Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/700,002, filed Sep. 12, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hand-held road sign further having an illumination means located thereon. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Construction on roads is a common occurrence. Sometimes, the construction needs to be performed on roads that are still in use. The most common method of doing this is to block off part of the road and provide traffic control. The traffic control is most commonly conducted by a pair of construction personnel communicating together to allow traffic to flow on one (1) side and halting traffic on the other, then reversing this action as required. The use of hand-held signs, usually indicating “STOP” and “SLOW” on reversible sides, accomplishes this task. Personnel directing traffic is an inherently dangerous activity, especially if conducted at night or in low light level conditions. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means to provide a safe and effective method for directing the flow of traffic under these conditions. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
     Prior art in this field consist of simplistic posts having a sign affixed thereto or complex, heavy devices Simplistic posts devices provide no illumination. Some of these simplistic post devices have stands about which a user can rotate the post and have it stand freely, but none incorporate the lighting means and features that the present invention does. Complex, heavy devices are expensive and unwieldy. Furthermore, many complex devices are not suitable for a single user. It is an object of this invention to provide a road sign having an illumination means to display the command signs for directing traffic during low-light conditions. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a means to control the illumination of the signs. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a means to selectively employ the apparatus in a hand-held version or a freestanding version. 
     A further objective is to provide a means to supply the apparatus with a renewable source of electrical energy. A beneficial aspect of this invention is to provide a means to compactly stow the apparatus for ease of transport. 
     The apparatus comprises a sign assembly, having illuminating sources in connection with a rechargeable battery source and solar cells. Once illuminated, the indicia of the sign are enhanced, allowing a user to direct and control the flow of traffic without the need of ambient light. The apparatus is provided with a set of bases that enables use of a hand-held version and a freestanding version. The device is a light-weight, simple, and effective means to enable a worker to adequately direct and control traffic in low-light situations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The apparatus comprises a handle portion extending to, and being integral with, a sign panel portion. The handle is provided with an ergonomic grasping segment and a mode switching assembly. The interior of the handle houses the various electronics and microprocessors to enable command and control of the illumination of the apparatus. The mode switching assembly controls the electrical power being supplied to illumination sources that are disposed within the sign panel portion of the apparatus. The apparatus is further provided with solar cell panels and a rechargeable battery to collect solar light, convert it to electrical energy, and store that energy for later use. The sign panel portion comprises a shaped perimeter framework and a panel having colored backgrounds and indicia to assist with directing and controlling traffic. Illumination sources are placed within the perimeter edges of the sign panel portion to adequately illuminate the sign panel when activated by the mode switch. Software is employed to supply the microprocessors with the necessary algorithmic functions to receive, regulate, and distribute electrical power within the apparatus. 
     The configuration of the handle affords the employment of the apparatus in a freestanding manner or in a hand-held supported manner. The apparatus is provided with a two-base system to facilitate such a use. In a hand-held manner, a first base is used to insert the handle into and permit free rotation of the handle. In a freestanding manner, a second base, having a plurality of support legs, is used in conjunction with the first base. A user inserts the second base into the first base, allowing the bases to hold the apparatus upright, but also affording the ability to freely rotate the apparatus to effectively direct and control traffic. The support legs are foldable to facilitate easy and compact storage when not in use. In either embodiment, the power source and control equipment housed within the handle are exploited to illuminate the sign panel when desired. In either embodiment, a battery compartment door is accessible to replace the rechargeable battery held within, if the situation to replace the battery arises. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a first side portion  21   a  of an illuminated hand-held road sign  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a second side portion  21   b  of the illuminated hand-held road sign  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a second side portion  21   b  of the illuminated hand-held road sign  10 , showing the legs  82  in a stowed position, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a partial sectional view of the illuminated hand-held road sign  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   b  is another partial sectional view of the illuminated hand-held road sign  10  also taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), depicting a first base section  60  and a second base section  80 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical block diagram of the illuminated hand-held road sign  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  illuminated hand-held road sign 
               20  sign panel 
               21   a  first side surface 
               21   b  second side surface 
               22  lamp 
               23  illumination 
               24   a  first indicia 
               24   b  second indicia 
               26  border 
               30  top portion 
               35  bottom portion 
               40  handle section 
               42  mode switch 
               44   a  first push button switch 
               44   b  second push button switch 
               60  first base section 
               62  spring fastener 
               63   a  button 
               63   b  fastening means 
               64  rotation feature 
               66  aperture 
               80  second base section 
               82  leg 
               84  hinge 
               90  solar cell 
               92  control module 
               93  battery 
               94  battery compartment door 
               96  wiring 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , views of first side surface  21   a  and second side surface  21   b  portions of the illuminated hand-held road sign (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  provides an illuminated road sign panel  20  preferably comprising appropriately shaped perimeter and background coloring portions which correspond to various warning or directing messages displayed thereupon. The sign panel  20  further comprises first  21   a  and second  21   b  side surfaces which provide respective permanently affixed first indicia  24   a  and second indicia  24   b  portions. The sign panel  20  further comprises a plurality of illuminating lamps  22  along perimeter edges upon both side surfaces  21   a ,  21   b , and a top-mounted solar cell  90 . Additionally, both side surfaces  21   a ,  21   b  provide border portions  26  being slightly inset from said illuminating lamps  22  which extend around and parallel to said perimeter edge portions. 
