GB2489453A

GB2489453A - Road sign assembly and associated clip for flexible elements

Info

Publication number: GB2489453A
Application number: GB1105207.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Prowse; Thomas Eric Palmer
Original assignee: Glasdon Ltd; Glasdon Group Ltd
Current assignee: Glasdon Ltd; Glasdon Group Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-28
Filing date: 2011-03-28
Publication date: 2012-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-28
Also published as: GB2489453B; GB201105207D0

Abstract

The sign assembly, which is for use on verges, corners and roundabouts for example, comprises a base 1 and resiliently flexible, upright, elongate panels 2 which may be arranged in a wall and bear a sign. The base defines an opening 9 into which the lower ends of the adjacent panels may be releasably connected. A clip interconnects the adjacent panels and defines first 31 and second 34 jaws. A first jaw defines a first slot 32 for receiving part of a first panel 33 and a second jaw defines a second slot 35 for receiving a second panel 33. The second jaw is fixed to the second panel but the first jaw is movable relative to the first panel up and/or down its elongate length. The first panel may have thicker edge which may be received in a correspondingly shaped slot in the clip to prevent lateral movement.

Description

ROAD SIGN ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a road sign assembly of the kind that is designed to withstand impacts with motor vehicles.

The applicant currently sells a road sign assembly under the trade mark CHEVROFLEX. Unlike signs that are mounted on rigid vertical poles, it comprises a plurality of elongate upright panels typically constructed from an extruded plastics material. The panels are in the form of thin blades, supported in a base and arranged side-by-side to form a wall. Each of the panels bears a highly reflective material strip, the strips combining over the length of the wall to form a visible marker or warning sign.

The upright panels are flexible and resilient such that they are able to bend upon impact with a motor vehicle but return to the vertical position. Thus in the event of a S. 15 collision the risk of injury to motorists and damage to the sign assembly are both reduced.

Such road sign assemblies are used to delineate road sections, as verge markers and to warn motorists of sharp bends and roundabouts etc. and have proved very successful. However, it has been identified that such assemblies are prone to damage in high winds in that the upright panels, particularly those at each end of the wall, tend to oscillate leading to failure after prolonged periods of time. Moreover, the process of replacing damaged upright panels can be labour intensive and time consuming in view of the manner in which they are secured to the base. In particular the upright panels . : 25 are held in a channel-shaped base by means of a spring clip that is fixed to the bottom of each panel. The spring clip deflects inwardly when the panel is inserted downwardly * S S S. * into the base and then outwardly as it passes an internal stop. In order to remove a * *s* damaged upright panel it is necessary to insert a tool into the base in order deflect the 5. 4 clip inwardly such that it can move past the stop when the panel is lifted vertically away S..

: *-. 30 fromthebase. 5S5 * S * *

* *: : Such signs are advantageous over more traditional signs which have upright rigid poles * .7 supporting a panel as replacement or reinstatement is a relatively quick and easy 5s . : process. Traditional signs require removal of the damaged upright rigid poles from their 35 foundations which are typically of concrete. The removal and replacement of the foundation is a time-consuming and labour intensive process. The CHEVROFLEX-type sign assembUes are typically located at the side of the road for many years and the channel-shaped base can become filled with detritus rendering it difficult to access and manoeuvre the clip. In such circumstances the ease of replacement of the signs may be impaired to an extent that the advantages of the assembly over the traditional sign assemblies are diluted.

It is one object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages. It is also an object of the present invention to provide for an improved or alternative road sign assembly.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a road sign assembly comprising a base and at least two resiliently flexible, upright, elongate * panel, the panels being configured to bear a sign or part of a sign, the base defining an opening into which lower ends of the at least two panels are received adjacent to one another, wherein there is provided at least one clip for interconnecting adjacent panels, * the clip defining first and second jaws, a first jaw defining a first slot for receipt of part of a first panel and a second jaw defining a second slot for receipt of part of a second panel, wherein the second jaw is fixed to the second panel but the first jaw is movable 20 relative to the first panel up andlor down its elongate, length. * ** * * I

II.. . . The assembly allows the first panel to move out of engagement with the clip when it is * .: deflected significantly relative to the second panel so that it can be deflected further.

This allows different panels to deflect by differing amounts depending on the impact forces applied to them. I* * I I

*. The first panel and the first slot preferably have inter-engaging features that restrict ". : relative lateral movement. For example the first panel may have thicker portion on its II 1.

:;t edge and the first slot has a corresponding enlarged recess in which the thicker portion resides thus preventing the panel from moving laterally in the slot. The thicker portion : *. may be in the form of a bead which may extend along part or all of the length of the I...? panel. . .

