GB2529024A

GB2529024A - Road stud

Info

Publication number: GB2529024A
Application number: GB1509565.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wayne Douglas Johnston
Original assignee: W J NORTH Ltd
Current assignee: W J NORTH Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-17
Filing date: 2015-06-02
Publication date: 2016-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-02
Also published as: GB201509565D0; GB201410791D0; GB2529024B

Abstract

A road stud 10 comprises a body 12 and an anchor portion (14) for anchoring the body to the ground. The body and the anchor portion define a plurality of adhesive receiving formations 20, 27, 30, 34 to allow adhesive to flow around the body and the anchor, thereby securing the road stud to the ground. The road stud may include a reflective member. The formations may include flow recesses into which adhesive can flow and holding recesses. The anchor portion may be an elongate member having a longitudinal axis which extends downwardly, in use, from the body. The anchor may include a number of grooves. Also claimed is a method of inserting the stud into the ground by forming a hole in the ground, arranging adhesive in the hole then disposing the stud in the hole

Description

Road Stud This invention relates to road studs.

Road studs are mounted along the centre of a road and edge of a carriageway to reflect the light from the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Drivers are thereby easily able to locate the middle, offside and nearside of the road, which is a major factor in increasing road safety. Generally, known road studs comprise a body which is secured in the road by means of adhesive, such as bitumen or other suitable substance, and reflective members of mandatory road position colour mounted in the body to reflect light from the headlights back to the driver.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a road stud comprising a body and an anchor portion for anchoring the body to the ground, wherein at least one of the body and the anchor portion define an adhesive receiving formation to allow adhesive to flow around the body and the anchor, thereby securing the road stud to the ground.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of installing a road stud comprising providing a road stud as described in the preceding paragraph, forming a hole in the ground, arranging an adhesive in the hole to form a base bed of the adhesive, and thereafter disposing the road stud in the adhesive in the hole, whereby the adhesive can be received in the adhesive receiving formation and can flow around the body and the anchor, thereby securing the road stud to the ground.

The ground may be a road. The method may comprise disposing the road stud firmly in the bed of adhesive so that the adhesive flows into the adhesive receiving formation. In the embodiment described herein, the flow of adhesive into the adhesive receiving formation has the advantage that it helps prevent the road stud twisting as vehicles drive over it.

The embodiment described herein has the advantage that it provides stability in situ preventing horizontal twisting or vertical dislodging of the body.

I

The road stud may include an indicator arrangement on the body, the indicator arrangement being configured to indicate the position of the road stud. The body may define at least one cavity for accommodating the indicator arrangement.

In one embodiment, the body may define a plurality of the cavities. The indicator arrangement may comprise a plurality of indicator members. Each cavity may be arranged to accommodate a respective indicator member.

Each of the body and the anchor portion may define a respective adhesive receiving formation. The body may define a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations.

The anchor portion may define a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations.

The body may have a lower surface defining a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations. The lower surface may be substantially square.

The adhesive receiving formations defined by the lower surface of the body may be spaced from each other around the anchor portion. The adhesive receiving formations may be defined in the lower surface opposite each other.

The adhesive receiving formations defined by the lower surface of the body may comprise adhesive flow recesses into which the adhesive can flow when the road stud is being arranged in situ. The lower surface of the body may define two of the adhesive flow recesses, which may be arranged opposite each other around the anchor portion. The step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive may comprise causing the adhesive to flow into the adhesive flow recesses.

Each of the adhesive flow recesses may have a first recess region extending partially around the anchor portion and a second recess region extending across the first recess region. A linking recess region may extend between the first and second recess regions.

The first recess region may curve around the anchor portion. The second recess region may be substantially straight.

In the embodiment described herein, the adhesive flow recesses may provide the advantage that they facilitate the flow of adhesive around the anchor and thereby help prevent twisting of the road stud in situ.

The lower surface of the body may define a plurality of adhesive holding recesses in which adhesive can be held. The step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive may comprise causing the adhesive to flow into the adhesive holding recesses.

The adhesive holding recesses may be elongate and may be provided adjacent the edge of the lower surface. The adhesive holding recesses may be closer to the edge than the adhesive flow recesses. The lower surface of the body may define four of the aforesaid adhesive holding recesses. Each of the four adhesive holding recesses may be provided adjacent a respective edge of the lower surface of the body.

The lower surface of the body may define four of the adhesive holding recesses.

Each of the adhesive holding recesses may be disposed adjacent a corner of the lower surface. It is an advantage of the embodiment described herein that the adhesive held in each adhesive holding recess when the road stud is in situ helps prevent the road stud from twisting.

Each adhesive holding recess may be elongate. A first pair of the adhesive holding recesses may extend adjacent one of two opposite side edges of the body. A second pair of the adhesive holding recesses may extend adjacent the other of the two opposite side edges of the body. The adhesive holding recesses of the first pair may be aligned lengthwise with one other. The adhesive holding recesses of the second pair may be aligned lengthwise with one other. The adhesive holding recesses of the first pair may be arranged substantially parallel to the adhesive holding recesses of the second pair of adhesive holding recesses.

The body may define a plurality of side channels to allow the body to be gripped so that it can be installed in the adhesive in the hole. Each side channel may be configured to receive the fingers of an installer for manual installation or the gripping members of an installation apparatus for automatic installation.

The side channels may extend transverse to the lower surface. When the road stud is arranged in situ, the side channels may extend vertically. Each side channel may taper outwardly from the lower surface. The tapering of the side channels provides the advantage in the embodiment described herein that the gripping members of the installation apparatus can be received securely received therein and can accordingly firmly grip the body In one embodiment, the body may define two of the side channels. Each side channel may be defined on a respective opposite side of the body. The step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive may comprise causing the adhesive to flow into the side channels.

A respective one of the side channels may be defined between the two elongate adhesive holding recesses defined adjacent each of the aforesaid opposite side edges of the body.

In the embodiment described herein, the side channels may constitute an adhesive receiving formation, in that the side channels provide the additional advantage that, when the road stud has been disposed in the hole, the adhesive can be received in the side channels. Thus, in the embodiment described herein, the side channels prevent the road stud from twisting when it is arranged in situ.

The anchor portion may extend downwardly from the body. The anchor portion may extend downwardly from the lower surface of the body. The anchor portion may comprise an elongate member and may have a longitudinal axis.

The anchor portion may define an adhesive receiving groove, which may extend transverse to the longitudinal axis. The groove may extend around the anchor portion. The step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive may comprise causing the adhesive to flow into the adhesive receiving groove.

The groove may extend substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis. The groove may extend substantially wholly around the anchor portion.

The anchor portion may define two of the aforesaid adhesive receiving grooves, which may be axially spaced from each other along the anchor portion. The step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive may comprise causing the adhesive to flow into the, or each, adhesive receiving groove.

In the embodiment described herein, the, or each, groove helps prevent vertical movement of the road stud when it is arranged in situ.

The adhesive may comprise a bituminous substance, such as bitumen, or another suitable substance used to form the road.

The road stud may include stabilising formations on the body. Each stabilising formation may comprise a projection on the lower surface. Each stabilising projection may be provided at a respective corner of the lower surface.

The indicator arrangement may comprise a reflective arrangement on the body. The reflective arrangement may comprise a plurality of reflective members. Each reflective member may be held in a respective holding formation.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a road stud; Figure 2 is a front view of the road stud with the indicator arrangement omitted; Figure 3 is a view along the lines Ill -Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the road stud; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the road stud; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the road stud.

The drawings show a road stud 10 comprising a body 12 having a substantially square configuration, and an anchor portion 14 extending downwardly from the body 12. The body has a substantially square lower surface 12A (see Figure 5) from which the anchor portion 14 extends. The body 12 also has a pair of opposite front edges 1 2B, and a pair of opposite side edges 12G.

The anchor portion 14 comprises an elongate member 16 defining an elongate chamber 16A for minimising weight, the chamber 16A extending lengthwise of the elongate member 16. The chamber 16A can receive adhesive for securing the road stud in the ground. This is explained in more detail below.

The elongate member 16 has a plurality of elongate faces 18A, 18B extending lengthwise of the elongate member 16, the faces iSA being flat and the faces 18B being concave. The flat faces 18A alternate with the concave faces 1SB. The anchor portion 14 extends from the lower surface 12A of the body 12.

Referring to Figure 4, the lower surface 12A of the body 12 defines adhesive receiving formations comprising a pair of adhesive flow recesses 20 extending from the anchor portion 14.

The adhesive flow recesses 20 are arranged opposite each other around the anchor portion 14. Each adhesive flow recess 20 has a curved first recess region 22 extending partially around the anchor portion 18. Each adhesive flow recess 20 also has a straight second recess region 24 extending across the first recess region 22.

A linking recess region 26 extends between the first and second recess regions 22, 24.

A molten adhesive, for example bitumen, or other suitable adhesive, flows throughout both of the adhesive flow regions 20 when the road stud 10 is being arranged in situ. The linking recess region 26 ensures that the adhesive flows fully into the first and second recess regions 22, 24. C)

The step of securing the road stud 10 in situ on the road, comprises forming a hole in the road, pouring excess molten adhesive into the hole, thereby forming a base bed of the adhesive, and thereafter disposing the road stud 10 in the hole, so that the road stud 10 is disposed firmly in the bed of the adhesive. The molten adhesive flows into the adhesive flow recesses 20 on installation, and thereby help prevent the road stud 10 twisting as vehicles drive over it.

The lower surface 12A of the body 12 defines further adhesive receiving formations in the form of four adhesive holding recesses 27. The adhesive holding recesses 27 are of an elongate oval shape. Each of the adhesive holding recesses 27 is disposed adjacent a respective corner of the lower surface 1 2A of the body 12.

The elongate adhesive holding recesses 27 are arranged as first and second pairs 28A, 28B. The adhesive holding recesses 27 of the first pair 28A are aligned lengthwise with each other and extend adjacent one of the two opposite side edges 12C of the body 12.

The adhesive holding recesses 27 of the second pair 28B are also aligned lengthwise with each other, and each of the adhesive holding recesses 27 of the second pair 28B extend adjacent the other of the two opposite side edges 1 2C of the body 12. As shown in the drawings, the adhesive holding recesses 27 of the first pair 28A are arranged substantially parallel to the adhesive holding recesses 27 of the second pair 28B During installation of the road stud 10, adhesive is received in the adhesive holding recesses 27. In the embodiment described herein, the adhesive holding recesses 27 provide the advantage that they also help prevent twisting of the road stud 10.

The body 12 further defines a pair of side channels 30 extending transverse to the lower surface 12A. When the road stud 10 is arranged in situ, the side channels 30 are upright and desirably extended substantially vertically. The side channels 30 extend the height of the body 12.

The side channels 30 provide the advantage in the embodiment described herein that they provide a recess by means of which the road stud 10 can be gripped by the fingers of an installer during manual installation of the road stud 10. In addition, the side channels 30 of the embodiment described herein provide the additional advantage that they are configured to receive gripping members of an automatic installation apparatus.

The side channels 30 thereby allow firm gripping of the road stud 10 by the aforesaid gripping members. The installation apparatus can therefore securely install the road stud into a preformed hole and the bed of the adhesive in the road. The side channels 30 provide the additional advantage in the road stud 10 that the adhesive flows into the side channels 30, thereby securing the road stud 10 in place and helping to prevent twisting of the road stud 10 when vehicles drive over it.

A respective stabilising member 32 is provided at each corner of the lower surface 12A of the body 12. The stabilising members 32 extend downwardly from the lower surface 12A.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the anchor portion 14 defines a pair of grooves 34 which extend around the anchor portion 14 transverse to the longitudinal axis. The grooves 34 are spaced axially from each other along the anchor portion 14.

