Sign assembly

Abstract

An assembly 100 for supporting a traffic sign comprises a post 110 for supporting the sign and a stand 120 for supporting the post. The post includes an upper section to which the sign can be attached

Description

[0001] This invention is a sign assembly, and in particular a sign assembly for supporting a traffic sign.

[0002] Traffic signs, and in particular traffic signs that are for temporary deployment at the road side, for example when there are road works or diversions, are generally attached to metal frames such as A-frames. The frames will generally comprise apertures to which the traffic signs can be attached via toggles. To ensure that the frame and sign do not blow over in the wind, sandbags will often by suspended from a lower strut of the frame or attached to the legs of the frame in order to provide ballast.

[0003] Disadvantageously, sand bags can be of variable weight and quality, and are difficult to store and transport. Furthermore, the sandbags can tear and release their contents and can furthermore be a trip hazard. A lack of consistent weight of sand bags is an issue since traffic sign stands must comply with strict regulations, which include wind loads that must be withstood without overturning. Users can therefore not be sure that their signs comply with the relevant regulations since there is no consistency of sandbag weight and hence resistance to the overturning moment of the wind load. The regulations can vary country to country, and also within countries. For example, where a particular region or state has higher typical wind speeds there may be requirements for resisting higher wind loads which would require more ballast. Any failure to comply with the regulations would have legal ramifications, and it is therefore important that the weights of the sandbags, and of the stands, is exactly known and consistent.

[0004] The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art by providing a sign assembly that provides consistency and stability. Whilst reference is made to traffic signs which will primarily be attached to this invention, this present invention will not be limited to supporting traffic signs, and may support any other sign as required.

[0005] Therefore according to the present invention there is provided a sign assembly for supporting a traffic sign comprising a post for supporting the traffic sign, the post comprising an elongate upper section to which the traffic sign can be attached, a lower section which is enlarged relative to the upper section to provide an abutment surface a stand for supporting the post, the stand comprising an aperture for slidably receiving the post, the aperture comprising an abutment surface for engagement with the abutment surface of the post to create an interference fit for the stand to support the post.

[0006] The stand is slidable on to and off of the post in order to assemble and disassemble the sign assembly, and the separate stands and posts can easily be stacked for storage and transportation. The stands will be of sufficient weight and geometry to allow the structure to comply with wind resistance regulations and the structure will be of sufficient height to comply with regulations on the correct placement of traffic signs.

[0007] The stand may comprises an upper surface and a open base, and wherein two or more stands may be slidably received by the post and whereby the upper surface of one stand may be received within the open base of an adjacent stand. By nesting two (or more) stands onto a post, the weight of the sign assembly can be increased, and this will offer further stability where required, and such as may be required by traffic regulations.

[0008] The stand may comprise a middle section and two end sections. The end sections of the stand may be rounded so that the sign assembly is more stable in the wind. The stand may comprise an oblong footprint with rounded comers. The stand may comprise a series of spaced apart ribs disposed beneath the upper surface. The ribs may be disposed in the end sections of the stand, if present. The ribs will add extra weight to the stand. In particular, the stand can be made of a solid plastics material, and in particular the presence of ribs means that the walls of the stand do not need to be too thick in order for the stand to be of an ideal weight. Furthermore, the stand could be moulded, and thicker walls would take longer to cool down during manufacture than thinner walls. By providing ribs, the speed of manufacture will thus be increased. The ribs could furthermore be shaped so as to help locate a stand on top for example by mirroring the shape of the upper surface of the stand so as to locate against an adjacent stand when stacked.

[0009] The middle section of the stand may comprise the aperture to receive the post. The middle section of the stand may comprise a trapezoid vertical cross section. The stand may comprise at least one handle, which comprises one or more further aperture extending through the stand. The handle will make the stand easier to transport, carry and affix to a post. The middle section of the stand may comprise the handle.

[0010] The abutment surface of the post and base may be chamfered. The abutment surface of the stand may comprise a shoulder, which is chamfered, and the abutment surface of the aperture of the base may be chamfered at a complimentary angle to that of the stand so that when the stand is slid onto the post the respective abutment surfaces engage. In particular, the lower section of the post, which is enlarged relative to the upper section of the post, will be of a size and shape corresponding to that of the aperture of the stand. The lower section of the post may be sized to receive at least two stands, and in particular may have a length corresponding to the height of two nested stands.

[0011] The upper section of the post may further comprise apertures for connection of the traffic sign. Traffic signs are generally connected to prior art frames with ratchet toggles which pass through apertures in the sign assembly and comprise at one end an abutment to prevent further passage through the aperture and comprise at the other end a ratchet that can pass through a corresponding aperture in the traffic sign where it can then be secured. It is envisaged that these ratchet toggles may be used to connect traffic signs to the present sign assembly, and so the apertures will be positioned in accordance with standard hole positions on traffic signs, and furthermore have a thread size corresponding to ratchet toggles known in the art. Ratchet toggles allow for secure releasable attachment of a traffic sign to a frame or sign assembly, though other attachment means such as screws could be used instead.

