Stabilized barrel-like traffic control element

• US 5,201,599 A
• Filed: 09/22/1992
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TrafFix Devices Inc.
• Original Assignee: TrafFix Devices Inc.
• Inventors: McKenney, John D., Kulp, Jack H., Sullivan, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schoeppel, Roger J.
• Application Number:
  US07/949,333
• Time in Patent Office: 203 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/10, 40/612, 116/63 C, 116/63 P, 116/63 T, 116/63 R
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/692 Portable base members therefor

Abstract

A two-piece, detachable traffic channelization element having an improved base element. The base element has a low profile, dome-like configuration with a ballast storage chamber. The storage chamber may be completely filled with a sand ballast and sealed in its storage condition by a cover secured to the chamber. The base element is molded of a resilient crush resistant plastic so that when it is fully ballasted, need not be ballasted again, and which low profile base can be traveled over by motor vehicles without engaging the base. The detached base, filled with ballast, can be continuously traveled on by motor vehicles, including loaded trucks, without damaging the base element and rendering it useless and the need to be replaced.

Claims

1. A method of ballasting the base element of a separable, two-piece traffic channelizing element comprising the steps of providing a base element for a two-piece traffic control element wherein one piece comprises a hollow element having a barrel-like configuration adapted to traffic channelization signalling purposes and a second piece is a base element and wherein the two pieces are attachable together and completely detachable from one another including upon a substantial impact with a motor vehicle, molding the base element from a preselected plastic material to have a dome-like outer configuration with a hollow interior chamber of a preselected volume for receiving a preselected quantity of a solid ballast means for providing a preselected weight when said volume is completely filled, and with a substantially centrally arranged ballast receiving aperture, and a separate cover for releasably closing the ballast receiving aperture to maintain any ballast means within the chamber in an essentially leak-free relationship when the cover closes said receiving aperture, selecting the vertical height of the base element to permit the base element including when the cover is secured thereto to be driven over with a motor vehicle without engaging the underside of the motor vehicle when said hollow element is detached from the base element, reinforcing the bottom side of the base element with corrugations shaped into parallel grooves and ridges for stiffening the base element, the ridges being defined to engage a supporting surface for the base element whereby the base element is prevented from sagging in response to the weight of ballast means stored within the base, selecting ballast means from a preselected, solid ballast means capable of filling the complete hollow interior chamber of the base element and filling the chamber with the selected ballast means by packing the ballast means therein, and then closing the ballast receiving aperture with the cover to provide a ballasted base element for the two-piece traffic channeling element for maintaining the ballast means in place within the base element for preventing any loss of the selected ballast means from said chamber including when the hollow element is impacted and separated from the base element, the selected ballast means being characterized as being sufficiently compressible and deformable so that said preselected plastic material will deform slightly along with said ballast means when packed therein for completely filling said chamber, in response to the weight of a motor vehicle thereon thereby preventing the destruction of said base element by the motor vehicle.

2. A method of ballasting the base element of a separable, two-piece traffic channelizing element as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of selecting ballast means comprises selecting ballast means from those comprising a continuous mass of loose, particulate material for completely filling up the base chamber.

3. A method of ballasting the base element of a separable, two-piece traffic channelizing element as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selected ballast means is sand.

4. A method of ballasting the base element of a separable, two-piece traffic channelizing element as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selected ballast means is sand and includes the steps of utilizing dampened sand prior to storing it in the base element to permit the dampened sand to be packed within the hollow chamber of the base element and loading the dampened sand into the ballast storing chamber to completely fill up the chamber with said dampened sand.

5. A method of erecting a two-piece traffic control element for temporary traffic control signalling comprising the steps of providing a two-piece plastic traffic control element characterized as having a substantially hollow element having a preselected barrel-like configuration for traffic signalling purposes and a base element adapted to be readily assembled to and completely separated from the hollow element including upon a substantially impact of the hollow element by a motor vehicle, the base element being adapted to receive and store ballast means selected from solid materials for stabilizing the assembled two pieces of the traffic control element for traffic signalling purposes, providing a base element constructed and defined with a hollow chamber having a preselected volume selected to store ballast means of a preselected weight when completely filled and with a substantially centrally arranged opening for loading ballast means into the chamber by means of the opening, the base element having a cover for closing the opening of the chamber to thereby provide a substantially closed chamber for securing any ballast means stored therein, the cover being defined so as not to extend above the base element proper, reinforcing the bottom side of the base element with corrugations shaped into parallel grooves and ridges for stiffening the base element, the ridges being defined to engage a supporting surface for the base element whereby the base element is prevented from sagging in response to the weight of ballast means stored within the base, loading solid ballast means into the chamber of the base element through said opening, including completely filling the chamber, closing the opening of the chamber with the cover and securing the cover to the base element and thereby the ballast means within the base element, the stored ballast being selected so as to be characterized as being sufficiently compressible and deformable, when packed therein for completely filling the chamber, to give additional rigidity and internal support to the base element thereby rendering it essentially non-destructible under ordinary usages, providing the bottom of the bas element with stiffening elements engageable with a supporting surface to prevent the base element from sagging in response to the stored ballast, and assembling the hollow element to the thus ballasted base element for traffic signalling purposes so that when the hollow element is impacted by a motor vehicle or the like, resulting in dis-assembly of the hollow element from the base element, the two-piece traffic control element may be re-assembled without the need for replenishing the ballast means stored within the base element due to the loss of the ballast means.

6. A method of erecting a two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 5 including the steps of disassembling the hollow element from the base element upon completion of the desired traffic signalling period, carrying the two-pieces of the traffic control element to another traffic signalling location with the ballast means stored in the base element, and assembling the hollow element to the ballasted base element for traffic signalling purposes without the need to re-load ore replenish the ballast means into said base element at said another traffic signalling location.

7. A method of erecting a two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 6 wherein the step of loading ballast means into the base element comprises filling sand to a preselected level into the base element and securing the sand in the base element in an essentially leak-proof fashion by securing the cover thereto.

8. A method of erecting a two-piece traffic control element as defined in claim 7 wherein the base element is completely filled with sand to its top.

9. In a method of assembling a two-piece traffic control element for temporary traffic control signalling at a preselected location by means of a two-piece traffic channelization element comprising a hollow, barrel-like traffic control element adapted for traffic signalling purposes, a base element adapted to be readily assembled to and completely disassembled including upon being impacted by a motor vehicle from one end of said hollow element for traffic signalling purposes, the base element having an open ended configuration for receiving and storing ballast means therein to stabilize the assembled traffic control element, the improved method comprises providing a base element to be retrofitted with said traffic control element, having a chamber for storing ballast means of a preselected weight and adapted to be open and closed with cover means for storing ballast means therein, providing corrugation means on the back of said base element and for supporting the base element thereon, the retrofitted base element being adapted to be assembled to and completely disassembled from one end of said hollow element for traffic signalling purposes and thereby stabilizing the assembled elements, when completely ballasted and said cover means is closed, and assembling the retrofitted base element to said one end of the hollow element after it is filled with ballast means whereby an impact to said hollow element causing disassembly from the retrofitted element will not result in loss of the ballast means from said chamber, and filling the retrofitted base element includes the step of selecting a solid, ballast material characterized as being sufficiently compressible and deformable in response to the weight of a motor vehicle and the like to substantially prevent the destruction of said retrofitted base element when said base element chamber is completely filled and packed with ballast material and closed with the cover means.

10. In a method of assembling a two-piece traffic control element for temporary traffic control signalling at a preselected location by means of a two-piece traffic channelization element as defined in claim 9 wherein the step of filling the retrofitted base means comprises packing damp sand into the ballast storage chamber to provide the preselected ballast weight.