GB2407112A

GB2407112A - Illuminatable hand-held traffic sign

Info

Publication number: GB2407112A
Application number: GB0421988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Donnelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-04
Filing date: 2004-10-04
Publication date: 2005-04-20
Also published as: GB0421988D0; GB0323292D0

Abstract

The traffic sign, primarily for use at school crossings and the like as a 'lollipop stick' sign, comprises a display 20 for displaying a message, an illumination system for illuminating the message, a power supply 40 for the illumination system and a carrying element 30 attached to the display. The carrying element is preferably a pole with the display mounted at one end and the pole may be collapsible and/or illuminatable. The display preferably includes a transparent or translucent facia element and may display a flashing message 22, the speed of which may be varied. The display may have an illuminated border 24, the intensity of which may be variable, and a switch 32 for controlling the illumination of the sign may be provided on the carrying element. The power supply preferably comprises a rechargeable battery, preferably provided on or in the carrying element with the wiring etc. within an internal bore. A connection for connecting the rechargeable battery to a charger 60 is preferably located at the end of the carrying element remote from the display and may comprise male or female connectors. The carrying element preferably has a constant diameter along its length and the display is preferably double-sided.

Description

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24071 1 2 1 Illuminatable Traffic Sign 3 The present invention relates to signs, signalling 4 devices and displays for displaying information and particularly, but not exclusively, to illuminatable 6 traffic signs for displaying information to road 7 users.

9 There are many applications in which messages are to be displayed to road users but large, static or 11 permanent signs are not appropriate. Such 12 applications include, but are not limited to, signs 13 indicating that road works are being carried out or 14 signs carried by members of the School Crossing Patrol (SOP) service. In such cases, it is often 16 advantageous that the signs are capable of being 17 hand held.

19 Modern signs are often fluorescent and/or reflective. However, the visibility of these signs 21 is limited and inferior in comparison with 22 electrically powered illuminatable signs. It would at. t: te 1 ce 1 be advantageous to improve the visibility of hand 2 held signs by providing an illuminatable sign.

4 According to the present invention there is provided an illuminatable traffic sign which is capable of 6 being hand-held comprising: 7 a display member for displaying a message; 8 illumination means for illuminating said 9 message; power supply means for providing power to the 11 illumination means; and 12 a carrying member attached to the display 13 member.

Preferably, the carrying member comprises a pole and 16 the display member is provided at a first end of 17 said pole.

19 Preferably, the pole is collapsible.

21 Optionally, the pole is illuminatable.

23 Preferably, the display member includes a 24 transparent or translucent fascia member.

26 Preferably, the display member is adapted to display 27 a flashing message.

29 Optionally, control means are provided for varying the flashing speed. # 1 8

1 Preferably, the display member is adapted to display 2 an illuminated border.

4 Optionally, control means are provided for varying the intensity of illumination.

7 Preferably, a switch is provided for selective 8 illumination of the sign by a user.

Preferably, the switch is provided on the carrying 11 member.

13 Preferably, the power supply means comprises a re 14 chargeable battery.

16 Preferably, the re-chargeable battery is provided on 17 or within the carrying member.

19 Preferably, the carrying member has an internal bore, and electrical wiring between the illumination 21 means and the re-chargeable battery is provided 22 within said internal bore.

24 Preferably, connection means for connecting the re chargeable battery to a charger are provided at the 26 end of the carrying member remote from the display 27 member.

29 Preferably, the connection means comprises one or more female connectors adapted to connect with one 31 or more corresponding male connectors provided at 32 the charger. e

ece * I I cee e 2 Alternatively, the connection means comprises one or 3 more male connectors adapted to connect with one or 4 more corresponding female connectors provided at the charger.

7 Preferably, the battery and/or the connection means 8 are provided within a cylindrical portion on the 9 carrying member, said cylindrical portion having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the 11 carrying member.

13 Preferably, the display member has two surfaces and 14 a message is displayed on each surface.

16 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 17 described, by way of example only, with reference to 18 the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a hand held illuminatable 21 traffic sign according to the present invention.

23 Fig. 1 shows an illuminatable traffic sign 10 having 24 a display member 20 attached to a carrying member in the form of a pole 30 made from fibreglass or carbon 26 fibre material.

28 The display member 20 is in the form of a circular 29 and relatively flat board and includes a fascia member made from a transparent or a translucent 31 material. Preferably, the display member and the 32 fascia member are made from a light weight material as, 1' , Be, be, e e I e e e I e. e e e I e c e e e. e 1 such as plastics material or fibreglass. The fascia 2 provides a protective layer to the display member 20 3 whilst allowing light to be emitted from 4 illumination sources mounted behind it.

6 The display member 20 includes a number of 7 illumination sources, such as light emitting diodes 8 (LED's) arranged to display a message 22. The 9 message 22 may take the form of alphanumeric characters and/or icons or symbols. For instance, 11 the text children crossing" could be replaced by a 12 graphical representation of children. The display 13 member 20 may also include an illuminatable border 14 24. Internal circuitry may be provided to cause one or more portions of the display member 20 to be 16 displayed intermittently in flashing manner. Means 17 may be provided for altering the speed of flashing.

19 A switch 32 is provided at the end of the pole nearest the display member 20 for selective on/off 21 operation by a user.

23 The pole 30 is hollow and defines an internal bore 24 34. Power supply means in the form of a re chargeable battery 40 is provided within the bore 34 26 at the end of the pole 30 remote from the display 27 member 20. The battery 40 typically has a rating of 28 12 volts. Electrical wiring 50 is provided within 29 the bore 54 and connects the illumination sources on the display member 20, the switch 32 and the battery 31 40.