[0012] Many traffic signs that are attachable to prior art frames will have apertures that do not correspond to the apertures on the present post, and will for example comprise apertures arranged in two columns of three, which will be spaced apart from the present post. Therefore, the sign assembly may further comprise a secondary sign attachment portion which is connectable to the post and which will comprise apertures for attachment of the secondary sign attachment portion to the post and apertures to attach a traffic sign to the secondary sign attachment portion. In particular, the secondary sign attachment portion may comprises a body portion, with three spaced apart arms or projections at each side bearing apertures to receive ratchet toggles and the like. The upper section of the post may comprises a recess to receive the secondary sign attachment portion so that when connected to the post, a traffic sign-receiving surface of the post and the secondary sign attachment portion will be flush. Alternative configurations of secondary sign attachment portion, such as the number and spacing of arms to correspond to standard or non-standard aperture arrangements of traffic signs could be provided.

[0013] The secondary sign attachment portion may be vertically symmetrical.

[0014] So that it may be better understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sign assembly according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a post of the sign assembly as shown in Figure 1;

[0017] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a stand of the sign assembly of Figure 1;

[0018] Figure 4 shows an underside view of the stand of Figure 3;

[0019] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the underside of the stand of Figures 3 and 4;

[0020] Figure 6 shows two stands mounted to the post of the previous Figures;

[0021] Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view of a secondary sign attachment portion;

[0022] Figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the sign assembly of Figure 1 and a traffic sign;

[0023] Figure 9 shows an exploded perspective view of the sign assembly of Figures 1 and 8 with a second stand;

[0024] Figure 10 shows a rear perspective view of a sign assembly of the previous Figures comprising two stands and a traffic sign;

[0025] Figure 11 a shows a cross-sectional side view of a post and stand of the present sign assembly;

[0026] Figure 11 b shows a close up view of Section A of Figure 11 a; and

[0027] Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional side view of two stands engaged with a post.

[0028] With reference to all of the Figures, there is shown a sign assembly generally indicated 100 comprising a post generally indicated 110, a stand generally indicated 120 and, optionally, a secondary sign attachment portion generally indicated 130. The sign assembly is for supporting a traffic sign generally indicated 140 as for example shown in Figure 8.

[0029] As shown best in Figures 2, 8 and 11a, the post 110 comprises an upper section generally indicated 200 and a lower section generally indicated 210. The lower section 210 is enlarged relative to the upper section 200 and is to receive and engage a stand 120, which will be described in more detail later. The lower section 200 comprises a base 220 which contacts the ground in use, a chamfered abutment surface 230 to engage a stand 120 and a neck portion 240 which additionally supports one or more stand 120 in use.

[0030] The upper section 200 comprises a front face 250 and a rear face 260. As best shown in Figures 11a and 11b, the front face 250 comprises three apertures 270 to which ratchet toggles 280 (or similar) can be attached for the purpose of affixing a traffic sign 140 to the post 110. As shown in Figures 2 and 11 a, the rear face 260 of the post is recessed behind apertures 270 to reduce the thickness of the post 110 so that toggles 280 can extend through the post. The toggles 280 include an abutment to prevent the toggle 280 passing entirely through the aperture 270. In alternative embodiments, the toggles 280 may be threaded.

[0031] Toggles 280 extend beyond the front face 250 of the post 110 so that the traffic sign 140 can be attached flush with the front face 250.

[0032] The front face 250 of the post 110 further comprises a recess generally indicated 290 to receive a secondary sign attachment portion 130 for attachment of a traffic sign 140 which has an alternative arrangement of apertures. Recess 290 comprises a planar face 300 and chamfered side edges 310. Two areas of post 360 surrounding apertures 270 are raised from the planar face 300 of recess 290 and is flush with the front face 250. A further raised area 370 extends from and is flush with the front face 250. Within planar face 300 of the recess 290 are two further recessions 320, which, as shown in Figures 2,6, 11a and 11 b, oppose further recessions 330 in the rear face 260 of the post. Recessions 320, 330 comprise an aperture 340 through which toggles 350 may be disposed. Toggles 350 may be the same as toggles 280, and do not extend beyond the front face 250 of the post 110. This ensures that the secondary sign attachment portion 130 can be attached to the post 110 and that a traffic sign 140 can be attached without toggles 350 getting in the way.

[0033] Stand 120 comprises an upper surface generally indicated 400 and an open base generally indicated 410, and further comprises a generally oblong footprint with rounded corners 420. The stand 120 is divided into a middle section generally indicated 430 and rounded end sections generally indicated 440. The middle section 430 comprises a central aperture 450 for receiving the post 110 in use and two handles 460 which extend through the middle section. As shown for example in Figures 4, 5 and 6, which show the underside of the stand 120, aperture 450 further comprises a chamfered abutment surface 470 to engage with abutment surface 230 of the post 110.

