COVER DEVICE FOR A TRAFFIC SIGN

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cover device for a traffic sign held on a sign holder, comprising a cover plate which has a suspension device at one point on its edge for hooking onto the upper edge of the traffic sign and which has a support at one point on its edge on the side opposite the suspension device, which projects from the cover plate in the same direction as the suspension device.

[0002] If a prohibition or requirement conveyed by a traffic sign is to be temporarily suspended, a crossover device is currently attached to the traffic sign to signal to road users that the sign is invalid. However, this signal is not always correctly understood by road users and therefore leads to uncertainty and confusion.

[0003] US patent A-7458176 discloses a cover device of the type mentioned above, in which the support is attached directly to the lower edge of the cover plate.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a device that can be easily attached to the sign or the sign support and makes it possible to express the invalidity of the traffic sign more unambiguously.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by arranging the support at the end of a web lying in the plane of the cover plate and extending the cover plate.

[0006] The cover plate allows the entire traffic sign to be covered, making it completely invisible to road users. When the cover plate is hooked onto the upper edge of the traffic sign using the mounting device, its own weight causes it to swing into a position where the support below the sign rests against the signpost. This allows for easy installation and removal of the cover plate. The assembly consisting of the cover plate, the support bracket, and the support ensures stable mounting of the cover plate to a signpost, such as a vertical post.

[0007] Advantageous designs and further developments are specified in the subclaims.

[0008] They show: Fig. 1 a side view of a traffic sign held on a signpost with a cover device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a rear view of the traffic sign and the cover device; Fig. 3 a section along line III-III in Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 4 a section along line IV-IV in Fig. 2 .

[0009] In Fig. 1 A traffic sign 10 is shown in a side view, held by clamps 12 to a sign support 14, which here is formed by a vertical post. The traffic sign 10 is completely covered by a cover 16, so that it is no longer visible to road users.

[0010] The cover device has a plastic cover plate 18 to which a suspension device 20 is molded at the upper edge. This suspension device, with its hook profile, engages the upper edge of the traffic sign 10. At the lower edge, the cover plate 18 is extended by a web 22, which supports a molded-in-place support 24 that projects towards the sign support 14. The suspension device 20 and the support 24 hold the cover plate 18 in a position where it extends parallel to and at a distance from the traffic sign 10. At its free end, the support 24 forms a concave contour adapted to the circumferential surface of the sign support (the post), so that the support engages the post on part of its circumference, as shown in Fig. 1 The support 24 is indicated by a dash. Additionally, the support 24 has a Velcro strap 26 that can be looped around the post and fixed to itself, so that the support is held securely on the sign holder 14.

[0011] In Fig. 2 The traffic sign 10 and the cover plate 18 are shown in a rear view, i.e., from the side of the sign support 14. Both the traffic sign 10 and the cover plate 18 are circular in this example; however, the cover plate 18 has a larger diameter, chosen to accommodate all standard sizes of circular traffic signs.

[0012] It is understood that the shape of the cover plate 18 can be adapted to the respective shape of the traffic sign, so that, for example, a triangular cover plate can be provided for triangular traffic signs.

[0013] In the example shown, the suspension device 20 is formed by two hook profiles, each extending over a certain circumferential segment of the cover plate 18 and arranged symmetrically to the upper apex of the cover plate. In this way, centering and vertical alignment of the cover plate 18 is achieved independently of the support 24.

[0014] In Fig. 3 The enlarged section shows how the hook profile of the suspension device 20 overlaps the edge of the traffic sign 10.

[0015] Support 24 is in Fig. 2 largely obscured by the shield bearer 14 and therefore shown with a dash. Only the sections of the Velcro fastener 26 projecting in opposite directions are shown. Fig. 2 visible. Fig. 4Figure 1 shows a horizontal section through the web 22 and the round post of the shield support 14, so that the support 24 is viewed from above, with its free end resting against the circumference of the shield support. In the example shown, the support 24 has the form of a horizontal plate whose width is approximately equal to the width of the web 22 and on which a vertical reinforcing rib 28 is located in the middle. The hook-and-loop fastener 26 can be a flexible plastic strip that can be manufactured in one piece with the entire cover device 16 using injection molding.

Claims

1. A covering device (16) for a traffic sign (10) held on a sign carrier (14), with a covering plate (18) which has, at one point on its edge, a suspension device (20) for hooking onto the upper edge of the traffic sign (10) and which has a support (24) at a point on its edge opposite the suspension device (20), which support projects from the cover plate (18) in the same direction as the suspension device (20), characterized in that the support (24) is arranged at the end of a web (22) that prolongs the cover plate (18) and lies in the plane of the cover plate (18).

2. The covering device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate (18), the suspension device (20), and the support (24) are injection molded in one piece from plastic.

3. The covering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suspension device (20) has at least one hook profile section extending over a certain length along the edge of the cover plate (18).

4. The covering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (24) has, at its free end, a contour that is adapted to the circumferential shape of a sign carrier (14) formed as a post.

5. The covering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (24) has a fastening means for fastening the support (24) to the sign carrier (14).

6. The covering device according to claim 5, wherein the fastening means is a velcro tape (26).