Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02499295 2005-03-03
ROADWAY DELINEATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to roadway delineators. More
particularly, the
present invention relates to self erecting roadway delineators capable of
independently returning
to an operable position after being deflected by a force.
Related Art
Upright roadway delineators have been used for some time to delineate sections
of
concern in vehicle traffic flow areas. Upright delineators typically extend
above a ground
surface and include a reflective marker to increase visibility of the
delineator. Roadway
delineators are often installed at the edges of highways to delineate the
outer edge of the
highway, or are installed between lanes of the highway to indicate division
between the lanes.
Delineators are also installed in parking areas and other general traffic
areas to delineate areas in
which vehicle traffic is to be restricted, i.e., to direct vehicles away from
parking-restricted areas,
or to separate incoming traffic from outgoing traffic. Restricting vehicle
traffic to a particular
area may be done for a number of other reasons, including restricting vehicles
from construction
areas or fmm pedestrian-only areas.
As such, roadway delineators are often placed immediately adjacent to areas in
which
vehicles are operated, and the delineators are often subject to contact by or
collision with the
vehicles. Consequently, it is often desired to form the delineators from a
suitable material,
and/or in a suitable configuration, such that damage to vehicles resulting
from inadvertent
CA 02499295 2005-03-03
2
collision with the delineators is minimized. This is desirable for a number of
reasons, including
safety considerations, as damaged vehicles may become more difficult to
operate safely. Also,
of course, damaged vehicles must generally be repaired at often considerable
expense. in
addition to reducing damage to v~°hicles colliding with the
delineators, it is often desirable Eo
limited resultant damage to the delineators themselves, as a damaged
delineator may be
ineffective at marking a desired location and must generally be replaced in
order to maintain the
efficacy of the delineation system as a whole.
For at least these reasons, it has been desired to produce delineators that
self erect into
operable position after being struck by a vehicle, and which inflict
relatively little damage to the
vehicle striking the delineators. Due to these considerations, many
contractors and
municipalities will only allow installation of roadway delineators that are
capable of returning to
an operable condition after multiple vehicle collisions. A variety of designs
have been
developed in an attempt to address these issues. Examples of such designs
include complex
jYi i;,~ c~a~ ir.~.:bl LPQ rt,ar serve tn flex rearwardly and rebound upwardly
in response to a vehicle
I S collision. Other examples include elaborate delineator body configurations
which attempt to
provide the same effect with fewer moving components.
Despite these attempts, however, conventional self erecting delineators remain
problematic in that the delineators can be overly expensive to produce and can
be sufficiently
difficult to install and maintain as to greatly add to the costs of using the
delineators.
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3
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a roadway
delineator that
can self erect after multiple vehicle collisions; can be manufactured at
limited cost; and can be
installed and removed with minimal effort and cost.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a directional roadway
delineator is
provided that can include an elongate, tubular body having a frontal impact
face and a rearward
Lace. The tubular body can have a lower section disposable at least partially
below a surface of
the roadway to secure the delineator below the roadway surface. The tubular
body can also have
an upper section, extending upwardly from the lower section to provide a
marker above the
roadway surface. A pair of longitudinal slits can be formed through opposite
sides of the tubular
body between the frontal face and rearward face in the lower section of the
body to allow the
delineator to: elastically flex rearwardly in response to a force applied to
the frontal impact face;
and return to a substantially vertical orientation upon removal of the applied
force.
1,~. »~~0:''~3.~.~e :'.gal: » .~.:;):'~ ~~t»:l~d »~t~.P~t ~f the ~~~~~.~.f
iny~ntinn~ w rnariw» f ~~linPatnr
is provided that can include an elongate body having a frontal impact face and
a rearward face.
The elongate body can have a lower section, disposable at least partial ly
below a surface of the
roadway to secure the delineator below the roadway surface. The elongate body
can also have
an upper section, extending upwardly from the lower section to provide a
marker above the
roadway surface. A pair of longitudinal slits can be formed through opposite
sides of the
elongate body between the frontal face and rearward face in the lower section
of the elongate
body. The delineator can have a first, upright configuration in which the
lower section includes a
substantially tubular cross section, and a second, flexed configuration in
which an inside surface
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4
of the frontal impact face of the body at least partially contacts an inside
surface of the rearward
face of the body.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of delineating a
roadway is
provided which can include the step of obtaining an elongate, tubular
delineator. The delineator
can include: a lower section, including a pair of longitudinal slits formed
through sides of the
tubular delineator; and an upper section, extending upwardly from the lower
section to provide a
marker above the roadway. The method can include the further step of disposing
at least a
portion of the lower section of the delineator into the roadway such that each
of the pair of
longitudinal slits formed in the sides of the delineator are at least
partially disposed beneath the
roadway.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
detailed
description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which
together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention.
