Patent ID: 12249255

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventors have realized multiple unmet needs in the arts of portable sign systems. Portable sign systems, such as those often seen along roads during road construction are:a. Highly vulnerable to damage from passing vehicles and construction equipment. The industry sustains an average of 1 in 6 signs destroyed by vehicle collisions per year. This damage primarily affects or destroys the trailer undercarriage (wheels, axles, lighting) in addition to the sign itself.b. Regularly vandalized and highly susceptible to theft. Trailer lights, trailer wheels, batteries, wiring, and even trailer axles are stolen.c. Tipped over by wind gusts. Most current sign structures attached to and dependent on trailers are only half as wide as they are long. Typical trailer construction is 7 feet wide by 14 feet long. Many of the attached signs are typically 7 feet high by 11 feet wide. The signs themselves act are large sails in high winds or strong wind gusts. At many wind angles, the signs are easily tipped over on their sides.d. Not designed to lower operational costs. The setup and takedown for a currently designed individual sign can easily exceed two hours.i. The stabilizers are currently located on the corners of the trailer. Most, if not all, are hand cranked, meaning it takes about 3 to 5 minutes per corner to deploy a stabilizer. The placement of these stabilizers is primarily used to level the signs and hold it up while the wheels are removed. Their location does not increase the sign footprint, meaning they minimally increase the sign stability in winds.ii. To prevent theft, the sign owners are forced to remove the wheels and even the axles, depending on the location.iii. In an ineffective attempt to keep the sign from tipping over, sandbags are used to weigh the sign down. The sandbags are transported in a truck, then manually placed all over the sign frame. This process takes up to 15 minutes to add the sandbags and another 15 minutes to remove the sandbags. Additionally, the typical sandbag weighs 40 pounds, introducing the strong possibility of back injuries.

The present inventors have realized that several fundamental changes to the system design can address multiple problems in the present art. This elegant solution or sort of one-solution-solves-several-problems is especially efficient and innovative, but is counterintuitive to the approach taken by existing suppliers engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling such portable sign systems. The present inventors' system design is addressing the total life cycle costs of the system design as opposed to the current existing manufacturers' approaches of only minimizing the manufacturing costs while not addressing the operational and maintenance costs for the purchasing entity.

One characteristic of currently designed portable sign systems is that they are universally and permanently provided with their own means of transportation, e.g., wheels, axles, etc. This old design means that when a unit is damaged, such as in a collision with a vehicle, not only is the sign subsystem damaged, but so is the frame, axle, etc., of the transportation subsystem. The trailer portion of the sign generally represents 25% of the total cost of the unit. The permanently integrated trailer portion of the sign means a greater repair cost, higher insurance costs, and higher maintenance costs. Further, current portable sign systems also have permanently attached towing devices (e.g., trailer hitch couplers). Theft of the units is made easy—anyone with a suitable towing hitch may cut through a simple padlock to steal the entire unit or require the owner to purchase unique and expensive locking mechanisms to prevent their theft.

The present inventors have realized and devised an invention, example embodiments of which are disclosed in the following paragraphs, which reduces thea. Acquisition costs (by significantly reducing the trailer costs).b. Repair costs.c. Insurance costs.d. Susceptibility to theft and vandalism.e. Significant operational costs in terms man hours sign setup and takedown.i. No requirement to remove or replace wheels on site to move it.ii. No requirement to remove or replace axles on site.iii. No requirement to load and remove sandbags.iv. Drill operated stabilizers to reduce setup time.f. Work related injuries.

Referring now toFIG.1, a side view100of an embodiment according to the present invention. This example embodiment will be illustrated with respect to an expensive LED or light-bulb electronic portable sign, but those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts will realize that the invention may equally be realized to other forms of portable signs including, but not limited to, static (fixed) message signs. The portable sign system has two subsystems: a deployable and separable sign subsystem200, and a transportation platform300. Both subsystems may be completely custom designed and built to interoperate with each other, and in other embodiments, one or both of the subsystems may be realized using existing hardware with certain adapters to achieve the invention.

The separable sign subsystem200has a sign or display panel201supported by a riser202and a riser base203to a sign base204. The sign panel201may be enclosed in a panel frame201′ in some embodiments. The sign subsystem base204is provided with one or more lift-stabilizers205, which of which has an earth-engaging foot208, lift or level adjuster207, and an attachment206to the sign subsystem200base204.

The transportation subsystem300has two or more wheels303attached via an axle to a transportation frame301and may include a hitch coupler304and a jack stand305to hitch to a tow vehicle such as a truck. This particular embodiment example resembles a custom or adapted trailer, and in other embodiments, it may resemble an intermodal trailer, a custom or adapted dolly, cart, etc.

Referring now toFIG.2, an embodiment according to the present invention of a separable and deployable sign subsystem200is shown in a configuration separated and deployed from a transportation subsystem. This is a side view, such as that inFIG.1, with the lift-stabilizers205rotated from their stowed position to their operational position, and with the feet208to the lift-stabilizers extended (lowered) to engage the ground and hold the sign subsystem above the transportation subsystem's height210.

FIG.3shows an embodiment300according to the present invention of a transportation subsystem, such as that illustrated inFIG.1, separated from a sign subsystem, ready to deploy or retrieve a sign subsystem. The mating clearance210allows the transportation portions of the overall system, namely the towing yoke302, frame301, coupler304, axle, wheels303, and associated vehicle lighting and registration plates to be removed from the site where the portable sign is deployed and used for a period of time. During this period of time, if the deployed and separated sign subsystem is subject to a collision, theft or vandalism, the cost of the transportation subsystem components is not involved and thereby saved. Further, by removing the primary means of transporting the sign subsystem, theft is significantly deterred.

These combined features and their benefits reduce the cost of manufacturing, purchasing, leasing, and operating a fleet of portable signs. For example, a sign fleet of 250 units now only requires 8 to 20 transportation subsystems for the 250 sign subsystems. Whereas the separable sign subsystems are expected to be less expensive individually than fully portable signs with permanently attached transportation means, this reduces fleet acquisition and operation costs significantly, including ancillary costs such as insurance.

FIG.4depicts400an embodiment according to the present invention of deploying or retrieving a separable sign system200using a corresponding transportation subsystem300. In this example, one can see that the mating clearance210which is defined by the minimum height to rise above the transportation subsystem to allow it to be rolled under or rolled away from401the deployed sigh subsystem200to leave a sigh system by a roadside, for example, or to retrieve it from a storage yard or at the end of usage at a construction zone, for example. The extendable or rotating lift-stabilizers of the invention increase the stance or distance between their points of contact with the ground to solve multiple issues:a. Significantly increases the sign stability in winds by doubling the base footprint in order to prevent tip overs.b. Effectively widens the narrow portion of the sign to almost be as wide as the sign structure is long, again preventing damage from wind tip overs.c. Eliminate the need for a third-party lifting device for the sign itself by using the stabilizers themselves to raise and lower the sign onto the trailer sub assembly.d. Accommodate the corresponding trailer, dolly, cart, etc., to be freely rolled underneath the sign subsystem without nearing the stabilizers.

FIG.5shows500a top-down view of an embodiment according to the present invention in which four lift-stabilizers205can be seen pivotally attached to the base204of a sign subsystem200. With the lift-stabilizers stowed in a position such as this, the combined transportation subsystem carrying the sign subsystem can be conveyed and navigated through ordinary traffic lanes or moving the sign to and from its point of use.

FIG.6illustrates500′ the same example embodiment according to the present invention ofFIG.5except the rotating action600of the lift-stabilizers and the optional rotating action601of the sign panel201are shown.

Please note that in at least one embodiment according to the present invention, one or more self-aligning devices are provided, such as pyramidal protrusions and matching recesses501,501′, are provided onto, into, with, in addition to, integral to, or a combination thereof, to the sign subsystem and the transportation subsystem. In this manner, custom transportation subsystems and “off the shelf” transportation subsystems may be adapted to carry, transport, deploy and retrieve the corresponding sign subsystem.

Embodiments of the Lift-Stabilizers. Options for embodiments according to the present invention for the lift-stabilizers include feet and/or height adjusters which can be lowered and raised by hand cranks and/or by power tools such as a cordless drill. The lift-stabilizers may be provided with surface-engaging feet or platforms, and in some embodiments, they may be provided with and earth anchor (e.g., ground screw or auger800) as shown400′ inFIG.8, such as those manufactured and sold by Sunmodo Corporation of Vancouver, Washington, USA. The earth anchor prevents the structure from being turned by the wind and then tipped over.

Besides the horizontally-swinging lift-stabilizers illustrated in the figures, still other options for the lift-stabilizers are units which rotate upwards for stowing, and units which include telescoping elements such as hollow square metal tubes that extend. Combinations of swinging horizontally, swinging vertically and/or extending telescopically are possible in some embodiments.

In at least one embodiment, the rotating or swingable lift-stabilizers will be approximately 3 feet long. Generally, a sign trailer is 7 feet wide and 14 feet long. With the 3-foot-long lift-stabilizers pivoted to a position 135° from across the width of the transportation subsystem (IE., 135° from along the length of the trailer), 2.1 feet of “footprint” is added in both length and width of the trailer for greatly increased stability against tipping over from wind. Such a configuration effectively increases the footprint of the deployed sign to 18.2 feet long by 11.2 feet wide, which is a 30% increase in length and 60% increase in width as compared to the trailer alone.

If the same example 3-foot long lift-stabilizers are rotated to 90° from along the length of the trailer (IE., parallel to the width of the trailer), then a full 3 feet of width to the footprint is added to the footprint of the deployed sign subsystem, with no addition to the length of the sign subsystem, resulting in a footprint that is 14 feet long (no change) by 13 feet wide, an 87% increase in footprint width.

With this example embodiment, the footprint of the deployed sign subsystem is essentially doubled compared to the footprint of a suitable trailer alone, which improves stability of the sign significantly. With the example 7′ by 14′ transportation subsystem, having a footprint of 98 square feet, and 3′ lift-stabilizers deployed at the 135° position, the deployed sign subsystem has a footprint of 11.2′ by 18.2′ for a total of 204 square feet, a 208% increase over the footprint of the transportation subsystem alone.

In an example embodiment of telescoping lift-stabilizers for a 7 foot wide sign structure, about 3 feet of square piping could be used for the extendable portion of the lift-stabilizer, such as square piping sliding inside of slightly larger square piping sleeve. Maintaining a foot of piping within the outer tube or sleeve for overlap and structural strength, a 90° positioned extension would add about 2 to the width of the footprint. This is also a significant improvement in stability, of course, but not as great of improvement as the longer swinging lift-stabilizer embodiment.

FIG.7illustrates700the improved footprint area702according to the present invention versus the normal trailer-only footprint area701of a currently available sign system (note the sign panel201is shown rotated in the normal position so that it can be viewed by oncoming traffic when the unit is parked alongside a roadway).

Sign Subsystem Embodiments. Options for embodiments according to the present invention for the sign subsystem include using a thick metal plate for the sign panel frame and/or riser that is sized to accommodate batteries, wiring harnesses, and other valuable components that are subject to theft. In this manner, the structure of the sign subsystem becomes a type of anti-theft locker or safe for the most valuable components.

Options for embodiments according to the present invention for the powering of active signs, such as LED or flip-disk signs, include solar panels, wind generators, batteries, chargers, and fossil fuel generators. Static, fixed-message signs may also benefit from active lighting to avoid reliance solely on reflectance for observability of the sign during low and no light conditions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Conclusion. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.