Apparatus for securing a road tube

• US 10,364,917 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tmark, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tmark, Inc.
• Inventors: Gossack, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ijaz, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/944,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20180292028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 248 75, 248 85, 248 87, 404 9- 16, 340 33-943
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 11/00 Road engineering aspects of Embedding pads or other sensitive devices in paving or other road surfaces , e.g. traffic detectors, vehicle-operated pressure-sensitive actuators, devices for monitoring atmospheric or road conditionspressure-sensitive elements G01L; traffic control systems G08G
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/101 deforming the cable by moving a part of the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/10 divided, i.e. with two or more members engaging the pipe, cable or protective tubing
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/02 using treadles built into the road pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a road tube to a roadway is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a locking component configured to engage a portion of the road tube. The apparatus may additionally comprise a base assembly configured to be secured to the roadway. The base assembly may include a planar base, a first side portion extending from the base, and a second side portion extending from the base. The first and second side portions may define a channel therebetween. The channel may be configured to receive the locking component. As the locking component is moved into the channel, at least one of the first and second side portions may be configured to move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a road tube to a roadway, comprising:

a locking component configured to engage a portion of the road tube; and

a base assembly configured to be secured to the roadway, the base assembly including a planar base, a first side portion extending from the base, and a second side portion extending from the base, the first and second side portions defining a channel therebetween, the channel is configured to receive the locking component and, as the locking component is moved into the channel, at least one of the first and second side portions are configured to move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween, wherein the planar base includes a floor such that the first side portion, the second side portion, and the floor define the channel, and wherein the floor includes a plurality of teeth configured to grip the portion of the road tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking component includes a main portion disposed between third and fourth side portions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the main portion includes spaced-apart first and second walls, the first and second walls are parallel to each other and each of the first and second walls includes an end, the locking component further includes a third wall connecting the ends of the first and second walls, wherein the first, second, and third walls define a cavity that is configured to receive the portion of the road tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the third wall includes a plurality of teeth to engage the portion of the road tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the base assembly includes an engagement structure, and wherein at least one of the third and fourth side portions of the locking component includes an engagement structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second portions of the base assembly include first and second engagement structures, respectively, wherein the third and fourth side portions of the locking component include third and fourth engagement structures, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third and fourth side portions are formed with the main portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes at least one stop attached to, or formed with, the planar base, the at least one stop is configured such that, as the locking component is moved into the channel, the locking component contacts the at least one stop to limit compression of the portion of the road tube.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second side portions are formed with the base.

7. An apparatus for securing a road tube to a roadway, comprising:

a locking component configured to engage a portion of the road tube; and

a base assembly configured to be secured to the roadway, the base assembly including a planar base, a first side portion extending from the base, and a second side portion extending from the base, the first and second side portions defining a channel therebetween, the channel is configured to receive the locking component and, as the locking component is moved into the channel, at least one of the first and second side portions are configured to move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween, wherein the locking component includes a main portion disposed between third and fourth side portions, wherein the first and second portions of the base assembly include first and second engagement structures, respectively, wherein the third and fourth side portions of the locking component include third and fourth engagement structures, respectively,

wherein the first engagement structure is configured to contact the third engagement structure, and the second engagement structure is configured to contact the fourth engagement structure when the locking component is received in the channel such that, as the locking component is moved into the channel, the first and second engagement structures move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the third and fourth engagement structures is an inclined surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second engagement structures is an inverted inclined surface that is complementary to the inclined surface of the at least one of the third and fourth engagement structures such that, as the locking component is moved into the channel, the inverted inclined surface move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third and fourth engagement structures are inclined surfaces.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second engagement structures are inverted inclined surfaces that are complementary to the inclined surfaces of the third and fourth engagement structures such that, as the locking component is moved into the channel, the inverted inclined surfaces move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second engagement structures are configured such that, as the locking component is moved into the channel, the locking component contacts the base to limit compression of the portion of the road tube.

16. An apparatus for securing a road tube to a roadway, comprising:

a locking component configured to engage a portion of the road tube, the locking component includes a main portion disposed between third and fourth side portions, wherein the main portion includes spaced-apart first and second walls, the first and second walls are parallel to each other and each of the first and second walls includes an end, the locking component further includes a third wall connecting the ends of the first and second walls, wherein the first, second, and third walls define a cavity that is configured to receive the portion of the road tube; and

a base assembly configured to be secured to the roadway, the base assembly including a planar base, a first side portion extending from the base, and a second side portion extending from the base, the first and second side portions defining a channel therebetween, the channel is configured to receive the locking component and, as the locking component is moved into the channel, at least one of the first and second side portions are configured to move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween, wherein the third wall is arcuate and includes a plurality of teeth to engage the portion of the road tube.

17. An apparatus for securing a road tube to a roadway, comprising:

a locking component configured to engage a portion of the road tube, the locking component includes a main portion disposed between third and fourth side portions, wherein the main portion includes spaced-apart first and second walls, the first and second walls are parallel to each other and each of the first and second walls includes an end, the locking component further includes a third wall connecting the ends of the first and second walls, wherein the first, second, and third walls define a cavity that is configured to receive the portion of the road tube; and

a base assembly configured to be secured to the roadway, the base assembly including a planar base, a first side portion extending from the base, and a second side portion extending from the base, the first and second side portions defining a channel therebetween, the channel is configured to receive the locking component and, as the locking component is moved into the channel, at least one of the first and second side portions are configured to move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween, wherein the first and second portions of the base assembly include first and second inverted inclined surfaces, respectively, wherein the third and fourth side portions of the locking component include third and fourth inclined surfaces, respectively, the first inverted inclined surface is configured to contact the third inclined surface, and the second inverted inclined surface is configured to contact the fourth inclined surface when the locking component is received in the channel such that, as the locking component is moved into the channel, the first and second inverted inclined surfaces move the locking component toward the base to secure the portion of the road tube therebetween.