Signals and indicators – Street traffic – Portable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-06
2001-02-06
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Street traffic
Portable
C116S06300T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182600
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to traffic channeling devices used, for example, for guiding and directing normal vehicle traffic around road and highway construction sites and the like, for lane closures, as barricades for work zones and for crowd control.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different types of traffic channeling devices have been utilized previously. One type that has been widely used comprises a hollow plastic delineator stem that is conically shaped to facilitate stacking of the stems. Also some type of ballast is usually placed near the bottom of the stems to prevent the stems from being inadvertently blown over or moved about by the wind and/or air blasts produced by passing vehicles. One common form of ballast consists of one or more ring-shaped base members which may be placed over the stem and onto an outwardly extending flange of the stem.
One problem with such conically-shaped delineator stems is that they may unnecessarily cause damage to a vehicle when impacted thereby especially if the delineator stems are heavily ballasted. Also, the delineator stems themselves may tear or crack prematurely when impacted by a vehicle, thereby reducing the useful life of the delineator stems.
Another problem with such conically shaped delineator stems is that before reflective sheeting material can be applied to the stems, the sheeting material must be die cut so that it conforms to the conical surface. This is not only wasteful of the reflective sheeting material, which is relatively expensive, it also increases the time and expense of applying the reflective sheeting material to the conical surface. The appearance of the stem may also be affected, for example, by leaving uncovered some portions on the delineator stem because of an insufficient size or cut of reflective sheeting material or by inadvertently applying the material in an uneven manner.
Moreover, ring-shaped ballasts used for anchoring the delineator stems do not make efficient use of space. For example, the ballasts cannot easily be placed into tight work zones or small storage sites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a traffic channeling device that includes a delineator stem and one or more removable external base members that are used as ballast to hold the delineator stem in place during use.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delineator stem includes hollow upper and lower portions wherein the upper portion is stepped inwardly along its axial length to form sequential stepped surfaces from the bottom to the top of the upper portion and the lower portion is frustoconically shaped to provide a substantially larger, outer diameter at the bottom than at the top of the lower portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the stepped surfaces are substantially vertical and are oriented parallel with respect to the axial length of the upper portion thus permitting bands of reflective sheeting material to be easily applied to the stepped surfaces.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the stepped and frustoconical surfaces of one delineator stem correspond to and are sized to receive respective stepped and frustoconical surfaces of another delineator stem when the delineator stems are stacked one on top of the other.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the upper stem portion includes rounded shoulders disposed between adjacent stepped surfaces. Advantageously, the rounded shoulders stiffen the upper stem portion to thereby resist shearing between adjacent stepped surfaces when the upper portion of the delineator stem is impacted by a vehicle. Moreover, the top of the lower stem portion substantially coincides with a transition shoulder at the bottom of the upper stem portion to provide a generally smooth transition between the upper and lower stem portions.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the upper stem portion includes a handle with a closed loop opening disposed on top of, and preferably integrally molded with, the upper stem portion to facilitate grasping the delineator stem by a person's hand and moving it from one location to another. Advantageously, the stems are sufficiently lightweight that, if desired, up to five stems may be grasped and moved by one person at one time. The handle may also include a mounting hole for attachment of safety devices thereto, and indents on opposite sides of the handle for tying of caution tape to the handle. The uppermost stepped surface of the delineator stem is desirably adapted to receive the handle of another delineator stem when the stems are stacked one on top of another.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the delineator stem includes a radially outwardly extending multi-faceted flange portion adjacent a bottom edge of the lower stem portion for resisting pullout of the delineator stem from the base member. Advantageously, the upper stem portion upon impact by a vehicle is made to substantially withstand the impact without deforming the upper stem portion while the lower stem portion deforms sufficiently to permit the flange portion to pull through the opening in the base member, to cause the delineator stem to become dislodged from the base member leaving the base member behind.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the base member includes a top surface having a non-circular nesting ridge and a bottom surface having a correspondingly sized recessed portion adapted to receive the nesting ridge when one base member is stacked on top of another base member. Advantageously, the base members are maintained in the same orientation when stacked together, permitting the stacked base members to fit into tight work zones or small storage places.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the base member includes at least one slot sized to permit the fingers of a person's hand to fit at least partially therethrough to facilitate grasping the base member and moving it from one location to another.
These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 310642 (1990-09-01), Kulp
patent: D. 338631 (1993-08-01), Braverman
patent: D. 406543 (1999-03-01), Brown et al.
patent: 3380428 (1968-04-01), Abrams
patent: 3913518 (1975-10-01), Kaplan
patent: 3952690 (1976-04-01), Rizzo et al.
patent: 4925334 (1990-05-01), Beard
patent: 5036791 (1991-08-01), Thurston
patent: 5234280 (1993-08-01), Cowan
patent: 5421668 (1995-06-01), Cowan et al.
patent: 5451118 (1995-09-01), Wilkins et al.
patent: 5560732 (1996-10-01), Kulp et al.
patent: 5630675 (1997-05-01), Boeger
patent: 5749673 (1998-05-01), Kulp et al.
patent: 5755528 (1998-05-01), Kulp et al.
patent: 5868520 (1999-02-01), Kulp et al.
patent: 6014941 (2000-01-01), Bent et al.
patent: 6019542 (2000-02-01), Bent et al.
Brochure entitled Top Stackable Channelizer Cone, prior to Apr. 15, 1998.
Brochure entitled New Grabber Vertical Panel Barricade, 1996.
Brown Gregory H.
Cowan David A.
Cowan David E.
Gutierrez Diego
Plastic Safety Systems, Inc.
Pruchnic Jr. Stanley J.
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
LandOfFree
Traffic channeling device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Traffic channeling device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Traffic channeling device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2566988