Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: PORTABLE ROADWAY WARNING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a portable roadway warning device
comprising any desired number of portable modular rumble strips for use in
various roadway conditions to alert drivers of automotive vehicles including
both
passenger vehicles and trucks of an approaching condition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is generally known to use rumble strips in roadway applications to
provide a perceptible noise and warning vibration when automotive vehicles
including passenger vehicles and trucks drive over the rumble strips to warn
the
drivers of an approaching condition such as a work site, construction site,
slow
speed zone, checkpoint, tollbooth and so on, without alarming the drivers and
without adversely affecting the stability of the vehicles. Some types of
rumble
strips are intended to be permanently installed for long-term use while others
are
intended to be portable for use at work zones and other applications of
relatively
short duration. Portable rumble strips should be reusable and quick and easy
to
deploy and remove. Also they should have the ability to remain in place under
heavy traffic conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other benefits and advantages of portable rumble strips
are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing one or
more modular rumble strips each comprised of two or more modular strip
sections each having a substantially greater length than width, and top and
bottom surfaces and end and side edges, and each fabricated of a suitable
flexible polymeric material such as rubber or polyurethane or other polymeric
material with similar properties.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, each rumble strip
comprises at least two modular strip sections each having a plurality of
aligned
alternating notches and tabs at at least one of the end edges of each of the
strip
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sections, and connecting links hingedly connecting the tabs at one of the end
edges of one of the strip sections to respective aligned tabs at another of
the end
edges of another strip section.
In accordance with another aspect, the tabs at the respective end edges of
each of the strip sections have aligned lateral through holes axially inwardly
spaced from the respective end edges, and each of the connecting links
comprises two laterally spaced rods extending through the respective through
holes in the aligned tabs at the one and the another end edges of the one and
the
another strip sections, and a pair of link plates attached to respective
opposite
ends of the two rods to maintain a desired lateral spacing between the two
rods
that is slightly greater than the spacing between the through holes in the
respective aligned tabs when the one and the another end edges of the one and
the another strip sections are in parallel alignment with one another.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the notches adjacent
opposite side edges of the respective tabs have a depth greater than the
length
of the end portions of the link plates extending radially outwardly beyond the
respective rods to allow for folding of the interconnected strip sections in
overlying relation to one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of modular strip section of the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through a portion of
the strip section of Fig. 1, taken on the plane of the line 2-2 thereof.
Fig. 3 is a perspective top view of a modular rumble strip of the present
invention comprising two of the strip sections of Fig. 1 hingedly connected
together in end to end relation to one another.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of the encircled
area A of the hingedly connected end edges of the two strip sections of Fig.
3.
Fig. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the
hingedly connected end edges of the two strip sections of Fig. 4, taken on the
plane of the line 5-5 thereof.
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Fig. 6 is a perspective top view of the modular rumble strip of Fig. 3 but
showing the two hingedly connected strip sections folded in overlying relation
to
one another.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of the encircled
area B of the hingedly connected end edges of the two strip sections of Fig. 6
folded in overlying relation to one another.
Fig. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the
hingedly connected end edges of the two folded over strip sections of Fig. 7,
taken on the plane of the line 8-8 thereof.
io Fig. 9 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the hingedly
connected end edges of the two folded over strip sections of Fig. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same
reference numbers are used to designate like parts, and initially to Figs. 1
and 2,
there is shown one form of a modular strip section 1 of the present invention
which may be hingedly connected to one or more other modular strip sections as
described hereafter to form a portable modular rumble strip for use in various
roadway conditions to alert drivers of automotive vehicles including both
passenger vehicles and trucks of an approaching condition such as a work site,
construction site, slow speed zone, checkpoint, tollbooth and so on. Each
strip
section 1 desirably has substantially flat top and bottom surfaces 2 and 3 and
opposite side edges 4 and 5 and end edges 6 and 7. Also each strip section is
desirably made of a suitable high strength, weather-resistant polymeric
material
such as rubber or polyurethane or other polymeric material with similar
properties. Suitable hand grip slots 10 may be provided in each rumble strip
section adjacent one or both ends for ease of picking the rumble strip
sections
up.
Although the dimensions of each rumble strip section 1 may vary, each
rumble strip section has a width that is preferably between approximately
eight
inches and approximately sixteen inches and more preferably of approximately
thirteen inches. Also each rumble strip section is of sufficient thickness to
create
a noticeable audible and vibration warning to drivers of automotive vehicles
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including trucks and passenger vehicles when driven over the rumble strip
sections, but not so severe as to alarm the drivers, and without adversely
affecting the stability of the vehicles. To that end, each rumble strip
section
preferably has a thickness of between approximately one-half inch and
approximately one inch and more preferably of approximately three-quarter
inch.