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The slots preferably have a profile that corresponds to that of the panels.

The at (east one panel is flexible such that it may deflect from the upright position upon impact from a vehicle and resilient such that it returns to its upright position after the impact. The flexibility may be sufficient to allow the vehicle to pass over the road sign assembly without any significant damage to the sign assembly or the vehicle.

The base is preferably configured for location in the ground and may comprise front and rear wails.

The at least one panel may have an arcuate cross-section, the cross-section taken in a direction perpendicular to its elongate length. This affords the panel rigidity and yet allows it to flex in the event of a vehicle impact. The at least one panel is preferably a thin-walled member which may be less than 7mm in thickness, more preferably less than 5mm and more preferably still less than 3mm. For a panel of 3mm thickness the thicker portion may be around 5mm.

There may be a plurality of panels arranged in a side-by-side relationship so as to form * * awa. * S.

The, or each, clip may be disposed at or near an upper end of the panels which end is distal from the base * S. ::f:; A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of * example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment of the road sign assembly in accordance with the present invention; * Figure 2 is a side view of the assembly of figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the assembly of figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a partially assembled road sign assembly S.....

conforming to the embodiment of figures Ito 3, showing support clips; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the road sign assembly of figure 4, showing the support clips in more detail; Figure 6 is a plan view of the road sign assembly of figures 4 and 5; and Figures 7a to 71 are perspective side views of part of the base of the road sign * assembly of figures 1 to 6, with end plates removed and illustrating assembly of upright panels with the base.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an exemplary Toad 519fl assembly comprising a base I in which a plurality of upright, elongate panels 2 are supported.

The panels 2 are arranged in parallel in a side-by-side relationship such that they form a wall on to which a sign is affixed. In use, the base I is supported in a trench in the ground at a suitable roadside location where the sign is visible.

Each elongate panel 2 is a thin blade with an arcuate, shallow C-shaped cross-section and is manufactured from a fibre-reinforced polymer material that it is rigid but resilient such that it generally remains upright but is able to flex upon impact with a motor-vehicle. The arcuate shape of the panel 2 and its inherent resilience afford it the ability to rebound to the upright position after an impact. Upon impact the panel 2 flexes and flattens across its width so that it moves from the vertical but its inherent resilience allows it reassume the arcuate shape and rebound to the vertical position. The °. : 15 flexibility of each panel 2 is such that it can move to a horizontal position so as to allow * * the vehicle to pass over it. The convex surfaces of the panels form the front of the sign and bear a light-reflective sign material which may be coloured to provide an appropriate image. Such light-reflective material is known in the art and is not described further herein.

A strip of such light-reflective material is borne by each panel, the strips combining to **** form the complete sign across the length of the wall.

The base I comprises front, rear and end plates 3, 3a, and 4 formed from, for example, galvanised mild steel. As best seen in figures 7a-7f, the front plate 3 is folded to form a horizontal foot 5, a vertical front wall 6 and a front lip 7 extending forwardly from the top of the front wall 6. The rear plate 3a is a substantially planar wall apart from a rearward extending rear lip 8 defined at its upper edge. The plates 3, 3a are spaced apart so as *ss..u to define a channel 9 into which the upright panels 2 are received. Perpendicular webs *:4. 30 10 span the plates 3, 3a at intervals along the channel 9 and are fixed to the plates in order to provide structural rigidity and to divide the channel into sections. The rear plate 3a is inclined relative to the front wall 6 such that the distance between the front wall 6 S.. * and rear plate 3a increases from the foot 5 to the top opening of the channel 9. A gap * 11 between the foot 5 and a lower edge of the rear plate 4 allows water to drain through. In use, the base plates 3, 3a are located in a trench dug into the ground and secured by means of a concrete foundation or the like. The intended ground level is indicated in figures 7a-7f.

Towards the bottom of the channel 9 an elongate support bar 12 extends substantially in parallel to the foot 5 adjacent to the front wall 6, supported in the webs 10. The lower edges of the upright panels 2 rest on this support bar 12 during assembly. Towards the top of the channel 9, on the front wall 6 there is a plurality of integral short rigid pins 13 that project towards the rear plate 3a and are intended to retain the upright panels 2 in position. A lower end of each panel 2 has a corresponding round aperture 14 with which the pin 13 is design to mate in a friction fit. The pins 13 secure the upright panels 2 in the channel 9 and prevent them from being dislodged during an impact.

