GB2431502A

GB2431502A - Sign mounting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2431502A
Application number: GB0521342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alun Pearson
Original assignee: SIGN Ltd N
Current assignee: SIGN Ltd N
Priority date: 2005-10-20
Filing date: 2005-10-20
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-20
Also published as: WO2007045932A1; GB0521342D0; GB2431502B

Abstract

A sign mounting arrangement comprises a sign mount 1 and at least one post 7, wherein the sign mount 1 is attached to the post by a bracket 2 and wherein the sign mount 1 is formed from a plastics material and comprises a front and a back, the back including one part of the said bracket, the one part of the bracket 2 being formed integrally with the sign mount. Two sign mounts 1 may be provided with the respective bracket parts 2 integrally moulded on the back of each sign mount. A second bracket part (11, figure 2) shaped to partially surround the post 7 may be provided to attach the integral bracket part 2, and thus the sign mount, to the post 7.

Description

* 2431502

SIGN MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the mounting of signs and in particular to a sign mounting arrangement including a sign mount formed from a plastics material.

Background of the Invention

A traditional street sign is mounted on spaced apart posts by means of a metal tray. The tray is attached to the posts by brackets and the street sign is placed in the tray. Other signs, such as road signs compnse an aluntiniuni plate which is secured to a post, again by means of brackets, with a vinyl cover beanng the information to be conveyed by the sign being applied to the surface of the plate remote from the post.

Attempts have been made to manufacture street signs from plastics materials. So far these attempts have not resulted in successful signs. This has been due to the brackets used to attach the signs to posts being unsatisfactory.

Industry and society generate and throw away huge amounts of plastics matenals, for example packaging materials. Not only does this use up valuable hydrocarbon resources, but it also leads to landfill sites filling up faster than they would if other uses for such plastics matenals could be found.

The ability to manufacture a functional road sign of a plastics material would have the additional advantage of plastics materials generally yielding more than metal materials. This would be advantages both in terms of damage to the sign and damage to vehicles resulting from collisions between vehicles and road signs. Further, signs made of plastics materials are less susceptible to corrosion than those made of metals. Still further, a road sign manufactured principally of plastics material is hkely to weigh less than one constructed of steel. This would be advantageous as road signs are usually erected manually. Yet another advantage of signs made of plastics material over those made of metals is that plastics are less valuable than metals, and are therefore less likely to be stolen. Aluminium is relatively valuable and signs made from this metal are often stolen.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a plasucs sign mount as specified in Claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mount a sign as specified in Claim 14.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are by way of

example:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a sign mounting arrangement according to one aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a sign mounting arrangement according to another aspect of the invention; Figure 3 is a front view of the sign mount illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 3a is a plan view of the sign mount illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 4 is a plan view of the bracket illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4a is a back view of the bracket illustrated in Figure 4; and Figure 4b is a plan view of the bracket illustrated in Figure 4a.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a sign mounting arrangement comprising a pair of spaced apart posts 7, to which are attached sign mounts 1. The sign mounts I are substantially identical, each comprismg a pair of spaced apart recesses 3 whose shape corresponds to the outer shape of the post 7. The recesses 3 each form a part of a bracket 2 which consists of an area of increased wall thickness. To either side of the recess 3 the bracket includes flat faces 4. The flat face 3' to one side of the recess 3 includes protrusions 4. The flat face 3" to the other side of the recess 3 includes a bore 4'. In the example of Figure 1, the arrangement of the protrusions 4 and bores 4' are mirror images of each other, so that when one is presented up to the other, a protrusion 4 engages with a bore 4'. In this configuration a flat face 3 is in close proximity to a flat face 3'. In order to secure the sign mounts 1 in place two bolts are passed through apertures 17 in the first sign mount 1, the post 7 and the second sign mount 1. A nut is attached to the bolt to secure the arrangement.

Referring now to Figures 2 and Figures 4, 4a and 4b, only one sign mount 1 is used. This is secured to the posts 7 by brackets 11. The brackets 11 include flat faces 13 and 13' disposed to either side of a recess 12, which in the example is semi-circular. The flat faces 13, 13' of the bracket are provided with a protrusion 14 and bore 14' respectively. The protrusions 14 and bores 14' mate with a bore 4' and protrusion 4 respectively. Bolts are passed through the apertures 16 In the bracket 11 and through corresponding holes in the sign mount 1. The holes 16 are provided with raised portion including a hexagonal recess. In use a bolt is passed through a corresponding aperture 17, and a nut is held in the hexagonal recess. The bracket 11 includes a semi-circular top cap 15 which engages with the top 7' of the post 7. Ihe bracket 11 is formed from a plastics material, which in the example is a recycled plastics material. Equally, the bracket could be formed from other suitable materials such as pressed or cast metaL Referring to Figure 3, the centre part 18 of the sign mount 1 includes a plurality of substantially parallel webs 19. The webs 19 serve to strengthen the sign mount 1. l'he brackets 2 also include a plurality of webs 20, which serve to strengthen the brackets 2, and hence the attachment of the sign mount I to the post 7. The sign mount I includes elements 21 to which facilitate chpping of the sign to the sign mount.

In the example, the sign mount us manufactured from recycled plastics. Many different sources of recycled plastics may be used, and may be recycled from high density polyethylene (I IDPE), polyethylene (l'E) and Polyethylene l'erephthalate (PET). Plastics from different sources having different properties may be mixed to provide a desired melt flow characteristic. For example, when injection moulding it is desirable that the plastics material used has a melt flow of about 5. This can be achieved by mixing plastics having high melt flows of 7 to 8 which have been recycled from objects such as industrial pallets with plastics having low melt flows of 0.2 to 1.0 which have been recycled from extruded objects such as milk botdes.

The sign mounting arrangement of the invention provides a simple and strong apparatus for mounting signs. Furthermore, the sign mount of the invention uses fewer components than traditional sign mounts, weighs less and takes less rime to erect when compared to traditional steel sign mounts. Tn addition by making the sign mount of plastics material the signs can withstand greater Impacts without deforimng than is possible for traditional sign mounts, and is less likely to be stolen.

Claims

Claims 1. A sign mounting arrangement comprising a sign mount and at least

one post, wherein the sign mount is attached to the post by a bracket, and wherein the sign mount is formed from a plastics material and comprises a front and a back, the back including one part of the said bracket, the one part of the bracket being formed integrally with the sign mount.
2. A sign mounting arrangement according to Claim 1, further comprising a second sign mount corresponding in shape and configuration to the first sign mount, the respective bracket parts of the first and second sign mounts forrmng the said bracket.
3. A sign mount according to Claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises a second bracket part the second bracket part comprising an element shaped and configured to partially surround the said post and attach to the one part of the bracket of the sign mount.
4. A sign mount according to Claim 3, wherein the element is formed from a plastics material.
5. A sign mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the sign mount includes at least one rib substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the mount.
6. A sign mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the part of the bracket formed in the sign mount projects rearwardly from the longitudinal axis of the sign mount from the said back.
7. A sign mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, further comprising fastening means, said fastenrng means fasten together the respective parts of the bracket.
8. A sign mounting arrangement according to Claim 7, wherein, the fastening means includes an element, which in use, passes through the post.
9. A sign mounting arrangement according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the fastening means compnse at least one element passing through the respective parts of the bracket to one side of the post receiving part of the said bracket
10. A sign mount according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the fastening means includes a protrusion extending from one of the bracket parts which engage with a recess in another of the bracket parts.
11. A sign mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the front of the sign includes means to receive a sign.
12. A sign mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the sign mount is formed from plastics material compnsing recycled plastics.
13. A sign mount according to Claim 12, wherein the melt flow of the plastics material is between 3 and 7.
14. A sign mount according to Claim 12, wherein the melt flow is 5.
15. A sign mounting according to any preceding claim, wherein the sign mount is injection moulded.
16. A method of mounting a sign comprising the steps of: a) attaching a sign mount to a post, the sign mount and the post being of the arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15; h) attaching a sign to the sign mount.
17. A sign mounting arrangement substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to the drawings.