1 c # ' 1 , # 1 # # 1 Connection means for connecting the re-chargeable 2 battery 40 to a charger 60 are provided at the end 3 of the pole 30 remote from the display member 20.

4 The connection means comprises two female connectors adapted to connect with two corresponding male 6 connectors on the charger 60. The charger 60 is 7 connectable to a mains source 62. The charger 60 8 includes an AC/DC converter and a transformer for 9 transforming the 240 volt main supply to the battery voltage. The battery 40 and the connection means 11 are provided within the internal bore of the pole 12 30.

14 In use, the illuminatable traffic sign 10 may be hand held at the pole 30 by a user. The switch 32 16 is conveniently located to allow the user to 17 selectively illuminate the sign. For example, the 18 user may elect only to activate the illumination 19 sources in poor or low lighting conditions. When not in use, the illuminatable traffic sign 10 may be 21 connected to the charger 60 in order to re-charge 22 the battery 40.

24 Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present 26 invention. For example, although the illuminatable 27 sign is capable of being hand-held, it may be placed 28 in a suitable base unit during use such that a user 29 is not required to continuously hold the sign.

31 Control means may be provided to allow the user to 32 vary the intensity or brightness of the message 22. 1

C 1 1 1 C 1 1 1 Moreover, control means may be provided which allows 2 the user to vary the flashing speed of the message 3 22.

The message 22 may be formed on either one side only 6 or on both sides of the display member. The message 7 22 may be formed by means of the arrangement of the 8 illumination sources themselves or, alternatively, 9 the message 22 may be defined by cut-out portions on the display member 20 which are back lit by the 11 illumination sources.

13 The illuminatable border may be adapted to flash 14 either in tandem with the message 22 or out of sequence with said message 22.

17 Whilst illumination by means of light emitting 18 diodes (LED's) are described above, the illumination 19 sources may instead be selected from the group comprising incandescent filament bulbs, fluorescent 21 bulbs, ultraviolet bulbs, neon bulbs and 22 electroluminescent materials.

24 It will of course be appreciated that the display member can be formed in any suitable size and shape 26 and the carrying member may be formed in any 27 suitable length, or even be adjustable or fully or 28 partially collapsible (e.g. telescopically) for the 29 purposes of storage, charging or transportation. In addition, the carrying member can be provided with 31 illumination means. e

* C ' ' I 1 1 Instead of recharging the battery by means of 2 connection to the mains supply, solar power could be 3 used for re-charging or top-up purposes.

4 Alternatively, instead of being re-chargeable, the illuminatable traffic sign may be connected directly 6 to the mains or to a mobile generator.

8 Whilst the component parts have been described above 9 as being formed from plastics or fibreglass material, it will be appreciated that any suitable 11 material may be used which has the desired weight, 12 strength, durability and weathering qualities.

Claims

l l . 1 CLAIMS 3 1. An illuminatable traffic sign which is

capable 4 of being hand-held comprising: a display member for displaying a message; 6 illumination means for illuminating said 7 message; 8 power supply means for providing power to the 9 illumination means; and a carrying member attached to the display 11 member.

13
2. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 14 claim 1, wherein the carrying member comprises a pole and the display member is provided at a first 16 end of said pole.

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3. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 19 claim 2, wherein the pole is collapsible.

21
4. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 22 claim 2 or 3, wherein the pole is illuminatable.

24
5. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display member 26 includes a transparent or translucent fascia member.

28
6. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any 29 preceding claim, wherein the display member is adapted to display a flashing message. 4e

ä ee e I a I e I a a I ë a I a ea. 1
7. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 2 claim 6, wherein control means are provided for 3 varying the flashing speed.
8. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any 6 preceding claim, wherein the display member is 7 adapted to display an illuminated border.
9 9. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any preceding claim, wherein control means are provided 11 for varying the intensity of illumination.

13
10. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any 14 preceding claim, wherein a switch is provided for selective illumination of the sign by a user.

17
11. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 18 claim 10, wherein the switch is provided on the 19 carrying member.

21
12. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any 22 preceding claim, wherein the power supply means 23 comprises a re-chargeable battery.
13. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 26 claim 12, wherein the re-chargeable battery is 27 provided on or within the carrying member.

29
14. An illuminatable traffic sign according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the carrying member has an 31 internal bore, and electrical wiring between the c c c c c C C C C 1 C C c c c c c c c c I e c I C. C 1 illumination means and the re-chargeable battery is 2 provided within said internal bore.

4
15. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein connection means for 6 connecting the re-chargeable battery to a charger 7 are provided at the end of the carrying member 8 remote from the display member.
16. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 11 claim 15, wherein the connection means comprises one 12 or more female connectors adapted to connect with 13 one or more corresponding male connectors provided 14 at the charger.

16
17. An illuminatable traffic sign according to 17 claim 15, wherein the connection means comprises one 18 or more male connectors adapted to connect with one 19 or more corresponding female connectors provided at the charger.

22
18. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any 23 of claims 15 to 17, wherein the battery and/or the 24 connection means are provided within a cylindrical portion on the carrying member, said cylindrical 26 portion having a diameter corresponding to the 27 diameter of the carrying member.

29
19. An illuminatable traffic sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the display member has two 31 surfaces and a message is displayed on each surface.

1 8 8 1 1 8 8 1 8 8 8 1
20. An illuminatable traffic sign substantially as 2 hereinbefore described with reference to the 3 accompanying drawing.