GB2208124A - Method of marking a traffic cone - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of marking a traffic cone base comprises holding the cone at an angle, and pouring a liquid marking material onto the base edge whilst moving the pouring device along the edge. The liquid material is heated and is maintained hot after application by means, for example, of a blow torch. The liquid medium may be a synthetic plastics material containing retro-reflective spheres. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements Relating to Traffic Control Devices This invention relates to traffic control devices, and in particular concerns those devices which are referred to hereinafter and in the appended claims as "traffic cones" comprising an upstanding visibly eye-catching portion which is typically conically shaped and a base portion which supports the upstanding portion stably when the devices are positioned on a road surface.

The upstanding portion, referred to hereinafter simply as the conical portion for simplicity of description, is usually rendered eye-catching by being of a highly visible colour, such as a bright red, or it may be coloured by fluorescent or retro-reflective materials.

Furthermore, the conical portion may be rendered more visible by having a reflective sleeve positioned thereon. The manner in which the conical portion is rendered highly visible is not of significance as regards the present invention, therefore all highly visible constructions are to be considered included in the scope of this invention.

The base portion is typically black as it need not add to the visibility of the device, but again it is not necessary that it should be coloured black and when formed in one piece with the conical portion may be moulded in a plastics material of the same colour as the conical portion. It is normal for the conical portion and base portion indeed to be moulded from plastics material as a one-piece unit.

These traffic cones are used as traffic control devices in so far as they are positioned on the road or motorway surface to direct the traffic away, for example from road workings, accidents or the like.

They are in extensive use but because of the environment in which they are used, they do receive rough treatment and therefore they need to be robust.

They also need to remain stably in position despite adverse weather conditions, such as high winds and rain.

When these cones are used on motorways to direct traffic to change lanes, the cones are arranged in line or lines directing the traffic to change position, and adjacent such line or lines as provided for in the law, there must be provided a white line on the road surface to mark the change of direction for the traffic.

Typically, such line is provided by applying either a paint or tape to the road surface adjacent the line or lines of traffic cones.

This method of controlling traffic has a number of disadvantages amongst which are that the workmen must effect two operations i.e. the positioning of the cones, and the marking of the road with the white line, and secondly when the road works have been completed, and it is desired to re-direct the traffic on the original route, the white line or lines has or have to be removed from the road surface, which may be difficult if the tape or paint has become strongly bonded to the road surface.

The present invention seeks to overcome this difficulty, and in accordance with the invention the base portion of the traffic cone is provided with marking in the form of at least one strip on the upper surface thereof by the application of a liquid medium which binds to the cone upper portion surface, so that when a plurality of cones are arranged side by side to form a line, the respective strip portions can be arranged to form a line which can substitute for the marking line on the road surface.

The liquid material which is used for the strip marking may comprise a synthetic resin which is pigmented with colouring such as titanium dioxide to give the strip marking a bright white colour, and the liquid material may also contain retro-reflective glass spheres of the type conventionally used in creating retro-reflective surfaces, and in addition a layer of these glass spheres may be applied to the top surface of the strip marking immediately after its application thereto i.e.

whilst it is still in liquid or fluent form so that the said layer of glass spheres will adhere to such surface and provide such surface with a highly reflective characteristic.

When the traffic cone is moulded in plastics material in one piece, the plastic material contains a rubberising component making the cone of a robust nature but having a degree of flexibility so as not to shatter and fracture when subjected to handling. The mould is provided with a release composition to enable the cone to be removed readily from the mould, and such release composition tends to remain on the surface of the moulded article. To apply the liquid material of the present invention, preferably the surface to which the material is to be applied is heat treated in order to burn off the release composition, then the surface is roughened for example by being brushed with a wire brush in order to render it suitable for receiving the fluent material.As an alternative to removing the release composition by burning by means of a heat torch, it is possible to use a chemical treatment for the removal of this release material.

The fluent composition which is applied typically will be a thermoplastic material comprising a synthetic resin containing sand, binders and pigment. As indicated previously this material may or may not be provided with the small glass spheres as required.

The material is commercially available in several brands two of which are sold under the names Crystallex by the Prismo Company and Glossline sold by the Colas Roads Company. This material requires to be heated to render it fluent but when applied to traffic cones or road surfaces, it solidifies or dries more or less immediately i.e. in a period of the order of 5 to 10 seconds. Therefore, the material must be kept hot if it is to remain fluent and in accordance with the invention, the material is preferably poured from a hand jug on to the traffic cone base whilst the base is held at an angle to ensure that excess will run from the base, the jug being of a manually handable size so as on the one hand to enable the operator to manipulate same and on the other hand to make sure that the material does not prematurely dry or solidify in the jug.If premature drying does take place, heat may be applied, for example by a blow torch to keep the material fluent so that it flows over all of the required area of the base of the traffic cone.

Instead of using a jug, the liquid material may be applied by machinery, and the process can be automated as required.

Fluent material can be applied to both sides of the base so that there is a white strip portion at each side of the base and which can be used in the generation of the simulated white line when the traffic cones are positioned on a road surface. This ensures that the person positioning the cones can position same in either of two positions which simplifies the positioning of same.

In an alternative method, a road marking paint of a proprietary type may be applied by brush or by spraying. Again such road marking paint may or may not include the reflective spheres, but in any embodiment of the invention it is preferred that a layer of beads be placed on top of the fluent material after it has been applied to the cone base.

Steps should be taken to ensure that no fluent material exists on the underside of the cone base and the underside should therefore be wiped or otherwise cleaned before the fluent material dries.

Although the bases of the traffic cones usually are of square configuration, this is not always the case, as they may be hexagonal or of other configuration, but the invention can be applied regardless of the shape of the base. Also, the bases may be of different depth.

There are shallow base traffic cones and deep base traffic cones, and again the invention can be used with either type.

Another advantage of having the road marking line on the cone bases is that the line created by the traffic cones is less likely to become covered and obscured with traffic dirt and furthermore as the line portions remain with the cones, then there is no requirement to create a new line every time the cones are used as is the case when the direction lines are placed on the road surface because such lines are destroyed when they are subsequently removed.

In yet another possibility for creating traffic cones with line portions, the line portions could be applied or created during the step of moulding traffic cones when the cones are of moulded construction. A strip of material to create the traffic line portion on the cone could be pre-positioned in the mould prior to the moulding of the cone, and such strip would become fused to the cone and become a part of same.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a traffic cone according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the traffic cone of Fig. 1 in the position in which it is held as the fluent material is being applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, a traffic cone 10 comprises a one-piece plastics material moulding having an upstanding conical portion 12 and a square base 14.

The conical portion 12 is highly reflective, and may be provided with regions 16, 18 and 20 of different colour but each being highly reflective or highly visible sp that the conical portion can be seen easily by motorists.

The base 14 in accordance with the invention is provided in edge regions 22 and 24 with white fluent material in order to form a portion of a road marking line which is defined when the cones are positioned edge to edge as indicated by references 26, 28 and 30 as shown in Fig. 1. Each portion 22 and 24 is marked preferably in accordance with the method shown in Fig.

2 in which an operator by one hand 32 tips the conical portion 12 so that the base 14 lies at an angle as shown and then with his other hand 34 the operator pours from a pouring can or jug 36 the fluent material which is in hot condition on to the edge region 22 or 24 as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The excess material when sufficiently fluent is allowed to drip or flow into a return channel 38 from which it is collected and re-cycled. If the material is a thermo-plastic material as described herein, it is necessary that it be hot when poured on to the cone base when shown in Fig. 2, but in an alternative arrangement road marking paint may be used and this may be applied by brush or by spray. When one edge region 24 has been so marked, the cone is turned through 1800, and then the material is applied to the edge region 22 to complete the marking.The material, when heated thermoplastic material as described herein, dries almost instantaneously. By positioning the traffic cones side by side as shown in Fig. 1, the treated edges 22 and/or 24 will form a line 40 simulating a white road marking line as is required when cones are utilised for causing traffic to change lanes in motorway applications.

Should it be that the fluent material dries too quickly, which can happen, to such an extent that it does not flow over the whole area to be covered, it may be necessary or desireable to keep the material hot and fluent by applying heat for example by means of a blow torch, after the material has been poured onto the cone base. Should the need arise, the cone may be held tilted by means of a suitable jug. This may be needed if the operator needs to use both hands respectively to pour the material and manipulate the blow torch. By this means, the material can be caused to flow over the base edge or upstand 14A.

The advantage of having the line portion on the cone 10 is that as the cone can be re-used, so the line is automatically re-created, and workmen are saved the additional task of marking the road with a ine on the one hand, and subsequently removing that line on the other hand.

Instead of applying the line markins on the cones as described herein, in the alternative, these markings may be applied by mechanical devices or other equipment, and may be applied on an automatic basis.

Claims (14)

1 . A method of marking a traffic cone, wherein the base portion of the traffic cone is provided with marking in the form of at least one strip on the upper surface thereof by the application of a liquid medium which binds to the cone upper portion surface, so that when a plurality of cones are arranged side by side to form a line, the respective strip portions can be arranged to form a line which can substitute for the marking line on the road surface.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material which is used for the marking comprises a synthetic resin which is pigmented with colouring such as titanium dioxide to give the strip marking a bright white colour.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the liquid material contains retro-reflective glass spheres of the type conventionally used in creating retro-reflective surfaces.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein there is a layer of glass spheres applied to the top surface of the strip marking immediately after its application thereto i.e. whilst it is still in liquid or fluent form so that the said layer of glass spheres will adhere to such surface and provide such surface with a highly reflective characteristic.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the traffic cone is moulded in plastics and in one piece.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the surface to which the material is to be applied is heat treated in order to burn off the release composition, then the surface is roughened for example by being brushed with a wire brush in order to render it suitable for receiving the fluent material.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluent material is heated to keep it fluent.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the liquid material is applied to the cone base by being poured from a container.

9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the liquid material is applied by appllcation machinery by poring, spraying, brushing or the like.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the liquid material has heat applied thereto after being applied to the traffic cone base.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the heat is applied to the liquid material after its application to the base by means of a blow torch.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said strips are applied to two opposite sides of the traffic cone base.

13. A method of marking a traffic cone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A traffic cone marked in accordance with the method of any one of the preceding claims.