GB2331393A

GB2331393A - Differential reflective sign

Info

Publication number: GB2331393A
Application number: GB9809854A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Graham Perry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-18
Filing date: 1998-05-11
Publication date: 1999-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-11
Also published as: GB9724248D0; GB9809854D0; GB2331393B

Abstract

A display sign (1) such as for personal use by a motorist on a motor vehicle, wherein at least one region (3) of the sign, which may be indicia or background, is separated from another (2) by a boundary and the sign has a different reflectivity on either side of the boundary. In particular such a display sign has a capital letter L or P on a differentially reflective background. Also a set of such display signs has a first sign having a reflective white background and a second sign having a non-reflective white background.

Description

1 DIFFERENTIAL REFLECTIVE SIGN 2331393 This invention relates to signs in

particular signs associated with motoring and more particularly signs for personal use by a motorist.

In the United Kingdom motorists who have not yet passed their official driving test are required to display in any car that they are driving a sign indicating that they are a learner driver. Such a sign, generally known as an L-plate, takes the form of a red capital letter L on a white background. Additionally in some countries it is mandatory and in other countries such as the UK it is becoming generally more popular, for a recently qualified driver to display a sign which indicates that they are newly qualified. Such signs generally take the form of a green capital P on a white background.

Conventionally such signs for personal use by a motorist have a non-reflective message, sign or indicia on a non reflective background. For this reason, although they are generally visible in good light conditions, they are not as clear or obvious under reduced light conditions such as in severe weather or at night. There is, therefore, a need to improve visibility of display signs for personal use by motorists.

According to the present invention there is provided a 2 display sign such as for personal use by a motorist on a motor vehicle, wherein at least one region of the sign, which may be indicia or background, is separated f rom another by a boundary and the sign has a different 5 reflectivity on either side of the boundary.

One or other of the regions on either side of the boundary on the sign may be non-reflective or both regions may have a degree of reflectivity but vary in that degree.

In designing the differential reflectivity of the present display signs and in their display, care must be taken to comply with relevant motoring regulations. In the United Kingdom, for example, motor vehicles must not display a white reflective light to the rear, nor a red reflective light to the front of the vehicle. A display sign according to the present invention to be displayed at the front of a motor vehicle should, therefore, have any red areas made non-reflective and a display sign according to the present invention for use at the rear of a motor vehicle should have any white areas non-reflective. Hence, for example, a set of L-plates made according to the present invention will preferably have a red reflective capital letter L on a non-reflective white background for display at the rear of the vehicle and a non-reflective red capital L on a reflective white background for display at the front of the vehicle.

3 The differential reflectivity of the background and the sign element or indicia defining the message may be provided by any suitable means, such as those well known in the art. The display sign could, for example, be manufactured by conventional printing techniques using colorants, pigments or inks having different levels of reflectivity, e.g. by the incorporation of fluorescent and non-fluorescent materials etc. Alternatively premanufactured reflective materials such as foils and films capable of returning incident light could be used.

Retroreflective materials incorporating optical elements or retroreflecting bodies may also be used. Such retroreflective materials include those having Fresnel lenses, glass beads, rounded lenses, and prismatic retroreflectors, such as cube-corner prism or foursided prism retroref lectors. Thermoplastic sheets having an array of such optical elements or retroref lectors are particularly useful. Metal lacquers, dielectric coatings and other llspecularll reflecting coating materials can be employed as can catadioptric beads.

A display sign according to the present invention may be manufactured by any suitable techniques such as application by direct printing techniques or assembly of one or more layers onto a backing layer. Individual layers can be secured by any suitable means such as adhesion, welding or fusion for example by using heat, infrared or ultrasonic means. Suitable materials for any 4 backing layer include paper, cardboard and plastics materials including fibre reinforced plastic materials. Suitable plastic materials include those having a degree of flexibility and include polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene or other polymeric materials.

Materials which can withstand prolonged exposure to UV light emitted by the sun are particularly preferred.

The size, shape and dimensions of the display signs according to the present invention can take any suitable form and may be varied as desired. They should, however, be of a size, shape and general appearance so as to comply with any legal requirements set down for their use.

The display signs are preferably adapted for ease of display on or in a motor vehicle. For this purpose they may be provided with adhesive, magnetic or hooked fabric areas or strips by which they may be fastened to a part of the motor vehicle either interiorly or exteriorly.

Alternatively the display signs may be provided with means by which they may be fastened by ties to the motor vehicle. For this purpose the display signs may be provided with eyelets through which suitable fastenings may be threaded securely.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect reference will now be made, for the purposes of illustration only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a display sign according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a front view of a second embodiment of a display sign according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a display sign 1 which is generally square in shape and has a flexible backing layer 2. The backing layer 2 is coated with a reflective white material to provide a reflective white background. Upon the white background a non-reflective red capital letter L 3 is provided centrally on the display sign 1. Running along the top and bottom of the display sign 1 are two strips 4. The strips 4 may be made f rom a self-adhesive, magnetic or hooked-fabric material to allow the display sign 1 to be attached to a suitable part of the motor vehicle. Such an L-plate would be suitable f or use at the front of a motor vehicle. A similar display sign for use at the rear of the motor vehicle would be substantially identical but the white material of the background would be non-reflective and the red capital letter L would be made of a reflective material.

The display sign 5 shown in Figure 2 is substantially square in shape and has a backing layer 6 of a flexible 6 plastics material coated with a non-reflective white material. Centrally positioned on the white background is a green capital letter P 7 formed from reflective green material. An eyelet 8 is provided at each corner of the display sign 5. Fastenings such as wire string or other thread may be passed through one or more of the eyelets 8 to secure the display sign 5 to a motor vehicle. Such a display sign 5 is of use for a recently qualified motorist for display at the rear of a motor vehicle while they are driving. A similar display sign could be displayed at the front of the vehicle or alternatively a display sign having a reflective white background with a non-reflective green capital letter P could be used at the front of the vehicle.

Other signs having differential reflectivity across a boundary may be made for a range of different purposes, especially for use in marginal illuminations conditions where the differential reflectivity particularly enhances the visibility of the message conveyed by the signs.

Such uses not only include road traffic signs but those in submarine locations where depth of water results in obscuration of the light, such that artificial light is required. The signs of the present invention are particularly effective in circumstances where artificial lighting, especially portable artificial lighting is used because in such circumstances the retro reflections is most noticeable to an observer close to the source of 7 illumination.

8

Claims

1. A display sign such as for personal use by a motorist on a motor vehicle, wherein at least one region of the sign, which may be indicia or background, is separated from another by a boundary and the sign has a different reflectivity on either side of the boundary.

2. A display sign according to Claim 1, wherein at least one region on one side of the said boundary is formed from a retroreflective material.

3. A display sign according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the regions on both sides of the said boundary are formed of reflective material with the region on one side having a higher reflectivity then the region on the other.

4. A display sign according to any of Claim 1 to 3, in which the differential reflectivity is due to the presence of a coating of reflective material or morereflective material over the region on the said one side of the boundary.

5. A display sign according to any of Claims 1 to 3, in which a base material of the sign is made of or coated with reflective material and the region on one side of the boundary is covered with a transparent material while 9 the region on the other side of the boundary is covered with an opaque or a translucent material whereby to achieve the said differential reflectivity.

6. A set of L-plates comprising a f irst display sign having a red nonreflective capital letter L on a reflective white background and a second display sign having a reflective red capital L on a non-reflective white background.

7. A display sign for personal use by a motorist on a motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.