US3995250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable traffic signal light
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-11-05
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Granted: 1976-11-30
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Expires: 1995-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A portable apparatus providing for a temporary installation of a traffic control signal meeting the visual display requirements as specified by government authorities for standard traffic control lights. The apparatus includes a standard which is adapted to support the traffic signal heads at proper positions, both alongside the roadway and in an elevated position above the roadway, a control box for controlling the operation of the signal either in accordance with a pre-set program or in accordance with signals generated automatically or manually in response to traffic flow, a base element having means to anchor the unit firmly in place and to hold the vertical mast, the vertical mast with means for mounting the signal head at a proper elevation alongside the roadway, and a mast arm or boom pivotally attached adjacent to the upper end of the mast so that the boom can be readily positioned in a substantially horizontal alignment above the roadway and means to securely anchor the boom in the horizontal position, the boom also having means for mounting a signal head. The apparatus is designed to be carried and erected with a minimum effort. The base may be a separate piece, or a fitting firmly attached to a vehicle, or a semi-permanent installation attached to the ground. The vertical mast is releasably engageable with the base, said mast and base having cooperable elements facilitating erection and locking of the mast in a vertical position. An improved traffic control signal section is in the form of a lens assembly which combines the functions of the traditional housing and reflector in one piece to reduce the weight and cost of the assembly, the construction permitting ready maintenance of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Ferree
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:19
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/60; E01F9/604; E01F9/615; E01F9/688; E01F9/696
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A portable standard for mounting traffic-control lights along a roadway for vehicles comprising a portable vertical staff, a base mounting said staff comprising a tubular socket element adapted to receive the lower end portion of said staff and support the same vertically positioned alongside the roadway, a boom pivoted to said staff adjacent its upper end and adapted to extend outwardly from said staff over said roadway, means to mount a traffic-control signal light assembly on said boom remote from said staff whereby when said base is positioned alongside the roadway, said boom positions the signal light assembly over the roadway at a predetermined elevation, and strut means to anchor said boom in its outwardly-extending position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A portable standard for mounting traffic-control lights along a roadway for vehicles comprising a portable vertical staff, a base mounting said staff comprising a tubular socket element adapted to receive the lower end portion of said staff and support the same vertically positioned alongside the roadway, a boom pivoted to said staff adjacent its upper end and adapted to extend outwardly from said staff over said roadway, means to mount a traffic-control signal light assembly on said boom remote from said staff whereby when said base is positioned alongside the roadway, said boom positions the signal light assembly over the roadway at a predetermined elevation, and strut means to anchor said boom in its outwardly-extending position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable standard accordng to claim 1, including releasable anchor means to releasably anchor said strut means in its operative position, said strut means, upon release of said anchor means, permitting pivotal displacement of said boom into alignment along said vertical staff.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A portable standard according to claim 2 whrein said strut comprises a first flexible cable run extending between said boom and said base and including said releasable anchor means, and a second flexible cable run fixed at one end to the said vertical staff and fixed at the other end to said boom, the length of said second run preventing further pivotal movement of said boom from said aligned position beyond said outwardly extended position, the length of said first run between the base and said boom, when tensioned, being operative to position said boom horizontally relative to said vertical staff.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A standard according to claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a plurality of signal lights operable in a sequence to control traffic flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A standard according to claim 4 including a second traffic-control light assembly mounted alongside said roadway on said vertical staff between said boom and said base, said second assembly comprising a plurality of signal lights operable in the same sequence as said over-the-roadway signal light assembly
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A standard according to claim 5, including a control box mounted on said vertical staff and connected to both of said signal light assemblies to control the sequence of operation of said signal lights.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A standard according to claim 1 werein said signal lights comprise an array of lamps arranged in an arrow display and including a horizontal row of lamps, a cluster of lamps forming a left arrow head at one end of said row, and a cluster of lamps forming a right arrow head at the other end of said row.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A standard according to claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises at least one lens assembly having a lightweight parabolic shell having a reflective interior surface terminating in a generally circular shoulder, and a lens mounted on said shoulder, said shell constituting the only support for said lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A portable standard according to claim 1 including a signal head carried by said head-mounting means, said head comprising a light-support bar having a plurality of bulb supports extending outwardly from one face thereof at spaced points along said bar, electrical connections for selectively energizing the bulbs in said supports, and a lens assembly for each bulb support, said lens assembly including a reflector having a central aperture for receiving said bulb support therein, and means mounting each said lens assembly on said light-support bar so that the bulb support positions the bulb in operative relation within said reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A portable traffic-control light standard according to claim 9 wherein said lens assembly reflector comprises a plastic shell of generally parabolic configuration with a reflective inner surface, said shell terminating at its outer end in a cylindrical extension mounting a lens therein, said lens being permanently secured to said shell, said mounting means comprising a ring surrounding the central aperture of said reflector shell and fasteners extending outwardly from said ring to releasably fasten said assembly to the said one face of the light-support bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A standard according to claim 10, including a shield-visor mounted in said cylindrical extension and surrounding said lens, said visor extending outwardly above said lens to shield the lens from direct sunlight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
