Patent Publication Number: US-6338214-B1

Title: Modular sign display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to roadway signage and, more specifically, to a kit which can be used on site to create warning signs as to potentially hazardous conditions, such as construction sites and/or the presence of maintenance crews. The criteria for the size, number, and words of said signs is dictated by standards published by the Department of Transportation. The present invention is comprised of a kit having one or more blank signs conforming to said standards wherein the sign being constructed from any appropriate material has strips of ferrous-like material applied to the surface of said sign whereby a number of magnetic letters and symbols conforming to said standards can be removably attached to said blank sign. The positioning of said letters is also mandated by the DOT and described under the “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices” and it is this standard which is embossed or imprinted on a template having means for placing said template onto a blank sign in a consistent manner and positioning a plurality of letter according to the dictates located on the front and back face of the template. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Construction warning signs call attention to conditions on, adjacent to, a highway or street that are potentially hazardous to traffic operations. These diamond shaped signs with orange background and black lettering are required to warn of existing or possible hazards on or along the highway. Such signs are defined in (MUTCD) manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices approved by the Federal Highway Administrator as the national standard. The standard sign in use is a four foot by four foot sign but requirements may be as small as three feet by three feet up to eight feet by eight feet and perhaps greater. The quantity required for any given job may be as little as one sign up to as many as thirty, possibly more. The wording requirements are defined as national standards but may be varied as needed for specific requirement. This requires that companies performing work along roadways maintain a considerable inventory of various sized signs and various words. This has led to an undesirable burden placed on such companies in that not only must they store and maintain this inventory but must also be able to cart them to a job site. 
     It is with this in mind that it is felt that a need exists for the present invention which will allow these companies to carry a kit comprising one or more blank signs, a quantity of magnetic letters, and a template having the various guidelines for the placement of said letters whereby the necessary warning signs can be assembled on the job site on a need be basis. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to roadway signage and, more specifically, to a kit which can be used on site to create warning signs as to potentially hazardous conditions, such as construction sites and/or the presence of maintenance crews. The criteria for the size, number, and words of said signs are dictated by standards published by the Department of Transportation. The present invention is comprised of a kit having one or more blank signs conforming to said standards wherein the sign being constructed from any appropriate material has strips of ferrous-like material applied to the surface of said sign whereby a number of magnetic letters conforming to said standards can be removably attached to said blank sign. The positioning of said letters is also mandated by the DOT and described under the “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices” and it is this standard which is embossed or imprinted on a template having means for placing said template onto a blank sign in a consistent manner and positioning a plurality of letter according to the dictates located on the front and back face of the template. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a means for assembling one or more warning signs at a job site location meeting the Department of Transportation standards as outlined in the (MUTCD) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit having one or more blank signs having strips of ferrous-like material imbedded within the surface of said blank signs. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit having one or more blank signs having strips of ferrous-like material imbedded within the surface of said blank signs and a quantity of magnetic letters which can be attached to the ferrous-like strips located on said sign. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a kit having one or more blank signs having strips of ferrous-like material imbedded within the surface of said blank signs and a quantity of magnetic letters which can be attached to the ferrous-like strips located on said sign and a template having engraved, embossed, or imprint on the front and rear face of said template the placement, spacing, and alignment of the magnetic lettering used to create the warning signs. It should also be noted that the magnetic media is not limited to the alphabet but may include numbers, symbols, and pictures. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of a motor vehicle approaching a highway warning sign which has been constructed using a blank sign, magnetic lettering and a template which was used in the placement of the warning sign message. 
     FIG. 1A is an enlarged front elevation of the sign of the present invention as shown in FIG.  1 . Shown is a sign blank having a road warning message assembled thereon using the template of the present invention to determine the proper placement of said letters. 
     FIG. 1B is a front elevation of the sign blank of the present invention which will be used as the base for the placement of the lettering used in the warning sign. 
     FIG. 1C is a front elevation of the sign blank of the present invention showing the ferrous material removed from the sign blank. 
     FIG. 1D is an illustration of some of the letters which can be enclosed with the kit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the template of the present invention. Shown in dotted are two alignment projections located on the rear of the template which are used to position the template at the appropriate location on the sign. Also engraved, embossed or imprinted on the template are commonly used words found on warning signs. Also shown are numbers and tic marks indicating the positioning of the first letter of the word being constructed on the sign blank. This side of the template will align with the middle row of the warning sign when placed at the top of the sign. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the template of the present invention. Shown in dotted are two alignment projections located on the rear of the template which are used to position the template at the appropriate location on the sign. Also engraved, embossed or imprinted on the template are commonly used words found on warning signs. Also shown are numbers and tic marks indicating the positioning of the first letter based on the number of letters in the word being constructed. This side of the template will align with the first row of the warning sign when placed at the top of the sign. When rotated 180 degrees and held to the bottom of the sign the template will align with the third row of the warning sign. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the template showing the alignment projections of the template. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a warning sign being constructed. Shown is the template placed on the top edges of the sign for positioning the first word of sign text. 
     Wherein the first word has four letters the upper left hand corner of the first letter is placed under the tic mark labeled four. 
     FIG. 5A is a front elevation of the warning sign shown in FIG.  5 . Shown is the first word having been completed, the template is reversed and again placed on the top edges of the sign wherein it will align with the second row. Wherein the second word has twelve letters, the upper left hand corner of the first letter is placed under the tic mark labeled twelve. 
