Crashworthy portable traffic control sign
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable traffic control sign, comprising:
- a stand capable of resting on a support surface;
at least one mast portion extending upwardly from the stand, the at least one mast portion having a bottom and a top, a substantially hollow interior and an outside diameter of less than approximately 1.75 inches, the bottom of the at least one mast portion being slidingly associated with the stand with no mechanical connection so that the at least one mast portion is freely separable from the stand;
at least one sign panel having front and rear surfaces, the at least one sign panel connected to the at least one mast portion so that the front surface of the at least one sign panel faces away from the at least one mast portion and the rear surface of the at least one sign panel faces towards the at least one mast portion;
a separate reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each at least one mast portion such that the reinforcing member remains with the mast portion when the same is removed from the stand, the reinforcing member positioned so as to reinforce the at least one mast portion against a motor vehicle impact in the area of the at least one mast portion reinforced by the reinforcing member; and
wherein the at least one sign panel is connected to the at least one mast portion at a single location only, and is positioned at a distance from the at least one mast portion, and wherein further a spacer is positioned between the at least one sign panel and the at least one mast portion at the single location where they are connected, the dimensions of the spacer being such that, along the upwardly extending length of the at least one mast portion, the majority of the rear surface of the at least one sign panel is not in contact with either the spacer or the at least one mast portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The specification discloses a portable traffic control sign comprising a stand capable of resting on a support surface, at least one mast portion extending upwardly from the stand, the at least one mast portion having a bottom and a top, a substantially hollow interior and an outside diameter of less than approximately 1.75 inches, at least one sign panel connected to the at least one mast portion, and a reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each at least one mast portion, the reinforcing member having a length sufficient to reinforce the at least one mast portion proximate the area of probable impact by a motor vehicle.
29 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A portable traffic control sign, comprising:
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a stand capable of resting on a support surface; at least one mast portion extending upwardly from the stand, the at least one mast portion having a bottom and a top, a substantially hollow interior and an outside diameter of less than approximately 1.75 inches, the bottom of the at least one mast portion being slidingly associated with the stand with no mechanical connection so that the at least one mast portion is freely separable from the stand; at least one sign panel having front and rear surfaces, the at least one sign panel connected to the at least one mast portion so that the front surface of the at least one sign panel faces away from the at least one mast portion and the rear surface of the at least one sign panel faces towards the at least one mast portion; a separate reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each at least one mast portion such that the reinforcing member remains with the mast portion when the same is removed from the stand, the reinforcing member positioned so as to reinforce the at least one mast portion against a motor vehicle impact in the area of the at least one mast portion reinforced by the reinforcing member; and wherein the at least one sign panel is connected to the at least one mast portion at a single location only, and is positioned at a distance from the at least one mast portion, and wherein further a spacer is positioned between the at least one sign panel and the at least one mast portion at the single location where they are connected, the dimensions of the spacer being such that, along the upwardly extending length of the at least one mast portion, the majority of the rear surface of the at least one sign panel is not in contact with either the spacer or the at least one mast portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable traffic control sign, comprising:
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at least a pair of stands capable of resting on a support surface; at least two mast portions extending upwardly from the at least pair of stands, each mast portion slidingly associated with one of the at least pair of stands with no mechanical connection so that each mast portion is freely separable from its associated stand, and each such mast portion comprising a length of metal tubing having a bottom and a top, a substantially hollow interior, and an outside diameter of approximately 1.5 inches; at least one sign panel connected to the mast portions, the at least one sign panel having front and rear surfaces, the at least one sign panel connected to the mast portions so that the front surface of the at least one sign panel faces away from the mast portions and the rear surface of the at least one sign panel faces towards the mast portions; a separate reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each of the mast portions such that the reinforcing member remains with its associated mast portion when the mast portion is removed from the stand, the reinforcing member positioned so as to reinforce its associated mast portion against a motor vehicle impact in the area of the mast portion reinforced by the reinforcing member; and wherein the at least one sign panel is connected to each mast portion at a single location only, and is positioned at a distance from the mast portions, and wherein further a spacer is positioned between the at least one sign panel and each of the mast portions at the locations where they are connected, the dimensions of the spacers being such that, along the upwardly extending length of each mast portion, the majority of the rear surface of the at least one sign panel is not in contact with either the spacer or the mast portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A portable traffic control sign, comprising:
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a stand adapted to rest on a support surface; at least one mast portion extending upwardly from the stand, the at least one mast portion having a bottom, a top, and a substantially hollow interior, the bottom of the at least one mast portion slidingly associated with the stand with no mechanical connection so that the at least one mast portion is freely separable from the stand; at least one sign panel having front and rear surfaces, the at least one sign panel connected to the at least one mast portion so that the front surface of the at least one sign panel faces away from the at least one mast portion and the rear surface of the at least one sign panel faces towards the at least one mast portion; a separate reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each at least one mast portion such that the reinforcing member remains with the mast portion when the mast portion is removed from the stand, the reinforcing member positioned so as to reinforce the at least one mast portion against a motor vehicle impact in the area of the at least one mast portion reinforced by the reinforcing member; and wherein the at least one sign panel is connected to the at least one mast portion at a single location only, and is positioned at a distance from the at least one mast portion, and wherein further a spacer is positioned between the at least one sign panel and the at least one mast portion at the single location where they are connected, such that, along the upwardly extending length of the at least one mast portion, the majority of the rear surface of the at least one sign panel is not in contact with either the spacer or the at least one mast portion.
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20. A portable traffic control sign, comprising:
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a stand capable of resting on a support surface; at least one mast portion extending upwardly from the stand, the at least one mast portion having a bottom and a top, a substantially hollow interior and an outside diameter of less than approximately 1.75 inches, the bottom of the at least one mast portion being slidingly associated with the stand with no mechanical connection so that the at least one mast portion is freely separable from the stand; at least one sign panel connected to the at least one mast portion, the at least one sign panel having front and rear surfaces; a separate reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each at least one mast portion such that the reinforcing member remains with the mast portion when the same is removed from the stand, the reinforcing member positioned so as to reinforce the at least one mast portion against a motor vehicle impact in the area of the at least one mast portion reinforced by the reinforcing member; and wherein the at least one sign panel is connected to the at least one mast portion at a single location only, and is positioned at a distance from the at least one mast portion, and wherein further a spacer is positioned between the at least one sign panel and the at least one mast portion at the single location where they are connected, the spacer being at least partially disposed in a bore provided in the sign panel. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A portable traffic control sign, comprising:
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at least a pair of stands capable of resting on a support surface; at least two mast portions extending upwardly from the at least pair of stands, each mast portion slidingly associated with one of the at least pair of stands with no mechanical connection so that each mast portion is freely separable from its associated stand, and each such mast portion comprising a length of metal tubing having a bottom and a top, a substantially hollow interior, and an outside diameter of approximately 1.5 inches; at least one sign panel connected to the mast portions, the at least one sign panel having front and rear surfaces; a separate reinforcing member fixedly disposed in the hollow interior of each of the mast portions such that the reinforcing member remains with its associated mast portion when the mast portion is removed from the stand, the reinforcing member positioned so as to reinforce the at least one mast portion against a motor vehicle impact in the area of the at least one mast portion reinforced by the reinforcing member; and wherein the at least one sign panel is connected to each mast portion at a single location only, and is positioned at a distance from the mast portions, and wherein further a spacer is positioned between the at least one sign panel and each of the mast portions at the locations where they are connected, the spacer being at least partially disposed in a bore provided in the sign panel. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification