Traffic control element

• US 4,083,033 A
• Filed: 05/07/1976
• Issued: 04/04/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flex-O-Lite Inc.
• Original Assignee: Royal Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Kulp, Jack H., Florsheim, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/684,448
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 340/114 R, 340/114 B, 340/331, 340/, 256/64, 256/1, 248/176, 116/63 P, 240/2, 40/125 H, 40/125 N, D10/109, D10/111, D10/114
• US Class Current: 340/908
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/02 free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes E01F9/688 takes precedence; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/615 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/654 in the form of three-dimensional bodies, e.g. cones; capable of assuming three-dimensional form, e.g. by inflation or erection to form a geometric body
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/688 Free-standing bodies

Abstract

A traffic barrel constructed of a lightweight material consisting of two elements that may be readily assembled and stabilized in position and readily separated upon a substantial impact. The traffic barrel may mount one or two warning lights for nighttime traffic channelization purposes. The traffic barrel may have a "D" cross-section to prevent its rolling along a surface and have a stepped configuration to permit stacking of the two elements thereof.

Claims

1. A traffic channelization element comprising an element having a D-shaped configuration for temporarily mounting on a surface in an upright position for traffic signaling and channelization, said element having a barrel-like appearance with a hollow D-shaped cross-sectional configuration and being constructed of a resilient plastic material and is defined to have a stepped configuration wherein the smaller dimension of the element is at the free end of the element when mounted in an upright position.

2. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 1 including means for allowing access to the interior of the element to allow for the loading of a ballast into the element for stabilizing the element in an upright position.

3. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 2 wherein the element is provided with an aperture for loading ballast therein.

4. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 2 wherein the element is provided with a substantially central aperture at the top side thereof for loading ballast and means for mounting at least a single electrically operated warning light to the top side thereof.

5. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for mounting a warning light comprises a pair of wells arranged on opposite sides of the central aperture for mounting a warning light in each well.

6. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 5 wherein each well includes means for securing a warning light to the element.

7. A traffic channelization element comprising an element having a D-shaped configuration for temporarily mounting on a surface in an upright position for traffic signaling and channelization, the upper section of the D-shaped element being constructed and defined with means for securing a longitudinal planar element thereto whereby a pair of the thus defined elements may function as a barricade with the planar element extending between and secured to each of said elements.

8. A traffic channelization element comprising an element having a D-shaped configuration for temporarily mounting on a surface in an upright position for traffic signaling and channelization, said element being constructed of two pieces, one of the pieces being a base member and the other piece being the traffic channelization element adapted to be assembled and disassembled to the base member whereby upon impact the traffic channelization element will be separated from the base member to thereby minimize damage thereto and allowing ready reassembly of the two elements for reusability.

9. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 8 wherein the D-shaped element includes a plurality of bands secured in a spaced apart relationship on the element, each of the bands being of color selected to contrast with the color of the element.

10. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 9 wherein the element includes light reflecting means.

11. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 10 wherein said light relfecting means includes at least a single light reflective band secured to the element.

12. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 10 including an electrically operated warning light mounted to the upper end of the D-shaped element.

13. A traffic control element comprising a hollow element having an arcuate configuration with at least one flat side so that when the flat side is arranged in a vertical position it will prevent the element from readily rolling when impacted to a horizontal position, the outer configuration of the element being further constructed and defined to be of a stepped configuration from the element mounting surface to the top surface thereof to thereby allow a plurality of the thus defined elements to be stacked in a nesting relationship.

14. A traffic control element as defined in claim 13 including a plurality of reflectorized stripes secured to the outside surface of the element in a spaced apart relationship.

15. A traffic control element as defined in claim 14 including means constructed and defined for mounting a warning light to the element.

16. A traffic control element as defined in claim 15 including a warning light mounted to the element and anti-theft means for securing the warning light to the element.

17. A traffic control element as defined in claim 13 including means constructed and defined at one end of the element for receiving and mounting a warning light including means for securing the warning light to the element.

18. A traffic control element as defined in claim 17 wherein the warning light is a battery operated flashing light and includes anti-theft means for securing the light to the element.

19. A traffic channelization element comprising:

a hollow element having an arcuate configuration with at least one flat side and a base element adapted to be readily assembled and separated from the hollow element;

the hollow element being mounted to the base element in a vertical position to expose the flat side thereof.

20. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 19 wherein the hollow element includes means for loading a ballast such as sand, gravel or the like into the hollow element and stored in the base for stabilizing the traffic channelization element.

21. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 20 including means for mounting and securing a warning light adjacent the top end of the hollow element.

22. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 19 wherein the outer configuration of the hollow element is further constructed and defined to be of a stepped configuration with the largest outside dimension being adapted to be mounted to the base element and the smaller outside dimension being adjacent the outer end of the element to thereby allow a plurality of the elements to be stacked in a nested relationship when separated from the base element.

23. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 22 wherein the base element is constructed with an enclosed end for receiving ballast means to stabilize the base when mounted to the hollow element, the base element having an outer configuration to be nested to and secured to the larger end of the hollow element.

24. A traffic channelization element as defined in claim 23 wherein the base element and the hollow element are constructed and defined in a complimentary configuration to be snap locked together.

25. A traffic control element comprising:

a hollow barrel-like traffic control element having a substantially D-shape in cross section, and a base element adapted to be interfitted with one end of the traffic control element to mount said element in a vertical position,

the outer configuration of the traffic control element being further constructed and defined to be of a stepped configuration from one end to the opposite end with the larger end being interfitted with the base element,

the traffic control element and the base element being constructed and defined relative to each other to allow the ready assembly of the two elements and yet be responsive to a substantial impact by a motor vehicle or the like to allow separation of the traffic control element from the base element,

the traffic control element being further characterized as including access means for temporarily loading a ballast onto the base element by means of the traffic control element when the two are interfitted and to be unloaded therefrom when the two are disassembled.

26. A traffic control element as defined in claim 25 wherein the two elements are constructed of a plastic material.

27. A traffic control element as defined in claim 26 wherein the two elements are constructed of a polyethylene plastic material.

28. A traffic control element as defined in claim 25 wherein the traffic control element has its outer surface, at least in part, constructed of circumferential bands arranged in a spaced apart relationship and having a color contrasting with the color pre-selected for said element.

29. A traffic control element as defined in claim 28 wherein the bands include light reflecting properties.

30. A traffic control element as defined in claim 25 wherein the traffic control element is further constructed and defined to include means for permitting a warning light to be mounted to the upper end of said element and yet maintaining said access for loading ballast.

31. A traffic control element as defined in claim 30 wherein the traffic control element has its upper end constructed with at least a single warning light well arranged adjacent the outer periphery thereof to receive and mount a warning light therein and an access aperture for loading ballast defined in said upper end and spaced from the warning light well.

32. A traffic control element as defined in claim 31 wherein the traffic control element includes a pair of warning light wells for receiving and mounting a warning light in each well.

33. A traffic control element as defined in claim 31 including a pair of notches defined on the upper end of the traffic control element adjacent diametrically spaced points on the periphery thereof and communicating with said access aperture.

34. A traffic control element as defined in claim 25 wherein the upper end of the traffic control element is constructed and defined for providing means to mount a planar element thereto.

35. A traffic control element as defined in claim 34 including a second similarly defined traffic control element and a bar extending between the traffic control elements and secured by said mounting means.

36. A traffic control element as defined in claim 30 including a battery operated warning light mounted to the upper end of the element at said mounting means.

37. A traffic control element as defined in claim 30 wherein the two elements are constructed of plastic and the traffic control element has its outer surface defined with circumferential bands arranged in a spaced apart relationship and extending around at least the arcuate portion of said element, the element having a preselected color and the bands having a color selected to contrast therewith.

38. A traffic control element as defined in claim 37 including light reflecting means constructed and defined with said traffic control element.

39. A traffic control element as defined in claim 37 wherein said bands include light reflecting properties.

40. A traffic control element as defined in claim 39 wherein the two elements are constructed of a polyethylene plastic material.

41. A traffic control element comprising

a hollow barrel-like element having an arcuate configuration with at least one flat side so that when the flat side is arranged in a vertical position it will prevent the element from rolling when impacted to a horizontal position, and

a base element for said barrel-like element having an arcuate configuration with at least one flat side for mounting said element in an upright position, the base element and said barrel-like element being constructed and defined to be readily assembled together and being responsive to a substantial impact to cause the barrel-like element to become separated from the base element thereby minimizing any damage thereto.

42. A traffic control element as defined in claim 41 wherein said elements are constructed and defined to be assembled together with the flat sides thereof arranged on the same side of the traffic control element.

43. A traffic control element as defined in claim 42 including means for loading stabilizing means into the base element to be stored therein when the two elements are assembled together.

44. A traffic control element as defined in claim 43 wherein said elements are constructed of a lightweight, resilient plastic material having a preselected color.

45. A traffic control element as defined in claim 41 wherein said barrel-like element includes means for mounting and securing a warning light to said element.

46. A traffic control element as defined in claim 45 including anti-theft means for securing a warning light to said element.

47. A traffic control element as defined in claim 45 including a warning light mounted and secured to said element in said mounting means.

48. A traffic control element as defined in claim 42 wherein said hollow barrel-like element is tapered from the base securing end to the opposite end for permitting a multiplicity of said elements to be stacked upon one another.

49. A traffic control element as defined in claim 48 wherein said elements are constructed of a resilient, polyethylene plastic permitting restoration to its normal shape upon being dented.

50. A traffic control element as defined in claim 48 wherein the base element has an outer configuration constructed and defined to allow a plurality of said base elements to be stacked in a nesting relationship when they are separated from their barrel-like elements.