Traffic sign device

• US 6,829,853 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanyang Frame Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hanyang Frame Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Yong Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US10/439,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 406/071.4, 406/12, 405/72, 406/060.8, 406/10, 406/16, 248/214, 248/218.4, 248/219.3, 248/231, 116/63.R, 340/119
• US Class Current: 40/607.14
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1826 using channels on the rear of the sign board to be connected to the post, e.g. via clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A traffic sign device is disclosed. The device includes a post clamp mounted on a post installed on a roadside, a support bar radially coupled to an outer surface of the post clamp to be horizontally positioned, and a sign board coupled to one end of the support bar for exhibiting a desired road sign. The post clamp includes a pair of arched clamping bands hingedly coupled to each other. The support bar includes a socket pipe joined to the post clamp by welding, and a movable pipe slidably inserted into the socket pipe with its one end joined to the sign board. A bolt is fixed to the socket pipe through joint holes formed therein to secure the movable pipe at a desired position. The sign board includes a barrel-shaped band frame having a coupling slot through which the free end of the support bar passes and being fixed therein. Since the joint portion is positioned inside the sign board, coupling part in the sign board is effectively prevented from being exposed. This allows the sign board to have an excellent structural strength, and an acceptable appearance for a long period of time.

Claims

1. A traffic sign device, comprising:

a post clamp including at least two arched clamping bands, which are hingedly coupled to each other at their adjacent ends and joined to each other by a fastening element at their free ends to be installed on a post;

a support bar radially joined to one of the clamping bands of the post clamp to be horizontally positioned; and

a sign board radially joined to one end of the support bar, the sign board includes a barrel-shaped band frame having a coupling groove formed at its both peripheral edges, and a coupling slot formed at a circumferential surface of the band frame, through which the free end of the support bar passes and being fixed therein, and a front and rear covers having a skirt formed along the peripheral edge of the respective covers so that the skirt of the covers is fitted into the coupling groove of the band frame and a road sign is attached to the outside of the covers.

2. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sign board further includes a coupling unit for fixing the free end of the support bar therein, the coupling unit includes:

a reinforcing block having a T-shaped slot formed at the inside thereof to have a desired depth from its outer surface, and a coupling plate joined to the free end of the support bar so as to be fittingly inserted into the bottom portion of the T-shaped slot, and wherein the coupling plate is formed to have a width larger than the diameter of the support bar, whereby the reinforcing block is fixed inside the sign board such that the reinforcing block is interposed between the front and rear cover and both cutting surfaces of the reinforcing block are attached to the inner surface of the respective covers by an adhesive.

3. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support bar includes a socket pipe perpendicularly joined to one of the clamping bands of the post clamp by welding, the socket pipe being axially provided at its circumference with a plurality of spaced joint holes, and a movable pipe slidably inserted into the socket pipe with its one end joined to the sign board, the movable pipe being axially provided at its circumference with a plurality of spaced adjustment holes corresponding to the joint holes of the socket pipe, whereby the movable pipe is fixed to the socket pipe by tightening bolts through the joint holes and adjustment holes.

4. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the socket pipe is provided at its inner surface with a key channel, and the movable pipe is provided at its outer surface with a key ridge corresponding to the key channel, whereby a position of the movable pipe relative to the socket pipe is established and a relative rotation between the socket pipe and the movable pipe is prevented.

5. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the sign board further includes a coupling unit for fixing the free end of the support bar therein, the coupling unit includes:

a reinforcing block having a T-shaped slot formed at the inside thereof to have a desired depth from its outer surface, and a coupling plate joined to the free end of the support bar so as to be fittingly inserted into the bottom portion of the T-shaped slot.

6. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the post clamp is provided with a rod-shaped contacting insert made of resilient material to resiliently compress the post when the first and second clamping bands are clamped around the post.

7. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the post clamp further includes at least one auxiliary clamping band coupled between the first and second clamping bands, which is provided at its opposite ends with a hinge groove and a hinge bulge corresponding to each other, whereby the auxiliary clamping band is selectively coupled between the first and second clamping bands according to a size of the post.

8. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the post clamp is provided with a rod-shaped contacting insert made of resilient material to resiliently compress the post when the first and second clamping bands are clamped around the post.

9. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the post clamp, the support bar and the sign board comprise a corrosion resistant.

10. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support bar is provided with a pair of screw holes axially formed on the inner surface thereof, and the support bar is coupled to the sign board such that the free end of the support bar is inserted into the coupling slot of the band frame, across the inside thereof, until the free end of the support bar is reached to an inner surface of the band frame, whereby screws are fitted into the screw holes of the support bar from outside of the band frame.

11. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the front and rear cover are fixed to the band frame such that, after fitting the skirt of the front and rear cover into the coupling grooves of the band frame, a plurality of screws is fixed along both edge portions of the band frame at a constant interval, in which the skirt of the front and rear cover and the band frame are overlapped.

12. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the support bar includes a socket pipe joined to the outer surface of the post clamp by welding, the socket pipe being axially provided at its circumference with a plurality of spaced joint holes, and a movable pipe slidably inserted into the socket pipe with its free end joined to the sign board, the movable pipe being axially provided at its circumference with a plurality of spaced adjustment holes corresponding to the joint holes of the socket pipe, and with a pair of screw holes formed on the inner surface thereof, whereby the movable pipe is positioned in the socket pipe by fixing bolts and nuts through the joint holes and adjustment holes.

13. The traffic sign device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the socket pipe is provided at its inner surface with a key channel, and the movable pipe is provided at its outer surface with a key ridge corresponding to the key channel, whereby a position of the movable pipe relative to the socket pipe is established and a relative rotation between the socket pipe and the movable pipe is prevented.