Abstract:
A sign system for roads includes a back sign. The back sigh has a mount affixed to the ground that is adjacent to a road. A back sign device is affixed to the mount. The mount has a front face that is visible to oncoming traffic. The back sign device is located on a rear face visible to traffic that has passed the back sign, wherein a driver may observe the back sign device in a mirror mounted upon their vehicle after passing the back sign device and the back sign provides information to the driver. The sign system for roads may further include a broadcasting unit. The broadcasting unit may be in communication with a receiving unit being positioned in a vehicle and is adapted to communicate with the driver. When the driver of said vehicle approaches the back sign, the receiving unit can alert the driver of additional information.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/493,738 filed Jul. 26, 2006, which is abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The instant application relates to a sign system for roads. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Road signs are signs that are adjacent to a road that provide information to the drivers and passengers of vehicles traveling on the road. Road signs can give information about many things, including: the speed limit, distances, road conditions, crossings, exit information, advertisements, etc. 
     Current road signs include a mount and a sign. The mount provides a foundation for the road sign and prevents the road sign from being moved out of position. The sign provides a surface for information to be printed upon to be displayed to approaching vehicles. The sign is mounted on a face that is visible to oncoming traffic. As vehicles approach the road sign, the driver and/or passenger of a vehicle may see the sign and read the information printed on the sign. Sign technology is highly developed and reflective surfaces are well exploited. Backward signs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,526 to Keach, but without any discussion of advantages or restrictions as to availability of information to only interested drivers. Such unrestricted deployment is a distraction and, therefore, a safety hazard which should require a pre-emptive warning. 
     One problem with current road signs is they are insufficient in providing all of the information necessary for the drivers of certain vehicles. For example, a driver of a large truck can read a road sign that shows a fuel station at a certain exit and take the exit thinking that the fuel station is accessible to trucking rigs. The driver may exit off of the highway only to find that the fuel station is not accessible to trucking rigs. The truck driver then must find a safe place to turn the trucking rig around, get back on the highway, and proceed to look for another fuel station, where the same situation may occur. This problem could be corrected by providing additional information to the driver of the truck about whether or not the fuel station is accessible to trucking rigs. The information could be added to the front of the sign, but most signs are already full. Readability at road speed, sign size, and potential interest to a wide cross-section of the users of the roadway are important considerations. Federal and state regulations prevent certain signs from being any larger than they already are and also restrict the quantities and locations of signs. Further, certain information is surely not of interest to all drivers or passengers of many vehicles. In addition, some states provide a radio message to travelers on the roadway and the availability of the radio station is made known to drivers via signs along the roadway. This requires the driver of the vehicle to search for the station while driving, which results in a potential safety hazard, particularly with the absence of station buttons on newer radios for cars. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a sign system for roads that provides additional information primarily to interested drivers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a sign system for roads. The sign system includes a back sign including a mount affixed to the ground that is adjacent to a road and a means for notifying a driver of the availability of additional information on a back sign being approached. A back sign device is affixed to the mount. The mount has a front face that is visible to oncoming traffic. The back sign device is located on a rear face visible to traffic that has passed the back sign device. A driver can read the back sign device in a suitably focused mirror mounted upon their vehicle after passing the back sign device. 
     The sign system includes a broadcasting unit. The broadcasting unit may be in communication with a receiving unit positioned in a vehicle and adapted to communicate with the driver. The broadcasting unit may be in support of the back sign device, whereby, when the driver of the vehicle approaches a back sign, the receiving unit may be such as to alert only interested drivers of the upcoming availability of additional information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show isometric views of an embodiment of a sign system for roads. 
         FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the view through a mirror of the back sign for roads in  FIG. 1   b.    
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show isometric views of another embodiment of a sign system for roads. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a vehicle having a receiving unit for the sign system for roads. 
         FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention, with the sign omitted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  a sign system for roads. In one embodiment, the sign system for roads includes a back sign  10 , a broadcasting unit  34 , and a receiving unit  36  positioned in a vehicle  38  (see  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  4 ). 
     Back sign  10  may include a mount  12  and a back sign device  14 . Back sign  10  may be located adjacent a road. Back sign  10  may provide information primarily to certain drivers. After the driver&#39;s vehicle has passed by back sign  10 , the driver may see the information on back sign  10  by looking through a mirror  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). Back sign  10  may be attached to a preexisting road information sign  32  or advertisement. 
     Mount  12  may be included in back sign  10  (see  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ). Mount  12  may provide a support for back sign device  14 . Mount  12  may be any structure that can support back sign device  14 . Mount  12  may include, but is not limited to, a pole, beam, rod, platform, wall, etc. Mount  12  may be a preexisting road information sign  32  (see  FIG. 1   a ) or advertisement, meaning, back sign device  14  may be attached to the back of the preexisting road information sign  32  or advertisement. Mount  12  may include a rear face  16 . Mount  12  may also include a front face  28 . 
     Back sign device  14  may be attached to mount  12  (see  FIG. 1   b ). Back sign device  14  may be attached to mount  12  by a number of conventional means, including but not limited to, bolts, screws, latches, fasteners, joints, etc. Back sign device  14  may be for providing information to a driver. Back sign device  14  may be any device for providing information to a driver. Back sign device  14  may be located on rear face  16  of mount  12 . Back sign device  14  may be viewed by a driver through mirror  18  after the driver&#39;s vehicle has passed back sign  10 . Back sign device  14  may include any form of communication. This communication may include words/letters  20  that are written backwards. These words/letters  20  that are written backwards allow a driver to view them in mirror  18  so that the words/letters  20  appear normal. Back sign device  14  may include symbols/colors  22 . The symbols/colors  22  may be any symbol or color, including, but not limited to a symbol or color that is recognizable to have a certain meaning to drivers. 
     Rear face  16  may be a part of mount  12  (see  FIG. 1   b ). Rear face  16  may provide a face for back sign device  14 . Rear face  16  may be faced in any direction. Preferably, rear face  16  may be faced in the direction where back sign device  14  is most visible to a vehicle that has passed by back sign  10 . Rear face  16  may be opposite of front face  28  or may be at any angle to front face  28 . 
     Front sign device  30  may be attached to mount  12  (see  FIG. 1   a ). Front sign device  30  may be attached to mount  12  by a number of conventional means, including but not limited to, bolts, screws, latches, fasteners, joints, etc. Front sign device  30  may be for providing information to a driver. Front sign device  30  may be any device for providing information to a driver, including but not limited to, a conventional sign or advertisement. Front sign device  30  may be located on front face  28  of mount  12 . Front sign device  30  may be viewed by a driver or passengers of a vehicle that are approaching back sign  10 . Front sign device  30  may include any form of communication, including, but not limited to, words, letters, symbols, colors, figures, etc. 
     Front face  28  may be a part of mount  12  (see  FIG. 1   a ). Front face  28  may provide a face for front sign device  30 . Front face  28  may be faced in any direction. Preferably, front face  28  may be faced in the direction where front sign device  30  may be most visible to oncoming traffic. 
     The mirror  18  of  FIG. 2  may be any mirror. Mirror  18  may be a mirror mounted on or in a vehicle. Mirror  18  may be a standard side view mirror or a standard rearview mirror. Mirror  18  may be flat or convex and may be any shape or size. 
     A light  26  may be included in back sign  10  (see  FIG. 1   b ). Light  26  may be for illuminating back sign device  14 . Light  26  may be any light capable of illuminating back sign device  14 . 
     In operation, back sign  10  may be positioned along a road, highway, interstate, etc. As vehicles approach back sign  10  the driver or passenger of a vehicle may read the communication on front sign device  30 . After the vehicle passes by back sign  10 , the driver may view back sign device  14  through mirror  18  (a side view or rear view) and obtain additional information about the communication on front sign device  30  or obtain information which is independent of front sign device  30 . 
     For example, a truck driver may approach back sign  10  and see on front sign device  30  that a fuel station is available at the next exit. After the truck passes back sign  10 , the truck driver may view back sign device  14  through mirror  18  and obtain information on whether or not the fuel station is truck accessible (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     As another example, a truck driver may approach back sign  10  and see on front sign device  30  that a fuel station is available at the next exit. Because fuel station names are constantly changing, often times the problem of a known truck stop (like Pilot®) buying a non-accessible truck stop occurs (for example, Pilot® truck stops acquired Speedway® fuel stations and not all Speedway® stations are truck accessible). After the truck passes back sign  10 , the truck driver may view back sign device  14  through mirror  18  and obtain information (such as Pilot® written backwards) on whether or not the fuel station is truck accessible. 
     In the complete embodiment of the sign system for roads, broadcasting unit  34  may be included along with receiving unit  36  positioned in vehicle  38  (see  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  4 ). Broadcasting unit  34  may be used for broadcasting a signal  44  to receiving unit  36  positioned in vehicle  38 . Broadcasting unit  34  may be any device capable of broadcasting signal  44  to receiving unit  36  of an oncoming vehicle  38 . Broadcasting unit  34  may be housed in a weather protected box  40 . Broadcasting unit  34  may be, but is not limited to, a standard broadcasting transmitter. Broadcasting unit  34  may be an FCC approved transmitter. Broadcasting unit  34  may be a low powered transmitter, or one that broadcasts only a relatively short distance, on an FCC medically allowed radio frequency, thus not requiring an FCC license. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3   a , broadcasting unit  34  may be attached to back sign  10 . In another embodiment, broadcasting unit  34  may be positioned in front of back sign  10  (or up the road from back sign  10 ) in order to provide a longer period of time to alert the driver before the driver passes back sign  10 .  FIG. 5  shows the broadcasting unit  34  attached to mount  12  without a back sign being attached. This embodiment also includes the situation where the broadcasting unit  34  may be used alone, without any separately mounted back sign. In this case, the broadcasting unit may be positioned to provide temporary or permanent information about upcoming road conditions. This position of broadcasting unit  34  may be utilized on higher speed roads, such as highways and interstates. One or more broadcasting units  34  may be positioned in an electronically staged manner to utilize and offset the effects of vehicle speed and distance. 
     Signal  44  may be a signal broadcast from broadcasting unit  34  (see  FIG. 3   a ). Signal  44  may allow for communication between broadcasting unit  34  and receiving unit  36 . Signal  44  may be any signal capable of communicating the same and/or additional information on back sign  10  to receiving unit  36 , or that additional information will soon be available to the driver. Signal  44  may be a fixed or variable radio frequency signal which could be received by the receiving unit  36  and communicated to the driver of vehicle  38 . Signal  44  may include one or more of a plurality of channels, one for cars and light trucks, another for large trucks, etc. Broadcasting unit  34  may cause signal  44  to be directional such that signal  44  will propagate to one side of the roadway and not the other. 
     Weather protected box  40  may be included on back sign  10  (see  FIG. 3   a ). Weather protected box  40  may house and protect broadcasting unit  34  from the environment. Weather protected box  40  may be any housing capable of protecting broadcasting unit  34  from the environment. 
     Vehicle  38  may include receiving unit  36  (see  FIG. 4 ). Vehicle  38  may be any vehicle approaching back sign  10 , including, but not limited to, a car, a light truck, or a semi-trailer truck. 
     Receiving unit  36  may be positioned in vehicle  38  (see  FIG. 4 ). Receiving unit  36  may receive signal  44  from broadcasting unit  34  and communicate the additional information to the driver of vehicle  38 . Receiving unit  36  may be preference selectable by the driver or manufacturer to determine which type of information may be accepted from broadcasting unit  34 , e.g., channel most pertinent to cars and light trucks, to large trucks, etc. Receiving unit  36  may be any device or devices capable of receiving signal  44  from broadcasting unit  34  and communicating the additional information to the driver of vehicle  38 , in real time. Receiving unit  36  may include, but is not limited to, an antenna  42  and a display box  46 . Receiving unit  36  may also contain a memory device to store information from broadcasting unit  34 , to be played or displayed at a subsequent time. Each newly encountered broadcasting unit  34  may overwrite previously stored information. 
     Antenna  42  may be included in receiving unit  36  (see  FIG. 4 ). Antenna  42  may receive signal  44  from broadcasting unit  34 . Antenna  42  may be any device for receiving signal  44 . Antenna  44  may be an additional feature of vehicle  38  or it may be included in a preexisting device, for example, a radio antenna, a CB radio antenna, a GPS unit antenna, a computer (laptop) internal antenna, or a cell phone antenna. Antenna  44  may be positioned anywhere on vehicle  38 , including, but not limited to, the roof (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) or a mirror holding bracket. 
     Display box  46  may be included in receiving unit  36  (see  FIG. 4 ). Display box  46  may alert the driver of additional information received from broadcasting unit  34 . Display box  46  may be any device for alerting the driver of additional information received from broadcasting unit  34 . Display box  46  may be, but is not limited to: a simple light that is illuminated when receiving signal  44  to cause the driver to know by visual means that additional information is soon to be available; a speaker that makes a noise when receiving signal  44  to cause the driver to know by audible means that additional information is soon to be available; or a screen that displays a message when receiving signal  44  to cause the driver to know by visual means that additional information is soon to be available. Display box  46  may be a separate unit or it may be built into or included in vehicle  38  in other devices, including but not limited to, built into the radio of vehicle  38 , built into the CB radio within vehicle  38 , built into a computer (laptop) within vehicle  38 , or built into a movable or fixed location GPS unit within vehicle  38 . Display box  46  may also be built into a cellular phone device. Display box  46  may include a control for allowing the driver to choose whether display box  46  presents the driver with yet additional information. The control may be a power button for activating the speaker, display screen, or an additional feature of the display box, or the control may be a button to change the speaker, display, etc., from otherwise normal operation to operation which communicates the additional new information from broadcasting unit  34 . The control may be voice activated by the driver. 
     In another embodiment, back sign  10  may be positioned along a road, highway, interstate, etc. As vehicle  38  approaches back sign  10 , the broadcasting unit  34  may communicate with receiving unit  36 . The driver or passenger of a vehicle may be alerted by display box  46  that additional information will be provided on back sign device  14 , being approached. As vehicle  38  approaches back sign  10 , the driver or passenger of vehicle  38  can read the communication on front sign device  30 . After the vehicle passes by back sign  10 , the driver may view back sign device  14  through mirror  18  (a side view or rear view) and obtain additional information about the communication on front sign device  30 , or information independent of front sign device  30 . 
     For example, a truck driver may approach back sign  10  and be alerted that back sign  10  contains additional information on back sign device  14 . After the truck passes back sign  10 , the truck driver may view back sign device  14  through mirror  18  and obtain information that a fuel station is available that is truck accessible. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, broadcasting unit  34  may be positioned along a road, highway, interstate, etc., absent a back sign. This may occur due to the pending of a possible future back sign installation or the lack of anticipation of a back sign. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, broadcasting unit  34  may be positioned along a road, highway, interstate, etc., in a temporary manner as a roadway emergency safety device. Broadcasting unit  34  may broadcast a multiplicity of signals  44  to receiving unit  36 . One such signal  44  may activate a warning that additional information will soon be available. Another such signal  44  may activate a route planning GPS-type device to present a route around the emergency for cars and light trucks. Another such signal  44  may activate a GPS unit to present a route around the emergency for large trucks, since the former route may be different than the latter. Another signal  44  may activate a memory device in receiving unit  36  to record additional information for subsequent playback, visual or audio, at the convenience of the driver, as to the nature of the emergency, expected duration, etc. Temporary broadcasting unit  34  may be battery powered. The emergency broadcasting unit  34  may be programmable using a computer in a police cruiser, etc. which computer and broadcasting unit  34  may be adapted to exploit voice recognition software for voice clarity and uniformity when receiving unit  36  is presenting audible information to drivers. Broadcasting unit  34  may have coded access to discourage theft of the temporary broadcasting unit  34 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated in the scope of the invention.