Traffic channelizer devices
First Claim
1. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the locking fingers being generally triangular shaped and having radially inwardly sloping sides and a rounded inner tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic channelizer device includes a deformable hollow plastic drum that may be ballasted by a drop over ballasting collar or by a base having an upper portion that may be releasably retained within the open bottom of the drum by a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially inwardly extending locking fingers adjacent the bottom edge of the drum that releasably engage a groove in the upper portion of the base. An intermittent stacking rim may be provided at the top of the drum to prevent overstacking of a plurality of such drums. Also the intermittent stacking rim may be used to prevent rotation of a portable sign assembly relative to the drum and keep the portable sign assembly from inadvertently sliding up off the drum top.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the locking fingers being generally triangular shaped and having radially inwardly sloping sides and a rounded inner tip.
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12. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the locking fingers having a substantially flat radial top surface that is adapted to engage a substantially flat radial upper surface of the annular groove in the upper portion of the base for retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom of the drum and an angled bottom surface that is adapted to press against a lower surface of the annular groove in the upper portion of the base to eliminate chatter between the drum and base.
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13. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the side wall of the drum having a radially outwardly and axially downwardly tapering skirt portion adjacent the open bottom for resisting pull out of the drum from a ballasting collar adapted to be inserted over the drum, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to collapse sufficiently to permit the skirt portion to pass through the ballasting collar to dislodge the drum from the ballasting collar leaving the ballasting collar behind, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced stiffening ribs integral with the skirt portion, the locking fingers being located adjacent a bottom edge of the drum intermediate the stiffening ribs, the skirt portion having at least one flat side with outwardly protruding corners adjacent the bottom edge of the drum to resist rolling of the drum when tipped on its side, the bottom edge of the drum having a curved portion opposite the flat side, and the stiffening ribs progressively increasing in size and radial extent of protrusion from the approximate midpoint of the curved portion to the protruding corners.
- 14. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the side wall of the drum having a radially outwardly and axially downwardly tapering skirt portion adjacent the open bottom for resisting pull out of the drum from a ballasting collar adapted to be inserted over the drum, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to collapse sufficiently to permit the skirt portion to pass through the ballasting collar to dislodge the drum from the ballasting collar leaving the ballasting collar behind, and a radially outwardly protruding mounting surface on the exterior of the drum adjacent the drum bottom for supporting a friction pad that is adapted to be contacted by the inner diameter of the ballasting collar placed over the drum to prevent rotation of the drum relative to the ballasting collar.
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19. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the side wall of the drum having a radially outwardly and axially downwardly tapering skirt portion adjacent the open bottom for resisting pull out of the drum from a ballasting collar adapted to be inserted over the drum, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to collapse sufficiently to permit the skirt portion to pass through the ballasting collar to dislodge the drum from the ballasting collar leaving the ballasting collar behind, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced stiffening ribs integral with the skirt portion, the skirt portion having at least one flat side with outwardly protruding corners adjacent the bottom edge of the drum to resist rolling of the drum when tipped on its side, the bottom edge of the drum having a curved portion opposite the flat side, and the stiffening ribs progressively increasing in size and radial extent of protrusion from the approximate midpoint of the curved portion to the protruding corners.
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20. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the locking fingers having a substantially flat radial top surface that is adapted to engage a substantially flat radial upper surface of the annular groove in the upper portion of the base for retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom of the drum and a flat downwardly and outwardly tapered bottom surface, and the upper portion of the base having a flat downwardly and outwardly tapered upper edge that is engageable with the flat downwardly and outwardly tapered bottom surface of the locking fingers during insertion of the upper portion of the base into the open bottom of the drum to facilitate flexing of the drum to allow the locking fingers to move past the tapered upper edge of the base and into engagement with the annular groove.
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21. A traffic channelizer device comprising a deformable hollow plastic drum having a side wall and an open bottom, a base having an upper portion adapted to be received within the open bottom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers extending radially inwardly from the side wall adjacent a bottom edge of the drum adapted to be received in a radially outwardly facing annular groove in the upper portion of the base for releasably retaining the upper portion of the base within the open bottom, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to flex sufficiently to become dislodged from the base leaving the base behind, the side wall of the drum having a radially outwardly and axially downwardly tapering skirt portion adjacent the open bottom for resisting pull out of the drum from a ballasting collar adapted to be inserted over the drum, the drum being deformable upon impact by a vehicle to cause the drum to collapse sufficiently to permit the skirt portion to pass through the ballasting collar to dislodge the drum from the ballasting collar leaving the ballasting collar behind, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced stiffening ribs integral with the skirt portion, the locking fingers being located adjacent a bottom edge of the drum intermediate the stiffening ribs.
Specification