GB2559197A

GB2559197A - Method for attaching a road traffic safety sign to a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2559197A
Application number: GB1701588.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Robert King Steven; Ann King Deborah
Original assignee: Signsafe4u Ltd
Current assignee: Signsafe4u Ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-31
Filing date: 2017-01-31
Publication date: 2018-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-31
Also published as: GB201701588D0; GB2559197B

Abstract

A road traffic safety sign 1 can be releasably attached to the outside surface of a vehicle 10 via engaging one of a plug/socket pair attached to the rear surface of the safety sign, with the other of the plug/socket pair attached to the outside surface of the vehicle 10, such that the plug is inserted into and retained by the socket, thus securing the safety sign 1 to the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may be a lorry, to which one of the plug socket pair is attached by way of a bolt 7. The safety sign 1 may be made from a rigid material.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Method for attaching a road traffic safety sign to a vehicle Abstract Title: Method for attaching a road traffic safety sign to a vehicle (57) A road traffic safety sign 1 can be releasably attached to the outside surface of a vehicle 10 via engaging one of a plug/socket pair attached to the rear surface of the safety sign, with the other of the plug/socket pair attached to the outside surface of the vehicle 10, such that the plug is inserted into and retained by the socket, thus securing the safety sign 1 to the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may be a lorry, to which one of the plug socket pair is attached by way of a bolt 7. The safety sign 1 may be made from a rigid material.

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Method for attaching a road traffic safety sign to a vehicle

Introduction

The present invention relates to methods for releasably attaching road traffic safety signs to the outside surface of a vehicle.

Background to the Invention

There are several scenarios whereby vehicles are stationary on roads. One of the common reasons is because of a mechanical fault or breakdown.

At present, in the event of a breakdown, motorists in the UK are advised to put on their hazard warning lights, and place a warning triangle on the road some 45 metres away from the vehicle. Another recommendation is that all passengers exit the vehicle and stand at a safe distance away from the vehicle, usually on the verge.

Whilst the purpose of the warning triangle is to assist oncoming vehicles in recognising the hazard, it has often been reported that oncoming vehicles do not see the warning triangle as a consequence of their view being obstructed either by other vehicles on the road or by adverse weather conditions. Indeed, the warning triangle can easily be blown over in high winds.

Another problem with the warning triangle is that drivers are forced to place themselves at risk by walking 45 metres towards oncoming traffic to place the warning a sufficient distance away from their vehicle.

Notwithstanding the above, on motorways no deployment of warning signs on the road is allowed. Many vehicles break down on motorways and are forced to wait in the hard shoulder for recovery vehicles/emergency services to arrive. The hard shoulder is a highly dangerous place to be with vehicles passing by at around 70mph (31.29 meters /second) just feet away.

An all too common accident on motorways is where a vehicle travelling at high speeds collides with another vehicle parked on the hard shoulder. This often happens during low-light conditions such as at dusk, in the dark, or early dawn when drivers are less likely to see the vehicle. Indeed, drivers involved in this type of collision often claim not to have seen the stationary vehicle before the collision. These kinds of accidents would be reduced if stationary vehicles displayed warning signs.

Several road safety signs exist for use on vehicles. GB0502175 describes a road safety breakdown panel for attaching to the rear of a vehicle. However, this device can only be used on cars and is incompatible with larger vehicles such as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), large goods vehicles (LGVs), tankers, coaches or vans.

Suffering from the same incompatibility problem as GB0502175 is GB2063970 which describes a hazard warning device that attaches to the rear of a vehicle via the boot which larger vehicles do not tend to have.

CN202144583 describes an anti-collision device that attaches via hooks. The main problem with this is the stability of the connection. In high winds the sign may dislodge and possibly detach from the vehicle creating a further potential hazard.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide alternative and preferably improved methods for attaching safety signage to vehicles, more particularly larger vehicles, addressing one or more of the above-identified problems.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outside surface of a vehicle, comprising engaging one of a plug/socket pair attached to the rear surface of the safety sign, with the other of the plug/socket pair attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that the plug is inserted into and retained by the socket, securing the safety sign to the vehicle.

Also provided is a road traffic safety sign for releasably attaching to a vehicle, comprising one of a plug/socket pair attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other of the plug/socket pair fixed to the outside surface of the vehicle.

Further provided is a kit for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outer surface of a vehicle comprising, (i) a safety sign, (ii) at least one plug, (iii) means for attaching the at least one plug to the safety sign or the vehicle, (iv) at least one socket, and (v) means for attaching the at least one socket to the vehicle or safety sign.

