TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a road sign comprising a back, where the back comprises a holder element intended to be used together with some kind of foot/base, that the road sign further comprises a cover comprising at least one transparent area, where the cover is arranged to be applied in front of said back. PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to the field of handling and carriers of road signs for in the first place roadwork sites but also permanent use may exist. Methods, arrangements and constructions related to the technical field indicated above are previously known in a number of different embodiments.

It is known that signs which are used along roads, especially temporarily erected signs adjacent to roadwork sites, are subject to severe wear. Among other things, the wear consists of dirtying, above all splashes at surfacing works. It is of absolutely greatest importance and security that the work to erect up-to-date road signs and to lift away non-actual road signs, at e.g. a roadwork site, takes place in a rapid and easy manner, but it is also important to simplify and structure the handling of storage and transport. A road sign known on the market is described in SES33822, where an information carrier is arranged on a wire frame by folding the edges of the carrier around the wire frame, and then they are put together by sewing, gluing or high-frequency welding. Further, at the bottom, the wire frame has a protruding portion which is inserted into a separate foot. The road sign has experienced success because of the ease with which it could be handled thanks to low weight and easy redisplay.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is further to simplify the handling of road signs, which is achieved with a road sign according to claim 1.

Thanks to the invention, a road sign may be offered which implies that the same road sign symbol may be given different meanings, which implies that the number of road signs which a contractor needs may be decreased, and space for transport and storage may be reduced. Further, at damage/wear only the cover with the road sign symbol may be rejected/exchanged and the back reused which is economically favourable. The handling is simplified at the erection and removal and the weight is reduced, which is an advantage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will below be described more in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 A shows a back according to the invention, seen straight from the front;

Fig. I B shows a cover with the road sign symbol according to invention, seen straight from the front;

Fig. 2 shows a road sign according to the invention, seen straight from the front; Fig. 3 shows a road sign according to the invention, seen straight from the front; Fig. 4 shows an alternative back according to the invention, seen straight from the front;

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a cover according to the invention, seen from the front;

Fig. 6 shows a road sign according to the invention, seen from the front;

Fig. 7 shows a road sign according to the invention, seen from the front;

Fig. 8A shows a back according to the invention, seen straight from the front;

Fig. 8B shows a cover and a reflecting part according to the invention;

Fig. 9 shows a road sign according to the invention, seen straight from the front; Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a road sign according to the invention;

and

Fig. 1 la to d shows cross-section profiles for a number of variants of backs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1A shows, seen straight from the front, a back 2, which together with a cover 3, shown in Fig. I B, forms a road sign 1 in an embodiment according to the invention, see

Fig. 2. The different parts will now be described in detail for an embodiment in the form of aso called marking display for side hinders, speed bumps, etc. according to the webside of the Swedish Transport Agency

(http://wwvv.transportstyTelsen.se/sv/vag/vagmarken), i.e. a road sign symbol with alternating oblique red and yellow portions 50, but it is realized that the invention idea also is applicable on other road signs. Fig. 1A shows a back 2 comprising a wire frame 20 of metal wire or any other suitable material, on which wire frame 20 a reflecting surface 4 is arranged, which is suitable for road signs. The reflecting surface 4 is suitably glued/sewn on a flexible cloth which is sewn, glued or high frequency welded together around the wire frame 20 and which in such a way is kept stretched by the wire frame. Preferably, the wire frame 20 comprises an upper 25 and a lower 26 fastening element for the reflecting surface, which elements preferably are parallel with the upper 23 and the lower 24 stay and which preferably are integrated parts of the wire frame 20. Alternatively, if no wire frame 20 is used, the reflecting surface 4 may be glued to a plastic sheet being part of the back 2. Such an embodiment is described in connection with Figs. 1 1 a through e. In the example described which is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 showing a road sign, the reflecting surface 4 is yellow but the colour is adapted to the road sign it is intended for. However, the reflecting surface 4 preferably is colourless to admit the creation of the desired road sign by providing the cover 3 with the desired road sign symbol in the correct colours. The back 2 comprises in its upper end preferably a handle 21, which facilitates the handling of the road sign 1 and may also be used for the suspension of the back 2 at storage. Suitably, the handle 21 may have the shape of an upside down U-shaped clamp and comprise two vertical upwards directed wire parts arranged at suitable mutual distances along the upper edge of the wire frame as well as a horizontal stay connecting the vertical wire parts at their upper ends. Further, the back 2, at its lower end, comprises a holder element 22 which preferably forms a U-shaped clamp. The U-shaped clamp comprises two vertical, downwards directed wire parts arranged at suitable mutual distances along the lower edge of the wire frame as well as a horizontal lower stay 24 connecting the vertical wire parts at their lower ends. Preferably, the holder element comprises also a horizontal upper stay 23 arranged at a distance upwards along the vertical downwards directed wire parts. Both the handle 21 and the holder element 22 preferably constitute integrated parts of the wire frame 20. In the preferred embodiment, the holder element 22 is constructed to fit together with any of the sign carriers, previously developed by the applicant, and which are described for instance in Figs. 20 and 21a to c, and 9a and 9c, respectively, in WO2010/071576, and Fig. 8 in SE

