GB2605634A - Temporary road sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible road sign stand 10a comprises a front section 12 of a compact height, not exceeding 110 centimetres, from plastics material as a mounting panel for a replaceable sign plate 30a to be provided, further a foot section 14 and a kickstand 16 to prop up the mounting panel 12 from the foot section 14, the foot section and the kickstand being foldable behind the front section to a folded structure stackable for storage and transport. The stand 10a comprises one or more pegs 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, such as drop lock pins, that can be toggled between an upstanding condition and a collapsed condition, to reduce a stack height of the folded structure. The pegs may extend through the thickness of the mounting panel for a secure attachment. The mounting panel may comprise at its rear one or more rearward protruding structures adjacent the one or more pegs, the rearward protruding structures hindering lateral slipping of the adjacent road sign stand in a stack of two or more such road sign stands

Description

Temporary Road Sign

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to temporary road signs of the type used at construction sites or as traffic management signs, specifically compact freestanding road signs that are deployable by a single person without tools, and that are collapsible flat for transport and storage. More specifically, the present invention relates to a road sign with an exchangeable sign plate.

Background

Compact temporary road signs typically comprise a sign panel supported on a bipedal front section and a further foot that is pivotable to provide base and a hinged kickstand to prop up the sign panel on the further foot. A road sign of this type is relatively small and compact, being typically in the region of 1 metre tall when erected, with a regulation-prescribed ground clearance of at least 30 centimetres for traffic not exceeding 30 mph, with a road sign board typically 60 centimetres or 75 centimetres tall, the sign board being an integral component of the sign, being permanently bolted on or attached using adhesive. Such road signs may be moulded according to a sign panel shape, e.g. generally triangular, circular or rectangular.

Compact temporary road signs are relatively light weight, in the region of 7 to 10 kg, and are provided as a unitary item such that single person can carry and deploy them without need for additional fixtures or tools, offering however the option of adding ballast at a relatively low centre of gravity for increased stability.

Great Britain patent application GB2555876A by the present applicant discloses a temporary road sign with integrated ballast elements for better wind load stability in use. The same document discloses a sign panel support frame with several mounting holes that allow a sign plate to be bolted onto the support frame, offering a more versatile support frame.

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative road sign solution.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible road sign stand as defined in claim 1. The stand comprises a front section of a height not exceeding 110 centimetres, made from plastics material and comprising two feet to provide, in use, a ground-contacting underside, the front section providing a mounting panel for a replaceable sign plate to be provided, a foldable foot section, and a kickstand to prop up the mounting panel from the foot section, the foot section and the kickstand being foldable behind the front section to provide a folded structure stackable for storage and transport.

The stand comprises one or more plate-supporting pegs anchored on the mounting panel, the pegs being configurable to an upstanding condition in which the pegs stand to allow a sign plate to be attached or removed, or to a collapsed condition in which the pegs protrude less than in the upstanding condition to thereby reduce a stack height of the folded structure, while the pegs remain anchored on the mounting panel.

It will be understood that a sign plate to be attached is provided with a plurality of holes laid out corresponding to the locations of the pegs on the mounting panel. For instance, the mounting panel may comprise four pegs for mounting a sign plate with four holes as apertures. By way of the pegs that remain anchored to the mounting panel, sign plates may be attached, removed or exchanged easily without having to unfasten or fasten threaded bolts. The mounting panel may comprise no more than four pegs for mounting a sign plate.

It was an appreciation by the applicant that previous compact sign frames of a plastics material type with replaceable sign plates still required some effort of unfastening, aligning and fastening an exchangeable sign plate, which is not considerably less effort than simply collapsing and exchanging an entire road sign.

According to the invention, the pegs remain anchored on the mounting board when being toggled between the upstanding condition and the collapsed condition. In particular, the present arrangement allows the pegs to be altered between the upstanding condition and the collapsed condition while a sign plate is attached to the mounting panel.

With a sign plate attached and the pegs collapsed, a sign plate is securely affixed to the road sign stand such that the road sign stand can be handled as a single, unitary road sign unit. As a unitary road sign unit, the road sign can be carried and deployed by a single person without the need for tools or other equipment.

Compact road signs of plastics material type are relatively light weight and compact, having a stacking thickness of about 3.5 cm when folded, and may be shipped in pallets of 50 units or more, weight not usually being a limiting factor. However, stacks exceeding a certain stack height may become too high for a person to easily to reach higher items, and so the stacking thickness should be low to allow a larger number of sign stands on a pallet. Some companies may stock significant quantities of such signs, some stocking several hundreds of such compact signs. It was an appreciation underlying the present invention that a collapsible road sign for an exchangeable sign plate should avoid compromising the stackability. By providing pegs that protrude less in a collapsed condition than in the upright condition, the overall thickness of a stand folded flat can be reduced to provide an overall lower stacking height.

