AU2016222424B2

AU2016222424B2 - A Traffic Cone Carrier and a Traffic Cone Deployment System

Info

Publication number: AU2016222424B2
Application number: AU2016222424A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nicholas Bloor; Sean Wardrop
Original assignee: IVM IP Pty Ltd
Current assignee: IVM IP Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-01
Filing date: 2016-09-01
Publication date: 2021-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-01
Also published as: AU2016222424A1

Abstract

The traffic cone carrier is used for carrying traffic cones to be placed or retrieved by personnel. The traffic cone carrier is preferably vehicle-mounted as part of a traffic cone deployment system. The traffic cone carrier includes a carousel for carrying traffic cones of the type having a hole at the top, the carousel comprising a rotatably supported central hub and a plurality of arms radiating from the central hub, wherein the traffic cones are carried on the carousel by way of the arms passing through the holes in the traffic cones. 5/6 60 66 62 64 68 10 7 700 14 50- 64 76 88 30 30 70 Figure 6

Description

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A TRAFFIC CONE CARRIER AND A TRAFFIC CONE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM FIELD

[0001] Various exemplary embodiments of a traffic cone carrier are described in this specification. The traffic cone carrier is used for carrying traffic cones to be placed or retrieved by personnel. The traffic cone carrier is preferably vehicle-mounted as part of a traffic cone deployment system.

SUMMARY

[0002] Various exemplary embodiments of a traffic cone carrier include a carousel for carrying traffic cones of the type having a hole at the top, the carousel comprising a rotatably supported central hub and a plurality of arms radiating from the central hub, wherein the traffic cones are carried on the carousel byway of the arms passing through the holes in the traffic cones

[0003] The traffic cone carrier may include a base which rotatably supports the central hub. The carousel may include a turntable and the base may include a socket for receiving the turntable. The central hub may be mounted on a spindle projecting upwardly from the turntable. The traffic cone carrier may include a turntable cover for locking the turntable to the base.

[0004] The arms may be cylindrical rods or prongs. The traffic cone carrier may include two or more rings of radiating arms axially spaced along the hub.

[0005] Various exemplary embodiments of a traffic cone deployment system comprise the traffic cone carrier as defined and described hereinabove mounted on a vehicle. The traffic cone carrier may be mounted to a chassis of the vehicle. The traffic cone deployment system may include at least one personnel compartment mounted on a substructure of the vehicle, from where an occupant of the personnel compartment has access to the traffic cone carrier. The personnel compartment may have an access opening operable by the occupant to enter and exit the compartment.

[0006] Various exemplary embodiments of a vehicle incorporate the traffic cone carrier described above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 shows a prior art automated traffic cone placement system, described in United States Patent US 5,525,021.

[0008] Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a traffic cone carrier.

[0009] Figure 3 shows an exploded view, from the side, of the traffic cone carrier.

[0010] Figure 4 shows another exploded view of the traffic cone carrier.

[0011] Figure 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of a traffic cone carried by the traffic cone carrier of figure 1.

[0012] Figure 6 shows a three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a traffic cone deployment system, including the traffic cone carrier of figure 1.

[0013] Figure 7 shows a three dimensional view of the traffic cone deployment system of figure 6, including a roll-over protection arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0014] In figures 2 to 4, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an exemplary embodiment of a traffic cone carrier. The carrier 10 is configured to carry stacked traffic cones for easy and continuous supply to a person placing the cones. The carrier 10 is also configured for easy and continuous replenishment by a person retrieving traffic cones that are laid out on a roadway or similar area.

[0015] The carrier 10 is configured to be mounted on a chassis or in a tray of a vehicle, such as a utility vehicle. The vehicle could be a driven vehicle or could be a towed vehicle, such as a trailer. Thus, the carrier 10 could replace or form part of a tray assembly of a utility vehicle. The "tray assembly" and the "utility vehicle" are not limited to any specific size.

[0016] The carrier 10 includes a base 12 and a carousel 14. The carousel 14 is rotatably mounted on the base 12. The carousel 14 comprises a platter or turntable 22, a turntable cover 24, a spindle 26, a hub 28 and arms 30.

[0017] The base 12 may be mounted directly to the chassis of a vehicle, or may be removably located in the tray of the vehicle. The base 12 can also be fixed to, or form part of, the tray.

