Traffic delineator with wheels

• US 5,722,788 A
• Filed: 01/24/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bent Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Bent Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Bent, James A., Bent, Bruce C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lisehora, James
• Application Number:
  US08/590,779
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/9, 404/10, 256/1, 256/13.1, 116/63 P, 116/63 C, 116/173, 248/158, 248/910, 40/610, 40/612
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/688 Free-standing bodies
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/70 Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices

Abstract

A traffic delineator includes a barrel and a base. Wheels are mounted to the delineator to permit rolling of the delineator. The barrel has a domed top for added strength. When removed from the base, the barrel may be stacked by nesting another barrel into the cavity of the first barrel. The barrel includes a handle. Traffic warning lights and flags may be affixed to the barrel. Removable ballast may be held by, contained in, or used on, the base.

Claims

1. A traffic delineator comprising:

a unitary, plastic, hollow, blow-molded, stackable barrel having a predetermined height and circumference, a top and a bottom, the top of the barrel forming a partial dome and including radial ribs for increased strength, the bottom of the barrel forming a cavity and having a radially inwardly extending lip about the circumference of the barrel;

a handle on the top of the barrel;

means for affixing a traffic warning light to the top of the barrel;

means for affixing a flag to the top of the barrel;

a relatively heavy molded rubber base, said base forming a cylindrical opening vertically through the center of the base that is adapted to receive a traffic delineation post, said base comprising a lower portion that extends into an upper portion, the lower portion having a series of radial ribs formed in its bottom surface and having a relatively larger cross-sectional area compared to the upper portion, the upper portion having a relatively flat top surface and including a tapered overhang around substantially the entire circumference of the upper portion for receiving the lip of the barrel and thereby creating a seal when the barrel is pushed onto the base;

at least one wheel to allow the delineator to be moved by rolling along the ground;

means for affixing the wheel to the traffic delineator; and

a hood for protecting the wheel from damage.

2. The traffic delineator of claim 1 wherein the means for affixing the wheel comprises:

a wheel socket formed in the bottom end of the barrel;

an axle on which the wheel is mounted; and

means for mounting the axle to the socket.

3. The traffic delineator of claim 1 further comprising:

an extension on the lower portion of the base that forms at least one horizontal orifice therein;

an axle extending at least partially into the orifice formed by the extension;

means for mounting the wheel on the axle.

4. The traffic delineator of claim 1 further comprising means for adding ballast to the base.

5. The traffic delineator of claim 1 wherein the wheel is affixed to the barrel.

6. The traffic delineator of claim 1 wherein the wheel is affixed to the base.

7. The traffic delineator of claim 1 further comprising:

means of communication through a wall of the top of the barrel into a hollow interior for accepting at least a portion of a longitudinal object into the hollow interior; and

at least one detent formed in the top of the barrel at a predetermined position to act as a stop to support the object and prevent more than a predetermined length of the object from entering the hollow interior.

8. A traffic delineator comprising:

a stackable barrel having, a predetermined height and circumference, a top and a bottom, the bottom of the barrel forming a cavity and having a radially inwardly extending lip about the circumference of the barrel;

a base having mating surfaces for removably affixing the barrel to the top of the base;

at least one wheel to allow the delineator to be moved by rolling along the ground; and

means for affixing the wheel to the traffic delineator, said means comprising a wheel socket formed in the bottom end of the barrel, an axle on which the wheel is mounted; and

means for mounting the axle to the socket.

9. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising means for protecting the wheel from damage.

10. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising a handle on the top of the barrel.

11. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising means for affixing a traffic warning light to the top of the barrel.

12. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising means for affixing a flag to the top of the barrel.

13. The traffic delineator of claim 8 wherein the top of the barrel forms a partial dome.

14. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising radial ribs formed into the top of the barrel.

15. The traffic delineator of claim 8 wherein the bottom of the barrel forms a cavity and has a radially inwardly extending lip about the circumference of the barrel.

16. The traffic delineator of claim 8 wherein the base is a relatively heavy molded rubber base that includes radial ribs.

17. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising means for adding ballast to the base.

18. The traffic delineator of claim 8 wherein the wheel is affixed to the barrel.

19. The traffic delineator of claim 8 further comprising:

a means of communication through a wall of the top of the barrel into a hollow interior for accepting at least a portion of a longitudinal object into the hollow interior; and

at least one detent formed in the top of the barrel at a predetermined position to act as a stop to support the object and prevent more than a predetermined length of the object from entering the hollow interior.

20. The traffic delineator of claim 8 wherein the base forms a cylindrical opening that is adapted to receive a traffic delineation post.

21. A traffic delineator comprising:

a stackable barrel having a predetermined height and circumference, a top and a bottom, the top of the barrel forming a partial dome;

a base having mating surfaces for removably affixing the barrel to the top of the base;

a wheel socket formed in the bottom end of the barrel;

an axle on which a wheel is mounted to allow the delineator to be moved by rolling along the ground; and

means for mounting the axle to the socket.

22. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising radial ribs formed into the dome.

23. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising a hood for protecting the wheel from damage.

24. The traffic delineator of claim 21 wherein the wheel is affixed to the barrel.

25. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising a handle on the top of the barrel.

26. The traffic delineator of claim 21 wherein the bottom of the barrel forms a cavity and has a radially inwardly extending lip about the circumference of the barrel.

27. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising means for adding ballast to the base.

28. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising means for affixing a traffic warning light to the top of the barrel.

29. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising means for affixing a flag to the top of the barrel.

30. The traffic delineator of claim 21 further comprising:

a means of communication through a wall of the top of the barrel into a hollow interior for accepting at least a portion of a longitudinal object into the hollow interior; and

at least one detent formed in the top of the barrel at a predetermined position to act as a stop to support the object and prevent more than a predetermined length of the object from entering the hollow interior.

31. A traffic delineator comprising:

a stackable barrel having a predetermined height and circumference, a top, and a bottom, the top of the barrel forming a partial dome;

a means of communication through a wall of the top of the barrel into a hollow interior for accepting at least a portion of a longitudinal object into the hollow interior; and

at least one detent formed in the top of the barrel at a predetermined position to act as a stop to support the object and prevent more than a predetermined length of the object from entering the hollow interior.

32. The traffic delineator of claim 31 further comprising a base having mating surfaces for removably affixing the barrel to the top of the base.

33. The traffic delineator of claim 32 wherein the means for affixing the wheel comprises:

an extension on the base that forms at least one horizontal orifice therein;

an axle extending at least partially into the orifice formed by the extension;

means for mounting a wheel on the axle.

34. The traffic delineator of claim 32 further comprising means for adding ballast to the base.

35. The traffic delineator of claim 31 further comprising radial ribs formed into the dome.

36. The traffic delineator of claim 31 further comprising:

at least one wheel to allow the delineator to be moved by rolling along the ground; and

means for affixing the wheel to the traffic delineator.

37. The traffic delineator of claim 36 wherein the means for affixing the wheel comprises:

a wheel socket formed in the bottom end of the barrel;

an axle on which the wheel is mounted; and

means for mounting the axle to the socket.

38. The traffic delineator of claim 31 further comprising a handle on the top of the barrel.

39. The traffic delineator of claim 31 wherein the bottom of the barrel forms a cavity and has a radially inwardly extending lip about the circumference of the barrel.

40. The traffic delineator of claim 31 further comprising means for affixing a traffic warning light to the top of the barrel.

41. The traffic delineator of claim 31 further comprising means for affixing a flag to the top of the barrel.

42. A traffic delineator comprising:

stackable barrel having a predetermined height and circumference, a top and a bottom;

a means of communication through a wall of the top of the barrel into a hollow interior for accepting at least a portion of a longitudinal object into the hollow interior; and

at least one detent formed in the top of the barrel at a predetermined position to act as a stop to support the object and prevent more than a predetermined length of the object from entering the hollow interior

at least one wheel to allow the delineator to be moved by rolling along the ground; and

means for affixing the wheel to the traffic delineator.

43. The traffic delineator of claim 42 further comprising a base having mating surfaces for removably affixing the barrel to the top of the base.

44. The traffic delineator of claim 43 wherein the base is a relatively heavy molded rubber base that includes radial ribs.

45. The traffic delineator of claim 43 further comprising means for adding ballast to the base.

46. The traffic delineator of claim 42 further comprising means for protecting the wheel from damage.

47. The traffic delineator of claim 42 further comprising a handle on the top of the barrel.

48. The traffic delineator of claim 42 further comprising means for affixing a traffic warning light to the top of the barrel.

49. The traffic delineator of claim 42 wherein the longitudinal object has a flag attached thereto.

50. The traffic delineator of claim 42 wherein the top of the barrel forms a partial dome.

51. The traffic delineator of claim 42 further comprising radial ribs formed into top of the barrel.

52. The traffic delineator of claim 42 wherein the bottom of the barrel forms a cavity and has a radially inwardly extending lip about the circumference of the barrel.

53. The traffic delineator of claim 42 wherein the means for affixing the wheel comprises:

a wheel socket formed in the bottom end of the barrel;

an axle on which the wheel is mounted; and

means for mounting the axle to the socket.

54. A traffic delineator comprising:

a handle having a predetermined width and forming a hollow interior;

a means of communication through a wall of the handle into the hollow interior for accepting at least a portion of a longitudinal object into the hollow interior; and

at least one detent formed in the handle at a predetermined position to act as a stop to support the object and prevent more than a predetermined length of the object from entering the hollow interior.