     FIG. 5B is a front elevation of the warning sign shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. Shown is the second word having been completed the template is reversed and placed on the bottom of the sign wherein it will align with the third row. Wherein the third word has five letters, the lower left hand corner of the first letter is placed above the tic mark labeled five. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken from FIG. 1A as indicated. Shown is a backing material used for the blank sign having ferrous-like strips embedded within the backing material having an upper an lower ledge. The upper ledge is used to support the template in a parallel horizontal position from the center of the sign and the lower edge is used to support the magnetized letters. 
     FIGS. 7-7A is a description of the method used to create a warning sign from the components of the sign kit. 
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used the drawings. 
       10  present invention 
       12  vehicle 
       14  warning sign 
       15  pole 
       16  highway 
       17  ground 
       18  warning sign message 
       20  sign blank 
       22  ferrous material 
       24  sign letters 
       26  template 
       28  alignment projections 
       29  exemplary words 
       30  numbers 
       31  number of letters 
       32  tic marks 
       34  top edge of sign 
       36  first word 
       38  second word 
       40  bottom edge of sign 
       42  third word 
       44  backing material 
       46  ferrous-like strips 
       48  upper ledge 
       50  lower ledge 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 7A illustrate the present invention being a kit for assembly of a road sign. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is an illustration of a motor vehicle  12  approaching a highway  16  warning sign  14  which has been constructed using a blank sign, magnetic lettering and a template which was used in the placement of the warning sign message  18 . Sign  14  is attached to pole or support  15  which is placed in the ground  17 . 
     Turning to FIG. 1A, shown therein is an enlarged front elevation view of the sign  14  of the present invention  10  as shown in FIG.  1 . Shown is a sign blank  20  having a road warning message  18  assembled thereon using the template of the present invention  10  to determine the proper placement of said letters as explained hereinafter. 
     Turning to FIG. 1B, shown therein is a front elevation of the sign blank  20  of the present invention  10  which will be used as the base member for the placement of the lettering used in the warning sign. 
     Turning to FIG. 1C, shown therein is a front elevation of the sign blank  20  of the present invention  10  showing the ferrous material  22  removed from the sign blank  20 . 
     Turning to FIG. 1D, shown therein is an illustration of some of the array or plurality of letters and numbers  24  which can be enclosed with the kit of the present invention  10  and used to create various types of warning messages  18  for the road signs. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is a front elevation of the template  26  of the present invention. Shown dotted are two alignment projections  28  located on the rear of the template  26  which are used to position the template  26  at the appropriate location on the sign blank  20  as will be explained hereinafter. Also engraved, embossed or imprinted on the template  26  are commonly used exemplary words  29  found on warning signs along with the number of letters  31  contained therein. Also shown are numbers  30  and tic marks  32  indicating the positioning of the first letter of the word being constructed on the sign blank. This front side of the template  26  will align with the middle row of the warning sign when placed at the top of the sign  20  as will be explained hereinafter. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is a rear elevation of the template  26  of the present invention. Shown dotted are two alignment projections  28  located on the rear of the template  26  which are used to position the template  26  at the appropriate location on the sign. Also engraved, embossed or imprinted on the template are commonly used exemplary words  29  found on warning signs along with the number of letters  31  contained therein. Also shown are numbers  30  and tic marks  32  indicating the positioning of the first letter based on the number of letters in the word being constructed. This rear side of the template  26  will align with the first row of the warning sign  20  when placed at the top of the sign. When rotated 180 degrees and held to the bottom of the sign  20  the template  26  will align with the third row of the warning sign. 
     Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a side view of the template  26  showing the front and rear alignment projections  28  of the template perpendicular to the template. 
     Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a front elevation of a warning sign blank  20  being constructed with. Shown is the template  26  in operative connection placed on the top edges  34  of the sign  20  for positioning the first word of sign text. Since the first word  36  has four letters  24  the upper left hand corner of the first letter is placed under the tic mark  32  labeled four to insure proper placement and positioning of the word  36  on the sign  20 . 
     Turning to FIG. 5A, shown therein is a front elevation of the warning sign blank  20  shown in FIG.  5 . Shown is the first word  36  having been completed. The template  26  is then reversed and again placed on the top edges  34  of the sign  20  wherein it will align with the second row. Since the second word  38  has twelve letters, the upper left hand corner of the first letter is placed under the tic mark  32  labeled twelve to insure proper placement and positioning of the word  38  on the sign  20 . 
     Turning to FIG. 5B, shown therein is a front elevation of the warning sign blank  20  shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. Shown is the first word  36  and the second word  38  having been completed. The template  26  is then reversed and placed on the bottom edge  40  of the sign  20  wherein it will align with the third row. Since the third word  42  has five letters, the lower left hand corner of the first letter is placed above the tic mark  32  labeled five to insure proper placement and positioning of the word  42  on the sign  20 . 
     Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken from FIG. 1A as indicated. Shown is a backing material  44  used for the flat body of the blank sign  20  having magnetic or ferrous-like strips  46  embedded within the backing material  44  having an upper ledge  48  and lower ledge  50 . The upper ledge  48  is used to support the template  26  in a parallel horizontal position from the center of the sign  20  and the lower ledge  50  is used to support the magnetized letters  24 . The blank sign  20  could also be made of ferrous material so that the magnetic letters  24  could be attached directly thereto. 
     Turning to FIGS. 7-7A, shown wherein is a description of the method used to create a warning sign from the components of the sign kit.