U.S. patent application number 09/727408 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for reflective traffic barricade.
Invention is credited to Paterson, John D..
Application Number | 20020067951 09/727408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24922521 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020067951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paterson, John D. |
June 6, 2002 |
Reflective traffic barricade
Abstract
A reflective traffic barrricade for allowing vehicle drivers
easier viewing of forward traffic by use of the reflective sides of
the traffic barricade. The reflective traffic barrricade includes a
blocking member. The blocking member comprises an elongate member
having a top side, a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a
first end and a second end. The top side has a width less than a
width of the bottom side. A reflective means for generally
reflecting an image is securely attached to and generally coats the
front side and the back side of the elongate member.
Inventors: |
Paterson, John D.; (Mount
Waverley, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kaardal & Associates, PC
Attn: Ivar M. Kaardal
3500 South First Ave. Circle - Suite 250
Sioux Falls
SD
57105-5802
US
|
Family ID: |
24922521 |
Appl. No.: |
09/727408 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 15/0453 20130101;
E01F 15/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
404/6 |
International
Class: |
E01F 013/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A reflective traffic dividing device, said device comprising: a
blocking member, said blocking member comprising an elongate member
having a top side, a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a
first end and a second end, said top side having a width less than
a width of said bottom side; and a reflective means for generally
reflecting an image, said reflective means being securely attached
to and generally coating said front side and said back side of said
elongate member.
2. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 1, wherein
said elongate member further comprises: said elongate member having
an inverted Y-shape taken transverse to a longitudinal
cross-section of said elongate member.
3. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 1, wherein
said elongate member further comprises: said front side and said
back side each having a generally concave shaped surface.
4. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 3, longate
member further comprises: said elongate member having length
generally equal to 6 meters, said elongate member having a height
generally equal to 1 meter, said bottom side of said elongate
member having a width generally equal to 0.6 meters, said top side
having width generally equal to 0.26 meters.
5. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 1, wherein
said elongate member further comprises: said elongate member having
length generally equal to 6 meters, said elongate member having a
height generally equal to 1 meter, said bottom side of said
elongate member having a width generally equal to 0.6 meters, said
top side having a width generally equal to 0.26 meters.
6. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 1, wherein
said elongate member has length generally equal to 2 meters.
7. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 6, longate
member has a height generally equal to 1 meter, said bottom side of
said elongate member having a width generally equal to 0.7 meters,
said top side having a width generally equal to 0.25 meters.
8. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 1, wherein
said elongate member further comprises: said front side having a
generally concave shaped surface and said back side being
substantially vertical.
9. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 6, wherein
said concave shape is defined as: a line extending through said top
and bottom sides and defining a median of said blocking member; and
an arc, said arc being divided into an upper portion and a bottom
portion, said upper portion being defined by a first circle having
a radius generally equal to 3500 mm, said first circle being
tangent to a first line orientated parallel to and positioned 125
mm from said median, said first circle being tangent to said first
line at a point generally equal to 200 mm from said top side, said
bottom portion being defined by a second circle having a radius
generally equal to 470 mm, said second circle being tangent to the
first circle positioned 138 mm from the median at a point generally
equal to 500 mm from said top side such that said upper portion and
said lower portion are abutting at a point 500 mm from said top
side.
10. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 1, wherein
said reflective means comprises an acrylic mirror.
11. A reflective traffic dividing device, said device comprising: a
blocking member, said blocking member comprising an elongate member
having a top side, a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a
first end and a second end, said elongate member having an inverted
Y-shape taken transverse to a longitudinal cross-section of said
elongate member, said front side and said back side each having a
generally concave shaped surface, said elongate member having
length generally equal to 6 meters, said elongate member having a
height generally equal to 1 meter, said bottom side of said
elongate member having a width generally equal to 0.6 meters, said
top side having a width generally equal to 0.26 meters, said
elongate member comprising a substantially rigid material; and a
reflective means for generally reflecting an image, said reflective
means being securely attached to and generally coating said front
side and said back side of said elongate member, said reflective
means comprising an acrylic mirror.
