GB2291672A

GB2291672A - Hazard warning signs

Info

Publication number: GB2291672A
Application number: GB9507643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Myers
Original assignee: APH Road Safety Ltd
Current assignee: APH Road Safety Ltd
Priority date: 1994-07-16
Filing date: 1995-04-12
Publication date: 1996-01-31
Also published as: GB9414395D0; GB9507643D0

Abstract

A hazard warning sign comprises a frame (6) which is in the form of a tripod, which in addition to being collapsible, may be extended. A plastic sheet display member, which is moulded or stamped from semi-rigid sheet material, is provided with hazard warning information. The frame is provided with a plurality of projections (18a, 18b), and the display member a plurality of apertures, conveniently key-hole in shape. When the tripod frame is erected in its position for use, the distances between the projections in relation to the distance d between the apertures is such that, by flexing the display member into a generally concave shape seen from the front, the projections may be inserted through the portions of the aperture of larger size, and on relaxation of the display member the projections will move into the portions of the apertures of smaller size, securely retaining the display member on the frame. Conveniently the display member is afforded by a sheet of rigid plastics material such as polypropylene, provided with hinge lines, whereby the display member may be folded or rolled up. This enables a display member of large area to be transported relatively easily. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Improvements relating to hazard warning signs Description of Invention This invention is concerned with hazard warning signs, both in relation to hazard warning signs of the kind which comprises a frame to be mounted free-standing adjacent to a hazard, and having a display member for mounting thereon which comprises warning information, and also to display members for use as part of a hazard warning assembly.

Difficulty is encountered in the erection of free-standing hazard warning signs, such as are used to provide a visual warning in relation to hazards likely to be encountered either by a road user or by a pedestrian. A conventional hazard warning sign comprises a frame which may be in the form of a tripod, and a display member which may be triangular which may be secured thereto by the use of elastic bands, string or wire clips.

It is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a hazard warning sign which may be erected quickly and easily, which will remain in its erected condition more durably, and which may be demounted without difficulty.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a hazard warning sign comprising a frame to be mounted free standing adjacent to a hazard, and a display member of plastics sheet material comprising warning information, the display member and the frame being provided with respective formations to enable the display member to be securely mounted on the frame by virtue of the resilience of the display member.

Preferably the formations are provided by respective projections and recesses, and preferably the recesses comprise inter-connecting larger parts and smaller parts (hereinafter referred to for convenience as "keyhole shaped"), enabling the projections to be entered into the recesses through the part thereof of larger size, and retained therein by movement of the projection into the part of smaller size.

Thus preferably the projections each comprise a shank portion and a head portion, of size in relation to the recesses such that the head portion may pass through the portion of the recess of larger size, but not through the portion of smaller size.

Preferably the projections are provided on the frame, and the recesses provided on the display member.

Preferably the display member is semi-rigid and when flexed is moved to a shape and size to enable the projections to be entered into the recesses, and when relaxed causes the projections to move relative to the recesses to retain the display member securely mounted on the frame.

If desired the display member may be provided by rigid plastics material afforded by hinge lines, whereby the sign may be folded or rolled up.

Advantageously in such circumstances, the construction and arrangement is such that when the display member is mounted on the frame, the display member is maintained in compression acting parallel to the hinge line or hinge lines, to deform the display member somewhat out of the plane it adopts under relaxed conditions. In this manner, the display member is held relatively rigid, and its capability of being folded or rolled up by relative movement of adjacent portions about the hinge line or hinge lines is significantly reduced.

Difficulty is also encountered in the provision of signs of desirable area, without incurring difficulty in transportation thereof. For example in emergency situations it is often desirable that a large sign be erected quickly.

However such signs are not readily available, since they are in general too large to be carried in the back of the car of highway maintenance personnel.

Suggestions have been made to provide such signs in the form of fabric or fabric-like material, which may be rolled up into generally tube-shape, but such signs suffer from the disadvantages of lack of rigidity when erected in position.

For example difficulty is encountered in the mounting of such a sign sufficiently tautly in position to enable it to function adequately under (e.g.) adverse environmental conditions.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a display member for use as part of a hazard warning assembly, which is provided by rigid plastics material afforded with hinge lines whereby the display member may be folded or rolled up.

Where there are a plurality of hinge lines, preferably these are parallel, and where the display member has a linear edge, conveniently the hinge line or hinge lines extend parallel to said edge.

