Flat Panel Traffic Warning Sign Having Light Mounted Thereon

Abstract

A traffic warning sign having a flasher mounted within an opening in a panel of the sign so as to be visible from either side of the panel and connected to a flasher circuit and battery by leads contained within a concealed passageway or groove in the panel. One disclosed embodiment of the invention is a street barricade in which the flasher circuit and battery are contained within a housing which also tends to shield the lenses of the flasher lamp. A second disclosed embodiment is a traffic lane divider.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to traffic warning devices and more particularly to traffic warning signs with flashers, such as street barricades and traffic lane dividers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A variety of traffic warning signs of the class to which this invention pertains have been devised. These existing signs, however, are characterized by various deficiencies which the invention seeks to cure. Foremost among these deficiencies are relatively high cost, lack of flasher protection against damage by impact and vandalism, and poor stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides improved traffic warning signs with flashers which are simply constructed to reduce their cost. These signs are also designed to provide some degree of protection of their flasher against damage due to impact by a car or as a result of being toppled by high winds or other causes. Moreover, the leads for connecting the flasher lamp to the flasher circuit and battery are concealed so as to provide the signs with some immunity to vandalism.

To these ends, the signs are equipped with panels which may be painted or otherwise marked with cautionary colors, symbols, words or the like. The flasher lamp is mounted within an opening in the panel so as to be visible from either side of the panel. This lamp is connected to a flasher circuit and battery by leads which extend through a concealed passageway or groove in the panel. According to an important feature of the invention, the flasher circuit and battery are contained within a housing which projects a distance beyond the sides of the panel in the vicinity of the flasher to protect the latter from impact in the event the sign is struck by a car or toppled by the wind.

One disclosed embodiment of the invention is a street barricade. A second disclosed embodiment is a traffic lane divider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traffic warning sign or street barricade according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the sign;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified traffic warning sign or traffic lane divider according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the divider;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the divider; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1--4, there is illustrated a traffic warning sign 10 according to the invention which is intended for use as a street barricade. This barricade has a supporting frame 12 mounting an upright panel 14. Within the panel is an opening 16. Secured to opposite sides of the panel over this opening are a pair of transparent lenses 18. A flash lamp 20 is mounted within the opening 16 between the lenses so as to be visible from either side of the panel.

Frame 12 includes an upper frame member 22 extending along the upper edge of the panel 14 and side frame members 24 extending along the vertical edges of the panels. The adjacent ends of these frame members are welded or otherwise joined. Joined to the lower ends of the side frame members 24 are legs 26 which provide a supporting base for the sign. These legs may be pivotally attached to the frame members 24 to permit the legs to be folded flat for storage. The illustrated legs comprise angle members 28 whose flanges abut the frame members 24 to limit outward swinging of the legs to their extended positions shown. Cross braces 30 connect the two leg members 28 at each side of the sign. According to a feature of the invention, the panel 14 is attached to the side frame members 24 by screws or bolts 32 which may be removed to permit replacement of the panel in the event the latter is damaged.

Welded or otherwise attached to the upper frame member 22 over the flash lamp 20 is a housing 34. This housing contains a flasher circuit 36 and a battery 38 for flashing the lamp. According to an important feature of the invention, the lamp is connected to the flasher circuit and battery by leads 40 which extend through a passageway or groove 42 in one side of the panel 14. This groove is covered in part by the adjacent flasher lens 18 and in part by a depending flange 22a on the upper frame member 22. The leads are thus concealed so as to reduce the possibility of damage to the sign by vandalism. It is significant to note here that the frame members 22 and 24 are metal angle members which are arranged with their flanges at right angles, as shown, so as to provide a low-cost but rugged frame for the panel. If desired, the upper frame member 22 may comprise two separate sections for the sake of further economy.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 34 has a closed end and an open end. Releasably secured to the open end is a cap 44. The flasher circuit 36 is located in the closed end of the housing. The battery 38 is located in the open end of the housing and is inserted and removed by taking off the end cap 44. The battery may thus be removed by simply tipping the sign to elevate its closed end. An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the housing 34 projects laterally beyond the sides of the panel 14 to protect the flasher lenses in the event the sign is toppled by a car, a high wind, or other cause.

FIGS. 5--8 illustrate a modified traffic warning sign 100 according to the invention which is intended for use as a traffic lane divider. This traffic lane divider has a base 102 constructed of welded angle members and a narrow panel 104 removably secured to and rising from the base. Extending through the upper end of this panel is an opening 106. Transparent flasher lenses 108 are secured to opposite sides of the panel over the opening. A flash lamp 110 is mounted within the opening between the lenses so as to be visible from either side of the panel.

Fixed to base 102 is a housing 112 containing a flasher circuit and battery (not shown). The housing has a removable end cap 114 to permit replacement of the battery. The flasher circuit and battery are connected to the flash 110 by leads 116. These leads extend through a passageway or groove 118 in one edge of the panel 104. The groove is filled with a suitable filler 120 to conceal the leads.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with a presently preferred embodiment thereof, it will be obvious to those versed in the art that various modifications of the invention are possible within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A traffic warning sign comprising:

a relatively thin flat panel having flat side surfaces adapted to be provided with traffic warning markings, and an opening extending through said surfaces,

means for supporting said panel in an upright position,

a flash lamp within and mounted on the edge of said opening,

transparent lenses seating against and secured to said panel surfaces, respectively, in covering relation to said opening,

a housing secured to said panel for containing a battery,

a flasher circuit within said housing, and

concealed wires extending edgewise through said panel between said flasher circuit and lamp.

2. A traffic warning sign according to claim 1 wherein:

said opening is located adjacent an edge of said panel, and

said housing is secured to said panel edge and projects beyond said panel surfaces a distance at least equal to the projection of said lenses beyond said surfaces for shielding said lenses against impact.