     The indicia  24   a ,  24   b  is envisioned to take the form of large alphanumeric lettering which depict common traffic control messages such as, but not limited to: “stop”, “slow”, “caution”, “10 MPH”, and the like. The lamps  22  are arranged along perimeter edges of each surface  21   a ,  21   b  of the apparatus  10  to provide advance warning to approaching motorists. The side surfaces  21   a ,  21   b , borders  26 , and indicia  24   a ,  24   b  are envisioned to be made using contrasting and correctly colored reflective and non-reflective materials such as adhesively bonded vinyl or other polymer material in accordance with applicable governmental regulations. 
     The lamps  22  are preferably flush-mounted light-emitting-diodes (LED) being powered by a top-mounted photovoltaic solar cell  90  and/or an internal rechargeable batteries  93 . The solar cell  90  collects solar energy which in turn provides a charging current to at least one (1) rechargeable battery  93  located within a handle section  40  of the apparatus  10 . The illumination  23  from the lamps  22  is to be controlled via a mode switch  42  and a pair of lamp activating push button switches  44   a ,  44   b  (see  FIG. 4   a ). 
     The handle section  40  is integral to and extends downwardly from a bottom edge of the sign panel  20 . The handle section  40  forms a hollow ergonomic cylindrical grasping portion of the apparatus  10 . The handle section  40  further comprises a multi-positional sliding mode switch  42  allowing selection of various illumination functions of the lamps  22  such as, but not limited to: “power off”, “flash” mode, and a continuous (“cont.”) illumination mode. The lamp activating push button switches  44   a ,  44   b  activate the lamps  22  located upon respective side surfaces  21   a ,  21   b  of the sign panel  20  in an independent manner (also see  FIG. 4   a ). 
     The handle section  40  allows an operator to hold and support the sign panel  20  or may be utilized in a “free-standing” manner via removable insertion into a subjacent first base section  60 . The first base section  60  and conjoined second base section  80  portion combine to provide a stationary multi-leg structure, thereby allowing an operator to rest the sign panel  20  and handle  40  portions within, and allow the operator to rotate the sign panel  20  in a desired orientation as needed, so as to direct a desired surface  21   a ,  21   b  of the sign panel  20  toward oncoming traffic. The first base section  60  acts to upwardly extend the second base section  80 , being removably attached to said second base section  80  via a spring fastener  62  which provides disassembly and compact storage (see  FIG. 4   b ). 
     The sign panel  20  and handle section  40  may be used in a “hand-held” manner or in conjunction with the multi-leg-style first  60  and second  80  base sections in a “free-standing” manner. The second base section  80  is affixed to the first base section  60  in a linear manner to allow a user to support the apparatus  10 , when desired. 
