The invention relates to an advertisement signalling informative display apparatus and further more particularly, but not exclusively, to an advertisement display apparatus for use above an intersection.

BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION

Advertising displays such as billboards, shelter advertising, electronic displays next to roads are well known.

Displays suspended above the road surfaces or attached to bridges above roads are also known.

These displays may however be dangerous in that motorists may be distracted while driving.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It Is an object of this invention to provide an advertisement signalling informative display apparatus which, at least partially, alleviates the above mentioned difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provide an advertisement signalling informative display apparatus comprising a support structure for supporting a display device substantially above a road surface, the display device Including traffic signalling means and advertisement means.

There is provided for the road surface to be the road surface at a intersection.

A further feature of the invention provides for the display device to include at least four advertising display means and at least four traffic signalling means.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the support structure to include upright and horizontal columns supported at opposite corners or sides of the intersection. There is further provided for the traffic signalling means to be traffic lights; and for the traffic lights to be synchronized with conventional traffic lights at the intersection and or to replace conventional traffic lights at the intersection.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the advertising display means to display advertising material to stationary traffic or moving traffic, and signalling for moving traffic and or include street name displays.

Further features of the invention provide for pedestrian channelling barriers to be located on a sidewalk at at least the corners on which the upright columns are supported; for the pedestrian barriers to each run parallel to an adjacent road and to terminate short of the corner of the sidewalk to allow pedestrians to pass between inner ends of the barriers on to the road surface or from the road surface on to the sidewalk.

These and other features of the Invention are described in more detail below

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 Shows a plan view of an advertlsementsignalilng

informative display apparatus;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of one of four sides of a display device of the advertisement signalling informative display apparatus of figure 1 ; a nd

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the advertisement signalling informative disp!ayapparatus of figure 1 including the display device

shown in figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to figures 1 and 3, an advertisement signalling informative display apparatus is generally indicated by reference numeral i .

The advertisement signalling informative display apparatus 1 includes a support structure 2 for supporting a display device 3 above a road surface 4.

The display devices is also shown in figure 2. The display device includes traffic signally means 5 and advertisement display means 6.

The advertisement signalling informative display means may be a billboard showing advertisement information including text and graphics and video. The advertisementsignaliing informative display means 6 may also be an electronic display for displaying advertisement material including text, graphics and video. The advertisement signalling informative display means 8 may also have or be connected to loud or soft or medium speakers for broadcasting of a sound signal with an advertisement. A radio station may for example broadcast over these speakers. The advertisementsignaliing informative display means 6 may also have security cameras means 11 fitted on the device and support structures means 3 and 2 for purposes of security, accidents, insurance companies, or public safety and police assistance.

A transparent plastics or other transparent material protective sheet could be located in front of the advertisement signalling informative display means and the traffic signalling means. This display means and signalling means could also be displayed on one large electronic or powered display. The traffic signalling means are in the form of conventional traffic lights. In this embodiment, the traffic signalling means includes three lights as is known in the art for signalling red, amber or green lights and an additional two lights used for signalling pedestrians or signalling traffic by way of example, illuminating arrows. The display device Sis substantially rectangular in plain view and includes an advertisement signalling informative display means and two traffic signalling means S on each side. The traffic signalling rneansS and 8, means S also can be synchronized with relevant traffic lights by displaying the traffic signalling or colours green amber and red in sequins with traffic lights means. Advertisement display 6 shows advertisement only to stationary and moving traffic and pedestrians. Traffic signalling means 5 can also be conventional traffic light.

The support structure 2forms a bridge supported by columns Sat opposite corners of an intersection so that the display device 3 is suspended substantially centrally above the road service 4 of the intersection. In this manner, each of the four sides of the display device may be viewed by oncoming traffic from the four directions of the intersection. The traffic lights of the traffic signalling means 5 are synchronised with the conventional traffic fights of the intersection.

Pedestrian channelling barriers or guardrails means 9 are located parallel to adjacent roads on the sidewalk 10 at the corners of the Intersection. The barriers 9 terminate short of the corner of the intersection so that pedestrians may pass between inner ends of the barriers at the corner of the intersection from the sidewalk 10 to the road surface or from the road surface to the sidewalk 10.

In use, with the display device suspended above the intersection as described above, the traffic signalling means 5 is used to signal traffic as is known in the art of synchronized with the conventional traffic lights at the intersection. Advertisement information is displayed on the advertisement display means 6 only to stationary traffic. In other words, advertisement information will only be displayed on an advertisement display means 6 when its corresponding signalling means 5 illuminates a red light indicating that the traffic must stop. When an amber or green light is illuminated the display of advertisement information on corresponding advertisement display means will not be allowed, it is envisaged that this functionality will be implemented electronically and will be computer controlled in the case of an electronic display means. In case of other billboards, a mechanically movable screen may be implemented to ensure that advertisement material cannot be viewed when amber and green lights are activated. Alternatively, the billboard itself may be constructed of rotatable strips or may be rotatable as a whole to rotate between positions in which advertisement display information is selectively visible or removed from the view of oncoming traffic.

In the case of an electronic or other advertisement means, the display means could be illuminated green or amber to correspond to the traffic lights at the intersection and only display advertisement display means when a red light is signalled to the oncoming traffic.

The apparatus will be powered from mains supply but will also include an uninterrupted power supply means 13 (UPS) for use in case of power failures. Electric fencing means 14 will be fitted on opposite corners of structure means 2th is apparatus means 3 can also be powered by any means of power supply for example, solar power, and generators.

It is envisaged that the apparatus described above will render traffic signals visible from further away than conventional traffic lights, it will provide motorists and passengers of stationary vehicle with something to look at while stationary, it will make intersections safer, it will benefit advertisers and will make intersections free from pollution and distractions, and will not distract motorists.

The invention is not limited to the precise detail as described herein and many other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.