Kanban is used to indicate passage.

Abstract

To improve the visibility of the information displayed on traffic signs. [Solution] The traffic sign of this invention is a traffic sign in which a display panel 11 having a display section 21 for guiding traffic on its surface side is attached to a frame 1, and a light-shielding plate 18 cut out to the outer shape of the display section 21 is placed on the surface side of the display panel 11, a translucent light-transmitting plate 19 made of a semi-transparent material is placed on top of the light-shielding plate 18, and a backlight 16 is placed on top of the back side of the display panel 11 to diffuse and supply light to the light-transmitting plate 19, and the display panel 11 and the backlight 16 are integrally attached to the frame 1. The display unit 21 is fixed by fitting a convex portion 21b, which is provided on the surface of the light-transmitting plate 19 along the display unit 21, into a cutout hole 21a, which is cut out along the outline of the display unit's outer shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a traffic sign board that is placed at construction sites of roads and passageways, dangerous locations, etc., and provides traffic guidance display for vehicle drivers and pedestrians.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as traffic sign boards as described above, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is known a sign board in which a display board for traffic guidance is detachably attached to a sign board frame that can fold its legs and can be set in an open-leg state with a rack-shaped weight placement frame.

[0003] In addition, it is also known from Patent Document 3 and the like that a large number of LEDs are arranged for display objects such as characters and pictograms installed on a display panel to cause flashing surface light emission to enhance visibility at night and the like.

[0004] The guidance display part of the above conventional sign board is the most common, and printing or coating display with paint is known. As shown in FIG. 7 of Patent Document 1, there is also known a sign board in which characters and pictorial objects are three-dimensionally reflected and displayed by receiving light. Furthermore, as in Patent Document 3, there is also a sign board in which LED lamps are arranged and displayed on the whole or the contour part of the display part to enhance visibility.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, signs with printed or handwritten displays have several drawbacks: visibility is poor during the day due to sunlight reflection, and at night without a light source, visibility is poor even with a light source due to insufficient light or the reflection angle of the nighttime lighting itself. Even signs with reflective printing or paint may not be visible depending on the viewing angle of passersby and drivers. Furthermore, these types of displays deteriorate rapidly over time outdoors and have poor durability. Additionally, signs with only the outline of the display area being LED also become difficult to read when viewed from an oblique angle.

[0007] Furthermore, while LED lighting displays using conventional power or batteries offer the advantage of high visibility day and night, they have drawbacks: the use of bullet-shaped LEDs can cause the dot display to become overly emphasized at close viewing distances, making it difficult to recognize the displayed content; and the need to arrange numerous LED lamps results in higher costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The traffic sign of the present invention, which solves the above problems, is a traffic sign in which a display panel 11 having a display section 21 for guiding traffic on its surface side is attached to a frame 1, wherein a light-shielding plate 18 cut out in the shape of the outer shape of the display section 21 is placed on the surface side of the display panel 11, a translucent light-transmitting plate 19 made of a semi-transparent material is placed on top of the light-shielding plate 18, and a backlight 16 is placed on top of the back side of the display panel 11 to diffuse and supply light to the light-transmitting plate 19, and the display panel 11 and the backlight 16 are integrally attached to the frame 1.

[0009] Secondly, the invention is characterized in that a convex portion 21b, which protrudes from the surface of the light-transmitting plate 19 along the outer shape of the display portion 21, is fitted and fixed into a cutout hole 21a formed by cutting out the outline of the display portion 21.

[0010] Thirdly, the display panel 11 is characterized by having a mounting allowance 27 of a predetermined width between the outer periphery of the backlight 16 attached to the outer surface of the display panel 11 and the outer periphery of the back of the display panel 11, and by having the mounting allowance 27 pressed against the surface of the frame 1 so as to be detachably attached.

[0011] Fourth, the display panel 11 and the backlight 16 are configured as an integrated plate-shaped unit, and the outer edge of the plate-shaped unit is directly pressed against and clamped to the front side of the frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the sign of the present invention configured as described above, the display object emits light in a surface-emitting state not only at night but also during the day as needed, and the outline can be clearly distinguished and seen at a glance by the boundary between the light-blocking part and the light-emitting part.

[0013] Furthermore, because it does not utilize reflected light, it can be seen regardless of the viewing angle and even without external lighting, and the device itself is less expensive compared to those that use LEDs in the display.

[0014] Furthermore, by providing a mounting allowance of a predetermined width on the outer edge of the light shield and attaching this mounting allowance to the surface side of the frame, the light guide plate and light shield cover that constitute the backlight can be compactly and stably mounted inside the back surface of the light shield, resulting in excellent durability.

[0015] Furthermore, in a system where the outer edge of a unit comprising the display panel, light guide plate, and light shielding cover is attached to the frame, the LED installation position overlaps with the frame compared to systems with a separate mounting area, resulting in a larger display area for the display panel. Since the display panel and light shielding cover are integrated into a single panel unit, the overall design is more compact, making installation, storage, and transportation easier. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of the traffic sign of the present invention. [Figure 2]It is also an overall front view of the same signboard. [Figure 3] (A) is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the signboard, and (B) is an enlarged plan sectional view. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged sectional view showing another embodiment of the signboard.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Figs. 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. For the signboard for traffic indication, a display panel 11 of the same shape is detachably and replaceably attached to the front side of a vertically long rectangular frame body 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the frame body 1 is composed of left and right vertical frame members 3a, 3a made of aluminum extrusion-formed square pipes, and horizontal frame members 3b, 3b horizontally fixed at the upper end between the vertical frame members 3a, 3a and at a lower position leaving the leg portions 3A at the lower end.

[0018] At the lower end of the above-mentioned leg portion 3A, a stay 4 for swingably connecting and attaching the front end of a positioning rack 7 described later is attached and fixed in the left-right direction. 5 is a plastic corner member that is inserted into the hollow portions of 3a and 3b at the upper end of the frame body 1 to join the frame members 3a, 3b and form the corner of the frame body 1.

[0019] At the upper part on the back side of the frame body 1, the open end of a stand 6 formed in a U shape is pivotally supported so as to be foldable back and forth, and a ladder-shaped positioning rack 7 whose rear end is pivotally supported so as to be swingable (foldable and opened / closed) up and down is attached to the stay 4 on the side of the frame body 1. This positioning rack 7 also serves as a weight placement frame for placing a weight (not shown) for stabilizing the signboard.

[0020] On both the left and right sides of the positioning rack 7, swing links 8 are attached to connect the middle of the front-back (or up-down) direction thereof and the bottom of the stand 6. By swinging the rack 7 up and down, the stand 6 is folded and opened / closed with respect to the frame body 1 in conjunction with the rack 7. The rack 7 is locked by engaging the bottom of the stand 6 at the lower limit position opened in the horizontal direction with a downward hook 9 provided at its tip, positioning and locking the open state of the stand 6. The opening / closing and locking mechanism of the stand 6 by the rack 7 is known, for example, from Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3223378 etc.

[0021] On the front side of the left, right, up, and down frame members 3a, 3b of the frame body 1, the back surface of the outer peripheral edge of the display panel 11 (the mounting allowance 27 described later) is pressed and fixed. The fixing structure of the display panel 11 to the frame body 1 is known as shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 etc. As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and (B), the display panel 11 is pressed by left and right and upper and lower presser covers 12a, 12b made of aluminum extrusion-molded materials with a C-shaped cross-section that cover the outer peripheral side and the front side of the respective frame members 3a, 3b, and is fastened and fixed by screws 13.

[0022] The presser covers 12a, 12b with a C-shaped cross-section have bifurcated locking portions 12A that lock to the outer corner of the back surface of the frame members 3a, 3b on one base end side, and on the other tip end, a circular cross-sectional portion for sandwiching and fixing the peripheral edge of the display panel 11 intervening between the front side of the frame member is formed as a pressing portion 12B.

[0023] Then, each presser cover 12a, 12b is fastened to each frame member 3a, 3b by screws 13 that are screwed into caulking nuts 14 caulked and fixed to the frame members 3a, 3b through the C-shaped curved portions thereof, and presses and fixes the outer periphery of the display panel 11 on the front side thereof.

[0024] Figures 3(A) and 3(B) show the mounting structure of the display panel 11, as well as the mounting structure of the backlight 16 which is integrally attached to the back of the display panel 11. In the illustrated example, the display panel 11 is composed of a light-shielding plate 18 made of an aluminum composite panel or the like with a light-shielding treatment applied to at least its surface, such as by attaching an aluminum sheet 17, and a translucent light-transmitting plate 19 made of an acrylic plate or the like, which is integrally fixed to the back of the light-transmitting plate 18 by adhesive or the like. Furthermore, a backlight 16 is attached to the back of the light-transmitting plate 19, which is integrally fixed to the back of the display panel 11.

[0025] The light-shielding plate 18 has cutout holes 21a formed as display sections 21 that shape the outline (contour) of the display object, which consists of pictographic pictures, characters, symbols, etc. for traffic guidance as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Conversely, the light-transmitting plate 19 is provided with convex sections 21b that are carved (or cut out) in a convex shape for the display sections 21.

[0026] When the light-transmitting plate 19 is superimposed on the light-shielding plate 19 from the back side, the convex portion 21b fits into the cutout hole 21a, and only the convex portion 21b is exposed on the surface of the light-shielding plate 18.

[0027] At this time, the outer edge and the separate "island" portion of the construction worker image in the display unit 21 in Figures 1 and 2, as well as the inner portion of the number "0", are formed as recesses of the same thickness within the corresponding convex portion 21b. The same shaped cutout members from the light-shielding plate 18 are fitted into these recesses, and the entire unit is exposed on the surface side as the display unit 21 without any inconsistencies.

[0028] A backlight 16 is superimposed and tightly fixed to the back side of the light-transmitting plate 19. In this example, the backlight includes a light guide plate 22 made of acrylic or the like that diffuses light from light sources incident from both the left and right sides and irradiates it onto the surface side (light-transmitting plate 19 side), and a light cover 23 that is integrally superimposed on the back side of the light guide plate 22. The light guide plate 22 has a structure that causes diffuse reflection of incident light by providing high-density linear grooves in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0029] A milky white reflective sheet is attached to the back side of the light guide plate 22 or to the front side inside the light cover 23, or a reflective paint is applied (neither is shown) to reflect the light guided into the light guide plate 22 to the front side (transparent plate 19 side). Furthermore, a protective sheet 24 made of aluminum sheet or the like is attached to the back side of the light cover 23. In this example, the light cover 23 is structured to house the light guide plate 22 so as to surround its back and outer periphery, and numerous white LEDs 26 are arranged inward as light sources on the inner surfaces of its peripheral walls (heat sinks) on both the left and right sides. Note that the backlight 16 used in the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and it is sufficient if it can provide sufficient surface illumination for the display section 21 of the display panel 11. Also, adhesive or other means can be selected for the integral fixing of the display panel 11 itself, the display panel 11 and the backlight 16, or the backlight 16 itself.

[0030] Due to the above structure, as long as the LED 26 is lit, day or night, only the display section 21 is clearly displayed on the surface of the display panel 11, distinct from the surface of the surrounding light-shielding plate 18. The power supply at this time is either the normal electricity supplied to the site or a generator or battery specifically for the construction site.

[0031] In the example shown in Figure 3, the light-transmitting plate 19 and the backlight 16 are integrally sealed and fixed to the back of the light-shielding plate 18. The outer dimensions of both the light-transmitting plate 19 and the backlight 16 are smaller than the outer dimensions of the light-shielding plate 18, and a predetermined width mounting allowance 27 is provided on the back edge of the light-shielding plate 18, consisting of a flat surface with nothing attached.

[0032] When attaching the display panel 11 to the frame 1, the mounting portion 27 is pressed against the front surface of the frame 1 as shown in the figure, and the panel is secured by pressing and clamping it with the retaining covers 12a and 12b and the screws 13. This mechanism protects the outer periphery of the display panel 11, and prevents the outer periphery from being exposed, allowing it to be stably attached and fixed to the frame 1, thus improving the durability of the display panel 11. It also provides excellent heat dissipation for the backlight 16.

[0033] Figure 4 shows another mounting configuration for the display panel 11. In this example, the thin outer portion of the convex portion 21b of the light-transmitting plate 19 is the same size as the outer circumference of the light-shielding plate 18, and the outer back surface of the light-transmitting plate 19 serves as the mounting allowance 27 to the frame 1. However, the mounting allowance 27 is still integrally and sealed on the back side of the outer edge of the display panel 11. Nevertheless, the configuration shown in Figure 4 provides a more stable and stronger mounting of the display panel 11 and backlight 16 to the frame 1.

[0034] In both Figures 3 and 4, the outer periphery of the back of the display panel 11 is pressed and fixed to the surface of the frame 1. However, it is also possible to make the outer dimensions of the display panel 11 and the backlight 16 the same size and unitize them into a plate of a predetermined thickness, and then press and clamp the outer edge of the unitized plate to the surface side of the frame 1 to fix it in place. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1 frame 3a,3b Frame material 11 Display Panel 16 Backlight 18 Light-shielding plate 19 Translucent plate 21 Display Unit (Item to be displayed) 21a Cutout hole 21b Convex part 22 Light guide plate 23 Light Cover 26 Light source (LED) 27 Installation fee

Claims

1. A traffic sign having a display panel (11) with a traffic guidance display section (21) on its surface attached to a frame (1), wherein the display panel (11) has a light-shielding plate (18) on its surface cut out to match the outline of the display section (21), a translucent light-transmitting plate (19) made of a semi-transparent material placed on top of the light-shielding plate (18), and a backlight (16) that diffuses and supplies light to the light-transmitting plate (19) placed on top of the back of the display panel (11), and the display panel (11) and the backlight (16) are integrally attached to the frame (1).

2. A traffic sign according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion (21b) that protrudes from the surface of a translucent plate (19) along the outer shape of the display portion (21) is fitted and fixed into a cutout hole (21a) formed by cutting out the outline of the display portion (21).

3. A traffic sign according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a mounting allowance (27) of a predetermined width is provided between the outer circumference of a backlight (16) attached to the outer surface of the display panel (11) and the outer circumference of the back of the display panel (11), and the mounting allowance (27) is detachably attached by pressing it against the surface of the frame (1).

4. A traffic sign according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display panel (11) and the backlight (16) are configured as an integrated plate-shaped unit, and the outer edge of the plate-shaped unit is directly pressed and clamped against the front side of the frame.

Images