The grooves 34 receive adhesive therein when the road stud 10 is installed in situ.

The holding of the adhesive in the grooves 34 thereby helps prevent vertical movement of the road stud 10.

The body 12 has an upper surface 12D having a substantially flat centre region 36 and a pair of slanting regions 38 opposite each other across the centre region 36.

The body 12 defines two cavities 40 on respective opposite sides of the centre region 36. Each of the slanting regions 38 defines a respective upper opening 42 for the cavities 40, and the lower surface 1 2A of the body 12 defines two lower openings 44 for the cavities 40. The lower openings 44 are defined in the lower surface 12A on opposite sides of the anchor portion 14.

The road stud 10 includes an indicator arrangement on the body 12. The indicator arrangement comprises two reflective members 46 (shown in broken lines in Figure 5, but shown in Figure 6) to reflect the light from the headlights of oncoming vehicles, thereby indicating the position of the road stud 10 to the driver of the vehicle. The reflective members are mounted in the upper openings 42 and lie flush with the respective slanting regions 38 of the upper surface 1 2D of the body 12.

The upper face flat centre region 36 defines an elongate central hexagonal formation 48 in which a logo, trade mark or other graphic matter can be provided.

The lower openings 44 provide access to the upper openings 42 via the cavities 40 so that the reflective members 46 can be attached to the body 12 or detached therefrom. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the reflective members 46 are provided with attaching means (not shown) to attach the reflective members to the body 12 within the cavities 40.

