US3593445A

US3593445A - Street sign arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3593445A
Application number: US829025A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lyle E Gant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-29
Filing date: 1969-05-29
Publication date: 1971-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-20

Abstract

A street sign arrangement for mounting on a traffic signal having a base section and a street name plaque section. The base section is proportioned for mating engagement with the top portion of a traffic signal. A slot is provided in said base section and is proportioned to receive a cylindrical threaded portion of the supporting structure of the traffic signal. A nut forming a part of the supporting structure and received on said threaded portion is used to fix the street sign arrangement to said traffic signal.

Description

United States Patent {72] Inventor Lyle E. Cent [56] References Cited I N gggiznzaspohs, ind. UNITED STATES PATENTS f 18; 1969 715,766 12/1902 Dreman 40/145 [45] Patemed July 20l97l 3,488,875 l/l970 Gant 40/128 9 [73] Assignee John W. Guterman FORElGN PATENTS Indianapolis, Ind. 64,597 7/1946 Denmark 40/2 8 mares Primary Examiner Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Anomey-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton ABSTRACT: A street sign arrangement for mounting on a traffic signal having a base section and a street name plaque section. The base section is proportioned for mating engage- [54] g AinkgNcEMENT ment with the top portion of a traffic signal. A slot is provided ng in said base section and is proportioned to receive a cylindri- [52] US. Cl 40/128 cal threaded portion of the supporting structure of the traffic [51] Int. Cl G09i 7/22 signal. A nut forming a part of the supporting structure and [50] Field of Search 40/2, 128, received on said threaded portion is used to fix the street sign arrangement to said traffic signal.

STREET SIGN ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is generally concerned with street signs. More specifically this invention deals with a street sign arrangement that can be attached to a traffic signal.

2. Description of the Prior Art Several streetsign arrangements are known in the art. Some of them have been directed to combinations of street lighting fixtures and street signs, traffic signals and street signs, or to illuminated street signs. Representative of these arrangements are the patents to Sitz U.S. Pat. No. 1,567,871, Springfels U.S. Pat. No. 1,806,126 and Germain U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,633.

Much of the prior art is directed to integrated structures combining street name signs, traffic signals or street lighting fixtures in single units. Because of their unitary structure, none of these arrangements are adapted for use with previously installed equipment such as traffic signals, but instead all are directed to replacing other equipment. What is needed is a street sign arrangement which is easily and quickly mounted on existing equipment, such as standard traffic signals.

It is at present the usual practice to mount street name signs either on street lighting standards or on individual posts intended solely to support street signs. The street signs in these locations are frequently difficult to spot, especially when driving through a strange city. Traffic signals are relatively easy to spot, both because they are generally positioned so that motorists will have an unobstructed view of them, and because they have red, yellow and green lights that are generally easily seen. For this reason, it is logical to locate street signs in close proximity to traffic signals, being careful, however, not to obstruct the motorists view of the traffic signal lights. .A further problem involved in locating the street sign remotely from the traffic signal is that the driver cannot easily operate his car, study the street sign and observe the traffic signal all at the same time.

As will be appreciated more fully below, the street sign arrangementof the present invention solves each of the abovementioned problems, and in addition, provides a long lasting arrangement that is esthc-tically pleasing and clearly legible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the invention might include a street sign arrangement for mounting on a traffic signal which depends from supporting structure comprising a base section having acomplementary configuration to the top of said traffie signal; a street nameplaque attached to said base section andextending upwardly therefrom at anobtuse angle thereto; said-base section having a slot therein which is proportioned to fit the supporting structure for said traffic signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation ofa streetsign arrangement embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2' is an-enlarged side elevation with portions broken away to illustrate the attachment of the subject street sign arrangement to atraffic signal;

FIG. 3 is atfragmentarytop'plan viewof the arrangement; and.

FIG. 4" is aatop view'showing how. multiple street sign units can be used in conjunction withxeach other. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring-to FIGS. l.i-3, there is' 'illustrated a'street signarrangement attachedto a trafficsignal 8. This signal is in turn supported by bar l=which is-attached to'pole 14-and braced thereto by brace 1-2. The signarrangement 2:.generally incor-- poratesa base section-6 and a street name plaque section 4 whichisangularly disposed'thereto; The angle between'these componentscan be. any. convenient value; however, it is preferred "that thisangle -be slightlymore than 90? in order that the-name=plaque section faces=slightly downwardly. The. base section 6further incorporatesazslot 30 whichis adapted-to receive a threaded member 18 which is in turn attached to support 10 via yoke 16.