1 1 0993-2. It is also conceivable to let the handle 21 and the holder element 22 constitute one and the same unit for an embodiment where the road sign 1 is placed hanging in a sign carrier comprising for instance a bar, instead of being arranged standing.

Fig. 1 B shows a cover 3, which in this embodiment comprises a transparent material on which a road sign symbol 5 is arranged. The road sign 1 is formed by combining portions of coloured and uncoloured areas or by combining areas of different colours where both the coloured and uncoloured areas may be transparent. The coloured areas may be non-transparent, for instance in those cases when the road sign symbol is formed by a black, non-transparent colour or tape in portions which do not require any reflecting of incoming light, i.e. the road sign is created by a contrasting effect of reflecting portions with for instance a yello colour and black, non-reflecting portions, such as signs indicating the highest allowable speed and certain warning signs. In a preferred embodiment, the cover 3 comprises a transparent plastic sheet, on which a road sign symbol has been arranged, here a road sign symbol with alternating oblique yellow and red, transparent portions 50.

In a preferred embodiment, the road sign symbol may, for instance, be arranged on a plastic sheet forming the cover 3, by painting with a transparent colour, consisting of tape or constituting an integrated, coloured part of the plastic sheet. In other embodiments, it is also conceivable to use non-transparent colours. Further, the cover 3 may comprises uncoloured, transparent portions 51 between the coloured portions 50, whereby the reflecting surface 4 at the back 2 becomes visible directly through the cover 3. In such an embodiment, the reflecting surface may instead be coloured, e.g. yellow, which is a common colour for road signs. The cover 3, which according to the idea of the invention is detachably mounted at the back 2, is arranged against the reflecting surface 4 of the back 2 by for instance clamping clips (not shown) which are mounted along the edges of the cover 3, but other fastening methods admitting a rapid and easy mounting as well as dismounting of the cover 3 are, of course, also conceivable, such e.g. a resilient border along the entire or parts of the edges of the cover which snap the cover 3 around the wire frame with a resilient force.

Fig. 2 shows a road sign 1 according to the invention, where the cover 3 (Fig. 1 B) is arranged on the back 2 (Fig. 1 A) and together they constitute the road sign 1. The road sign 1 is arranged in some kind of foot/base (not shown) and placed at e.g. a roadwork site. The road sign of Fig. 2 shows the road-users to drive to the left of the road sign. A great advantage with arranging the road sign symbol 5 on the cover 3 is that instead of replacing the entire road sign 1 the cover 3 may be loosened, turned such that the side facing the reflecting surface 4 instead is turned outwards towards the viewer and is again attached, and thus a new road sign symbol 5 has been obtained. This is shown in Fig. 3, where it is shown that road-users have to drive to the right of the road sign 1.