There is thus described a road stud 10 which has the advantage that the adhesive receiving formations ensure that the road stud 10 is firmly secured to the road by the adhesive and the danger of the road stud twisting or being dislodged from its location are significantly reduced compared to prior art road studs.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A road stud comprising a body and an anchor portion for anchoring the body to the ground, wherein the body and the anchor portion define a plurality of adhesive receiving formations to allow adhesive to flow around the body and the anchor, thereby securing the road stud to the ground.
2. A road stud according to claim 1, including an indicator arrangement on the body, the indicator arrangement being configured to indicate the position of the road stud, the body defining at least one cavity for accommodating the indicator arrangement.
3. A road stud according to claim 2, wherein the body defines a plurality of the cavities, and the indicator arrangement further comprising a plurality of indicator members, each cavity being arranged to accommodate a respective indicator member.
4. A road stud according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the indicator arrangement comprises a reflective arrangement on the body.
5. A road stud according to claim 4, wherein the reflective arrangement comprises a plurality of reflective members, each reflective member being held in a respective holding formation.
6. A road stud according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the body and the anchor portion defines a respective adhesive receiving formation.
7. A road stud according to claim 6, wherein the body defines a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations, and the anchor portion defines a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations.
8. A road stud according to any preceding claim, wherein the body has a lower surface defining a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations.
9. A road stud according to claim 8, wherein the lower surface is substantially square.
10. A road stud according to claim 8 or 9, including stabilising formations on the body, wherein each stabilising formation comprises a projection on the lower surface.
11. A road stud according to claim 10 when dependent upon claim 9, wherein each stabilising projection is provided at a respective corner of the lower surface.
12. A road stud according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the adhesive receiving formations defined by the lower surface of the body are spaced from each other around the anchor portion.
13. A road stud according to claim 12, wherein said adhesive receiving formations are defined in the lower surface opposite each other.
14. A road stud according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive receiving formations defined by the lower surface of the body comprise adhesive flow recesses into which the adhesive can flow when the road stud is being arranged in situ.
15. A road stud according to claim 14, wherein the lower surface of the body defines two of the adhesive flow recesses, which are arranged opposite each other around the anchor portion.
16. A road stud according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each of the adhesive flow recesses has a first recess region extending partially around the anchor portion and a second recess region extending across the first recess region.
17. A road stud according to claim 16, wherein a linking recess region extends between the first and second recess regions.
18. A road stud according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the first recess region curves around the anchor portion, and the second recess region is substantially straight.
19. A road stud according to any of claims 8 to 18, wherein the adhesive receiving formations defined in the lower surface of the body comprise a plurality of adhesive holding recesses in which adhesive can be held, the adhesive holding recesses being elongate and being provided adjacent the edge of the lower surface.
20. A road stud according to claim 19 when dependent upon any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the adhesive holding recesses are closer to the edge than the adhesive flow recesses.
21. A road stud according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the lower surface of the body defines four of the aforesaid adhesive holding recesses.
22. A road stud according to claim 21, wherein each of the adhesive holding recesses is disposed adjacent a corner of the lower surface.
23. A road stud according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein each adhesive holding recess is elongate, a first pair of the adhesive holding recesses extending adjacent one of two opposite side edges of the body, and a second pair of the adhesive holding recesses extending adjacent the other of the two opposite side edges of the body.
24. A road stud according to claim 23, wherein the adhesive holding recesses of the first pair are aligned lengthwise with one other, and the adhesive holding recesses of the second pair are aligned lengthwise with one other.
25. A road stud according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the adhesive holding recesses of the first pair are arranged substantially parallel to the adhesive holding recesses of the second pair of adhesive holding recesses.
26. A road stud according to claims 8 to 25, wherein the body defines a plurality of side channels configured to allow the body to be gripped by the fingers of an installer, or by a pair of gripping members of an installation apparatus.
27. A road stud according to claim 26, wherein the side channels constitute adhesive receiving formations in which adhesive can be received.
28. A road stud according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the body defines two of the side channels, each side channel being defined on a respective opposite side of the body.
29. A road stud according to claim 26, 27 or 28, wherein the side channels extend transverse to the lower surface, whereby when the road stud is arranged in situ, the side channels extend vertically.
30. A road stud according to any of claims 26 to 29 when dependent upon claim 19, wherein a respective one of the side channels is defined between the two elongate adhesive holding recesses defined adjacent each of the aforesaid opposite side edges of the body.
31. A road stud according to any preceding claim, wherein the anchor portion comprises an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, the anchor portion extending downwardly from the body.
32. A road stud according to claim 31, wherein the anchor portion defines an adhesive receiving groove extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.
33. A road stud according to claim 32, wherein the groove extends around the anchor portion.
34. A road stud according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the groove extends substantially wholly around the anchor portion substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis.
35. A road stud according to claim 32, 33 or 34, wherein the anchor portion defines two of the aforesaid adhesive receiving grooves, which are axially spaced from each other along the anchor portion.
