US1747667A - Traffic marker - Google Patents

Description

R- FOSTER '.TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Jan. 12', 192s @J mm y Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT FOSTER, QDRK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO METAL TRAFFIC MARKER GOR- POBATION, A. CORPORATION F NEW YORK TRAFFIC MARKER Application med January 12, 1928. Serial N0. 246,151.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in traffic markers and the like, that is, improvements in means attachable to a street, pavement, or other surface, to guide or impart instructions to traffic, to define area limits, and for such other uses as the devices are adapted.

Heretofore, a marker has been developed which comprises a head portion, either made of or covered with a sheathing of material which possesses a permanently relatively bright, or light-reflecting surface, in combination with means carried integrally by said head and operative when driven into a given surface to secure the device to such surface.

However, since the attaching means generally has heretofore been integral with the head portion, the device was not adaptable to the same degree of eliiciency for application to pavements constructed with varying thicknesses of asphalt or other material upon a stone; concrete, or similar relatively solid unyielding base.

Therefore, another object has been to pro-l vide a device of this character in which the attaching means is detachable from the head portion of the device, and is interchangeable with other attaching means of different lengths, for the penetration of corresponding different thicknesses of asphalt and the like, and for resting directly upon the stone, concrete, or similar foundation which is substantially unaected by temperature changes.

As a result of the foregoing facts, and having in mind that the attaching means of the present device is designed to extend through and thus secure the head portion to a given surface, the exposed surface of the attaching means aswell as that of the head portion has been covered with a material possessing a relatively high light-reliecting characteristic, in the'event that the attaching means itself is not formed entirely of such material.

And a still further Objectis to provide in a device of this character the combination of a head portion having an aperture, with an attaching member comprising a head of larger dimension than that of said aperture.1 and having a substantially oblong bifurcated shank characterized by the fact that it is particularly well adapted for use upon and bef of construction and operationwhich are fully i brought out in the following description, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical diametrical section through one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar sec tlon through a modification thereof; Fig. 3 1s a horlzontal section on the line 8--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the attaching means shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a modified form of attaching means; Fig. 6 1s an elevational view of the attaching means shown in Fig. 2 Fig. 7 is a modification of the same; Fig. 8 is a vertical diametrical section through the device illustrated in Fig. 1 as applied to a given surface such as an asphalt pavement resting upon a concrete foundation; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8,

ybut showing the use of various lengths of attaching means designed to encounter and rest directly upon the concrete foundation after having pierced the asphalt or similar type of relatively yielding surface layer.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the present invention is shown as comprising a marker which consists of a circular head 10, of any suitable material such as wrought or annealed cast iron, having a preferably convex upper surface 10 and through which extends an axially positioned aperture 11, upwardly opening into a radially enlarged groove 12. As this type of marker is adapted to be affixed to road surfaces and the'like which comprise surface layers of asphalt or different material of varying thicknesses, when an order is laced with the manufacturer for a marker aving an attaching means with a particular length of depending shank portion, an attaching mem er of the proper length is inserted, so that its body portion 13 extends through the aperture 11, its radially enlarged head 14 rests within the groove 12, and its steel and the like, so-that the upper or exposed surface of the marker when applied to the particular 4surface maintains a relative- 1y high light-reiiecting characteristic. In

`this instance, a single plate 16 of -metal sheathing is employed to cover both the marker proper and the head of said attaching means, the marginal portion 17 of said sheathing being turned radially inwardly or reversely under the corresponding marginal Y edge portion of the head 10.

With this'construction, while the device can be driven directly into the surface material of a street, pavement, or the like, it has been found particularly advantageous to first drill in such surface material 18 a hole 19 sufficiently large to accommodate the body or shank portion 13 of the attaching member. This hole or bore may extend any desired depth, but in Fig. 8 is shown'as extending iust to the upper surface of the concrete or similar foundation 20. The hole being completed, a block of wood or other relatively semi-yielding material 21 is inserted into the bottom of said hole 19 and the marker of Fig. 1 placed over the hole so that the bifurcated rtion 15 extends thereinto and rests upon the block or plug21. Then upon striking the upper portion of the device as a unit and preferably in direct alignment with the axis of said attaching means, the latter is forced downwardly, the head 10 approaches the asphalt surface and the prongs 15 comprising the lower bifurcated end portion of the attaching means are deflected laterally outwardly by said block and are thus caused to penetrate the surface material 18 in such manner as to firmly anchor the device thereto, and with the under side of the head 10 in intimate contact therewith.

In Fig. 4, there is shown an attaching member comprising the circular head 14 above described, but the shank 22 of which as it progresses downwardly becomes polygonal in cross section until it terminates in a plurality of tapered prongs 23 combining to form a downwardly extending bifurcated end portion.

In Fig..5 is shown another form of attaching means in which the head 14 is rectangular and of similar shape and correspondingly proportioned to the depending shank 22 and depending prongs 23.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a head 24 through which extends a centrally positioned bore 25, merging upwardly into a radially enlarged groove 26, while through said bore extends a shank portion 27 of another form of attaching means, which comprises a radially enlarged head 28, normally positioned within the groove 26, and having a downwardly extending radially expansible pair of tapered prongs comprising a bifurcated end portion 29, the outer surfaces of said prongs comprising suitably shaped corrugations 30, as shown in Fig. 6.

As in the case of the marker hereinbefore described, it is also preferable in this instance to cover the exposed convex surface 24 of the head 24 and the head 28 of the attaching member 27 with relatively highly light-reflective material. In this instance, a plate of such material 31 is formed upon and in uniform intimate contact with the surface 24 and radially outer edge portion 32 reversely folded about the corresponding marginal edge portion of the head 24, while the central portion of said plate is provided with an aperture 33 in alignment with the aperture 25 in the head and that portion of said plate adjacent to its said aperture being pressed downwardly into the groove 26. Also a plate 34 of similar light reflective material is placed upon the head 28 of the attaching means and its marginal portion 35 folded about the corresponding portion of said lastnamed head.

With this construction it will be noted that the head is independent of the attaching means and may be made up in quantities, so that upon receiving an order, the factory can supply the required number of marker heads with any specified length or lengths of attaching means separate therefrom. Incidentally, this unassembled marker lends itself to shipment in large quantities, and makes it possible to manufacture its two principal pieces from drop forgings. To assemble the parts at the point 0f attachment to the given road surface or the like, the attaching means is inserted through the aperture 25 in the head as shown in Fig. 2, and when driven either directly into said surface or into a previously prepared hole, such as before described, the corrugated surfaces of the prongs 30 will serve to prevent the accidental loosening or removal of the marker from said surface, and the upper .exposed surface of the plate 34 will comprise a substantially unbroken continuation of the surrounding surface of the plate 31;

Whilethe attaching means shown in Fig. 6, and hereinbefore described, has been found highly satisfactory under certain conditions, a modified form such as shown in Fig. 7 may be employed and this consists primarily in a circular shank 36 terminating upwardly in an enlarged head 37 and downwardly in a tapering surface provided with threads 38 of unusually high pitch such as are par" ticularly adapted for use for drill screws. In this case, there is no bifurcation and consequently no prongs or deflection of any portion of theattachin means, but the latter de ends upon its spiral threads to prevent it iiom permitting the head 24 of the marker from becoming accidentally loosened or separated from the road or other surface.

Also, it is to be understood that the attaching means shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be employed with the plate 10 and covered by the same late of light reflective material 16 as that w ich covers said plate, andv likewise the head 24 shown in Fig. 2 and provided with a covering plate 31 can be associated with attaching means of the type shown in Figs. 4 and 5, either with or without the covering plate 34.

