GB2319388A

GB2319388A - Sign and sign assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2319388A
Application number: GB9723744A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barrie Schofield
Original assignee: Melba Products Ltd
Current assignee: Melba Products Ltd
Priority date: 1996-11-12
Filing date: 1997-11-12
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Also published as: GB9623465D0; GB9723744D0

Abstract

A sign (10) has an upright (14) and a sign element (19) with parts (20,21) connected by hinge (22) for movement between an open position and a closed position, the part (21) overlying part (20) in the closed position. The sign element (19) is bowed in both open and closed positions to resist unwanted closing or opening of the sign. A latch (30, 31) may releasably hold the sign in the closed position. The lower end of the upright (14) may be removably received in a base (11) to form a sign assembly. In a modification a cam (40, Figure 5) is provided on the upright (14) for movement of the sign element (19) between bowed and unbowed conditions.

Description

SIGNS AND SIGN ASSEMBLIES THIS INVENTION relates to signs and sign assemblies.

According to this invention a sign comprises a sign element, a support for the sign element, the sign element comprising first and second parts connected by hinge means for movement of the second part relative to the first part from an open condition to a closed condition, and means for bowing the sign element for holding the second part in the open position.

The bowing means may comprise a connection between the sign element and the support. The hinge means may be integral with the first and second parts.

The bowing means may comprise cam means movable between operative and inoperative positions.

The cam means may be mounted on the support.

There may be a latch device for holding the second part in the closed condition.

The sign element may be circular and the hinge diametral.

The lower end of the support may have a boss for removable receipt in a base to form a sign assembly.

The support may comprise an upright.

The invention may be performed in various ways and two specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a rear view part in section of a sign assembly; Figs. 2 and 3 are side views of the assembly in two conditions; and Figs. 4 to 6 are similar views of a preferred embodiment.

A sign assembly 10 Fig. 1 comprises a base 11, for example as used in a barrier assembly, having a central upwardly facing generally circular recess 12 formed with angularly spaced inwardly extending peripheral projections which are slightly flexible and can removably receive with a friction fit a circular boss 13 riveted to a lower end of a tubular post 14. Spaced brackets 15, 16 are riveted at 17 to the post 14 and are themselves riveted at 18 to the rear of sign element 19. The sign element 19 in the case shown is circular and is in two planar halves 20, 21 connected by an integral diametral hinge section 22 which is thinner than the parts 20, 21.

The brackets 15, 16 are positioned so that in the erect position, Figs. 1, 2 the hinge 22 is bowed outwards away from the post 14. The face 25 of the element 19 carries a sign e.g. an arrow.

The element 19 may be of suitable plastics e.g polypropylene and the bowed hinge 22 serves to bias the halves to the open and closed position.

When it is desired to obscure the sign 25, or when it is desired to store or transport the sign assembly 10 with base 11 detached, the half 21 can be grasped manually and bent or folded about the hinge 22 through about 1800 until the half 21 overlies the half 20 (Fig. 3). During this movement the hinge 22 will tend to straighten and as folding progresses, will then tend to unstraighten and return to the bowed condition in which the bias provided by the bowed condition serves to tend to hold the half 21 in a folded closed position.

The sign can be unfolded by a reverse movement.

The half 21 may have an aperture 30 which, in the folded or inoperative condition receives a latch 31 manually rotatable on half 20 from a position in which the aperture 30 can pass over the latch 31 to a position in which the latch 31 overlies the now-forwards face 32 of half 21 to resist unfolding movement of the half 21. The latch can be manually moved to a position in which the latch can pass through the aperture 30 as the half 21 is unfolded. The post is in effect secured to half 20 but need not be offset from the hinge 22.

The boss 13 can be removed from the base and the assembly less the base can be stored or stacked with the post horizontal.

In the arrangement of Figs. 4 to 6, the brackets 15, 16 are positioned such that the halves 20, 21 are planar i.e. unbowed. A cam 40 is rotatably mounted on the post 14 and can be manually moved from an inoperative position (Fig. 6) disengaged from the element 19, in which position the half 21 can be moved between closed and open position, to an operative position (Fig. 5) in which the cam 40 engages the half 20 to bow the element 19 outwards.

The cam 40 is in the operative position both when the halves 20, 21 are in the open and in the closed positions and serves to resist unwanted closing or opening movement between the halves 20, 21.

In Figs. 4 to 6, the latch 30, 31 can be omitted; also the hinge 22 need not be integral but could be two spaced two-part hinges.

The post can be nearer the diameter 22 than as shown.

The element 19 need not be circular but could for example be square or rectangular.

The sign assembly may be used as a hazard warning or traffic control device.

Claims

1. A sign comprising a sign element, a support for the sign element, the sign element comprising first and second parts connected by hinge means for movement of the second part relative to the first part from an open condition to a closed condition, and means for bowing the sign element for holding the second part in the open position.

2. A sign as claimed in Claim 1, in which the hinge means is integral with the first and second parts.

3. A sign as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the bowing means comprises a connection between the sign element and the support.

4. A sign as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the bowing means comprises cam means movable between operative and inoperative positions.

5. A sign as claimed in Claim 4, in which the claim means is mounted on the support.

6. A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, including a latch device for holding the second part in the closed position.

7. A sign as claimed in Claim 6 in which the latch device comprises a latch on one of the sign parts engageable through an aperture in the other sign part.

8. A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sign element is circular and the hinge means is diametral.

9. A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support comprises an upright.

10. A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a lower end of the support comprises a boss.

11. A sign as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bowing means is adapted for holding the second part in the open and closed positions.

12. A sign comprising a sign element, and a support for the sign element, the sign element being bowed.

13. A sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, or Figs. 4 to 6, of the accompanying drawings.

14. A sign assembly comprising a sign as claimed in any preceding claim with the lower end of the support received in a base.

15. A sign assembly as claimed in Claim 14, in which the support is removably received in the base.

16. A sign assembly substantially has hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, or Figs. 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.