36. A method of installing a road stud, wherein the method comprises providing a road stud comprising a body and an anchor portion for anchoring the body to the ground, wherein the body and the anchor portion define a plurality of adhesive receiving formations to allow adhesive to flow around the body and the anchor, thereby securing the road stud to the ground, wherein the method comprises forming a hole in the ground, arranging an adhesive in the hole to form a base bed of the adhesive, and thereafter disposing the road stud in the adhesive in the hole, whereby the adhesive can be received in the adhesive receiving formations and can flow around the body and the anchor portion, thereby securing the road stud to the ground.
37. A method according to claim 36, comprising disposing the road stud firmly in the bed of adhesive so that the adhesive flows into the adhesive receiving formation.
38. A method according to claim 36 or 37, wherein each of the body and the anchor portion define a respective adhesive receiving formation.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the body defines a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations, and the anchor portion defines a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations.
40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the body has a lower surface defining a plurality of the adhesive receiving formations.
41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the lower surface is substantially square.
42. A method according to claim 39 or 40, wherein the road stud include stabilising formations on the body, wherein each stabilising formation comprise a projection on the lower surface.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein each stabilising projection is provided at a respective corner of the lower surface.
44. A method according to any of claims 40 to 43, wherein the adhesive receiving formations defined by the lower surface of the body are spaced from each other around the anchor portion.
45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the adhesive receiving formations are defined in the lower surface opposite each other.
46. A method according to any of claims 40 to 45, wherein the adhesive receiving formations defined by the lower surface of the body comprise adhesive flow recesses into which the adhesive can flow when the road stud is being arranged in situ.
47. A method according to claim 46, wherein the lower surface of the body defines two of the adhesive flow recesses, which are arranged opposite each other around the anchor portion.
48. A method according to claim 46 or 47, wherein each of the adhesive flow recesses has a first recess region extending partially around the anchor portion and a second recess region extending across the first recess region.
49. A method according to claim 48, wherein a linking recess region extends between the first and second recess regions.
50. A method according to claim 48 or 49, wherein the first recess region curves around the anchor portion, and the second recess region is substantially straight.
51. A method according to any of claims 39 to 50, wherein the step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive causes the adhesive to flow into the adhesive flow recesses.
52. A method according to any of claims 40 to 51, wherein the adhesive receiving formations defined in the lower surface of the body comprise a plurality of adhesive holding recesses in which adhesive can be held, the adhesive holding recesses being elongate and being provided adjacent the edge of the lower surface.
53. A method according to claim 52, when dependent upon any of claims 45 to 49, wherein the adhesive holding recesses are closer to the edge than the adhesive flow recesses.
54. A method according to claim 52 or 53, wherein the lower surface of the body defines four of the aforesaid adhesive holding recesses.
55. A method according to any of claims 52 to 54, wherein each of the adhesive holding recesses is disposed adjacent a corner of the lower surface.
56. A method according to claim 52 to 55, wherein each adhesive holding recess is elongate, a first pair of the adhesive holding recesses extending adjacent one of two opposite side edges of the body, and a second pair of the adhesive holding recesses extending adjacent the other of the two opposite side edges of the body.
57. A method according to claim 56, wherein the adhesive holding recesses of the first pair are aligned lengthwise with one other, and the adhesive holding recesses of the second pair are aligned lengthwise with one other.
58. A method according to claim 57, wherein the adhesive holding recesses of the first pair are arranged substantially parallel to the adhesive holding recesses of the second pair.
59. A method according to any of claims 52 to 58, wherein the step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive causes the adhesive to flow into the adhesive holding recesses.
60. A method according to any of claims 40 to 59, wherein the body defines a plurality of side channels configured to allow the body to be gripped by the fingers of an installer, or by a pair of gripping members of an installation apparatus.
61. A road stud according to claim 60, wherein the side channels constitute adhesive receiving formations in which adhesive can be received.
62. A method according to claim 60 or 61, wherein the body defines two of the side channels, each side channel being defined on a respective opposite side of the body.
63. A method according to claim 60, 61 or 62, wherein the side channels extend transverse to the lower surface, and the step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive comprises arranging the body so that the side channels extend vertically.
64. A method according to any of claims 60 to 63 when dependent upon claim 52, wherein a respective one of the side channels is defined between the two elongate adhesive holding recesses defined adjacent each of the aforesaid opposite side edges of the body.
65. A method according to any of claims 60 to 64, wherein the step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive causes the adhesive to flow into the side channels.
66. A method according to any of claims 36 to 65, wherein the anchor portion comprises an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, the anchor portion extending downwardly from the body.
67. A method according to claim 66, wherein the anchor portion defines an adhesive receiving groove extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.
68. A method according to claim 67, wherein the groove extends around the anchor portion.
69. A method according to claim 67 or 68, wherein the groove extends substantially wholly around the anchor portion substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis.
70. A method according to claim 67, 68 or 69, wherein the anchor portion defines two of the aforesaid adhesive receiving grooves, which are axially spaced from each other along the anchor portion.
71. A method according to any of claims 67 to 70, wherein the step of disposing the road stud in the bed of adhesive causes the adhesive to flow into the, or each, adhesive receiving groove.
72. A road stud substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
73. A method of installing a road stud substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings