JPH039964B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sign assemblies for displaying information such as warnings, and more particularly to improved roadside signs that are foldable or retractable. Temporary signs are
It is particularly desirable for warning passing motorists of impending danger, such as that posed by construction work or emergencies. Since such traffic hazards can occur anywhere, it is especially desirable that these roadside signs be easily transported from one location to another and quickly assembled. It is also desirable that such signs be small and lightweight so that large numbers of them can be transported by vehicle.

Many prior art signs include a plurality of upwardly extending, brightly colored warning flags mounted on a warning flagpole, which provide a high degree of warning to approaching motorists. These warning flagpoles are attached to holders and
The holder is attached to a retractable sign or a rigid sign on a sign stand, or to a vertical member or cross member. Typically, these warning flagpoles are removable from their cooperating holders and must be removed before the sign can be folded for transportation from one location to another.

Examples of currently known retractable sign designs are obtained from the following pending U.S. patent applications, each of which is assigned to the same assignee as this application:
Application No. 442418, No. 442419, dated November 7, 1982
No. 274400 dated June 17, 1981, May 25, 1983
The date is No. 497815. These signs use a soft sign surface with the desired written message or symbol on one or both sides. A pair of cross members are used which are attached to the retractable sign at its distal ends to give the sign a flat profile. The cross member according to the above application can be selectively folded to present the sign either in its display configuration or in its rolled storage configuration. Some of these signs use brackets on vertically extending cross members,
A warning flagpole is removably attached to the cross member. In other signs, the holder and warning flag are attached to the top of a vertical member on a platform assembly. Because these warning flagpoles (and often also their holders) are separated from their cooperating signs during transportation, they can be mistaken. Additionally, when the sign is moved from one location to another, the user has the inconvenience of having to separately transport a large number of warning flags and holders with the sign, and then reassemble the individual parts piece by piece. . Additionally, during high winds, flags are often blown away from their holders, creating a more dangerous situation and creating additional labor costs in maintaining the signs.

In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of prior art sign designs, a principal aspect of the present invention is a retractable roadside sign that uses one or more upwardly extending warning flags, the flags being pivotably attached to a sign cross member. To obtain a retractable roadside sign that can be attached to a cross member and remain attached to a cross member even when the sign is in a storage configuration. A next aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus for attaching a warning flag to a vertical cross member of a retractable sign in a manner that resists the wind or other forces to which the warning flag is typically subjected. A further aspect of the invention is to provide a sign assembly that is permanently attached to the vertical cross member of a retractable sign and does not interfere with compact storage of the sign.

A sign assembly according to the present invention has first and second cross members supporting a flexible sign, and further includes at least one cross member attached to a corresponding warning flagpole.
Folds from a display shape with several warning flags and the first and second cross members in a substantially orthogonal state to a folded storage shape in which the first and second cross members are in a substantially parallel state. A first turning device, which is of a type that can be used, and in which the warning flagpole is rotatably attached to one of the cross members, a second turning device attached to one of the cross members, and this second turning device. and a warning flagpole support bracket pivotally attached to one of the cross members by a moving device. and the warning flagpole support bracket has at least one curved end;
The curved end is adapted to selectively engage and disengage the warning flagpole, such that the warning flagpole and the warning flagpole support bracket can be selectively pivoted relative to one of the cross members, thereby causing the warning flagpole to selectively engage and disengage the warning flagpole. The curved end of the flagpole support bracket engages the warning flagpole when the sign is in the display configuration, and the warning flagpole and the warning flagpole support bracket are further substantially collinear with respect to one of the cross members when the sign assembly is in the storage configuration. The sign assembly can be selectively rotated in relation to each other, thereby providing a small, lightweight sign assembly that is easy to transport and quick to assemble.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains upon understanding the disclosed preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The retractable sign assembly according to the invention is particularly suitable for the first
2, 7, and 9, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The roll mark 12 is typically constructed from a sheet of soft material, such as a polymeric plastic composite such as vinyl. The sides of the sign shown in FIG. 1 are visible, ie, stamped with a written message, and have brightly colored, highly reflective or lenticular surfaces for maximum attention. The wrap-up sign 12 is the first
and supported by second cross members 14, 16,
Member 14 is generally horizontal when the sign is in the display configuration, and member 16 exhibits a generally vertical orientation. These cross members cause the turn sign 12 to assume a generally planar shape, thereby providing a large warning or message area for passing motorists, as shown by way of example in FIG. At the ends of the crosses 14, 16 there is a mounting post 18 which provides a means for attaching the wrap mark to the cross. Engagement sign 12
One device for obtaining attachment between the cross members and the cross members is shown in FIG. This head, in one of its rotational positions, allows the eyelet 22 to be mounted on a column;
In another rotational position (indicated by 20' in dotted lines) the eyelet can be held on the post. Eyelet 22 is attached to the face of sign 12. The mounting post 18 can be attached to a cooperating cross member by conventional means, such as screws 26, snap rivets, or the like. Instead,
The sign 12 may be formed with individual pockets at each of its distal corners and the ends of the cross may be inserted into these pockets to attach the cross to the sign.