Details of the Invention

A method for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outside surface of a vehicle according to the present invention hence comprises engaging one of a plug/socket pair attached to the rear surface of the safety sign, with the other of the plug/socket pair attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that the plug is inserted into and retained by the socket, securing the safety sign to the vehicle.

In general, the road traffic safety sign is attached to the vehicle when the vehicle is stationary i.e. on the hard shoulder of a motorway as a result of a mechanical failure and is used to alert other drivers to the presence of the stationary vehicle.

It is preferred that the method comprises engaging a plurality of plugs or sockets attached to the rear surface of the safety sign or vehicle with a plurality of sockets or plugs attached to the outside surface of the vehicle to increase the stability of the association between the road traffic safety sign and the vehicle. This decreases the likelihood of disengagement during adverse weather conditions such as high winds or in situations where the sign is used accidentally when the vehicle is in motion i.e. when the driver forgets to remove the sign.

Also, in carrying out the method of the invention the skilled person will appreciate that the larger the road traffic safety sign, the more plug/socket pairs are typically required to achieve the desired stability levels.

The method can comprise engaging at least two plug/socket pairs, wherein one part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the rear surface of the safety sign and the other part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that insertion of both of the plugs into their respective socket secures the safety sign to the vehicle.

A similar method can comprise engaging at least three plug/socket pairs, wherein one part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the rear surface of the safety sign and the other part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that insertion of both of the plugs into their respective socket secures the safety sign to the vehicle.

It is a feature of the present invention that the sockets are suitable for retaining a plug. In one embodiment described in more detail below, the socket is made from an elastic material, e.g. rubber, and comprises an elastic aperture which defines the opening of the cavity in which the plug sits when the road traffic safety sign is attached to the vehicle. In the same embodiment, the plug contains a neck portion and a rigid head portion, both made e.g. from polypropylene. Importantly, the diameter of the aperture is smaller than that of the head portion of the plug such that the plug is retained in the cavity once the head is pushed through the aperture. To remove the plug from the cavity and thus remove the road traffic safety sign from the vehicle, outwards force is applied to the safety sign such that the elastic aperture expands allowing movement of the plug out of the cavity.

Several methods are available to attach the socket to the vehicle or to the road traffic safety sign. Examples include adhesive and nut and bolt. In general, any means of attachment with a sufficient stability to operate in the context of the inventive system may be employed to attach the socket to the vehicle or the road traffic safety sign. In the specific example described in more detail below, the socket is attached to the vehicle via a hex socket flat head cap screw bolt, a serrated flanged hex stop nut, a hex full nut and a flanged hexagon nyloc nut. In relation to the serrated flanged stop nut, the flange serves as an integrated, non-spinning washer which distributes the pressure of the nut over the surface of the vehicle (i.e. it provides a more uniform bearing-stress to clamp-force ratio), reducing the chance of damage to the part and making it less likely to loosen as a result of an uneven fastening surface. Using a flanged nut also allows the nut to span larger holes than a standard stop nut. The bearing surface serration provides a locking action. In more detail the serrations are angled such that they keep the nut from rotating in the direction that would loosen the nut i.e. they help in preventing the vibration of the nut from moving the fastener, thus maintaining the holding power of the nut. The flanged hexagon nyloc nut incorporates a nylon component to lock the nut into position on the bolt. The nylon component has a smaller inside diameter than the nut itself thereby acting to secure the nut.

In the same way that several methods are available to attach the socket to the vehicle or road traffic safety sign, several similar methods are available to attach the plug to the road traffic safety sign or vehicle. In general, any means of attachment with a sufficient stability to operate in the context of the inventive system may be employed to attach the plug to the road traffic safety sign. In the specific example described in more detail below, the plug is attached to the road traffic safety sign via a bolt and a hex full nut.

In use, the road traffic safety sign with pre-drilled holes, the plug/socket pair(s) and the means of attaching one part of each of the plug/socket pairs to the safety sign and for attaching the other part of each plug/socket pair to the vehicle are provided separately.

Accordingly, the invention further provides a kit for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outer surface of a vehicle comprising, (i) a safety sign, (ii) at least one plug, (iii) a means for attaching the at least one plug to the safety sign or the vehicle, (iv) at least one socket, and (v) a means for attaching the at least one socket to the vehicle or safety sign.

In preferred embodiments, the means of attaching the socket(s) and plug(s) to the vehicle and road traffic safety sign is via nut and bolt.

