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(11) | EP 0 140 950 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
INFORMATION BOARD, PARTICULARLY FOR ROAD USERS ANZEIGETAFEL INSBESONDERE FÜR STRASSENBENUTZER PANNEAU INDICATEUR, NOTAMMENT POUR LES UTILISATEURS DE LA ROUTE |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention is related to an information board which is particularly intended to be set up on roads and other places frequented by traffic to provide the road users with information and directions.
[0002] A large number of traffic signs and direction boards for road users are set up along the roads. These signs and boards have to be set up close to the roads and should be comparatively large, so that the road users can easily perceive the given information. Dueto their position and their size the signs and boards are frequently exposed to heavy strains and applied loads, particularly.in connection with snow-clearance work, especially snow- pioughing. Therefore, it is highly desirable that the signs and boards are made very solid, so that expensive repairs and maintenance can be avoided as much as possible.
[0003] It is previously known to provide road signs and road boards with flanged edges, forming projecting flanges on the back, to make the signs and boards more resistant to the heavy strains and applied loads. However, this kind of reinforcement will only give a satisfactory result on small signs and boards. It is therefore common to provide large signs and boards with rails or frames of wood on their backs. Such constructions, however, are heavy and cumbrous, because the rails and frames have to be attached to the signs and boards during their manufacture to give the desired effect. This will make it more difficult and more expensive to set up the signs and boards. Furthermore, these reinforcements may only give a satisfactory strength along the edges of the signs and boards. The central areas of the signs and boards may therefore easily be damaged.
[0004] The main object of the invention is to provide an information board which is more resistant than the signs and boards now in use and which is easy to transport and to set up.
[0005] According to this invention there is provided an information board, particularly for road users, comprising a plane sheet, the front side of which is provided with the information, the sheet having at least one lower horizontal edge which is flanged to form a flange projecting from the back of the sheet substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet; and at least one supporting post to which the plane sheet is attached by fastening means wherein a profiled plate is provided located adjacent the back of the plane sheet and covering substantially the whole back of the plane sheet, the profiled plate having a plurality of ridges, each having a height which is at least equal to the width of the said projecting flange, the profiled plate being squeezed between the back of the plane sheet and the supporting post.
[0006] Preferably the ridges of the profiled plate abut the plane sheet and the lower edge of the profiled plate rests upon the flange of the plane sheet.
[0007] Advantageously the ridges of the profiled plate run substantially perpendicularly to the supporting post to which the plane sheet is attached.
[0008] Conveniently the plane sheet is rectangular and has also an upper horizontal edge flanged to form a backwards projecting flange, the flanges being provided with the fastening means for attaching the sheet to the supporting post.
[0010] Due to the fact that the plane sheet carrying the information is associated with a profiled plate covering substantially the whole back of the sheet, a reinforcement and stiffening of the sheet carrying the information is obtained over its whole area. This reinforcement can be provided when the board is set up at the place where the board shall be positioned. Particularly, by the use of trapezoidal aluminium sheet as profiled plate a light and cheap standard element is used which only has to be cut to the right size. Thus, the increase of cost for the information board will be very moderate.
[0011] One embodiment of the information board according to the invention will now be described by way of example in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view, seen from behind, of a portion of an information board according to the invention; and
Figure 2 shows a side view ofthe board shown in Figure 1.
[0012] The information board shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a plane sheet 10, the front of which is provided with the information to be given. The horizontal edges of the sheet are flanged to form two flanges 10a, 10b projecting from the back of the plane sheet substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet. These flanges are provided partly for stiffening the sheet and partly for attaching brackets 11, 12 for mounting the plane sheet 10 on support posts. The brackets 11,12 each consist of an angular bracket attached to the flanges 10a, 10b by means of rivets 13, 14. Each bracket 11, 12 is associated with a locking strap 15 and 16, respectively. The locking straps are designed to surround a vertical post 17 to which the sheet 10 is to be fastened, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The Figures only show one post 17, but normally two or more posts fixed in the ground are used for larger information boards.
[0013] A profiled plate 18, is interposed between the plane sheet 10 and the post 17. This plate has substantially the same size as the plane sheet 10 and consists of an aluminium sheet having a number of parallel trapezoidal ridges 19with plane top surfaces. The plane top surfaces of the ridges abutthe back of the sheet 10. The ridges each have a height which is equal to or slightly largerthan the width of the flanges 10a, 10b, so that the profiled plate is rigidly braced between the sheet 10 and the post or posts 17, the profiled plate having its lower edge resting on the lower flange 10a of the plane sheet. Thus, the post or posts 17 will press the profiled plate 18 against the sheet 10, so that the profiled plate will support and stiffen the information sheet 10 over its whole area.
[0014] When the information board is to be set up, the post or posts 17 are first erected by digging a hole in the ground for one end of each post and casting the end, if necessary. The information sheet is then loosely attached to the posts, and after that the profiled plate, the size of which has been adjusted to correspond to the size of the information sheet in advance, is pushed into the space between the information sheet and the post or posts. In this operation the lower edge of the profiled plate slides on the lower flange of the information sheet. The mounting of the information sheet is then finally completed by tightening the locking straps, and at the same time the profiled plate is squeezed between the sheet and the post or posts.
[0015] While only one embodiment of an information board according to the invention has been described and shown, it is evident that several modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention. The information sheet, for example, must not necessarily be rectangular, as shown in the Figures, but can have any shape. However, the rectangular shape is normally best. Furthermore, the sheet can have only a lower horizontal flange. The ridges of the profiled plates can have any other shape than the illustrated trapezoidal shape, for example be waved. To give the best effect, the ridges of the profiled plate should run substantially perpendicularly to the carrying posts or bars, but the posts or bars may alternatively be positioned horizontally. The information sheet and the profiled plate can also be attached in many different ways.