In order to prevent the ingress of dirt and detritus, the otherwise exposed upper end of the base I is closed by means of front and rear channel covers 20, 21 that fit around . : 15 the upright panels 2. The covers 20, 21 are made from a thermoformed plastic * elastomeric material, are fixed to the respective front and rear walls 6, 4 and extend inwardly so as to close the open top of the channel 9. The front channel cover 20 has a * ** fluted form defining a plurality of arcuate inwardly-facing surfaces 22 of concave curvature whereas the rear channel cover 21 has a fluted form of arcuate inwardly facing surfaces 23 of convex curvature. The curvature in each case corresponds to that ::::. of the upright panels 2 which are tightly received between the concave and convex surfaces 22, 23. The covers 20, 21 actually perform several functions. First, they seal * 0 against the upright panels 2 and against each other so as to prevent detritus from entering the channel 9 thus rendering replacement of the upright panels 2 an easier process. Secondly, the covers 20, 21 help to reduce vibration and oscillation of the upright panels in the wind, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the panels. Thirdly, the elastomeric nature of the covers 20, 21 means they act as energy absorbers during deflection of an upright as a result of an impact.

* S. P I. 5*5 *:s 30 The rear covers 21 are supported by lugs 24 that project from the inward facing surface of the rear plate 4. Each lug 24 has a threaded aperture 25 for receipt of a screw 26 that passes through a corresponding aperture in the cover 21. The area 27 around the aperture in the cover 21 is depressed so that the head of the screw does not project* * above the upper surface of the cover and can be concealed by a plastics cap 28 to prevent dirt collecting on the screw heads and to deter vandalism.

The assembly is constructed by first securing the base I in the ground as described above, the front channel covers 20 having already been attaOhed to the front wall 6 above the pins 13 (figure 7a). The upright panels 2 are then inserted one-by-one into the channel 9 such that they initially lean forward against the rear plate' as shown in figure 7b but their lower edges sit on the upper surface of the elongate support bar 12.

Each panel 2 is then pivoted about the bar 12 back to the vertical such that it abuts the concave surface 22 of the front cover 20 and the pin 13 is received in a friction fit in the corresponding round aperture 14 of the panel (figures 7c and 7d). The rear channel cover 21 is then screwed into position to secure the upright panel(s) 2 in place (figures 7e and 70.

In the embodiment shown, the front and rear channel covers 20, 21 are each configured to define a pair of convex or concave surfaces for sealing against a pair of ". : adjacent panels 2. It is to be appreciated that other embodiments are possible. For * example, they may each comprise a single component that extends along the length of the base defining multiple sealing surfaces, they may be configured as discrete * ** components with one of each cover type being associated with each upright panel panels, or they may each define more than two sealing surfaces for a corresponding S..

number of panels 2. * .. * * . *in

At the opposite end of the upright panels 2 there is a plurality of clips 30 for holding the * ° upper ends of adjacent panels 2 together. Each clip 30 comprises a first jaw 31 defining a first arcuate slot 32 for receipt of a side edge 33 of a first upright panel 2 and an opposite second jaw 34 defining a second arcuate slot 35 for receipt of a side edge 33 of a second upright panel 2 that is adjacent to the first upright panel. A central web 36 separates the first and second slots 32, 35.

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Each clip 30 is fixed to only one of the two upright panels 2 to which it is fitted. In *.. 30 particular, the clip is fixed to the second of the upright panels 2 by means of a screw 37 that secures the second jaw 34 to the second upright panel by passing through fixing apertures 38, 39 in the second jaw and the upper end of the panel. The adjacent first C9S4 upright panel is received in the first jaw 31 without such a fixing such that it is able to * slide vertically relative thereto but is held against lateral movement by virtue of a change in the contour of the panel 2 and an enlarged bead 2a defined at its edge. In particular the curvature of the panel 2 towards each side edge 33 starts to change direction and terminates in the bead 2a which is thicker than the rest of the panel 2. For example the panel may be 3mm thick with the bead being 5mm thick. The bead 2a is received in a corresponding enlarged recess 38 defined at the end of each slot 32. The bead 2a is thicker than the main part of the slot 32 outside of the recess 38 and is thus prevented from travelling laterally of the slot. However, vertical movement is not prevented as the bead 2a may travel up and down the recess 38.