To provide a better grip between the bottom surface 3 of the rumble strip
sections 1 and the roadway and to reduce possible skidding of vehicle tires
against the top surface 2 of the rumble strip sections when wet, both the top
and
bottom surfaces 2 and 3 of the rumble strip sections may have texturing 15 and
16. Also the texturing may be in the form of an open diamond pattern as
schematically shown, for example, in Figs. 4 and 7, to provide a channel
effect to
permit the escape of water from both underneath and above the strip sections.
The leading side edge 4 or 5 of each rumble strip section that faces
oncoming vehicle traffic or both side edges 4 and 5 of each rumble strip
section
may be beveled to help eliminate any possible movement of the rumble strips
caused by initial contact of the vehicle tires with the rumble strips. The
included
angle of the beveled leading side edge 4 or 5 or both side edges 4 and 5 of
the
rumble strip sections is preferably between approximately 100 and
approximately
15 and more preferably approximately 12 .
As seen for example in Fig. 1, each strip section 1 has aligned alternating
tabs 20 and notches 21, 21' and/or 21" in opposite end edges 6 and 7 for
connecting the end edges of two or more strip sections together to form a
rumble
strip of any desired length as described hereafter.
In one form of the invention, each of the individual strip sections 1
preferably has a length of between approximately five feet and approximately
six
feet and more preferably approximately five and one-half feet, whereby a
rumble
strip 26 comprised of two strip sections 1 hingedly connected together in end
to
end relation as shown in Fig. 3 will be of sufficient length to reach across a
single
highway lane, which is typically approximately eleven feet wide. Each of the
individual strip sections 1 may be somewhat longer or shorter than that or of
different lengths if desired. Also more than two modular strip sections may be
used to make up a single rumble strip if desired. However, a single rumble
strip
comprised of two modular strip sections hingedly joined together as described
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hereafter, each having a length of approximately five and one-half feet, can
easily
be folded in half with the folded strip sections in overlying relation to one
another
with their top surfaces facing each other, can easily be fitted in the bed of
a
pickup truck for easy transport and deployment. This makes the rumble strips
particularly easy to deploy and remove and reuse for work zones of relatively
short duration.
If each rumble strip 26 comprised of two (or more) strip sections 1 hingedly
connected together is found not to be heavy enough to remain in place under
heavy traffic, a plurality of laterally spaced, transversely extending metal
plates or
bars 28, preferably made of steel or cast iron, may be embedded within the
approximate center of the thickness of each rumble strip section as
schematically
shown in Fig. 2 to provide the necessary ballast to keep each rumble strip in
place without having to use any adhesive or fasteners. Alternatively, the
plates
or bars may be partially embedded in the strip sections, or cavities may be
provided in the strip sections to accept the plates or bars, or the plates or
bars
may be mechanically fastened or adhesively affixed to the top surfaces of the
strip sections if desired. The metal plates or bars 28 preferably run
transversely
across the width of the strip sections to provide stiffness in the transverse
direction so the side edges of the strip sections don't curl in use, and are
desirably embedded the approximate center of the thickness of each strip
section.
The number and combined weight of the individual plates or bars 28
embedded in the strip sections 1 should be sufficient to cause the rumble
strips to
stay in place under heavy traffic, but not make the rumble strips so heavy
they
cannot easily be folded in half and moved by two persons. For example, the
overall weight of each strip section that is approximately five and one-half
feet in
length may be between approximately fifty pounds and approximately sixty
pounds and more preferably approximately fifty-five pounds, whereby the
overall
weight of a rumble strip comprised of two strip sections hingedly connected
that
are each approximately five and one-half feet in length will be between
approximately one hundred pounds and approximately one hundred twenty
pounds and more preferably approximately one hundred ten pounds.
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As seen for example in Figs. 4 and 5, the tabs 20 at the respective end
edges 6 and 7 of each of the strip sections 1 have aligned lateral through
holes
30 axially inwardly spaced from their respective end edges to facilitate
hingedly
connecting the tabs 20 at one of the end edges 6 of one of the strip sections
to
respective aligned tabs 20 at another of the end edges 7 of another of the
strip
sections using suitable connecting links 31.