12. A reflective traffic dividing device, said device comprising: a
blocking member, said blocking member comprising an elongate member
having a top side, a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a
first end and a second end, said elongate member having an inverted
Y-shape taken transverse to a longitudinal cross-section of said
elongate member, said front side and said back side each having a
generally concave shaped surface, said elongate member having
length generally equal to 6 meters, said elongate member having a
height generally equal to 1 meter, said bottom side of said
elongate member having a width generally equal to 0.6 meters, said
top side having a width generally equal to 0.262 meters, said
elongate member comprising a substantially rigid material; a line
extending through said top and bottom sides and defining a median
of said blocking member; an arc, said arc being divided into an
upper portion and a bottom portion, said upper portion being
defined by a first circle having a radius generally equal to 3500
mm, said first circle being tangent to a first line orientated
parallel to and positioned 125 mm from said median, said first
circle being tangent to said first line at a point generally equal
to 200 mm from said top side, said bottom portion being defined by
a second circle having a radius generally equal to 470 mm, said
second circle being tangent to the first circle positioned 138 mm
from the median at a point generally equal to 500 mm from said top
side such that said upper portion and said lower portion are
abutting at a point 500 mm from said top side; and a reflective
means for generally reflecting an image, said reflective means
being securely attached to and generally coating said front side
and said back side of said elongate member, said reflective means
comprising an acrylic mirror.
13. The reflective traffic dividing device as in claim 10, wherein
said device further comprises: each of said front and back sides
having a generally vertical portion extending between said bottom
side and said arc, each of said generally vertical portions having
a height between 0.1 meters and 0.3 meters.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to traffic barricades and more
particularly pertains to a new reflective traffic barrricade for
allowing vehicle drivers easier viewing of forward traffic by use
of the reflective sides of the traffic barricade.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The use of traffic barricades is known in the prior art.
More specifically, traffic barricades heretofore devised and
utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of
designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and
requirements.
[0005] Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,207; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,599,132; U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,495; U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,214;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,665; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 341,098; and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,938,370.
[0006] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not
disclose a new reflective traffic barrricade. The inventive device
includes a blocking member. The blocking member comprises an
elongate member having a top side, a front side, a back side, a
bottom side, a first end and a second end. The top side has a width
less than a width of the bottom side. A reflective means for
generally reflecting an image is securely attached to and generally
coats the front side and the back side of the elongate member.
[0007] In these respects, the reflective traffic barrricade
according to the present invention substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of
allowing vehicle drivers easier viewing of forward traffic by use
of the reflective sides of the traffic barricade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of traffic barricades now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides a new reflective traffic barrricade
construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing vehicle
drivers easier viewing of forward traffic by use of the reflective
sides of the traffic barricade.
[0009] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
reflective traffic barrricade apparatus and method which has many
of the advantages of the traffic barricades mentioned heretofore
and many novel features that result in a new reflective traffic
barrricade which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested,
or even implied by any of the prior art traffic barricades, either
alone or in any combination thereof.
[0010] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
blocking member. The blocking member comprises an elongate member
having a top side, a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a
first end and a second end. The top side has a width less than a
width of the bottom side. A reflective means for generally
reflecting an image is securely attached to and generally coats the
front side and the back side of the elongate member.
[0011] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0012] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0013] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0014] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new reflective traffic barrricade apparatus and method
which has many of the advantages of the traffic barricades
mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new
reflective traffic barrricade which is not anticipated, rendered
obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art traffic
barricades, either alone or in any combination thereof.
[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
new reflective traffic barrricade which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured and marketed.
[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
new reflective traffic barrricade which is of a durable and
reliable construction.
[0018] An even further object of the present invention is to
provide a new reflective traffic barrricade which is susceptible of
a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor,
and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to
the consuming public, thereby making such reflective traffic
barrricade economically available to the buying public.
[0019] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a new reflective traffic barrricade which provides in the
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
[0020] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a new reflective traffic barrricade for allowing vehicle drivers
easier viewing of forward traffic by use of the reflective sides of
the traffic barricade.
[0021] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new reflective traffic barrricade which includes a blocking member.
The blocking member comprises an elongate member having a top side,
a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a first end and a second
end. The top side has a width less than a width of the bottom side.
A reflective means for generally reflecting an image is securely
attached to and generally coats the front side and the back side of
the elongate member.
[0022] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a new reflective traffic barrricade that allows a person to
see on coming or forward traffic by using the reflective barrier
itself.
[0023] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to
the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are
illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new reflective
traffic barrricade according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along line
2-2 of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new reflective traffic barrricade
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be
described.