181 words
A portable mounting standard for traffic-control lights comprising a vertical staff having means mounting signal lights thereon, a base mounting said staff in vertical position comprising a structure adapted to firmly but temporarily anchor said staff including an upright channel member having parallel side flanges extending upwardly, and a staff-receiving socket pivoted to said structure, said socket comprising a tubular element having a pivot stud passing therethrough to pivotally support the tubular socket between said flanges, said flanges and said socket having apertures equally spaced from said tubular pivot and operable to register with each other when said tubular socket is positioned upright between said side flanges, said vertical staff having at its lower end portion means to engage said pivot stud upon telescopic engagement of said staff in said socket and having an aperture spaced from said stud-engaging means a distance equal to the spacing of said apertures from said pivotal support whereby upon telescopic engagement of said staff in said socket and engagement of said stud-engaging means with said pivot stud, said staff apertures register with said socket apertures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
181 words
A portable mounting standard for traffic-control lights comprising a vertical staff having means mounting signal lights thereon, a base mounting said staff in vertical position comprising a structure adapted to firmly but temporarily anchor said staff including an upright channel member having parallel side flanges extending upwardly, and a staff-receiving socket pivoted to said structure, said socket comprising a tubular element having a pivot stud passing therethrough to pivotally support the tubular socket between said flanges, said flanges and said socket having apertures equally spaced from said tubular pivot and operable to register with each other when said tubular socket is positioned upright between said side flanges, said vertical staff having at its lower end portion means to engage said pivot stud upon telescopic engagement of said staff in said socket and having an aperture spaced from said stud-engaging means a distance equal to the spacing of said apertures from said pivotal support whereby upon telescopic engagement of said staff in said socket and engagement of said stud-engaging means with said pivot stud, said staff apertures register with said socket apertures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A portable standard according to claim 12 wherein said upright channel member is vertical, said pivot stud passing through the flanges of said member below said flange apertures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A portable standard according to claim 12 wherein said structure comprises an anchoring support adapted to bear upon the ground and to accept the wheel of a motor vehicle thereon, said vehicle serving to retain said structure in proper position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A portable standard according to claim 12 wherein said structure has cross members and a main member adapted to bear upon the ground and having socket means extending parallel to the ground adapted to receive extenders which provide an extended base area for receiving weighting elements which firmly anchor said structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A portable standard according to claim 12 wherein said signal-mounting means includes a boom pivoted to said staff adjacent its upper end and adapted to extend outwardly from said staff to mount a traffic light signal head at its remote end, whereby when said base is positioned alongside a traffic roadway, said boom positions the signal head over the roadway at an elevated height, and strut means to anchor said boom in its outwardly-extending position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A portable standard according to claim 16, including releasable anchor means on said strut and said base to releasably anchor said strut in its operative position, said strut upon release of said anchor means permitting pivotal displacement of said boom into alignment alongside said vertical staff.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
A portable standard according to claim 17 wherein said strut comprises a flexible cable run fixed at one end to said vertical staff and fixed at the other end to said boom, and a second cable run fixed at one end to said boom and releasably connected at the other end to the base, the length of said cable runs, when tensioned, being operative to position said boom horizontally relative to said vertical staff.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
A signal head for traffic-control lights comprising a light-support bar and a plurality of signal lights mounted on said bar, said support bar having on one surface thereof a plurality of bulb-supports spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the signal lights, a bulb mounted in each support, electrical connections on the opposite surface of said bar for selectively energizing the bulbs in said bulb supports, and a lens assembly for each bulb including a reflector shell mounted on said one surface in position to reflect light from said bulb outwardly through the lens of said assembly, said shell having a central opening in circumscribing relation to bulb to afford displacement of said lens assembly outwardly from said bar to expose said bulb for replacement in said support.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
A signal head for traffic-control lights comprising a light-support bar and a plurality of signal lights mounted on said bar, said support bar having on one surface thereof a plurality of bulb-supports spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the signal lights, a bulb mounted in each support, electrical connections on the opposite surface of said bar for selectively energizing the bulbs in said bulb supports, and a lens assembly for each bulb including a reflector shell mounted on said one surface in position to reflect light from said bulb outwardly through the lens of said assembly, said shell having a central opening in circumscribing relation to bulb to afford displacement of said lens assembly outwardly from said bar to expose said bulb for replacement in said support.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
A signal head according to claim 19 wherein said reflector shell comprises a lightweight plastic shell having a reflective interior surface characterized by a multitude of surface indentations, said shell having a substantially parabolic configuration which terminates at its outer side in a cylindrical extension, said lens being parmanently mounted in said extension with a weather-tight seal therebetween, whereby said shells constitute the only housings for the bulbs of said signal head.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A signal head according to claim 19 including mounting means on said lens assembly comprising a mounting ring in the base of said reflector and releasable fasteners securing said ring to said light-support bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-30 | 1980-05-31 | 1980-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-30 | 1984-05-31 | 1984-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-30 | 1988-05-31 | 1988-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |