U.S. patent number 3,768,383 [Application Number 05/086,485] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-30 for directional marker device for automobile roadbeds.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tucker Associates, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hartwell F. Tucker.
United States Patent |
3,768,383 |
Tucker |
October 30, 1973 |
DIRECTIONAL MARKER DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE ROADBEDS
Abstract
An automobile driving lane or roadbed marker device for
attachment to a roadbed has a configuration which indicates to the
driver of the automobile the proper direction of movement in a
traffic lane, while defining the boundaries of the traffic lane.
The marker device has a low-profile elongated three-dimensional
body the bottom surface of which is flat and which tapers in width
from about 4 to 8 inches at one end to one to 2 inches at the other
end. The top surface of the body is divided into facets or
angularly disposed surfaces which tehmselves reflect light, or on
which separate reflective units are formed or attached.
Inventors: |
Tucker; Hartwell F. (Mountain
View, CA) |
Assignee: |
Tucker Associates, Inc. (Palo
Alto, CA)
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Family
ID: |
22198871 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/086,485 |
Filed: |
November 3, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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864955 |
Oct 3, 1969 |
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696448 |
Jan 8, 1968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
116/63R; 404/9;
359/551 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F
9/553 (20160201); E01F 9/578 (20160201) |
Current International
Class: |
E01F
9/04 (20060101); E01F 9/08 (20060101); E01F
9/06 (20060101); E01f 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;94/1.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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633,919 |
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Dec 1949 |
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GB |
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507,199 |
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Mar 1956 |
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IT |
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Other References
Pyramid Traffic Markings of Tucker Published September, 1965, pp. 4
and 5, copyright 1965..
|
Primary Examiner: Byers, Jr.; Nile C.
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application
Ser. No. 864,955, filed Oct. 3, 1969, which application was in turn
a continuation of application Ser. No. 696,488, filed Jan. 8, 1968
both of which are now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A directional marker device for application to an automobile
roadbed to simultaneously delineate a traffic lane and prescribe
the proper direction of travel for vehicular traffic in said
traffic lane comprising:
a. an elongated three-dimensional unitary and monolithic marker
body having a generally flat bottom surface for attachment directly
to the roadbed, said bottom surface being defined by long side
edges of substantially equal lengths ranging from approximately
twelve to approximately 24 inches and relatively shorter end edges
of different lengths, the longer of the shorter end edges ranging
from 4 to 8 inches and the shorter end edges ranging from a
substantial point to approximately 1 inch; and
b. an upper surface on the body divided into a plurality of surface
portions angularly disposed with respect to each other and with
respect to said bottom surface, at least one of said upper surface
portions tapering from a broad dimension adjacent the longer of
said relatively shorter end edges to a relatively narrower
dimension adjacent the shorter of said two relatively shorter end
edges, said plurality of upper surface portions meeting to form a
ridge on said marker body having a height ranging from
approximately 1/2 inch to approximately 1 inch at the highest point
such that when the marker body is viewed from any direction the
upper surface of said body indicates the prescribed direction of
travel in relation to said body.
2. The combination according to claim 1, in which two of said upper
surface portions taper from broad dimensions adjacent the longer of
said relatively shorter end edges to relatively narrower dimensions
adjacent the shorter of said two relatively shorter end edges
whereby said ridge is inclined with respect to said bottom
surface.
3. The combination according to claim 1, in which two of said
plurality of upper surface portions coincide along two
corresponding long edges with opposite long edges of the flat
bottom surface of the marker body, the remaining long edges of said
two surface portions coinciding with each other and lying in a
plane perpendicular to the flat bottom surface of the marker body,
said remaining long edges being shorter than the long edges of said
two surfaces coincident with the long edges of said flat bottom
surface.
4. The combination according to claim 1, in which one of said upper
surface portions is substantially triangular in configuration and
coincides along one edge with the longer of said relatively shorter
end edges of the bottom surface of the marker body, the remaining
two edges of the triangular surface portion intercepting each other
at an apex spaced above the flat bottom surface and spaced
longitudinally of the marker body from said longer of said
relatively shorter end edges of the bottom surface.
5. The combination according to claim 1, in which said plurality of
angularly disposed upper surface portions meet in a common apex
coincident with one end of said ridge.
6. The combination according to claim 1, in which reflector means
are provided on said upper surface effective to reflect light
oriented in general with the long dimension of the marker body.
7. The combination according to claim 3, in which the remaining
mutually coinciding long edges of said two surface portions lie in
a plane perpendicular to the bottom surface and are inclined with
respect to said bottom surface so that said marker body is thicker
at one end than it is at the other.
8. The combination according to claim 4, in which said two
remaining edges of the triangular surface portion coincide with
edges of adjacent surface portions, the coincident edges of said
triangular surface portion and the adjacent surface portions being
inclined upwardly toward said apex of the marker body.
9. The combination according to claim 4, in which the remaining two
edges of the triangular surface portion are inclined with respect
to a vertical plane containing the longer of said relatively
shorter end edges of the flat bottom surface.
10. The combination according to claim 5, in which said common apex
is spaced between opposite ends of the marker body.
11. The combination according to claim 5, in which said common apex
is spaced from each end of the marker body an amount correlated to
the slope of one of said upper surface portions.
12. A directional marker device for application to an automobile
roadbed, comprising:
a. an elongated three-dimensional marker body having a generally
flat bottom surface defined by long and short edges and adapted to
be secured to the roadbed;
b. an upper surface on the body divided into a plurality of surface
portions angularly disposed with respect to each other and with
respect to said bottom surface, at least two of said upper surface
portions tapering from a broad dimension adjacent one end of the
body to a relatively narrower dimension adjacent the other end of
the body; and
c. reflector means on said upper surface including a plurality of
series of reflector units arranged longitudinally along the upper
surface of the marker body effective to reflect light oriented in
general with the long dimension of the marker body.
13. A directional marker device for application to an automobile
roadbed, comprising;
a. an elongated three-dimensional marker body having a generally
flat bottom surface defined by long and short edges and adapted to
be secured to the roadbed;
b. an upper surface on the body divided into a plurality of surface
portions angularly disposed with respect to each other and with
respect to said bottom surface, at least two of said upper surface
portions tapering from a broad dimension adjacent one end of the
body to a relatively narrower dimension adjacent the other end of
the body; and
c. reflector means on said upper surface effective to reflect light
oriented in general with the long dimension of the marker body,
said reflector means being multi-colored whereby light reflected
toward one end of the marker body is one color and light reflected
toward the other end of the marker body is a different color.
14. A directional marker device for application to an automobile
roadbed, comprising:
a. an elongated three-dimensional marker body having a generally
flat bottom surface defined by long and short edges and adapted to
be secured to the roadbed;
b. an upper surface on the body divided into a plurality of surface
portions angularly disposed with respect to each other and with
respect to said bottom surface, at least two of said upper surface
portions tapering from a broad dimension adjacent one end of the
body to a relatively narrower dimension adjacent the other end of
the body; and
c. reflector means on said upper surface effective to reflect light
oriented in general with the long dimension of the marker body,
said reflector means including a plurality of reflector units
mounted on each of two of said upper surface portions, each
reflector unit being monodirectional, with the reflector units on
one of said two surfaces being arranged to reflect light toward one
end of the marker body and the reflector units on the other of said
two surfaces being arranged to reflect light toward the opposite
end of the marker body.
15. A directional marker device for application to an automobile
roadbed, comprising:
a. an elongated three-dimensional marker body having a generally
flat bottom surface defined by long and short edges and adapted to
be secured to the roadbed;
b. an upper surface on the body divided into a plurality of surface
portions angularly disposed with respect to each other and with
respect to said bottom surface, at least two of said upper surface
portions tapering from a broad dimension adjacent one end of the
body to a relatively narrower dimension adjacent the other end of
the body; and
c. reflector means on said upper surface effective to reflect light
oriented in general with the long dimension of the marker body,
said reflector means including a plurality of bidirectional
reflector units mounted on each of said two upper surface portions,
the slope of said two upper surface portions being such that when
said marker body is disposed on the roadbed so as to define
separate traffic lanes for traffic moving in opposite directions
with one of said two upper surfaces associated with one lane and
the other of said two upper surfaces associated with the other
lane, lights from automobiles in one lane are not reflected from
the reflector units mounted on the upper surface portion associated
with the other lane.