[0030] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the reflective
traffic barrricade 10 generally comprises a blocking member 12. The
blocking member comprises an elongate member having a top side 14,
a front side 16, a back side 18, a bottom side 20, a first end 22
and a second end 24. A substantially vertical portion 17 is located
adjacent to the bottom side 20 on both the front and back sides of
the blocking member. The substantially vertical portions preferably
have a height between 0.1 meters and 0.3 meters. The elongate
member, or blocking member 12, has an inverted Y-shape taken
transverse to a longitudinal cross-section of the elongate member
such that a slot 26 extends upwardly into the bottom side 20. The
front side 16 and the back side 18 each have a generally concave
shaped surface. The elongate member 12 has length generally equal
to 6 meters. The elongate member preferably has a height generally
between 0.8 meters and 1.2 meters. The bottom side 20 of the
elongate member has a width preferably between 0.6 meters and 0.8
meters, and the top side 14 has a width preferably between 0.2 and
0.3 meters. The elongate member 12 preferably comprises a
substantially rigid material which is ideally concrete 28 though
hollow plastic 30 materials are also envisioned. If plastic is
used, the device is preferably filled with water and has a length
of 2 meters. The device 10, if made from plastic, may also have an
internal steel or other metal framework for added weight, strength
and stability. Preferably, each of the first and second ends of the
blocking member has a slot 40 therein. The slot 40 extends into the
first 22 and second 24 ends and into the top side 14. When multiple
blocking members are placed end to end, steel hollow sections or
cement grout is positioned in the slot. The slots are preferably
100 mm wide, 50 mm deep and 600 mm high.
[0031] Ideally, the top side has a width of 262 mm and the bottom
side a width of 600 mm. The device has a height equal to 1000 mm. A
vertical line extending through the top side and through the bottom
side defines a median. The arc of the front and back sides has a
top portion extending downwardly 500 mm from the top side, and a
bottom portion extending from the top portion downwardly 300 mm.
The downward measurements are taken along the median. The top
portion of the arcs extend inward toward the median such that 100
mm from the top side, the width of the device is 252.8 mm, 200 mm
from the top side the width is 250 mm which is the narrowest part
of the device. At 200 mm from the top side, the arc begins to start
outward again. At 300 mm from the top side the width is 252.8 mm,
at 400 mm the width is 262 mm and at 500 mm down along the median
the width is 276 mm at which the bottom portion of the arc begins.
The bottom arc has a greater curvature than the top arc, so that at
600 mm from the top side the width is equal to 306 mm, at 700 mm
the width is equal to 388 mm, and at 800 mm from the top side the
width is 525 mm. At the bottom of the bottom arc, the front and
back sides are angled downward toward the bottom side to define the
generally vertical portions 17.
[0032] To further explain the above, the top arc is formed by a
first circle having a radius of 3500 mm. The first circle is
tangent to a first line parallel to the median and 125 mm from the
median. The first circle is tangent to the first line 200 mm from
the top side. The top portion of the arc has a measurement
generally equal to 0.143 radians, or 8.13 degrees. A second circle
having a radius of 470 mm forms the bottom arc. The second circle
is tangent to the first circle at a point 500 mm from the top side
and 138 mm from the median where the radii of the first circle and
the second circle coincide. The bottom portion of the arc has a
measurement generally equal to 0.74 radians, or 42.4 degrees. The
top arc smoothly transitions into the bottom arc. It should be
noted that the top and bottom arcs are located on both sides of the
device.
[0033] A reflective means 32 for generally reflecting an image is
securely attached to and generally coats the front side 16 and the
back side 18 of the elongate member. The reflective means 32 may be
any conventional reflecting material capable of reflecting a true
image and preferably comprises a conventional acrylic mirror 34
adhered to the front and back sides. Also envisioned is the used of
reflective metal 36.
[0034] Also envisioned are blocking members 12 having only one
curved side so that the blocking members may be used as bridge
parapets. The size of the blocking members may be altered for the
desired need.
[0035] In use, the elongate members 12 are placed end to end to
block traffic as traditional blocking members are used for. The
concave front 16 and back 18 sides provide an image of vehicles
ahead of the blocking members. The reflective means 32 assist the
driver of a vehicle in seeing forward traffic that might otherwise
be blocked by traffic in front of the driver.
[0036] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0037] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0038] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *