ZA200810869B - Temporary sign stand - Google Patents

Description

\ y N ) ) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION | LL ve

[0001] This invention relates to a stand which can be easily transported and assembled.

[0002] Use can be made at an intersection at which a robot has failed or is being worked on by technicians, of a temporary traffic sign, for example a stop sign, which is positioned at a predetermined location at the intersection so that the flow of traffic can, at least some extent, be regulated.

[0003] The technicians may therefore be required to transport a suitable temporary traffic sign to the intersection in question. This can be difficult if the temporary sign is bulky. :

[0004] An example of an existing temporary traffic sign is a stop sign which is mounted to a support structure which is roughly the same height as the sign.

The impracticality of this sign is that it is quite low so that, due to the fact that a driver may not be looking for a traffic sign so low on the ground, the sign may be missed by a driver.

[0005] The invention attempts to provide a stand which can be used in the aforementioned situation. : SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a stand which includes an elongate support, a base at a lower end of the support, and a plurality of members which are

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r vo : ' i engaged with the base, the members being movable between retracted positions and outwardly extending ground-engaging positions at which the support is held in an operative position. } [0007] The stand may extend substantially vertically when in the operative orientation.

[0008] The members may radiate outwardly from the base when the members are at the ground-engaging positions.

[0009] Preferably the members are pivotally movable relative to the base.

The members may be substantially parallel to the support when moved to the retracted positions. The stand may include a securing mechanism which retains the members in the retracted positions. Preferably the securing mechanism is operable to retain the members at the retracted positions and at the extending ground-engaging positions.

[0010] The support may be movable relative to the base to a limited extent.

The stand may include at least one biasing element which secures the support to the base. Preferably the stand includes two biasing elements, each of which is in the form of a compression spring and located on and fixed to opposing sides of the lower end of the support.

[0011] The stand may include structure which is engageable with a sign.

The structure may be engageable with an upper end of the support.

Preferably the structure is slidingly engageable with the support so that the

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1 . Y ) < ! . structure can be positioned at any selected location along the length of the support. : [0012] The invention further extends to an assembly which includes a display . arrangement and a stand which is movable between first and second configurations and wherein the display arrangement is only supported by the stand in the second configuration.

[0013] The stand preferably includes a base, a support which extends from the base and which carries the display arrangement, and a plurality of spaced apart ground-engaging members which extend radially from the base and which are movable between the first and second configurations.

[0014] The support may be movably attached to the base so that the support can pivot resiliently relative to the base.

[0015] The display arrangement preferably includes a frame and a display mechanism which is attachable to the frame. The frame may be detachably engaged with the support.

[0016] The assembly may include a securing mechanism which retains the members in the second configuration. Preferably the securing mechanism is operable to retain the members in either the first or the second configuration.

[0017] The invention further extends to a stand which includes a ground- engaging base, a support, and at least one resiliently deformable biasing member which connects the support to the base and which allows for pivotal

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. movement of the support relative to the base, and wherein the support is biased towards a substantially vertical position. : BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an assembly according to the invention in use;

Figure 2 is a side view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the assembly when stored;

Figure 5 is a front view of the assembly illustrating a preferred way of attaching a sign to a frame of a display arrangement; and . Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a variation of the frame which is used in the display arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying representations are front, side and plan views respectively of an assembly 10 according to the invention which includes a stand 12 which carries a display arrangement 14. The stand includes a base 16, a support 18 which extends from the base, and a plurality of members 20, which are individually designated 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D, which radiate outwardly from the base, and which are movable between retracted positions 22, see Figure 4, and outwardly extending ground- engaging positions 24 at which the support is held in an operative position 26.

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Cv . [0020] The material used in the manufacture of the assembly is suitably chosen so that the stand 12 is light enough to be easily transportable but without sacrificing strength. ] [0021] A respective end of each member 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D is pivotally attached to the base 16 so that the respective free ends of the members can move relative to the base around respective pivot points 28. The free ends are positioned relative to each other so that sufficient stability is provided to the support 18 by the members. To achieve this, the applicant has found empirically that each member should be offset relatively to a centreline 30 by an angle 32 of about 30° - see Figure 3. Each member is operated in substantially the same manner and for this reason only the operation of the member 20A will be further discussed hereinafter.

[0022] The base 16 includes a central plate 34 and two side plates 36A and 36B respectively which are attached to opposing ends of the central plate.

The members 20 are pivotally attached to the side plates. The member 20A includes a securing mechanism 38A which is attached to the member at a predetermined position adjacent the pivotally attached end and which is engageable with a lower hole 40A when the member is at the ground- engaging position 24 and with an upper hole 40B when the member is at the retracted position 22. Once the securing arrangement has been registered with a respective hole, the member is substantially locked in position.

[0023] The base 16 includes a pair of biasing elements 42A and 42B respectively which are in the form of compression or helical springs, which are

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AE : . positioned between and attached to the support 18 and the central plate 34 and which are fixed to opposing sides of a lower end of the support. These biasing elements allow the support to move relative to the base to a limited extent. Thus, when the support is bumped the biasing elements allow the - 5 support 18 to move relative to the base 16 and the members 20, thereby reducing the likelihood of the stand 12 being damaged. The biasing members bias the support to the operative position 26 in which the support is substantially vertical.

[0024] The display arrangement 14 includes structure or a frame 44 and a display mechanism or sign 46 which is engageable with the frame. The display arrangement further includes a clamping mechanism 48 which is secured to the frame and which is engageable with the support. The clamping mechanism has two shells 50A and 50B which are pivotally attached at one end to each other. At opposing ends the shells are movably engaged with a locking member 52, such as a quick-release bolt and nut, so that the respective fee ends of the shells are movable relative to each other when the member is operated. The locking member allows the shells to be clamped onto or loosened from the support which is positioned between opposing ends of the shells. Thus the height of the sign can be adjusted and can be positioned at any selected location along the length of the support 18.

