Abstract:
A portable safety traffic controller station is provided having a base unit having a rear base support, a front base support, and at least one transverse brace joining the rear base support and the front base support; a seat secured to a seat mounting frame, the seat mounting frame secured to the base unit; a rotationally movable sign pole supported by the base unit; a shading pole releasably mounted to the base unit; and means for shading releasably secured to the shading pole.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of traffic control devices, and more particularly to portable, collapsible traffic control stations.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A traffic safety operator or “flagperson” is routinely dispatched at roadway construction sites or other situations demanding management of traffic flow in a restricted area. The flagperson, while standing, most often operates a pole, typically having a sign mounted thereon, bearing STOP and SLOW directives. The flagperson may also be expected to manually direct traffic with hand flags, and verbally provide additional information to motorists. The flagperson is typically adorned with a bright colored, reflective safety vest as the only means for ensuring visibility to oncoming motorists.  
         [0003]     The flagperson&#39;s job demands that he or she be alert, since mistakes can lead to injury to motorists or highway construction workers otherwise concentrating on their tasks. However, the flagperson must continually fight fatigue and discomfort resulting from long hours of standing, in possibly hot temperatures typically generated by slow moving traffic and mid-day sunlight bearing down on highway pavement, as well as the distraction of inclement weather. The rigors of traffic signaling may unnecessarily preclude physically challenged individuals from participating in this line of work.  
         [0004]     Remote controlled traffic devices have been proposed to replace a human flagperson, but have not gained wide acceptance. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,052,067 and 5,422,638. Such devices take away the experience and instant decision-making capabilities of a human flagperson necessary to manage ever-changing traffic situations. Further, motorists often request information from flagpersons, or the flagperson is required to communicate additionally important information that the sign alone cannot, such as alternate traffic routes.  
         [0005]     There is therefore a need for a traffic control device that keeps the human at the site, in direct communication with the traffic management situation and with motorists; that provides comfort to a flagperson enabling long hours of alert flagging while minimizing fatigue; that enables physically challenged individuals or those with disabilities to work as flagpersons; provides additional safety by offering increased visibility to the worker that would otherwise be too bulky and impractical to wear; and that is collapsible and portable for ease of transport from one worksite to another.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a traffic control safety device exhibiting these required characteristics. A portable safety traffic controller station of the invention comprises a base unit having a rear base support, a front base support, and at least one transverse brace joining the rear base support and the front base support; a seat secured to a seat mounting frame, the seat mounting frame secured to the base unit; a rotationally movable sign pole supported by the base unit; a shading pole releasably mounted to the base unit; and means for shading releasably secured to the shading pole. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the safety traffic controller station of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the safety traffic controller station of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the safety traffic controller station of  FIG. 2 , particularly showing a flagperson, shown in phantom, utilizing the safety traffic controller station. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a safety traffic controller station  1  has a base unit  2  having a rear base support  3  and front base support  5  joined to a transverse brace  4 . The base unit  2  is preferably made from a lightweight, but mechanically strong material appropriate for ease of portability and the physical environment expected at construction sites. A preferred material is square hollow aluminum stock, such as a 2″×2″ sizing.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment, transverse brace  4  is bolted to the rear base support  3  and front base-support  5  for ease of disassembly. The transverse brace is preferably made from hollow aluminum stock, and, for example, may have a 3″×1″ sizing. The transverse brace  4  may be preferably bolted to rear and front base supports  3 ,  5  by use of, for example, hollow bolts utilizing nylon flat washers and upper and lower locking nuts (all not shown). Alternatively, additional transverse brace supports may join the rear and front base supports. Wheels may optionally be secured to the base unit  2 . As further shown in the Figures, safety lighting elements  60 , such as strobe lights approved for highway traffic control deployment, are affixed to the base unit  2 . Wiring for the lights may run internally through the hollow base unit members,  3 ,  4  and  5 . Rubber end caps, for example, may be affixed to open ends of the rear and front base supports, as well as the transverse brace.  
         [0012]     The transverse brace  4  has a first end  6  and a second end  7 . At positions on the transverse brace  4  adjacent first end  6  and second end  7 , cylindrical hollow mounts  41  of aluminum (or other appropriate material) are secured to the transverse brace (preferably by welding), extend upwardly, and are adapted to receive a sign pole  8  and a shading pole  9 . The sign pole  8  and shading pole  9  are preferably cylindrical and of a diameter slightly smaller than the mounts  41  affixed to the transverse brace  4 , so as to enable the sign pole  8  and shading pole  9  to be received within the mounts and remain rotatably mounted to the base unit  2 . The shading pole  9 , in particular, may be further secured, if desired, to the mount  41  by a locking pin through the shading pole  9  and the mount to prevent movement.  
         [0013]     Alternatively, the sign pole  8  or the shading pole  9  may, instead of being received in a mount  41 , be placed over a stud affixed to the base unit  2 , the stud having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the sign pole or shading pole that permits the poles placed thereon to be rotatable about the stud.  
         [0014]     The sign pole  8  is preferably made of a lightweight hollow material, such as PVC tubing, and is preferably a unitary structure, but may be secured in sections if desired. A sign  11  is affixed to the sign pole  8  at a top end  10 . The sign  11  is preferably releasably mounted to the sign pole  8  by, for example, bolts and wing nuts to promote easy disassembly and sign changes. Sign  11  is preferably reversible, and may communicate the conventional traffic management directives “STOP” on a first side, and “SLOW” on the opposing side. Other signs may be employed communicating different messages appropriate for the specific traffic situation.  