[0018] The base 12 is generally square, but may have any suitable shape and dimensions to be carried by a vehicle. The base 12 has a sunken cylindrical hollow or recess in the form of a socket 16 for receiving the turntable 22. The base 12 includes wheels or rollers 18 circumferentially spaced along a floor of the socket 16. The carousel 12 is supported on the rollers 18 in a manner wherein the carousel can rotate relative to the base 12. The rollers 18 comprise brackets carrying wheels and the brackets are mounted to the floor of the socket 16. In a different embodiment, the carrier may have an annular bearing supporting the turntable 22.

[0019] The turntable 22 is disc-shaped. The turntable 22 is received in the socket 16 of the base 12 in a manner wherein lateral movement of the turntable 22 in the base 12 is constrained. The rollers 18 contact the underside of the turntable 22. The rollers 18 run along the underside of the turntable 22 as the carousel 14 is rotated.

[0020] The turntable cover 24 includes a lock ring which locks onto the base 12. The inner diameter of the cover 24 is smaller than the outer diameter of the turntable 22. Part of the cover 24 forms an inwardly projecting lip, which provides a shoulder inhibiting axial displacement of the turntable 22 away from the base 12. The cover 24 can be removed from the base 12 to release the turntable 22.

[0021] The spindle 26 is a cylindrical post extending upwardly from the centre of the turntable 22. The spindle 26 extends parallel to a rotational axis 44 of the turntable 22.

[0022] The hub 28 comprises a generally cylindrical wall 40 defining a bore. One end of the hub is closed off by an end wall 42. The other end of the hub 28 is open to allow the hub 28 to receive the spindle 26. The hub 28 is mounted on the spindle 26 with the spindle 26 received in the bore of the hub 28. The hub 28 is locked to the spindle 26 and rotates with the spindle 26. In another embodiment, the spindle 26 may be stationary and the hub 28 rotates relative to the spindle 26.

[0023] The arms 30 are rods or prongs which extend or project from the hub 28. The arms 30 can be cylindrical. The arms 30 are fixed to the wall 40 of the hub 28 at one end and are free at the other end. The arms 30 radiate from the hub 28 in a radial pattern. The carousel 12 includes two clusters or rings 46 of arms 30. Each ring 46 has eleven arms 30. The arms 30 of each ring 46 are spaced parallel to the arms 30 of the other ring 46. The rings 46 are axially spaced from each other along the hub 28. The carousel 14 may include any number of rings 46. The arms 30 are shown as being generally perpendicular to the rotational axis 44, but in another embodiment the arms 30 may extend at an acute angle to the rotational axis 44.

[0024] The base 12 and all the components of the carousel 14 may be of aluminium or steel material, or can be of other suitable materials such as plastics materials, fibreglass reinforced materials, or carbon fibre-based materials.

[0025] Referring to figure 5, a cone-shaped marker in the form of a traffic cone 50 is shown. Traffic cones are also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, witch's hats, or construction cones. The traffic cone 50 comprises a generally square base 52 and a frusto-conical body 54. The traffic cone 50 is fluorescent red or orange with reflective bands. The base 52 is fused with the body 54. The traffic cone 50 is generally flow-moulded from polyvinyl chloride material. The base 52 is at the bottom of the traffic cone 50 and a nose end of the body 54 terminates at the top 57 of the traffic cone 50. The body 54 is hollow so as to define a frusto-conical cavity. The traffic cone has a hole 58 at the top 57, which is open to the cavity of the body 54. Reference to the top 57 of the cone is reference to the highest point of the cone when the cone is upright, standing on its base 52. A number of traffic cones 50 can be stacked together in a nested arrangement. The hole 58 may be used to receive a pole of a flag and may also assist in preventing any vacuum forming between nested cones when removing one cone from the stack. The holes 58 of the traffic cones 50 of a stack of cones are aligned to form a passage.

[0026] The outside diameter of each arm 30 is the same or slightly narrower than the inside diameter of the holes 58 in the traffic cones 50. The traffic cones 50 typically have 2.5cm to 4cm (1" to 1.5") diameter holes.

[0027] Referring to figures 6 and 7, the carrier 10 forms part of a traffic cone deployment system 60. The traffic cone deployment system 60 comprises the carrier 10 and a support assembly 62 including two personnel compartments 64. The traffic cone deployment system 60 is mounted to a chassis of a utility vehicle 66. The arms 30 of the carousel 14 are generally horizontal relative to the chassis. The carrier 10 may also be angled relative to the chassis or hingedly connected to the chassis.

[0028] The traffic cone deployment system 60 provides easy access for personnel in the compartments 64 to the traffic cones 50 carried by the carrier 10. This is useful when placing many traffic cones 50 along a road or sidewalk. Similarly, when retrieving traffic cones 50 the personnel can easily and quickly store the retrieved traffic cones on the arms 30 of the carousel 14.

[0029] The carousel 14 carries stacks 70 of traffic cones 50. Each stack 70 of traffic cones 50 comprises nested together cones 50. Nested together cones 50 have the body 54 of one cone 50 received in the cavity of another cone. The arms 30 pass through the passage formed by the adjacent holes 58 in a stack 70 the traffic cones 50. A stack 70 of traffic cones 50 may be removed from the carousel 14 by sliding the whole stack 70 out from the arm 30. A traffic cone 50 is loaded onto the carousel 14 by having the arm 30 spear through the hole 58 in the traffic cone 50. The traffic cones 50 are loaded nose first so that the top 57 of the cone 50 is proximate the hub 40. The traffic cones 50 may be individually loaded onto the arms 30, or a stack of traffic cones 50 may loaded onto an arm 30 in one operation. Similarly, the traffic cones 50 may be individually removed from the carousel 14 or a stack 70 of traffic cones 50 may be removed from the carousel 14 in a single operation.

[0030] The occupant of one of the compartments 64 is able to rotate the carousel 14 to access empty arms 30 when loading recovered traffic cones 50 onto the carousel 14. The occupant is able to rotate the carousel 14 to access arms 30 carrying traffic cones when removing traffic cones 50 from the carousel 14.

[0031] It is envisaged that the traffic cone deployment system 60 could be mounted on any type of conveyance, such as a vehicle or trailer. In other words, the traffic deployment system 10 finds application with a number of different forms of powered or drawn vehicles and other craft. In this example, the vehicle 66 is a utility vehicle or pickup truck.

[0032] The support assembly 62 and the personnel compartments 64 may be the same as the support assembly and the personnel compartments of the carrier described in the applicant's co-pending International Patent Application number

PCT/AU2014/000621. The contents of the International Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0033] Each personnel compartment 64 is configured to suit a single occupant housed or positioned in the compartment 64 in a standing position out of alignment of a direction of travel of the vehicle. It is also envisaged that one or more compartments 64 could be positioned and configured so that the occupant faces in a direction opposite to a direction of travel. In this example, the occupant faces generally orthogonally with respect to the direction of travel. There is a space 68 between the compartments 64 in which a stack 70 of traffic cones 50 may be temporarily placed in the upright position.

[0034] Each personnel compartment 64 has a floor panel that is positioned below a deck, tray, surface or floor 88 of the vehicle 66. The personnel compartment 64 is configured and positioned so that the floor panel of each personnel compartment 64 is a stepping height above a substrate, such as the road, on which the vehicle is positioned. The floor panel of each personnel compartment 64 is positioned below the floor 88 of the vehicle 66. Each personnel compartment 64 includes a closure, door or gate arrangement 76 to allow the compartment 64 to be closed and opened for the occupant to enter and exit. The occupant may be able to place or collect the traffic cones from within the personnel compartments 64. The occupant may also easily alight from the personnel compartments 64 to place or collect traffic cones 50.

[0035] The traffic cone deployment system 60 is suited for dual-sided operation. For example, the vehicle 66 can be used for placing traffic cones on both sides of a road way or the like without having to turn around.

[0036] Figure 7 shows the traffic cone deployment system 60 including a roll over protection arrangement 82 for protecting occupants of the compartments 14. The vehicle 66 includes an indicator panel 84 mounted to the roll over protection arrangement 82.

[0037] The roll over protection arrangement 82 is the same or similar to the roll over protection arrangement of the applicant's referenced International Patent Application.

[0038] As will be appreciated, the vehicle 66 can include a tray assembly of the type that is mounted on a chassis of a utility vehicle. Thus, it is envisaged that the base 12 can take a number of different forms and is not necessarily limited to the form shown in the drawings. For example, the base 12 and the floor 88 of the vehicle 66 may be a unitary or semi-unitary structure.