In some embodiments, one or more of the pegs are spaced between 80 to 100 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.

In some embodiments, one or more of the pegs are spaced between 45 to 70 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.

In some embodiments, the highest row of pegs is spaced no more than 100, 98, 95, 93 or 90 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.

In some embodiments, the highest row of pegs is spaced no less than 80, 82, 85, 87, or 89 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.

In some embodiments, the lowest row of pegs is spaced no more than 70, 68, 65, 63 or 60 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.

In some embodiments, the lowest row of pegs is spaced no less than 45, 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, or 59 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.

The road sign stand is intended for sign plates having a vertical diameter (height) of about 75 cm or 60 cm. Such sign plates may have four, sometimes six mounting holes, usually in rows of two pairs (i.e. 2 or 3 rows with 2 holes each), each hole having typically 18 mm diameter, four holes arranged as a square array of 2x2 holes, each hole spaced, centre-to-centre, 30 cm from the hole laterally next to it and 30 cm vertically above or below.

The expressions "highest" and "lowest" refer to the spacing between the ground-contacting underside and the peg height on the front section in an in-use orientation.

Collapsible road signs from plastics material are relatively light-weight. Being of a compact type, the front section of the road sign is typically about 1 metre high, typically not exceeding 115 cm, 110 cm, or 105 cm. In comparison, a sign plate of a typical diameter of 60 or 75 cm can affect the wind resistance. Therefore, such road signs are typically made with as low a profile as possible while observing a regulatory ground clearance requirement.

Early prototypes leading to the present invention were designed with mounting pegs as low as possible to reduce a sign's wind load. During development of the product it was appreciated that typical sign plates include triangular, circular, and rectangular sign plates. Some of the shapes hang lower than other shapes. By locating a row of one or more mounting pegs higher than the minimum wind load position, at about 80-100 centimetres from the lower end of the front section, (i.e., the ground-contacting underside constituted by the feet), it can be ensured that a prescribed ground clearance can be maintained with most, if not practically all, sign plate types in circulation.

The distance of 80-100 centimetres is measured from the lower edge that constitutes the ground-contacting underside of the front section, to the centre of the hole containing the peg, the centre typically corresponding to the peg axis or shaft axis of a peg. When in use, it is understood that front sections lean back to some degree, as prescribed by regulations. Therefore, the height above ground of a mounting peg is somewhat less for a deployed road sign. For instance, a mounting location (centre) for a peg on the front section, spaced about 60 cm from the lower end of the front section, may be about 57 cm above ground when the sign is erected with the front section leaning back.

In some embodiments, the one or more pegs extend through the thickness of the mounting panel for a secure attachment.

Particularly for a thin plastics panel, pegs may be anchored through the thickness of the mounting panel to ensure the shanks of the pegs remain upright, generally at a right angle to the plane of the mounting panel, after repeated use. The peg may comprise a supporting structure, for instance a stepped seating surface of sufficient dimension to maintain the peg upright on the mounting panel. The road sign stand may be provided with a supporting structure, such as an increased panel thickness to provide a socket structure, and/or a flat abutment surface surrounding the hole through which the peg is mounted. The road sign stand may be provided with a supporting structure, such as one or more washer rings. A washer ring may be located at the rear of the mounting panel.

The supporting structure may comprise a configuration for rotationally locking the peg in position. For instance, for pegs constituted by a drop lock pin with a toggle segment, it may be desirable for the drop lock pin to be rotationally aligned to ensure the toggle segment pivots vertically, in use. The configuration for rotationally locking may comprise a toothed washer, such as an internally toothed washer, or a locking edge washer, to bite into the plastics material of the mounting panel.

In some embodiments, the pegs in the upstanding condition extend further than a stacking thickness of the folded structure.

The expression "stacking thickness" is understood herein in relation to a stack of stands folded to a flat structure, as the tier thickness taken up by a single folded stand.

The stacking thickness may be less than the thickness of a single folded structure, as some portions of structures may overlap in a nesting manner. As an approximation, the stacking thickness corresponds to a stack height divided by the number of stands in the stack The pegs, when upstanding, would hinder tight stacking because a folded stand placed on top of another folded stand would sit on the pegs.

In some embodiments, the pegs in the collapsed condition extend no more than a stacking thickness that the folded structure would have in the absence of the pegs.

The extension of the pegs is considered from the front of the mounting panel through to the rear of the mounting panel. For instance, an end of a threaded shaft of the peg may protrude through the thickness of the mounting panel and be fixed with a nut at the rear. The pegs may sit somewhat forward of the mounting panel yet may extend correspondingly less far at the back, so that the overall extension is no more than the stacking thickness. Thereby, it is avoided that pegs of one folded stand on top of the pegs of another folded stand prevent a tight stacking. The pegs may have a shaft length corresponding to the stacking thickness, and thereby come into contact with the next peg above or below. The shaft length may be chosen accordingly, e.g. the shaft may have no more than 35 mm length in the peg's collapsed condition for a compact road sign of 35 mm stacking thickness. The shaft may have no more than 40,39, 38,37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31 or 30 mm length in the peg's collapsed condition.

The collapsible road sign may have front and rear surfaces in the folded condition that are sufficiently parallel, or sufficiently complementary in shape, to allow stacking, in particular nested stacking, of more than five, more than seven, more than 10 or more than twenty folded frames.

In some embodiments, the mounting panel comprises at its rear one or more rearward-protruding structures adjacent the one or more pegs, the rearward protruding structures hindering lateral slipping of adjacent road sign stands in a stack of two or more such road sign stands.

The rearward protruding structures may be constituted by ribs, rim structures, studs or the like. It will be understood that a peg in the collapsed condition may protrude a certain distance from the mounting panel and therefore come to lie close to the rear of a next stand in a stack of stands. As such, the peg may provide a degree of nesting in the adjacent stand within a stack of folded stands.

The rearward protruding structures are arranged such that they provide clearance (for another road sign stand underneath in a stack) regardless of the orientation of the pegs in a collapsed condition.

A rearward protruding structure may only partially surround or flank a peg, thereby hindering lateral slipping only in one direction or only in few directions. A plurality of rearward protruding structures may be provided at different sides of different pegs such that the plurality of protrusions, combined, hinders lateral slipping in many directions or all directions.

In some embodiments, the one or more pegs are located outside the location of the kickstand and the foot section in the folded configuration.

The kickstand, the foot section, or portions of one or both of these may fold between the pegs to hinder lateral slipping.

In some embodiments, either or both of the kickstand and the foot section comprise apertures such that their structures avoid contacting peg locations in the folded configuration.

In some embodiments, an articulated portion of the peg is pivotable to thereby be configurable between the upstanding condition in which the articulated portion is coaxially aligned with the peg and a collapsed condition in which the articulated portion is axially misaligned with the peg.

The articulated portion may be a segment, such as a distal portion, of the peg that can swivel into or out of alignment with the peg axis.

When axially aligned with the peg axis, the articulated portion may effectively provide an extension of the peg. As an extension of the peg, the articulated portion may have a diameter not exceeding the peg diameter. The articulated portion may be located in front of the panel plate seat, such that when the articulated portion is swivelled out of alignment, the articulated portion protrudes at an angle from the peg axis, providing retention means to hinder removal of a sign plate from the mounting board.

In some embodiments, the one or more pegs are provided by drop locks.

In some embodiments, the collapsible road sign stand comprises one or more seating recesses for locating a sign plate to be provided.

The seating recesses may be oriented such that removal of a sign plate into or out of the seating recess is inhibited when the sign plate is located on the pegs.

The seating recesses may be located on the mounting panel, or just underneath the mounting panel.

The seating recesses may be provided in addition to the one or more plate-supporting pegs. The seating recesses may be spaced no less than 30 centimetres above the ground-contacting underside of the front section.

In some embodiments, one or more seating recesses comprise side walls hindering movement of a sign plate.

The side wall may provide an end stop in a seating recess. Two or more seating recesses may be oriented at different angles to each other, for instance in the manner of a V-shaped or chevron shaped seating surface hindering lateral displacement.

In some embodiments, the collapsible road sign stand comprises a single collapsible peg.

The collapsible peg, such as a single drop lock pin, may be positioned generally along a central line of the mounting panel. The peg may be positioned vertically above the seating recesses and laterally between the seating recesses.

In some embodiments, the mounting panel, the kickstand and/or the foot section are made from moulded plastics material, for instance injection-moulded plastics material or blow-moulded plastics material.

In some embodiments, the mounting panel, the kickstand and/or the foot section are made from recycled plastics material.

In some embodiments, the collapsible road sign stand comprises a sign plate retained on the mounting panel by the plate-supporting pegs in the collapsed condition.

In some embodiments, the sign plate comprises a sign plate handle at an edge of the sign plate.

The sign plate handle is unitary with the sign plate. The handle may be integrally moulded with the sign plate.

In some embodiments, the sign plate comprises one or more tabs extending from one edge of the sign plate, the tabs dimensioned to engage in the one or more seating recesses The tabs may be integrally moulded with the sign plate. The tabs and/or the sign plate handle may extend in the plane of the sign plate, having the same thickness as the sign plate.

In some embodiments, a plurality of collapsible road sign stands is stacked in a folded condition, comprising pegs in a collapsed condition. The plurality of collapsible road sign stands may be stacked on a pallet for storage and transport.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pallet as defined in claim 25, comprising a plurality of temporary road sign stands according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect, the stands being stacked in a folded configuration.

Such a pallet may carry several tens of folded road sign stands, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40, or at least 50 road sign stands stacked on top of each other.

Description of the Figures

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective front view of an embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective front view of another embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective front view of another embodiment; Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment; Figure 5 is a front view of a road sign stand in a folded condition; Figure 6A is a schematic view of a road sign stand and sign plate before assembly; Figure 6B is a schematic view of a road sign stand and sign plate during assembly; Figure 6C is a schematic view of a road sign stand and sign plate after assembly; Figure 7 is a perspective rear view of a stack of stands in a folded condition; Figure 8 is a top end view of the Figure 7 arrangement; Figure 9 is a side view of the Figure 7 arrangement; Figure 10 is a section of the Figure 7 arrangement; Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 10; Figure 12A is a schematic view of a road sign variant and sign plate before assembly; Figure 12B is a schematic view of the Figure 12A variant during assembly; Figure 12C is a schematic view of the Figure 12A variant after assembly; Figure 13 is a perspective illustrative front view of another embodiment; and Figure 14 is a perspective illustrative front view of yet another embodiment.

Description

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, these show front views and a rear view, respectively, of a compact road sign la, lb, and lc of a type comprising sign stand 10a comprising a collapsible A-frame support, comprising a front section 12 with two feet 13a,13b constituting a ground-contacting underside of the front section, the sign stand 10a further comprising a base element 14 that is pivotably connected to the rear of the front section 12, the base element 14 constituting a foot section, and further comprising, also pivotably connected to the rear of the front section 12, a support strut 16 constituting a kickstand that can engage via its strut end 17 in an engaging structure such as a recess of the base element 14 to provide a secure engagement and to prop up the front section 12. The base element 14 and the support strut 16 are pivotable to be folded flat on the rear of the front section 12 to provide a more compact, flat profile for transport and storage of the road sign 10.

Figure 1 shows a road sign la in a deployed condition, provided with a triangular sign plate 30a. Figure 2 shows a road sign lb in a deployed condition, provided with a triangular sign plate 30a mounted at a different height. Figure 3 shows a road sign 1c in a deployed condition, provided with a circular sign plate 30c. Figure 4 shows a rear view of a road sign stand 10a unfolded, without a sign plate attached.

Figure 5 shows a road sign stand 10a, corresponding to the road sign stand of Figure 4, in a folded condition (see also side views of Figures 6A-C), the strut end 17 disconnected from the base element 15. The front section 12 of the road sign stand 10a has a height (vertical length from the feet to the top) of about 95 centimeters, less than 1 metre. Other heights may be used, although a compact road signs stand of the type shown in Figure 4 or 5 does typically not exceed a height of 110 centimetres. The front section may be 95 centimetres high, and when erected, leaning back, the height of the road sign stand above ground is correspondingly less, about 90 centimetres. The overall height of the stand with a sign plate attached may exceed 110 centimetres.

The base element 14 has a general V shape comprising two legs, one leg each pivotably connected somewhat above the lower (ground-contacting) end of the two feet 13a,13b, such that the distal portion of the base element provides a third contact point without the flats of the base element contacting the ground on an even surface, effectively providing the stability of a tripod. When the road sign stand is erected, the base element extends relatively low above the ground so that ballast such as sand bags can be placed over it with a low centre of gravity.

The front section 12 comprises, on the face opposite the base element 14 and opposite the support strut 16, a front panel 20 (see Figure 5) providing a mounting panel for a sign plate, such as triangular sign plate 30a or a circular sign plate 30b. The front panel 20 comprises a generally planar abutment surface, comprising a plurality of apertures. The apertures may be provided for weight reduction purposes and/or to provide grip features for manual handling.

The front section 12 also comprises a plurality of holes with circular cross-section suitable for a shaft of a panel-mounting peg, such as a M6 bolt hole or M8 bolt hole. Pegs may be anchored through the thickness of the front panel 20, using washer rings and a nut in threaded engagement with a shaft of the peg. Figures 1 to 5, there are four drop lock pins 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d located in four of the circular holes. Two (higher) drop lock pins 32a, 32b are spaced about 90 cm from the ground-contacting underside and two (lower) drop lock pins 32c, 32d are spaced about 60 cm from the ground-contacting underside. Each drop lock pin provides a peg for mounting a sign plate to be provided, such as the triangular sign plate 30a illustrated in Figure 1 or the circular sign plate 30b illustrated in Figure 3. The drop lock pins are provided with a threaded shaft that protrudes through the thickness of the front panel 20 and is anchored to the front section using a threaded nut. Other fixing arrangements may be used. A washer ring is provided at the rear of the mounting panel 20 to provide a support structure, helping to ensure the drop lock pin remains upright during prolonged use. The washer ring may comprise a configuration such as teeth to bite into the plastics material of the mounting panel, to reduce the likelihood of the drop lock pin rotating.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the road sign lb comprises a road sign stand 10a with four drop lock pins 42a, 42b, 42c and 42. Two drop lock pins 42a, 42b are mounted at about 65 cm from the ground-contacting underside and two drop lock pins 42c, 42d are mounted at about 35 cm from the ground-contacting underside. The drop lock pins 32a-32d or 42a-42d may remain in place, anchored on the front panel 20, whether or not a sign plate 30 is mounted. However, by locating the drop lock pins as illustrated in Figure 1, higher than the minimum height required for a triangular sign plate 30a illustrated for comparison in Figure 2, the Figure 1 road sign stand 10a is more versatile for use with different road sign geometries.

To provide illustrative values, the lower edge of the triangular sign plate 30a used on the road sign lb of Figure 2 may be spaced about 37 cm from the ground-contacting edge of the feet 13a,13b, whereas the lower edge of the triangular sign plate 30a used on the road sign la of Figure 1 may be spaced about 52 cm from the ground-contacting edge of the feet 13a,13b. By providing the lower edge of a sign plate above 35 cm (here: 37 cm), a clearance above ground of at least 30 cm can be ensured when the front section 12 leans back.

A drop lock pin comprises an articulated distal segment pivotable on a shaft, that may be pivotably toggled between an upright condition in which the distal segment is axially aligned with the shaft of the drop lock pin, allowing it to protrude from the front panel 20, and a collapsed condition in which the articulated distal segment is axially misaligned with the drop lock shaft. Conveniently, when collapsed, the articulated segment lies, or hangs, perpendicular to the shaft axis, and therefore blocks removal of a sign plate, thereby securing the sign plate 30 to the road sign 10. The road sign stand 10a as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 may have a front section height in the region of 1 metre and weigh about 10 kg, and is therefore suitable for handling and deployment by a single person. In routine use, the road sign is unitary and no further equipment or tools are needed to unfold and erect the foot section 14 and the support strut 16. Likewise, no equipment or tools are needed to toggle the drop lock pins 36a-36d to attach, remove or exchange a sign plate. The drop lock pin locations are such that the lower end of a sign panel is at least 30 centimetres above ground. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the front section 12 comprises an arrangement of ledge structures 50a, 50b that protrude forward of the plane of the front panel 20, providing a seating surface onto which a sign plate may be placed. The ledge structures 50a, 50b comprise a slot providing a seating recess into which a portion of a sign plate may be inserted to limit the freedom of a sign plate, particularly its lower edge, to move or tilt away from the front panel 20. Laterally, in the extension of a seating recess, the ledge structures may comprise side walls that limit lateral movement (movement along the seating recess) of a sign plate inserted in the seating recess. In embodiments, two or more ledge structures may be slanted in opposite directions, in the manner of a V-shaped seating surface, hindering lateral movement. The ledge structures 50a, 50b are optional, as shown in the example of Figures 1 and 3, in which a sign plate 30a,30b is supported on four drop lock pins 32a-32d without coming into contact with the ledge structures 50a, 50b.

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate steps in a sequence of mounting a sign panel 30 to a road sign stand 10A. Figures 6A, 6B and 6C each show a schematic side illustration of a sign plate 30 (indicated in profile) and a road sign stand 10A (indicated in profile, in a collapsed condition although it will be appreciated a sign plate may be affixed when the road sign stand 10A is erected on its base element). Figures 6A to 6C illustrate the generally flat abutment surface of the front panel 20 from where there extend multiple pegs (illustrated in Figures 6A to 60: two drop lock pins 32b and 32d of an array of four drop lock pins). In Figure 6A, the drop lock pins are in an upstanding condition, in which the distal articulated elements are axially aligned with the shaft of the respective drop lock pin 32b, 32d. In Figure 6B, the sign plate 30 has been attached by way of the sign plate's holes (holes not shown in Figures 6A-46C) pulled over the drop lock pin segments. In Figure 6C, the drop lock pins are toggled to a collapsed condition in which the distal segment lies across the holes of the sign plate 30, extending perpendicularly to the drop lock shaft axis further than the holes of the sign plate 30, thereby retaining the sign plate 30 on the front panel 20, and practically fixing the sign plate 30 to the road sign stand 10A. Comparison of Figures 6B and 6C illustrates that the drop lock pins 32b and 32d can be toggled between an upstanding condition and a collapsed condition while the sign plate 30 is attached to the front panel 20. The drop lock pins can be toggled whether or not a sign plate is attached.

Figure 7 shows an isometric rear view of a stack 100 of two road sign stands 10a and 10b stacked on top of each other. Figure 8 shows a top view of the stack 100.

