Patent Application
20250087122
The present invention relates to portable sign systems such as but not limited to roadside informational signs.
Portable signs are often used for temporary situations in which regional information is to be disseminated for a limited period of time. One such situation is during road construction, portable signs may be deployed adjacent to lanes of traffic prior to and throughout the construction zone. Many of these signs may or may not be digital in nature. Digital signs can convey messages, directions, warnings, and information to drivers that is dynamically changeable and updateable both locally (using a controller) and remotely (over a wireless connection). Some portable signs also provide a fixed message. Digital signs can include LED and flip-disc signs, and in some products, a scrolling banner.
Other portable signs may be intended by other types of viewers, such as foot travelers at an event such as a fair, carnival, concert, sports event, etc., and runners, such as at a marathon or triathlon.
A separable and deployable portable sign and transportation system are disclosed having at least a sign frame which is independent of and separate from a transportation frame, a sign panel on an upright member affixed to the sign frame, and one or more lift-stabilizers affixed to the sign frame, having at least a first mode of operation in a stowed position for transportation, and at least a second mode of operation in a deployed position holding the sign frame above a surface according to a minimum mating height and clearance to receive a corresponding transportation subsystem, wherein a footprint area defined by the lift-stabilizers in the second mode of operation is greater than a footprint area defined by the lift-stabilizers in the first mode of operation.
The figures presented herein, when considered in light of this description, form a complete disclosure of one or more embodiments of the invention, wherein like reference numbers in the figures represent similar or same elements or steps.
The present inventors have realized multiple unmet needs in the arts of portable sign systems. Portable sign systems, such as those often seen along roads during road construction are:
The present inventors have realized that several fundamental changes to the system design can address multiple problems in the present art. This elegant solution or sort of one-solution-solves-several-problems is especially efficient and innovative, but is counterintuitive to the approach taken by existing suppliers engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling such portable sign systems. The present inventors' system design is addressing the total life cycle costs of the system design as opposed to the current existing manufacturers' approaches of only minimizing the manufacturing costs while not addressing the operational and maintenance costs for the purchasing entity.
One characteristic of currently designed portable sign systems is that they are universally and permanently provided with their own means of transportation, e.g., wheels, axles, etc. This old design means that when a unit is damaged, such as in a collision with a vehicle, not only is the sign subsystem damaged, but so is the frame, axle, etc., of the transportation subsystem. The trailer portion of the sign generally represents 25% of the total cost of the unit. The permanently integrated trailer portion of the sign means a greater repair cost, higher insurance costs, and higher maintenance costs. Further, current portable sign systems also have permanently attached towing devices (e.g., trailer hitch couplers). Theft of the units is made easy—anyone with a suitable towing hitch may cut through a simple padlock to steal the entire unit or require the owner to purchase unique and expensive locking mechanisms to prevent their theft.
The present inventors have realized and devised an invention, example embodiments of which are disclosed in the following paragraphs, which reduces the
Referring now to
The separable sign subsystem 200 has a sign or display panel 201 supported by a riser 202 and a riser base 203 to a sign base 204. The sign panel 201 may be enclosed in a panel frame 201′ in some embodiments. The sign subsystem base 204 is provided with one or more lift-stabilizers 205, which of which has an earth-engaging foot 208, lift or level adjuster 207, and an attachment 206 to the sign subsystem 200 base 204.
The transportation subsystem 300 has two or more wheels 303 attached via an axle to a transportation frame 301 and may include a hitch coupler 304 and a jack stand 305 to hitch to a tow vehicle such as a truck. This particular embodiment example resembles a custom or adapted trailer, and in other embodiments, it may resemble an intermodal trailer, a custom or adapted dolly, cart, etc.
Referring now to
These combined features and their benefits reduce the cost of manufacturing, purchasing, leasing, and operating a fleet of portable signs. For example, a sign fleet of 250 units now only requires 8 to 20 transportation subsystems for the 250 sign subsystems. Whereas the separable sign subsystems are expected to be less expensive individually than fully portable signs with permanently attached transportation means, this reduces fleet acquisition and operation costs significantly, including ancillary costs such as insurance.
Please note that in at least one embodiment according to the present invention, one or more self-aligning devices are provided, such as pyramidal protrusions and matching recesses 501, 501′, are provided onto, into, with, in addition to, integral to, or a combination thereof, to the sign subsystem and the transportation subsystem. In this manner, custom transportation subsystems and “off the shelf” transportation subsystems may be adapted to carry, transport, deploy and retrieve the corresponding sign subsystem.
Embodiments of the Lift-Stabilizers. Options for embodiments according to the present invention for the lift-stabilizers include feet and/or height adjusters which can be lowered and raised by hand cranks and/or by power tools such as a cordless drill. The lift-stabilizers may be provided with surface-engaging feet or platforms, and in some embodiments, they may be provided with and earth anchor (e.g., ground screw or auger), such as those manufactured and sold by Sunmodo Corporation of Vancouver, Washington, USA. The earth anchor prevents the structure from being turned by the wind and then tipped over.
Besides the horizontally-swinging lift-stabilizers illustrated in the figures, still other options for the lift-stabilizers are units which rotate upwards for stowing, and units which include telescoping elements such as hollow square metal tubes that extend. Combinations of swinging horizontally, swinging vertically and/or extending telescopically are possible in some embodiments.
In at least one embodiment, the rotating or swingable lift-stabilizers will be approximately 3 feet long. Generally, a sign trailer is 7 feet wide and 14 feet long. With the 3-foot-long lift-stabilizers pivoted to a position 135° from across the width of the transportation subsystem (IE., 135° from along the length of the trailer), 2.1 feet of “footprint” is added in both length and width of the trailer for greatly increased stability against tipping over from wind. Such a configuration effectively increases the footprint of the deployed sign to 18.2 feet long by 11.2 feet wide, which is a 30% increase in length and 60% increase in width as compared to the trailer alone.
If the same example 3-foot long lift-stabilizers are rotated to 90° from along the length of the trailer (IE., parallel to the width of the trailer), then a full 3 feet of width to the footprint is added to the footprint of the deployed sign subsystem, with no addition to the length of the sign subsystem, resulting in a footprint that is 14 feet long (no change) by 13 feet wide, an 87% increase in footprint width.
With this example embodiment, the footprint of the deployed sign subsystem is essentially doubled compared to the footprint of a suitable trailer alone, which improves stability of the sign significantly. With the example 7′ by 14′ transportation subsystem, having a footprint of 98 square feet, and 3′ lift-stabilizers deployed at the 135° position, the deployed sign subsystem has a footprint of 11.2′ by 18.2′ for a total of 204 square feet, a 208% increase over the footprint of the transportation subsystem alone.
In an example embodiment of telescoping lift-stabilizers for a 7 foot wide sign structure, about 3 feet of square piping could be used for the extendable portion of the lift-stabilizer, such as square piping sliding inside of slightly larger square piping sleeve. Maintaining a foot of piping within the outer tube or sleeve for overlap and structural strength, a 90° positioned extension would add about 2 to the width of the footprint. This is also a significant improvement in stability, of course, but not as great of improvement as the longer swinging lift-stabilizer embodiment.
Sign Subsystem Embodiments. Options for embodiments according to the present invention for the sign subsystem include using a thick metal plate for the sign panel frame and/or riser that is sized to accommodate batteries, wiring harnesses, and other valuable components that are subject to theft. In this manner, the structure of the sign subsystem becomes a type of anti-theft locker or safe for the most valuable components.
Options for embodiments according to the present invention for the powering of active signs, such as LED or flip-disk signs, include solar panels, wind generators, batteries, chargers, and fossil fuel generators. Static, fixed-message signs may also benefit from active lighting to avoid reliance solely on reflectance for observability of the sign during low and no light conditions.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Conclusion. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