         [0015]     The sign pole  8  is preferably completely rotatable within the mount  41  upon which it is received so that traffic warnings communicated by the sign can be quickly changed by the operator. The sign pole  8  may further be adorned with additional conspicuity safety indicia, such as iridescent paint, reflective striping, or lighting. Alternatively, the sign pole  8  could be identically rotatably mounted to the front base support  5 .  
         [0016]     As noted, the shading pole  9  is supported within an upwardly extending mount  41  positioned on the base unit  2 , preferably at a position on the transverse brace  4  opposite the positioning of the sign pole  8  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  at a position adjacent to a first end  6 ). As noted, the mount is preferably made of hollow aluminum welded to the base unit  2 . The shading pole  9  is preferably made from hollow PVC or similar material. The shading pole  9  may be a unitary structure, but preferably comprises a primary shading base pole  12  actually positioned within the mount, and a height adjustment pole  13  secured to the primary shading base pole  12 , preferably by a locking pin mechanism exemplified by a cotter hitch pin or metal locking spring (not shown). The height adjustment pole  13  may telescopically engage the primary shading base pole  12 , and have a plurality of holes drilled therein to accommodate different extensions of the height adjustment pole  13  rising from the primary shading base pole  12 .  
         [0017]     At an end of the height adjustment pole  13  opposite the end secured to the primary shading base pole  12 , a conventional umbrella  14  may be releasably secured to the height adjustment pole  13 . An opened umbrella  14  may be employed to provide shade to the operator, as well as relief from precipitation. The umbrella  14  and/or shading pole  9  may further be adorned with additional conspicuity safety indicia, such as iridescent paint, reflective stripings, or lights.  
         [0018]     The umbrella pole  9  may instead be releasably secured to the rear base support  3  if desired. The umbrella  14  may be replaced with alternative shading means, such as a canopy or awning.  
         [0019]     Additionally, a clear vinyl enclosure (not shown) may be positioned or draped over the safety traffic controller station in lieu of an umbrella for additional protection from inclement weather. Such an embodiment may additionally be outfitted with a heating or cooling means, such as an electric heater or a fan.  
         [0020]     A seat mounting frame  20  preferably comprises two rear seat legs  21 ,  22  and a front seat leg  23 , all releasably secured to the base unit  2 , and supporting a seat  24 . The seat mounting frame is preferably made of hollow steel tubing, but is not limited to that material. In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , rear seat leg  21  has a first end  25  and a second end  26 . The first end  25  of the rear seat leg  21  is received over an upwardly protruding stud of solid aluminum (not shown) on the rear base support  3 , and is releasably secured thereto by, for example, a locking pin. A front seat leg  23  has a first end  27  and a second end  28 . The first end  27  of the front seat leg  23  is received over an upwardly protruding stud of solid aluminum (not shown) on the transverse brace  4 , and is releasably secured thereto by a locking pin, for example. A seat  24  is adjustably secured to the front seat leg  23  at the second end  28  of the front seat leg  23 .  
         [0021]     The seat  24  is preferably secured to a seat height adjusting pole  30 , preferably made from hollow aluminum tubing, which is telescopically received, and slidable within, the hollow front seat leg  23  at its second end  28 . By virtue of holes drilled through the seat height adjusting pole  30 , the preferred height of the seat  24  may be determined and the seat  24  releasably secured to the seat height adjusting pole  30  via a steel spring locking pin, for example.  
         [0022]     A rear seat leg  22  has a first end  31  and a second end  32 . In a manner similar for that of rear leg  21 , rear leg  22  is releasably secured by a locking pin to rear base support  3  by being received over an outwardly protruding stud (not shown) on the rear base support  3  at the first end  31  of the rear seat leg  22 .  
         [0023]     The front seat leg  23  is adapted to receive the second end  26  of the rear seat leg  21  and the second end  32  of the rear seat leg  22  at a position  29  on the front seat leg  23 , wherein two hollow standards (not shown) preferably made of hollow steel tubing are welded to the front seat leg  23  at an angle sufficient to accommodate the rear seat legs  21 ,  22 . The second ends  26  and  32  of the rear seat legs  21  and  22 , respectively, are slidably placed over the standards and the rear seat legs  21 ,  22  are releasably secured to the front seat leg  23  by, for example, a locking pin exemplified by a cotter hitch pin. In this manner, the seat mounting frame  20  is completely collapsible for ease of disassembly and portability.  
         [0024]     In a preferred embodiment, blind posts  33  and  34  are respectively affixed to rear seat legs  21  and  22 . Blind posts  33  and  34  are adapted to receive hand flags  35 , which are slidably inserted into blind posts  33 ,  34 . In this manner, hand flags  35  may be quickly accessed by the operator to, for example, direct traffic. Hand flags  35  can be easily stored in the blind posts  33 ,  34  when not in use.  
         [0025]     A power means  40 , such as a battery pack, is preferably mounted to the seat mounting frame  20 . A typical battery may be a 12 V, 5 Ah rechargeable sealed lead acid battery. The power means  40  are preferably housed within a battery case  42  made from, for example, plastic having a steel frame. The battery case  42  may additionally house a toggle switch for lighting elements affixed to the safety traffic controller station and wiring plug-in components for the system. The battery may be connected to a male 4-way plug, for example, that in turn connects to a female 4-way plug having cords running through the hollow aluminum stock of the of the base support to the lighting elements  60 . The male-female connection is preferably outside of the battery case  42 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  depicts how a flagperson may utilize a safety traffic controller station of the invention. As shown in phantom, a flagperson may support his weight by leaning on the seat while managing the rotatable sign pole, and having simultaneous access to the hand flags.  
         [0027]     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.