Sign assembly

Abstract

A sign assembly ( 2 ) for use on a road ( 8 ) has a support ( 6 ) arranged to be secured to the road ( 8 ) and a sign ( 6 ) configured to be detachably coupled to the support ( 6 ). The sign ( 6 ) has a non-planar portion is received in a slot ( 26 ) formed in the support ( 6 ). The assembly ( 2 ) is arranged so that the sign ( 4 ) returns to a standing position after impact while the support remains secured to the road and the sign ( 4 ) remains coupled to the support ( 6 ).

1 . A sign assembly for use on a road, comprising:
 a support arranged to be secured to the road;   a sign configured to be detachably coupled to the support;   the assembly is arranged such that the sign returns to a standing position after impact, while the support remains secured to the road during impact and the sign remains coupled to the support after impact.   
     
     
         2 . The sign assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the sign has a non-planar feature that is received within a slot formed in the support, and the sign has a planar display portion that protrudes from the slot and is capable of bearing indicia. 
     
     
         3 . The sign assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the slot is open on a side surface of the support that is perpendicular to the planar display portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sign assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the slot opens onto two different surfaces of the support such that the two openings are in respective planes that are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The sign assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the slot opens onto two different surfaces of the support such that the sign can be engaged with and can be subsequently removed from the support by moving the sign in the same direction through the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The sign assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the sign protrudes from the support from both of the openings. 
     
     
         7 . The sign assembly according to  claim 4  wherein one of the openings opens onto a surface on which a wheel of a vehicle approaching the assembly from a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar display portion can travel over to impact the sign in the plane. 
     
     
         8 . The sign assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the two different surfaces are orientated relative to each other such a wheel of a vehicle approaching the assembly from a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar display portion can travel over each of the two surfaces to impact the sign in a plane parallel to planar display portion. 
     
     
         9 . The sign assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the non-planar feature is a bend of at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The sign assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the non-planar feature is a bend of about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The sign assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the non-planar feature has a portion that extends from the one opening and is configured to abut the surface on which a wheel of a vehicle approaching the assembly from a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar display portion travels to impact the sign. 
     
     
         12 . The sign assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the non-planar feature is a bead formed along the sign. 
     
     
         13 . The sign assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the support has a base surface to be placed in contact with the road, and a top surface which faces away from the road, the base surface having a larger area than the top surface. 
     
     
         14 . The sign assembly according to  claim 1 , the sign assembly comprising one or more releasable locking components capable of releasably locking the sign to the support when coupled to the support. 
     
     
         15 . The sign assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the one or more releasable locking components comprises one or more barbs. 
     
     
         16 . The sign assembly according  claim 1  wherein the sign is retroreflective. 
     
     
         17 . The sign assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the sign assembly includes one or more solar powered panels.