Interchangeable Sign Assembly for Hazardous Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

In hazardous environments like nuclear facilities, changing signs to reflect varying hazard levels is tedious, time-consuming, and inefficient, as existing methods require physical removal and replacement of signs.

Innovation Solution

An interchangeable sign assembly with flip placards and a placard support system that allows quick rotation of top and bottom placards to display different warning messages, using adhesive strips and hinges for easy messaging changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional physical removal and replacement of signs is used, then the sign can be changed to reflect varying hazard levels, but the process becomes tedious, time-consuming, and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to change sign messagesVSAvoidtime required to change signs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sign assembly incorporates flip placards that can be dynamically rotated between different positions to display different hazard level messages. The placards are connected via hinges allowing them to be flipped from a first position to a second position, enabling rapid adaptation without removal or replacement of the entire sign assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sign assembly is divided into multiple independent flip placards, each capable of being rotated independently. This segmentation allows individual placards to be flipped to display appropriate messages for different hazard levels, while the overall sign structure remains in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional physical removal and replacement of signs is used, then the sign can be changed to reflect varying hazard levels, but the process becomes tedious and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to change sign messagesVSAvoidefficiency of sign changing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flip placard mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of sign messages through simple rotation movements. Personnel can quickly flip placards to match current hazard conditions, dramatically improving the efficiency of adapting safety signage to changing environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sign assembly is designed to be self-reconfigurable through the flip placard mechanism. The hinges and positioning features allow the placards to be easily flipped and secured without requiring special tools or complex procedures, enabling rapid self-service adaptation by facility personnel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11158215B2Interchangeable sign assembly

Publication Date: 2021.10.26 MARTIN MATTHEW

AI summary

A sign assembly including a flip placard assembly, a placard support assembly, a flip assembly, hinges, flip placards, and placard supports such that the flip placards can be interchanged. A clear cover connected to a bottom placard support creating a compartment for additional messaging. A method of quickly interchanging flip placards for use in a nuclear facility or hazardous environment.