Portable illuminated traffic signal device

A traffic signaling device includes a strobe light directed upon a portable traffic sign for alerting distant motorists of an upcoming traffic condition and for enhancing readability of the traffic sign. The signaling device includes a rotatable sign assembly releasably attached to a primary shaft suitable for holding by a road construction worker. The sign assembly includes a handle which cooperates with a channel within the primary shaft whereby the sign can be rotated to discrete, locked positions without repositioning the primary shaft or strobe light. Thus, either side of a sign may be displayed to oncoming traffic while a worker's eyes are always shielded from the strobe light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a traffic signal device and, more particularly, 
to a portable device which is easily rotatable to discrete positions for 
presenting an illuminated sign which alerts motorists to a traffic 
condition. 
It is known that highway and bridge construction or repair often requires 
the flow of traffic to be slowed, stopped, or rerouted. This type of 
traffic control is often accomplished through placement of traffic signs 
along the roadway and/or by a flagman standing near an active lane of 
traffic while holding a portable "slow" or "stop" sign. The flagman must 
maintain this unavoidably unsafe position in order to alert motorists to 
the presence of more workers ahead. 
The danger to flagmen and construction crews is greater during nighttime 
hours when visibility is diminished. Unfortunately, road crews frequently 
conduct operations requiring traffic stoppage or diversion at night to 
take advantage of generally lighter traffic or cooler temperatures. 
Reflective vests worn by construction workers or reflective road signs 
provide only marginal utility as they become visible to a motorist only 
when the automobile lights shine directly upon the reflective surface and 
are directly reflected back to the motorist. 
It is therefore desirable to have a portable traffic signal device which 
promotes the safety of both motorists and road construction workers by 
alerting distant motorists to an upcoming traffic condition and by aiding 
motorists in reading the traffic sign itself. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In response thereto, we have invented a traffic signaling device having a 
single pole for receiving and holding a traffic sign. The sign is 
rotatable 180.degree. to discrete positions within the pole to facilitate 
frequently alternating traffic flow instructions such as "slow" and 
"stop", the sign being lockable at each discrete position within the pole. 
A strobe light is attached to the pole on the side nearest oncoming 
traffic with the light being focused directly upon the traffic sign 
affixed atop the pole. The traffic sign is rotated 180.degree. without 
making contact with the strobe light unit. 
Accordingly, a flagman may carry the signaling device to a desired 
location, insert and/or rotate the traffic sign to display and lock at 
discrete positions the desired instruction to oncoming traffic, and 
activate the strobe light. Distant oncoming motorists, therefore, will be 
alerted by the strobe light that a traffic condition lies ahead and will 
be aided in reading the traffic sign by the light's illumination of the 
sign. 
It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a traffic 
signaling device for enhancing the safety of workers and motorists in road 
construction/repair zones. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a traffic signaling device, 
as aforesaid, having a shaft for receiving an easily attachable/detachable 
traffic sign in relative rotation therebetween. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide a traffic signaling 
device, as aforesaid, which allows a traffic sign to be rotated 
180.degree. without repositioning the device itself, the traffic sign 
being locked into each position. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a traffic signaling 
device, as aforesaid, having a detachable strobe light which is visible to 
motorists at a substantial distance. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a traffic signaling 
device, as aforesaid, having a strobe light which directly illuminates the 
face of the traffic sign. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a traffic signaling 
device, as aforesaid, which is lightweight, portable, and therefore 
suitable to be held by a road construction worker. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from 
the following description taken in connection with the accompanying 
drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, 
embodiments of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the traffic 
signaling device 100 generally comprising a sign assembly 200 insertably 
attached to a primary elongated cylindrical hollow shaft 110, said primary 
shaft 110 preferably made of lightweight plastic pipe such as polyvinyl 
chloride (PVC). 
As more particularly shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the sign assembly 200 
includes a cylindrical shaft 210 having first lower 212 and second upper 
214 ends. The second end 214 of the sign assembly shaft 210 includes an 
upwardly open U-shaped slot 216 for slidably receiving a traffic sign 220 
therein, said sign 220 being secured to the sign assembly shaft 210 with 
bolts 218 threadably extending through apertures in the shaft 210. A 
handle 230 is normal to the sign assembly shaft 210 and positioned within 
the same vertical plane as the sign 220 for manually rotating the sign 
assembly 200 from side to side as to be further described. The sign 
assembly shaft 210 further includes a threaded coupling 240 slidably 
mounted between the handle 230 and slot 216 for screwably securing the 
sign assembly 200 to a first end 112 of the primary shaft 110 having 
complementary threads 114 thereon (FIGS. 5-6). 
As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the primary shaft 110 presents an aperture of a bore 
having an interior diameter that is larger than the diameter of the sign 
assembly shaft 210, said primary shaft 110 thereby receiving the sign 
assembly shaft 210 therein. The primary shaft 110 further includes a 
vertical slot 120 extending from a first free end 112 of shaft 110 to a 
horizontal annular channel 130 for receiving the handle 230 of the sign 
assembly 200 and guiding said handle 230 into said channel 130. The 
channel 130 annularly extends from the vertical slot 120 in opposing 
directions about the perimeter of the primary shaft 110 for guiding the 
handle 230 in opposed directions during manual rotation of the sign 
assembly 200. The channel 130 extends approximately 180.degree. between 
depending vertical slots 140, 140' which communicate with the channel 130 
at the ends thereof. The slots 140, 140' lockingly receive the handle 230 
upon clockwise or counterclockwise 180.degree. rotation of the sign 
assembly 200. The handle 230 is released from a vertical slot 140, 140' 
upon a manual upward lifting of the handle 230 by an operator so as to 
align handle 230 with the juncture of the top of the slot 140, 140' and 
the respective end of the adjacent channel 130. It is understood that the 
180.degree. annular channel 130 facilitates 180.degree. rotation of the 
traffic sign 220 such that either side of a traffic sign may be displayed 
to oncoming traffic without repositioning the primary shaft 110. A channel 
of another length and a different number of depending slots can also be 
used. For example, a 360.degree. channel with slots at 90.degree. 
intervals would present a full rotation of the sign lockable at discrete 
positions positioned at 90.degree. intervals. 
A bracket 150 may be releasably attached to shaft 110 to support a strobe 
light 300, said strobe light 300 having a shroud 310 which directs a 
high-speed intermittent light beam onto the traffic sign 220 to enhance 
the readability thereof and to alert distant motorists of a traffic 
condition. (See FIGS. 1-2.) The strobe light 300 may be powered by a 
rechargeable battery housed within a battery compartment 320. The strobe 
light 300 is preferably positioned such that an operator can operate the 
signaling device 100 from one side of the sign 220 while being shielded 
from the strobe light 300 by the opposed sign of the sign 220. 
Accordingly, it can be seen that the traffic signaling device disclosed 
herein improves the safety of both motorists and road construction 
workers, especially during nighttime hours. The traffic signaling device 
alerts distant motorists to an upcoming traffic condition and then 
illuminates the traffic sign to enhance its readability. The signaling 
device allows the operator to rotate the traffic sign 180.degree. without 
repositioning the primary shaft or strobe light. 
It is therefore understood that while certain forms of this invention have 
been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar 
as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable 
functional equivalents thereof.