Support truss for a messaging sign

• US 7,082,707 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Poot, Aaron C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/715,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 406/12, 406/060.1, 406/061.4, 406/24, 248/219.1, 52/38, 526/93, 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 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated

Abstract

A support truss for a messaging sign comprising an elevated box truss which extends over a roadway and which has its opposite ends secured to upstanding supports. The box truss is comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship with at least one of the box truss sections adapted to have one or more messaging signs mounted therein. The messaging signs are horizontally slidably adjustably mounted on the box truss section so that the box truss section can accommodate signs having various thicknesses. The box truss in which the messaging sign is mounted is designed so that the face of the sign is unobstructed to permit motorists to readily observe the messages on the sign. A walkway is provided within the truss rearwardly of the messaging sign.

Claims

1. In combination:

an elevated box truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports;

said box truss being comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one of said box truss sections adapted to have a messaging sign mounted therein;

all of said box truss sections, except the said one box truss section, comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes and horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tube members, third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube, and fourth truss members interconnecting said first upper tube and said first lower tube;

said one box truss section comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes, horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tubes, and third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube;

a messaging sign mounted in said one box truss section;

said messaging sign having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and opposite sides;

said upper end of said messaging sign being positioned below said first upper tube of said one box truss section;

said lower end of said messaging sign being positioned above said first lower tube of said one box truss section;

said messaging sign being positioned between said first upper tube, said first lower tube, said first truss members, said second truss members, and said third truss members so that oncoming motorists may observe messages on said front side thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said messaging sign comprises a Variable Messaging Sign.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said messaging sign comprises a Digital Messaging Sign.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said messaging sign comprises a Variable Messaging Sign and a Digital Messaging Sign.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said messaging sign is selectively horizontally adjustably mounted on said one box truss section to enable said one box truss section to accommodate signs having varying depths.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one truss section has a walkway mounted therein which is positioned at said back side of said sign.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said truss sections have a walkway provided therein.

8. In combination with a messaging sign having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and opposite ends, comprising:

an elevated box truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports;

said box truss being comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one of said box truss sections adapted to have the messaging sign mounted thereon;

all of said box truss sections, except said one box truss section, comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes and horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tube members;

third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube, and fourth truss members interconnecting said first upper tube and said first lower tube;

said one box truss section comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes, horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tubes, and third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube;

said messaging sign adapted to be positioned between said first upper tube, said first lower tube, said first truss members, said second truss members, and said third truss members so that oncoming motorists may observe messages on said front side thereof;

said upper end of said messaging sign being positioned below said first upper tube of said one box truss section;

said lower end of said messaging sign being positioned above said first lower tube of said one box truss section.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the messaging sign comprises a Variable Messaging Sign.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein the messaging sign comprises a Digital Messaging Sign.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein the messaging sign comprises a Variable Messaging Sign and a Digital Messaging Sign.

12. The combination of claim 8 wherein the messaging sign is selectively horizontally adjustably mounted on said one box truss section to enable said one box truss section to accommodate signs having varying depths.

13. The combination of claim 8 wherein said one truss section has a walkway mounted therein which is positioned at said back side of the sign.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein said truss sections have a walkway provided therein.

15. In combination:

an elevated box truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports;

said box truss being comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one of said box truss sections adapted to have a messaging sign mounted therein;

all of said box truss sections, except the said one box truss section, comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes and horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tube members, third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube, and fourth truss members interconnecting said first upper tube and said first lower tube;

said one box truss section comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes, horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tubes, and third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube;

a messaging sign mounted in said one box truss section;

said messaging sign having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and opposite sides;

said messaging sign being positioned between said first upper tube, said first lower tube, said first truss members, said second truss members, and said third truss members so that oncoming motorists may observe messages on said front side thereof;

a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart first supports secured to and extending between said first and second upper tubes;

and a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart second supports secured to and extending between said first and second lower tubes;

said sign being selectively adjustably secured to said first and second supports.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein sign supports are selectively adjustably secured to said first and second supports;

said sign supports being secured to said messaging sign.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said sign supports are secured to said back side of said messaging sign.

18. In combination:

an elevated box truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports;

said box truss being comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one of said box truss sections adapted to have a messaging sign mounted therein;

all of said box truss sections, except the said one box truss section, comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes and horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tube members, third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube, and fourth truss members interconnecting said first upper tube and said first lower tube;

said one box truss section comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes, horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tubes, and third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube;

a messaging sign mounted in said one box truss section;

said messaging sign having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and opposite sides;

said messaging sign being positioned between said first upper tube, said first lower tube, said first truss members, said second truss members, and said third truss members so that oncoming motorists may observe messages on said front side thereof;

said messaging sign having a majority of its depth, between said front and back side, positioned within said one truss section.

19. In combination with a messaging sign having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and opposite ends, comprising:

an elevated box truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports;

said box truss being comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one of said box truss sections adapted to have the messaging sign mounted thereon;

all of said box truss sections, except said one box truss section, comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes and horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tube members;

third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube, and fourth truss members interconnecting said first upper tube and said first lower tube;

said one box truss section comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes, horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tubes, and third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube;

said messaging sign adapted to be positioned between said first upper tube, said first lower tube, said first truss members, said second truss members, and said third truss members so that oncoming motorists may observe messages on said front side thereof;

a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart first supports secured to and extending between said first and second upper tubes;

and a plurality of horizontally spaced second supports secured to and extending between said first and second lower tubes;

said sign being selectively longitudinally adjustably secured to said first and second supports.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein sign supports are selectively adjustably secured to said first and second supports;

said sign supports being secured to said messaging sign.

21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said sign supports are secured to said back side of said messaging sign.

22. In combination with a messaging sign having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and opposite ends, comprising:

an elevated box truss extending over a roadway and having opposite ends secured to upstanding supports;

said box truss being comprised of a plurality of box truss sections secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one of said box truss sections adapted to have the messaging sign mounted thereon;

all of said box truss sections, except said one box truss section, comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes and horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tube members;

third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube, and fourth truss members interconnecting said first upper tube and said first lower tube;

said one box truss section comprising horizontally spaced-apart first and second upper tubes, horizontally spaced-apart first and second lower tubes, first truss members interconnecting said first and second upper tubes, second truss members interconnecting said first and second lower tubes, and third truss members interconnecting said second upper tube and said second lower tube;

said messaging sign adapted to be positioned between said first upper tube, said first lower tube, said first truss members, said second truss members, and said third truss members so that oncoming motorists may observe messages on said front side thereof;

said messaging sign having a majority of its depth, between the front side and back side thereof, positioned within the said one box truss section.