The threaded member 18 passes through an aperture 7 in the upper plate section 5 of traffic signal 8. The threaded portion of the member 18 has received thereon a pair of nuts 20 and 22. The nuts 20 and 22 are tightened against the upper section 5 to mount the traffic signal on the member 18. When this securing is effected the traffic signal can be hung from any convenient support using yoke 16. A watertight seal is formed around aperture 7 by the positioning of rubber washer 24 between the nut 22 and the upper section 5.

The street sign 2 is attached to traffic signal 8 by the biasing of the base section of the sign unit against the upper section of traffic signal 8 by means of the nut 20. In operation, attachment is effected by the loosening of nut 20 on member 18. This nut is backed up the threaded shaft until sufficient clearance is obtained between nut 20 and the upper section 5 of the traffic light as to allow the base of sign unit 2 to be slipped thereunder to a position wherein the slot 30 has received therein the member 18. Caulking compound is placed around the threaded member 18 and an insert piece 32 is positioned in the slot 30 with its semicircular end 31 adjacent to the threaded member. The root of slot 30 and semicircular end 3] of insert member 32 are so proportioned that they cooperate to form a cylindrical aperture, the diameter of which is approximately equal to the diameter of the threaded portion of member 18.

After the sign is so positioned, the nut 20 is tightened to draw the base section 6 against the top section 5 of traffic signal 8 compressing the washer 24 and forcing the caulking compound into all voids in such a fashion as to form a watertight seal. As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper and lower edge portions of name plaque section 4 are formed into

flanges

34 and 35. These flanges generally extend the length of name plaque section 4 and provide structural integrity to this section. The sides of base section 6 include

flanges

36 and 38 which extend over an are biased against the sides of traffic signal 8. These flanges have a complementary configuration to the top of the traffic signal and generally make the attachment of the street sign to the traffic signal more secure.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that name plaque section and the support section of sign unit 2 are positioned offcenter to each other. This offcenter positioning permits the placement of multiple units around a central point wherein the name plaque ends extend beyond the plaques of adjacent street sign units. If desired the base section can be located centrally of the street name plaque or at either end thereof. The subject street sign unit can be formed from all manner of materials such as metals, plastics, wood, etc. However, it is preferred'that this unit be formed from a polyester resin which is reinforced with glass fibers.

I claim:

1.. A street signarrangement for mounting on'a traffic signal which depends from supporting structure comprising:

a basesection having a complementary configuration to the top of said traffic signal;

a street name plaque attached to said base section and extending-upwardly therefrom at an obtuse angle thereto; said base section having a slot therein which is proportioned to fitthe supporting structurefor said traffic signal; and, an insert member having a semicircular recess in one end thereof and adapted to fit into'said slot in such a manner that the recess and the slot define a circular aperture.

2. A street sign arrangement formounting on a traffic signal which depends from supportingstructure comprising:

a basersectionhaving a complementary configuration to the top ofsaid traffic signal;

a street name'plaque attached to said base section and extendingupwardly therefrom at an obtuse angle thereto; said base sectionhavinga slot therein which is proportioned to fit the supporting structure for said traffic signal; a'trafficsignal having a top plate;

prising a rubber washer received between one of said nuts and said top plate, an insert member received in said slot and defining with said slot a cylindrical aperture through which said support member extends, and caulking filling said aper ture.

Claims

1. A street sign arrangement for mounting on a traffic signal which depends from supporting structure comprising: a base section having a complementary configuration to the top of said traffic signal; a street name plaque attached to said base section and extending upwardly therefrom at an obtuse angle thereto; said base section having a slot therein which is proportioned to fit the supporting structure for said traffic signal; and, an insert member having a semicircular recess in one end thereof and adapted to fit into said slot in such a manner that the recess and the slot define a circular aperture.

2. A street sign arrangement for mounting on a traffic signal which depends from supporting structure comprising: a base section having a complementary configuration to the top of said traffic signal; a street name plaque attached to said base section and extending upwardly therefrom at an obtuse angle thereto; said base section having a slot therein which is proportioned to fit the supporting structure for said traffic signal; a traffic signal having a top plate; a support member having a lower threaded portion extending downwardly into said traffic signal through said top plate; and, a pair of nuts received on said threaded portion and tightened toward one another to grasp said top plate and base section therebetween.

3. The street sign arrangement of claim 2 additionally comprising a rubber washer received between one of said nuts and said top plate, an insert member received in said slot and defining with said slot a cylindrical aperture through which said support member extends, and caulking filling said aperture.