Road structure – process – or apparatus – Traffic director – Attenuated lane marker type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-11-13
Shackelford, H. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Traffic director
Attenuated lane marker type
C404S009000, C404S012000, C404S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315491
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to roadway marker devices and more particularly pertains to a new roadway marker device for marking a roadway with marker embedded in the roadway.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of roadway marker devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, roadway marker devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,327,850; 5,108,218; 5,679,437; 2,430,534; 5,097,358; and U.S. Des. No. 397,555.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new roadway marker device. The inventive device includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end. The elongate member has a top wall and a bottom wall. A reflective strip enhances night time visibility of the elongate member. The reflective strip has a first side and a second side. The first side of the strip is adapted to reflect light. The second side of the strip has adhesive thereon. The second side of the strip is adhesively coupled to a surface of the top wall of the elongate member. The elongate members are placed in the roadway such that the top wall of the elongate member is generally flush with the roadway.
In these respects, the roadway marker device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of marking a roadway with marker embedded in the roadway.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of roadway marker devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new roadway marker device construction wherein the same can be utilized for marking a roadway with marker embedded in the roadway.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new roadway marker device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the roadway marker devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new roadway marker device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art roadway marker devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongate member having a first end and a second end. The elongate member has a top wall and a bottom wall. A reflective strip enhances night time visibility of the elongate member. The reflective strip has a first side and a second side. The first side of the strip is adapted to reflect light. The second side of the strip has adhesive thereon. The second side of the strip is adhesively coupled to a surface of the top wall of the elongate member. The elongate members are placed in the roadway such that the top wall of the elongate member is generally flush with the roadway.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new roadway marker device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the roadway marker devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new roadway marker device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art roadway marker devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new roadway marker device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new roadway marker device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new roadway marker device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such roadway marker device economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new roadway marker device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new roadway marker device for marking a roadway with marker embedded in the roadway.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new roadway marker device which includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end. The elongate member has a top wall and a bottom wall. A reflective strip enhances night time visibility of the elongate member. The reflective strip has a first side and a second side. The first side of the strip is adapted to reflect light. The second side of the strip has adhesive thereon. The second side of the strip is adhesively coupled to a surface of the top wall of the elongate member. The elongate members are placed in the roadway such that the top wall of the elongate member is generally flush with the roadway.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new roadway marker device that can be molded for corners or wherever a typical road paint and tape may be used.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new roadway marker device that will not wear away due to weather or the effects of traffic and roadway cleaning and plowing.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attai
Scribner Valerie
Scribner William C.
Hartmann Gary S.
Shackelford H.
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