Road structure – process – or apparatus – Traffic director – Yielding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-07-31
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Traffic director
Yielding
C116S06300T, C248S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267529
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to upright traffic posts used adjacent to roadways and in particular to a flexible traffic post.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traffic posts are located alongside roadways to help guide traffic along the road, particularly at night when reflectors mounted on the posts indicate the path the road takes into the distance. These posts have traditionally been constructed of a square timber cross section and have been installed by driving them into the ground, or by securing them in bore holes dug into the ground with cement if required The posts are arranged at regular intervals along the roadway, particularly in country areas. Galvanised steel extrusions are also commonly used as traffic guide posts and are rigidly secured to the ground in a similar manner.
Traffic posts are also used to carry traffic signs (e.g. give way, speed limit and street signs) and are typically located either beside the roadway or on a median strip or roundabout. These traffic posts are commonly manufactured from extruded tubular or channel galvanised steel sections and are also rigidly secured either as above or by fastening the posts to a concrete surface by means of a flat base
When a vehicle strays from the roadway and impacts a traffic post, a large impact force and moment about the base of the post result. The post is then typically damaged irreparably and/or uprooted from its rigid mounting, thereby contributing to excessive repair and replacement expenses. The impact force may also cause considerable and costly damage to the impacting vehicle as well as injury to the occupants travelling therein.
Whilst various forms of flexible posts have been proposed, the known posts typically suffer from various setbacks including difficulty in installing, poor performance in returning to the upright position after impact and excessive costs associated with complicated hinge structures.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein a traffic post comprising:
a longitudinally extending upper post section,
a longitudinally extending lower post section adapted to be driven into a support base, and
a longitudinally extending elastically flexible unitary coupling member fastened to said upper and lower post sections, said coupling member being fastened to each of said upper and lower post sections with a front face thereof abutting a rear face of each of said upper and lower post sections, said coupling member having a width greater than a depth thereof so as to enable deflection in a fore and aft direction perpendicular to said width.
The coupling member typically has a longitudinally extending concave rear face.
In a preferred embodiment the coupling member is moulded of a plastics or elastomeric material, preferably polyurethane.
In the preferred embodiment, said upper and lower post sections are each in the form of a constant cross section channel, said upper and lower post rear faces each being disposed interiorly of the respective said channel such that said coupling member is disposed in said channels. The upper and lower post sections are preferably formed as substantially identical constant cross section “C” channels each having a web defining the post section rear face and opposing flanges projecting rearwardly from opposing lateral sides of said web.
Preferably, opposing side surfaces of said coupling member abut said opposing flanges. The front face of said coupling member is preferably moulded to conform to each of said upper and lower post section rear faces.
The coupling member is preferably fastened to at least one of said upper and lower post sections via fasteners passing through longitudinally extending slots, said slots being located and sized such that said upper and lower post sections are mutually longitudinally displaceable between an abutting relative position for driving of said post into said support base by a driving force applied to said upper post section and a longitudinally separated relative position for flexing of said coupling member. The slots will typically be provided in both of said upper and lower post sections.
In an alternate embodiment the coupling member may comprise a substantially planar flexible sheet member.
A lower end of said lower post section is typically provided with a triangular shaped cut out through said web so as to provide said lower post lower end with a fork-type configuration.
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Brochure By Delnorth PTY, LTD,. (Australia) Feb. 1998.
Campbell Garry David
Mudryk Boydan Joseph
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Hartmann Gary S.
Rondo Building Services Pty. Ltd.
Will Thomas B.
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