IE63963B1 - A sign for mounting at a road bend - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign (1) suitable for mounting at a road bend has a number of panels (2), each carrying indicia such as a chevron (6), arranged in a zig-zag formation on a support. Two sets of spaced-apart panels (2) are thus formed, each set of panels facing front-on to one approach to the bend and end-on to the other approach to the bend. Chevrons (6) on alternate panels (2) which all face in the same direction, form an associated set of chevrons (6) all pointing in one direction.

Description

Α SIGN FOR MOUNTING AT A ROAD BEND This invention relates to signs and in particular to road signs.

Dangerous bends on roads are usually provided with hazard 5 signs to assist motorists. One particularly useful form comprises a panel with chevrons painted on the panel, usually in alternating colours, which point in the direction in which the road turns. Usually two of these hazard signs are provided at each bend to assist motorists approaching from each side of the bend, the chevrons on the signs pointing in opposite directions.

It is an object of this invention to provide a single hazard sign which serves the same function as the pair of hazard signs presently provided at a road bend. This will advantageously reduce manufacturing costs and also installation and maintenance costs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hazard sign which can be more clearly read by a motorist approaching the sign.

According to the invention there is provided a sign for mounting at a road bend, comprising a set of spaced-apart viewing panels mounted on a support, each panel carrying indicia thereon, the panels being arranged on the support to face front-on to one approach to the bend and end-on to the other approach to the bend in use.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention two sets of panels are provided mounted on the support, the sets of panels being arranged to face front-on to opposite approaches to the bend.

In another embodiment panels from each of the sets of panels are mounted alternately on the support.

In a further embodiment the panels are arranged on the support in a number of spaced-apart pairs of panels, each pair of panels comprising a panel from different sets of panels.

In another embodiment the panels are integrally formed from a sheet of material bent intermediate its ends in a zig-zag formation.

In another embodiment the panels are adjustable relative to each other. The panels may be hingedly connected to each other for adjustment.

In another embodiment each panel carries indicia comprising a chevron, the chevrons on alternate panels pointing in the same direction, and the chevrons on adjacent panels pointing in different directions.

In a further embodiment the included angle between panels is greater than or equal to 90 degrees. Preferably the included angle is substantially 90 degrees.

In another embodiment the chevrons are made of or highlighted by a luminous or reflective material.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a road sign according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the road sign, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the road sign, Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the road sign in use mounted at a bend in a road, and Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of another road sign.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, there is illustrated a road sign, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprising a number of integrally formed viewing panels 2 mounted on a support comprising a pair of spaced-apart horizontal bars 3. Adjacent panels 2 are substantially perpendicular to each other and the panels 2 are arranged in zig-zag formation when viewed in plan (See Fig. 3). A chevron 6 is marked on each panel 2 and it will be noted that the chevrons 6 on alternate panels 2, which all face in the same direction, form an associated set of chevrons 6 all pointing in the one direction (See Fig. 1). Thus two sets of chevrons 6 are formed on the panels 2, each set pointing in different directions.

Typically the chevrons 6 are painted on the sign 1 with a luminous or highly reflective paint. Alternatively the chevrons 6 may be formed from strips of luminous or reflective tape stuck on to each panel 2.

In use, the sign 1 is mounted adjacent an outside curve 20 on a bend 21 of a road 22 (See Fig. 4). The bars 3 of the sign 1 are bolted to upright struts 24 rigidly fixed in the ground at the roadside. The panels 2 are arranged to face front-on to one approach to the bend 21 and end-on to the other approach to the bend 21. Two cars A and B are shown in Fig. 4 approaching the bend 21 from opposite sides, with the line of sight of each driver shown as a dotted line. The view seen by the driver in Car A is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the driver seeing a set of chevrons 6 pointing to the right. In the other car B the driver will see a set of chevrons 6 pointing to the left as he approaches the sign 1.

It will be appreciated that the sign 1 essentially combines two hazard signs in one, different indicia being viewed by drivers approaching from different sides of the sign 1. Instead of heretofore providing two separate signs at each bend with the sign 1 only one sign is required thus reducing installation and maintenance costs.

It will also be appreciated that the arrangement of the chevrons on the sign 1 is such that a number of distinct chevrons in a row are viewed by the motorist and this is clearer and easier to read by a motorist approaching the sign than a continuous set of chevrons in alternating colours.

It will further be appreciated that indicia other than chevrons may be provided on the panels of the sign. For example, triangles pointing in the required direction may be provided on the panels.

In some cases the panels may be adjustable relative to each other in order to adjust the included angle between adjacent » panels. For example, the panels may be hingedly connected to each other. This would allow some adjustment of the panels to accommodate different bends.

Referring now to Fig. 5 there is illustrated another road sign indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. This is largely similar to the road sign described previously with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the panels 2 are arranged on the support in a number of spaced-apart pairs of panels with a spacing panel 31 in between each adjacent pair of panels 2.

Each pair of panels 2 comprises a panel from each set of panels. The provision of the spacing panel 31 between adjacent pair of panels 2 allows more of the indicia, in this case the chevron 6 on each panel, to be viewed as a motorist approaches the bend 21. The width of the spacing panels 31 is sized appropriately depending on the angle of approach of a motorist at a particular bend to give the motorist the fullest view of each panel 2. In some cases the spacing panels 31 may be omitted.

The sign may be of any suitable materials of construction.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (13)

1. A sign for mounting at a road bend, comprising a set of spaced-apart viewing panels mounted on a support, each panel carrying indicia thereon, the panels being arranged 5 on the support to face front-on to one approach to the bend and end-on to the other approach to the bend in use.

2. A sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein two sets of panels are provided mounted on the support, the sets of panels being arranged to face front-on to opposite approaches to 10 the bend.

3. A sign as claimed in claim 2 wherein panels from each of the sets of panels are mounted alternately on the support.

4. A sign as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the 15 panels are arranged on the support in a number of spacedapart pairs of panels, each pair of panels comprising a panel from different sets of panels.

5. A sign as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the panels are integrally formed from a sheet of material 20 bent intermediate its ends in a zig-zag formation.

6. A sign as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the panels are adjustable relative to each other. Ί. A sign as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panels are hingedly connected to each other for adjustment.

7. 8. A sign as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the included angle between adjacent panels is greater than or 5 equal to 90 degrees.

8. 9. A sign as claimed in claim 8 wherein the included angle is substantially 90 degrees.

9. 10. A sign as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each panel carries indicia comprising a chevron, the chevrons 10 on alternate panels pointing in the same direction, and the chevrons on adjacent panels pointing in different directions.

10. 11. A sign as claimed in claim 10 wherein the chevrons are made of or highlighted by a luminous or reflective 15 material.

11. 12. A sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig 1 to Fig 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12.

13. A sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig 5 of the accompanying drawings.