A single clip 30 interconnects each upright panel 2 and the immediately adjacent panel 2. Thus any given upright panel 2 (other than the two outermost panels in the wall) has a clip 30 on each side: one to which it is fixed by means of the screw 37 and another relative to which it is able to slide up and down. Thus, when the wall is subjected to significant wind forces the clips 30 hold the upright panels together especially against relative lateral deflection. The tendency of the panels to oscillate wildly (and potentially ** 15 become damaged) in the wind is reduced. in the event of an impact from a vehicle, * * each 30 clip allows the first upright panel 2 to slide vertically relative to the first jaw 31 of the clip, such that it slips out of the slot 32 thereby permitting it to deflect relative to * *, the adjacent second upright panel. In this manner, when the vehicle hits the assembly at an angle successive upright panels 2 in the wall are individually deflected in turn. In * 20 some instances it will be that case that not all of the panels are deflected. This allows : ** separation of the panels in the event of a collision and potentially reduces the number of panels 2 that might require replacement after a collision. In contrast if all the panels were connected together there would be greater drag and a larger force to overcome in order to deflect the panels.

The clips 30 are manufactured, for example, from an injection-moulded, durable and robust plastics material such as, for example, nylon.

* S.. 5: In the event that it is necessary to replace a damaged upright panel 2, the panel is slid *::* 30 out of the clip 30, the rear channel cover 21 removed and the panel pivoted rearwards about the bar 12 such that it is released from the pin 13 and comes to rest against the rear plate 4 of the channel 9 whereupon it may be lifted from the channel. A replacement. upright is inserted on to the bar 12 pivoted back into engagement with the pin 13, the rear channel cover 21 replaced and the clip 30 re-engaged by simply sliding it over the upper edges of adjacent panels and then inserUng the screw 37 to fix it to one of the pan&s.

In some instances a vehicle collision may be such that it passes through some or all of the panels. In such an instance the panels deflect towards the ground and base I and covers 20, 21 provide a substantially flat surface over which a vehicle wheel may pass.

The elastomeric covers 20, 21 help absorb the deflection forces that occur during such an impact.

The image depicted by the sign which may comprise, for example, a plurality of chevrons indicating the severity of a bend in the road, is divided into segments, each segment being applied to a respective panel, such that they combine to display the full image. The segments may be applied to the panels by means of a suitable adhesive, for example or alternatively the image may be introduced during the manufacturing of *:*. 15 the panels.

Several such road sign assemblies may be fixed together to form a particularly long * ,* sign. * * * S.,.

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* 20 It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may : *. be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended S...

* claims. For example, any kind of mutually mating connecting features may be provided for securing the panels to the base.

The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. It should * *** S S *.::.: be understood that while the use of words such as "preferable", "preferably", "preferred" r?'E 30 or "more preferred" in the description suggest that a feature so described may be desirable, it may nevertheless not be necessary and embodiments lacking such a feature may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," * "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limit the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" andfor "a portion" is used the ftem can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary. a. . * a * * ** a

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Claims

CLAIMS1. A road sign assembly comprising a base and at least two resiliently flexible, upright, elongate panels, the panels being configured to bear a sign or part of a sign, the base defining an opening into which lower ends of the at (east two panels are received adjacent to one another, wherein there is provided at least one clip for interconnecting adjacent panels, the clip defining first and second jaws, a first jaw defining a first slot for receipt of part of a first panel and a second jaw defining a second slot for receipt of part of a second panel, wherein the second jaw is fixed to the second pane) but the first jaw is movable relative to the first panel up and/or down its elongate length.
2. A road sign assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first panel has a thicker edge portion which is received in a corresponding enlarged recess in the first slot so as to prevent relative lateral movement.
3. A road sign assembly according to claim I or 2, wherein the first and second slots are arcuate and correspond to the curvature of the parts of the 20 first and second panels which they receive.
4. A road sign assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least one elongate edge of the panels has a change of angle of curvature.
5. A road sign assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second jaw is fixed to the second panel by means of a fixing member that * passes through apertures in the second jaw and the second panel.*.*.se * * .
6. A road sign assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the clip further comprises a central web disposed between the first and second S * * S S 5JOtS. * 4*.

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7. A road sign assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and slots have open ends at opposite ends of the clip. S. S * Ss S *5
8. A road sign assembly according to any preceding claim having first and second surfaces between which the first and second slots are defined1 the first surface being substantially concave and the second surface being substantially convex.
9. A road sign assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjacent panels are removably connected to the base.
10. A road sign assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein there are a plurality of panels arranged in a side-by-side relationship so as to form a wall.
11. A road sign assembly according to any one of claims I to 10, wherein the, or each, clip is disposed at or near an end of the. panels that is distal from the base.SS S * * I * .5SSt. 5*5 * S * St * * S S...SSS S se * S e S... *5 S * . S * *5 * S S * S.SS..... * SS... .* * *e S St... * S* .teeS * . SC at e S.C. *5* S * 554 * *.* 5. * 5 5 555 S 5 * sS * **