GB2285070A

GB2285070A - Sign system

Info

Publication number: GB2285070A
Application number: GB9326415A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Peter Gifford Hull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-12-24
Filing date: 1993-12-24
Publication date: 1995-06-28
Also published as: GB9326415D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a sign system 10 which essentially comprises: supports 11, 12; mounting brackets 13 for the respective supports 11, 12 and a sign 14 mountable on the bracket. Each support comprises a first long, slotted, post element 15 and a second shorter, slotted, post elements 16. The elements 15, 16 are interconnected by double-headed ties 19 and may be hollow extrusions reinforced by inserts, e.g. scaffold poles. Supports of a variety of strengths can hence be obtained from a single extrusion. <IMAGE>

Description

A Sian Svstem This invention relates to sign systems.

With all signing systems, and in particular with road traffic signing, wind loading is a significant consideration. For this reason many Authorities have laid down Regulations concerning the strength or otherwise of the support systems for signs, but in practice this often results in the supports being unnecessarily strong and expensive for certain signs, because it is impracticle to produce too many different types of support with different strength characteristics.

From one aspect the invention consists in a hollow post for a sign and a strengthening insert disposable within the post.

Typically the strengthening insert may be in the form of a cylindrical tube which can be brought "off the shelf".

Conveniently the post can be extruded.

The invention further consists in a sign system using such posts and includes any or all of the features of the sign system defined below.

From another aspect the invention consists n a sign system comprising a first post element having at least one slot extending along at least one part of its length, a sign and means for mounting the sign on the first post element characterised in that the system further comprises a second slotted post element extending along at least a part of the first post element to reinforce it, and tie means for engaging in the respective slots of the two post elements to tie them together.

In this arrangement it is preferred that the slots have restricted mouths and, conveniently, the tie means may comprise a double-headed element.

The sign systems defined above may include a signboard or mounting bracket for a sign which may be mounted on the post by means of a slot. The signboard may comprise a first sign element having inturned edges having projecting tangs and a second sign element having inturned edges defining openings for releasably lockingly receiving the tangs.

When the system includes a first sign element having inturned edges, it may further include a mounting bracket mountable on a post and having inturned edges over which the edges of the first sign element can snap-fit. The first sign element may include end abutments at the ends of its edges for limiting sliding movement with respect to the bracket.

The invention may further consists in a signboard comprising a first element having inturned edges bearing projecting tangs and a second sign element having inturned edges defining openings for releasably lockingly receiving the tangs.

The invention still further consists in a sign assembly comprising a signboard as defined above and a mounting bracket having inturned edges over which the first sign element can snap-fit.

Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of part of a sign system; Figure 2 is a view from above of a pair of interconnected post elements of the sign system of Figure 1 and showing alternative mounting arrangements; Figure 3 is a scrap end view of a mounted sign; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing an alternative mounting arrangement; and Figure 5 is an end view of an alternative post crosssection.

A sign system 10 is illustrated in Figure 1 and essentially comprises supports 11, 12; mounting brackets 13 for the respective supports 11, 12, and a sign 14 mountable on the brackets 13. Each support comprises a first long post element 15 and a second shorter post element 16. Each of the post elements 15, 16 is provided with slots 18 which can be used to receive either the mounting brackets 13 or a double-headed interconnecting element or tie 19. As can be seen in Figure 2 the tie 19 can be used to interconnect the post elements 15 and 16 so that the short post element 16 strengthens the long post element 15 and helps increase the acceptable wind loading of the system 10.

One advantage of this arrangement is that the strength of the supports 11, 12 can be fine-tuned to the particular sign and location simply by selecting the appropriate length for the post element 16. Thus it could extend along the full length of the post element 15 or it could be nearer a third of the length as shown in Figure 1. This means that supports of a whole range of strengths can be produced from a single extrusion and provides more flexibility of design.

The fact that the post elements 15, 16 are hollow, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 5, can also be utilised for reinforcement purposes. Thus in alternative or additional arrangement a rigid tube, for example a scaffold tube, can be inserted in to the length of a post element 15, 16 to reinforce it. This is much cheaper than providing a range of supports of different strengths. When such a tube is used, the second post element 16 may not always be required.

The cross-section illustrated in Figure 5 also includes an alternative form of slot 18a which may be particularly suitable for retaining certain signs.

Returning to Figure 1, a particularly convenient form of sign 14 is illustrated. It will be seen that the sign 14 comprises a first sign element 20 which has turned over edges 21 in which are formed projecting tangs 22. End abutments 23 are also provided. The sign 14 also can include a second sign element 24 which has turned over edges 25 which define openings 26 for receiving the tangs 22 when the edges 25 of the second sign element are clipped over the edges 21 of the first sign element.

The mounting brackets 13 comprise base plates 28 having turned over edges 29 and these are formed so that the edges 21 of the first sign element can simply be snap-fitted over them. This complete construction is still illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 4 illustrates how such a sign can be mounted on a single post using the same mounting bracket 13.

Filling elements 30 can be inserted into any unused slot both for cosmetic reasons and to protect against any hidden corrosion and a cap 31 may close-off the upper end of the post element 15.

Claims

1. A hollow post for a sign and a strengthening or reinforcing insert disposable within the post.

2. A post as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the strengthening insert is a cylindrical tube.

3. A post as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the post is extruded, for example from plastics.

4. A post as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the post is formed with formations or locations for receiving or locating sign parts.

5. A hollow post for a sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A sign system incorporating a post as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

7. A sign system comprising a first post element having at least one slot extending along at least one part of its length, a sign and means for mounting the sign on the first post element characterised in that the system further comprises a second slotted post element extending along at least a part of the first post element to reinforce it, and tie means for engaging in the respective slots of the two post elements to tie them together.

8. A system as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the slots have restricted mouths and the tie means comprises a doubleheaded element.

9. A system as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein a signboard or mounting bracket for a sign is mounted on the post by means of a slot.

10. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9 including a signboard comprising a first sign element having inturned edges bearing projecting tangs and a second sign element having projecting edges defining openings for releasably lockingly receiving the tangs.

11. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10 wherein the system includes a first sign element having inturned edges further including a mounting bracket mountable on a post and having inturned edges over which the edges of the first sign element can snap-fit.

12. A system as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the first sign element includes end abutments at the ends of its edges for limiting sliding movement with respect to the bracket.

13. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 12 wherein at least one post element is constituted by a post as claimed in Claims 1 to 5.

14. A sign system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.