[0034] The middle section 430 and the end sections 440 are separated by internal walls 480. Extending from internal walls 480 to the end edges of the end sections 440 are a series of spaced apart ribs 490. The ribs are integral with the body of the stand 120 and provide an abutment surface for nested stands, such as shown in Figures 6, 10 and 12, and also to add extra weight to the stand.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6,10 and 12, two stands may be slidably received by the post 110 and nested to increase the overall weight and therefore stability of the sign assembly 100. The neck portion 240 of the post 110 is of a suitable length to correspond to the height of the apertures 450 of two stands when they are nested, as shown in Figure 12.

[0036] So that the sign assembly 100 can accommodate traffic signs 140 that have apertures which are spaced apart from the post 110, the sign assembly 100 further comprises a secondary sign attachment portion 130, which in this example comprises a vertically symmetrical body portion 500 extending from which are six arms 510. The three arms 510 extend from each side of the body portion 500 and each arm 510 bears an aperture 520 to which a traffic sign 140 can be attached, such as shown in Figure 8. Further toggles 280, as previously described and as shown in Figure 8 attach the traffic sign 140 to the secondary sign attachment portion 130.

[0037] Secondary sign attachment portion 130 comprises a front face 530 and a rear face 540, and in use locates into recess 290 of the post 110. The rear face 540 comprises a vertically disposed recessed channel 550 which comprises a planar central region 560 and chamfered side regions 570 which correspond to recess 290, planar face 300 and chamfered side edges 310 of the post 110. Within recessed channel 550 are two apertures 580 and a slot 590 disposed at the base of the secondary sign attachment portion 130. Apertures 580 are aligned the with raised areas of post 360 and slot 590 aligns with raised area 370.

[0038] As shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 7, the secondary sign attachment portion 130 comprises apertures 590 which are disposed in a region 600 that is recessed with respect to the front face 540 and sits within and is raised with respect to the recessed channel 550. Region 600 is sized to sit within recession 320 in the post 110 when the secondary sign attachment portion 130 is connected to post 110. As shown in Figure 11b, toggles 350 attach the secondary sign attachment portion 130 to the post 110.

[0039] Sign assemblies 100 may be stored and transported in a collapsed state whereby stands 120 can be nested and stored, and a plurality of posts 110 and secondary sign attachment portions 130 and traffic signs 140 can also be easily stacked and transported to a location where the sign assembly or assemblies are to be deployed. A user can then slide one or more stand 120 over the top of post 110 so that post 110 extends through the aperture 450 of the stand 120, for example as shown in Figure 6. The stand 120 is slid down to the lower region 210 where the abutment surface 230 engages with the abutment surface 470 of the stand 170 in an interference fit. A traffic sign can then be attached to a post 110 with toggles extending from apertures 270. If the traffic sign 140, such as shown in Figure 8, 9 or 10 has apertures that do not align with apertures 270, 5 then a user can attach the secondary sign attachment portion 130 of the post 110 by locating the post 110 into recessed channel 550 of the secondary sign attachment portion 130 so that apertures 270 align with apertures 580 and recessed regions 600 of the secondary sign attachment portion 130 extend into the recession 320 in the post 110. The secondary sign attachment portion 130 10 can then be secured to the post 110 with toggles 350 extending through apertures 590 and 340 and a traffic sign 140 can be attached to the arms 510 of the secondary sign attachment portion 130 with toggles or the like disposed in apertures 520.

Claims

1. A sign assembly for supporting a traffic sign comprising:a post for supporting the traffic sign, the post comprising an elongate upper section to which the traffic sign can be attached, a lower section which is enlarged relative to the upper section to provide an abutment surface;a stand for supporting the post, the stand comprising an aperture for slidably receiving the post, the aperture comprising an abutment surface for engagement with the abutment surface of the post to create an interference fit for the stand to support the post.

2. A sign assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stand comprises an upper surface and a open base, and wherein two or more stands may be slidably received by the post and whereby the upper surface of one stand may be received within the open base of an adjacent stand.

3. A sign assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the stand comprises a middle section and two end sections.

4. A sign assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end sections are rounded.

5. A sign assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the middle section of the stand comprises the aperture to receive the post.

6. A sign assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the middle section of the stand comprises a trapezoid vertical cross section.

7. A sign assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the stand comprises at least one handle, which comprises one or more further aperture extending through the stand.

8. A sign assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the stand comprises a series of spaced apart ribs disposed beneath the upper surface.

9. A sign assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stand comprises solid plastics material.

10. A sign assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stand comprises an oblong footprint with rounded corners.

11. A sign assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the abutment surface of the post and base is chamfered.

12. A sign assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper section of the post further comprises apertures for connection of the traffic sign.5 13. A sign assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lowersection of the post is sized to receive at least two stands.

14. A sign assembly as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a secondary sign attachment portion.

15. A sign assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the secondary sign 10 attachment portion comprises apertures for attachment to the post and apertures to attach a traffic sign.

16. A sign assembly as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the secondary sign attachment portion comprises a body portion, with three spaced apart arms at each side bearing apertures for toggles.15 17. A sign assembly as claimed in claim any of claims 14 to 16, wherein thesecondary sign attachment portion is vertically symmetrical.

18. A sign assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the upper section of the post comprises a recess to receive the secondary sign attachment portion.

Images