1 S BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. IA is a front view of a delineator in accordance with an embodiment of
the present
invention;
FIG. 1 B is a side view of the delineator of FIG. 1 A;
FIG. 2 is another side view of the delineator of FIG. 1 A, as installed in a
roadway;
FIG. 3 is another side view of the delineator of FIG. t A in a flexed
configuration;
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the delineator of FIG. 1 B, taken along
section A-A;
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the delineator of FIG. 3, taken along
section B-B;
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FIG. 5 is a side view of the delineator of FIG. lA showing the delineator
prior to one
exemplary installation configuration;
FIG. 6A is a front view of an anchor in accordance with one aspect of the
invention; and
FIG. 6B is a side view of the anchor of FIG. 6A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made tv the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the
drawings,
and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will
nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended. Alterations and
further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and
additional applications of
the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to
one skilled in the
relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered
within the scope of the
invention.
iiiuutiuteu iW~iv~. i A uiau ii~ i~ a ivuu~iu~ vviiilLatVL Ill cLar~.VIVGLtIW
Y~'lLit Vll aDFJW~ Vl
the present invention. The roadway delineator can include an elongate, tubular
body I2 having a
frontal impact face 14 and a rearward face 16. A lower section 18 can be
disposable at least
partially below a surface of a roadway (25 in FIG. 2) to secure the delineator
below the roadway
surface. An upper section 20 can extend upwardly from the lower section and
can be configured
to provide a marker 42 above the roadway surface. A pair of longitudinal slits
22a, 22b can be
formed through opposite sides of the tubular body between the frontal face and
rearward face in
the lower section of the body. It will be appreciated that, as FIGs. IB, 2, 3
and 5 are side views
of the delineator, only slit 22b is shown in these views. Both slits 22a and
22b are shown in
sectional view in FIGs. 4A and 4B.
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b
As shown in FIG. 3, the longitudinal slits 22a, 22b can be configured to allow
the
delineator to elastically flex, bend or deflect rearwardly in response to a
force F applied to the
frontal impact face 14 of the delineator body 12. Upon removal of the force,
the longitudinal
slits allow the body to flex upwardly and return to an operable, generally
vertical orientation (as
shown, for example in FIG. 1B). While the longitudinal slits can be formed
within the body in a
variety of positions and orientatians, in one aspect of the invention, the
slits are formed in the
body in a manner such that the delineator is airectional. As used herein, the
term "directional" is
to be understood to mean that the delineator is configured to perform best
when impacted by a
force directed in a particular orientation relative to the delineator. Thus,
in the aspect shown in
FIG. 3, the slits 22a, 22b are fonned in opposite sides of the body to allow
the body to flex or
bend rearwardly and forwardly about the slits.
To simplify the discussion herein, the aspects of the delineator will be
discussed in
relation to a frontward and rearward direction, with the frontward side or
face of the delineator
generally ----CGlGIGIW.c.u aS a :r.~.~r'~ to the left of the pages of the
figures (in those views illustrating
the delineator from the side). It is to be understood that such conventions
only for pueposes
of simplification and not limitation of the invention disclosed herein.
In addition, the term "tubular," while generally used in the discussion
relating to
delineators with a body having a cylindrical cross sectional shape, is not
Limited to cylindrical
cross section but can include a variety of cross sectional shapes, as would
occur to one skilled in
24 the art. Examples of tubular cross sectional shapes can include, without
limitation, oval cross
sectional shapes, rectangular cross sectional shapes, combinations of cross
sectional shapes
having curved and straight portions, etc.
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Also, the term "roadway," as used herein, is to be understood to refer to a
variety of
surfaces which may support traffic flow, or which may lie adjacent to traffic
flow surfaces. For
example, the term "roadway" can refer to roads, streets, highways or freeways,
any of which
may be formed of concrete, asphalt, aggregate, or other similar material.
Also, the term
"roadway" can refer to ground lying adjacent to a road, street or highway, the
adjacent ground
being fornied of a variety of materials including sand, dirt, soil, aggregate,
concrete, asphalt, etc.
Returning to Fiv. 3, and with further regard to FIG. 4B, it can be seen that
when the body
12 of the delineator is impacted by a force F, the slits 22a, 22b allow the
body to elastically flex
or fold upon itself. While a conventional, closed tubular body may fold or
flex in reaction to
such a force, a conventional, closed body would be subjected to very high
stress concentrations
in the area of the body located at the edges of the fold, i.e., very sharp
"pinch" points at corners
of the fold. In contrast, the slits 22a, 22b formed in the present delineator
serve as stress relief
sections, providing areas in which the body can flex or fold without incurring
substantial
pe'.;;;a;~enr n,atPrial deformation.
The slits Z2a, 22b thus aid in reducing areas of stress which have
conventionally resulted
in delineators exhibiting limited service life. It has been found that the
delineators of the present
invention can sustain repeated cycles of alternating between a substantially
vertical orientation to
a folded, rearwardiy flexed orientation, Delineators in accordance with the
present invention
have exhibited cycle lives of greater than ten ( 10) impacts by a vehicle
traveling over fifty (50)
miles per hour. In these tests, the delineator subjected to impact by the
vehicle consistently
returned to a vertical position of at least twenty (20) degrees within true
vertical (that is, within
20 degrees of the original vertical orientation of the delineator).
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It will be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 can be
directional in at
least two opposite directions. As the delineator is generally symmetrical
about an axis (44 in
FIG. 1B} defined by the slits 22a, 22b, the delineator can perform equally
well when impacted by
a force from either the front direction shown, or from a force applied from
the rearward
direction. Thus, the delineator can be effectively used in areas where
traf~F~c near the delineator
may be anticipated to be traveling in two directions, as may be the case for
example when the
d~lincaior is used to delineate opposing lanes of traftic.
While the delineator can be formed from a variety of materials, in one aspect
of the
invention the delineator is formed of a polymeric material such as non-
reactive, impact modified
thermoplastics. It has been found that such a material, in combination with
the vertical slits 22a,
226, can provide a delineator that exhibits superior resistance to permanent
deformation due to
vehicle collisions while also limiting damage caused to vehicles as a result
of the collisions.
Similarly, the delineator can be formed in a variety of sizes and slit
configurations. In one aspect
.w., i,.=..pr ~A..ri~n 1 R of the tubular body 12 can have an outer diameter
from
OI ~I1C ilivciniCrv, uw .v..,.. ~...._.,.._
about 2 inches to about 2 112 inches. In another aspect, the lower section of
the tubular body can
have an outer diameter on the order of about 2 114 inches and can have an
outer wail thickness
(36 in FIG. 4A) of about 1/8 of an inch.
The slits 22a, 22b can similarly be formed in a variety of configurations. In
one aspect,
the slits can each have a width of about 1/8 of an inch to about 3/8 of an
inch. In another aspect,
the slits can each have a width of about 1/4 of an inch. In addition, as shown
in FIG. 1 B, the
longitudinal slits 22 of the elongate body can have a substantially constant
width W along the
longitudinal axis 44. The slits can have a longitudinal length from about 7
inches to about i0
inches, and in one aspect the slits have a longitudinal length of about 7 1/2
inches.
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9
As represented by arrow 3fl in FiG. 4A, in one embodiment of the invention,
the frontal
impact face 14 of the tubular body 12 can extend substantially uninterrupted
around the body
from one 22a of the longitudinal slits to another 22b of the longitudinal
slits. Similarly, the
rearward impact face 16 can extend substantially uninterrupted around the
tubular body from one
of the longitudinal slits to another of the lonbitudinal slits {as represented
by arrow 32). By
extending the frontal and/or rearward faces in a substantially interrupted
manner from one slit to
another, the tubular body 12 allows stress due to vehicle in~paci to "tlow"
through tl:e frontal and
rearward faces to the relief section provided by the slits. In this manner,
high stress
concentrations in the material of the body are avoided, increasing useable
fife of the delineator:
To further aid in distributing stress levels through the material of the body
12, the tubular
body can include an outer wall 37 which can define an internal hoI!ow cavity
38. The internal
hollow cavity 38 can extend substantially uninterrupted throughout the lower
section. In this
manner, little or no material is present within the tubular body to impede the
tube from flexing or
. .~ . _ _L_... .wa ~t:,~ ~~a ~~h This feature further aids in providing a
delineator which can
IOltliil~' 0.uVUa my o"w ..~.., ,__. _
repeatedly flex or fold in a non-deformable, or elastic, manner about the
longitudinal slits.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the elongate body 12 can
have a first,
upright configuration (shown by example in FIGS. 1 A, 1 B and 2) in which the
lower section 18
includes a substantially tubular cross section (shown by example in FIG. 4A).
The body 12 can
have a second, flexed configuration {shown by example in FIG. 3) in which an
inside surface 14a
of the frontal impact face 14 of the body at least partially contacts an
inside surface 16a of the
rearward face 16 of the body {shown by example in FIG. 4B).
In this aspect of the invention, the frontal face 14 arid rearward face 16 of
the delineator
cooperate about the slits 22 to allow the delineator to flex or bend in
response to an applied force
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F. As the force initially causes the body to begin bending rearwardly (i.e.,
to the right of FIG. 3),
the rearward face 16 between the slits 22a, 22b will begin to flatten, as will
the frontal impact
face 14. 1n one aspect of the invention, when the body reaches a critical
stage of bending, the
inside surface 14a of the frontal face and the inside surface 1 ba of the
rearward face contact each
S other and cooperatively flatten into substantially planar surfaces at the
point of bending. The
degree of bend or flex of the tube can alter the extent of contact of the
inside surfaces, with a
severe degree of bend resuiting in tine inside surfaces contacting each other
across a rr~ajuiity of
the point of bending.
As best shown in FIGs. IA and IB, the upper section 20 of the tube 12 can
include a
IO flattened section 40 that can be configured to receive a reflector or
marker 42 thereon. The
reflector can be of a variety of those known in the art, and can be adhered to
the flattened section
or formed as an integral part thereof. As shown in FIG. 1 B, the flattened
section can be flattened
in a plane common to a vertical axis 44 formed by the iongitudinal~slits 22a,
22b. In this manner,
tire plarlG of ii v rv::vCt~r Can hp substantially parallel to an axis through
which the body 12 wilt
flex about the slits. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the
flattened section of the
delineator includes a rivet or other secut~ing device 41 which aids in
maintaining the top of the
delineator in a closed position. In addition to a securing device, the top of
the delineator may be
sealed, for example, by plastically welding the top portions to one another.
In one aspect of the invention, the delineator can be configured to cooperate
with an
anchor 50 that can be disposable beneath the surface 25 of the roadway, as
shown at 50 in FIGS.
2, 3, 5, bA and 6B. The anchor can be of a variety of those known in the art
and can be formed
of a substantially rigid material such as galvanized steel. As shown in side
view in FIG. bB, the
anchor can include a pair of indentations 52 that can correspond to a pair of
voids 54 formed in
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the tubular body 12. As the tubular body is lowered into the socket, the
indentations of the
socket engage the voids of the body, thus securing the body within the anchor.
As shown in FIG.
2, in one aspect of the invention, the anchor can receive at least a portion
of the longitudinal slits
and secure the at least a portion of the slits below the surface of the
roadway.
S In addition to the anchor SO shown in the various figures, the delineator of
the present
invention can be used with a variety of other anchor configurations known in
the art. The
aelin;,ator can also be utilized m installation procedures that involve no
anci~o:, that is, tze
delineator can be installed as a stand-alone unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of
delineating a
roadway is provided and can include the steps of: a) obtaining an elongate,
tubular delineator, the
delineator including: i) a Iower section, including a pair of longitudinal
slits formed through
sides of the tubular delineator; and ii) an upper section, extending upwardly
from the lower
section and being configured to provide a marker above the roadway. The method
can include
the further step of disposing at least a portion of the tower section of the
delineator into the
1S roadway such that each of the pair of Longitudinal slits formed in the
sides of tl:P delineator is at
least partially disposed beneath the roadway.
This method can be appreciated from the arrangement of FIG. S, where anchor SO
is
shown already anchored or buried beneath surface 25 of the roadway. The
tubular body 12 can
be disposed above the anchor and then lowered into the anchor SO until voids
S4 engage
depressions 52 to secure the body to the anchor. By disposing the anchor a
depth D beneath the
surface 2S, the tubular body will bend or flex primarily about a point P on
the surface of the
roadway (in the case where a force is applied to frontal face 14). In this
manner, rather than
bending the body 12 about an inside edge of the anchor, which may be very
rigid and possibly
CA 02499295 2005-03-03
12
sharp, the tube is bent or flexed against the roadway, which may be softer and
less likely to
initiate shear of the tube. In one aspect of the invention, the step of
installing the anchor in the
roadway includes the step of installing the anchor at least about 1/2 inch
below the surface of the
roadway. In another aspect, the anchor can be installed about 1 inch below the
surface of the
roadway.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the flattened section 40 is aligned
in a plane
v~hich is orthibonal to a direction or"aryticipated traffiv fiow. 'i hus, the
de~ireamr cau be
effectively used to delineate in an area adjacent to traffic anticipated to
flaw from the left-to-
right or right-to-left of the page of FIG. 5.
It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are illustrative
of the
application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous
modifications and alternative
arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention
while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and described above
in connection
with the exempiary embodirnenis~s j of the invention. it wiii be apparent to
those of ordinary
skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing
from the principles
and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
