Foldable Portable Sign Standard

Abstract

A sign standard includes a trio of legs pivotally interconnected at one end and spaced no more than 90.degree. apart. An upstanding post is pivotally connected to the center leg and includes a pivotal cross arm. The post is comprised of telescopic sections with the top section having a cap cooperating with the cross arm to hold a sign. A pair of pivotal braces are connected to the post and their outer ends are received in openings in the outer legs. One of the braces is longer than the other such that when the post is pivoted to its upstanding position the one brace is received in the leg opening first followed by the engagement of the other brace in its leg opening. In a collapsed condition the post is pivoted down and the outer legs are pivoted in such that all elements are parallel. A pin is provided on a chain connected to the post and when the post is in an upstanding position the pin extends through aligned apertures in the post and the center leg and when the standard is collapsed the chain extends around and under the legs and through the post. The braces each carry downwardly facing apertured ears which are positioned between apertured plates on the post and the pin extends through the plates and the ears when the standard is collapsed.

Description

Work on city streets by utility firms, street repair crews and telephone workmen require the use of a warning sign to advise motorists of the work project. These warning signs need to be easily assembled for use and disassembled for storage. They should be light weight and have the ability to withstand reasonable winds. Also, the size of the signs used vary and thus the sign standard should adapt to these different sizes.

The sign standard of this invention is capable of being quickly assembled and disassembled and when disassembled occupies a small space and all component parts are conveniently interconnected and tied together by a locking chain. The sign standard will adapt to signs of different sizes and needs to be staked down only in the most severe weather conditions.

The base of the sign includes three tubular members pivoted at one end and limited by a hinge against outward pivotal movement. The upright post on the center member is permanently hinged to the center post and includes braces having outer ends received in openings in the outer post. The post is telescopic and includes a pivotal cross arm with a cooperating cap member at the top of the post. A pin is carried on the center base member by a chain which locks the post in an upright position and also when the chain is extended around the legs of the base and the post when in its lowered position serves to hold the components in a collapsed storage condition.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the sign standard of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2 -- 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional veiw taken along line 3 -- 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view when the sign is in its stored condition;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5 -- 5 in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are front elevational views showing the sign standard being used with signs of different sizes.

The portable sign standard of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10 and includes a base structure 12 and a hinged post structure 14.

The base structure 12 includes outer legs 16 hinged by one piece nose housing 18 to a center leg 20. The legs 16 are limited in their outward pivotal movement by side walls 22 of the nose housing 18. J-shaped stake pins 26 are provided for holding the base flat against the ground in severe weather conditions. The rear stake pin 26 is adapted to engage the center leg while the forward stake is received in an opening 28 in the nose housing 18.

The upstanding post structure 14 includes telescopic tubular members 30 and 32 with a pyramid-shaped cap element 34 at the top of the tubular member 32. The cap element includes outwardly extending flanges 36 for engagement with the top corner edge of a square sign 38, as seen in FIG. 6 or sign 40 in FIG. 7. A hand setscrew 42 is provided for selectively locking the telescopic sections at the desired elevation for the sign being supported. The length of the two sections are such that when in their contracted condition the bottom end of the top section 32 will hit the base structure before the cap 36 is capable of pinching the operator's fingers against the top end of the lower section 30.

A pivotal cross arm 44 is provided on the lower section 30 and includes flange portions 46 at the outer ends thereof for engagement with the bottom side edges of the signs 38 and 40, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The arm 44 is pivoted to the lower post section 30 by a pin 48 extending through a bearing plate 50 carried on the post 30.

The lower end of the lower post section 30 includes a pair of pivot plates 60 which extend along the sides of the center base leg 20 and a pin 62 pivots the plates and post to the center leg 20. A locking pin 64 is carried on a chain 66 connected to one side plate and a locking pin 64 is adapted to extend through the center leg 20 and the pivot plates when holes in each are in alignment when the post is in its upstanding position as seen in FIG. 1. In this position the lower end of the post is bearing against the top surface of the center leg 20.

When pivoting the post to its upright position a pair of brace elements 66 and 68 are received in the outer tubular leg 16. The brace element 66 is longer than the corresponding brace element 68 on the opposite side and thus its outer end 70 is received in the opening 72 in the leg 16 first followed by the base element 68 being received in its opening in the opposite leg 16. Adjustable nuts 74 are provided on the threaded ends of the brace elements to vary the position of the upright post.

When the sign standard is to be knocked down and stored it is merely necessary to pull the pin 66 locked in place by a cotter key 80, as seen in FIG. 4, thus allowing the post to pivot away from the nose housing 18 and flat against the center leg 20. At the same time the brace elements 66 and 68 fold flat against the center post and the outrigger base leg 16 pivots inwardly flat against the center leg 20, as seen in FIG. 4. The aligned openings in the pivot plate 60, as seen in FIG. 5, are now above the center leg 20 and ears 82 on the brace element 68 are now in alignment with the holes in the pivot plates such that the chain 66 carrying the locking pin 64 extends out over the one leg 16 and down under the three legs back up over the opposite leg 16 whereby the pin 64 extends through the pivot plates 60 and the apertured ears 82 positioned between the two pivot plates thereby locking all component parts into a compact storable package. The telescopic sections 30 and 32 are contracted by operation of the hand setscrew 42 and, of course, the cross arm 44 is pivoted to its position parallel with the upstanding post. Assembly of the sign is accomplished by following the procedure in reverse.