Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02798741 2012-12-13
"ROAD SIGN WITH LATERAL MEMBER"
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to road signs and, more
particularly, to a road sign and road sign attachments that can be easily
viewed
from the side.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The background information discussed below is presented to better
illustrate the novelty and usefulness of the present invention. This
background
information is not admitted prior art.
Typical road, street, highway or traffic control signs (referred to herein
simply as road signs) are comprised of one or more posts carrying a sign plate
mounted on the upper end thereof (see FIG. la). The sign plate normally
carries
indicia on one side thereof to convey the sign's meaning or message, with the
other
side thereof being typically blank and containing no indicia. A sign's indicia
may
include wording (e.g. "STOP" or "YIELD), a pictorial symbol, a particular
colour
scheme or a combination thereof. The indicia bearing side will herein be
referred to
as the road sign's front side while the other side will be referred to as the
road sign's
rear side.
Road signs are normally arranged or mounted with the sign's front
side disposed at right angles to the roadway on which the sign is positioned.
The
CA 02798741 2012-12-13
indicia carried on the front side is thus visible to traffic on said roadway
so that the
sign's message is conveyed or directed to that traffic (referred to herein as
primary
traffic). Because typical road signs have a sign plate which is generally
planar, only
the narrow edge of the road sign is visible to traffic which may be operating
at right
angles to the roadway, or which may be intersecting with the roadway, on which
the
road sign is placed (see FIGS. lb and 1 c for such side views of a typical
road sign).
The indicia of the road sign is normally not easily seen by such traffic that
is moving
at substantially right angles to the roadway, or intersecting with the roadway
(such
traffic referred to hereinafter as right-angled traffic).
This is has not usually a problem, because different signs may be
placed or arranged so as to convey a different meaning to such right-angled
traffic.
For example, a stop sign may be positioned with the sign's front side disposed
at
right angles to the roadway which carries the primary traffic that will need
to stop at
a specific point; e.g. at an intersection. Therefore such primary traffic can
clearly
see the road sign's indicia and determine the sign's meaning. Right-angled
traffic
that may approach such intersection, however, may have the right-of-way and
will
not need to stop at such intersection. Therefore, it is normally not a problem
that
such right-angled traffic cannot see the indicia of the road sign positioned
for the
primary traffic.
However, in certain instances, it would be advantageous to have the
sign's indicia or message (as directed to the primary traffic) also be visible
from the
substantially the side and/or to right-angled traffic. For example, in parking
lots or
at entrance ways to public buildings (such as at hospitals and the like) the
roadways
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are often convoluted, circular, winding and generally unfamiliar. In such
cases it
would be helpful for right-angled traffic to know what the sign's message was
to the
primary traffic; for example, so that drivers in such right-angled traffic can
determine
who has the right-of way in such unfamiliar environment. Likewise, at traffic
circles
or at rural intersections (where both roads may be gravel) it is difficult to
tell who
has the right-of-way. In those cases too, it would be advantageous to have the
sign's indicia or message (to the primary traffic) also be visible from the
side and/or
to right-angled traffic.
As mentioned, certain roadways may create uncertainty to a motorist
as to who has the right-of-way (e.g. traffic circles or rural intersections).
In such
cases, a motorist may approach the intersection (wherein he or she may have
the
right-of-way) too cautiously and too slowly, thereby inadvertently signal to
another
motorist (who may be facing a yield or stop sign) that it is okay for such
other
motorist to proceed, when in fact it was not. This confusion (as to whether or
not a
slow moving right-angled traffic motorist approaching an intersection has the
right-
of-way) may result in vehicular accidents.
It is therefore desirable to have a road sign that can convey the
message of said road sign to right-angled traffic, without giving the
impression that
the sign's message is also applicable to said right-angled traffic.
There is very little in the prior art to address this need. In U.S. Pat.
No. 2,849,816, Locke discloses a traffic control sign with a smaller replica
of the
sign on top of and perpendicular to the main sign.
Traffic approaching
perpendicular to the road controlled by the main sign is not expected to
respond to
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the small sign, so the coloring is not standard and indicia may be omitted.
