Storm and Hurricane Signage

U.S. Patent : 7,685,754

Inventor : Rodrigo Torres

As attorney for the inventor of the innovative new Storm and Hurricane Signage invention we are currently seeking investors and manufacturing companies to license, purchase patent rights or enter into a royalty agreement for this timely invention. Interested parties can reach the attorney at the contact numbers listed at the bottom of this page.

The present invention relates generally to signage and, more specifically, to a sign able to withstand violent weather including high winds and flying debris. The signs are enabled with a release mechanism to be triggered when sufficient air velocity is applied to the sign and a mechanism for returning the sign to its starting point when the air velocity decreases below a threshold.

The aerodynamic sign of the current invention works in concert with the aforementioned release and return mechanisms to provide signage that will inhibit wind damage, allowing said sign a means of self preservation from high and hurricane wind environments.

Invention Objects & Goals

to provide an aerodynamic sign having a pivotal base to allow for a sign encountering high winds to turn into the wind to avoid being ripped out or damaged

to provide an aerodynamic sign having a profile shape that acts like a fin or rudder in high winds

to provide an aerodynamic sign having a fixed post with a pivotal connection constructed with a spring to store any force used in turning the sign by the wind, so that it can be utilized in returning the sign back to its desired and set point

to provide an aerodynamic sign having opposed collars with openings whereby a frangible wire or element may be secured to keep the sign fixed while encountering weak or small environmental forces

to provide an aerodynamic sign constructed in a shape and form resembling a flag so that it may turn into high winds to prevent being destroyed

to provide an aerodynamic sign having a rest position settable via a spring whereby the display of the sign can be set to a desired angle from the pole

Patent Drawings

The following pictures are meant to display possible physical characteristics of the present invention and are not to be taken in a limiting sense. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Wind Resistant Sign Support System 38 padlock

12 storm sign 40 padlock aperture of 36

14 sign support 42 motorized bolt lock

16 base of 14 44 receiver

18 sign support post 46 signal

20 sign post 48 remote station

22 sign post collar 50 computer controlled device

24 sign support collar 52 anemometer

26 collar recess 54 motorized return mechanism

28 frangible locking element 56 return motor

30 wire 58 large sign

32 spring 60 pivoting end of 12

34 throughbore of 20 62 distal end of 12

36 bolt lock 64 aerodynamic edge of 12

hunting cap

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10 in use. The present invention is a wind resistant highway sign system 10 that responds to wind shear better than conventional signs by moving a storm sign 12 on a set spring like a flag moves in the wind, and will unlock the storm sign 12 at a predetermined wind speed, lifting the storm sign 12 on its springs until the wind reduces and then returns the sign 12 to its normal position.

hunters hat

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the present invention 10. Shown is the storm sign 12 pivotally mounted on a sign support post 14 secured to the ground by a base 16. The sign 12 has a thick pivoting end 60 that tapers to a thinner distal end 62 with an aerodynamic edge 64.

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FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the storm sign 12 of the present invention 10. The sign support 14 has a sign support post 18 extending linearly therefrom that is insertable into a throughbore in the sign post 20 of the storm sign 12. The sign 12 has a sign post 20 with a collar 22 that is seated on an opposing sign support collar 24 when the sign support post 18 is inserted into the sign post 20.

rearview vision

FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the present invention 10. Shown is the sign post collar 22 seated and selectively positioned on the sign support collar 24 with each collar having a plurality of corresponding recesses 26. A frangible locking element 28, illustrated here as a wire 30 to maintain the static relationship between the sign 12 and the sign support 14 when windspeed remains below the preselected threshold.

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FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5 is a sectional side view of the present invention 10. Shown is the sign 12 rotationally moveable on a set spring 32 coiled around the sign support post 18 within the sign post throughbore 34 sign post 20 that will unlock the sign 12 at a predetermined windspeed, lifting the sign 12 on its spring 32 until the wind reduces and then returns the sign 12 to its normal position relative to the sign support 14.

hunters cap

FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6 is a side sectional view of the present invention 10. Shown is the sign 12 released due to excessive windspeed and rotating axially around the sign support post 18 to compress the spring 32 and apply rotational and downward forces to return the sign 12 to its original position relative to the sign support once the windspeed subsides to within the preselected user parameters.

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FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7 is a detailed view of the present invention 10 in excessive windspeed conditions. Excessive windspeed pressure has been applied to the sign 12 according to the preselected parameters and compromised the wire 30 serving as a frangible locking element 28 retaining the sign post collar 22 to the sign support collar 24 to enable the sign 12 to rotate axially on the sign support post 18 of the sign support 14.

rearview hunting hat

FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8 is a detailed view of the present invention 10 having an additional locking element. Shown is the sign post collar 22 and sign support collar 24 having mating collar recesses 26 for receiving a bolt lock 36 having a bolt lock aperture 40 to accept a padlock 38 to allow for manually enabling the rotation of the sign 12 relative to the sign support 14 by authorized personnel.

hunting

FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9 is a detailed view of the present invention 10 with an automated locking device. Shown is the sign post collar 22 and the sign support collar 22 secured with a motorized bolt lock 42 having a receiver 44 to receive a signal 46 from a remote station 48 to release the sign 12 from the static position. An on board computer control device 50 such as an anemometer 52 may be utilized to determine when the sign 12 should or should not be locked.

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FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the present invention 10 having a motorized return mechanism. 54 wherein the sign support post 18 extends through the sign support 14 and is rotated by a return motor 56 to return large signs 58 to the position of origin in cases when the large sign 58 is too heavy to be returned back into place solely utilizing a spring based mechanism.

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FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11 is an additional element of the present invention. The sign 12 extends downward from a horizontal support post 18 projecting perpendicularly from a vertical sign support 14.