1. An information board, particularly for road users, comprising a plane sheet (10),
the front side of which is provided with the information, the sheet having at least
one lower horizontal edge which is flanged to form a flange (10a) projecting from
the back of the sheet substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet; and
at least one supporting post (17) to which the plane sheet (10) is attached by fastening
means (11, 15, 12, 16) characterised in that a profiled plate (18) is provided located
adjacent the back of the plane sheet (10) and covering substantially the whole back
of the plane sheet, the profiled plate (18) having a plurality of ridges each having
a height which is at least equal to the width of the said projecting flange (10a),
the profiled plate (18) being squeezed between the back of the plane sheet (10) and
the supporting post (17).
2. An information board according to claim 1, characterised in that the ridges (19)
of the profiled plate (18) abut the plane sheet (10) and that the lower edge of the
profiled plate (18) rests upon the flange (10a) of the plane sheet.
3. An information board according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ridges
(19) of the profiled plate (18) run substantially perpendicularly to the supporting
post (17) to which the plane sheet (10) is attached.
4. An information board according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the plane
sheet (10) is rectangular and has also an upper horizontal edge flanged to form a
backwards projecting flange (10b), the flanges (10a, 10b) being provided with the
fastening means (11, 15; 12, 16) for attaching the sheet (10) to the supporting post
(17).
5. An information board according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in
that the profiled plate (18) consists of an aluminium sheet having trapezoidal ridges
(19).
1. Informationsbrett, insbesondere für Straßenbenutzung, aufweisend eine ebene Blattfläche
(10), deren Vorderseite mit der Information versehen ist, wobei die Blattfläche zumindest
eine untere horizontale Ecke aufweist, welche so gestaltet ist, daß sie einen Flansch
(10a) bildet, der von der Rückseite der Blattfläche im wesentlichen rechtwinklig zu
der Ebene der Blattfläche vorsteht; und zumindest einen Stützpfahl (17), an welchen
die Blattfläche (10) angebracht ist durch Befestingungselemente (11, 15, 12, 16),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine profilierte Platte (18) vorgesehen ist, angeordnet
angrenzend der Rückseite der ebenen Blattfläche (10), und im wesentlichen die gesamte
Rückfläche der Blattfläche abdeckend, wobei die profilierte Platte (18) eine Mehrzahl
von Rippenelementen besitzt, die eine Höhe aufweisen, welche zumindest gleich der
Breite des vorspringenden Flansches (10a) ist, wobei weiter die profilierte Platte
(18) zwischen der Rückseite der ebenen Blattfläche (10) und dem Stützpfahl (17) gedrückt
ist.
2. Informationsbrett nach Anspruch 1 im dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Rippen (19)
der profilierten Platte (18) gegen die ebene Blattfläche (10) stoßen und daß die untere
Ecke der profilierten Platte (18) auf dem Flansch (10a) der ebenen Blattfläche ruht.
3. Informationsbrett nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Rippen
(19) der profilierten Platte (18) im wesentlichen rechtwinklig zu dem Stützpfahl (17)
verlaufen, an welchem die Blattfläche (10) angebracht ist.
4. Informationsbrett nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die ebene
Blattfläche (10) rechtwinklig ist und auch eine obere horizontale Ecke besitzt, die
so geflanscht ist, daß sie einen nach rückwärts vorspringenden Flansch (10b) bildet,
wobei die Flansche (10a, 10b) mit Befestigungselementen (11, 15; 12, 16) vorgesehen
sind, zum Anbringen des Blattes (10) an den Stützpfahl (17).
5. Informationsbrett nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die profilierte Platte (16) aus einem Aluminiumblatt besteht, welches trapezförmige
Rippen (19) aufweist.
1. Panneau indicateur, notamment destiné à des usagers des routes, comprenant une
feuille plane (10) dont la face avant porte des indications, la feuille ayant au moins
un bord horizontal inférieur formant un rebord (10a) dépassant à l'arrière de la feuille
en direction sensiblement perpendiculaire au plan de la feuille, et au moins un poteau
(17) de support auquel la feuille plane (10) est fixée par un dispositif de fixation
(11, 15, 12, 16), caractérisé en ce qu'une plaque profilée (18) est disposée de façon
adjacente au dos de la feuille plane (10) et recouvre pratiquement la totalité du
dos de la feuille plane, la plaque profilée (18) ayant plusieurs nervures dont chacune
a une hauteur qui est au moins égale à la largeur dudit rebord (10a), la plaque profilée
(18) étant serrée entre le dos de la feuille plane (10) et le poteau de support (17).
2. Panneau indicateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les nervures
(19) de la plaque profilée (18) sont en butée contre la feuille plane (10), et en
ce que le bord inférieur de la plaque profilée (18) est en appui sur le rebord (10a)
de la feuille plane.
3. Panneau indicateur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les nervures
(19) de la plaque profilée (18) sont sensiblement perpendiculaires au poteau de support
(17) auquel est fixée la feuille plane (10).
4. Panneau indicateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé
en ce que la feuille plane (10) est rectangulaire et a également un bord horizontal
supérieur formant un rebord (10b) dépassant vers l'arrière, les rebords (10a, 10b)
étant pourvus de dispositifs (11, 15, 12, 16) de fixation de la feuille (10) au poteau
de support (17).
5. Panneau indicateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé
en ce que la plaque profilée (18) est formée d'une feuille d'aluminium ayant des nervures
trapézoïdales (19).