Thus the road sign according to the invention is especially suitable for a number of road signs which are available in right and left, respectively, embodiments, as the cover according to an aspect of the invention is constructed to be reversible. The road sign is thus symmetric along a vertical axis, which implies that the both sides of the cover may be brought to the back. Still a great advantage with the cover 3 is that it may be regarded as a consumption article. When the cover 3 with the road sign symbol 5 has been damaged or worn, it may be discarded and a new cover 3 with the road sign symbol 5 may be used. Instead of discarding the entire road sign 1 , one thus exchanges only the cover 3 with the road sign symbol 5, which is favourable from a financial point of view and also contributes to protecting the environment.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show an example of another road sign. Fig. 4 shows the back 2 comprising a wire frame 20 in the form of a circle with a handle 21 at the upper end and a holder element 22 at the lower end, preferably being an integrated part of the wire frame 20. The reflecting surface 4 is arranged on the wire frame 20 and is in this embodiment white. Fig. 5 shows a circular cover 3 provided with a road sign symbol 5, here in the form of an arrow 52. The arrow 52 itself and the outer edge 54 of the cover 3 are uncoloured and transparent while the remaining part 53 of the cover is blue. The cover 3 is preferably adapted to the size of the back 2. The cover 3 with the road sign symbol 5 is mounted to the back 2 for instance with clamping clips, and a road sign 1 showing the commanded roadway is obtained (see Fig. 6). The white reflecting surface 4 is entirely reflecting through the uncoloured, transparent portions 52, 54, while the reflection is somewhat moderated in the coloured (blue) area 53. Fig. 7 shows a road sign 1 , commanded roadway, but in the opposite direction as compared to the road sign described in Fig. 6. This is easily achieved by the cover 3 having first been removed from the back 2 and then turned so that the side abutting the back 2 in Fig. 6 now lies outwards towards the viewer. The cover 3 is re-attached to the back 2 and a road sign 1 with a new meaning has been obtained.

Figs. 8A and 8B show an alternative embodiment of a road sign 1 according to the invention. Fig. 8A shows a back 2 comprising a wire frame 20. The back 2 comprises at its upper end preferably a handle 21, which facilitates the handling of the road sign 1 and which may also be used for hanging the back 2 at storage. Further, the back 2 comprises a holder element 22 at its lower end. The handle 21 and the holder element 22 form preferably a U-shaped clamp each in accordance with the embodiment described earlier. The wire frame 20 preferably comprises also an upper 25 and a lower 26 attachment element, which elements preferably are parallel with the upper 23 and the lower 24, respectively, stay in the U-shaped clamps and preferably constitute an integrated part of the wire frame 20. Fig. 8B shows a cover 3, which comprises at least one transparent area and is provided with a road sign symbol 5. Preferably, the cover 3 comprises a transparent plastic sheet with a road sign symbol arranged thereon, here a road sign symbol with alternating oblique red and yellow, transparent portions 50. For instance, the road sign symbol may be arranged on the plastic sheet by painting may consist of transparent tape which has been glued to the cover and comprises the road sign symbol, or may be formed by coloured, transparent or non-transparent tape being given the form of a road sign symbol which is glued to the sheet. As well, the road sign symbol may be formed by using coloured plastic for the sheet so that the road sign symbol constitutes an integrated/coloured part of the plastic sheet. The cover 3 may also comprise uncoloured transparent portions 51 between the coloured portions 50 in case the reflecting surface 4 is yellow. Fig. 8B shows an alternative embodiment, where the reflecting surface 4 consists of a separate reflecting part 40. Preferably, the reflecting part 40 comprises a reflex film, which forms the reflecting surface 4, which is mounted on a plastic sheet of substantially the same size as the cover 3, instead of being mounted on a cloth which is stretched around the wire frame 20. The reflecting part and the cover 3 are put together and joined with attachment means 6, e.g. clamping clips, which are mounted along the edges of the cover 3 and the reflecting part 40, but other attachment methods are, of course, conceivable. The clamping clips 6 comprise also a profiled part (not shown), by means of which the joined unit consisting of the cover 3 and the reflecting surface 4 are snapped together, or is attached to the upper 25 and the lower 26 attachment elements of the wire frame in any other manner known to the man skilled in the art in order to form the road sign 1 according to the invention. It is realized that said clamping clips 6 may also be snapped on the longsides of the wire frame 20. Further, it shall be realized that the separate reflecting part 40 could also consist of two reflex film parts joined together, and hence a surface reflecting on both sides is obtained, alternatively of reflex film arranged on a cloth.