To attach either the sockets or plugs to the outside surface, preferably at the rear, of a vehicle, the road traffic safety sign is held up against the surface of the vehicle and used as a template to define the points on the vehicle to which the sockets or plugs should be fixed. If the means of attachment is via nut and bolt, holes must be drilled through the surface of the vehicle before the sockets or plugs can be attached. In the example described in more detail below, the sockets are attached to the outside surface of the vehicle via a hex socket flat head cap screw bolt, a serrated flanged hex stop nut, a hex full nut and a flanged hexagon nyloc nut. Once either one of a plug/socket pair is attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, the other of the pair can be attached to the road traffic safety sign. In the example described in more detail below, the plugs are attached to the road traffic safety sign via a bolt and a hex full nut. Once both of the plug/socket pair are attached to either the vehicle or road traffic safety sign, the road traffic safety sign can be mounted onto the surface of the vehicle by applying pressure to the front face of the road traffic safety sign such that the plugs are retained by the sockets. Backwards pressure is applied to the road traffic safety sign to remove the sign from the vehicle.

Accordingly, the invention still further provides a method for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outside surface of a vehicle comprising engaging one of a plug/socket pair attached to the rear surface of the safety sign, with the other of the pair attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that the plug is inserted into and retained by the socket, securing the safety sign to the vehicle, including the preliminary steps of (i) providing a road traffic safety sign having holes, (ii) using the safety sign as a template for making holes in the surface of the vehicle such that the spatial configuration of the holes in the surface of the vehicle is complementary to that of the holes in the safety sign, (iii) attaching the one of a plug/socket pair to the safety sign, and (iv) attaching the other of the pair to the vehicle.

In use, once the sockets or plugs have been attached to the vehicle they remain there until a situation arises whereby a road traffic safety sign needs to be mounted. Once the situation clears, the road traffic safety sign is removed, leaving the sockets or plugs attached to the surface of the vehicle, and stored inside the vehicle until another incident occurs.

Also provided by the invention is a road traffic safety sign for releasably attaching to a vehicle per se. Hence, the invention provides a road traffic safety sign for releasably attaching to a vehicle, comprising one of a plug/socket pair attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other of the pair fixed to the outside surface of the vehicle.

It is preferred that the road traffic safety sign comprises a plurality of one of a plug/socket pair for engaging with a plurality of the other of the plug/socket pair attached to the outside surface of a vehicle. The more plugs or sockets attached to the road traffic safety sign, the more stable the connection between the road traffic safety sign and the vehicle.

The skilled person will also appreciate that the larger the road traffic sign, the more plug/socket pairs are usually required to achieve the desired stability levels.

In preferred embodiments, the road traffic safety sign contains at least two parts of two plug/socket pairs attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other parts of each of the plug/socket pairs fixed to the outside surface of the vehicle.

In still further preferred embodiments, the road traffic safety sign contains at least three parts of three plug/socket pairs attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other parts of each of the plug/socket pairs fixed to the outside surface of the vehicle.

The invention is of application to road traffic safety signs in general when reversibly attached to a vehicle. In preferred embodiments, the road traffic safety sign is made from a rigid material. Examples of suitable materials include aluminium, aluminium composite such as Diabond® and plastic. More preferably the road traffic safety sign comprises a facing material which is retroreflective.

An advantage of various embodiments of the invention is the ability to use multiple signs and to interchange the signs very easily depending on the situation.

The road traffic safety signs, the kits and the methods of releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to a vehicle described herein can be used to attach safety signs to vehicles generally. However, preferably the vehicle is a large vehicle i.e. a lorry, HGV, LGV, bus, coach, caravan, taillift, tanker or van. More preferably, the vehicle is a lorry.

Description of Figures

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematic front and side views of a road traffic safety sign with four plugs attached;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the rear of a lorry with four sockets attached;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the lorry of Fig. 2 with a road traffic safety sign attached;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a road traffic safety sign attached to the rear of a lorry using the plug and socket arrangement of Fig. 5 and 6;

Fig. 5 is an exploded schematic view of the plug and socket arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a further view, showing internal features, of the plug and socket arrangement of Fig. 5 when in an engaged position.

Referring to fig. 1, a road traffic safety sign shown generally as 1 is made up of a composite 3 comprising a retro reflective facing material and a substrate to support the facing material and four of plugs 5 which are attached to the rear of the safety sign i.e. the substrate by means of a bolt 7 and hex full nut 9.

Fig. 2 shows four sockets 12 secured to the rear of a lorry 10. To achieve this the road traffic safety sign 1 is first held up against the surface of the lorry 10 to which the sockets 12 are to be attached. The spatial arrangement of the holes in the road traffic safety sign (before the plugs are attached) are then marked on the surface of the lorry through the holes in the sign before complementary holes are drilled in the lorry.

