GB2440795A - Rotatable road sign - Google Patents

Abstract

The road sign, particularly for use on road works and the like, comprises a stand 2, a sign plate 4, a bracket 5 to support the sign plate on the stand so that the sign plate can rotate from a first to a second position relative to the stand, and a motor 9 for rotating the sign plate. The motor is preferably operated by remote control and powered by a battery 11 or solar powered. The sign plate may be designed to rotate by 90 degrees or 100 degrees between the first and second positions.

Description

<p>Title: Rotating Sign The present invention relates to a rotating sign,

and especially to a rotating sign which can be operated remotely.</p>

<p>When working on roadways, it is common practice to close off lanes of traffic in the early morning and open the lanes again in the evening. The closing of lanes often involves men carrying temporary signs and sand bags across traffic lanes, and this can be dangerous. Also it is often not possible tà leave a sign up and cover it with material when a lane is opened at night.</p>

<p>because the sign can project into a traffic lane. For example a wide sign in a central reservation could extend into the outer traffic lane.</p>

<p>The invention seeks to provide a rotating sign which can be rotated such that it is generally "face on" to traffic in use in a first position and generally not visible in line with traffic flow in a second position.</p>

<p>According to the present invention there is provided a rotating road sign comprising: a) a stand for mounting on the ground, b) a sign plate, c) a bracket to support the sign plate on the stand, said bracket allowing the sign plate to rotate from a first position relative to the stand to a second position re'ative to the stand, and d) a motor to rotate to the sign plate relative to the stand.</p>

<p>Preferably the motor is operated by remote control.</p>

<p>Preferably the sign plate rotates about 1000 from the first to the second position.</p>

<p>The motor may be powered by battery (optionally re-chargeable) or may be solar powered.</p>

<p>An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows a perspective view of the bracket between a stand and sign, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the sign when "face on" to traffic in a first position, and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the sign when in line with traffic flow in a second position.</p>

<p>Referring to the drawings, there is shown a rotating road sign 1.</p>

<p>Sign 1 has a share-shaped stand 2 for mounting on the ground, e.g. connected to the ground by a central road reservation crash barrier 3.</p>

<p>A sign plate 4 is provided giving traffic information, e.g. indication of road works or one or more lane closures.</p>

<p>A bracket 5 is provided to support the sign plate 4 on the stand 2. Bracket 5 includes upper and lower bearing plates 6A,6B each connected at one end to sign plate 4 and at the other end to a generally vertical shaft 7 which rotates in a housing 8. Housing 8 contains a motor 9 to rotate shaft 7, a receiver 10 to control the motor, and a battery I I to power motor 9. Bracket 5 includes a square-shaped socket 12 to connect bracket 5 to square-shaped stand 2.</p>

<p>Motor 9 (as controlled by receiver 10) is controlled by a remote transmitter 13 with buttons l4A, 14B to move the sign plate 4 left and right to first and second positions as described below.</p>

<p>As shown in Figure 2, sign plate 4 may be in a first position relative to the stand such that it is generally "face on" to traffic. As shown in Figure 3, it can then be moved to a second position generally not visible in line with traffic flow. The first and second position are generally 900 apart but may in fact be 1000 apart to ensure the sign is clearly not visible in the second position.</p>

<p>Battery II may be rechargeable. Alternatively motor 9 could be solar powered.</p>

<p>It will be appreciated that the sign of the invention may be positioned by a roadway when commencing road works, and need not be removed until the road works are complete. In the daytime when work commences, the sign can face the traffic in the first position. At night when work finishes, the sign can be rotated to the second position.</p>

<p>The invention may take a form different o that specificafly described above.</p>

<p>Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.</p>

Claims (1)

1. <p>CLAIMS</p>

   <p>1. A rotatable road sign comprising a stand, a sign plate, a bracket to support the sign plate on the stand, said bracket allowing the sign plate to rotate from a first position relative to the stand to a second position relative to the stand, and a motor to rotate the sign plate relative to the stand.</p>

   <p>2. A road sign as claimed in claim I, in which the motor is operated by remote control.</p>

   <p>3. A road sign as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which the sign plate rotates about 900 from the first position to the second position.</p>

   <p>4. A road sign as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sign plate rotates about 1000 from the first position to the second position. motor is powered by battery.</p>

   <p>5. A road sign as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the motor is powered by battery.</p>

   <p>6 A road sign as claimed in any of claims I to 4, in which the motor is solar powered.</p>

   <p>7. A rotatable road sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.</p>