Roadway safety warning system and method of making same

• US 5,873,674 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Barney K. Hohl
• Original Assignee: Barney K. Hohl
• Inventors: Hohl, Barney K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil
• Application Number:
  US08/760,481
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 404/1, 404/6, 404/7, 404/9, 404/10, 404/11, 404/12, 404/13, 404/14, 404/15, 404/16
• US Class Current: 404/9
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/512 Preformed road surface markings, e.g. of sheet material; Methods of applying preformed markings
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/573 Self-righting, upright flexible or rockable markers, e.g. resilient flaps bending over depressible road surface signs or flexible vehicle-striking members for audible warning E01F9/602

Abstract

A roadway safety warning system and method of making same utilizing various ones of marking assemblies applied to a roadway surface to provide a warning system. The marking assemblies means includes 1) chevron marking assembly; 2) diagonal marking assembly; 3) perpendicular marking assembly; and 4) chevron and perpendicular marking assembly. The various marking means can have various embodiments thereof with 1) the chevron marking assembly being of a V-shape; 2) the diagonal marking assembly extended at an angle to a direction of travel; 3) the perpendicular marking assembly extended perpendicular to the direction of travel; and 4) the chevron and perpendicular marking assembly being a portion of both of a combination of the chevron marking assembly and the perpendicular marking assembly. The marking assemblies can be provided with various embodiments of reflector/refractor signal assembly provided with general reflector members which would be raised above the support roadway surface and could be flexible so as to be folded downwardly if a vehicle runs thereover. The reflector/refractor signal assembly has arcuate, inclined, and raised strip assemblies which provide an elevated surface a certain distance such as 1/2" to 3/4" above the roadway surface to aid in observation thereof from a line of sight from vehicle drivers.

Claims

1. A roadway safety warning system adapted to be applied to a roadway surface in a roadway complex, comprising:

a) a chevron marking means secured to the roadway surface at a predetermined distance from a roadway intersection where one or more drivers of vehicles are contemplating turning across at least one lane of traffic;

b) said chevron marking means having a lead stripe with a reflective material of a color other than the color of the roadway surface; and

c) said lead stripe is readily observable by a vehicle driver in the vehicles traveling on the roadway surface into the roadway intersection and a vehicle driver stopped at a stop sign adjacent the roadway intersection;

whereby the vehicle drivers are visually alerted to the fact of approaching a potentially dangerous roadway intersection with vehicles possibly turning across one'"'"'s path of travel.

2. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said chevron marking means is a single chevron marking assembly having a lead chevron stripe interconnected on trailing edges by a rear connector stripe; and

b) said lead chevron stripe having said reflective material thereon facing the roadway intersection.

3. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 2, including:

a) a plurality of said single chevron marking assemblies are secured to said roadway surface in a spaced series relationship at engineered spacing depending on a speed limit on subject roadway to present multiple visual warning signals at one second speed limit intervals.

4. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said chevron marking means includes a chevron marking assembly having said lead stripe, intermediate chevron stripes, and a rear chevron stripe, all of a chevron V-shape and nestled within adjacent ones of each other.

5. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said chevron marking means includes a chevron block style marking assembly having a generally rectangular shape peripheral outline;

b) said chevron block style marking assembly includes partial lead chevron stripes, said lead stripe, intermediate chevron stripes, and trailing chevron stripes, all nestled within adjacent ones of each other; and

c) said partial lead chevron stripes and said lead stripe having said reflective material thereon to provide a visual warning to the vehicle drivers having a line of sight to said marking means.

6. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said chevron marking means includes a chevron integral block style marking assembly of a generally rectangular shape peripheral outline;

b) said chevron integral block style marking assembly includes partial lead chevron stripes, said lead stripe, intermediate chevron stripes, and trailing chevron stripes;

c) said partial lead chevron stripes and said lead stripe having said reflective material thereon to present a visual signal to the vehicle drivers having a line of sight to said marking means; and

d) said lead stripe, said intermediate chevron stripe, and said trailing chevron stripe, all interconnected at respective mid-points to a central anchor section which simplifies application to the roadway surface.

7. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said lead stripe includes a stripe assembly having a striping base member connected to a reflector stripe member; and

b) said reflector stripe member having intermittent stripe members along said striping base member and constructed of a reflector/refractor material to present a visual warning signal to a line of sight to a vehicle driver in a moving or parked vehicle.

8. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said lead stripe includes a stripe assembly having a striping base member connected to a reflector stripe member; and

b) said reflector stripe member having a continuous reflector stripe member along said striping base member and constructed of a reflector/refractor material to present a visual warning signal to a line of sight to a vehicle driver in a moving or parked vehicle.

9. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said lead stripe includes a striping base member connected to an arcuate reflector member constructed of a reflector/refractor material; and

b) said arcuate reflector member extended above said striping base member to elevate a stripe reflector member to assist in observance of a visual warning signal to a line of sight to a vehicle driver in a moving or parked vehicle.

10. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 1, wherein:

a) said lead stripe includes a striping base member connected to an inclined raised stripe assembly constructed of a reflector/refractor material;

b) said inclined raised stripe assembly having an inclined reflector member extended above said striping base member to assist in observance of a visual warning signal to a line of sight to a vehicle driver in a moving or parked vehicle.

11. A roadway safety warning system adapted to be applied to a roadway surface in a roadway complex, comprising:

a) a marking means secured to the roadway surface at a predetermined distance from a roadway intersection where one or more drivers of vehicles are contemplating turning across at least one lane of traffic;

b) said marking means includes a diagonal marking means having a plurality of spaced, adjacent, parallel diagonal stripes extended at an angle relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle on the roadway so as to be readily observable by a vehicle driver stopped at a stop sign adjacent an outer edge of the roadway intersection.

12. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 11, wherein:

a) said diagonal stripes inclined at another angle relative to the direction of travel so as to be readily observed by a driver of a vehicle traveling or stopped at a stop sign on an opposite side of the roadway intersection.

13. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 11, wherein:

a) said marking means includes a perpendicular marking means having a plurality of spaced, adjacent, parallel perpendicular stripes extended perpendicular to a direction of travel of a vehicle on the roadway surface so as to be readily observable by a vehicle driver in an approaching vehicle or a vehicle stopped at a stop sign.

14. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 11, wherein:

a) said marking means includes a chevron and perpendicular marking means having a perpendicular marking section integral with respective adjacent portions of a chevron marking section;

b) said perpendicular marking section includes a plurality of adjacent, parallel stripe members;

c) said chevron marking section includes a plurality of adjacent, parallel chevron members; and

d) respective ones of said stripe members integral with adjacent ones of said chevron members to provide respective visual warning signals to vehicle drivers in vehicles parked at stop signs in close proximity.

15. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 14, wherein:

a) lead ones of said stripe members and said chevron members having said reflective material thereon to provide a visual warning signal to a vehicle driver on approaching a potentially dangerous intersection.

16. A method of constructing a roadway safety warning system on a roadway complex having two-lane side and highway roadways intersecting each other and intersecting a four-lane highway roadway without the use of electrical signal light means, comprising the following steps:

a) placing stop signs at intersections of two-lane side and highway roadways with each other;

b) applying marking means having reflective material thereon to roadway surfaces at engineered spaced locations from respective ones of the stop signs;

c) observing said reflective material by a line of sight by a vehicle driver in vehicles stopped at respective stop signs, thereby providing a visual warning of a potentially dangerous intersection with possible turning vehicles to be encountered; and

d) selecting one of said marking means from chevron, diagonal, perpendicular, and chevron/perpendicular marking means depending on speed limit of subject two-lane side and highway roadways and line of sight by the vehicle drivers in the vehicles stopped at respective stop signs.

17. A method of constructing a roadway safety warning system as described in claim 16, including:

a) placing stop signs at intersections of two-lane side and highway roadways with said four-lane highway roadway; and

b) placing marking means of a sufficient width to cover adjacent lanes of traffic flowing in the same direction on the four-lane highway roadway to provide visual signals to vehicle drivers approaching an intersection on said four-lane highway roadway to visually signal a potentially dangerous vehicle turning area.

18. A method of constructing a roadway safety warning system as described in claim 16, including:

a) selecting said marking means from

     1) a chevron marking means; and

     2) a chevron and perpendicular marking means operable to present dual visual warning to different lines of sight from vehicle drivers in respective ones of the vehicles.

19. A method of constructing a roadway safety warning system as described in claim 16, including:

a) selecting said marking means from

     1) a diagonal making means and

     2) a perpendicular marking means to present a visual warning to a line of sight from vehicle drivers in respective ones of the vehicles.

20. A roadway safety warning system adapted to be applied to a roadway surface in a roadway complex having a four-lane highway roadway intersected by two-lane side roadways and a two-lane highway roadway intersected by two-lane side roadways, comprising:

a) stop signs on the two-lane side roadway at points of intersection with the two-lane highway roadway and the four-lane highway roadway;

b) marking means secured to the roadway surface on the two-lane highway roadway at a predetermined distance from the stop signs on the two-lane side roadway intersecting the four-lane highway roadway;

c) said marking means having a lead stripe with a reflective material inclined relative to a direction of travel on the four-lane highway roadway; and

d) said lead stripe is readily observable by a vehicle driver stopped at the stop sign on the two-lane side roadway to warn of a dangerous intersection.

21. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 20, wherein:

a) said marking means is a single chevron marking assembly having a lead chevron stripe interconnected on trailing edges by a rear connector stripe; and

b) said lead chevron stripe having said reflective material thereon facing the roadway intersection;

c) a plurality of said single chevron marking assemblies are secured to said roadway surface in a spaced series relationship at engineered spacing depending on a speed limit on subject roadway to present multiple visual warning signals at one second speed limit intervals.

22. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 20, wherein:

a) said marking means includes a chevron block style marking assembly having a generally rectangular shape peripheral outline;

b) said chevron block style marking assembly includes partial lead chevron stripes, said lead stripe, intermediate chevron stripes, and trailing chevron stripes, all nestled within adjacent ones of each other; and

c) said partial lead chevron stripes and said lead stripes having said reflective material thereon to provide a visual warning to the vehicle drivers having a line of sight to said marking means.

23. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 20, wherein:

a) a second marking means includes a chevron integral block style marking assembly of a generally rectangular shape peripheral outline secured to the roadway surface on the four-lane highway roadway;

b) said chevron integral block style marking assembly includes partial lead chevron stripes, said lead stripe, intermediate chevron stripes, and trailing chevron stripes;

c) said partial lead chevron stripes and said lead stripe having said reflective material thereon to present a visual signal to the vehicle drivers having a line of sight to said second marking means; and

d) said lead stripe, said intermediate chevron stripe, and said trailing chevron stripe, all interconnected at respective mid-points to a central anchor section which simplifies application to the roadway surface.

24. A roadway safety warning system as described in claim 20, wherein:

a) said marking means includes a chevron and perpendicular marking means having a perpendicular marking section integral with respective adjacent portions of a chevron marking section;

b) said perpendicular marking section includes a plurality of adjacent, parallel stripe members;

c) said chevron marking section includes a plurality of adjacent, parallel chevron members; and

d) respective ones of said stripe members integral with adjacent ones of said chevron members to provide respective visual warning signals to vehicle drivers in vehicles parked at stop signs in close proximity.