Signals and indicators – Street traffic – Portable
Patent
1992-11-13
1994-07-19
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
Signals and indicators
Street traffic
Portable
40606, G09F 722, E01F 901
Patent
active
053298756
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to both a portable and wind-resistant signalling device, comprising an indiator panel. Such a device is provided to be placed on the ground and it may be used for bearing an indicator panel of any type. In particular, it may be a question of a panel for road signalling, industrial or commercial advertising, signalling on a worksite, etc...
2. Description of the Prior Art
To that end, it is already known to use an underframe bearing the indicator panel, as described for example in Patent FR-A-2 609 199. However, it is ascertained that such a known apparatus presents various drawbacks in use. In particular, the underframe being constituted by a foldable trestle, it lacks rigidity and is no longer suitable for indicator panels of large dimensions, of the type now used in particular on motorways. Under the effect of a strong wind, or even upon simple passage of fast-moving vehicles close by, it is ascertained that the whole of the apparatus tends to advance in small successive jumps. In fact, it remains necessary to ballast the apparatus as soon as the dimensions of the indicator panel become large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to avoid these drawbacks by providing a signalling device which is at the same time light, foldable and usable without ballast, whilst, in fact, it presents a perfect stability when it is placed on any terrain, and even on the carriageway of a motorway, even if the panel which it supports is of large dimensions.
To that end, this signalling device comprising an indicator panel whose lower part is supported and mounted to pivot, about a transverse axis, by a support assembly with elastic return by means of at least one torsion bar, is characterized in that it comprises a rigid base frame bearing the indicator panel and a locking device is provided to immobilize the support assembly with elastic return in the position where the panel is raised, substantially vertically, or to unlock it when the panel must be folded down in the plane of the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a signalling device according to the invention, when it is in opened out position.
FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the same device, in folded down position.
FIG. 3 is a view in elevation, on a larger scale, of the elastic return mechanism with two torsion bars.
FIG. 4 is a view in perspective, on a larger scale, showing part of the device for locking one of the torsion bars.
FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view in the direction of arrow V of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a view in elevation in the direction of arrow VI of FIG. 1, illustrating the elastic return mechanism with exceeding of neutral point, provided to immobilize the longitudinal locking members.
FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a variant embodiment comprising a tubular longitudinal member of square section traversed by a spring wire in zig-zag.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial views in perspective in the direction of arrow VIII of FIG. 7, when the spring wire is located respectively in one and the other of the two possible diagonal positions.
FIGS. 10 and 11 are partial views in pespective illustrating a variant embodiment of the device for locking the torsion bars, respectively in position of locking and of unlocking, used with the variant embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
FIG. 12 is a partial view in perspective of another variant embodiment o[the locking device.
FIG. 13 is a view in elevation of the locking device shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a view in elevation of the torsion bars used with the locking device of FIGS. 12 and 13.
FIG. 15 is a plan view of a stackable base frame.
FIG. 16 is a view in elevation of the base frame of FIG. 15.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a signalling device according to the i
REFERENCES:
patent: 2192635 (1940-03-01), Bricker
patent: 2525728 (1950-10-01), Sauer
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Worth W. Morris
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