US1910247A - Highway marker - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANCIS 0.HELTZEL, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OI-IIO HIGHWAY MARKER Application filed September 13, 1932. Serial No. 632,888.

The invention relates to highway or traffic markers for use on pavements of roads, streets and the like where it is intended to mark for zoning purposes such as street crossings, safety zones or traiiic lanes and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a marker having a slightly convex surface provided with a plurality of grooves to prevent the skidding of automobiles which may pass over the same; the grooves all entending from the central or higher .portion of the marker to the peripheral or lower portion thereof so as to drain all moisture from the surface of the marker.

Another object is to provide a substantial bearing surface, both at the central portion and peripheral portion of the marker, upon the pavement to which it is applied so as to prevent distortion or flattening of the mark- "er under the weight of heavy trucks, busses or other vehicles.

A still further object of the improvement is to provide a novel spike or pin for fastening the improved marker to the pavement.

The above together with other objects may be attained by constructing the improved marker in the manner described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved marker showing the grooves thereon in the form of a tive pointed star;

Fig. 2, a similar view showing the grooves forming a four pointed star;

Fig. 3, a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the configuration of an eight pointed star;

Fig. 4, a vertical section through one of '40 the improved markers showing the same spiked in position on a pavement;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view as on the line 5-5 of Figs. 1, 2 or 3;

Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view of the lower portion of the spike taken as on the line 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7, a side elevation of a inodied form of spike or pin; and

Fig. 8, a similar view of a further modification thereof.

Y Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The improved marker may comprise a sheet metal disk 10 which is slightly conveX as best shownin Fig. 4 and provided 55 with the central depressed portion or pocket 11 to receive the head of the spike or pin as will be later described.

The bottom wall of this pocketmay be provided with a cross-shaped opening 12to .60 receive the improved spike, forming apart of the invention, which may be of either cross shape or flat in cross section, as will be later described in detail.

. The peripheral portion of the disk ispreferably flattened outas shown at 13 in order to provide a bearing surface upon the pavement indicated at 14 in Fig. 4.

Inorder to strengthen the marker so yas to prevent distortion of the same by vehicles passing thereover, as well a's to provide a nonskid surface upon the same, and also to provide for drainage of all moisture from the central or higher portion ofthe marker tothe periphery thereof, a plurality of straight grooves 15 are formed in the upper surface of thev marker disk leading from the center higher portion ofthe disk outward and downward to the flat peripheral rim portion 13, the outer ends of said grooves being flush with said flat peripheral portion, as indicated at 16. These grooves may be formed in the marker by stamping or pressing as shown in Fig. "5, producing the reinforcing ribs 17 `upon the underside 85 'of the marker disk.

In order to provide for the drainage of all moisture outward and downward from the central higher portion of the disk, the

inner ends of adjacent grooves should communicate as indicated at 18 and the invention is preferably carried out by so arranging the grooves as to produce a star-shaped configuration which may be in the form of a five pointed star as showniin Fig. 1, a four pointedstar as shown in Fig. 2, an eight pointed star as shown in Fig. 3 or a star shape of any other varrangement .which may be desired.

In placing the marker disk uponr a pavement it will be seen, as shown in Fig. 4, that the peripheral rim portion 13 will have a bearing surface upon the pavement while the central raised portion of the disk will be spaced slightly above the pavement. In order to provide a substantial bearing surface for the central portion of ,the disk, a washer 19, as shown in Fig. 4, may `beprovided resting flat upon the pavementwa-nd forming a bearing surface oi the central Pocke POlt-OH 11 of the disk 'andalso'ioi the innel` communicating ends @fighe 1.9,@ A

forcing ribs 17, thus providing a substantial bearing surface for the greaterlfportion ofthe marker disk and preventing flattening or distortion oi' the same by weight of heavy vehicles passing thereover. t

Ihe improved spike formi-ng a part ofthe 'invention is' preferably of cross 'shape in cross section so as to' fit within the crossshaped opening 12 in the central pocket 11 of the disk and to prevent rotation of the disk. The spike is lindicated generally at '20 and the Vhead 21 thereof` maybe slightly tapered or 'flared as at 22 to snugly iit within the central depression or pocket 11 of the marker disk, the top of 'y the head being slightly convexed as' at 23'to contorni to the contour of the upper surface of the disk.

Staggercd V-shaped notches 24 may be formed inthe edges of the'wings of the crosssliaped spike or pin or ii' desired, these notches may be of X shapeas shown at 24a in Fig. 7. These-notches are for thepurpose of permitting the pavinginaterial, in dicated generally at 25, to creep into the saine, 'in order to hold the spike firmly lin necessary to drive the spike into 'a-narrow breaker strip oi asphaltfor thelike located in a concrete or ceinent'pavement, the thicky ness of the spike being just sufficient to permit it to be driven into the asphalt breaker strip between the adjacent concreteY surfaces.

rIhis fiat spike is relatively'thin in `cross section, being of the. same thickness as the arms or bladesof'the cross-shaped spike and is very well adapted ordriving into the nar-row premolded or poured jo'iiits of asphalt or tai` which are used in some pavements of cement and the like, thel flat' spike being of substantially the same thickness as the preinolded or po'u'red joint:l

I claim:

1. A marker having a convex upper surf face and a plurality of angular grooves in said upper surface leading from the central higher portion to the outer edge or the marker, said grooves forming a star shape upon the surface-.of the marker.

2.V Aniarker having a convex upper surface and a plurality of angular grooves in said upper surface leading from the central higher portion to the outer edge of the mar-lier, `said grooves forminga tive pointed star shape upon the surface of the marker.

'f3-.f 'A marker having a convex upper surface and a plurality of angular grooves in said upper surface leading from the central vhigher portion to the outer edge of the marker, said grooves forming a four pointed starshape upon the surface of the marker.

4. 'A marker having a .convex upper surface and a plurality oit' angular grooves in 'said upper surface leading from the central higher portion to the outer edge of the marker, said grooves forming an eight poi-nted star shape upon the surface of the marke-r.

5. A marker hav-ing a conve-X upper surface and a plurality of (ngular grooves in said upper 1surr'ace leading trom the centr-al higher portion to the outer .edge vof the marker, said grooves forming -a star shape upon the surface of the marker, the outer ends of said grooves being ilus-h with the outer edge portion of the. marker.

` (i. A'inarker formed from a sin-gie sheet of' metal of convex shape having a plurality of angular grooves in its upper surface and corresponding ribs in its under surface, the inner` ends of adJacent grooves p communicating with each other, the outer redge portion of the marker bei-ng adapted to bear upon a pavement, and a washer bearing upon the pavement and supporting .the `central portion of the marker including the Iinner end portions of said ribs. y

In testimony that I claim the above, I havehereunto subscribed my name.

" FRANCIS OQ HELTZEL.

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