic sign for control of road traffic comprising a support and a single symbol to direct traffic characterised in that the symbol is arranged to point to the left or right of an observer of the sign.

Preferably the symbol comprises a symbol element in the form of a shaft and arrow head, the element being pivotally mounted on the sign about a pivot point in the shaft whereby the element may be moved so that the element points to the left or the right The sign may be based on Ministry of Transport Regulatory signs currently in force.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the tailgate of a lorry showing a sign of the invention in the in-use condition; Figure 2 is a side elevation taken from direction A shown on Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the sign in the as stored condition.

The sign S of Figures 1 to 3 comprises a length, square as seen in plan view, of light reflective plastics material 1. A circle is printed on the material having a white perimeter band 2 and a blue body 3. A white arrow 4 is present. The arrow comprises an arrow head 5 and a shaft 6. The arrow is mounted by a pin 7 passing through the shaft 6 of the arrow 4 into the sheet; the arrow may be pivoted about the pin 7 to point to the left or the right (the right is shown in Figure 1).

The sheet is mounted on a spindle or axle 8 within a hollow rubber bumper 9 (which may form part of the bumper ordinarily present on the tailgate of a goods vehicle or van). A spring clip 10 is present at one or both ends of the axle 8 to urge the sheet to the rolled up condition. The bumper 9 has a slot 11 in its lower wall through which the sheet may pass. The sheet 1 is normally stowed away within the bumper 9. In the event of a breakdown when the vehicle can be a hazard to following traffic, e.g. on the motorway, the driver can pull the sheet 1 down to extend it so that the sign is visible. He can then direct the arrow element to point to the left or the right, according to need. The sign is always available for use, and is the property of the vehicle, not the Police, emergency services, etc.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The sheet may have strengthening strips or weights to hold it vertically down in the extended condition. The sheet may be provided with grab means or powdered release means (optionally actionable from the driver's cab for use before he leaves it) to extend the sign and to retract the extended sign. The sign may be mounted to the side of the tailgate or other rear wall. Two or more signs may be present for an extra wide vehicle. The sign may be supplied either as an accessory having fixing means e.g. adhesive pads or suckers to be attached to the rear wall of the vehicle or it may be purpose built into the vehicle. In the latter case, it may be preferred that the sign be produced in rigid rather than flexible material. The vehicle need not be a goods vehicle but can be say an emergency vehicle e.g. police car, ambulance, fire engine.

Claims

1. A road vehicle having a reflective road sign bearing a symbol to direct traffic, e.g. an arrow-shaped traffic symbol, the sign being mounted in a housing therefor the housing being mountable at the rear of the vehicle, the sign being contained within the housing in a stored condition and being movable to an in-use display condition in which the symbol is displayed in a conspicuous manner at the rear of the road vehicle.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, in which the housing is constituted by a bumper member which extends in the width direction of the rear wall of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 2, in which the bumper includes an elongate slot through which the sign may pass when in the display condition.

4. A vehicle according to any preceding Claim, in which the sign comprises a sheet of flexible natural or synthetic material, the sheet carrying the symbol on one face thereof, the sheet being mounted on an axle in the housing and being spring biased to a rolled up stored condition.

5. A vehicle according to Claim 4, including means to maintain the sign in a substantially straight vertically downward disposition when in the display condition.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding Claim, in which the symbol is arranged to point to the left or right of an observer of the sign.

7. A vehicle according to Claim 6, in which the symbol comprises a symbol element in the form of a shaft and arrow head, the element being pivotally mounted on the sign about a pivot point in the shaft whereby the element may be moved so that the element points to the left or the right.

8. A vehicle according to any preceding Claim, in which the road sign includes other symbols or legends.

9. A traffic sign for control of road traffic comprising a support and a single symbol to direct traffic characterised in that the symbol is arranged to point to either the left or right of an observer of the sign.

10. A sign according to Claim 9, in which the symbol comprises a symbol element in the form of a shaft and arrow head, the element being pivotally mounted on the sign about a pivot point in the shaft whereby the element may be moved so that the element points to the left or the right.

11. A reflective road sign bearing a symbol to direct traffic and contained within a housing in a stored condition and movable to an in-use display position, the housing being mountable at the rear of a vehicle.