WO2013062478A1

WO2013062478A1 - Sign holder

Info

Publication number: WO2013062478A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/051157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Lindberg; Joakim Lindberg
Original assignee: Jan Lindberg; Joakim Lindberg
Priority date: 2011-10-26
Filing date: 2012-10-26
Publication date: 2013-05-02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sign holder (S) intended to be used together with some kind of a road sign/road sign holder (1) comprising a shackle formed holder element (22) and a foot/base/stand (100), said sign holder (S) comprising a fixing device (110'), wherein the road sign/road sign holder (1) is foldable between an upright, locked position and a folded position in said sign holder (S) as well as that the fixing device (110') is arranged to act against the holder element (22) with a resilient force at the positioning of the road sign/road sign holder (1) at least in a folded position, but preferably also in an unfolded position. Further, the invention relates to a road sign holder (1) intended to be used together with some kind of foot/base/stand, comprising a road sign symbol (5) arranged on an information carrier (4), wherein said road sign holder (1) also comprises a back (2) and a front (3) as well as that said back and front (2, 3) are detachably fastened to each other so that the information carrier (4) may be placed therebetween and thus is exchangeable.

Description

SIGN HOLDER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sign holder intended to be used together with some kind of road sign/road sign holder including a shackle formed holder element and a foot/base/stand, said sign holder comprising a fixing device.

The invention also relates to a road sign holder intended to be used together with some kind of foot/base/stand; comprising a sign road symbol placed on an information carrier.

PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to the field of handling and carrier of road signs for in the first place roadwork sites but also permanent use may exist. Methods, arrangements and constructions related to the technical field indicated above are previously known in a number of different embodiments.

It is known that signs which are used along roads, especially temporarily arranged signs adjacent to roadwork sites, are subject to severe wear. The wear consists of damages which among other things occur in connection with signs being run into or over.

Dirtying, especially splashes at surfacing works, are another large problem causing heavy wear on the signs.

It is of absolutely greatest importance and security that the work to erect up-to-date road signs and to lift away non-actual road signs, at e.g. a roadwork site, takes place in a rapid and easy manner, but it is also important to simplify and structure the handling of storage and transport.

A road sign known on the market is described in SE 533 822. In that case an

information carrier is arranged on a wire frame by folding the edges of the carrier around the wire frame, and then they are put together by sewing, gluing or high- frequency welding. Further, at the bottom, the wire frame has a protruding portion which is put into a separate foot. The road sign has experienced success because of the ease with which it can be handled thanks to low weight and simple redisplay but it has a somewhat complicated manufacturing process. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least to minimize the problems mentioned above, which is achieved by a sign holder according to claim 1. According to an aspect of the invention, this is achieved by a sign holder admitting locking of the road sign in both erected and folded positions, which implies that it is easy and smooth to handle and to store a road sign with a sign foot without disassembly.

It has been proved that it would be an advantage further to be able to protect the sign holder in a more stable embodiment and that this embodiment implies that the sign holder is subject to less wear.

According to another aspect of the invention, a sign holder is provided where the two grooves surrounds the two stays of the road sign, which gives a more rigid support to the road sign.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the road sign/holder is lifted out of the groove before the road sign is folded, which reduces the wear on the rubber body.

According to still another aspect of the invention, the construction of the road sign holder is revolutionary within the field of road signs. As the road sign holder is openable, an easy and rapid exchangeable display is provided.

Thanks to the invention, a road sign holder may be provided, which implies that putting up and removal of signs at for instance a roadwork site will be quick and smooth and that exchanges of road sign symbols may be performed in situ thanks to the road sign holder being openable and the information carrier exchangeable.

According to an aspect, both the back and the front have fastening means arranged along the edges, which makes it easy to open and shut the road sign holder.

According to a further aspect, the back has an integrated holder element at the lower edge, which makes it easy to connect the road sign holder with a base.

Still an advantage is achieved by the front having a surface directed towards the viewer which is non-reflecting, which implies that the information carrier keeps out the weather without giving reflections. According to yet another aspect of the invention the fastening means of the front comprises a resilient border which implies that at the assembly with the back it is easy to press the parts against each other until the border snaps around the edge of the back. An additional advantage with the invention is achieved by the fact that the information carrier has road sign symbols on both sides and that, by rotation and exchange of figures, it may show up to 1 1 different road sign symbols, which implies that the transport and storage space of the information carriers are reduced on average by a factor 3 or still more.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will below be described more in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, of which: Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a road sign holder in a preferred embodiment according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a back according to the invention, seen from the front;

Fig. 3 shows a front according to the invention, seen from the back;

Fig. 4 shows a road sign holder according to the invention, seen from the front; Fig. 5 shows an information carrier according to the invention, seen from the front; Fig. 6 shows an alternative information carrier according to the invention, seen from the front;

Fig. 7 shows a road sign holder according to the invention, seen from the front; Fig. 8 shows the road sign holder mounted on a lightweight foot; and

Fig. 9 shows the road sign holder mounted on an alternative lightweight foot; Fig. 10 shows a detail of the border of the back and the edge of the front;

Fig. 11 shows a sign holder with a road sign in a folded, locked position according to the invention, seen from the side;

Fig. 12 shows a sign holder with a road sign in an upright position according to the invention, seen from the side;

Fig. 13 shows a sign holder with a road sign in an upright position according to the invention, seen from the side; and

Fig. 14 shows a sign holder with a road sign in an upright, locked position according to the invention, seen from the side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a road sign holder 1 in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. The road sign holder 1 comprises a back 2, a transparent front 3, and an exchangeable information carrier 4 placed therebetween. The road sign holder 1 has a height of about 85 cm and a width of about 85 cm, but the size may, of course, be varied, as required. The information carrier 4 is intended to be placed against the back 2, and the front 3 is then placed in front of the information carrier 4 in order to fasten and protect it. By means of the fastening means 21, 31 along the edges of the back 2 and the front 3, respectively, the front 3 may be dismountably fastened on the back 2. The back 2 and the front 3 substantially consist of mouldable plastics/polymers, e.g. a thermoplast. Both the front 3 and the back 2 of the road sign holder 1 have an inner side 200, 300 and an outer side 201 , 301. In an assembled state, an inner space 8 is formed in the gap between the inner sides 200, 300 of the front and the back, which space is intended to accommodate the information carrier 4.

Fig. 2 shows a back 2 in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. Suitably, the back 2 consists of a moulded plastic sheet 20. Preferably, a handle 24 is integrated in the upper edge of the back 2 itself, which facilitates the positioning/handling of the road sign holder 1. The back 2 has a contour which takes the shape of a two-dimensional triangle with rounded corners which is placed on top of a two-dimensional square so that they coincides in a common plane, where the square to a certain extent is inscribed in the triangle so that the base of the triangle is about 1/3 longer than the side of the square. The bases of the triangle and the square preferably extend in the same line and form the lower edge 23 of the back 2. Thanks to the design of the back 2, most shapes of road signs may substantially be placed on the back 2, i.e. circles, triangles and squares.

At the inner side 200 of the back there is an indentation 9 in the form of a groove, running in a loop from the lower edge 23 of the back, for a holder element 22, which preferably has the shape of a curved wire. The holder element 22 has a lower portion which protrudes below the lower edge 23 and forms a U-shaped shackle 22a. The U- shaped shackle 22a comprises a lower portion 221 extending substantially parallel to the lower edge 23 of the back, below called lower stay 221. The shackle 22a comprises also an upper stay 220 parallel to the lower stay 221, so that a gap is formed between the lower stay 221 and the upper stay 220. The upper stay may be a separate, curved wire 22' running in a second groove 9' along the inner side of the back. In the preferred embodiment, the two stays 220, 221 have a circular cross-section. Suitably, at least the lower stay 221, but preferably also the upper stay 220, is an integrated part of the curved holder element 22. For other reasons, which will be more apparent below, there are further advantages with the stays having at least a rounded cross-section, without sharp edges. The holder element 22 is fastened in the indentation 9, in the simplest way by glue or pop rivets, but also a clamp force or any other way, known to those skilled in the art, is conceivable.