Referring to fig.2 in combination with fig. 5, to attach each socket 12 to the surface of the lorry 10, a hex socket flat head cap screw bolt 14, itself comprising a head portion 16 and a stem portion 18, must be driven through a clearance hole 20 in the base of each socket 12 before being passed through the pre-drilled holes in the surface of the lorry (the discontinuous line in fig. 5 is representative of the surface of the lorry). From the inside of the lorry, a serrated flanged hex stop nut 22 is then threaded onto the stem 18 of each screw bolt 14, making sure that the flanged edge is touching the surface of the lorry. A hex full nut 24 is then driven onto each stem 18. A flanged hexagon nyloc nut 25 is then driven onto the remainder of each stem 18 to secure all sockets 12 in place. The flanged hexagon nyloc nut 25 should be threaded such that the flange is in contact with the hex full nut 24. If the surface to which the socket 12 is to be attached is narrow in diameter such that there is excess stem 18, then multiple hex full nuts 24 can be inserted in between the serrated flanged hex stop nut 22 and the flanged nyloc nut 25.

Referring to figs. 5 and 6 which show the mechanism of attachment of a road traffic safety sign to the rear of a lorry in more detail, a releasable connector shown generally as 26 is made up of a plug 5, a socket 12, a hex socket flat head cap screw bolt 14 comprising a head portion 16 and a stem portion 18, a serrated flanged hex stop nut 22, a hex full nut 24 and a flanged hexagon nyloc nut 25.

Plug 5 comprises a head portion 32 and a neck portion 34. Running through the centre of the plug 5 is a bore 36 which is cylindrical in cross-section in the neck portion and hexagonal in shape in the head portion. Accordingly, the head portion is moulded with a recessed hexagon.

Socket 12 comprises at its base a moulded-in steel fixing plate 28 which has a tapped clearance hole 20 through which screw bolt 14 passes, a central cavity 30 in which the head portion 32 of plug 5 sits when the releasable connector is in the engaged position, and a narrowed circumferential lip 38 which forms the opening into cavity 30. A bevelled edge 40 connects the circumferential lip 38 to the main opening 42 of the socket 12. The bevelled edge serves to guide the head portion 32 of plug 5 into cavity

30.

In order to engage the head portion 32 of plug 5 with the central cavity 30 of socket 12, the head portion is guided by the bevelled edge 40 of socket 12 to the circumferential lip 38. Pressure is then applied to the neck portion 34 of plug 5 via the respective area of the road traffic safety sign, causing the circumferential lip 38 to widen due to its elasticity allowing passage of the head portion 32 into cavity 30. Once the head portion 32 is through, the circumferential lip 38 closes, trapping the head portion.

As the diameter of the circumferential lip 38 when in the relaxed state is less than that of the head portion 32 of plug 5, the plug is held in position and prevented from falling out of the cavity 30 other than by a firm outwards force. In this arrangement, the road traffic safety sign 1 is secured to the rear of lorry 10.

When releasable connector 26 is in the engaged position, the head portion 32 of plug 5 sits in cavity 30 of socket 12 and the neck portion 34 rests against the bevelled edge 40.

Fig. 6 shows a transparent view of the plug and socket arrangement when in an engaged position, i.e. when the road traffic safety sign is attached to the rear of a lorry.

Although in the example described the plug is attached to the road traffic safety sign and the socket is attached to the vehicle, the reverse is optional, namely the plug is attached to the vehicle and the socket is attached to the road traffic safety sign.

Example 1

Starting from a kit comprising a road traffic safety sign containing 4 pre-drilled holes, 4 plugs, 4 bolts, 8 hex full nuts, 4 sockets, 4 hex socket flat head cap screw bolts, 4 serrated flanged hex stop nuts and 4 flanged hexagon nyloc nuts the user should proceed as follows:

• Hold the road traffic safety sign against the surface on the vehicle to which the sign is to be attached.

• Mark the vehicle using the pre-drilled holes in the road traffic safety sign as a guide.

• Set aside the road traffic safety sign and drill holes in the surface to which the road traffic safety sign is to be attached using the markings as a guide.

• Drive a hex socket flat head cap screw bolt through the clearance hole in each socket.

• Attach each socket to the surface of the vehicle by passing each hex socket flat head cap screw bolt through the pre-drilled hole in the vehicle.

• From the inside of the vehicle, thread a serrated flanged hex stop nut onto the stem of each hex socket flat head cap screw bolt such that the flange is in direct contact with the surface of the vehicle.

