Handle for traffic delineator

• US 6,536,369 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• 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): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Courson, Tania C.
• Application Number:
  US09/642,124
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 116/63.R, 116/63.P, 116/63.C, 116/173, 404/9.XF, 406/12, 256/1, 256/59, 256/65, D10/104-121, D11/166, D11/182
• US Class Current: 116/63.00P
• 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 handle for the top of a blow-molded traffic delineator includes a bulbous lower portion, an curved intermediate portion, and an upper portion that forms a T-shaped handle. The upper portion has a hole therethrough to allow mounting of a warning light or other item. The intermediate portion has a curvature that gradually reduces the diameter of the handle moving from lower end to upper end, in a shape that easily accommodates the grasp of a human hand.

Claims

1. A handle integrally formed on a blow-molded traffic delineator that has a vertical axis, the handle being between five and nine inches in height, the handle comprising:

a lower portion attached to the traffic delineator, the lower portion having a vertical height of between one-half and one and one-half inches and having a circular horizontal cross-section, the shape of the lower portion being substantially that of a convex arc with a predetermined radius rotated 360°

about the vertical axis of the traffic delineator;

an intermediate portion having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being integrally formed with the lower portion of the handle, the intermediate portion having a vertical height of between about three and five inches and having a concavely curved side wall, the concavely curved side wall being substantially that of an arc of a predetermined radius rotated about the vertical axis of the traffic delineator, the radius of the arc of the side wall being oblique to the vertical axis of the delineator, which causes the intermediate portion gradually to narrow from a radius of between two and three inches at the lower end to a radius of between one and two inches at the upper end; and

an upper portion formed into and abutting the upper end of the concavely curved intermediate portion, the upper portion comprising a horizontal cross bar extending beyond the radius of the upper end of the intermediate portion and spaced in close proximity to the upper end of the intermediate portion, and a means for supporting a warning light on the traffic delineator.

2. The handle of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of scalloped indentations formed in the side wall of the intermediate portion.

3. The handle of claim 1 further comprising a detent for supporting a flag.

4. A handle integrally formed on a blow-molded traffic delineator that has a vertical axis, the handle comprising:

a lower portion attached to the traffic delineator, the lower portion having an outer surface substantially formed from a convexly curved arc with a predetermined radius rotated 360°

about the vertical axis of the traffic delineator;

an intermediate portion having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being integrally formed with the lower portion of the handle, the intermediate portion having a side wall substantially formed from a concavely curved arc of a predetermined radius rotated about the vertical axis of the traffic delineator, the radius of the concavely curved arc being oblique to the vertical axis of the delineator to cause the intermediate portion gradually to narrow moving from the lower end to the upper end; and

an upper portion formed into and abutting the upper end of the concavely curved intermediate portion, the upper portion comprising a horizontal cross bar spaced in close proximity to the upper end of the intermediate portion and a means for supporting a warning light on the traffic delineator.

5. The handle of claim 4 wherein the intermediate portion gradually narrows from a radius of between two and three inches at the lower end to a radius of between one and two inches at the upper end.

6. The handle of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of scalloped indentations formed in the side wall of the intermediate portion.

7. The handle of claim 4 further comprising a detent for supporting a flag post that has been inserted into the handle.

8. A handle integrally formed on a blow-molded traffic delineator that has a vertical axis, the handle comprising:

a means connecting the handle to the delineator;

an intermediate portion having a side wall substantially formed from a concavely curved arc of a predetermined radius rotated about the vertical axis of the traffic delineator, the radius of the concavely curved arc being oblique to the vertical axis of the delineator to cause the intermediate portion gradually to narrow moving up the vertical axis of the traffic delineator; and

an upper portion abutting the upper end of the concavely curved intermediate portion, the upper portion comprising a horizontal cross bar spaced in close proximity to the upper end of the intermediate portion.

9. The handle of claim 8 wherein the intermediate portion gradually narrows from a radius of between two and three inches to a radius of between one and two inches.

10. The handle of claim 8 further comprising a lower portion formed beneath the intermediate portion, the lower portion comprising an outer surface substantially formed from a convexly curved arc with a predetermined radius rotated 360°

about the vertical axis of the traffic delineator.

11. The handle of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of scalloped indentations formed in the side wall of the intermediate portion.

12. The handle of claim 8 further comprising means for mounting a traffic warning light thereon.

13. The handle of claim 8 further comprising a detent for supporting a flag post that has been inserted into the handle.