Collapsible Roadway Sign Frame for Lightweight Self-Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible warning sign systems for roadways are not adequately self-supporting, lightweight, and portable, particularly when used for temporary caution conditions such as school crosswalks, and often require human operators for deployment, which is inefficient and unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible sign system featuring a flexible sign panel with a middle section and opposed free ends, supported by a frame with pivotally joined members and biasing tethers, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and a base for upright positioning, enhancing portability and crash worthiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid metallic frame members are used, then the sign system is strong and stable, but it becomes heavy and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid metallic frame members with flexible epoxy rib construction that can bend and flex during impact events. The epoxy ribs are thin-walled but engineered to provide necessary strength while maintaining flexibility and reducing weight compared to solid metal frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from rigid metal to flexible epoxy composite, altering the mechanical properties to achieve a balance between strength, weight, and crashworthiness. The epoxy ribs are designed with specific wall thicknesses and structural configurations to optimize these properties.
2Weight of moving object
If the sign system is made lightweight and portable, then it is easy to store and transport, but it may not be adequately self-supporting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic tripod base system with legs that can extend and retract. When deployed, the legs extend to provide stable ground engagement and self-support. When collapsed, the legs retract to a compact configuration for easy storage and transport. This dynamic adjustment allows the lightweight system to achieve stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The tripod base legs are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, creating a compact configuration that minimizes storage space. The nested structure allows the lightweight base to maintain stability when deployed while achieving a small footprint for portability.
3Strength
If monolithic slabs are used for support base, then crash worthiness is improved, but portability and ease of storage are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support base into multiple segments - specifically, a tripod base with three separate legs that can independently contact the ground. This segmentation allows the base to distribute impact forces across multiple contact points, improving crashworthiness while maintaining a lightweight, collapsible structure that is easy to transport and store.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a lightweight, self-supporting, and portable warning sign solution that can be easily deployed and stored, reducing the need for human operators and improving safety by maintaining the sign in an upright position with biasing tethers and a support base, suitable for various temporary caution conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one biasing tether connects the mounting member to at least one free end of the sign panel
Data Source
AI summary
A sign system is disclosed in which a flexible sign panel is supported by light weight frame numbers such as fiberglass ribs joined together with a pivot connection. A sign panel of flexible material has a center section disposed between a pair of opposed sign panel portions. The center portion of the sign panel engages a cross member with the sign panel portions being folded over on either side of an upright support member. Free ends of the sign panel member are secured with a stretchable elastic cord, ribbon or the like, to a mounting member having a socket for receiving one end of the vertical support member. By engaging the mounting member and stretching the elastic cords, the mounting member is disposed over one end of the vertical support and one released, engages the vertical support holding the sign panel portions in a display position.