Stackable vertical panel traffic channelizing device

• US 6,305,312 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• 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): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Francis, Faye
• Application Number:
  US09/329,649
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 116/63.P, 116/63.C, 116/63.R, 116/63.T, 406/12, 404/6, 404/9, D10/109, D10/110, D10/111, D10/112, D10/113
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/692 Portable base members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/70 Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices

Abstract

A flat panel vertical traffic channelizer includes front and back generally rectangular panels connected to generally triangular end panels by curved corners. Each of the curved corners is formed as a portion of a cone, with a gradually increasing radius from top to bottom. The curved corners are preferably of a shape that would form a cone if the rectangular panels and triangular end panels were removed. Alternatively, the end panels may be reduced or omitted, so that the flat panels are connected by curved corners that have a radius that gradually increases from the top to the bottom of the channelizer.

Claims

1. A unitary stackable vertical panel channelizing device having a body, a lower portion and an upper portion, the body comprising:

first and second generally rectangular flat panels, each flat panel having two opposing elongated edges of a first predetermined length and upper and lower edges of a second predetermined length that is shorter than the first length, each flat panel having an outwardly facing rectangular recessed area formed therein for receiving retroreflective sheeting thereon;

first and second end panels, each end panel having a lower edge of a third predetermined length and two side edges of a fourth predetermined length, which side edges extend generally vertically up toward the upper portion of the channelizing device; and

four curved corners, each curved corner connecting a side edge of one end panel to a side edge of one of the flat panels, each curved corner having a predetermined radius proximate the upper portion of the channelizing device that gradually tapers into a second, larger predetermined radius proximate the lower portion of the channelizing device, the curved corners thereby mounting the flat panels in back-to-back relation to each other and separating the flat panels from each other by a predetermined angle;

the lower portion comprising;

a generally rectangular bottom section having first and second elongated sides and first and second shorter sides, the bottom section including a road surface engaging portion with rounded outer corners and a flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a road surface;

a transition section formed around the circumference of the road surface engaging portion and extending upwardly in a curved wall around the circumference of the bottom section to connect with the body, the lower shorter edge of the first flat panel being connected to a part of the transition section formed on the first elongated side of the bottom section and the lower shorter edge of the second flat panel being connected to a part of the transition section formed on the second elongated side of the bottom section; and

the upper portion comprising;

a handle;

a curved top; and

a wall for sealing the top of the channelizing device;

the handle being of a predetermined length and the predetermined angle being such that, when stacked, the channelizing devices do not jam together but are easily unstacked.

2. The traffic channelizing device of claim 1 wherein each of the curved corners comprises a surface constituting one longitudinal quarter of a frustum.

3. The traffic channelizing device of claim 1 further comprising a means for mounting a warning light to the device above the handle.

4. The traffic channelizing device of claim 1 further comprising a means for mounting a warning light to the device below the handle.

5. A unitary stackable vertical panel channelizing device having a body, a lower portion and an upper portion, the body comprising:

first and second flat panels, each flat panel having two side edges and upper and lower edges of a first predetermined length;

first and second end panels, each end panel having a lower edge and two side edges, which side edges extend generally vertically up toward the upper portion of the channelizing device; and

a plurality of curved corner that connect the side edges of each end panel to the side edge of the flat panels, each curved corner having a predetermined radius proximate the upper portion of the channelizing device that gradually tapers into a second, larger predetermined radius proximate the lower portion of the channelizing device.

6. The traffic channelizing device of claim 5 wherein the lower portion comprises:

a generally rectangular bottom section having first and second elongated sides and first and second shorter sides, the bottom section including a road surface engaging portion with rounded outer corners and a flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a road surface; and

a transition section formed around the circumference of the road surface engaging portion and extending upwardly in a curved wall around the circumference of the bottom section to connect with the body, the lower edge of the first flat panel being connected to a part of the transition section formed on the first elongated side of the bottom section and the lower edge of the second flat panel being connected to a part of the transition section formed on the second elongated side of the bottom section.

7. The traffic channelizing device of claim 5 wherein the upper portion comprises:

a handle;

a curved top;

a means for mounting a warning light; and

a wall for sealing the top of the channelizing device.

8. The traffic channelizing device of claim 5 wherein the upper portion comprises a handle and a means for mounting a warning light.

9. The traffic channelizing device of claim 5 wherein the curved corners hold the flat panels in back-to-back relation to each other and separate the flat panels from each other by a predetermined angle.

10. The traffic channelizing device of claim 5 wherein each of the curved corners comprises a surface constituting one longitudinal quarter of a frustum.

11. A vertical panel channelizing device comprising:

first and second flat panels, each flat panel having two side edges;

first and second end panels, each end panel having two side edges; and

a plurality of curved corners, each curved corner connecting a side edge of an end panel to a side edge of a flat panel, each curved corner having a radius that gradually tapers from a relatively smaller radius into a relatively larger radius.

12. The traffic channelizing device of claim 11 further comprising:

a bottom section having a road surface engaging portion; and

a transition section that connects the bottom section to the flat panels and the end panels.

13. The traffic channelizing device of claim 11 further comprising:

a handle; and

a means for mounting a warning light.

14. The traffic channelizing device of claim 11 wherein the curved corners hold the flat panels in back-to-back relation to each other and separate the flat panels from each other by a predetermined angle.

15. The traffic channelizing device of claim 11 wherein each of the curved corners form a surface constituting one quarter of a frustum.

16. The traffic channelizing device of claim 13 further comprising a means for mounting a warning light to the device above the handle.

17. The traffic channelizing device of claim 13 further comprising a means for mounting a warning light to the device below the handle.