Traffic cone

• US 9,512,578 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Three D Plastics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Three D Plastics Incorporated
• Inventors: Dvoracek, Joe, Durapau, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US14/574,012
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 116/63.C, 116/63.P, 404/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 molded funnel shaped cone joined with a base molded of compress crumb rubber has a pair of peripheral, outside flanges spaced apart and in contact with upper and lower surfaces of the base. The body has a pair of opposing apertures adjacent to the top end for placement of a barrier marking tape and for other uses.

Claims

1. A traffic cone comprising:

a cone-shaped body having an annular side wall;

a pair of spaced apart annular flanges extending outwardly from said annular side wall;

a one-piece base having a planar top surface and a generally planar bottom surface and a through hole extensive therebetween;

said cone-shaped body engaged within said through hole with said one-piece base positioned between said spaced apart annular flanges; and

wherein, said annular flanges are radially convergent thereby exerting a compressive force on said base.

2. The traffic cone of claim 1 wherein said cone-shaped body is characterized as having a flexibility enabling deformation for engagement with said one-piece base and further characterized as having a shape restoration elasticity wherein after said engagement of said one-piece base, the shape of said cone-shaped body is restored.

3. The traffic cone of claim 1 wherein said cone-shaped body is characterized as having a flexibility enabling deformation from an original shape for disengagement from said one-piece base and a shape restoration elasticity enabling restoration of said cone-shaped body to said original shape.

4. The traffic cone of claim 1 wherein said one-piece base has sufficient weight for maintaining said cone in a vertical orientation against wind forces of up to approximately 60 miles per hour.

5. The traffic cone of claim 1 wherein said side wall is made of a combination material of ethyl vinyl acetate plus at least one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

6. The traffic cone of claim 1 wherein said through hole has a sidewall conforming to said annular side wall of said cone-shaped body.

7. The traffic cone of claim 6 wherein said through hole has a vertical sidewall.

8. The traffic cone of claim 6 wherein said through hole has a conical sidewall.