US2059996A

US2059996A - Portable safety signal

Info

Publication number: US2059996A
Application number: US12893A
Authority: US
Inventors: Goldberg Nathan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-03-25
Filing date: 1935-03-25
Publication date: 1936-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1953-11-03

Description

NOV. 3, 1936. GOLDBERG 2,059,996

PORTABLE SAFETY SIGNAL INVENTOR.

A/A TH/i/V 60135536 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE .3 Claims.

"This invention relates to improvements in :safety signaling devices, and has particular reference to an improved collapsible safety signal (especially adapted for use in safeguarding the public where excavations, public highway repair, or other work is being done.

This invention relates to an improved means for securing a sign plate in place on a signal support which projects upwardly from a collapsible base.

There is at present in use, to some extent, a safety signaling device which comprises a collapsible tripod that occupies very little space when it is collapsed and which can be very easily and quickly changed from collapsed to operative position and which, when in the latter position has an upwardly extending bar to which a sign plate can be attached.

It is the principal object of this invention to produce an improved means for removably e curing a sign plate in position on a signal sup, port of the type referred to, which will hold the sign plate securely in position against the ac- -.tion of strong winds and which will not permit a the plate to be rotated about the base.

It is obvious that it is of great importance that the printed matter displayed on signs of .this character shall face in a predetermined .di- ;rection so that the public will be able to read the warning displayed and therefore, if the signail is so constructed that it permits the sign plate to be turned by the wind or by persons bent on mischief, it does not properly serve its intended function.

The above, and other objects that may become apparent as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated and in which Figure l is a side elevation of the signal showing the parts in operative position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, loooking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the sign plate removed and the parts in collapsed position;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig ure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 66, Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 1--'|, Figure 6.

In the drawing reference numeral 8 designates a member which will be referred to herein and in the claims as a base plate. The upper surface of the base plate is frusto-conical and has an upwardly extending axial projection 9 provid- 5 ed with an axial opening. The under surface of the base plate has three pair of spaced lugs or ears Ill each of which is perforated for the reception of a pintle I i. The pintles serve as pivots for the legs [2 of the tripod. A bar [3 is slidably 10 mounted in the opening in the base plate and has attached to its lower end a spreader plate M, which is preferably triangular and is provided at each of its three corners with an elongated opening I5 through each of which a tripod leg extends. The upper end of bar I3 is provided with a socket member I6 that serves as a stop and which has two angularly related cylindrical sockets I! for the reception of the ends of handles to which warning flags are attached.

When the parts are collapsed as shown in Figure the spreader plate is positioned near the ends of thc legs and holds them in parallel position and in this position the tripod takes up very little room and can be easily transported.

By grasping socket member I6 with one hand and the base pla wi h th et e han the bar l3 can be moved longitudinally in the opening in the support until the spreader plate l4 reaches the position indicated in Figure 1, in which position it serves to hold the legs of the tripod spread so that they will hold the bar IS in upright and substantially vertical position,

The parts just described serve as a support for a sign plate 18 which has been illustrated as being a square metal plate provided along its edges with reenforcing beads l9 and as having a diagonal strengthening beam 20 formed from a piece of sheet metal bent into the form of a channel and provided with flanges 21 which are secured to the sign plate by spot welding or otherwise. The channel beam has been shown as terminating a short distance from the upper and lower edges of the sign plate but may extend to the edges if desired. Although the channel beam has been shown as extending diagonally of the sign plate this is not essential as it may extend across from one side to the other but should preferably extend across the center point of the sign plate as defined by the intersection of the twodiagonals.

The sign plate is secured to the assembly described above by means of two lugs, one of Which has been designated by numeral 22, and projects upwardly from the support and is preferably integral with the latter.

The other lug, which has been designated by reference numeral 23, is part of a member 24 which has an opening through which the bar l3 extends and is freely slidable on this bar but held against removal therefrom by means of the stop l6. Lug 23 projects downwardly and is preferably positioned the same distance from the center of the bar l3 as the upwardly projecting lug.

The lugs are of greater width than thickness and of the proper size to fit the openings in the ends of the channel beam as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. When the sign plate is in position the upwardly projecting lug serves as a support for the plate by engaging the lower edge thereof and the downwardly projecting lug byengag ing the upper edge of the plate holds it parallel to the bar and prevents it from rocking about the lower lug. By employing lugs having rectangular cross sections the plate is held from turning about the bar l3 and therefore it will always remain in the position in which it is set. Although rectangular lugs are deemed to be preferable this is not an essential because even if circular lugs are used there will be only a limited rotation of the plate because the bar will act as a limiting stop.

In the claims the term edge of the plate is used to designate either the end of the channel beam or the edge of the sign plate as it is evident that it can be reversed or the channel beam can be eliminated entirely and spaced lugs substituted which correspond to the sides of the channel for preventing the sign plate from slid- Bar l3 can be secured to the spreader plate in such a way that it can rotate relative thereto so as to make it possible to position the flags, supported in the sockets IT, in any position desired.

It will be seen from the above description and the accompanying drawing that the means employed for securing the sign plate in place holds it against rotation about the bar and permits it to be quickly put into position and removed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a foldable sign, in combination, a bar,

means for supporting the bar and holding it in upright position, comprising a base plate having an opening in which the bar is mounted for longitudinal movement, a plurality of legs hinged at one end to the under side of the base plate, a spreader plate secured to the lower end of the bar, said plate having an opening for each leg, means for limiting the downward movement of the bar, comprising the spreader plate and the legs, a sign plate, means carried by the base plate for engaging the lower edge of and supporting the sign plate, means slidably mounted on the bar for engaging the upper edge of the sign plate, and a stop for limiting the upward movement of the slidable means, on the bar.

2. In a foldable sign, in combination, a bar, means for supporting the bar and holding it in upright position, said means comprising, a base plate having an opening in which the bar is mounted for longitudinal movement, a plurality of legs hinged atone end to the underside of the base plate, a spreader plate attached to the lower end of the bar and provided with openings through which the legs extend, means for holding the bar in elevated position, comprising the spreader plate and the legs, a sign plate, means for supporting the sign plate in parallel relation to the bar and for holding it from turning about the bar, comprising a lug projecting upwardly from the base plate, spaced from the bar, and a lug slidably mounted on the bar in spaced relation thereto, the lower edge of the sign plate having a portion positioned between the bar and the lower lug and the upper edge of the sign plate having a portion positioned between the slidable lug and the bar.

3. In a foldable sign, in combination, a bar, a base plate having an opening in which the bar is slidably mounted and which serves to hold the bar in upright position, a sign plate having lugengaging devices at opposite edges thereof, a lug projecting upwardly from the base plate for engagement with one lug-engaging device on the sign plate, and a downwardly projecting lug slidably mounted on the bar for engaging the other lugengaging'device on the sign plate.

NATHAN GOLDBERG.