GB2205341A

GB2205341A - Road marking

Info

Publication number: GB2205341A
Application number: GB08712277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Stephen Ham
Original assignee: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SUPPLIES LI
Current assignee: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SUPPLIES LI
Priority date: 1987-05-23
Filing date: 1987-05-23
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB8712277D0

Abstract

A method of providing a temporary marking line for use in the direction of traffic comprises providing a plurality of portable base members (11) having provided thereon part of a marking line 13 such that when a plurality of the base members is arranged in a row, the parts (13) co-operate to perform the line. The base members may be used to mount a row of traffic cones (10) to be arranged in position to form both a row of cones and a road marking line without the need for a separate road lining operation. The road line provided by the traffic cones is reusable. <IMAGE>

Description

Traffic Direction The invention relates to the direction of traffic and to devices for use in the direction of traffic.

It is well known to use temporary traffic bollards, for example traffic cones, to direct traffic, for example when repair work is being carried out on motorway carriageways.

It is frequently necessary to provice a temporary white line on the road surface adjacent to the line of bollards as a further safety measure. At present this is done using an adhesive tape which is stuck to the road surface. However the tape is expensive to lay and at present costs 2.50 per metre. Furthermore, the tape can only be used once.

I have now realised that there is a much cheaper and more convenient way of temporarily providing a road marking line.

Accordingly my invention provides a method of providing a temporary marking line for use in the direction of traffic, comprising providing a plurality of portable base members each having part of the line provided thereon, and arranging the base members in a row so that the said parts co-operate to form the line.

The invention includes at least one base member having provided thereon part of a marking line such that when a plurality of the base members are arranged in a row they co-operate to define a temporary marking line for use in the direction of traffic.

Preferably the base member comprises the base of a traffic directing device such as a temporary traffic bollard or traffic cone so that when the bollards or cones are arranged in position the marking line is automatically formed without the need for an additional line laying operation.

Thus there is not only a considerable saving in time, but the line is reusable teach time the base members are reused.

A further very important feature of my invention is that I have realised that it is possible to provide a marking line on base members at a current cost of only 1.80 per metre, thus bringing about even greater savings.

According to a preferred feature of my invention, part of a marking line is applied to a base member by preforming a length of plastics material and securing the plastics material to the base member.

The base member may comprise the base member of a traffic cone and the plastics material may comprise a thermoplastics material.

The base member may comprise rubber material, PVC material, recycled material or a combination thereof.

Preferably the plastics material is permanently bonded to the base member, for example by the application of heat.

Preferably the plastics material includes a pigment and reflective and/or refractive particles, e.g.

catadioPtic particles.

The plastics material may be as disclosed in British Standard Specification No. 3262.

Preferably the plastics material is such that it flexes to a certain extent with the associated base member thus reducing any tendency for the plastics material to crack or chip off the base member.

The plastics material may for example contain rubberisers and/or plasticisers.

The base member may have more than one side and at least two sides may be provided with part of a marking line.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of traffic cones arranged to form a marking line according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section through one of the traffic cones according to the invention, taken on line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows four traffic cones according to the invention arranged in a row. It will be understood that in practice many more such cones will be used.

Each cone comprises a frusto-conical portion 10 protecting upwardly froma base portion 11. Each base portion is generally square but has chamfered corners 12.

The major part of each base portion is black in colour to blend in with the road surface on which is is place in use. However one edge 13 of each base portion is coloured white so that when the cones are arranged in a row as shown, a white line is automatically formed adjacent to the frusto-conical portions 10 without the need for a special white line laying operation. In due course when the cones are moved to a new location, the white line is automatically removed and relocated also.

The chamfers 12 produce triangular interruptions 14 in the white line. However these interruptions are in practice hardly noticeable to drivers of vehicles travelling in a direction parallel tó the white line. The noticeability of the interruptions is further decreased by the fact that the white coating extends right down the edges of the base portions, as can best be seen in Figure 2, at 16.

The coating 15 is prepared as a soft, flexible preformed mass which is readily shaped to conform to the shape of the associated base portion, but is sufficiently coherent to be readily handled. The coating is then permanently baked on to the base portion, for example using a propane heater.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example each base 11 may have more than one side coloured white. For instance each of two opposite sides may be coloured white.

Claims

1. A method of providing a temporary marking line for use in the direction of traffic, comprising providing a plurality of portable base members each having part of the line provided thereon, and arranging the base members in a row so that the said parts co-operate to form the line.

2. A base member having provided thereon part of a marking line such that when a plurality of the base members are arranged in a row they co-operate to define a temporary marking line for use in the direction of traffic.

3. A base member as claimed in Claim 2, comprising the base of a traffic directing device such as a temporary traffic bollard or traffic cone so that when the bollards or cones are arranged in position the marking line is automatically formed without the need for an additional line laying operation.

4. A base member as claimed in Claim 2, or Claim 3, in which part of a marking line is applied to a base member by preforming a length of plastics material and securing the plastics material to the base member.

5. A base member as claimed in Claim 4 comprising the base member of a traffic cone.

6. A base member as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the base member is made of rubber materials, PVC material, recycied material, or a combination thereof.

7. A base member as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, in which the plastics material comprises a thermoplastics material.

8. A base member as claimed in Claim 7, in which the plastics material is bonded to the base member by the application of heat.

9. A base member as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8 in which the plastics material includes a pigment and relfective and/or refractive particles, e.g., catadioptic particles.

10. A base member as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9, in which the plastics material is as disclosed in British Standard Specification No. 3262.

11. A base member as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 10, in which the plastics material is such that it flexes to a certain extent with the base member thus reducing any tendency for the plastics material to crack or chip off the base member.

12. A base member as claimed in Claim 11, in which the plastics material contains rubberisers and/or plasticisers.

13. A base member as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 12, having more than one side and at least two sides being provided with part of a marking line.

14 A base member constructed and arranged substantially herein described, with reference to the accompanying '""s;lngs.

15. A plurality of base members as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 14 arranged in a row and co-operating to define a temporary.marking line for use in the direction of traffic.

16. A method of producing a temporary marking line for use in the direction of traffic, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.