Patent Abstract:
A sign stand assembly includes a sign panel, support base and an upright mast between the two. The support base defines a locking recess and a hollow leg is pivotally connected to a plate portion and extending from the support base. A locking pin and actuator are carried within the hollow leg with the actuator including an outward protruding tab. The actuator includes a clevis portion defining an opening to receive the locking pin in interlocking engagement therewith.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to supporting devices such as those used for temporary warning signs and in particular to such support devices which employ adjustable legs and other adjustable components. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It has been found convenient to provide temporary warnings alongside vehicle roadways, pedestrian walkways and other locations. Typically, temporary warning systems are erected from a collapsed or small sized storage configuration of relatively small size. Examples of leg release devices may be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,954,008 and 6,315,253. A collapsible sign stand base for use with an upright fiberglass rib is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,601 and other arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,548,379; 4,593,879 and 5,340,068. Despite the favorable acceptance of these designs, improvements are continuously being sought. 
     Temporary warning signs typically employ ground-engaging legs configured with a base to support an upright mast. Typically, when the sign stand is deployed, the ground-engaging legs form an angle with the upright mast that is usually larger than 90°. It is generally preferred that a storage configuration be provided in which the legs are selectively collapsed or folded to a position generally parallel with the upright mast, in order to provide a compact storage and size suitable for construction vehicles and the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Oftentimes, ground-supporting legs are formed from hollow, rectangular tubing. If possible, it is beneficial to locate components of a leg release assembly within the tubing to prevent unintentional snagging with nearby materials. Furthermore, if most all of the leg release components can be located within the tubing, and optimally a compact storage configuration can be realized. However, until the advent of the present invention, at least some of the leg release components have been mounted outside of the legs, in order to provide a rugged construction, sufficient to adequately retain locking pins in a desired position, despite rough handling associated with construction work, as well as vibrations due to wind gusts. Substantially all of the leg release components employed by the present invention are located within the hollow tubular legs. Exceptions include only the locking pin tip and a smooth actuator button. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a release device for use with support arrangements, such as those found in sign stands. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a release device for use with support legs of collapsible sign systems. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide leg release devices which can be economically fabricated from a minimum number of inexpensive parts. 
     These and other objects according to principles of the present invention are provided in a sign stand assembly which is comprises of a sign panel, a support base, an upright mast joining the sign panel and support base. This support base includes a plurality of plate portions which define a locking recess, a plurality of legs that are pivotally connecting the legs to the plate portions. A locking pin carried on one leg, for movement toward and away from the locking recess defined by one leg. An actuator that has an end within said leg for pivotally engaging the pivotal connection. An opposed end with an outwardly protruding button that partially extends outside the leg and a medial portion within the leg that defines an opening for receiving the locking pin in interlocking engagement therewith. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of a sign stand assembly with a release mechanism according to principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof, with the sign stand assembly shown in a collapsed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support base portion thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  5   a — 5   a  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 a  showing a sequence of operation; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of a spring component thereof; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an actuator component thereof; 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the actuator component; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the actuator component thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the sign stand assembly; and 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the sign stand of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, the sign stand assembly is generally indicated at  10 . Sign stand assembly  10  includes a sign panel subassembly  12 , which includes a sign panel  14  supported by a horizontal cross member  16  and a vertical cross member  18 , preferably in the form of a fiberglass rib. The bottom portion  24  of the fiberglass rib  18  is mounted in a rib clamping device  34 , which is supported by a vertical body member  30 . Body member  30  is in turn bolted to a bracket  36  resiliently supported by a spring  50 . With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, spring  50  is supported by a support assembly  52  including a platform portion  54  supported between side plates  84 . Side plates  84  include ear portions  56  having holes  58  to receive a bolt fastener  92  which provides pivot support for ground-engaging legs  64  (see FIG.  1 ). Ears  56  further include holes  68  which, as will be seen herein, define an extended or operational configuration of the legs as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Ear portions  56  also include holes  72  which define a collapsed storage position for the legs  64 , as illustrated for example in FIG.  2 . As can be seen in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the tip  110  of locking pin  106  has a reduced diameter to accommodate the clevis or forked end  170  of actuator  150  (see FIG.  9 ). A shoulder  112  is formed in locking pin  106  for butting engagement with end  170  of actuator  150 . Thus, actuator  150  and locking pin  106  form a linkage assembly. Actuator  150  is received in a slot  66  formed in a side wall of leg  64  (see also FIG.  3 ). Actuator  150  cooperates with leg  64  and locking pin  106  in the manner which maintains actuator  150  captive within the leg. With reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the holes  58  which receive the bolt fasteners  92  are located at inner portions of the ears  56  while the locking holes  68 ,  72  are located at outer portions. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, ear portions  56   a ,  56   b  preferably form part of an integral side plate  84  while ear portions  56   c ,  56   d  form portions of a second side plate  86 . Preferably, side plates  84 ,  86  are mirror images of one another although this feature is optional, and can be omitted, if desired. With further reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the legs  64  extend outwardly from outer surface portions  84   a ,  86   a  of side plates  84 ,  86 . Pivot members in the form of bolt fasteners  92  pivotally connect legs  64  to the ear portions of side plates  84 ,  86 . The legs  64  are located to one side of the ear portions with the bolt fasteners passing through the legs and ear portions. Bolt fasteners  92  have heads located adjacent the inner surfaces  84   b  and  86   b . The bolt fasteners  92  extend through legs  64  and are terminated at their free ends by threaded nut fasteners  94 . As can be seen in FIG. 4, the legs  64  comprise hollow tubing and have a preferred generally square cross-sectional shape. If desired, legs  64  can have an elongated, rectangular or non-square cross-sectional shape. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, bolts  92  pass through holes  58  formed in the ear portions  56  of plates  84 ,  86 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , a release assembly is generally indicated at  102 . The release assembly  102  selectively interferes with the legs  56  to lock the legs either in the operational position shown in FIG. 1 or the storage position shown in FIG.  2 . As mentioned, the legs  64  pivot about bolts  92  which are secured to the inner portions of the ears  56 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5-10, release assembly  102  includes a locking pin  106  having a head  108  and a tip or free end  110 . The locking pin  106  is carried by leg  64  and preferably extends through the hollow interior of the leg. In FIG. 3, the locking pin  106  is illustrated as extending beyond the outer surface of ear  56  for illustrative purposes. If desired, the locking pin  106  can be configured such that the free end  110  is located at or slightly recessed below the outer surface of ear  56 . 