The cross members 14, 16 are formed from a fairly rigid material such as reinforced plastic or wood. Preferably, the cross members 14, 16 are pivotable relative to each other about a pivot pin 24 which directs the cross members from the orientation shown in FIG. 2 into the collinear relationship shown in FIG. It is collapsible, which allows for maximum compactness when the sign is folded into a storage configuration.

Several devices for attaching roll-up sign assembly 10 to a mounting base will now be described. Figures 2 and 5
Such a device is shown in FIG. 6 and is described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application No. 442,419. According to these figures, an adjustable sign mounting bracket 28 is provided with a sleeve-type mounting member 30 which is slidably mounted on a vertical sign base member 32. Member 32 is part of a marker stand assembly, preferably a windproof assembly, as described below. The base member 32 has a plurality of holes 34, and the holes are connected to fixing pins 36 and holes 38 in the mounting member 30.
an adjustable marker mounting bracket 28 in cooperation with;
It can be placed in various vertical positions on the marker stand assembly depending on the surrounding conditions.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, mounting member 3
0 is fitted with a cross-engaging portion 40 which includes a pair of spaced horizontal cross-engaging legs 4.
2, each forming an inner leg 44, an outer leg 46 and a groove 48 therebetween. Attached to the inner leg 44 is a spring-loaded latch member 50 having a pair of legs 52 coupled to a bridging portion 54 . Latch member 5
0 is pressed by torsion spring 56 and therefore leg 5
2 is pressed towards the outer leg 46. The cross member engaging portion 40 holds the cross members 14, 16 in position with the vertical cross member 16 disposed between the engagement legs 42 while the horizontal cross member 14 is received by the groove 48 and by the latch member 50. It is adapted to be elastically pressed. A shoulder 57 on latch member 50 assists in holding cross member 14 in position within bracket 28.

An alternative arrangement for mounting retractable sign assembly 10 on a platform frame is shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 and is described in the aforementioned Application No. 442,418. This device uses a short vertical member 60 adapted to receive the lower part of the vertical cross member 16. Briefly, the device uses a vertical member 60 forming one or more vertical grooves 62 into which the vertical cross member 16 is placed.
The cross member is held in position with respect to the vertical member 60 by a fixing pin 64 which is connected to a ring 66.
and chain 68 are preferably attached to the sign stand. For this purpose, a hole 69 is provided in the cross member 16.
is provided. The vertical member 60 is attached to a base having a plurality of extendable legs 70 that are pluggable and collapsible, thereby allowing the entire platform to be easily stored and transported.

Figures 1 and 9 show a sign base with a coil spring 72 that can be biased to keep the sign from resting on the ground when it is subjected to wind or other externally applied loads. It can be deflected towards. The position of the sign indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9 indicates the position of the sign when the sign 12 is hit by a strong wind. Spring 72 is based on U.S. Patent No.
As detailed in Nos. 3,646,696 and 3,662,482, an initial tension is pre-applied between the coils.
The disclosures of said patents are incorporated herein by reference. The initial tension is set to a pre-specified amount (based on the characteristics of the sign and stand) so that the spring 72 maintains the vertical member of the sign stand (and the sign) in a stable and vertical position in light or calm winds. The sign and vertical member can be held in place and still be deflected or allowed to slide along the ground, possibly even with strong winds that can topple the entire sign stand assembly. Spring 7 like this
Due to the features and characteristics of the marker stand having the following characteristics, it is possible to make the marker stand very light and it will not break even under strong winds.

