US2624307A - Retractable traffic sign - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1953 H. E.AFFREY 2,624,307

RETRACTABLE TRAFFIC SIG N Filed Oct. 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l l q Z-?. .5.57

ATTD RNEYS `Ilan. 6, 1953 H. E. CAFFREY 2,(5241-07l RETRACT-ABLE TRAFFIC SIGN Filed oct. 26, 1949 s sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN I OR.

y Howard-Z. Caf/regg ATTD RN EYB Jan. 6, 1953 H. E. cAFFRl-:Y 2,624,307

- RETRACTABLE TRAFFIC SIGN f Filed oct. 2e, 1949 s sheets-sheetV s EgrgQD @@9 dg i I 'L g STADIUM IL@ I N V EN Y OR.

Hawafd Caffrgv/ E* en/mud.

ATTE RN EYE Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Howard E. Cairey, Tucson, Ariz. f Application October 26, 1949,"Seria1No. 123,682

This invention relates to retractable or disappearing signs of the type used as speed or warning signs on the side of 'a highway or for trailic signs at intersections, and in particular the invention relates to a post having a sign or signs on the upper end and a well into which the post with the signs thereon is dropped when Ynot in use with means for retaining the post in an eX- tended position and also a cover for substantially sealing the'well with the post therein.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a disappearing sign that may be dropped into a well buried in a roadway or on the side thereof When not in use and that may readily be elevated Y when use thereof is desired, whereby the necessity of rolling heavy trailic signs to' and from positions in streets or on the sides of roadways is eliminated.

In numerous types of parking, street and traffic signs it is desired to use the signs only during certain hours or when an occasion requires the signs and when use of the signs is not required it is diflicult to dispense therewith. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a sign positioned in a tubular well extended downwardly in a street or on the side of a roadway and means for supporting the sign in the upperY end of the well with the sign extended for use.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for mounting a sign of the type used for traiiic and the like whereby the sign may or may not be used as may be desired.

Another Aobject of the invention is to provide a tra-nic sign of the disappearing type in which lights may be incorporated therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign of the disappearing type for traic use wherein it is only necessary to raise the sign upwardly and lock it in an upwardly extended position when use thereof is desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a street and trailic sign ofthe disappearing type which is of a simple and economical construction. l

With these and other objects andV advantages in view the invention embodies a tubular' post having folding signs with lights on the upper end thereof, a tubular well positioned to receive the post and sign, a base carried by the lower end of the post -having locking means thereon for re taining the post and signs in upwardly extended positions, and a coverplate hinged to the upper end of the well for sealing the well with the post and sign therein.

Other features and advantages ofthe inven- 2 Claims.' (Cl. 116-63) tionv will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a side elevation of the tubular post with signs on the upper end thereof and with the upper end of a tubular well in which the post is positioned shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through the trailic sign retaining well with parts broken away and part shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the well showing the cover thereof in the closed position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the cover open and showing signs extended from the sides of the post in folded positions. y

Figure 5 is a similar View takenV on line 5-5 o Figure 1 showing locking dogs for holding the post with the signs thereon in the upwardly extended position.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the well taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2 showing the locking dog operating elements.

Figure 7 is a sectional plan Vshowing the lower end of the well with drain holes shown therein.

Figure 8 is a detail showing a section taken on line 8 8 of Figure V1 illustrating one of the locking dogs with a retracting spring connected thereto.

Figure 9 is a View illustrating a modication wherein traiiic lights and signs are used on the upper end of the post Figure 10 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 9 illustrating the folded positions of traiiic signs that may be carried by the upper end of the post and with parts broken away.

Figure 11 is a detail showing a section on line I I -l I of Figure 9 illustrating a clamp for secur-` ing the traiiic signals on the upper end of the post as shown in Figure 9. y

Figure 12 is a crosssection taken on line l2--l2 of Figure 9 illustrating a` telescoping signal housing.v

Figure 13 is a vertical section through a traffic signal well similar to the section shown in Figure 2 and illustrating a modification wherein the post is elevated by a screw.

Figure 14 is a plan view similar to that shown in Figure 5 illustrating a further 'modication wherein cam shaped pivotally mounted dogsare provided for retaining the post and signs in an upwardly extended position.

Figure 15 is a view illustrating a'modication wherein the wellis provided with a flat cover so that it may be incorporated in a manhole in a street or may bepositioned in a roadway or street.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like..

reference characters denote corresponding parts the disappearing traffic signal of this invention includes a post I having a base I on the lower end, and a Well formed with a tubular casing I2 having a hinged cover I3, and the upper end of the post is provided with signs |4 having folding sections I5, and with lights I6 on the uppez` end above the signs.

The base of the post I0 is formed with an intermediate depending flange |1 and an outer flange I8 providing a horizontally disposed rim or seat |51I on which a packing ring 20 is positioned. With the sign in the well the lower edge of the flange I8 rests on stops 2| providing an open area 22 in the lower part of the well for an armored electric cable 23. The lower end 24 of the well is also provided with perforations 25 toV provide drainage into a sand bed 26 that may -be provided below the lower end of the well. The cable 23 extends upwardly through a vertically disposed recess 21 in oneA side of the tube I2 to a switch -orcontrol box 28 in the upper end of the well from which a cable 29 may extend to any suitable point.

Locking dogs 33, as illustrated in Figure 5 are mounted between the upper surface of the base and a plate 3| with pins 32 extended upwardly from a stai' shaped cam `33 through slots 34 and` in the plate 3|. The dogs '39 are resiliently held inwardly by springs 36 attached to the lower surfaces thereof and the springs are positioned in slots 31 in the base 1| I as shown in Figure 8. The pins 32` may be actuated by hand or may be kicked in the lslots 34 vand 35 whereby the star shaped cam 33 will engage the dogs 39., forcing the dogs. outwardly to the position shown in Figure 5 so that they will rest on a collar'38 of an annular ringv 39 mounted -on a flange 49 extended around the upper end of the tube I2 and secured to the flange Vby screws 4|. The dogs 3i) are provided with beveled under surfaces 42 through which a clamping action is obtainedas the dogs are forced outwardly, clamping the packing washer 29 against the undersurface of the ring 4| providing sealing means to prevent moisture or water passing'downwardly into the Well vwith the cover I3 open.

It will be understood that the locking dogs forv securing the base of the post l0 in the upper extended position may be of any type or design and may be operated by any suitable means. A modification is illustrated in Figure 14 vwherein cam shaped. dogs 43 are used and these dogs are pivotally mounted by pins 44 on a base 45 similar to the base and these dogs are actuated by pins 46 on arms 41 whereby the dogs may be extended over the upper edge of a flange 48 similar to the flange or rim 38 of the design shown in Figure 1. The base is provided on the lower end of a post 49 similar to the post I9.

The cover I3 is hinged to the flange 39 by a pin 59 extended through a lug 5I extended upwardly from the flange and extended into the adjoining sides of the cover. The opposite side of the cover is provided with a recess 52 having` a slot 53 therein through which an eye 54 extends, with the coverinthe closed positionand a bail 55 of a lock 56 may be inserted through the eye, as illustrated in'Figure 3 to lock thecover in the closed position.

The upper surface of the cover is provided with a flange 56 having reflectors 51 positioned thereon andthe reflectors are positioned to return light rays to indicate the position of the traffic Well.

The inner surface of the cover i3 is provided with lan annular recess 58in which a gasket 59l is positioned and, as illustrated in Figure 2 the gasket contacts the upper surface of the flange 39 to seal the upper end of the well with the flange 38 extended upwardly beyond the gasket and into the cover. The cover is held upwardly in the position shown in Figure 1 by a spring 69 that is positioned around the pin 59 of the hinge.

It will be understood that panels for signs may be mounted on the upper end ofthe post in any suitable manner and in the design shown the sign panels I4 are attached to the post by clip angles 6| at the upper end land 62 at the lower end and when it is desired to extend the width of the sign vfolding panels I5 are attached to the panels |4 by hinges 63. Spring clips 64 are provided at the upper end to retain the extended panels I5 in the f folded positions as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The light I6, provided at the upper end of the post is illustrated as having lenses on four sides thereof and it will be understood that a signal .light of any type or design may be used.

In the design illustrated in Figure-9 the usual trafc lights, as indicated by the numeral65 yare positioned on a sleeve $6 on the upper end of a post 61 similar to the post I0 and a plurality of signs are provided on the faces of telescoping sections 98 and 69. Panels 19 are attached to the sleeve 69 by hinges 1| and 12, and the sections 53 are provided with fasteners 13 that coact with spring clips 14 to hold the telescoping sections and panels in outwardly extended positions as illustrated in Figure 9. It vwill be understood that the telescoping sections and panels may be replaced by signs of any type and the signs may be mounted onV the post byany means. In this design the lower end of the sleeve 69 is provided with slits 15 and a clamp 16 with a thumb screw 11 therein is provided to clamp the sleeve 66 with a post 61. The sleeve 56 is also provided with a hand ring 'I8 with arcuate arms 19 to facilitate withdrawing the post with the signs thereon from the well.

In the design illustrated in Figure 13 a post 89 similar to the post l0 is mounted in a hub 8| of a base 82 and the base is provided with a bracket 33 having hubs 84 and 85 that are threaded on a screw 86 and with `the screw 86 rotated through a stud 81 on the upper end thereof by a brace 83 the post may be raised or lowered as desired. In this design the post is suspended in a Well 89 similar to the well I2 and the well is provided with a collar 99 on a flange 9| around the upper end. The base 82 is also provided with a flange 92 and a gasket 93 is positioned between the flange 92 and the ange 9| to seal the area around the upper end of the well.

In this design, however, the base 32 is provided with openings 94 and 'a cover 95, similar to the cover I3 is hinged to the flange 9| byV a pin 95. The cover 95 is also provided with a gasket 91 and a spring 98 holds the cover in the open position. The screw 8S is journaled in a bearing 99 in a vertically disposed recess |00 in one side of the well B9 and the upper end of the screw is journaled in an opening |0| in a flange 62 similar t0 the flange 49. A cable |03 similar to the cable 23 extends upwardly through the post to connect Y the signals on the upper end thereof. to a suitable source of current and to control devices.

With the parts as illustrated and described a sign such as a school or stop sign may be incorporated in a tubular well extended downwardly into the ground and when use of the sign is not desired the well may be closed, sealed and locked. v

Whenvit is desiredv to use the sign the cover rnay be unlocked and opened and the post with the signs thereon elevated to the position illustrated in Figure 1 and the post and signs may be locked in this position by the dogs 363. The sign post may, therefore, be used only as desired and when not in use it is out of the way and completely enclosed in a tubular well below the ground.

The disappearing post may be used for different types of signs, traffic signals, and the like and any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering the post with the signs thereon.

It will also be understood that a well ld may be provided with a fiat cover H35 that may be hinged through a pin l in a hub 137 to a collar m8 with a packing gasket Il between the cover and collar. The collar is mounted on a flange im of the well HM by screws Hl. The outer edge of the cover 95 may be provided with an overlapping bead or flange i i2.

The well may, therefore, be positioned on the side of a street or roadway or may be sunk into a street, highway, or the like or may be temporarly positioned in a manhole of a sewer or the like and Where the well is positioned in the surface of a roadwaythe hat cover is used.

It will be understood that other modications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a disappearing trac sign and signal, the combination which comprises a tubular Well extended downwardly and positioned below the surface of the ground, a post having signs there- 0 Number on and mounted on a base vertically slidable in the well and normally positioned within the well, means closing the well with the post and signs therein, manually actuated dogs carried by the base of the post for securing the post in an elevated position in the upper end of the well, and manually actuated screw means for raising and lowering the post in the well.

2. In a disappearing traiic sign and signal, the the combination which comprises a tubular well extended downwardly and positioned below the surface of the ground, a post having sig-ns thereon mounted on a base vertically slidable in the well and normally positioned within the Well, means closing the Well within the post and signs therein, manually actuated dogs carried by the base of the post for securing the post in an elevated position in the upper end of the well, manually actuated screw means for raising and lowering the post in the well, and an electric cable extended downwardly through the well and upwardly through the post to lights 0n the post.

HOWARD E. CAFFREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Feltham Jan. 4, 1921 Quick Jan. 15, 1929 Otte Feb. 9, 1932 Eckard et al Mar. 31, 1936

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