     In FIG. 5 a , the locking pin  106  is shown in a fully extended or locked position. In the preferred embodiment, locking pin  106  has a generally cylindrical body although other cross-sectional shapes can be employed, if desired. Locking pin  106  has a first end  110  of reduced diameter compared to the opposed end  108  and remainder of the locking pin body. A stepped shoulder  112  (see FIG. 5 b ) is formed at the transition of the two diameter sizes of the locking pin. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , shoulder  112  provides abutting engagement with the forked or clevis end  170  of actuator  150  (see FIG.  9 ). As will be seen herein, the large diameter body portion of locking pin  106  is formed with an annular recess for receiving a spring member  120 . If desired, the recess need not be annular, but can be comprised of linear recesses cut parallel to a tangent. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , release assembly  102  further includes a spring member  120 . The spring member  120  is preferably of a flat spring construction having first and second ends and a medial portion between the ends. The first end  122  of the spring defines a relatively shallow recess  124  giving the spring end  122  a forked or stirrup configuration. As schematically indicated in FIG. 3, recess  124  at least partially receives bolt  92 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 6, the opposed end  128  of spring  120  defines a relatively deeper recess  130  which extends toward spring end  122 . As can be seen in FIG. 6, the recesses  124 ,  130  are similar to one another, being located along the longitudinal center line of spring  120 , but differ in their length. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the free end  128  of spring  120  is free to move back and forth, toward and away from bolt  92  and locking pin  106 . Recess  130  is made sufficiently long so as to permit locking pin  106  to extend through recess  130  in the manner indicated. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 5-9, release assembly  102  further includes an actuator  150  having a generally curved or C-shaped body including a first end  170  with a recess  154  for receiving bolt  92 . The opposed end  158  of actuator  150  includes a handle or tab  160  having a rounded free end portion. In the preferred embodiment, the tab  160  of actuator  150  is relatively flat although it can take on a non-flat or profiled shape, if desired. 
     Referring again to FIG. 7, the central portion  156  of actuator  150  defines a stepped portion of reduced width allowing the actuator to be inserted through the slot  66  in leg  64 . The shoulders formed at the transition of the tab  160  and central portion  156  help to hold actuator  150  captive in leg  64 , while allowing the actuator to undergo a rocking action about its curved portion  158  (see FIG.  8 ). 
     Referring again to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , as tab  160  is depressed, locking pin  106  is moved in the direction of arrow  166  (see FIG. 5 b ), due to the interlocking of actuator  150  and pin  106 . As tab  160  is depressed, the slotted portion of locking pin  106  pushes against spring  120  causing the spring to compress or flatten slightly, with free end  128  of the spring moving in the direction of arrow  168  (see FIG. 5 b ). This stores spring energy which urges actuator  150  to return to its rest position illustrated in FIG. 5 a . With tab  160  sufficiently depressed (see FIG. 5 b ), the free end  110  of locking pin  106  is made to clear the plate ear portion  56 , allowing the leg to be pivoted about bolt fastener  92 , with the leg assuming its desired orientation. Referring to FIG. 11, a U-shaped shield plate  170  is secured to the outer surface of leg  64  which faces ear portion  56 . Preferably, leg  64  is made of relatively soft aluminum material desirable for its strength and relatively lightweight characteristics. The optional shield  170  toughens the outer surface of leg  64  which would otherwise be subjected to wear as the leg  64  is pivoted between its collapsed or rest position (see FIG. 2) and its extended or operating position (see FIG.  1 ). Shield  170  is preferably made of a mild steel material. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 11, it will be seen that the tab portion  160  is slightly curved or bent with respect to the adjacent body portion of actuator  150 . This configuration effectively shields the free end  110  of the locking pin  106  and presents a conveniently engageable surface for the operator of the supporting device. When employed with a sign stand arrangement, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, an operator can rest the collapsed supporting device (see FIG. 2) on the ground, and use the actuator as a foot operated release while guiding the free ends of legs  64  to their desired positions as shown in FIG.  1 . As shown in FIG. 5 b , the locking pin  106  is “bottomed out” with full travel of actuator  150 . At this extreme position, tab portion  160  is preferably maintained a spaced distance from ear portion  56 . 
     The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4