EP0029015A2

EP0029015A2 - Road boundary marker

Info

Publication number: EP0029015A2
Application number: EP80830092A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dino Ciuccarelli
Original assignee: Dino Ciuccarelli
Priority date: 1979-11-09
Filing date: 1980-11-03
Publication date: 1981-05-20
Also published as: IT7900555V0; EP0029015A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a road boundary marker provided with a support for the reflector (2) that extends laterally with respect to the vertical support structure of the road boundary marker. The latter is preferably made in a number of parts (1 a, 1 b and 1 c) that can be dovetailed together; of these the part (1 a) is provided with means for anchoring the marker to the ground.

With a road boundary marker constructed in this way, better visibility of the reflector is ensured and the maintenance operation of removing the grass and clearing the side of the road is rendered easy. Furthermore, in the event of any part being damaged, the replacement of the complete boundary marker is avoided.

Description

The subject of the invention is a road boundary marker in which the reflector support extends laterally towards the roadway, in such a way as to allow the said reflector, which always stays on the edge of the road, maximum visibility.
The road boundary markers currently in use are, on the whole, constituted by straight, narrow stakes that are hollow, somewhat flat, and are made of plastic material.
The lower part of the said stakes is tapered so that they can be inserted into the ground.
The reflector of the said boundary markers is fitted in the centre at the top of the stakes.
Boundary markers of this type, once set up, are destined to be hidden in a short space of time because of the natural growth of weeds at the side of the road where they are inserted.
It thus ensues that periodical operations of clearing the side of the road are necessary.
With the said clearing operations, the area close to the boundary marker has to be finished off by hand since when using cutter bars or rotary blades it is somewhat difficult to clear the base of the boundary marker, and the risk exists of damaging the said marker.
In addition to the foregoing, known boundary markers-are not set up very stably, and as time goes by they can easily adopt undesirable inclined positions, or even drop on to the ground.
The object of the invention is to overcome the problems outlined above and, in particular, to make available a road boundary marker that is constructed in such a way that the reflector be supported, with respect to the vertical structure of the marker, like a flag.
In this way, the reflector becomes more visible with respect to the side of the road, and mechanical operations for clearing the side of the road in the area underneath the reflector are possible without one having to resort to manual intervention.
Another object of the invention is to make available a road boundary marker so constructed as to guarantee its being stable with the passing of time, though maintaining all the characteristics required for the said device of lightness and of being easily knocked down in the case of impact.
The said objects are attained with the road boundary marker forming the subject of the invention, which is substantially characterized by the fact that the reflector support extends laterally with respect to the vertical support structure of the boundary marker and that the latter is preferably formed by a number of parts that can be fitted vertically together through dovetail type joints, of which the part forming the base of the marker is of a hypogeum plinth conformation and is provided with an aperture in the centre as well as at least one horizontal base tab that protrudes laterally with respect to the vertical support structure of the marker.
Advantageously, according to the invention, the reflector support of the marker is preferably constituted by a horizontal arm that extends laterally to the body of the marker in the region of the upper extremity thereof, the length of which is such as to allow the refracting area to be perfectly visible, as well as to facilitate to the full the mechanical operations connected with the clearing of the side of the road.
The characteristics of the invention will now be described better with reference to the one figure on the accompanying drawing which shows the boundary marker in a lateral perspective view and in accordance with one preferred but not sole form of embodiment.
With reference to the said figure, the boundary marker (1), which is preferably a shockproof polystyrene moulding of high density and strength, has vertical and horizontal reinforcing ribs, (3) and (4), respectively, that guarantee its being of the maximum robustness.
The reflector (2) is mounted, in a known fashion, in the region of the terminal part of a support (1d) that is connected to the upper part of the vertical support structure of the marker, or else, as in the case illustrated, is made in one piece therewith. The said support is virtually formed by an arm that extends horizontally and laterally to the said structure.
The reflector (2) can be made of plastic material with which the chromatic refraction of the light is the maximum possible.
The boundary marker (1) is,; according to the preferred form of embodiment illustrated, made in three moulded parts of shockproof polystyrene.
It comprises a base part (1a), a centre part (1b) and a third part (1c) that comprises the support (1d) of the reflector (2). The base part (1a) is destined to be inserted into the ground totally or in part and it has a flared plinth of hypogeum type that widens towards the lower part thereof.
The base (1a) has, furthermore, an aperture (5) placed in the centre and is provided at the bottom with at least one horizontal tab; the said aperture and tab make possible the stable incorporation of the boundary marker in the ground so as to prevent it from adopting, as time goes by, undesired inclined positions or from being easily removed abusively.
In accordance with what is shown in the drawing, the three parts (1a, 1b and 1c) can be placed together and be united vertically by means of dovetails (7) which, in addition to ensuring excellent firmness, allow any one single part that has been tampered with or has been rendered inefficient, to be quickly and easily replaced without one having to resort to the substitution of the complete boundary marker.

Claims

1. Road boundary marker provided with at least one reflector (2), characterized by the fact that the support (1d) of the reflector (2) extends laterally with respect to the vertical support structure of the boundary marker.

2. Road boundary marker according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is formed by a number of parts (1a, 1b andlc) that can be fitted vertically together through dovetails (7), of which the part forming the base of the marker is of a hypogeum plinth cbnformation and is provided with an aperture (5) in the centre, as well as with at least one horizontal base tab (6) that protrudes laterally with respect to the vertical support structure of the boundary marker (1).