Traffic control elements

• US 4,710,053 A
• Filed: 05/30/1984
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flex-O-Lite Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lukens General Industries Inc
• Inventors: Kulp, Jack H., Cunningham, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Letchford, John F.
• Application Number:
  US06/615,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/9, 404/10, 248/548, 340/114 R, 340/114 B, 40/606, 40/610, 40/612, 116/63 R, 116/63 P, 116/63 C, 116/63 T, 116/DIG. 16
• US Class Current: 404/9
• 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 control device constructed as either a one piece or two piece device of a resilient plastic by molding. Both the one piece and two piece devices are constructed to have a ground engaging surface defined with a multiplicity of dependent elements arranged thereon in a preselected pattern for distributing the weight of any ballast means over the dependent elements so that they function as localized pressure points to more firmly engage the supporting surface to minimize their movement on the supporting surface due to wind gusts, vibrations or the like.

The two piece device is constructed with a base element that not only includes the dependent elements but also skids for permitting the assembled two piece device to be slid over a supporting surface on the skids to prevent the assembled two pieces from becoming unintentionally detached while being slid.

The devices are capable of being stacked with and without the warning light secured thereto and present the appearance of a formidable object.

Claims

1. A traffic control element comprising a molded, plastic, hollow element having a preselected configuration and a molded, plastic bse element adapted to be readily assembled and separated from the hollow element, the hollow element being mounted to the base element when it is arranged in a vertical traffic controlling position, the base element being adapted to store ballast means thereon for stabilizing the hollow element when the hollow element is arranged in said vertical position, the improvement comprising the base element having outwardly extending skid means integrally constructed therewith along one side thereof for permitting the assembled traffic control element to be slid across a surface on the skid means when the skid means are positioned into engagement with a surface and so defined to prevent the hollow element and the base element to become unintentionally separated during the sliding on the skid means.

2. A traffic control element as defined in claim 1 wherein said skid means comprises a skid element extending outwardly of the outer periphery of the base element and constructed and defined with a curved skid surface extending along a surface thereof.

3. A traffic control element as defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow element includes a handle adjacent the top thereof for facilitating the movement of the assembled traffic control element including tilting of the hollow element for sliding it along a surface on the skid means.

4. A traffic control element as defined in claim 1 or 3 wherein the skid means is constructed and defined with an arcuate surface that is spaced from the supporting surface when the traffic control element is arranged in said traffic controlling position.

5. A traffic control element comprising a hollow element havinga preselected configuration, and a base element adapted to be readily assembled and separated from the hollow element, the hollow element being mounted to the base element when it is arranged in a vertical traffic controlling position, the base element being adapted to store ballast means thereon for stabilizing the assembly of th®

hollow and base elements, the outside surface of the base element being constructed and defined with a multiplicity of dependent elements arranged on said surface whereby the traffic control element engages a mounting surface by means of said dependent elements, said dependent elements further functioning for distributing the weightof any ballast means stored on the base element over each of the multiplicity of dependent elements to cause the elements to function as localized pressure points on said mounting surface, at least a portion of the outside surface of the base element including outwardly extending skid means integrally arranged thereon along one side thereof and adjacent the outer periphery of the base element, the skid means being constructed and defined to provide a bearing surface for permitting the assembled hollow and base elements to be slid across the mounting surface when the skid means are positioned on the mounting surface without causing the hollow element, base element and any stabilizing element to become unintentionally separated during the sliding on the skid means along the mounting surface.

6. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein said multiplicity of dependent elements are arranged in a preselected regular pattern.

7. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein the hollow element and base element each have a preselected configuration with at least one flat side so that when the flat side of the hollow element is arranged in a vertical position it will prevent the element from readily rolling when impacted to a horzontal position.

8. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein the hollow element is constructed and defined with a preselected outer configuration to be roll resistant.

9. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein the hollow element and base element are molded of a resilient plastic.

10. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein the hollow element is a plastic molded element.

11. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein the hollow element is a plastic molded element produced by conventional plastic blow molding techniques.

12. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein said base element is a plastic molded element produced by conventional injection molding techniques.

13. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein the hollow element has an outer configuration that is constructed and defined to be of a stepped configuration from one end to the opposite end thereof to thereby allow a plurality of the hollow elements to be stacked in a nesting relationship when the hollow elements are disassembled from their base elements.

14. A traffic control element as defined in claim 13 wherein one end of said hollow element includes means for mounting a warning light to the element.

15. A traffic contro1 element as defined in claim 14 wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of means constructed and defined for mounting a plurality of warning lights to the element in a spaced apart relationship adjacent the outer periphery of the element.

16. A traffic control element as defined in claim 14 wherein said warning light mounting means is constructed and defined as a substantially L-shaped upstanding member for receiving and securing a warning light thereto.

17. A traffic control element as defined in claim 5 wherein said skid means comprises a skid extension constructed and defined integrally with the base element to extend outwardly of the periphery of the assembled hollow and base elements a preselected distance, an arcuate edge of extension functioning as a skid surface when said assembled elements are tilted to place the skid surface into engagement with the mounting surface.

18. A traffic control element as defined in claim 17 wherein the hollow element has a substantially closed top and includes a handle constructed and defined adjacent the top thereof for facilitating the movement of the assembled traffic control element including the tilting of the traffic control element for positioning the skid surface into engagement with the mounting surface to permit the traffic control element to be slid along the mounting surface by means of the skid surface when in the tilted position.

19. A traffic control element as defined in claim 17 wherein one end of the hollow element is constructed and defined to be substantially closed and includes upstanding means for mounting and securing a warning light to the hollow element.

20. A traffic control element as defined in claim 17 wherein one end of the hollow element is constructed and defined to be closed and includes a pair of spaced means integral with the closed end adapted to mount and secure a warning light to each of said means, said means being further defined with a handle between said spaced means and integral therewith.

21. A traffic control element as defined in claim 20 wherein the end of the hollow element opposite said one end is constructd and defined with an inwardly extending lip for engagement and disengagement with the base element, and the base element including a locking element defined in a complimentary configuration for locking and unlocking coaction with said lip to permit the hollow and base elements to be readily assembled together by means of the lip and locking element and to be readily separated from one another upon being impacted.

22. A traffic control element as defined in claim 17 wherein the hollow element has an outer configuration that is constructed and defined to be of a stepped configuration from one end to the opposite end thereof to thereby allow a plurality of the hollow elements to be stacked in a nesting relationship when the hollow elements are disassembled from their base elements.

23. A traffic control element as defined in claim 22 wherein one end of said hollow element includes means for mounting a warning light to the element.

24. A traffic control element as defined in claim 23 wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of means constructed and defined for mounting a plurality of warning lights to the element in a spaced apart relationship adjacent the outer periphery of the element.

25. A traffic control element as defined in claim 24 wherein the hollow element has a substantially closed top and includes a handle constructed and defined adjacent the top thereof for facilitating the movement of the assembled traffic control element including the tilting of the traffic control element for positioning the skid surface into engagement with the mounting surface to permit the traffic control element to be slid along the mounting surface by means of the skid surface when in the tilted position.

26. A base element for a two piece traffic control element comprising a base element having a preselected configuration for storing ballast means, the base element having outwardly extending skid means constructed and defined thereon for permitting the two piece element to be slid across a supporting surface on the skid means when positioned against a supporting surface with the base element and the other piece of the element being detachably secured without causing the base element to become unintentionally detached as a result of sliding the securing elements along the supporting surface.

27. A base element as defined in claim 26 wherein the base element includes a multiplicity of dependent elements thereon spaced from said skid means for engaging a mounting surface by means of said dependent elements.

28. A base element for a two piece traffic control element as defined in claim 27 wherein the thus defined base element is molded from a crush resistant resilient plastic.

29. A two-piece traffic control element comprising a hollow element having a preselected outer configuration and a base element having a preselected outer configuration adapted to be releasably interlocked with said hollow element, said base element having a preselected configuration for storing ballast means thereon, the base element having a slip-resistant ground engaging surface arranged thereon for engaging a mounting surface in a slip-resistant fashion and outwardly extending skid means constructed and defined along one side of the base element to extend outwardly thereof including when the base element and said hollow element are releasably interlocked, said skid means having an arcuate skidding surface along one edge thereof for engaging the mounting surface when the interlocked base and hollow elements are tilted to place the skidding surface into engagement with the mounting surface.

30. A two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 29 wherein the hollow element is further defined with a locking lip of a preselected width extending inwardly of the hollow element, said base element further including locking means engageable an disengageable with said locking lip for defining the two-piece traffic control elements, said skid means including a locking tab arranged thereon, adjacent said locking means for maintaining the base and hollow elements interlocked when the the interlocked pieces are dragged along by means of said skiding surface.

31. A two piece traffic control element as defined in claim 29 wherein said skid means has a preselected width extending outwardly of the releasably interlocked base and hollow elements for further stabilizing said elements from overturning when subjected to winds.

32. A two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 31 wherein said skid means includes a skid resistant surface engageable with a mounting surface.

33. A two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 32 wherein said skid resistant surface comprises a multiplicity of dependent elements.

34. A two-piece traffic control element comprising a hollow element having a preselected outer configuration and a base element having a preselected outer configuration adapted to be releasably interlocked with said hollow element, said base element having a preselected configuration for storing ballast means thereon and skid means constructed and defined along one side of the base element to extend outwardly thereof including when the base element and said hollow element are releasably interlocked, said skid means having an arcuate skidding surface along one edge thereof for engaging the mounting surface when the interlocked base and hollow elements are tilted to place the skidding surface into engagement with the mounting surfaces.

35. A two piece traffic control element as defined in claim 34 wherein in the hollow element is further defined with a locking lip of a preselected width extending inwardly of the hollow element, said base element further including locking means engaging and disengaging with said locking lip for defining the two piece traffic control element, said skid means including a locking tab arranged thereon adjacent said locking means for maintaning the base and hollow elements interlocked when the interlocked pieces are dragged along by means of said skidding surface.

36. A two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 34 wherein said skid means has a preselected width extending outwardly of the releasably interlocked base and hollow elements for further stabilizing said elements from overturning when subjected to winds.

37. A two piece traffic control element as defined in claim 36 wherein said skid means includes a skid resistant surface engageable with a mounting surface.