Roadside signs typically include one or more upwardly projecting warning flags that extend in a generally vertical upward position above the top of the sign. According to the prior art, this warning flag is attached to a flagpole attached to a vertical member of a stand assembly or to a vertical cross member of a retractable sign by a removable bracket assembly, with the warning flag being mounted within the bracket. inserted. A novel apparatus according to the invention for attaching warning flags to retractable signs is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 9. As shown in these figures, two upwardly projecting warning flagpoles 74, 76 are provided. These flagpoles are clearly visible warning flags 78 and 8, respectively.
0 is supported. The warning flagpoles 74, 76 are pivotally attached together and to the vertical cross member 16 by a pivot pin arrangement 82. The pin device 82 may be of the type of a screw fastener with a rivet or locking nut. The warning flagpoles 74, 76 are pivotable about a pin 82 forming a first pivot device. Accordingly, these warning flagpoles 72, 76 can be selectively pivoted into a collinear relationship with respect to the cross member 16 as shown in FIG.

The clamping portions of the flagpoles 74, 76 can be strengthened with metal sleeves 84, 86 through which pins 82 pass. Since it is desirable to mount all the elongated members so that they can be folded together, the warning flagpoles 74, 76 are preferably mounted on the opposite side of the cross member 16 to which the other cross member 14 is attached (this The arrangement is best shown in Figure 7).

The warning flagpoles 74, 76 are placed in their vertical position by engagement with a warning flagpole support bracket 88. As best shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 88 is formed from a substantially elongated piece of sheet stock, and the bracket forms a pair of curved ends 90, 92 joined by an intermediate portion 94. The curved ends 90, 92 form grooves 96, 98;
The grooves receive flagpoles 74 and 76, respectively. The curved ends 90, 92 are sloped slightly upwardly vertically, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 7, so that the grooves 96, 98 align with the cooperating warning flagpoles 74, 76. The curved ends 90, 92 are flexible curved flanges 110, 112.
The flanges form pairwise constrained openings in the grooves 96, 98 and serve to capture the flagpoles 74, 76 therein. The intermediate portion 94 is pivotally attached to the cross member 16 by a fastener 114 that forms a second pivot device located between the pin 82 and the upper end of the cross member 16 . Flange 110, 112
The flagpoles 74, 76 can be deflected to allow insertion into and removal from the grooves 96, 98, and sufficient tension is provided to prevent accidental removal of the warning flagpoles from the grooves.

To store the sign assembly 10, first disassemble the sign assembly from the cooperating sign stand, and then remove the cross member 14 or 1.
6, preferably by loosening the member 14 from the marker. Each warning flagpole 74, 76 is then disassembled from the support bracket 88. cross member 14,
16 are rotated until they are approximately collinear. Similarly, warning flagpoles 74 and 76 also have pin 8.
2 until they are approximately collinear with members 14, 16 and each other. The support bracket 88 is then rotated until its intermediate portion 94 is aligned generally parallel to the cross member 16. Once these steps are completed, the retractable sign assembly 1
0 takes the shape shown in FIG. The marker 12 is then tightly wrapped around the other elements to form the elongated cylindrical package shown in FIG. The device for holding the sign 12 in the stored configuration is provided by a tape fastener 116, preferably of the hook and loop type, such as a "Velcro" material ("Velcro"
is a trademark for fastening tape owned by Fifth Avenue Velcro, New York). Preferably, the fasteners 116 are attached directly to the sign 12 and are not left behind when the sign is displayed. As is clear from the small size of the storage-shaped sign shown in FIG. 11, a large number of retractable sign assemblies 10 can be easily transported in one vehicle.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in which three vertically upwardly extending warning flagpoles are used. The warning flagpoles 74, 76 are supported in a manner similar to the previous embodiment and include warning flagpole support brackets 88. However, this embodiment differs in that an additional vertically extending warning flagpole 120 is used. The warning flagpole is also pivotally attached to the cross member 16 by a pivot pin arrangement 82 and has a reinforcing metal sleeve 122 at its lower end.
An additional warning flagpole support bracket 124 is used which removably supports the warning flagpole 120 in a vertical position. Referring to Figure 13,
Bracket 124 forms a generally C-shaped portion and includes a back portion 125, a front portion 126, a curved end 127, and a groove 128.
have. The groove 128 has a flexible curved flange 130 at its open end and is adapted to receive and hold the flagpole 120 therein. The bracket 124 is secured to the cross member 16 by a fastener 132.
be tightened. A proximal opening 134 is provided in the front portion 126 to allow a fastener 132 to be coupled to the cross member 16.

