Sign system with interchangeable lenses

• US 6,880,278 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Connors
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Connors
• Inventors: Connors, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/663,134
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 405/84, 406/05, 406/060.1, 406/061.4, 406/061, 406/110.1, 406/110.6, 406/110.7, 406/111, 406/111.3, 406/12, 406/18
• US Class Current: 40/605
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/02 free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes E01F9/688 takes precedence; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers

Abstract

A transparent, reversible sign for use in traffic barricades.

Claims

1. A traffic barricade comprising:

at least one reversible sign; and

a barricade stand having a means for receiving said at least one reversible sign and wherein said reversible sign comprises a transparent material having traffic flow indicia thereon.

2. The traffic barricade of claim 1 wherein said traffic flow indicia comprises traffic flow instructions in a first direction appearing on a first side of said transparent material and traffic flow indicia in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, appearing from a second side, opposite said first side, of said material.

3. The traffic barricade of claim 2 wherein said transparent material is a clear substrate.

4. The traffic barricade of claim 3 wherein said traffic flow indicia comprises a translucent element.

5. The traffic barricade of claim 4 wherein said traffic flow indicia comprises parallel slanting bars.

6. The traffic barricade of claim 4 wherein said traffic flow indicia comprises an arrow.

7. The traffic barricade of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said reversible sign comprises a portion that forms a background to said reversible sign when said reversible sign is received, said portion being reflective.

8. The traffic barricade of claim 2 comprises a first reversible sign and a second reversible sign each having identical traffic flow indicia thereon and wherein said barricade comprises a respective means for receiving said first and second reversible signs, each of said first and second reversible signs comprising orientation indicia for use by an operator of said traffic barricade to make certain that said first and second reversible signs are oriented consistently.

9. A method for providing a reversible traffic barricade, said method comprises the steps of:

preparing at least one transparent material having traffic flow indicia appearing thereon using translucent ink on a first side of said material;

configuring a barricade stand to receive said at least one transparent material;

applying a reflective coating to that portion of said barricade that receives said at least one transparent material; and

releasably coupling said at least one transparent material to said barricade to form a barricade that provides traffic flow instruction in a first direction.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

removing said at least one transparent material from said barricade;

reversing said at least one transparent material; and

releasably coupling said at least one transparent material to said barricade to form a barricade that provides traffic flow in a second direction, opposite to said first direction.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of configuring a barricade stand comprises configuring said barricade stand to receive two transparent materials to be vertically aligned.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of including orientation indicia on said two transparent materials so that an operator of said barricade can verify that said two transparent materials are oriented consistently with said barricade stand.