Channelizer ballasting system using tire sidewalls

• US 5,868,520 A
• Filed: 12/04/1996
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TrafFix Devices Inc.
• Original Assignee: TrafFix Devices Inc.
• Inventors: Bechtle, Samuel J., Kulp, Jack H., Kulp, Brent M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US08/760,633
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 116/63 P, 256/1, 256/13.1, 404/6, 404/9
• US Class Current: 404/6
• 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

The disclosed tire-lock channelizer drum can be secured into a stationary sidewall of a worn out steel-belted radial tubeless truck tire. The tire ring formed by the sidewall is annular, with an inner edge and an outer edge. The tire-lock channelizer drum of the present invention can be inserted into and secured around the inner edge of the stationary tire ring, without the user having to lift the heavy tire ring up and over the top of the channelizer drum.

Claims

1. A traffic channelizing device comprising a base portion which is adapted for insertion into a ballasting device, said base portion comprising:

a lower insertion end;

a tapering-diameter section extending upwardly from the lower insertion end, the tapering-diameter section increasing in diameter with distance from the lower insertion end;

an annular rib formed on an upper end of the tapering-diameter section; and

a substantially constant-diameter section extending upwardly from the annular rib, a diameter of the substantially constant-diameter section being less than a diameter of the annular rib.

2. The traffic channelizing device as recited in claim 1, the tapering-diameter section further comprising:

a lower portion having a diameter which is slightly less than a diameter of an inner perimeter of the ballasting device, the inner perimeter forming an opening in the ballasting device; and

the diameter of the annular rib being slightly greater than a diameter of the opening of the ballasting device, both the lower portion of the tapering-diameter section and the annular rib being adapted for being inserted through the opening of the ballasting device.

3. The traffic channelizing device as recited in claim 2, and

the substantially constant-diameter section being adapted for contacting and fitting snugly within the inner perimeter of the ballasting device, and for applying a radially-outwardly directed force onto the inner perimeter of the ballasting device.

4. The traffic channelizing device as recited in claim 2, and further comprising:

a second annular rib formed at an upper end of the substantially constant-diameter section; and

a second substantially constant-diameter section extending upwardly from the second annular rib, a diameter of the substantially constant-diameter section being less than a diameter of the second annular rib.

5. The base as recited in claim 4, and further comprising:

a third annular rib formed at an upper end of the second substantially constant-diameter section.

6. A traffic channelizer device, comprising:

an upper end;

a lower end adapted for being inserted into and fitting snugly within a perimeter of an opening of a ballasting device, the lower end being adapted for applying a radially-outwardly directed force onto the perimeter of the ballasting device;

an intermediate section disposed between the upper end and the lower end, the intermediate section having an intermediate-section diameter, which is greater than a diameter of the lower end, and

a circumferential locking lip disposed around said lower end, the circumferential locking lip extending radially inwardly for a predetermined distance and being adapted for fitting around a locking lip of a unitary stabilizing base, to thereby secure the channelizer device to the unitary stabilizing base.

7. The traffic channelizer device as recited in claim 6, the intermediate section comprising a foot ring.

8. A traffic channelizer drum, comprising:

an upper end;

an intermediate section; and

a lower end disposed adjacent to the intermediate section and having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of the intermediate section, the lower end being adapted for being inserted into a tire ring, and the intermediate section being adapted for fitting snugly about an inner opening of the tire ring.

9. The traffic channelizer drum as recited in claim 8, the lower end being disposed below the intermediate section and comprising a circular edge.

10. A base for use with a traffic channelizer device, comprising:

an upper section comprising an annular rib; and

a lower section having a reduced diameter, relative to a diameter of the annular rib, the lower section being sized and configured to be inserted into a tire ring and the annular rib being sized and configured to fit snugly within an opening of the tire ring.

11. The base as recited in claim 10, the diameter of the annular rib tapering into the reduced diameter of the lower section.

12. The base as recited in claim 11, the upper section further comprising a reduced diameter portion, disposed above the annular rib, the diameter of the annular rib tapering into a diameter of the reduced diameter portion.

13. The base as recited in claim 12, the annular rib comprising a foot ring.

14. The base as recited in claim 12, the annular rib comprising a retaining rib, which is adapted for applying an upward pressure onto the tire ring, to thereby prevent the tire ring from sliding off of the base when the lower section is secured within the tire ring.

15. The base as recited in claim 14, the upper section further comprising a second annular rib disposed above the reduced diameter portion.

16. The base as recited in claim 15, a diameter of the second annular rib tapering into the diameter of the reduced diameter portion.

17. The base as recited in claim 16, the upper section further comprising a second reduced diameter portion, disposed above the second annular rib, the diameter of the second annular rib tapering into a diameter of the second reduced diameter portion.

18. The base as recited in claim 17, a diameter of the second annular rib gradually tapering into the reduced diameter of the reduced diameter portion, and

the diameter of the second annular rib quickly tapering into the diameter of the second reduced diameter portion.

19. The base as recited in claim 18, the second annular rib comprising a foot ring.

20. The base as recited in claim 18, the second annular rib comprising a second retaining rib, which is adapted for applying an upward pressure onto a second tire ring, to thereby prevent the second tire ring from sliding off of the base when the lower section is inserted into the tire ring.

21. The base as recited in claim 20, the upper section further comprising a third annular rib disposed above the second reduced diameter portion.

22. The base as recited in claim 21, the third annular rib having a diameter which is greater than the diameters of both the first annular rib and the second annular rib.

23. The base as recited in claim 22, the third annular rib comprising a foot ring.

24. The base as recited in claim 22, the diameter of the reduced-diameter annular channel being slightly greater than the diameter of an opening in a tire ring, the base further comprising:

a first annular rib disposed above the reduced-diameter annular channel; and

a second annular rib disposed below the reduced-diameter annular channel.

25. A traffic channelizer drum having a circular bottom end that is sized and configured for being inserted from above into a tire ring, while the tire ring is resting on a support surface, and for contacting and fitting snugly around a circumferential opening of the tire ring.

26. The traffic channelizer drum as recited in claim 25, further comprising at least one foot ring adapted for receiving a downward force from a foot of a user, to thereby facilitate placement of the circular bottom end into the circumferential opening of the tire ring.

27. A method of inserting a traffic channelizer drum into a tire ring, comprising the following steps:

placing a traffic channelizer drum over a stationary tire ring;

aligning a generally circular bottom end of the traffic channelizer drum with a generally circular opening of the tire ring; and

inserting the generally circular bottom end of the traffic channelizer drum into the generally circular opening of the tire ring, to thereby snugly fit the generally circular bottom end of the traffic channelizer drum into the generally circular opening of the tire ring.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, the inserting step comprising a step of applying an approximately downward pressure onto the traffic channelizer drum.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, the step of applying an approximately downward pressure onto the traffic channelizer drum comprising a step of applying an approximately downward pressure onto at least one foot step of the traffic channelizer drum.

30. The method as recited in claim 27, the inserting ring being performed on the tire ring, while the tire ring is resting on a support surface, and resulting in a frictional fit between the circular bottom end of the traffic channelizer drum and the circular opening of the tire ring.