The assembly and disassembly of the three-flag sign embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13 consists of two
This is substantially the same as described above regarding the individual flag sign embodiment. In this regard, the removal of the flagpole 120 from the bracket 124 and its attachment to the cross members 14, 16
Rotating to a position on the same line as the flagpole 74,
The removal of 76 from bracket 88 and its rotation into alignment with members 14 and 16 is accomplished in a similar manner.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to mount the warning flagpole support bracket 88 to a vertically placed post or frame extending from the sign stand rather than to the rolled sign cross member 16. This configuration holds the warning flag in conjunction with the sign stand instead of other parts of the retractable sign assembly 10. Additionally, the warning flagpole support bracket 74 can be used with rigid or semi-rigid signs, in which case the bracket is attached to either the vertical cross member or the sign itself.

Although the above constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modifications, changes and changes without departing from the true scope and meaning of the appended claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative front view of a retractable sign in display configuration showing the pivoting base assembly and also a pair of upwardly projecting warning flags mounted in accordance with the present invention; The figure is a rear view of the retractable sign in display form, showing an upwardly protruding warning flag and a warning flag mounting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2, and particularly shows a warning flagpole support bracket according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable sign bracket used to hold a retractable sign on the vertical member of a sign stand assembly; FIG.
A side view of the adjustable sign bracket shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the retractable sign showing an alternative method of attaching the retractable sign to the sign base assembly, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. Figure 9 shows the manner in which a vertical sign cross member is positioned in a sign base assembly with attached pins; FIG. In the perspective view, the dotted line shows the sign stand completely bent due to the strong wind.
Figure 10 shows an element of a sign according to the invention in a partially folded position before its storage, and Figure 11 shows the storage configuration in which the rigid sign element is fully folded into a soft sign panel. 12 is a partial rear view of a retractable sign showing a second embodiment of a warning flagpole support bracket useful for supporting three separate warning flags; FIG. The figure shows a particular one of the warning flagpole support brackets in cross-section taken along line 13--13 of FIG. 10... sign assembly, 12... sign, 14, 16... cross member, 18... mounting column,
20... Head, 20'... Position, 22... Eyelet, 24... Pin, 26... Screw, 28... Bracket, 30... Mounting member, 32... Base member, 3
4... hole, 36... pin, 38... hole, 40...
Engagement portion, 42, 44, 46... Leg, 48...
Groove, 50... Latch member, 52... Leg, 54... Bridge portion, 56... Spring, 57... Shoulder, 6
0... Vertical member, 62... Groove, 64... Pin, 6
6...Ring, 68...Chain, 69...Hole,
70... Leg, 72... Spring, 74, 76... Warning flag pole, 78, 80... Warning flag, 82... Pin device, 84, 86... Sleeve, 88... Bracket, 90, 92... Curved end, 94...middle part,
96, 98... Groove, 110, 112... Flange, 114, 116... Fastener, 120... Flagpole, 122... Sleeve, 124... Bracket, 125... Back, 126... Front, 127 …
...Curved portion, 128...Groove, 130...Flange,
132... Fastener, 134... Opening.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. First and second supporting signs 12
at least one cross member 14, 16, and further attached to a corresponding warning flagpole 74, 76.
warning flags 78, 80, the first and second warning flags 78, 80;
From the displayed shape (Fig. 1) in which the cross members 14 and 16 are substantially orthogonal, to the rolled storage shape (Fig. 1) in which the first and second cross members 14 and 16 are substantially parallel. 11) In the foldable type sign assembly 10, the warning flag poles 74, 76 are connected to the cross member 14,
a first rotation device 82 rotatably attached to one (16) of the cross members; a second rotation device 114 attached to one of the cross members 16; and a second rotation device 114 attached to one of the cross members 16. 114, the cross member 1
a warning flagpole support bracket 88 rotatably mounted on one of the warning flagpole brackets 88, said warning flagpole support bracket 88 having at least one curved end 90,92;
2 is adapted to selectively engage and disengage said warning flagpoles 74, 76, said warning flagpoles 74, 76 and said warning flagpole support bracket 88 with respect to one (16) of said cross members 14, 16; It is possible to selectively make a rotational movement (Fi2← →Fig. 10), so that the curved end 9 of the warning flagpole support bracket
0,92 is when the sign 12 is in the display shape (Fig.
1) The cross members 14, 16 engage the warning flagpoles 74, 76, and the warning flagpoles 74, 76 and the warning flagpole bracket 88 further engage the warning flagpoles 74, 76 when the sign assembly 10 is in the storage configuration (FIG. 11). One of (1)
A sign assembly 10 characterized in that it is selectively rotatable into a substantially collinear relationship with respect to 6).