GB2398096A

GB2398096A - Delineation sign for arched bridge

Info

Publication number: GB2398096A
Application number: GB0401780A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Hole; Martin Charles Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-10
Filing date: 2004-01-28
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Also published as: GB0302964D0; GB0401780D0

Abstract

The delineation sign, for clearly showing the location of the underside of a bridge, comprises a series of abutting arcuate segments formed of durable plastic material, with spaced stripes of fluorescent reflective material secured to the outer surface of the arcuate segments. The sign is preferably formed from a plastic material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion and the sign is preferably formed from a plastic composite such as an aluminium sandwich with a polyethylene core. The plastic material is preferably black and the outer surface of the plastic material may be coated with a high quality u.v. and corrosion resistant black paint. The fluorescent reflective material is preferably coloured yellow. Also claimed is a chord sign for an arched bridge.

Description

ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS

The present invention relates to road traffic signs and in particular road traffic signs for use on arched bridges.

With arched bridges it is desirable that the arch of the bridge is delineated so that it will be visible particularly at night. Hitherto, this has been done by painting the fascia of the bridge around the perimeter of the arch with alternating black and yellow segments. Such signs are however of limited visibility and poor durability.

There is also a requirement for chord signs on arched bridges, which indicate the position a vehicle must assume to pass under the bridge. Hitherto, such chord signs have been formed from strips of wood painted white. Again these signs are of limited visibility and poor durability.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a delineation sign for an arched bridge comprises a series of abutting arcuate segments formed of durable plastics material, with spaced stripes of fluorescent reflective material secured to an outer surface of the arcuate segments.

The arcuate segments are secured to the fascia of the bridge, so that they delineate the arch. Any suitable fastening means, for example screws, nails or adhesive may be used. The segments are preferably cut to the particular curvature of the arch. The arcuate segments are made of durable plastics including plastics composite materials. Preferably the plastics materials have low thermal expansion properties, so that the signs will not expand and buckle when exposed to sunshine. According to a preferred embodiment a composite aluminium sandwich with polypropylene core is used. The plastics material is preferably black or is coated, for example with a high quality u.v. and corrosion resistant black paint, or similar coating. Stripes of yellow fluorescent reflective material applied to the plastics material at equiangularly spaced intervals, so as to provide alternating black and yellow segments.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a chord sign is formed from UPVC strip with a retro-reflective white layer mounted on an outer surface of the UPVC strip. Preferably the UPVC strip is mounted on a black durable plastic backing strip. The backing strip may be a plastics or composite plastics material with low thermal expansion characteristics, as described above.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the fascia of an arched bridge with an arch delineation sign and a chord sign in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a segment of the arch delineation sign shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a section of the chord sign shown in Figure 1.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, an arched bridge 10 has a series of arcuate segments 12 formed from an aluminium sandwich with polyethylene core, which are mounted to the fascia of the bridge 10, around the periphery of the arch. The outer surface of the arcuate segments are coated with a high quality u.v. and corrosion resistant black paint, or similar coating. Strips 14 of a yellow fluorescent reflective film material are bonded to the arcuate segments 12 at uniformly spaced intervals, to provide alternating black and yellow segments. As illustrated in greater detail in Figure 2, the black sections 16 adjacent the ends of the arcuate segments 12 are of half-width, so that when the arcuate segments 12 are butted together they will form a full width black sections.

The arcuate segments 12 are secured to the fascia of the bridge by screwing, nailing, bonding or any other suitable method.

The arcuate segments 12 are cut to correspond to the curvature of the arch of the bridge 10.

The delineation sign thus produced is of significantly enhanced durability as compared with the painted signs used hitherto and furthermore, the use of a fluorescent reflective material provides high visibility at night.

The chord sign 20 comprises a black plastics backing board 22 made of an aluminium sandwich with polyethylene core, the outer surface of which is coated with a high quality u.v. and corrosion resistant black paint, or similar coating. The backing board 22 is secured to the fascia of the bridge in suitable manner, for example by screwing, nailing or bonding. A white UPVC strip 24 is secured to the backing strip 22 in suitable manner, for example by screwing, bonding or by means of clips or inter-engaging formation. A white retro-reflective film material 26 is applied to the front surface of the UPVC strip 24.

The chord sign 20 defines a chord of the arch under which a vehicle may pass and a triangular road sign 30 gives the maximum height of the vehicle that may pass under that chord of the arch.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

For example, other plastics materials may be used for the arcuate segments 12 of the arch delineation sign and the backing strip 22 and strip 24 of the chord sign 20. Furthermore, any highly reflective material and/or fluorescent material may be used to form the segments 14 of the arch delineation sign or to face the strip 24 of the chord sign 20.

Furthermore, while yellow and black are the conventional colours for the arch delineation sign and white is the conventional colour for the chord sign 20, other colours may be used, as appropriate.

Claims

Claims 1. A delineation sign for an arched bridge comprising a series of

abutting arcuate segments formed of durable plastics material, with spaced stripes of fluorescent reflective material secured to an outer surface of the arcuate segments.
2. A delineation sign according to claim 1 in which the plastics material has a low coefficient of thermal expansion.
3. A delineation sign according to claim 1 or 2 in which the plastics material is a composite.
4. A delineation sign according to claim 3 in which the plastics material is an aluminium sandwich with polyethylene core.
5. A delineation sign according to any one of the preceding claims in which the plastics material is coloured black.
6. A delineation sign according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the outer surface of the plastics material is coated with a high quality u.v. and corrosion resistant black paint.
7. A delineation sign according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fluorescent reflective material is coloured yellow.
8. A delineation sign substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A chord sign for an arched bridge comprising U PVC strip with a retro reflective layer mounted on an outer surface of the UPVC strip.
10. A chord sign according to claim 9 in which the UPVC strip is mounted on a durable plastic backing strip. ;
11. A chord sign according to claim 10 in which the backing strip has a low coefficient of thermal expansion.
12. A chord sign according to claim 10 or 1 1 in which the backing strip is made from a composite plastic material.
13. A chord sign according to claim 12 in which the composite plastics material is an aluminium sandwich with polyethylene core.
14. A chord sign according to any one of claims 9 to 13 in which the plastics material is coloured black.
15. A chord sign according to any one of claims 9 to 13 in which an outer surface of the plastics material is coated with a layer of black plastics material.
16. A chord sign according to any one of claims 9 to 15 in which the retro-reflective layer is coloured white.
17. A chord sign substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.