Preferably the display member is provided by a sheet of rigid plastics material afforded with score lines to provide for the capability of articulating adjacent portions relative to one another. Preferably the score lines are provided by cutting (e.g.) with a knife into the thickness of the sheet. In practice it has been found that, by so scoring the sheet, on bending of the sheet about the score line, the sheet fractures along said line to a substantial depth (e.g. 75% of the thickness) whilst leaving sufficient thickness unfractured to retain the integrity of the sheet.

In this manner the sheet may be rolled up or folded for convenience of storage or transportation, e.g. in the back of a car.

If desired releasable securing means may be provided, to enable a terminal part of the display member to be retained in position during storage or transportation, such as by the use of "Velcro".

Preferably the display member is provided with formations (such as apertures or other fixing means) to enable the display member to be secured to a rigid or collapsible frame. Preferably such formations are such as will cause the sign to be held securely on the frame under compression in a direction parallel to the direction of the hinge line or lines. In this manner the hinge "locks", providing the sign with a high degree of rigidity.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a hazard warning sign in accordance with a first aspect of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example, and of a display member for a hazard warning sign, which is illustrative of a second aspect of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are front elevations respectively of a frame of the preferred embodiment and a display member thereof; Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the display member mounted on the frame; Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged portions of Figure 2; Figure 4a shows an alternative to the construction illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a display member for use in the provision of a hazard warning assembly, said display member being in accordance with a second aspect of this invention; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows an alternative arrangement of the second aspect; Figure 9 shows the display member of Figure 8 in an unfolded condition; Figure 10 is a view illustrating the erection of a display member in accordance with the second aspect of this invention on a frame; ; Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI of Figure 10; and Figure 12 shows a display member of the second aspect of this invention, particularly suitable for use in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.

The hazard warning sign which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a frame 6 which is in the form of a tripod, having a central tubular element 8 upon which three legs 10 are pivotally mounted, being connected together by a sliding toggle 12 to enable the legs 10 to be collapsed.

Extending from the central member 8 is an upper support 14, which may be secured in extended (telescopic) position by a pin 16.

Extending from each of the two front legs 10a, 10b is a projection 18 in the form of a stud comprising a relatively narrow shank 20 (Figure 3) and a larger, generally dome-shaped head 22.

Mounted on the top of the extension portion 14 is a cap 24, similarly provided with a forwardly-extending projection comprising a relatively narrow shank 26 and a larger, generally domed head 28.

The display member 30, which is moulded or stamped from semi-rigid sheet plastics material, is conventionally triangular, having adjacent to each of its corners a keyhole aperture 32, comprising a larger portion connected to a narrower portion.

When the tripod frame is erected in its position for use, the distances between the two lower studs 18, 18b is approximately equal to the distance X, being the distance between the two narrow portions of the apertures 32a and 32E, whilst the distance between each of the studs 18 and the stud 28 is approximately equal to the distance Y, being the distance between the narrow portion of the apertures 32a and 32d.

By presentation of the display member 30 to the frame 6, and flexing the display member into a generally concave shape as seen from the front, the distance between the slots 32 may be reduced, enabling the heads of the studs to be entered into the larger portion of the slots, whereupon when the display member is subsequently relaxed, engagement of the heads of the studs within the narrow portions of the slots retain the display member securely on the frame.

Similarly the display member may be demounted from the frame by pressing the central portion thereof inwardly, causing the display member to flex to enable the studs to be passed through the slot 32.

Preferably however the distance between each pair of studs is less than the distance X, Y respectively, so that when the display member 30 is flexed for mounting purposes, it is retained deformed when mounted on the tripod by engagement of the studs with the inner ends of the narrow portions of the slots 32a, and 32b and 32d. In this manner, a significant increase in the strength of the warning sign is obtained, by virtue of the fact that the display member is curved in three dimensions.

If desired, as is shown in Figure 4a, in place of the cap 24, a collar 24a may be utilised which is slidably mounted on the stem 14a, such a collar similarly being provided with a headed stud 28ss, sideways pressure on the stud of such a collar when the display member has been mounted thereon preventing longitudinal movement of the collar relative to the stem 14, retaining the display member in its flexed state.

The display member in accordance with the second aspect of this invention is provided by rigid plastics material afforded with hinge lines, whereby the sign may be folded or rolled up. In particular a sheet of rigid plastics material of a desirable size and thickness is provided with shallow score lines 40 parallel to one edge of the display member, and the sheet is folded across the score line to produce a hinge line 42, involving the fracturing of a majority of the plastics material along the score line, but retaining sufficient depth of unfractured material as to retain the integrity of the plastic sheet.