In the example disclosed herein, each connecting link 31 desirably
comprises two laterally spaced parallel rods 32 extending through the
respective
through holes 30 in the aligned tabs 20 at the one and the another end edges
of
io the one and the another strip sections. Each of the rods 32 has opposite
ends
extending outwardly beyond respective ends of the through holes 30. Attached
to the respective opposite ends of the two rods are a pair of link plates 33
and 34
to maintain a desired lateral spacing between the two rods 32 of each
connecting
link 31 that is slightly greater than the spacing between the through holes 30
in
the respective aligned tabs 20 when the one and the other end edges of the one
and the another strip sections are in substantially parallel alignment with
one
another as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
One of the link plates 33 may be permanently attached to one of the ends
of the two rods 32, whereas the other link plate 34 desirably has a slip fit
over the
other ends of the two rods, and may be releasably secured to the other ends by
a
connecting pin 35 that may be transversely slidably received in aligned
annular
grooves 36 in the other ends of the two rods outwardly of the link plate 34
when
the two modular strip sections 1 are placed one on top of another with their
top
surfaces 2 facing each other as shown in Figs. 7-9 for ease of attachment of
the
connecting links to the aligned tabs of the two strip sections.
Each of the link plates 33 and 34 of the connecting links 31 used to
hingedly connect two or more strip sections 1 together desirably has a width
no
greater than the thickness of the strip sections, whereby when the joined
strip
sections are placed on the ground in parallel alignment with one another as
schematically shown in Figs. 3-5, the link plates will not interfere with the
flat
placement of the strip sections against the ground or interfere with
automotive
vehicle tires passing over the hingedly connected strip sections.
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Also each of the link plates 33 and 34 has opposite end portions 37 and 38
extending radially outwardly beyond the respective rods 32 when connected
thereto a length no greater than one-half the thickness of the strip sections,
whereby when the strip sections are folded one on top of another (with their
top
surfaces 2 facing each other), the ends of the link plates won't extend
outwardly
beyond the bottom surfaces 3 of the interconnected strip sections as shown in
Fig. 8 so as not to interfere with the stacking of multiple folded
interconnected
strip sections one on top of another. Likewise, the notches 21, 21' and/or 21"
adjacent opposite sides of the tabs 20 have a depth slightly greater than the
io length of the end portions 37, 38 of the link plates 33, 44 extending
radially
outwardly beyond the respective rods 32 to allow for the folding of the
interconnected strip sections in overlying relation to one another.
Although the number as well as the length and spacing of the tabs 20 at
the end edges 6, 7 of the strip sections 1 that are hingedly connected
together
may be varied within certain limits depending on the width of the strip
sections,
the end edges of each of the strip sections preferably have at least two tabs
20,
and more preferably three tabs, and still more preferably four tabs at the end
edges of each of the strip sections that are hingedly connected together by
respective connecting links 31 in order to strengthen the attachment of the
interconnected strip sections.
In the example shown herein, wherein four hingedly connected tabs 20 are
provided at the end edges of the respective strip sections, the centermost
notch
21 between two of the tabs 20 at the end edges of each of the strip sections
has
a width slightly greater than the length of the two rods 32 of the respective
connecting links 31 to facilitate insertion of the free ends of the rods of
the
respective connecting links through the through holes 30 in the respective
aligned
tabs 20 of the strip sections as best seen in Figs. 4, 7 and 9. The outermost
notches 21' desirably extend all the way out to the side edges 4, 5 of the
strip
sections to facilitate insertion of the free ends of the rods 32 of the
connecting
links 31 used to hingedly connect the outermost tabs of two strip sections
together as also best seen in Figs. 4, 7 and 9. The notches 21" between the
inner and outermost tabs 20 need only have a width sufficient to accommodate
the free ends of the rods of the two connecting links connecting the inner and
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outermost tabs together and the respective link plates 34 that have a slip fit
over
the free ends of the respective rods and are releasably secured to the free
ends
by transversely slidably inserting the connecting pins 35 in the aligned
grooves
36 in the free ends of the respective rods outwardly of the respective slip-on
link
plates when the strip sections are folded one on top of another as shown in
Fig.
9.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to
certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and
modifications
will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of
the
specification. In particular, with regard to the various functions performed
by the
above-described components, the terms (including any reference to a "means")
used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise
indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the
described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not
structurally equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the function
of
the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition,
while
a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to
only
one embodiment, such feature may be combined with one or more other features
as may be desired or advantageous to any given or particular application.
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