Display device

A highly visible display device has a base, a staff supported by the base, and a battery-operated signal device located at the top of the staff. A plurality of support poles are interconnected to form the staff, thereby enabling the display device to be erected and subsequently disassembled quickly and easily. A ballast bag is adapted to fit over the base in order to maintain the display device in place, for example against the action of high-speed vehicular traffic passing by the device. A flag may be secured to the staff to further enhance the visibility of the display device.

This invention relates generally to display devices and, more particularly, 
to a highly visible display device particularly useful at construction 
sites or to control the flow of vehicular traffic and the like. 
Display devices of the type used at construction sites or to control the 
flow of vehicular traffic are well-known in the art and take the form of 
diverse shapes and configurations. For example, the display device may 
take the form of a series of cones placed in a lane of traffic to divert 
the traffic from construction, a stalled vehicle or similar blockage in 
the traffic lane. The display device may also take the form of a 
barricade, i.e., a wooden bar supported on traffic "horses", generally 
used at construction sites to enclose open trenches or the like. 
There exists the need to provide a display device, particularly useful at 
construction sites or to control the flow of vehicular traffic, which is 
highly visible, which can be erected easily at the site where it is used 
and which, once erected, is maintained at its position, and which may be 
fabricated relatively inexpensively. 
Accordingly, it is a broad object of the present invention to provide a 
highly visible display device. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly visible 
display device which is capable of being erected easily at the site where 
it is to be used. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highly visible 
display device which, once erected, maintains its position. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highly visible 
display device which, after the device has been used, may be disassembled 
relatively quickly and easily for transportation to another location or 
for storage. 
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a highly 
visible display device which may be fabricated relatively inexpensively. 
These and other objects of the present invention are obtained by providing 
a highly visible display device having a base, a plurality of support 
poles which interconnect to form a staff for the display device and which 
is held in an upright position by the base, a battery-operated signal 
device located at the top of the staff, and a ballast bag which fits over 
the base for maintaining the display device in place. The display device 
also includes a flag, at least partially of a reflective material, which 
is secured to the staff, thereby enhancing the visibility of the device. 
According to one embodiment, the base has a relatively flat and circular 
configuration, with outwardly directed portions or arms terminating in 
legs for the base. In another embodiment, the base includes a cone which 
holds the staff in place.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5 thereof, 
a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present 
invention is generally designated 10. The display device includes a base, 
generally designated 12, which supports a staff 14. A battery-operated 
signal device 16 is located at the top of staff 14, for providing either a 
constant light signal or an on-and-off flashing signal, for the display 
device. The battery-operated signal device is powered by a conventional 
battery pack 18, having a control switch 19. 
The display device 10 may also include a flag 20, formed of at least a 
partially reflective material 22. The flag may fit in a frame 24 which is 
attachable near the upper end of staff 14 and which also holds the flag 20 
in an extended position for easy visibility. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, it will be noted that staff 14 is formed from a 
plurality of support poles, such as a top support pole 26 and a bottom 
support pole 28, which are interconnected together. By way of example, 
each support pole is approximately 30 inches in length, with the number of 
support poles making up staff 14 being a function of the overall height 
that is desired for the display device. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top support pole 26 is generally hollow and 
tubular in shape, having wall 26a which is circular in cross-section. The 
wall 26a terminates at the upper end of the support pole in a shoulder 30, 
while the other end of the support pole terminates in a slightly narrower 
annular wall 26b which is formed to include a shoulder 32. As illustrated 
in FIG. 3, the narrower portion 26b of the top support pole 26 is adapted 
to fit into, and be frictionally held in place by, annular wall 28a of the 
bottom support pole 28, with the shoulder 32 of the top support pole 
abutting the shoulder 34 of the bottom support pole 28. Thus, the narrower 
portion 26b of the top support pole 26 forms an extension which is 
narrower in cross-section than the rest of the support pole; while the 
bottom support pole 28 terminates at its upper end in a cavity adapted to 
receive the extension of the adjacent pole. In this manner, staff 14 may 
be quickly and easily erected by inserting the narrower ends of the 
support poles within the wider ends of adjacent support poles. The staff 
may be similarly disassembled, by removal of the support poles, one from 
the other. 
The staff 14 of display device 10 is held in an upright position by base 
12, which engages the lower support pole 28 of the staff. Referring to 
FIGS. 4 and 5, according to one embodiment of the invention, base 12 has a 
relatively flat and circular configuration, having a circular plate 46. A 
socket 48 extends upwardly, at the center of plate 46, for receiving the 
end of bottom support pole 28 (see FIG. 4). The plate 46 also includes a 
series of outwardly directed arms 50, each of which terminate in legs 52 
for base 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, base 12 has eight 
arms 50--four short arms 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d and four longer arms 50e, 
50f, 50g and 50h. The arms are advantageously arranged in "pairs" disposed 
approximately 90.degree. from each other. Thus, short arm 50a is adjacent 
and parallel to long arm 50e; short arm 50b is adjacent and parallel to 
longer arm 50f--and "pair" 50 a, 50e is approximately 90.degree. from 
"pair" 50b, 50f; etc. Moreover, the short arms are aligned with the longer 
arms of opposite pairs. For example, short arm 50a is generally aligned 
with, but opposite from, longer arm 50g; longer arm 50e is aligned with, 
but opposite from, short arm 50c; etc. By locating the various short and 
long arms in this manner, the arms, along with the legs 52, provide a 
stable base or support for the display device 10 and, more particularly, 
for the staff 14 which is supported by the base, since the arrangement of 
arms helps to insure that the legs 52 adequately support the base despite 
variations in the terrain upon which the base is set. 
The circular plate 46 also includes a series of upwardly extending pegs 54, 
which are located near the periphery of the plate, and which function to 
help "grip" a ballast bag 56 which rests over base 12. The ballast bag 56 
is of canvas, plastic or similar material, and is filled with sand or a 
comparable substance 58 through a plug opening 60 (see FIG. 1). 
Advantageously, the ballast bag 56 is large enough to fit over the base 
12, with the ballast bag functioning as a weight for maintaining the base 
and, therefore, display device 10, in place against wind caused, for 
example, by the rush of vehicular traffic past the display device. The 
ballast bag 56 may also include a doughnut-like opening 62 (see FIG. 4) at 
the center of the bag, for enabling the bag to fit over socket 48 of the 
base. 
The battery-operated signal device 16 is located at the top of staff 14. 
This signal device takes the form of a light or similar illuminating 
device 36 connected to a base 38. The base is secured within a transparent 
or translucent cap 40. The cap terminates, at one end, in a circular wall 
42 which defines a shoulder 44. Thus, and as shown in FIG. 2, the cap fits 
on top of the top support pole 26, with shoulder 44 of the cap abutting 
shoulder 30 of the support pole and with the cap held in place by 
frictional engagement of wall 42 of the cap with wall 26a of the top 
support pole. 
The battery-operated signal device 16 is powered by a conventional battery 
pack 18 which may rest on the ballast bag 56. The battery pack is 
connected to the signal device by conventional electrical leads (not 
shown) located within a wire 64 which runs from the battery pack to the 
signal device. The wire may extend through the interior of the staff 14, 
with the wire going from the left-hand side of the battery pack, around 
and underneath the ballast bag 56, underneath the base 12 and then through 
an opening 66 located at the center of the circular plate 46 of the base, 
within socket 48, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, and as illustrated in 
dot-and-dashed line in FIG. 4, the battery pack may be turned around so 
that the wire extends from the right-hand side of the battery pack, 
through the opening 62 of the ballast bag, and then through an opening 68 
adjacent but outside socket 48 of the base. The wire then continues 
through opening 66 of the base and through the hollow, central portion of 
the staff 14. By having the wire 64 travel through the hollow, central 
portion of the staff 14, the wire is protected to some degree from the 
effects of wind, rain, etc. However, if desired, the wire 64 from the 
battery pack 18 may travel along the outside of the staff, as shown in 
dot-and-dashed line in FIG. 2. In such a case, and should the display 
device be used for any period of time, it may be desirable to affix the 
wire 64 to the outside of staff 14 by means of suitable adhesive tape or 
the like. 
The end 64a of wire 64, adjacent the signal device 16, advantageously 
includes a male plug (not shown) which mates with a corresponding female 
plug located in the base 38 of the signal device. Advantageously, the base 
includes two female plugs, one at the bottom of the base, and the other at 
the side of the base, for receiving the male plug of wire 64, depending on 
whether wire 64 travels through the hollow portion of the staff 14 or 
along the outside of the staff, respectively. In the case where the wire 
is to travel along the outside of the staff, the cap 40 includes an 
aperture or similar passageway which enables the wire to pass through the 
cap and be plugged into the signal device (see FIG. 2). 
FIG. 6 illustrates a base 70 according to another embodiment of the present 
invention. Base 70 is similar to base 12 in that both bases include a 
circular plate 46, short and long arms 50a-50d and 50e-50h, respectively, 
terminating in legs 52. However, base 70 includes a cone-like device 72 
having a cone ring 74 which is secured to the circular plate 46, thereby 
securing the cone to the base. The cone also includes a top cone ring 76 
which has an opening 78 for receiving the staff 14 of the display device, 
as indicated by the dot-and-dashed representation of the bottom support 
pole 28 shown in FIG. 6. The cone 72, which may be similar to conventional 
"traffic" cones, adds weight and stability to the base and also provides a 
visual presentation at the bottom of the display device 10. The ballast 
bag 56, shown in dot-and-dashed line in FIG. 6, may also be included for 
further stabilizing the base. When a ballast bag is used with the base 70, 
it should have an opening 62 (see generally FIG. 4), which is sufficient 
for the ballast bag to slip over the cone 72. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate yet another way for maintaining the display device 
in place. Specifically, in this embodiment, the bottom support pole 28 
terminates in a pointed stake 80, which is thrust into the ground 82. 
Thus, this arrangement allows the display device 10 to be maintained in 
place when the device is to be used on other than pavement or other hard 
surface, for example, when the display device 10 is used at a construction 
site, or on a dirt shoulder of a roadway or similar "unpaved" surface. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate, in schematic form, variations of the "basic" 
configurations disclosed previously. For example, FIG. 9 shows a display 
device 10 having a base 72 supporting a staff 14. Staff 14 terminates in 
three branches, 14a, 14b and 14c, with each branch including a flag 20. In 
a similar fashion, FIG. 10 illustrates, in schematic form, a display 
device 10 having two bases 72, each supporting a staff 14. One staff 14 
terminates in a flag 20, while the other staff terminates in a 
battery-operated signal device 16. The two staffs 14 are connected 
together by a barricade 84. This configuration is particularly useful at 
construction sites. 
As indicated previously, the display device according to the present 
invention has wide applicability, especially to control the flow of 
vehicular traffic or to warn of other dangers or obstructions. The display 
device may be erected and subsequently disassembled quickly and easily. 
When assembled, the display device is maintained in position against winds 
and other forces caused, for example, by the flow of vehicular traffic 
adjacent the device. The display device has a high degree of "visibility", 
both during the daytime and when the device is used at night. It is 
lightweight, may be fabricated relatively inexpensively, and has 
replacable and interchangable parts. 
Having described the structural configuration of the display device, the 
use of the display device will be apparent. 
Display device 10 may, for purposes of storage, be in a "knocked down" 
condition. In a typical technique for erecting the display device, the 
user first places in position the base 12. For those situations where the 
display device 10 is to remain in position for a relatively long period of 
time, it is advantageous for the wire 64 of the battery pack to extend 
through the hollow, inner portion of the staff 14. Accordingly, the user 
takes the end 64a of the wire and threads the wire through the opening 66 
located through the circular plate 46. The wire may be threaded through 
this opening either from around the base or through hole 68 adjacent 
socket 48. 
The ballast bag 56 is then placed over the base, so that the opening 62 of 
the ballast bag fits around the socket 48 of the base and the battery pack 
18 is typically placed, for convenience, on the ballast bag (see FIG. 4). 
After the wire is pulled through hole 66, the wire is then "threaded" 
through the hollow, inside of staff 14. In order to accomplish this in a 
relatively easy fashion, the wire may be threaded through staff 14 before 
the various support poles are connected to each other. Thus, the wire is 
threaded through the various support poles, until the end 64a of the wire 
reaches the base 38 of the battery-operated signal device, which is 
maintained in cap 40. The wire 64a is then "plugged into" the bottom of 
base 38, thereby providing an electrical path from light 36 to the battery 
pack 18. 
After this has been accomplished, the various support poles are inserted, 
one into the other, in order to provide the staff 14. The number of these 
support poles is a function of the desired height for the display 
device--the overall height for the display device being longer if two 
support poles are used than if only one support pole is used, but shorter 
than if three support poles were used to form the staff 14. It should be 
noted that the support poles fit one into the other relatively easily, 
since the narrow extension of the wall of the support pole is adapted to 
frictionally fit into the wider end of the adjacent pole. For the case 
where two support poles are utilized, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the top 
support pole 26 is inserted into the bottom support pole 28, until 
shoulders 32 and 34 of the two support poles abut each other. 
The bottom support pole may then be placed into socket 48 of base 12 and 
the cap 40, carrying the signal device 16, is inserted at the top of top 
support pole 26. Of course, the particular order in which the staff is 
erected is a matter of choice--the staff may be completely erected before 
it is inserted into the base or the staff may be built up in steps, by 
first inserting the bottom support pole within the base, etc. 
The display device 10 is then ready for use in warning either oncoming cars 
of an obstruction in a traffic lane, or pedestrians of a dangerous 
condition at a construction site or the like. The display device is highly 
visible during the daytime, since the device is advantageously painted 
with high-visibility colored paint. The display device is also highly 
visible at night, since the flag includes a reflective surface and since 
the battery-operated signal device provides a further visual indication 
signal. This may either be a constant signal or may be a flashing signal, 
depending on the nature of battery pack 18. 
It is to be noted that the base 12 provides a stable support for the 
display device and, along with the ballast bag 56, prevents the display 
device from being knocked-down by the wind created by passing traffic, as 
but one example. 
For those cases where the display device is not to remain in place for a 
relatively long period of time, time may be saved by having the wire 64 of 
the battery pack travel up to the signal device 16 along the outside of 
staff 14. For this case, the end 64a of the wire is inserted through an 
appropriate side opening in cap 40, so that the wire may be plugged into 
the side of base 38, to provide the path of conduction between the light 
36 and the battery pack. 
To disassemble the display device, the procedure is reversed. 
The same procedure in erecting and thereafter disassembling the display 
device is also followed with respect to use of the base shown in FIG. 6. 
In this case, the bottom support pole 28 is inserted into the opening 78 
of the cone 72. To provide further stability for the base, the cone may be 
separately weighted or ballast may be inserted within the cone. 
When using the base shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the staff is maintained in 
place by the stake 80 which is thrust into the ground. For this 
configuration, the wire 64 is located outside staff 14. 
It has been found that using display devices according to the present 
invention provides effective signal devices for purposes of traffic 
control and other warning conditions. The device is highly visible, can be 
erected easily at the site where it is to be used and, once erected, is 
maintained at its position. It may be fabricated relatively inexpensively, 
thereby decreasing costs. It is compact, lightweight, easy to assemble and 
easy to store. Its break-away construction also serves as an added safety 
feature. 
The display device provides consistent and safe lane closure, at various 
traffic rates of speed, from slow-moving city traffic to high-speed 
interstate trasfic. It may be used by construction crews or traffic 
officials on highways and construction sites or by a motorist who is 
stranded on the highway in an emergency situation. The display device may 
have a barricade configuration, multi-flag configuration, or similar 
configurations which are "built-up" from the basic configuration shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 6. 
Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above disclosure. For 
example, further devices to enhance the visibility of display device 10 
may be provided. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the display device 
may include a triangle 86 formed of a plurality of pivotally connected 
legs 88, 90, 92 and 94 and formed of a reflective material, adapted to be 
suspended from a location on one or more of the support poles forming 
staff 14; for example, supported by fastening the triangle to a screw 96 
projecting from support pole 28 (see FIG. 3). For compactness, legs 88 and 
90 are pivoted together, legs 88 and 92 are pivoted together, and legs 90 
and 94 are pivoted together about rivets 95, with legs 88 and 90 being 
substantially equal in length and larger than legs 92 and 94, the latter 
legs overlapping each other at 98 and cupled by attachment means such as 
clip 100 to form the lower side of the triangle. The screw 96 may 
conveniently fit into rivet 95. Other screws, 96a and 96b, may be provided 
for locating triangle 86 at different heights, relative to staff 14. When 
not in use, the triangle may be collapsed by removing clip 100 and 
rotating the legs and/or it may be removed from staff 14. It is to be 
understood, therefore, that the above-described embodiments are merely 
illustrative and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the 
art, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, 
as set forth in the appended claims.