GB2449712A

GB2449712A - Temporary warning sign

Info

Publication number: GB2449712A
Application number: GB0710583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Deery
Original assignee: PROTEC INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: PROTEC INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2007-06-01
Publication date: 2008-12-03
Also published as: GB0710583D0

Abstract

The temporary warning sign, particularly for use at road works, building sites and the like, comprises a ballastable, fold-flat box base 12 and an upstanding sign member 13 attached to the base. The sign is preferably fabricated in a plastic material and may be formed from corrugated polypropylene. The base preferably comprises a single sheet with preformed fold lines and the sign may be made integrally with the base or made separately and have cooperating elements such as slots designed to be received in corresponding slots in the lid of the base. The sign may be foldable about a middle fold line and include lugs at opposite ends.

Description

Hazard Warning This invention relates to hazard warnings, particularly

to temporary warning signs for outdoor hazards.

Such temporary signs, used, for example, at roadworks and on building sites, often comprise metal bar or tube stands supporting a painted sheet metal sign.

Despite being made of metal, they are prone to being pushed over by wind, and need to be weighted down by sand bags. For transportation and storage, they are often of more expensive hinged or tripod construction. Being exposed, particularly at roadworks, where men and machines are active, they are prone to damage and can themselves constitute a hazard if tripped or fallen on.

The present invention provides temporary signs that are inexpensive and lightweight, easily stowed and transported, Less prone to damage, and less hazardous in use.

The invention comprises a temporary warning sign for outdoor hazards, comprising a ballastable, fold flat box base and an upstanding sign member attached to the base.

The sign may be fabricated in a plastics material, such, for example, as corrugated polypropylene.

The base may comprise a single sheet with pre-formed fold lines for ready assembly onto a box. The sign member may be made integrally with the sheet, or may be separate, box and sign member being provided with cooperating locating arrangements. The lid of the base may, for example, have locating slots adapted to receive corresponding lugs on the sign member. The sign member may, even when separate, be made of the same material as the base, and may be foldable about a middle fold line with lugs at opposite ends, to be deployed into a tent-shaped configuration, for greater stability in windy conditions.

Signage may be printed on to the sign member.

The temporary sign may be deployed to cover up a hole hazard, more particularly, an open shalt access or manhole, and may be sized so as to cover such an access against ingress of rain or objects that might injures personnel working below or damage equipment.

One embodiment of a temporary warning sign according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view; Figure 2 is a plan view of a foldable sheet comprising the base of the sign illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a foldable sheet forming the sign attachable to the base of Figure 2.

The drawings illustrate a temporary warning sign 11 for outdoor hazards, comprising a ballastable, fold flat box base 12 and an upstanding sign memberl3 attached to the base 12.

The sign 11 may be fabricated in a plastics material, such, for example, as corrugated polypropylene.

The base, as seen in Figure 2, comprises a single sheet with pre-formed fold lines 14 for ready assembly onto a box. The sheet comprises lower and upper panels 15, 16, the upper panel 16 having slots 17. The fold lines 14 define sides 18 of the box 11, with fold-under flaps 19. Ballast, in the form of sandbags, or, indeed, loose sand, soil, brick or rubble as may be readily available, is placed on the lower panel 15 before the upper panel 16 is folded over. The flaps 19 may be secured, if necessary, to the lower panel in any desired way -if large enough, they may in any event be weighted down by the ballast.

The sign memberl3is separate, box 12 and sign member 13 being provided with cooperating locating arrangements -the slots 17 and lugs 21. The sign member 13 -Figure 3 -is conveniently made of the same material as the base, and is foldable about a middle fold line 14 with the lugs 21 at opposite ends, to be deployed into a tent-shaped configuration, for greater stability in windy conditions.

Signage 22 is printed on to the sign.

The temporary sign 11 is intended to be deployed to cover up a hole hazard, more particularly, an open shaft access or manhole, at roadworks or on a construction site, and is sized so as to cover such an access against ingress of rain or objects that might injure personnel working below or damage equipment.

Claims

Claims: I A temporary warning sign for outdoor hazards, comprising a

ballastable, fold flat box base and an upstanding sign member attached to the base.
2 A sign according to claim 1, fabricated in a plastics material.
3 A sign according to claim 2, in which the plastics material comprises corrugated polypropylene.
4 A sign according to any one of claims I to 3, in which the base comprises a single sheet with pre-formed fold lines for ready assembly onto a box.
A sign according to claim 4, in which the sign member is made integrally with the sheet.
6 A sign according to claim 4, in which the sign member is separate, box and sign member being provided with cooperating locating arrangements.
7 A sign according to claims 6, in which the lid of the base has locating slots adapted to receive corresponding lugs on the sign member.
8 A sign according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the sign member is made of the same material as the base.
9 A sign according to any one of claims I to 8, in which the sign member is foldable about a middle fold line with lugs at opposite ends, to be deployed into a tent-shaped configuration, for greater stability in windy conditions.
10 A sign according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which signage is printed on to the sign member.
11 A sign according to any one of claims 1 to 10, adapted to be deployed to cover up a hole hazard, more particularly, an open shaft access or manhole, and sized so as to cover such an access against ingress of rain or objects that might injures personnel