Referring to Fig.- 9, there is shown the method of a plying any of the markervstructures herein efore described to the asphalt or similar surface 18 resting upon lthe concrete or similar foundation 20. The bore 19 preferably previously prepared may, but need not, contain a delecting or spreader plug 21. Instead, the hole 19 may be drilled only to the depth indicated at 39 and the material beneath said hole comprising the means or obstruction whereby the prongs 15 are flexed laterally outwardly. However,

Fig 9 further illustrates the highly desirable condition in which the attaching means supplied with the marker is of a definite predetermined length such as most efficiently corresponds with the local condition relating to the thickness of surface material 1,8, so that when driven its full length into said surface, the lower ends of the prongs 15 rest directly upon the foundation material 20. With this condition obtaining, and the same plate of sheathing material 16 extending over both the plate 10 and the head 14 of the attaching means, the latter serves to support the head in such manner as -to prevent the constant passage of tratlic thereover, forcing the head downwardly into, and eventually covering the same by, the material of the surface 18.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A marker, comprising a head having an aperture, a bifurcated member insertable through said aperture and its bifurcated portion being adapted to spread in cooperation with the material of a given surface to secure said head thereto, and sheathing characterized by a permanent relatively high degree of light reflectivity covering said head and the otherwise exposed portion of said attaching means, the marginal portion of said sheathing being turned reversely beneath the edge portion of said head to secure said sheathing thereto.

2. A marker, comprising a head having an aperture, a bifurcated member insertable through said aperture and its bifurcated portion being adapted to spread in cooperation lar groove, a bifurcated attaching member insertable through said aperture and having a radially larger head normally positioned in said groove and substantially lush'with the exposed surface of said head element, and sheathing characterized by a permanent relatively high degree of light reflectivity covering said head element and the otherwise exposed portion of said attaching means said sheathlng being secured to said head by being reversely turned atits periphery beneath the marginal portion of'sald head.

4, A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surrounded by an annular groove, a bifu rcated attaching member insertable through said aperture and having a radially larger head normally positioned in said groove and substantially flush with the exposed surface of said head element, and

lates having a permanent relatively high egree of light reflectivity sheathing said h ead element and the otherwise exposed por tion of the head of said attaching member. k 5. A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surrounded by an annular groove, a bifurcated attaching member insertable through4 said aperture and having a radially larger head normally positioned in said groove and substantially flush with the exposed surface of said head element, and plates having a permanent relatively high degree of light reflectivity sheathing said head element and the otherwise exposed portion of the head of said attaching member, the margin of the plate covering said attaching memlloer being turned reversely under the periphery of its head, and the plate covering said head element having an aperture, the edge portion surrounding which lies in said groove and is secured in place by said attaching member.

- 6. A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surrounded by an annular groove, a bifurcated attaching member insertable through said aperture and having a radially larger head normally positioned in said groove and substantially flush with the exposed surface of said head element, and plates having a permanent relatively high degree of light reectivity sheathing said head element and the otherwise exposed orino' member, the upper exposed surfaces of said head element and attaching member being flush and comprising substantial continuations of each other. V

7. A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surrounded by an annular groove, with attachin means extending through said aperture and aving a head normally positioned in said groove, and having a rectangular bifurcated free end portion, the opposite portions of which are adapted to spread apart upon entering a given surface, and a sheathing plate of a permanent relatively high degree of light reflectivity covering said head and secured thereto by having its marginal portion reversely turned beneath the adjacent portion of said head.

8. In combination With a relatively solid foundation and a superimposed relatively penetrable layer thereupon, a marker, coinprising a head element adapted to rest upon said layer and having an aperture, an attaching means normal-ly extending through said aperture and of the proper length when forced through said layer to rest upon said foundation, said element and said attaching means being covered With separate plates of relatively high reflectivity covering their exposed surfaces.

9. In combination with a relatively solid foundation and a superimposed relatively penetrable layer thereupon, a marker, comprising a head element adapted to rest upon said layer and having an aperture, an attaching means normally extending through said aperture and of the proper length when forced through said layer to rest upon said foundation, said element and said attaching means being covered with separate plates of relatively high reflectivity covering their exposed surfaces, the outer periphery of the plate on said head element being inturned about the edge portion of said element, and the edge'portion of said element plate adjacent to said aperture being normally secured beneath the upper portion of said means, and the plate upon said means being inturned about its upper portion.

In testimony whereof I have alixed my signature.

ROBERT FOSTER.

Images