Moreover, because this replica is smaller, is not standard and is not
positioned at a
level where a motorist is conditioned to look for a road sign (because it
projects well
above the main sign), such a road sign may not be easily seen or interpreted
by
right-angled traffic.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,715, Thissen discloses a multi-sided hand-held
sign which includes two substantially planar panels having a preselected shape
interlocking substantially perpendicularly at a common central vertical axis.
Indicia
typical of signs held by school crossing guards are disposed on all the planar
surfaces of the planar sign panels. Although this sign is easily viewable by
right-
angled traffic (because the interlocking panels are of the same size and all
planar
surfaces bear the same indicia), the message that will be conveyed to such
right-
angled traffic will be the same as the message that is conveyed to the primary
traffic. As such, motorist in any right-angled traffic may obey the sign's
message
when, in fact, such motorist need not do so (e.g. he or she has the right-of-
way).
This is undesirable, when what that is needed is to merely provide information
(to
motorists in right-angled traffic) as to road sign's message as directed to
the primary
traffic.
Therefore, what is needed is a road sign, or a road sign attachment,
which conveys the sign's message to right-angled traffic, without giving the
impression that such message is also applicable to said right-angled traffic.
Preferably such road sign, or road sign attachment, is simple in design, may
be
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easily retro-fit to existing road signs and does not have the above-mentioned
disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming the prior art
deficiencies in road signs which do not easily convey the sign's message to
right-
angled traffic.
In one aspect the invention provides a road sign, for viewing by both
primary traffic and right-angled traffic, which comprises a sign plate having
a first
indicia representative of the sign's message directed to the primary traffic
and a
lateral member having a second indicia. In a preferred embodiment, the lateral
member has suitable dimensions, is suitably positioned relative to the sign
plate and
has suitable second indicia so as to give the appearance, when viewed by right-
angled traffic, that a portion of the sign plate was bent substantially
perpendicular to
the sign's normal orientation along substantially the vertical axis of the
sign. In
another embodiment, the second indicia is substantial reproduction of a
portion of
the first indicia.
In another aspect, the invention provides an attachment for a road
sign, the road sign having a first indicia representative of the sign's
message
directed to primary traffic, the attachment comprising a lateral member having
a
second indicia visible to right-angled traffic and wherein the second indicia
is
substantially a portion of the first indicia. Advantageously, the attachment
can be
retrofit to existing road signs.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings, several aspects of the present invention are
illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in detail in the
figures,
wherein:
FIG. la is a front view of a PRIOR ART road sign;
FIG. lb is a side view of the PRIOR ART road sign of FIG. la;
FIG. lc is a side perspective view of the PRIOR ART road sign of FIG.
la;
FIG. 2a is a frontal-side perspective view of a first embodiment of a
road sign according to the present invention;
FIG. 2b is a rear perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 2a, with the
lateral member also shown in an exploded view to illustrate mounting of the
lateral
member to the road sign;
FIG. 2c is a side view of embodiment of FIG. 2a;
FIG. 2d is a side-rear perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3a is a frontal-side perspective view of a another embodiment of
a road sign according to the present invention;
FIG. 3b is a rear perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 3a, with the
lateral member also shown in an exploded view to illustrate mounting of the
lateral
member to the road sign;
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FIG. 4a is a frontal-side perspective view of a yet another embodiment
of a road sign according to the present invention;
FIG. 4b is a rear perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 4a, with the
lateral member also shown in an exploded view to illustrate mounting of the
lateral
member to the road sign;
FIG. 5a is a frontal-side perspective view of a further embodiment of a
road sign according to the present invention;
FIG. 5b is a rear perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 5a, with the
lateral member also shown in an exploded view to illustrate mounting of the
lateral
member to the road sign
FIG. 6a is a frontal-side perspective view of another embodiment of a
road sign according to the present invention;
FIG. 6b is a rear perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 6a; and
FIG. 6b is a side perspective view of embodiment of FIG. 6a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of
example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary
for
carrying the invention into effect. Reference is to be had to the Figures in
which
identical reference numbers identify similar components. The drawing figures
are
not necessarily to scale and certain features are shown in schematic or
diagrammatic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
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In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and as
shown generally in Figures 2a-2d, there is a provided a road sign 10 having a
sign
plate 10p of generally planar proportions as is customary with conventional
road
signs. The sign plate 10p further comprise indicia 12 representative of the
sign's
meaning or message that is to be conveyed to primary traffic. In this
embodiment,
the sign plate 10p is a thin member in the shape of an inverted equilateral
triangle.
The indicia 12 of this embodiment comprises the colours red 12r and white 12w
according to the international standard for a yield sign. The indicia 12
preferably
comprises reflective elements, as may be customary for such road sign 10. The
road sign 10 is preferably secured to, or mounted on, a sign post 14 in a
conventional manner. However, the road sign 10 may also be secured to a
building, wall or other object (not shown), as may be applicable, using
conventional
mounting hardware.
The road sign 10 of the present invention further comprises a lateral
member 20, having two planar faces 20' and 20", mounted to the sign 10 or its
post
14. The lateral member 20 in this embodiment further comprises a mounting edge
20m having a planar configuration which is oriented substantially
perpendicular to
the lateral member's planar faces 20', 20" (as more clearly shown in Fig. 2b)
and
said mounting edge 20m facilitates the mounting of lateral member 20 to the
road
sign 10. The lateral member 20 is mounted (to the sign 10) substantially
perpendicular to the sign plate 10p via mounting edge 20m, as more clearly
shown
in the Figures. In the embodiment of Figures 2a-2d the lateral member 20 is
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CA 02798741 2012-12-13
mounted to the rear portion of the post 14 by means of screws 16 driven
through
mounting edge 20m and into the post 14 (see FIG. 2b), but other conventional
mounting means or fasteners, such as rivets, bolts, appropriately placed
strips of
adhesive-backed hook and loop fasteners (e.g. VelcroTM fasteners), gluing or
welding may be utilized. It is also contemplated that in another embodiment
(not
shown), the sign plate 10p and lateral member 20 are constructed of a unitary
member (such as by bending a lateral portion of an oversized sign plate at a
right
angle to the planar face of such oversized sign plate during construction, so
as to
create a lateral member from the oversized portion while still maintaining
substantially normal proportions and dimensions of the remainder of the sign
plate
that faces the primary traffic).
The lateral member 20 further comprises indicia 22 on at least one of
the member's planar faces 20' and 20". Preferably, the indicia 22 on the
lateral
member 20 is substantially a portion of the indicia 12 on the sign plate 10p;
e.g. if
the sign plate indicia 12 are comprised of the colours red 12r and white 12w
according to the international standard for a yield sign, then the lateral
member's
indicia 24 preferably likewise comprises the colours red 22r and white 22w
proportionally according to the international standard for a yield sign. More
preferably, the lateral member 20 is of substantially the same height H as the
height
H of the sign plate 10p and is mounted (to the sign 10) at substantially the
same
level L above the ground as the sign plate 10p (see FIG. 2a). Even more
preferably, the lateral member 20 has suitable outline dimensions and indicia
22 so
as to give the appearance, when at least one of the member's planar faces 20'
and
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CA 02798741 2012-12-13
20" having the indicia 22 is viewed by right-angled traffic, that a portion of
the sign
plate 10p was bent substantially perpendicular (to the sign plate 10p) along
substantially the vertical axis of the sign 10.
Preferably, although not shown in the figures, indicia 22 are provided
on both faces 20' and 20". More preferably, the lateral member 20 is mounted
at
substantially the same level L above the ground as the sign plate 10p, is
substantially the same height H as the sign plate 10p, and has such dimensions
and
indicia 22 so as to give the appearance, to right-angled traffic, that
anywhere from a
5% to a 70% portion of the sign plate 10p was bent substantially perpendicular
to
the sign plate's normal orientation (and so as to then face said right-angled
traffic).
Yet even more preferably, the lateral member 20 is mounted behind the sign
plate
10p, although it is contemplated in another embodiment (not shown) that the
lateral
member is mounted to the sign plate's front side.
Being larger than 70% of the portion of the sign plate 10p is not
desirable since, once the lateral member 20 starts to look more like a full
sign, the
right-angled traffic may interpret the lateral member 20 as a primary sign
that is
directed to them (instead of to the primary traffic). Additionally, being
smaller than
5% of the portion of the sign plate 10p is also not desirable, since this
results in the
lateral member not being easily visible to said right-angled traffic.
Preferably, the
lateral member 20 is of such dimensions so as to give the appearance, to right-
angled traffic, that anywhere from a 15% to a 25% portion of the sign plate
10p was
bent substantially perpendicular to the sign plate's normal orientation. This
results
in the lateral member not likely to be mistaken (by right-angled traffic) for
a primary
CA 02798741 2012-12-13
sign that is directed at right-angled traffic and also still being
sufficiently visible to
such right-angled traffic, so as to allow it to quickly and easily understand
the
message on the road sign 10 that is directed to the primary traffic.
Preferably, the
indicia 22 further comprises similar reflective elements to those that would
be
present in the indicia 12 of said sign plate 10p.
In the embodiment of Figures 2a-2d, the lateral member 20 is in the
shape of half an inverted equilateral triangle and further comprises indicia
22 on
both faces 20' and 20" (although said indicia is not shown on face 20" in FIG.
2b).
The indicia 22 comprises the colours red 22r and white 22w according to the
international standard for a yield sign (as would be applied to a
corresponding half
portion of a yield sign). As such, the lateral member 20, gives the appearance
to
right-angled traffic (approaching the sign from substantially either side)
that
approximately 25% to 30% of a standard yield sign's plate 10p was bent
substantially perpendicular to the sign plate's normal orientation (see FIGS.
2c and
2d).
Advantageously, because the sign 10 of the present invention gives
the appearance (to right-angled traffic) that a portion of the sign plate 10p
was bent
substantially perpendicular to the sign plate's normal orientation, two
concepts are
conveyed to such right-angled traffic. These concepts are: (i) that the sign
10 itself
is not normally directed to the right-angled traffic, but rather to primary
traffic
(because of the bent or partial appearance of the lateral member 20); and (ii)
the
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actual meaning or message of the sign 10 as directed to primary traffic
(because of
the similarity of the indicia 22 on the lateral plate 20 to that of the
indicia 12 on the
sign plate 10p). More advantageously, because the lateral member 20 is mounted
at substantially the same level L above the ground as the sign plate 10p and
is
substantially the same height H as the sign plate 10p, a motorist's eye will
be
automatically drawn to the sign's lateral plate 20 (as compared to having to
look for
another plate mounted above the sign, as is the case in U.S. Pat. No.
2,849,816. to
Locke). Even more advantageously, and in contrast to the small replica as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,816. to Locke, because the indicia 22 on the
lateral
member 20 uses the same standard colouring so as the match the indicia 12 on
the
sign plate, a motorist will quickly understand and interpret the sign's
message (as
directed to primary traffic).
Advantageously, because the lateral member 20 provides the
appearance that only a portion of the sign plate 10p was bent, a motorist in
right-
angled traffic will not normally feel the need to actually obey the sign's
message, as
is the case with the sign in U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,715 to Thissen. Yet even more
advantageously, because the road sign 10 still has a sign plate 10p that is
normally
directed to primary traffic, a motorist in such primary traffic will
understand that the
sign's message is directed at him or her. Still even more advantageously,
because
the lateral member 20 is mounted behind the sign plate 10p, it is not visible
to
primary traffic and therefore does not distract from the sign's message as
conveyed
to said primary traffic.
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Still even more advantageously, a lateral member 20 having suitable
indicia 22 can be retrofit to an existing road sign by being mounted to such
existing
road sign; in a manner such as described above with respect to mounting to the
sign 10 of the embodiment of Figures 2a-2d. Advantageously, such lateral
member
20 having suitable indicia 22 can thereby simply and easily convert said
existing
road sign to a road sign 10 according to the present invention.
Other Embodiments:
Another embodiment of the road sign 10 is shown in Figures 3a-3b. In
this embodiment of the road sign 10, like that of the embodiment of Figures 2a-
2d,
the sign plate 10p is a thin member in the shape of an inverted equilateral
triangle
and has indicia 12 comprising the colours red 12r and white 12w according to
the
international standard for a yield sign. The lateral member 20 of this second
embodiment, like the first embodiment, is in the shape of half an inverted
equilateral
triangle and further comprises indicia 22 having the colours red 22r and white
22w
according to the international standard for a yield sign (as would be applied
to a
corresponding half of a yield sign). Unlike the first embodiment, however, the
lateral
member 20 member in this embodiment is preferably mounted directly to one
lateral
edge of the sign plate 10p using rivets 17 (as more clearly shown in Figure
3b). As
such, the lateral member 20 of this second embodiment, also gives the
appearance
to right-angled traffic (approaching the sign 10 from the side where the
lateral
member 20 is mounted) that approximately 25% to 30% of a standard yield sign's
plate 10p was bent substantially perpendicular to the sign plate's normal
orientation.
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In another embodiment (not shown, but very similar to the
embodiment of Figures 3a-3b), two lateral members 20 are provided and which
members 20 are then mounted to one and the other lateral edges of the sign
plate
10p so as to give the appearance to right-angled traffic (approaching the sign
10
from either side) that approximately 25% to 30% of a standard yield sign's
plate 10p
was bent substantially perpendicular to the sign plate's normal orientation,
at each
side.
Yet another embodiment of the road sign 10 is shown in Figures 4a-
4b. In this embodiment of the road sign 10, the sign plate 10p is a thin
member in
the shape of an octagon and has indicia 12 comprising the colours red 12r and
white 12w according to the international standard for a stop sign, i.e. white
letters
121 spelling STOP on a red background 12r with a white border 12w. The lateral
member 20 of this second embodiment is in the shape of half an octagon and
further comprises indicia 22, on both faces 20' and 20" having the colours red
22r
and white 22w substantially according to the international standard for a stop
sign
(as would be applied to a corresponding half of a stop sign); corresponding
lettering
spelling a partial "STOP" may also form part of the indicia 22 of this
embodiment
(although not shown in the drawings). Like the first embodiment, the lateral
member 20 in this embodiment is mounted to the post 14 by means of screws 16
(see FIG. 4b). As such, the lateral member 20 of this embodiment gives the
appearance to right-angled traffic (approaching the sign 10 from either side)
that
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approximately 50% of a standard stop sign's plate 10p was bent substantially
perpendicular to the sign plate's normal orientation.
Yet a further embodiment of the road sign 10 is shown in Figures 5a-
5b. In this embodiment of the road sign 10, like that of the embodiment of
Figures
4a-4b, the sign plate 10p is a thin member in the shape of an octagon and has
indicia 12 comprising the colours red 12r and white 12w according to the
international standard for a stop sign. The lateral member 20 of this second
embodiment, is approximately 15% to 20% of a standard stop sign's plate and
further comprises indicia 22 having the colours red 22r and white 22w
according to
the international standard for a stop sign. Unlike the embodiment of Figures
4a-413,
however, the lateral member 20 member in this embodiment is preferably mounted
directly to one lateral edge of the sign plate 10p using appropriately placed
strips of
adhesive-backed hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro TM fasteners, not shown).
As
such, the lateral member 20 of this embodiment, also gives the appearance to
right-
angled traffic (approaching the sign 10 from the side where the lateral member
20 is
mounted) that approximately 15% to 20% of a standard stop sign's plate 10p was
bent substantially perpendicular to the sign plate's normal orientation.
Still another embodiment of the road sign 10 is shown in Figures 6a-
6c. In this embodiment of the road sign 10, like that of the embodiment of
Figures
2a-2d, the sign plate 10p is a thin member in the shape of an inverted
equilateral
triangle and has indicia 12 comprising the colours red 12r and white 12w
according
to the international standard for a yield sign. The lateral member 20 of this
second
CA 02798741 2012-12-13
embodiment, like the first embodiment, is in the shape of half an inverted
equilateral
triangle and further comprises indicia 22 having the colours red 22r and white
22w
according to the international standard for a yield sign (as would be applied
to a
corresponding half of a yield sign). Unlike the first embodiment, however, the
lateral
member 20 member in this embodiment is preferably mounted on one side of the
sign post 14 with the mounting edge 20m sandwiched between the sign post 14
and
the rear of sign plate 10p (as more clearly shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b).
In another embodiment (not shown), the lateral member 20 does not
comprise a mounting edge, but is rather a planar member with planar faces 20'
and
20" and is mounted on one side of a sign post 14, with one planar face 20"
abutting
the post 14 and the other planar face 20' carrying suitable incidia 22.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various
modifications to the invention as described herein will be possible without
falling
outside the scope of the invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" is
used in
its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The
indefinite article "a" before a claim feature does not exclude more than one
of the
features being present.
16