Fig. 9 shows a road sign 1 , where the cover 3 and the reflecting part 40 has been joined and snapped together on the back 2 by said clamping clips 6 to form said road sign 1.

Within the scope of the invention idea a back is also included having a shape admitting that all road signs may be created. The shape of such a back is shown in the applicant's patent application SE 1 150993-2, where round, triangular and also square road signs are accomodated. Fig. 10 shows such an embodiment of a road sign. In accordance with the invention idea this shape is symmetric along a vertical axis to admit reversibility of the cover 3. The back 2 comprises a wire frame 20 of metal wire or any other suitable material, which has a contour having the shape of a two-dimensional triangle with rounded corners which is placed on top of a two-dimensional square so that they coincide in a common plane, where the square to a certain extent is inscribed in the triangle, so that the base of the triangle is about 1 /3 longer than the side of the square. The bases of the triangle and the square preferably extend in the same line and constitute the lower edge 23 of the back 2. Preferably, a handle 21 is integrated in the upper edge of the wire frame 20, which facilitates location/handling of the road sign carrier 1. At the lower edge of the wire frame 20 is preferably also a holder element 24 integrated. Preferably, the handle 21 and the holder element 22 form a U-shaped clamp each in accordance with the embodiment previously described. The holder element 24 described above is intended to fit any of the holders previously developed by the applicant, which are described in Figs. 20 and 21a to c, and 9a and 9c, respectively, in WO2010/071576.

Suitably, the reflecting surface 4 is mounted on the wire frame 20 in accordance with the invention idea, for instance in the form of a flexible material comprising a reflecting surface 4. The flexible material is arranged by its edges being folded around the wire frame 20, whereafter the edges are sewn, glued or much rather high frequency welded together. The cover 3 preferably comprises a thin, transparent sheet 30, preferably of plastics, which as to shape is adapted to the contour of the back 2. In accordance with the invention idea a road sign symbol 5 is applied on the cover, which is then mounted together with the back. In order to form different road signs, the cover 3 is suitably provided with non-transparent portions, which shield/cover the reflecting surface 4 of the back 2, so that one thereby achieves the desired shape of the road sign, i.e. round, triangular, square. In case one applies a road sign symbol, which shall not be reversible, one may advantageously design the cover 3 with an outside, in an assembled position directed against the viewer, which is non-reflecting. This may be achieved by the outside being given a prismatic pattern. Another way to achieve this is to use a sheet material which is made non-reflecting by addition of some substance making the plastic non-reflecting according to a manner known to those skilled in the art. If the road sign symbol has been formed by use of coloured plastics for the cover, both sides of the cover 3 may, of course, be made non-reflecting.

The invention is not limited to the above description but may be varied within the scope of the appending claims.

For instance, it is realized that the invention idea may be applied on all shapes and variants of road signs, when the back, the reflecting surface and the cover are adapted to the shape of the road sign. The man skilled in the art realizes that the cover may be attached to the back in other ways than those described above. For instance, the back could be provided with a pair of protruding hooks alternatively longitudinal grooves in the sides, into which the transparent cover is inserted and thus kept in place. The cover could also comprise a self-adhesive transparent film provided with road sign symbols which are applied to the reflecting surface, and at wear alternative replacement of a road sign symbol, the film is removed and replaced by a new one. A large store of self- adhesive transparent film with road sign symbols takes a very little storage space.

The invention may also be used for the side marking displays which are today used at occasional displaying at e.g. a roadwork site. These side marking displays comprise a long and narrow plastics sheet forming a back 2, on which a pre-printed reflex film with red and yellow oblique portions are glued. According to the invention, an unco loured or white-coloured reflex film may instead be attached to the plastics sheet, whereafter the cover 3 with the oblique, coloured portions is applied in front thereof, either pointing to the right or the left, as required. Here is thus a great advantage achieved, as a right and a left, respectively, embodiment of today's signs is required. The number of signs may thus be halved by means of the invention. The cover 3 may be applied on existing plastic sheets, when they comprise a profiled edge along each longside in the form of a transverse I-profile aiming at supporting the sheet, see Fig. 1 la. The I-profile forms two grooves 60 at each side of the back 2 along each longside, which keeps the cover in place.

Different alternative embodiments of the I-profile will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 lb to 1 Id, which give additional advantages as compared to the sheet which is presently known on the market. The profile of only one longside will be described as the plastic sheet is symmetric along its longitudinal axis. In an improved variant the stiffening profile instead comprises a double F-profile with which a narrower groove 61 is formed at each side of the back 2, nearer the surfaces of the back 2, see Figs. 1 l b and 1 l c. The narrower groove 61 is preferably adapted to the thickness of the cover 3. so that the cover is kept in the groove 61 by friction force, in this way to facilitate movement, storage and transport of the sign. According to the invention idea the narrower groove 61 may instead be used to apply a reflecting surface 4 in front of the back, in case one chooses not to glue it directly on the surface of the back 2. The cover 2 comprising the road sign symbol may in such a case be placed in the outer groove 62, which is formed outside the wall 63 of the inner groove profile between it and the outer transverse end wall 64 of the F-profile, which forms a channel 65 along the outside of the profile, along the longside of the sign. The two channels 65 may be used to apply a U-shaped holder element 24 in the lower edge of the back 2 in order, in this way, to keep the road sign in place in a foot. The holder element 24 may be made of metal wire according to the principle previously described and the vertical wire parts may be inserted into one channel 65 each and fixed therein. According to the same principle, the upper end may be provided with a clamp-shaped handle 21. The longitudinal groove profile may, of course, be given other shapes in order to achieve other advantages, e.g. a lower weight. Examples of other shapes are shown in Figs. 1 lc and 1 Id. It is realized that the embodiments described above may be subject to an own protection, e.g. through a divisional patent application.

The holder element 22 needs not necessarily be U-shaped but may have other shapes known to the man skilled in the art. For instance, the holder element may consist of the two downwards directed wire parts which constitutes part of the upright frame elements, the lower end of which may be inserted in holes in a foot/base.

Within the scope of the invention idea it is also included that the back needs not constitute a separate part, to which the reflecting surface 4 is applied but the reflecting surface may in itself constitute the back which together with the transparent cover containing the road sign symbol gets enough stability to be placed in a foot/base. In such an embodiment, the holder element 22 may constitute a part of the attachment means 6 used to keep the cover 3 and the reflecting surface 4 together, but instead to be used to apply the back to the wire frame, as is previously described, the attachment means 6 are provided with devices comprising a holder element 22 alternatively a handle 21 . Further, it is realized that the reflecting surface may be of a flexible as well as of a stiff material. It is also realized that the invention idea is as suitable for advertising signs, for instance, as for road signs, and colours, shapes and symbols are adapted, as desired.

Thanks to the road signs according to the invention, there is not as great a need of number of road signs, as the very back may be used for many different road signs, as the transparent cover w ith the road sign symbol may be exchanged. For instance, the back may be a triangle with a yellow reflecting triangle surrounded by a red reflecting border as in warning signs. The transparent cover may then for instance have a road sign symbol in the form of a roadworker, which shows that a roadwork is going on. By exchanging the transparent cover for one having the road sign symbol for "warning for multi-colour signal", a quite new road sign is obtained. Instead of having a road sign for each road sign symbol, one may with one back achieve all road sign symbols by exchanging the cover containing the road sign symbol. It is realized that within the scope of the invention, other combinations of components are included than those described above and these may thus be subject to divisional applications.