In a conceivable embodiment, the back 2 has a substantially flat inner side 200, against which the information carrier 4 will abut. The back 2 also comprises a fastening means 21 for the front 3, here in the form of a border 21 running along the contour of the back. The border 21 substantially runs perpendicularly upwards from the inner side 200 of the back 2 in order then substantially to turn perpendicularly outwards, hence forming an edge/frame 210, which is plane-parallel to the bottom of the back 2, before the border 21 again turns obliquely outwards, downwards in an inclined angle forming a somewhat conic shape. The border 21 has an inner height Hi from the inner side of the back to the upper edge of the border, with a length preferably in the region of 3 to 20 mm, more preferred 5 to 10 mm, and an outer height H_y from the upper edge of the border to its lower end of the outer, downwardly sloping portion of the border in the region of 5 to 25 mm, preferably 8 to 15 mm. The border 21 is intended as to shape to interact with the front 3 for the fastening of the front with a resilient clamping force. Preferably, the handle 24 is a shackle handle consisting of the same plastic sheet 20 as the back 2 which facilitates the manufacturing process.

The holder element 22 described above is intended to fit together with a holder, previously developed by the applicant and described in Figs. 20 and 21 a-c and 9a and 9c, respectively, in WO2010/071576. A later further development of this holder is shown in Fig. 8 and has additional advantages as it by means of this handle will be easier to adjust the resilient force from the upper plate 122, and in this manner to adapt it to the road sign in question. The holder consists of two plates 122, 123 which are placed on top of each. The lower plate is fastened, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, in both edges against the upper side of a lightweight foot 100, while the upper plate 122 is only fastened at one end. The lower plate may be loosed at one edge at the exchange or disassembly of road sign holders 1 and the foot/base. The upper plate 122 is manufactured of a resilient material, preferably spring steel, while the lower plate 123 is manufactured of a non-resilient material, preferably sheet steel. By one end of the upper plate not being screwed, one may easily, by adjusting the non-fastened end as to height, achieve a variation of the resilient force acting on the holder element 22 of the road sign holder.

Both plates are profiled with an upwardly curved profiling 130, 131, which underneath forms a transverse groove 130, 13 Γ each across the respective plate. When the plates have been mounted on the lightweight foot, the grooves 130', 13 Γ are orientated in the cross direction of the lightweight foot, which implies that the road sign holder 1 will be foldable in the direction of the roadway. At the assembly of the sign on the base, the lower stay 221 of the holder element 22 is arranged to run in the lower groove 13 Γ, and the upper stay 220 is arranged to run in the upper groove 130'.

If the sign is run into, the upper resilient fastening plate will thus yield and the sign may be folded down. The flat portions of the lower plate 123, at both sides of the lower groove 13 , may preferably abut against the upper side of the lightweight foot and the sign will then be kept by the lower plate 123.

An additional variant of a lightweight foot is shown in Fig. 9, where the plates described in Fig. 8 have been replaced by a rubber body 1 10, which is fastened, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, at one edge against the upper side of a lightweight foot 100 but not fastened at the other edge for simple insertion of a holder element 22 from the side. The holder element 22 is brought in place from the open end by the lower stay 221 being put in under the rubber body 110 while the upper stay 220 is brought in place above the rubber body 1 10. When the road sign holder 1 is in an upright position, the upper stay 220 rests in an upwardly directed upper notch 111 at the upper side of the rubber body, and the lower stay is in place in a downwardly directed notch 1 12 of the lower side of the rubber body. If the sign is run into, the upper stay may be heeled over the edge of the upper notch 11 in the rubber body 1 10 as the rubber body has a certain elasticity and may be pressed together so that the edge is allowed to yield and the upper stay 220 slides out of its notch 111 and the sign is folded down. The lower stay 221 remains below the rubber body and one may again unfold the sign by raising the sign until the upper stay 220 slides in place in its notch 11 1. It is realized that it is an advantage that the transversal stays 220, 221 have a rounded cross-section, without sharp edges, to facilitate a relative motion against the rubber body 110 and the two notches 111, 112, respectively.