[0039] The automated traffic cone placement system of US patent 5,525,021 shown in figure 1 is mechanically complex and likely expensive to manufacture and operate. The traffic cone carrier 10 of the present application takes advantage of one of the design features of a traffic cone, the hole 58 in the top, to provide a simple and elegant solution to carry traffic cones. The radial arrangement of the arms 30 and the nose-first orientation of the traffic cones 50 carried by the arms, allows for a compact arrangement of traffic cones 50 about the hub 40. For example, the traffic cone carrier 10 makes much more efficient use of space to carry traffic cones than the traffic cone placement system of US patent 5,525,021. The traffic cone carrier 10 is also easily retrofitted to existing vehicles.

[0040] Furthermore, the nose-first arrangement of the traffic cones 50 allows them to be withdrawn from the arms 30 by an operator grasping the base 52. This is significantly easier for the operator than having to grip the top 57. As described above, the top 57 is tapered, making a firm grip difficult. The carrier 10 allows the operator to curl his/her fingers around an edge of the base 52 for a secure hold on the cone 50.

[0041] Various tasks that are performed on roadways are known to be extremely dangerous. One of these is particularly the deployment and retrieval of traffic cones. Usually, it is necessary for personnel to walk in proximity to a vehicle on or in which the cones are stored either to retrieve the cones or to deploy the cones. The system shown in figure 1 can provide some level of safety since the operator is positioned in the vehicle. However, that operator would be exposed to a rear-end collision, given that the position of the operator is at the back of the vehicle. In this system, it is not practical to provide any rear end collision protection since the operator needs to have access to the roadway.

[0042] In contrast, by using the vehicle 66, the operator is naturally protected from a rear end collision by the rear portion of the vehicle. Also, it is possible to mount a rear end protection system on the vehicle 66 without interfering with the operator.

[0043] As described in the international application referenced above, floors of the compartments are lower than the utility tray and can even extend below chassis members of the vehicle. As a result, deployment and retrieval of the traffic cones is facilitated since the operator is not required to bend down excessively.

[0044] Throughout the specification, including the claims, where the context permits, use of words that describe an orientation of a component or direction of travel of, in this case, the conveyance, are not to be considered as limiting and have been used solely for convenience. Thus, words such as "front", "back", "rear", "side", "up", down", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "forwards", "backwards", "towards", "distal", "proximal", "in", "out" and synonyms, antonyms and derivatives thereof, are to be regarded as referring to the associated component or direction of travel in an "in use" application. The inventor(s) envisages that such components could be supplied in any number of orientations in an inoperative condition.

[0045] It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

[0046] Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter, are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventors for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject matter. Moreover, every combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

[0047] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.

[0048] Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

a. there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or element, any particular sequence of activities, or any particular interrelationship of elements;

b. no characteristic, function, activity, or element is "essential";

c. any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;

d. any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and

e. any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary.

[0049] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

[0050] Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate subrange defined by such separate values is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

[0051] Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent.

Claims

1. A traffic cone carrier includes a base having rollers and a carousel for carrying traffic cones of the type having a hole at the top, the carousel comprising a rotatably supported central hub and a plurality of arms radiating from the central hub, wherein the traffic cones are carried on the carousel by way of the arms passing through the holes in the traffic cones and wherein the carousel is supported on the rollers such that the carousel can rotate relative to the base.

2. The traffic cone carrier of claim 1, wherein the base rotatably supports the central hub.

3. The traffic cone carrier of claim 1, including two or more rings of radiating arms axially spaced along the hub.

4. The traffic cone carrier of claim 1, wherein the arms are cylindrical rods.

5. The traffic cone carrier of claim 2, wherein the carousel includes a turntable and the base includes a socket for receiving the turntable.

6. The traffic cone carrier of claim 5, wherein the central hub is mounted on a spindle projecting upwardly from the turntable.

7. The traffic cone carrier of claim 5, including a turntable cover for locking the turntable to the base.

8. A traffic cone deployment system comprises the traffic cone carrier of claim 1 mounted on a vehicle.

9. The traffic cone deployment system of claim 8 including at least one personnel compartment mounted on a substructure of the vehicle, from where an occupant of the personnel compartment has access to the traffic cone carrier.

10. The traffic cone deployment system of claim 9, wherein the personnel compartment has an access opening operable by the occupant to enter and exit the compartment.

11. A vehicle including the traffic cone carrier of claim 1.