Reflective, self-supporting road signaling device

Abstract

Reflective, self-supporting road signaling device comprised of a support piece (A) and a signaling plate (B). The support piece (A) is made of a rigid triangular element with a clamp fastening onto the upper part of a vehicle window to support the signaling plate (B). As for the signaling plate (B), it is comprised of a long rectangular piece with a large positioning area for the reflective element (8). To ensure the signposted vehicle is easily seen by traffic on its same side, a reflective arrow changing color between red and white, with the arrow vertex as far as possible from the vehicle that carries it, is used.

Claims

1. A reflective, self-supporting road signaling device comprising: a support piece and a signaling plate; the support piece comprising a rigid triangular element and a clamp for fastening onto a vehicle window; the rigid triangular element comprising a main side, an upper side and an inclined plane both extending from a first face of the main side, and two square attachment parts extending from a second face of the main side, each square attachment part having two flat sides with L-shaped lips placed in a vertical and parallel manner; the clamp extending from the upper side of the rigid triangular element and having the same width as the upper side of the triangular element, the clamp being defined by a first plane, a second plane, and a third plane; the first plane extending from the vertex of the upper side and the inclined plane of the rigid triangular element in a horizontal and slightly downward direction; the second plane continuing from the first plane but in a slightly vertical plane running parallel to the inclined plane of the rigid triangular element; the third plane continuing from the second plane, forming a slight curve, and then diverging about 30 from the inclined plane of the rigid triangular element; each of the first plane, second plane and third plane being disposed below the vertex of the upper side and the inclined plane of the rigid triangular element; the signaling plate comprising a long and light rectangular piece of reduced thickness, and a widened portion; the rectangular piece comprising a large positioning area on both surfaces for a reflective element; the widened portion comprising two bolsters on the upper and lower ends thereof, each bolster having vertical and parallel flanges sized so as to slide inside the attachment parts so as to maintain the signaling plate in its operational position.

2. The reflective, self-supporting road signaling device of claim 1, further comprising a printed arrow shape in alternating reflective colors, with a vertex of the arrow positioned opposite the widened portion, so as to be positioned as far as possible from the vehicle that carries the road signaling device.

3. The reflective, self-supporting road signaling device of claim 1, wherein the clamp is formed from a magnetic or magnetizable material so that the device can be attached anywhere on a vehicle body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) To complement the description provided and to favor better understanding of invention features, a part of this description is comprised of a set of diagrams illustrating, but not limited to, the following things:

(2) FIG. 1.Side view of the device bracket.

(3) FIG. 2.Isometric view of the device bracket.

(4) FIG. 3.Side view of the sign adaptable to the device bracket.

(5) FIG. 4.Perspective view of the sign adaptable to the device bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) This invention refers to a reflective, self-supporting road signaling device which can be placed on a vehicle without getting out of it, thus preventing the danger of stepping out onto narrow or wide roads or under poor visibility or adverse weather conditions.

(7) As part of the preferred embodiment of this invention, the reflective, self-supporting road signaling device is comprised of two key elements:

(8) (A).Support piece,

(9) (B).Signaling plate.

(10) The support piece (A) is comprised of a rigid triangular element (1) of about (not restrictive) 10 cm in width and 3 mm in thickness. The main side (2) has two square attachment parts (4) comprised of two flat sides with L-shaped lips (10) on the side and lower rods where the attachment parts (4) of the signaling plate (B) will be located.

(11) As an upper side extension of the rigid triangular element (1) and with the same thickness and density material as the upper side, there is a fastening clamp (3) defined by three planes. The first plane is parallel to the upper side of the rigid triangular element (1). The second plane is a continuation of the previous one but in a slightly vertical plane running parallel to the inclined plane of the rigid triangular element (1). As for third and last plane, it is a continuation of the previous plane and forms a slight curve later diverting some 30 from the inclined plane of the rigid triangular element (1) towards the outside.

(12) These three planes comprise a clamp (3) which fastens onto the upper part of a vehicle window to serve as support for the signaling plate (B).

(13) The signaling plate (B) is made of a long rectangular piece with reduced thickness (some 3 mm) and a light, resistant material (e.g. ABS or aluminum) called support piece (7). There is a large positioning area for the reflective element (8) on both sides of the support piece surfaces.

(14) One side end of the support piece (7) has a widening (9) which bears two bolsters (5) on its upper and lower parts. The bolsters have vertical and parallel flanges (6) with a size enabling these parts to slide inside the attachment parts (5) and maintain the signaling plate (B) in its operational position.

(15) Reflective elements (8) can have identical or different signaling on both sides. That would allow different information to be provided to incoming traffic on both sides of the vehicle. For traffic on the same side as the signposted vehicle, a reflective arrow changing color between red to white, with the arrow vertex as far as possible from the vehicle that carries it, is used.

(16) The sign should be placed facing oncoming vehicle traffic, informing on the obligation to keep enough distance when overtaking the stationary or broken down vehicle. The triangle currently in use does not inform on the need to move away from vehicles broken down or stopped on the road.

(17) In another preferred embodiment, the lip (3) is comprised of magnetic or magnetizable material so that it can be attached not only to the upper window part, but anywhere on the vehicle body, thus increasing invention versatility.

(18) In another preferred embodiment the idea is to have the support piece (A) and signaling plate (B) being part of the same monoblock part (not removable).

(19) After sufficiently describing the nature of this invention and its practical application, it is important to mention that the layout presented and represented in the drawings could undergo detail changing provided it does not alter the main principle summarized in the following claims.