Fig. 3 shows in a perspective view a preferred embodiment of the front 3 according to the invention. The figure shows the inner side 300 of the front 3, which is directed towards the inner side 200 of the back in an assembled position. The front 3 comprises a preferably thin, transparent plate 30, preferably of moulded plastics, which as to shape is adapted to the back 2. The front 3 also comprises fastening means 31, here in the form of an edge 31 arranged along the outer edges of the plate 30, which edge as to shape cooperates with the border 21 of the back 2 and by way of which the front 3 may be dismountably fastened to the back 2. Centrally 32 at the lower edge of the front 3 the edge is interrupted, as the back 2 in the corresponding region is provided with a protruding holder element 22. In this embodiment, the edge 31 extends in a direction towards the back 2 and form in an assembled position a surrounding frame around the inner space. The edge 31 extends across the plane of the plate in an angle sloping obliquely outwards, which follows the inclination of the border 21 of the back. In its outer end the edge ends with a clamping section 34 which is intended with a clamping force to surround the lower end of the outer, downwardly sloping portion of the border in order to keep the front and the back together, which is shown in Fig. 10. In the region of the clamping section, the mutual cross dimension between different sections of the edge shall be reduced so that a kind of snap fastening is formed. For instance, the clamping section may consist of inwardly curved semi-cylindrical edge terminations. Another conceivable alternative is to let the clamping section consist of a somewhat inwardly bevelled, straight edge section. Thanks to the fact that the front is formed by a thermoplast, there is certain flexibility in the material which enables an assembly with a clamping force. Further, the opening 32 in the middle of the lower edge contributes to the flexibility. At the assembly, the front 3 is placed over the back 2 and pressed until the clamping section snaps past the lower edge of the border 21 of the back and hence locks the parts 2, 3 to each other. It is realized, that also the border 21 of the back may be resilient so that the clamping section 31 is allowed to be pressed over and past the border 21. The edge 31 of the front has in its outwardly sloping section, i.e. in the portion with gradually increasing inner cross dimension between different sections of opposite sides of the edge, an inner height from the inside 300 of the front up to the foot of the clamping section which corresponds to the outer height H_y of the border 21 of the back.

The outer side 301 of the front, in an assembled position directed towards the viewer, preferably has a non-reflecting surface. This may achieved by the outer side 301 being given a prismatic pattern. Another way to achieve this is to use a plate material which is made non-reflecting by addition of some substance making the plastic non-reflecting according to a manner known to those skilled in the art. Besides the front 3 contributing to the information carriers 4 being exchangeable, it contributes to protect the information carrier 4 against wear and dirtying. In such an embodiment, an information carrier 4, which does not comprise any Keder strip 40 but with a comparatively good stability/bearing capacity, may be used, as the lower edge of the front prevents the information carrier 4 from sliding out.

Fig. 4 shows the road sign holder 1 according to another conceivable embodiment in an assembled state with an information carrier 4 therebetween. At the assembly, the information carrier 4 is placed with a road sign symbol 5 suitable for that occasion thereon against the bottom of the back 2. The front 3 is placed against the back 2 and pressed towards the back 2, so that the edge 31 fastens with a snap and surrounds the border 21. The information carrier 4 comprises a suspension device 40, preferably a Keder strip 40, along at least any of its edges, preferably the upper edge. The Keder strip 40 has a diameter in the region of 3 to 20 mm, more preferred 5 to 10 mm. In an embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the Keder strip 40 and the inner height H of the border 21 are adapted to each other, so that when the information carrier 4 is placed between the front 3 and the back 2 in an assembled state, the Keder strip 40 is fixed between the two parts 2, 3, and the information carrier 4 is kept in place. When the road sign holder 1 has been placed in an upright position, the information carrier 4 hangs freely between the front and back 2, 3 and thanks to the fact that the Keder strip/s 40 is/are kept between the two parts 2, 3, the information carries does not run the risk to fall down/crinkle between the parts 2, 3.

The information carrier 4 in Fig. 4 has Keder strips 40, 40A, 40B at three of its four edges. A large advantage of having several Keder strips 40, 40 A, 40B is that the same road sign symbol 5 may give different messages. For instance, if the information carrier 4 is hung up in the Keder strip at the right edge 40B instead, a road sign symbol 5 is obtained, where the arrow points to the right instead of to the left. In this way, a plurality of road sign symbols 5 may be accomodated at the same side of the