Likewise, Figure 9 shows a side elevation of the stack 100, Figure 10 shows a section of a stack 100 taken along the line A-A indicated in Figures, and Figure 11 shows an enlarged portion of a section corresponding to the area 11 indicated in Figure 10. Each road sign stand 10a and 10b corresponds to the road sign stand 10a of Figure 5 in a folded condition. While the stack 100 in Figures 7 to 11 is illustrated by two nested road sign stands 10a and 10b, a stack may comprise several more road sign stands, e.g. 10, 20 or more road sign stands.

In Figures 7 to 11, the elements of only one road sign stand 10a are annotated, using reference numerals corresponding to Figures 1-5, without repeating the description thereof, and it will be understood that the elements of the other road sign stand 10b correspond to those of the road sign stand 10a. Figure 7 shows the rear of the front section 12, with the support strut 16 and base element 14 folded flat on the rear, the road sign stand 10a being folded to a generally flat structure having a stacking distance of about 35 mm. The front section comprises an arrangement of peg-carrying panel portions 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b that each provide a structure in which a mounting hole for the peg is located. The peg-carrying panel portions may be provided in the shape of lobes so as to provide the mounting holes for the pegs at locations corresponding to mounting holes in sign plates. Other geometries may be used. The particular shape of the road sign stand 10a is based on a triangular road sign shape, which is a common shape, and may therefore be compatible for stacking with conventional triangular road signs while being versatile for use with round, rectangular and other sign plate shapes as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The rear of the front section comprises rear-facing protrusions, such as a rib structure 26 extending along parts of the circumference of the front section. The rib structure 26 defines a rim extending peripherally around portions of the front section, effectively providing a concavity or recess behind the front section to accommodate the full thickness of the base element 14 and the support strut 16 when folded. The base element 14 and the support strut 16 fold between the drop lock pins 32c-32d and so may hinder a lateral sliding of one road sign stand 10a stacked on top of another stand 10b. The rib structure may extend about 35mm and the stacking thickness may be 35 mm between two stands 10a and 10b of the same type, upward-facing upon upward-facing, top end on top end.

The drop lock pins 32a-32d are dimensioned such that in a collapsed condition, with the articulated segment pivoted off-axis, the drop lock pins do not exceed the stacking thickness of the road sign stand. As such, the road sign stand has the same stacking thickness whether or not it comprises drop lock pins. It will be understood that the drop lock pins 32a-32d are not necessarily within the profile of the rib structure 26. As depicted in the Figures, a front portion of the drop lock pins 32a-32d protrudes from the mounting panel of the front section 12. At the rear of the front section 12, the rear portions of the drop lock pins 32a-32d extend less, such that the overall length of the drop lock shaft is not longer than the stacking distance of the stand, so that two drop lock pins located on top of one another will not contribute to an increased stack height.

Figure 8 shows a top view to illustrate the thickness of the rim structure 26 corresponding closely to the stacking thickness. The peg-carrying panel portions 22a and 22b protrude less behind the front section 12 (in Figure 6, less high than the rim structure 26). Thereby, the peg-carrying panel portions 22a and 22b provide clearance for a drop lock pin 32a and 32b, respectively, of another road sign stand above or underneath. The clearance corresponds to the distance by which the drop lock pins protrude from the front section 12 in a collapsed condition. The clearance may be less than the distance the drop lock pins protrude from the front section 12 in an upright condition.

It can be imagined that due to the clearance of the peg-carrying panel portions 22a and 22b, the drop-lock pins may in the absence of other structures slide laterally relative to another road sign stand above or underneath. The lateral sliding is hindered by the presence of the rib structure 26. The rib structure is sufficiently far spaced apart from the drop lock shaft to allow the articulated segment to lie in any orientation. The spacing apart of the rib structure and the drop lock avoids that the articulated segment has to be oriented in a particular direction to avoid a portion of a rib structure 26 located over it, which would increase the stacking thickness.

Figures 9 to 11 show additional views of the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8, the stack 100 being oriented with the drop lock pins facing up. In Figure 9, the road sign stand 10b is nested on top of the road sign stand 10a. In side view, the collapsed drop lock pin 32b located on the peg-carrying panel 22b of the (lower) road sign stand 10a is visible. The peg-carrying panels 22b have a thinner profile than the rim structure 26. Thereby, the peg-carrying panels 22b are dimensioned to provide clearance for a drop lock pin beneath, while the rim structure 26 provides a slip-hindering structure.

Figure 10 shows a cross-section corresponding to the side view orientation of Figure 9, taken in a plane through two drop lock pins 32b, 32d, indicated in Figure 5 by the line A-A. Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of the field 11 of Figure 10. Figures 10 and 11 show that the drop lock pins 32b and 32d are, in a collapsed condition, fully within the rear-side clearance provided by the road sign stand 10b. Other features such as the optional ledge structure 50b are also arranged such that they can nest between two road sign stands of the same type, when stacked in the same orientation, (upward-facing stand on an upward-facing stand, and top end on top end), without increasing the stack height the stack 100 would otherwise have in the absence of drop lock pins. As shown in Figure 11, the stacking is relatively tight such that the rear of a drop lock shaft is very close to the front of the next drop lock, practically preventing a swivelling of the articulated segments in a stack.

Figures 12A-12C, 13 and 14 show a road sign stand embodiment comprising a single drop lock pin. The road sign stand 10c corresponds to the road sign stand 10a described above and may be made from the same plastics mould that is provided with a single drop lock pin.

Figures 12A, 12B and 12C illustrate steps in a sequence of mounting a sign panel 30c to a road sign stand 100. Figures 12A, 12B and 120 each show a schematic side illustration of a sign plate 30c and a road sign stand 120 (indicated in profile, in a collapsed condition although it will be appreciated a sign plate may be affixed when the road sign stand 12A is erected on its base element). Figures 12A to 120 illustrate the generally flat abutment surface of the front panel 20 from where there extends a single peg (drop lock pin 33c) located generally along the centre line of the road sign stand 10c. The road sign stand 10c comprises ledge structures 50c (only a single ledge structure 50c being illustrated in a side view) providing a seating recess for the lower edge of the sign plate 30c.

In Figure 12A, the drop lock pin 33c is an upstanding condition, in which its distal articulated element is axially aligned with the shaft of the drop lock pin 33c. The sign plate 30c is mounted by to the road sign stand 10c by inserting the lower edge of the sign plate 30c into the seating recess of the ledge structure 50c, as illustrated in Figure 12A. In Figure 128, the sign plate 30c is upright such that a hole is pulled over the upstanding drop lock pin 33c. In Figure 40, the drop lock pin 33c has been toggled to a collapsed condition in which the distal segment extends across the hole of the sign plate 30c, retaining the sign plate 30c on the front panel 20, and thereby practically fixing the sign plate to the road sign stand 10c. As shown in Figures 128 and 120, the drop lock pins 33c can be toggled between an upstanding condition and a collapsed condition while the sign plate 30c is attached to the front panel 20. The drop lock pin 33c prevents a movement of the sign plate upwards out of the ledge structure, and as such retains the sign plate 30c in the seating recess. Conveniently, this arrangement requires a single drop lock pin to be toggled to secure the sign plate 30c to the road sign stand 10c. Furthermore, the road sign plate 30c is relatively easy to align by sliding the sign plate into the seating recess of the ledge structure 50c and tilting it onto the front panel.

The road sign stand 10c is stackable in the same manner as the road sign stand 10a using a plurality of drop lock pins, because the single drop lock pin 33c is collapsible into a less protruding condition in which the stackability of a plurality of folded sign stands is maintained.

While the ledge structure is described using the example of a seating recess, other structures may be used, such as hook structures or ring structures on the sign plate to engage in corresponding rib structures or protrusions on the front panel 20.

Figures 13 and 14 show further variants of a single-drop lock sign stand. Figure 13 shows a road sign stand 10c comprising a bipedal front section 12 with a pivotably connected base element 14 and a pivotably connected support strut 16 engageable in the base element 14 to prop up the bipedal front section. The features of the road sign stand 10c correspond to those of the road sign stand 10a described above, however the road sign stand 10c is provided with a single drop lock pin 33c as a plate-supporting peg. At a lower end of the front section 12, the road sign stand 10c comprises two ledge structures 51a, 51b angled relative to each other and spaced apart, each providing a seating recess for tab structures. The ledge structures are located in the region of 35 centimetres from the bipedal end of the front section, such that a sign plate seated on the ledge structures has about 30 centimetre ground clearance.

The road sign stand 10c may be used with any one of different sign plates, such as a circular sign plate 30c, a triangular sign plate 30d, or other suitable types. The sign plates 30c, 30bd are generally flat structures preferably made from plastics material, although other materials such as metal may be used. The sign plates 30c comprise at one edge (as shown in Figure 13-at the top edge) an integral sign plate handle 34a, and 34b, respectively, extending in the plane and having the thickness of the main sign plate body. The sign plate handle facilitates handling of a sign plate 30c, 30d, as these may have a diameter or side length in the region of 60 to 75 cm, and sometimes larger. Each sign plate 30c, 30d comprises at an edge, preferably opposite the sign plate handle (i.e., as shown in Figure 13-at a lower edge) a tab arrangement of (here: two) tabs 36a,37a, and 36b,37b, respectively. The tab arrangement extends in the plane and has the thickness of the main plate body. The tab arrangement is shaped generally complementarily to the geometry of the seating recesses provided by the ledge structures 51a, 51b so as to be insertable in the manner set on in Figures 12a-12c above.

Figure 14 shows a road sign stand 10d, with a front section 12, base element 14 and support strut 16, with a sign plate 30e affixed, the lower end of the sign plate 30e being retained by the ledge structures 51a,51b and a single drop lock pin 33d. The ledge structures 51a, 51b comprise oppositely slanted seating recesses, in the manner of a V-shaped seating surface, practically retaining the lower-edge tabs of the sign plate 30e laterally on the sign stand 10d, and the drop lock pin 33d locks the sign plate 30e on the road sign stand 10d. While the sign plate handle 34c is optional, it is sufficiently stable to allow the assembly of sign plate 30c and road sign stand 10d to be handled as a single unit.

The drop lock pin 33d is located vertically above the ledge structures 50c and laterally between the ledge structures 50c, thereby effectively blocking a removal of the sign plate 30c from the ledge structure unless it is tilted forward in the manner shown in Figure 12A.

While the stacks 100 of road sign stands in Figures 7 to 11 have been illustrated without sign plates attached, the flat front surface of the front section 12 and the relatively thin dimensions of a sign plate allow stacking of multiple road sign stands with a sign plate attached.

The stands described herein may be used for road signs and may also be used as sign stands in other scenarios such as for foot paths when it is necessary to relay information to passersby.

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A collapsible road sign stand comprising a front section of a height not exceeding 110 centimetres, the front section made from plastics material and comprising two feet to provide, in use, a ground-contacting underside, the front section providing a mounting panel for a replaceable sign plate to be provided, a foldable foot section, and a kickstand to prop up the mounting panel from the foot section, the foot section and the kickstand being foldable behind the front section to provide a folded structure stackable for storage and transport, wherein the stand comprises one or more plate-supporting pegs anchored on the mounting panel, the pegs being configurable to an upstanding condition in which the pegs stand to allow a sign plate to be attached or removed, or to a collapsed condition in which the pegs protrude less than in the upstanding condition to thereby reduce a stack height of the folded structure, while the pegs remain anchored on the mounting panel.
2. 2. The collapsible road sign stand according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the pegs are spaced between 80 to 100 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.
3. 3. The collapsible road sign stand according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more of the pegs are spaced between 45 to 70 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.
4. 4. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the highest row of pegs is spaced no more than 100, 98, 95, 93 or 90 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.
5. 5. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the highest row of pegs is spaced no less than 80, 82, 85, 87, or 89 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.
6. 6. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lowest row of pegs is spaced no more than 70, 68, 65, 63 or 60 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.
7. 7. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lowest row of pegs is spaced no less than 45, 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, or 59 centimetres from the ground-contacting underside.
8. 8. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more pegs extend through the thickness of the mounting panel for a secure attachment.
9. 9. The collapsible road sign stand according toany one of the preceding claims, wherein the pegs in the upstanding condition extend further than a stacking thickness of the folded structure.
10. 10. The collapsible frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pegs in the collapsed condition extend no more than a stacking thickness that the folded structure would have in the absence of the pegs.
11. 11. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting panel comprises at its rear one or more rearward-protruding structures adjacent the one or more pegs, the rearward protruding structures hindering lateral slipping of adjacent road sign stands in a stack of two or more such road sign stands.
12. 12. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more pegs are located outside the location of the kickstand and the foot section in the folded configuration
13. 13. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein either or both of the kickstand and foot section comprise apertures such that their structures avoid contacting peg locations in the folded configuration.
14. 14. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an articulated portion of the peg is pivotable to thereby be configurable between the upstanding condition in which the articulated portion is coaxially aligned with the peg and a collapsed condition in which the articulated portion is axially misaligned with the peg.
15. 15. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more pegs are provided by drop locks.
16. 16. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more seating recesses for locating a sign plate to be provided.
17. 17. The collapsible road sign stand according to claim 16, wherein one or more seating recesses comprise side walls hindering movement of a sign plate.
18. 18. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a single collapsible peg.
19. 19. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting panel, the kickstand and/or the foot section are made from moulded plastics material.
20. 20. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting panel, the kickstand and/or the foot section are made from recycled plastics material.
21. 21. The collapsible road sign stand according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a sign plate retained on the mounting panel by the plate-supporting pegs in the collapsed condition.
22. 22. The collapsible road sign stand according to claim 21, wherein the sign plate comprises a sign plate handle at an edge of the sign plate.
23. 23. The collapsible road sign stand according to claim 21 or 22 when depending from claim 16, wherein the sign plate comprises one or more tabs extending from one edge of the sign plate, the tabs dimensioned to engage in the one or more seating recesses.
24. 24. A plurality of collapsible road sign stands according to any one of the preceding claims stacked in a folded configuration, comprising pegs in a collapsed condition, the plurality of collapsible optionally road sign stands optionally stacked on a pallet for storage and transport.
25. 25. A pallet comprising a plurality of collapsible road sign stands stacked according to claim 24.