Patent Publication Number: US-2017349192-A1

Title: Railroad Sign Fastener

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/343,966 filed on Jun. 1, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to railroad sign holders. 
     The conventional method of mounting a sign near a railroad track involves digging a hole and planting the sign in the ground. However, when railroad tracks are being laid the ground beneath and around the tracks is typically compacted to prevent shifting under the weight of a train or during minor earthquakes. As a result, compacted ground is difficult to dig through by hand and machinery is often not able to reach the area due to topographical and vegetative difficulties. It can take a substantial amount of time for workers to dig through by hand and could require the use of drills, sledgehammers, and jackhammers if the ground is rocky. 
     Furthermore, while crews are clearing a path for a train track they often also take advantage of the construction and clearing to lay piping and wiring. A hole being dug could result in accidentally severing piping and wiring. Severing a ground wire could shut down that rail line for hours until the wiring can be patched. After the sign is removed the hole creates a tripping hazard that may injure future workers and as such then requires the workers to refill the hole and subsequently compact the fill. Therefore, it is desirable to have a device by which a sign can be installed along a rail road without the digging of a hole. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of railroad sign holders now present in the known art, the present invention provides a railroad sign holder comprising a rod member, and a base member, the base member including an elongated section. The rod member comprising a signage member. The elongated section comprising a rail clamp configured to removably affix to a rail. The rail clamp comprising a first arm and a second arm, each arm slidably disposed to a clamp bolt. Each of the first arm and the second arm includes a channel, the channel of the first arm facing the channel of the second arm. Each of the channels configured to receive a flange of the rail wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when the user needs to install a sign along a railroad. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder. 
         FIG. 3  shows an alternate perspective view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the railroad sign holder. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. Unless specifically limited to a single unit, “a” is intended to be equivalent to “one or more” throughout the present disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder, and a close-up view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder, respectively. The railroad sign holder  100  provides a device for securing to a rail to display a signage member to oncoming trains and surrounding individuals. The railroad sign holder  100  comprises a rod member  102  and a base member  101 , wherein the base member includes an elongated section  114 . In the shown embodiment, the rod member  102  and a base member  101  are removably affixed. However, in alternative embodiments, the rod member  102  and a base member  101  are of unitary construction. The elongated section  114  comprising a rail clamp  103  configured to removably affix to a rail  109 , such as a train rail. The rail clamp  103  includes a first arm  201  and a second arm  108 , wherein the arms  201 ,  108  are slidably disposed to a clamp bolt  203 . The clamp bolt  203  is configured to allow each arm  201 ,  108  to adjust a distance therebetween. Each of the first arm  201  and the second arm  108  includes a channel  107 , wherein the channel  107  of the first arm  201  faces the channel  107  of the second arm  108 . Each of the channels  107  are configured to receive a flange  110  of the rail. In this way, the railroad side fastener  100  may be selectively positioned on opposing sides of a rail  109  such that the channels  107  of the arms  201 ,  108  clamp to the rail  109 . Thus, the base member  101  causes the rod member  104  to be oriented upright from the ground and laterally offset from rail  109 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the rod member  102  is removably affixed to a receiving section  113  of the base member  101 , wherein the receiving section  113  is configured to slidably engage the rod member  102 . Furthermore, the rail clamp  103  is removably affixed to the base member  101 , wherein the rail clamp  103  is configured to slidably engage the base member  101 . The shown configuration allows the rail clamp  103  to be adjustably secured to the base member  101  so as to allow the rail clamp  103  to extend into an extended configuration, and retract into a retracted configuration. This telescopic arrangement of the rail clamp  103  and the base member  101  provides for adjustment of the length of the railroad sign holder  100 . 
     The rod member  102  is configured to affix a signage member  111  thereto. The shown configuration also allows the rod member  102  to be adjustably secured to the base member  101  so as to allow the rod member  102  to extend into an extended configuration, and retract into a retracted configuration. This telescopic arrangement of the rod member  102  and the base member  101  provides for adjustment of the height of the railroad sign holder  100 . In some embodiments, the rod member  102 , the base member  101 , and the rail clamp  103  are a single contiguous piece and in other embodiments they are a plurality of pieces. In the shown embodiment, the elongated section is disposed perpendicular to the rod member whereas in other embodiments other angles are used. 
     In the shown embodiment, the base member  101 , the rod member  102 , and the rail clamp  103  are hollow tubular members with a square cross-section. In other embodiments, the base member  101 , the rod member  102 , and the rail clamp  103  are made in any suitable shape, with and without a plurality of apertures  104 . The base member  101 , the rod member  102 , and the rail clamp  103  each comprise a plurality of apertures  104  disposed at intervals therealong. In one embodiment, the plurality of apertures  104  are identically sized and are disposed throughout the length of and on every side of the base member  101 , the rod member  102 , and the rail clamp  103 . In other embodiments, the plurality of apertures  103  differ in number, spacing and size. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a pin  105  is configured to fasten the base member  101  to the rod member  102  via selectively inserting the pin  105  into a first pair of aligned apertures of the plurality of apertures  104  thereby allowing a user to select the desired height of the railroad sign holder  100 . Another pin  106  is configured to fasten the base member  101  to the rail clamp  103  via selectively inserting the pin  105  into a first pair of aligned apertures of the plurality of apertures  104  thereby allowing a user to select the desired length of the railroad sign holder  100 . The pins  105 ,  106  are configured such that they will not fall out from the vibrations of a passing train. In other embodiments, other numbers of pins  105   106  are used. In yet other embodiments, the base member  101 , the rod member  102 , and the rail clamp  103 , are fastened to one another via any suitable fastener. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder, and an alternate perspective view of an embodiment of the railroad sign holder, respectively. In the shown embodiment, the first arm  201  is fixed and the second arm  108  is slidably adjustable along the clamp bolt. The channel  107  of the first arm  201  is configured to receive a first flange  115  disposed on a first side  116  of the rail  109 , and the channel  107  of the second arm  108  is configured to receive a second flange  302  disposed on an opposing side  303  of the rail  109 . The clamp bolt in the shown embodiment is disposed along a lateral side of the rail clamp  103  such that the signage member  111  is in an upright position. In other embodiments, the clamp bolt is in other relative positions compared to the rail clamp  103  such as being disposed along an upper side of the rail clamp  103 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the signage member  111  includes a first face  301  having indicia thereon, the indicia configured to provide railroad signaling aspects and indications. In some embodiments, the signage member has a plurality of faces. In some embodiments, the indicia are words or symbols. In other embodiments, the indicia are lights. In yet other embodiments, other suitable types of indicia are used. 
     In use the shown embodiment of the railroad sign holder  100  is installed by transporting the base member  101 , rod member  102  and rail clamp  103  along with the pins  105 ,  106  to the designated site. There the user clears some space beneath the rail  109  and inserts the base member  101  into the rail clamp  103 . Thereafter the user secures the base member  101  to the rail clamp  103  using a pin  106 . After being joined the elongated section  114  is extended under the rail  109  and subsequently the rail clamp  103  is attached to the flange  110  of the rail  109 . The rod member  102  is then slid into the base member  101  and secured using a pin  105 . The cleared dirt and rocks are replaced around the base member  101  and rail clamp  103 . 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.