[0025] The sign 46 is normally manufactured from metal. This imparts a certain amount of rigidity to the sign so that, when the sign is attached to the frame 44, the sign will not readily bend, buckle or break. Suitable fasteners such nuts and bolts, not shown, can be used to secure the sign to the frame. :

P21579/bjt i : | ~~ Page8 } Alternative pairs of spaced apart holes, not shown, can be made at predetermined locations through the sign so that opposing ends of an elongate fastener such as a cable tie or wire can be threaded through a respective hole and tied to the frame. These examples are illustrative only - 5 and are not limiting.

[0026] In Figure 4 the members have been moved to the retracted positions 22. The stand is in a first configuration 56 in which the members align longitudinally with the support. The assembly can thus be easily stored due to the compactness of the stand. In Figure 1 the members 20 have been moved to the ground-engaging positions 24. The stand is thus in a second configuration 58 and supports the display arrangement 14.

[0027] Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment 14A of the display arrangement which includes a structure or frame 44A to which a sign 46 is secured. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components. A peripheral edge of the sign is placed into a groove 60 which has been formed on an inner peripheral edge 62 of the frame. The frame includes a plurality of retaining formations 64 which are spaced apart from each other along an outer edge of the groove and which project into the groove at an upper side thereof. A channel 66 is thus formed between a base 68 of the groove and the retaining formations. A peripheral edge 70 of the sign is placed into the channel so that the formations retain the sign in place. To accommodate the positioning of the sign into the channel, the formations are made from a resilient material so that the formations can be deformed slightly to allow the peripheral edge of the sign to pass into the channel. Alternatively the

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Ge formations are not deformable and the sign is manufactured from a suitable hard plastics material which allows the sign to bend slightly so that the peripheral edge can be inserted into the channel. The invention is not limited in this regard.

[0028] Figure 6 shows a variation 14B of the display arrangement. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components. The shape of a frame 44B has been changed so that a differently shaped sign 46B can be accommodated and attached to the frame. In a similar fashion the shape of the frame can be adapted to accommodate a circular sign.

[0029] In use the assembly is placed at a location at which a temporary sign is required. The assembly is taken to the location in the first, compact configuration 56. Once the base has been placed on the ground, the members 20 are moved from the respective retracted positions 22 to the respective ground-engaging positions 24. This is achieved by firstly disengaging the securing mechanism 38 of each member 20 from the respective upper holes 40B so that the members can be pivoted relatively to the base 16. Each member is then locked into the ground-engaging position by engaging the respective security mechanisms with the respective lower holes 40A. The respective free ends of the members, when at the ground- engaging positions, are slightly lower than the opposing ends so that, at least to some extent, the unevenness of the ground can be accommodated by the stand. Also, as the members are placed under load, the members can deform slightly towards the horizontal thereby increasing the stability of the platform created by the members.

P21579/bjt i Page 10 . [0030] The display arrangement 14 is then attached as described hereinbefore to the support, which can be transported separately from the - support thereby reducing the likelihood of becoming damaged, for example being scratched.

[0031] The components used in the assembly 10 are readily replaceable so that the assembly can be easily maintained in a good working condition. The assembly is also easily transportable with the stand in the first configuration.

The display arrangement 14 can be adapted to accommodate differently shaped signs and is slidingly attached to the support so that the height of the sign above ground level can be adjusted if required.

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Claims (14)

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1. A stand which includes an elongate support, a base at a lower end of the support, and a plurality of members which are engaged with the : base, the members being movable between retracted positions and outwardly extending ground-engaging positions at which the support is held in an operative position.

2. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the elongate support extends substantially vertically when in the operative orientation.

3. ‘A stand according to claim 1 wherein the members radiate outwardly from the base when the members are at the ground-engaging positions. :

4, A stand according to claim 1 wherein the members are pivotally movable relative to the base and are substantially parallel to the support when moved to the retracted positions.

5. A stand according to claim 1 which includes a securing mechanism which is operable to retain the members at the retracted positions or at the extending ground-engaging positions.

6. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the support is to a limited extent movable relative to the base and wherein the stand includes at least one biasing element which secures the support to the base. P21579/bjt

Low SE

7. A stand according to claim 6 which includes two biasing elements and each biasing element is a compression spring and wherein the springs are located on and fixed to opposing respective sides of a lower end of the support.

8. A stand according to claim 1 which includes a structure which is engaged with the support and which is slidable along the support to a selected position, and wherein the structure is adapted to support a sign.

9. An assembly which includes a display arrangement and a stand which is movable between first and second configurations and wherein the display arrangement is only supported by the stand in the second configuration.

10. An assembly which includes a stand with a base, a support which : extends from the base and a plurality of spaced apart ground-engaging members which extend radially from the base and which are movable between first and second positions, and a display arrangement.

11. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the support is pivotally movable relative to the base against the action of a biasing member.

12. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the display arrangement includes a frame, which is detachably engaged with the support, and a display mechanism which is attached to the frame. P21579/bjt

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13. An assembly according to claim 9 which includes a securing mechanism which is operable to retain the ground-engaging members in the first configuration and the second configuration.

14. A stand which includes a ground-engaging base, a support, and at least one resiliently deformable biasing member which connects the support to the base and which allows for pivotal movement of the support relative to the base, and wherein the support is biased towards a substantially vertical position. Dated this 23" day of DECEMBER 2008. McCALLUM, RADEMEYER & FREIMOND Patent Agents for the Applicant P21579/bjt