16. The combination according to claim 12, in which each series of
reflector units comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced
reflector units, and each reflector unit is monodirectional.
17. The combination according to claim 12, in which each series of
reflector units comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced
reflector units, and each reflector unit is bidirectional.
18. The combination according to claim 12, in which each series of
reflector units comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced
reflector units, the reflector units of one series being
monodirectional and the reflector units of an adjacent series being
bidirectional.
Description
The increased number of automobiles on the nation's highways and
the increased speed at which such automobiles may legally be
driven, has resulted in carnage and property damage beyond
imagination. For instance, for the year 1966 in California property
damage amounted to $170,244,000. During the same period in the
United States as a whole, property damage amounted to
$20,000,000,000.
But property damage is not the only factor which indicates that
increased safety features must be included in our highways. More
tragic than merely loss of dollars in the form of property damage
is the loss of life due to unnecessary traffic accidents.
Statistically, for the year 1966 the automobile population in the
United States was about 77,959,000. During the same period the
automobile population in California, the most populous state in the
nation, was 8,774,000. With respect to the number of miles driven,
it is interesting to note that for the nation aa a whole, 5.67
persons died for every 100,000,000 miles driven. For the State of
Califronia, 4.8 persons died for every 100,000,000 miles driven.
Total deaths for the nation as a whole amounted to 53,000 in 1966
as a result of automobile traffic accidents. For the State of
California during the same period, 4,830 persons lost their
lives.
A comparison of these statistics with those accumulated for other
years indicates that as the automobile population in the nation has
increased, so too have deaths resulting from automobile traffic
accidents. It is also interesting to note that in those areas of
the nation where controlled traffic conditions have been
instituted, the percentage of traffic accident and fatalities as a
result thereof have been significantly reduced.
It is generally agreed that factors leading to automobile accidents
include, principally, driver error, highway construction, law
enforcement and vehicle construction. Within the category of
highway construction, conventional traffic control devices have
been deficient in alerting drivers to traffic hazards, or in giving
proper directions to drivers to avoid hazardous situations.
Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention to
provide a lane marker device for highway and street roadbeds which
will alert drivers to changing traffic conditions.
Conventional traffic control devices on highways have depended
primarily on visual acuity of the driver to see warning signs,
lights, and changing traffic patterns. The difficulty with such
conventional traffic control devices and their dependence upon
visual acuity is based on the fact that the average driver has a
reflex action which is usually no faster than 8/10 of a second,
thus imposing a difficult burden on the driver to see and respond
to such visual motivations within a time frame short enough to
prevent an accident. Fro instance, at 60 miles per hour, an
automobile moves 88 feet in 1 second. If reflex reaction is 8/10 of
a second, an automobile will move 70.4 feet before the driver's
foot touches the brake pedal. Several hundred additional feet are
required to bring the automobile to a stop after the brake has been
applied. Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to
provide a traffic control device in the form of a lane marker which
will indicate through the sense of sight the direction in which the
vehicle should be moving within the designated lane; which will
indicate through the sense of touch when the driver has changed
into another lane; and which will also indicate to the driver
through the sense of hearing that the automobile has left one lane
and has encroached upon another.
Many deaths on highways are caused by automobiles moving in the
wrong direction in traffic lanes. Conventional lane marking devices
do not indicate the proper direction of travel in a given lane.
Therefore, it is a still further object of the present invention to
provide a lane marker device which automatically indicates to the
driver the direction in which his automobile should be moving
within the traffic lane.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a lane
marker device which will automatically indicate to the driver if he
is proceeding in the wrong direction in a given lane.
To handle traffic congestion, many Divisions of Highway and Bureaus
of Road Safety have decreed that multilane highways should be
divided so that traffic moving in multiple lanes in a given
direction is physically separated from traffic moving in the
opposite direction. Such separation of traffic lanes has created
problems in egress and access to the highway in that a driver
approaching from a side road may be led to believe that the traffic
lanes which he is about to enter are suitable for travel in either
direction. This false impression has created the hazard of
wrong-way drivers. To eliminate this problem it has been common to
install cautionary signs reading "WRONG WAY -- DO NOT ENTER" to
alert drivers that the roadway into which they are about to drive
carries only one-way traffic. Accordingly, it is a still further
object of the present invention to provide a directional lane
marker device for roadways and highways which will automatically
alert a driver approaching from a side road of the proper direction
of movement of traffic on the roadway or highway he is about to
enter.
Unfortunately, effectiveness in reducing accidents and preventing
loss of life and loss of property values is not the only criterion
for determining whether a safety device will be utilized. Another
factor that is important is the cost of implementation of the
safety feature in question. Therefore, another object of this
invention is to provide a lane marker device which is not only
effective to convey a maximum amount of intelligence with regard to
the proper direction of movement of traffic, but which is
economical to manufacture and install.
Because of the many different conditions that arise in the course
of only a few miles on most highways, it is necessary that traffic
control devices be sufficiently versatile to convey a variety of
intelligence, depending on the particular circumstances involved.
Therefore, it is a still further object of the invention to provide
a directional lane marker device which is suitable for adaptation
to any given circumstance encountered in highway construction.
Because of the high rate of speed of vehicular traffic on modern
highways, safety devices such as road markers should be
proportioned to be easily seen from a distance. This is especially
important when the road marker conveys intelligence to the driver,
for the reason that such intelligence must be conveyed sufficiently
far enough ahead of the automobile so that remedial action, if
required, can be taken in a timely manner. Accordingly, it is a
further object of the invention to provide a road marker
proportioned to convey intelligence from a distance of several
hundred feet.
The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage,
some of which, with the foregoing, will become apparent from the
following description and the drawings. It is to be understood
however that the invention is not limited to the embodiment
illustrated and described, as it may be embodied in different forms
within the scope of the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In terms of broad inclusion, the invention comprises a solid
geometric three-dimensional body having length, width and height,
and adapted to be attached to the roadbed on which it is to be
used. The marker body is provided with an upper surface that is
divided into a plurality of angularly disposed surfaces or facets
which may be reflective or merely visible and which may be viewed
from different directions in order to convey different information
depending upon the direction from which the surfaces are viewed. In
another aspect, the marker body, particularly the angularly
disposed surfaces thereof, may be provided with a multiplicity of
reflective devices either formed on the surfaces of the body so as
to form integral parts thereof, or attached to such surfaces in a
pattern selected to convey the information desired. The marker body
is preferably of low profile and elongated to provide a generally
flat lower surface adapted to be attached directly to the highway
roadbed. The marker body may be relatively straight or it may be
curved. At one end the marker body is relatively wide, in the order
of approximately 8 inches, and tapers uniformly over a length
ranging from 12 to 24 inches toward its other end to a width of
approximately 1 to 2 inches. The marker bodies are preferably
attached to a roadbed so that traffic approaches the wide end of
the marker body. The height of the marker body may range for
example from 1/2 to 1 inch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a marker body in accordance with
this invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view taken in the direction indicated by the arrow
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the marker body illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the marker body illustrated in FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the marker body,
illustrating the attachment of reflector means to the upper surface
portions thereof.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of one of
the reflector units attached to the marker body illustrated in FIG.
5. The particular reflector unit illustrated is
monodirectional.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the reflector unit shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating bidirectional
reflector means attached to the upper surface of the marker
body.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in enlarged scale of one of the
reflector units illustrated in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a particular arrangement of
reflective means on the upper surface of the marker body, combining
monodirectinal and bidirectional reflector units.
FIG. 11 is a still different embodiment illustrating a plan view of
the marker body with reflective units molded thereon so as to form
an integral part of the marker body.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a roadway indicating use of the marker
bodies as a means of defining traffic lanes for traffic moving in
opposite directions.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a roadway indicating use of the marker
bodies to define traffic lanes for traffic moving in opposite
directions and in addition indicating the right-hand boundary of
each of the traffic lanes.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view indicating the appearance of the
marker bodies to define multiple one-way traffic lanes as viewed by
a driver of an automobile proceeding along one of the lanes in the
proper direction.