     The second base section  80  comprises a tubular structure further comprising a plurality of folding leg portions  82  along a bottom end being pivotingly affixed thereto via respective hinge portions  84 , thereby enabling compact folded storage of the legs  82  against the second base section  80  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4   a , a partial sectional view of the apparatus  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  provides internal power and control equipment to illuminate  23  the lamps  22 , including the aforementioned mode switch  40 , a first push button switch  44   a  to energize lamps  22  located along the first side portion  21   a  of the sign panel  20 , a second push button switch  44   b  to energize lamps  22  located along the second side portion  21   b  of the sign panel  20 , a control module  92 , and at least one (1) rechargeable battery  93 . 
     The push button switches  44   a ,  44   b  are envisioned to comprise standard contact-closure components which provide an input signal, enabling the control module  92  to direct power to lamps  22  upon a selected side surface  21   a ,  21   b . The apparatus  10  is powered by a rechargeable battery  93  located within the handle section  40  which may be accessed for replacement through a battery compartment door  94 . The control module  92  is envisioned to comprise a microprocessor-based electronic device capable of regulating power from the aforementioned solar cell portion  90  to charge the battery  93 . Additionally, the control module  92  comprises embedded software to direct current from the battery  93  to the lamps  22  in accordance with the positions of the switches  42 ,  44   a ,  44   b , to produce a desired illuminated effect  23 . All electrical and electronic portions of the apparatus  10  are to be connected internally using common insulated copper wiring  96 . 
     The first base section  60  comprises a hollow cylindrical structure having an open-top design, in which an internal protruding annular rotation feature  64  is located at a recessed position within the first base section  60 . The features of the first base section  60  allow insertion of, and rotating support of, a bottom edge portion of the handle section  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4   b , another partial sectional view of the apparatus  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), depicting a first base section  60  and second base section  80 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The first base section  60  is removably attached to the second base section  80  via insertion and subsequent attachment using a spring fastener  62 . Said features provide disassembly and compact storage of the apparatus  10 . The spring fastener  62  preferably comprises a spring-loaded button-type fastener being mounted to an inner surface of the first base section  60  using a fastening means  63   b  such as a rivet, screw, or the like. The spring fastener  62  further comprises an integral and perpendicularly extending button portion  63   a  which protrudes through and engages an aperture portion  66  of the second base section  80 , thereby allowing a user to depress the button  63   a  and remove the first base section  60 . It is understood that other locking mechanisms may be provided which join the first base section  60  to the second base section  80  with equal benefit, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an electrical block diagram of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The control module  92  comprises a microprocessor-based unit having embedded software capable of receiving, regulating, and distributing electrical power from the battery  93  and the solar cell  90  to both charge the battery  93  and to illuminate  23  particular groups of the lamps  22 , based upon the positions of the mode switch  42  and the push button switches  44   a ,  44   b.    
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  in a “hand-held” manner may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired perimeter shape, background color, and indicia portions  24   a ,  24   b  upon respective side surfaces  21   a ,  21   b ; loading at least one (1) rechargeable battery  93  into the handle section  40  using the battery compartment door  94 ; pre-charging the battery  93  or exposing the solar cell  90  to direct sunlight for a period of time until the battery  93  is charged; grasping the handle section  40  in one&#39;s hand; activating the apparatus  10  by sliding the mode switch  42  to select either the “flash” or “continuous” mode; activating illumination  23  of lamp portions  22  upon one (1) or both side surfaces  21   a ,  21   b  of the sign panel  20  by pressing respective push button switches  44   a ,  44   b ; directing a desired first  21   a  or second  21   b  side surface of the sign panel  20  toward oncoming vehicular traffic to communicate a warning; and, benefiting from enhanced traffic control afforded a user of the configurable and illuminated  23  present invention  10 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  in a “stand-alone” manner using the first base section  60  and second base section  80  portions may be achieved by performing the following steps: preparing the second base section  80  for use by extending the leg portions  82  from a collapsed state to an outwardly extended state by pivoting said legs  82  about the hinges  84  until obtaining a mechanically limited position; inserting a bottom end of the first base section  60  into the open-topped portion of the second base section  80 ; engaging and locking the spring fastener  62  portion of the first base section  60  through the aperture portion  66  of the second base section  80 ; inserting the handle section  40  into the top opening portion of the first base section  60 ; and, utilizing the apparatus  10  in a stable “stand-alone” manner to warn or direct oncoming traffic, as well as freeing-up an operator to perform additional tasks. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Technology Category: e