For example, the sheet may be of rigid polypropylene, having a thickness of approximately 3mm. When scored and folded, a hinge line is provided which extends into the thickness for about 2mm, enabling adjacent portions of the display member on opposite sides of the hinge line to be folded relative to one another. In this manner a display member for a hazard warning sign may be rolled up (as shown in Figure 6) or folded as shown in Figure 8, the spacing between the hinge lines in such a construction being so located as to enable the display member to be folded in the desired manner. In Figures 6 and 12 the hinge lines have been emphasised for the purpose of clarity. It will of course be appreciated that when laid flat, side edges of the hinge lines will be approximately in abutment.

Tf desired adjacent to a terminal portion of the display member, a strip

of "Velcro"lor the like may be provided to enable the display member to be securely retained in its folded or rolled condition, for convenience of transport.

Conveniently the display member in accordance with the second aspect of this invention is adapted to be mounted on a rigid frame such as the frame 50 (Figures 10 and 11), said frame comprising vertical frame members 52 provided at appropriate locations with headed studs 54, in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

Preferably the display member is provided with keyhole slots 48 at peripheral locations, so located in relation to the spacing between the headed studs 54 as to retain the display member when on the frame 50 under compression in a direction parallel to the direction of the hinge lines, such compression preferably being sufficient to deform the display member out of the plane which it would adopt under relaxed conditions, thereby "locking out" the hinge lines, and providing a rigidity to the display member.

In this manner the display member is not only itself retained rigid, but also contributes to the rigidity of the hazard warning assembly of which it forms part.

If desired the frame may be provided with a central headed stud 55 adapted to be located in a keyhole slot 48 of the display member, the headed stud 55 being offset rearwardly in relation to the headed studs 54, to retain the display member in deformed condition, the headed stud 48 in this manner and by virtue of its location also adding to the strength of the assembly.

Whilst the display member above described may be utilised in locations other than free-standing hazard warning signs, Figure 12 shows the application of the principles of the second aspect of the invention in the provision of a hazard warning sign in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A hazard warning sign comprising a frame to be mounted free standing adjacent to a hazard, and a display member of plastics sheet material comprising warning information, the display member and the frame being provided with respective formations to enable the display member to be securely mounted on the frame by virtue of the resilience of the display member.

2. A hazard warning sign according to Claim 1 wherein the formations are provided by respective projections and recesses.

3. A hazard warning sign according to Claim 2 wherein the recesses comprise inter-connecting larger parts and smaller parts enabling the projections to be entered into the recesses through the part thereof of larger size, and retained therein by movement of the projection into the part thereof of smaller size.

4. A hazard warning sign according to Claim 3 wherein the projections each comprise a shank portion and a head portion of size in relation to the recesses such that the head portion may pass through the portion of the recess of larger size, but not through the portion of smaller size.

5. A hazard warning sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the projections are provided on the frame, and the recesses provided on the display member.

6. A hazard warning sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display member is semi-rigid and when flexed moves to a shape and size to enable the projections to be entered into the recesses, and when relaxed causes the projections to move relative to the recesses to retain the display member securely mounted on the frame.

7. A hazard warning sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display member is provided by rigid plastics material afforded with hinge lines, whereby the sign may be folded or rolled up.

8. A hazard warning sign according to Claim 7, the construction and arrangement being such that when the display member is mounted on the frame, the display member is maintained in compression acting parallel to the hinge line or hinge lines, to deform the display member somewhat out of the plane it adopts under relaxed conditions.

9. A display member for use as part of a hazard warning assembly, which is provided by rigid plastics material afforded with one or more hinge lines whereby the display member may be folded or rolled up.

10. A display member according to Claim 9 wherein there are a plurality of hinge lines, preferably parallel.

11. A display member according to Claim 10 wherein the hinge lines are parallel to a linear edge of the display member.

12. A display member according to any one of Claims 9, 10 and 11, provided by a sheet of rigid plastics material afforded with score lines to provide for the capability of articulating adjacent portions relative to one another.

13. A display member according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 comprising releasable securing means to enable a terminal part of the display member to be retained in position during storage or transportation.

14. A display member according to any one of Claims 9 to 13 provided with formations to enable the display member to be secured to a rigid or collapsible frame.

15. A display member according to Claim 14 wherein said formations are such as will cause the sign to be held securely on the frame under compression in a direction parallel to the direction of the hinge line or lines.

16. A hazard warning sign constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

17. A display member for a hazard warning assembly, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.