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but indicating the appearance
of the lane markers to a driver of an automobile when the
automobile is proceeding along a traffic lane in the wrong
direction.
FIG. 16 is a view illustrating traffic lane markers installed on a
one-way street where traffic moves from right to left, the view
being taken from a side street approaching the one-way street.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a roadway marked with conventional
traffic lane marking devices.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, as there shown the directional
marker device for automobile roadbeds forming the subject matter of
this invention comprises a three-dimensional solid geometric body
having width, length and height, these dimensions being
proportioned so that the marker device will perform specific
functions depending on the direction and distance from which the
body is viewed. Specifically, the directional marker device
comprises a body having a bottom surface 2, preferably flat in both
a transverse and longitudinal direction and bounded along one end
by an edge 3, and bounded at its opposite end by a relatively
shorter edge 4. The bottom surface between end edges 3 and 4 is
bounded by relatively long edges 6 and 7.
The upper surface of the marker body is preferably divided into a
plurality of angularly disposed surfaces 8, 9 and 12, the surfaces
8 and 9 being bounded along the outer boundaries of the body by
edges 6 and 7, respectively, with the edges of surfaces 8 and 9
opposite edges 6 and 7 coinciding as at ridge 13. At the narrow end
of the marker body each of the surfaces 8 and 9 is bounded by a
portion of short edge 4, while at the opposite or broader end of
the body, each of the surfaces 8 and 9 is defined by edges 14 and
16, respectively. The edges 14 and 16 are coincident with the edges
of two sides of the triangular surface portion 12, and with the end
edge 3 define the configuration of this triangular surface portion.
It will thus be seen that surface portions 8, 9 and 12 constitute
facets or planar surface portions angularly disposed one with the
other and with the bottom surface. Experiments have shown that
preferable proportions include a width ranging from four to eight
inches at the wide end3, a length ranging from twelve to
twenty-four inches, and a width at the narrow end 4 of from one to
two inches.
Preferably, the height of the body at its apex 17, where edges 13,
14 and 16 converge, is approximately 1/2 to 1 inch, so that
automobile tires may easily pass over the marker body without
danger of throwing the automobile out of control or doing injury to
the tires while being effective to cause a rumbling noise audible
to the driver and an irregularity sufficient to be felt through the
steering mechanism. Additionally, as clearly seen in FIG. 4, the
surface 12 is inclined with respect to the horizontal roadbed by an
amount approximating 20.degree. to 30.degree.. It will of course be
apparent that because of the low profile of the marker body, the
angle of inclination of surface portion 12 to the horizontal could
be as much as 90.degree. without deleterious effect.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the marker body is such
that it may conveniently be molded in one solid Piece from any
suitable synthetic resinous material, and in a size as illustrated
which will convey intelligence to a driver from a considerable
distance. Additionally, it will be apparent that because of the
flat bottom surface, the marker body may be securely cemented to a
roadbed by the application of any suitable adhesive. Preferably, a
two-part epoxy type adhesive should be utilized to withstand the
rigors of variations in temperature and moisure content of the
roadways. Referring specifically to FIGS. 12 through 15, FIG. 12
illustrates the use of the marker body to divide a roadbed into two
separate traffic lanes intended for traffic moving in opposite
directions. While this is not the preferred use, it illustrates the
versatility of the device. It will of course be apparent that the
markers may be attached to the pavement at varying distances. FIG.
13 illustrates the use of the marker to divide the roadbed into two
separate traffic lanes moving traffic in opposite directions as in
FIG. 12, and in addition illustrates use of the marker to mark the
outer boundary of each traffic lane. Such use is particularly
advantageous at night on dark roadways where there are no overhead
lights and where remaining on the roadway is imperative, such as
where a ditch runs alongside the highway or roadway. As viewed in
FIG. 14, the functional significance of the configuration of the
marker bodies when used to define different traffic lanes on
one-way streets is that the marker body points in the direction of
vehicular traffic. The configuration thus informs the driver he is
progressing in the proper direction. This ability to inform is
emphasized by FIG. 15, which illustrates the view seen by a driver
when he is progressing in the wrong direction. It will be apparent
that having the narrow end of the marker body point toward the
driver clearly informs him that he is moving in the wrong
direction. The capability of the marker body to inform as to proper
direction of movement of vehicular traffic is also indicated in
FIG. 16, where the marker bodies indicate the direction of travel
that a motorist should take when he turns from a side street onto a
one-way street. In FIG. 16, the marker has been utilized to
indicate a direction of movement from right to left.
As indicated in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, part of the utility of the
marker device of the invention is derived from its configuration
and proportions. For instance, in FIG. 14, the fact that the edges
14 and 16 defining the junction between surfaces 8 and 9 and the
surface 12 are inclined with respect to the vertical and inclined
away from a vertical plane containing the edge 3, therefore, makes
this surface particularly visible when approached from the
direction indicated in FIG. 14. Because of the placement of the
marker body along the boundary of the driving lane, the upper
surface portion 9 is particularly visible, thus displaying to the
driver a surface which is broad at one end and which tapers down to
a rather short edge.
In some instances it may be desirable that the upper surface 8 not
be visible to a driver progressing in the proper direction in a
traffic lane marked with the marker of the invention. Whether or
not the opposite surface portion 8 is visible in a situation such
as that depicted in FIG. 14, will depend upon the height of the
marker and the inclination of the coincident edges 13 of the upper
surface portions 8 and 9 with respect to the horizontal. As
indicated clearly in FIG. 4, the coincident edges 13 are inclined
downwardly from the broad end of the marker toward the narrow end.
Under these circumstances of course it would be possible for the
upper surface portion 9 to convey to a motorist traveling in the
proper direction in a given traffic lane one type of information,
while a motorist traveling in the opposite direction in an adjacent
lane would be given a different type of information by the upper
surface 8 of the marker body. The surface 8 would not be visible to
a driver to whom surface 9 was visible, and vice versa.
While the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1
through 4 depends primarily upon the configuration of the marker
body to indicate the proper direction of movement of vehicular
traffic, the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8, 10 and 11
utilize not only the configuration of the marker body but also
reflector means forming a part of the body or attached thereto.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, the marker body
illustrated in FIG. 5 is provided with a multiplicity of separate
reflector units 21, preferably arranged in longitudinal series of
reflector units, with each series of reflector units extending
along the longitudinal dimension of the marker body. Preferably a
plurality of series of reflector units are provided. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the reflector units is
conveniently of the type illustrated in FIG. 6, comprising a molded
acrylic body 22 having side edges 23, a front inclined surface 24
and a rear inclined surface 26. The side edges 23 may be vertical
with respect to the horizontal, or they may be inclined thereto as
indicated in FIG. 7. The inclined forward surface 24 of the
reflector unit is provided with a multiplicity of molded
retroreflector corner cavities designed to receive light and
reflect light as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6. One of such
reflector corners is illustrated in larger scale in FIG. 7 in the
interest of clarity. As there illustrated, the vertical reflecting
surface 27 intercepts light directed into the end of the reflector
unit and changes its direction 90.degree. so that it impinges upon
the vertical surface 28. This surface in turn changes the direction
of the light 90.degree. so that it is directed outwardly toward the
source of light as indicated by the arrows. While only one
reflector corner has been illustrated in FIG. 7, it should be
understood that the reflector corners are relatively small in size
and several hundred such reflector corners may be provided on a
single reflector unit.
To control the color of light reflected out of the reflector unit,
the cover surface 29, preferably formed from glass that is
hermetically sealed over the corner reflector cavities, may be
white, green, yellow or red, or any other desired color.