• Thread a full nut onto the end of each flat head cap screw bolt.

• Secure the socket by threading a flanged hexagon nyloc nut onto the end of each flat head cap screw bolt.

• To attach each plug to the road traffic safety sign, pass a hex bolt through the central channel of each plug and through a hole in the safety sign. A hex full nut should then be threaded onto the end of each hex bolt to secure the plug in place.

• The road traffic safety sign can then be mounted onto the surface of the vehicle by applying pressure to the front face of the road traffic safety sign such that the plugs are pushed into and retained by the elastic sockets.

Claims

1. A method for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outside surface of a vehicle, comprising engaging one of a plug/socket pair attached to the rear surface of the safety sign, with the other of the plug/socket pair attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that the plug is inserted into and retained by the socket, securing the safety sign to the vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising engaging at least two plug/socket pairs, wherein one part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the rear surface of the safety sign and the other part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that insertion of both of the plugs into their respective socket secures the safety sign to the vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising engaging at least three plug/socket pairs, wherein one part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the rear surface of the safety sign and the other part of each of the plug/socket pairs is attached to the outside surface of the vehicle, such that insertion of all of the plugs into their respective socket, secures the safety sign to the vehicle.

4. A method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the socket comprises an elastic aperture defining an opening to a cavity and the plug comprises a neck portion and a rigid head portion, and the diameter of the aperture is smaller than that of the head portion of the plug such that the plug is retained in the cavity once the head is pushed through the aperture.

5. A method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein one of the plug/socket pair is attached to the vehicle by way of a bolt.

6. A method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein one of the plug/socket pair is attached to the road traffic safety sign by way of a bolt.

7. A method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the vehicle is a lorry.

8. A method according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the safety sign is made from a rigid material.

9. A method according to any of claims 1-8, including the preliminary steps of: providing a road traffic safety sign having holes, using the safety sign as a template for making holes in the surface of the vehicle such that the spatial configuration of the holes in the surface of the vehicle is complementary to that of the holes in the safety sign, attaching the one of a plug/socket pair to the safety sign, and attaching the other of the pair to the vehicle.

10. A road traffic safety sign for releasably attaching to a vehicle, comprising one of a plug/socket pair attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other of the plug/socket pair fixed to an outside surface of the vehicle.

11. A road traffic safety sign according to claim 10, wherein the sign contains at least two members of two plug/socket pairs attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other members of each of the plug/socket pairs fixed to the outside surface of the vehicle.

12. A road traffic safety sign according to claim 10, wherein the sign contains at least three members of three plug/socket pairs attached to its rear surface for engaging with the other members of each of the plug/socket pairs fixed to the outside surface of the vehicle.

13. A road traffic safety sign according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the socket comprises an elastic aperture defining an opening to a cavity and the plug comprises a neck portion and a rigid head portion, and the diameter of the aperture is smaller than that of the head portion of the plug such that the plug is retained in the cavity once the head is pushed through the aperture.

14. A road traffic safety sign according to any of claims 10-13, wherein one of the plug/socket pair is attached to the vehicle by way of a bolt.

15. A road traffic safety sign according to any of claims 10-13, wherein one of the plug/socket pair is attached to the road traffic safety sign by way of a bolt.

16. A road traffic safety sign according to any of claims 10-15, wherein the vehicle

5 is a lorry.

17. A road traffic safety sign according to any of claims 10-16, wherein the safety sign is made from a rigid material.

10

18. A kit for releasably attaching a road traffic safety sign to the outer surface of a vehicle comprising: a safety sign, at least one plug, means for attaching the at least one plug to the safety sign or the vehicle,

15 at least one socket, and means for attaching the at least one socket to the vehicle or safety sign.

19. A kit according to claim 18, comprising: a safety sign,

20. A kit according to claim 18, comprising:

25 a safety sign, at least three plug/socket pairs, a means for attaching one part of each of the plug/socket pairs to the safety sign and for attaching the other part of each plug/socket pair to the vehicle.

30 21, A kit according to any of claims 18-20, wherein the means for attaching each plug to the safety sign or vehicle and each socket to the vehicle or safety sign is via nut and bolt.

A kit according to according to any of claims 18-21, wherein the vehicle is a lorry.

A kit according to any of claims 18-22, wherein the safety sign is made from a rigid material.

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Office

Application No: GB1701588.4 Examiner: Damien Huxley

20 at least two plug/socket pairs, and means for attaching one part of each of the plug/socket pairs to the safety sign and for attaching the other part of each plug/socket pair to the vehicle.