Illuminated traffic control sign

• US 5,097,612 A
• Filed: 09/26/1990
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TC License Limited
• Original Assignee: Syntonic Technology, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Clyde A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green, Brian K.
• Application Number:
  US07/588,571
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 40/591, 40/610, 40/492, 40/612, 40/487, 40/450, 40/451, 40/550, 40/452, 40/486, 116/28 R, 116/35 R, 116/42, 116/45, 340/473, 340/475
• US Class Current: 40/591
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/662 mounted on vehicles, e.g. service vehicles; Warning vehicles travelling along with road-maintenance, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles

Abstract

An illuminated traffic control sign transforms a conventional passenger automobile into a traffic control vehicle. The body of the sign is formed from a flexible sheet of weather resistant material. The sign is ordinarily stored under the luggage compartment lid of the automobile when not in use and is deployed between the open lid and the lower part of the luggage compartment when in use. The flexible sheet has a horizontal double arrow design formed on it in a color that contrasts with the color of the sheet. Electric light fixtures are attached over the double arrow design to illuminate the design when the fixtures are activated. A plurality of flaps are secured to the flexible sheet and may be moved between retracted positions where they reveal the double arrow design or active positions where they cover part of the design. By positioning the flaps, the double arrow design may be selectively changed to a right arrow, a left arrow, or a caution bar without an arrowhead. The electrical circuit that activates the light fixtures may be connected to the automobile electrical system or it may be independent of it.

Claims

1. In combination, an illuminated traffic control sign and a conventional passenger automobile having a rear luggage compartment with a lid for closing said luggage compartment whereby said sign when displayed transforms said automobile into a traffic control vehicle comprising:

a flexible sheet of weather resistant material secured to said luggage compartment lid of said passenger vehicle so that said sheet hangs substantially vertically from said lid when said lid is open and said sign is in use and is stored within said luggage compartment when not in use, said flexible sheet having a horizontal double arrow design with two arrowheads thereon in a color contrasting with said sheet;

a plurality of electrical light fixtures mounted on said flexible sheet on top of said double arrow design to illuminate said design when said fixtures are activated;

a plurality of flaps secured to said flexible sheet to selectively cover or uncover parts of said double arrow design so that said design may be optionally transformed into a single arrow pointing in either direction or into a caution bar not having an arrowhead, each of said flaps being generally triangular in shape and secured at a seam to said flexible sheet, each respective seam being generally parallel to an edge of one of the arrowheads on the double arrow design; and

electrical circuit means to selectively activate said electrical light fixtures.

2. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said sign is folded and secured to the interior surface of said luggage compartment lid when not in use.

3. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet is formed of rubberized canvas.

4. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet is formed of plastic.

5. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said horizontal double arrow design is painted onto said flexible sheet.

6. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein the back side of said flexible sheet has a stiffener secured thereto to help support said electrical light fixtures.

7. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein each of said flaps is secured by snap fasteners in either one of two positions.

8. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said flaps are formed from the same material as said flexible sheet.

9. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit means is connected to the electrical system of said automobile.

10. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit means is independent of the electrical system of said automobile.

11. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit means contains means to intermittently flash said electrical light fixtures.

12. The traffic control sign of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit may be operated to selectively activate only those light fixtures that are exposed and not covered by said flaps.

13. In combination, an illuminated traffic control sign and a conventional passenger automobile having a rear luggage compartment with a lid for closing said luggage compartment whereby said sign when displayed transforms said automobile into a traffic control vehicle comprising:

a flexible sheet of weather resistant material having a front surface and a back surface secured to the interior surface of said luggage compartment lid of said passenger vehicle and being folded and secured against said luggage compartment lid when not in use, said flexible sheet being disposed between said luggage compartment lid and the lowermost opening of said luggage compartment when said lid is open and said sign is in use;

a horizontal double arrow design having two arrowheads formed on said flexible sheet front surface in a color contrasting with said front surface;

stiffening means secured to said flexible sheet back surface behind said double arrow design;

a plurality of electrical light fixtures mounted on said flexible sheet on top of said double arrow design and at least partially supported by said stiffening means to illuminate said design when said fixtures are activated;

a plurality of flexible flaps secured to said flexible sheet to selectively cover or uncover parts of said double arrow design so that said design may be optionally transformed into a single arrow pointing in either direction or onto a caution bar not having an arrowhead, each of said flaps being generally triangular in shape and secured at a seam to said flexible sheet, each respective seam being generally parallel to an edge of one of the arrowheads on the double arrow design;

electrical circuit means to selectively activate said electrical light fixtures, said electrical light circuit means containing means to intermittently flash said electrical light fixtures.

14. The traffic control sign of claim 13 wherein said flexible sheet is formed of rubberized canvas.

15. The traffic control sign of claim 13 wherein said flexible sheet is formed of plastic.

16. The traffic control sign of claim 13 wherein each of said flaps is secured by snap fasteners in either one of two positions.

17. The traffic control sign of claim 13 wherein said flaps are formed from the same material as said flexible sheet.

18. In combination, an illuminated traffic control sign and a vehicle having a front and rear comprising:

a flexible sheet of weather resistant material having a front surface and a back surface that may be compactly stored within said vehicle when not in use, said flexible sheet having a horizontal double arrow design with two arrowheads on said sheet front surface in a color contrasting with said sheet;

securing means to secure said flexible sheet in a substantially vertical position on said rear of said vehicle so that said sheet front surface may be viewed from behind said vehicle;

stiffening means secured to said flexible sheet back surface behind said double arrow design;

a plurality of electrical light fixtures mounted on said flexible sheet front surface on top of said double arrow design and at least partially supported by said stiffening means to illuminate said design when said fixtures are activated;

a plurality of flexible flaps formed from the same material as said flexible sheet secured to said flexible sheet to selectively cover or uncover parts of said double arrow design so that said design may be optionally transformed into a single arrow pointing in either direction or into a caution bar not having an arrowhead, each of said flaps being generally triangular in shape and secured at a seam to said flexible sheet, each respective seam being generally parallel to an edge of one of the arrowheads on the double arrow design;

snap fastener means secured to said flaps and to said flexible sheet to secure each of said flaps in one of two positions relative to said flexible sheet; and

electrical circuit means to selectively activate said electrical light fixtures, said circuit means containing means to intermittently flash said electrical light fixtures and to selectively operate only those light fixtures that are exposed and not covered by said flaps.