information carrier 4. By on the other side of the information carrier 4 having another road sign symbol 5 which may be varied thanks to several Keder strips 40, 40A, 40B, transport and storage space of the information carriers 4 are reduced considerably. It also implies large cost savings to be able to provide several road sign symbols 5 on one and the same side of the information carrier 4. An exchange of a road sign symbol 5 at e.g. a roadwork site implies risks. To reduce the time with the roadway is therefore desirable and with the road sign holder 1 it will be very smooth and simple only to open the road sign holder 1, turn the information carrier 4, e.g. 90° or to turn the other side upwards and then fix the front 3 again to get an alternative road sign symbol 5, alternatively to exchange the information carrier 4 by another one. It is realized that it for road safety reasons has previously not been possible to provide known information carriers with messages on both sides, as drivers approaching the road sign from the opposite direction than the intended one then will be given a wrong message, which is not intended for them. However, this is possible with the road sign holder of the invention, where a non-transparent back 3 hides the symbol at the back of the information carrier from being seen by road-users in the opposite direction.

Fig. 5 shows the back of the information carrier described in Fig. 4, which is a square information carrier 4 of a flexible material, preferably a cloth of a shape-stable, water- repelling and light material, e.g. a PVC-coated fibre web, where a circular road sign symbol 5 has been applied, preferably by gluing. The road sign symbol 5 shows a speed limitation and the tens digit and the hundreds digit are mounted in a transparent pocket 6 including an upper open edge, wherein the digits are exchangeable, as they may be picked out of the pocket through the opening at the upper edge. In this way, it is easy to change the speed. The transparent pocket 6 is preferably welded by high frequency welding, which is a rapid and simple process but it is, of course, also conceivable to fasten the pocket by sewing or gluing. Fig. 6 shows an information carrier 4, where both the information carrier 4 and the applied road sign symbol 5 has the shape of a triangle. A Keder strip 40 is arranged at the upper edge.

Fig. 7 shows the road sign holder 1 in an assembled state with an information carrier 4 according to Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 1 shows, from the side, a preferred embodiment of a sign holder S with a road sign/road sign holder 1 in a folded, locked state. The sign holder S comprises a fixing device 1 10', preferably in the form of a rubber body 110', and a base plate 223. The base plate 223 is fastened in a manner known by those skilled in the art, e.g. by screws 7, at both edges against the upper side of a foot/base/stand 100, preferably a lightweight foot. The base plate 223 is preferably rectangular and has an upwardly curving profiling 224, preferably placed in the middle of the base plate, which underneath forms a transverse first groove 225 across the base plate 223, between the underside of the base plate 223 and the upper side of the foot 100. When the base plate 223 has been mounted on the lightweight foot, the groove 225 is orientated in the cross direction of the lightweight foot 100, which implies that the road sign/road sign holder 1 is foldable in the direction of the roadway. The first groove has a height h in the region of 5 to 50 mm, more preferred in the region of 10 to 20 mm.

On top of the base plate 223, surrounding the profiling 224, there is a rubber body 1 10', which is fastened to the base plate 223 in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The rubber body 1 10' forms at one side of the profiling 224 a wall 1 16 sloping obliquely inwardly towards the profiling 224, which wall 116, on level with the maximal point of the profiling 224, continues and form a (of two opposite) first lip 113 extending substantially vertically and running along the entire profiling 224. Opposite to the first lip 113, the rubber body 1 10' forms a second lip 112 extending substantially vertically, which lips 1 12, 1 13 between each other form a transverse second groove 1 1 1. Said second groove 11 1 thus also runs in the transverse direction of the lightweight foot straight above and parallel to the first groove 225. Further, the two lips 112, 1 13 each have a heel 114, 1 15, wherein the heels 1 14, 115 are directed inwardly towards said second groove 111 and form a locking when the holder element 22 of the road sign/road sign holder 1 has been positioned in the second groove 1 1 1.

Further, at the opposite side of said sloping wall 116, the rubber body 1 10' comprises a mirror-inverted sloping wall 1 17, which wall comprises a locking heel 1 18, which locking heel 1 18 is turned away from said profiling 224. The locking heel 1 18 may suitably be given a design similar to the further one 113 of the two lips.

