초록 ▼

A highly reflective arrowhead traffic sign is provided which exhibits an arrow shape to "aim" traffic away from a lane. A horizontal longitudinal member has at least one pair of arrow-shaped "wings" that extend beyond the outer boundary of the horizontal member. The wing sets can be attached to the

A highly reflective arrowhead traffic sign is provided which exhibits an arrow shape to "aim" traffic away from a lane. A horizontal longitudinal member has at least one pair of arrow-shaped "wings" that extend beyond the outer boundary of the horizontal member. The wing sets can be attached to the horizontal member by use of locating holes and mating pins, or they can be pivotally mounted on the horizontal member. The arrow wings can be shaped into a configuration that points to the left or to the right, or simultaneously point to both the left and right, thereby indicating to traffic that a lane is closed, and that traffic must go either left or right to avoid the closed lane. The signs can be mounted in different ways, using hooks with suction cups or traffic cones, or using built-in magnets.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A reflective sign, comprising: a longitudinal member having first and second longitudinal edges, a first end and a second end, said longitudinal member having a surface that exhibits a highly reflective characteristic at visible light wavelengths along a substantially c

The invention claimed is: 1. A reflective sign, comprising: a longitudinal member having first and second longitudinal edges, a first end and a second end, said longitudinal member having a surface that exhibits a highly reflective characteristic at visible light wavelengths along a substantially continuous pathway of said surface; a first wing member and a second wing member that are each pivotally attached to said longitudinal member proximal to said first end, said first wing member having a first wing end and a second wing end, and said second wing member having a third wing end and a fourth wing end, said first and second wing members being pivotable about a first pivot axis that intersects said longitudinal member, said first wing member's first wing end being supported at said first pivot axis and said first wing member's second wing end being unsupported by any other structure, said second wing member's third wing end being supported at said first pivot axis and said second wing member's fourth wing end being unsupported by any other structure, said first and second wing members each having a surface that exhibits a highly reflective characteristic at visible light wavelengths along a substantially continuous pathway of said surface for each of the first and second wing members, said first and second wing members forming a first wing set; a first magnet attached to said longitudinal member at said first pivot axis; a third wing member and a fourth wing member that are each pivotally attached to said longitudinal member, said third wing member having a fifth wing end and a sixth wing end, and said fourth wing member having a seventh wing end and an eighth wing end, said third wing member and said fourth wing member both being pivotable about a second pivot axis that intersects said longitudinal member at a location that is spaced-apart from said first pivot axis, said third wing member's fifth wing end being supported at said second pivot axis and said third wing member's sixth wing end being unsupported by any other structure, said fourth wing member's seventh wing end being supported at said second pivot axis and said fourth wing member's eighth wing end being unsupported by any other structure, said third and fourth wing members each having a surface that exhibits a highly reflective characteristic at visible light wavelengths along a substantially continuous pathway of said surface for each of the third and fourth wing members, said third and fourth wing members forming a second wing set; and a second magnet attached to said longitudinal member at said second pivot axis; wherein, when the pivotable positions of said first, second, third, and fourth wing members are not substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member, then said first, second, third, and fourth wing members extend beyond both said first and second longitudinal edges of said longitudinal member wherein said first, second, third, and fourth wing members are pivotable in the range of zero degrees through 360 degrees with respect to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member, and as such said wing members may be folded into a compact position near zero degrees, for ease of storage, such that the pivotable positions of said first, second, third, and fourth wing members are then substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member, and then said first, second, third, and fourth wing members do not substantially extend beyond both said first and second longitudinal edges of said longitudinal member. 2. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth wing members may be positioned so that they are not substantially parallel to a longitudinal member, causing said first, second, third, and fourth wing members to extend beyond said first and second longitudinal edges of said longitudinal member. 3. The reflective sign of claim 2, wherein said wing members may be folded into a compact position near zero degrees, for ease of storage, causing said first, second, third, and fourth wing members to be substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member and said first, second, third, and fourth wing members do not substantially extend beyond said first and second longitudinal edges of said longitudinal member. 4. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second magnets are coated with a material that reduces scratching damage when making contact with exterior objects. 5. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second magnets exhibit a shape that is substantially circular with an interior recessed area for receiving a fastener member. 6. The reflective sign as recited in claim 5, wherein said fastener member comprises a combination of a bolt and a thumbscrew, and wherein said interior recessed area receives a head of said bolt. 7. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal member, said first wing member, said second wing member, said third wing member, and said fourth wing member each have at least one of: (a) highly reflective tape; (b) highly reflective sheeting material; (c) highly retroreflective tape; and (d) highly retroreflective sheeting material, attached thereto and thus comprises said surfaces that exhibit a highly reflective characteristic at visible light wavelengths. 8. The reflective sign as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said longitudinal member, said first wing member, said second wing member, said third wing member, and said fourth wing member are made of a material that exhibits a substantially bright color, and said substantially bright color is visible at surface areas that do not exhibit one of: (a) said highly reflective tape; (b) said highly reflective sheeting material; (c) said highly retroreflective tape; and (d) said highly retroreflective sheeting material, attached thereto. 9. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein a combination of said longitudinal member, said first wing set, and said second wing set forms an arrowhead-style pointing shape, such that said longitudinal member forms an arrow shaft-shape, said first wing set forms an arrowhead tip-shape, and said second wing set forms an arrowhead tail feather-shape. 10. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein a combination of said longitudinal member, said first wing set, and said second wing set forms a double arrowhead-style pointing shape, such that said longitudinal member forms an arrow shaft-shape, said first wing set forms a first arrowhead tip-shape pointing in a first direction, and said second wing set forms a second arrowhead tip-shape pointing in a second direction that is substantially opposite to said first direction. 11. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said first pivot axis is located proximal to a first end of said longitudinal member and said second pivot axis is located proximal to a second end of said longitudinal member. 12. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said first pivot axis is located proximal to a first end of said longitudinal member and said second pivot axis is located between said first end and a second end of said longitudinal member. 13. The reflective sign of claim 1, further comprising: a second longitudinal member adapted to slide into said longitudinal member and be moveably attached in a telescoping manner. 14. The reflective sign as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second longitudinal edges of the longitudinal member exhibits a plurality of spaced-apart mounting holes.