Sliding sign

• US 7,069,681 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Redinger, Theodore W. Sr., Poot, Aaron C., Erichsen, John R., Noble, Myron C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US10/823,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 406/110.7, 406/061.1, 406/060.2, 406/12, 404/91, 404/90, 405/24, 526/41, 526/45, 526/33
• US Class Current: 40/612
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/696 Overhead structures, e.g. gantries; Foundation means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A sliding sign is movably mounted on an overhead truss which extends over a roadway. The sliding sign is mounted on rails connected to the top and bottom chords of the truss so that the sign may be moved from a position over the roadway to a position adjacent the shoulder of the roadway so that necessary maintenance may be performed on the sign without the need for lane closures of the roadway.

Claims

1. In combination:

an elevated truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends;

said truss including top and bottom chords having opposite ends;

a first elongated rail secured to said top chord which extends from adjacent one end of said top chord towards the other end of said top chord;

a second elongated rail secured to said bottom chord which extends from adjacent one end of said bottom chord towards the other end of said bottom chord;

and a sign support structure movably mounted on said first and second rails;

said sign support structure being selectively movable from a first position over the roadway to a second position adjacent the shoulder of the roadway.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein a motorized cable system is connected to said sign support structure to selectively move said sign support structure on said first and second rails.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sign support structure includes a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart and vertically disposed beams having upper and lower ends;

at least some of said beams having rail engaging members thereon which movably engage said first and second rails.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said second rail and said rail engaging members cooperate to cause lateral and gravity forces to be passed into said bottom chord;

said first rail and said rail engaging members cooperating to cause lateral loads to be passed into said top chord.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said rail engaging members comprise wheels.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said wheels have recessed peripheries which engage said rails.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said recessed peripheries are substantially V-shaped in section.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said rails comprises a tube.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said rails comprises a tube.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elevated truss comprises a box truss structure.

11. A sign support for use with an elevated truss extending over a roadway, the truss having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports, the truss also including top and bottom chords having opposite ends;

the sign support structure comprising;

a first elongated rail secured to the top chord which extends from adjacent one end of the top chord towards the other end of the top chord;

a second elongated rail secured to the bottom chord which extends from adjacent one end of the bottom chord towards the other end of the bottom chord;

and a sign support structure movably mounted on said first and second rails;

said sign support structure being selectively movable from a first position over the roadway to a second position adjacent the shoulder of the roadway.

12. The sign structure of claim 11 wherein a motorized cable system is connected to said sign support structure to selectively move said sign support structure on said first and second rails.

13. The sign structure of claim 11 wherein said sign support structure includes a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart vertically disposed beams having upper and lower ends;

at least some of said beams having rail engaging members thereon which movably engage said first and second rails.

14. The sign structure of claim 13 wherein said second rail and said rail engaging members cooperate to cause lateral and gravity forces to be passed into said bottom chord;

said first rail and said rail engaging members cooperating to cause lateral loads to be passed into said top chord.

15. The sign structure of claim 13 wherein said rail engaging members comprise wheels.

16. The sign structure of claim 15 wherein said wheels have recessed peripheries which engage said rails.

17. The sign structure of claim 16 wherein said recessed peripheries are substantially V-shaped.

18. The sign structure of claim 17 wherein each of said rails comprises a tube.

19. The sign structure of claim 11 wherein each of said rails comprises a tube.

20. The sign structure of claim 11 wherein said elevated truss comprises a box truss structure.

21. In combination:

an elevated truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends;

said truss including top and bottom chords having opposite ends;

a first elongated rail secured to said top chord which extends from adjacent one end of said top chord towards the other end of said top chord;

a second elongated rail secured to said bottom chord which extends from adjacent one end of said bottom chord towards the other end of said bottom chord;

and a support structure movably mounted on said first and second rails;

said support structure being selectively movable from a first position over the roadway to a second position adjacent the shoulder of the roadway.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein a motorized cable system is connected to said support structure to selectively move said support structure on said first and second rails.

23. The combination of claim 21 wherein said support structure includes a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart and vertically disposed beams having upper and lower ends;

at least some of said beams having rail engaging members thereon which movably engage said first and second rails.

24. A support for use with an elevated truss extending over a roadway, the truss having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports, the truss also including top and bottom chords having opposite ends;

the support structure comprising;

a first elongated rail secured to the top chord which extends from adjacent one end of the top chord towards the other end of the top chord;

a second elongated rail secured to the bottom chord which extends from adjacent one end of the bottom chord towards the other end of the bottom chord;

and a support structure movably mounted on said first and second rails;

said support structure being selectively movable from a first position over the roadway to a second position adjacent the shoulder of the roadway.