At assembly, the lower stay 221 of a holder element (see more detailed description of the holder element 22 and its upper 220 and lower 221 stay in the applicant's previous application SE 1150993-2) is placed into the first groove 225 before the base plate is fixedly mounted at the lightweight foot 100. The first groove 225 and the lower stay 221 form a hinge around which a road sign/road sign holder may be unfolded and folded. The sign holder is arranged such that the distance from the maximal point of the first groove 225, its upper end and the top of the lips 114, 1 15 is less than the distance between the lower stay 221 of the holder element adapted to the sign holder and its upper stay 220, at the same time as the lips 1 13, 114 have a sufficient height to surround the upper stay 220 of the road sign/road sign holder 1 in an upright position, when the lower stay 221 rests on top of the upper side of the base plate 223. The distance from the maximal point of the first groove 225 to the locking heel 118 is in a similar way adapted to the distance between the two stays 220, 221 of the holder element, but the distance is preferably substantially equally long or longer so that the upper stay 220 must be pressed past the locking heel 118 with a light force. In this way, it will be possible to move and lock the holder element in different positions in the sign holder.

In Fig. 11 it is shown how a road sign 1 is positioned in a folded, locked position, which facilitates handling and transport of a road sign 1 and a lightweight foot 100. The road sign 1 comprises a holder element 22, where a lower stay 221 has been placed in the first groove 225 of the sign holder S and an upper stay 220, which is positioned below the locking heel 1 18. In this way, the road sign 1 is locked in a planar position along the extension of the lightweight foot 100 and it is easy to handle and transport without the road sign 1 falling out of its position. When a road sign 1 shall be placed at e.g. a roadwork site, the lightweight foot 100 is placed on the ground and, with a force exceeding the resilient force of the locking heel 118, the road sign 1 is pressed upwards until the upper stay 220 passes/snaps past the locking heel 1 18. The road sign 1 is brought to a vertical position, which may be seen in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. In this position, the road sign 1 is pressed downwards until the upper stay 220 is pressed past the heels 114, 1 15 of the first and second lips 112, 1 13 and arrives in the second groove 1 1 1 and the lower stay 221 rests against the lightweight foot 100, see Fig. 14. In Fig. 14 the road sign is in an upright, locked position, where the lower stay 221 suitably rests against the lightweight foot 100 in the first groove 225 and the upper stay 220 preferably rests in the upper second groove 111 surrounded by the two lips 1 12, 1 13 with their heels 1 14, 115 in a stable position. When the road sign 1 shall be removed after completed roadwork, the road sign 1 is lifted in the vertical direction with a force exceeding the clamping force between the two lips 1 12, 1 13 and their heels 1 14, 1 15, so that the upper stay 220 is pressed past the heels 114, 1 15 and leaves the second groove 11 1. Thereafter the road sign is folded downwards, in the direction where the locking heel 1 18 of the rubber body is arranged, until the upper stay 220 is pressed past and locked below the locking heel 118. As the road sight is lifted upwards in the vertical direction and the upper stay 220 is pressed out of the second groove 11 1 before the sign is folded downwards, the wear on the rubber body 110' is reduced. The advantage with this embodiment of the sign holder S is that the road sign may be locked both in the upright position and in the folded position. Another advantage is that if the road sign 1 is run into, the lips 112, 1 13 are so elastic (as they are made of rubber) that the lip 112, 1 13 yields, wherein the upper stay 220 may be pushed out of the second groove 1 1 1 and the road sign 1 will be folded which reduces the risk that the road sign is damaged. ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The invention is not limited to the above description but may be varied within the scope of the appending claims. For instance, it is realized that the use of the road sign holder is not limited to display at roads etc but a sign may, of course, also be used for information of other kinds, e.g. for the purpose of publicity. Also another hanging device is conceivable, for instance the upper portion of the information carrier may be provided with holes which may be put on hooks in the back.

The holder element of the road sign holder may, of course, also be varied to suit other sign holders/bases/stands than those described here. Those skilled in the art also realize that the holder element need not be a separate part but may be an integrated part of the back.

It is also realized that a band may be folded around the handle 24 and a Keder strip may be provided in the band. In this way, the possibility is obtained to hang the road sign holder 1 in e.g. a road sign stand of the kind developed by the applicant and described in WO2010/071576 where the signs are hanged in a Keder string. In this manner, one may use the road sign holder 1 , with a protected information carrier 4 inside, both in foots and bases and hang them in different kinds of stands according to a concept for simpler handling both along the road and at transport and storage as described in

WO2010/071576.

Those skilled in the art realize that it is sufficient that the edge 31 of the front is provided with a clamping section 34 along some opposite parts of the edge. Further, it is realized that the fastening means may be other ones than those described here, for instance the front may be provided with clamping clips which are provided along the edges on the back and likewise it is realized that the fastening means need not be arranged along the entire sides of the front but at certain intervals. Still another variant of fastening means could be that the front and the back at some edge is provided with hinges so that the front may easily be opened and the information carrier may be exchanged.

Within the frame of the scope of the invention the lower edge 3 of the front may be provided with an opening along the entire or essentially the entire straight portion. This embodiment is especially suitable when an information carrier with a Keder string 40 in the upper edge is used which is clamped between the back and the front, as the information carrier then may be allowed to hang freely in the space therebetween. The opening at the lower edge may also give the advantage that it will be simpler to assemble and disassemble the road sign holder through increased flexibility in the border of the front. In such an application an information carrier may be used with less stability/bearing capacity than an information carrier without any Keder string.

An additional variant of the road sign holder 1 may be that the inner height ¾ of the border 21 of the back is only some millimetres, alternatively that the border 21 is missing and the back 2 is quite flat, which is suitable when the information carrier 4 is made in a material with low stability/bearing capacity, e.g. cloth/fabric, and does not comprise any Keder string. The information carrier 4 is then placed against the inside 200 of the back and clamped between the front and the back when the front 3 is pressed together with the back 2.

Further, it is realized that the back 2 and the front 3 may have other shapes than the one described above. Those skilled in the art realize that the information carrier 4 and the road sign symbol 5 may consist of other materials than the ones mentioned without reducing their functions.

The back may also have grooves/profiles, in which the Keder strip may be put so that, when the front is fixed, it will abut against the back and keep the road sign when the Keder strip is clamped down into the profiles. This variant makes it possible to give the sign another shape when the edge/border does not have the function to fit against the road sign and keep it in the correct position. The grooves/profiles are adapted to fit round, triangular or square road signs.

Further, it is realized that the parts included in the application (e.g. the information carrier and/or the lightweight foot) are not limited only to a use together with each other as is exemplified in the description. Of course, it shall be understood that they may each be used separately in applications for which they are suitable, and, in addition to the concrete examples here described, other aspects of the devices of the invention may form the basis for independent claims and divisional applications, respectively, regarding separate parts or use together with some of other devices described.

Claims

1. A sign holder (S) intended to be used together with some kind of road sign/road sign holder (1) comprising a shackle formed holder element (22) and a foot/base/stand (100), said sign holder (S) comprising a fixing device (110'), characterized in that the road sign/road sign holder (1) is foldable between an upright, locked position and a folded position in said sign holder (S) as well as that the fixing device (110') is arranged to act against the holder element (22) with a resilient force at the positioning of the road sign/road sign holder (1) at least in a folded position, but preferably also in an unfolded position.

A sign holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing device (110') comprises a base plate (223) which is arranged at the upper side of a foot/base/stand (100) and that said base plate (223) is profiled with an upwardly curving profiling (224) which underneath form a transversal first groove (225) across the base plate (223.)

A sign holder according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixing device (110') comprises a rubber body (110') arranged on top of the base plate (223), which surrounds the profiling (224), which rubber body (110'), on level with the maximal point of the profiling (224), comprises a first (113) and a second (112) lip, which lips extend substantially vertically and run along the entire profiling (224), and a transverse second groove (111) running above the first groove (225) is formed between the lips.

A sign holder according to claim 3, characterized in that the two lips (112, 113) comprise a heel (114, 115) on the side facing inwardly towards said second groove (111), wherein said heels (114, 115) form a locking of a road sign (1) in the upright position.

A sign holder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rubber body (110') further comprises a locking heel (118) running along one side of the profiling (224) and admitting locking of a road sign (1) in a lying/folded position.

6. A sign holder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the maximum point of the first groove (225) and the locking heel (118) is equally long or longer than the distance between an upper (220) and a lower (221) stay of the shackle formed holder element (22), so that a force must be added to press the upper stay (220) past the locking heel (118).