Alternatively, the cover surface 29 may be molded directly as a
part of the retroreflector unit. In any event, the retro-reflector
unit is solid, thus capable of withstanding the impacts imposed by
fast-moving vehicular traffic. Attachment of each reflector unit is
conveniently accomplished with a suitable adhesive.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the reflector
units is monodirectional; i.e., it will reflect light in only one
direction. In this embodiment, each of the monodirectional
reflective units is arranged to reflect light from automobile
traffic approaching from the broad end of the marker body. For
instance, if cover plate 29 of each of these monodirectional
reflector units is green, marker bodies applied as in FIG. 14 would
expose to the view of the driver a series of green reflectors
marking the boundary of the lane within which he was driving.
Alternatively, rather than green, the cover plate 29 may be changed
to yellow so that the driver would have displayed to him a series
of yellow reflectors.
It will of course be apparent that the size of the reflector units
and their particular arrangement on the upper surface portions 8
and 9 as viewed in FIG. 5 may be modified or arranged to provide
whatever effect is desired.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the marker body has been
provided with reflector units of a bidirectional type. This type of
unit is illustrated in FIG. 9, and as there shown, the units are
designed generally similar to the units illustrated in FIG. 6;
however, the forward inclined surface 24' is designed to reflect
one specific color, for example green, while the inclined surface
26' differs from the inclined surface 26 in FIG. 6 in that in the
present embodiment the inclined surface 26' reflects a color
different from the color reflected from surface 24'. For instance,
in the illustration, the left or forward end of the reflector unit
may reflect green, while the right end may be arranged to reflect
red. Such an arrangement of the reflector units is advantageous in
the situation depicted in FIG. 14 where a driver would view a
multiplicity of green reflectors, thus indicating that he may
proceed safely in the direction indicated by the configuration of
the marker body. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 15,
should the driver of the automobile proceed in the wrong direction;
i.e., toward the narrow end of the marker bodies, the bidirectional
reflector units would indicate to this driver a red reflector, thus
indicating danger, and alerting him to the fact that he was
progressing in the wrong direction.
The versatility of the lane markers is indicated in FIG. 10,
wherein bidirectional reflective units have been attached to
surfaces 8 and 9 of the marker body in a specific relationship so
that the upper and lower rows 32 on both panels 8 and 9 show a
green reflective surface for traffic moving in the proper
direction, while traffic moving in the opposite direction is
exposed to red reflective surfaces, thus indicating danger in such
direction of travel. Many different arrangements, dictated only by
necessity, may be devised for particular circumstances.
While FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a directional marker device that
is devoid of reflective units, and depends for transmission of
information on its particular configuration, and FIGS. 5, 8 and 10
illustrate marker bodies according to this invention to which have
been attached monodirectional and bidirectional reflective units,
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 utilizes reflective units
forming an integral part of the marker body. Thus, referring
specifically to FIG. 11, the angularly disposed upper surface
portions 8 and 9 are preferably provided with a multiplicity of
integral projecting reflective units 36, each of which may be
either monodirectional or bidirectional as previously discussed.
Additionally, on each panel or upper surface 8 or 9, the
multiplicity of reflective units 36 may be arranged in any desired
pattern to convey any desired information to a driver approaching
the marker body. It will of course be understood that while each
embossed reflective unit illustrated in FIG. 11 is relatively large
in size, thus minimizing the number of series of such units that
may be illustrated, the proportions of the reflective units may be
modified to accommodate any number of individual reflective units
or series of such units. For instance, each entire surface 8 or 9
or 12 may be molded to provide reflective units of exceedingly
small size over the entire area of each surface portion.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the directional marker
device of the invention is particularly effective to control
traffic moving in a single direction on a roadbed or highway.
Because of its versatility in the application of reflective units
however it is apparent that the marker device may be used to
advantage even on roadways designed for traffic in opposite
directions. Comparing the views illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 17, it
will be apparent that the three-dimensional configuration of the
directional marker device of the invention conveys considerably
more information than the conventional traffic lane marker
illustrated in FIG. 17. Experience has taught that with such
conventional lane markings, grease drippings from automobile
traffic, and grease drippings combined with dirt from the
undercarriage of automobiles, frequently renders such conventional
lane markings obscure. It will be apparent from the configuration
of the three-dimensional type directional marker device of the
invention that because of the inclined surfaces, the sides of the
marker device are continually cleaned by tire action of automobile
traffic so that the markers may always be clearly visible.
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