US20020178994A1

US20020178994A1 - Marker

Info

Publication number: US20020178994A1
Application number: US10/148,116
Authority: US
Inventors: Juan Fernandez Marin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2001-08-09
Publication date: 2002-12-05
Also published as: ES2166345A1; JP2004510084A; AU2001282149A1; ES2166345B1; WO2002027103A1; EP1321581A1

Abstract

Comprising a body (1) constituted by a flexible and reversibly deformable material, in order to prevent its breakage in the event of being run over.

Comprising a housing (3) into which is inserted in a close-fitting manner a segment (2) of the body (3), the housing (3) being secured to the ground, such that when a cone is run over, it bends about the upper part of the segment (2) and when pressed against the ground it is deformed, all this in such a manner that when pressure ceases to be applied against the ground, it recovers its initial position and shape.

Comprising a reflector band (7) sewn to a removable sheath (5) which is adapted to the body (1) by means of a zip fastener (6).

It is preferentially applicable in the signalling of airport runways.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved traffic cone, the improvements in which are intended to endow it with flexibility, and at the same time it is deformable reversibly in order to endow it with great resistance to any possible impact it may receive from vehicles travelling in the area demarcated by traffic cones.

The invention is preferentially applicable for the marking of routes in airports, and more specifically the “taxiways”, but may likewise be employed for the marking roadways and, in general, for any application that requires to have demarcation by means of traffic cones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use is well known of marker traffic cones which comprise a body on the surface of which is located at least one reflector band, and means for securing to the ground.

Generally speaking, these traffic cones are made from PVC which, through the effect of temperature changes and bad weather lose their flexibility whereby, in the event of possible impact, they are easily broken, which constitutes a serious drawback.

Moreover the reflector bands are constituted by a ring arranged on the body of the traffic cone, which configuration has the disadvantage that on exposure to sunlight and having to withstand high temperatures, the distension of the body and the band takes place, resulting in it falling, signifying that the traffic cone loses the main function for which it is intended, that is, to be visible to the drivers of vehicles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, the invention has developed a new traffic cone which like the conventional ones is endowed with at least one reflector band, being also provided with means for securing the traffic cone to the ground; and which is characterised in that the body is constituted by a flexible and reversibly deformable material, in order to prevent its breakage in the event of being run over by the wheels of a vehicle, like for example an aeroplane, truck, etc., and which is also highly resistant to impacts received from the underside of passing vehicles.

In an embodiment of the invention, the body of the traffic cone is solid, and is preferentially constituted by a semi-rigid foam rubber, like for example polyurethane, such that when the body is run over by the wheels of a vehicle, it bends until it makes contact with the ground and as the wheels run over it, is deformed, in such a manner that when pressure ceases to be applied to the body, the latter recovers its upright position and initial shape.

The means for securing to the ground are determined by a housing open on one of its faces through which a segment of the body of the traffic cone is introduced in a close-fitting manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the housing comprises at least one hole through which is ejected the air displaced when the close-fitting insertion of the body is carried out. Subsequently the housing is positioned in and fastened to the ground by closing the hole, in such a manner that the extraction of the body is prevented by the vacuum that is produced because of the close-fitting housing.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing and the segment of the body that is introduced therein, are cylindrical, and said housing is open on its upper base, and its lower base includes the hole.

In addition, the housing is endowed on its outside surface with at least one projection extending around the perimeter, which prevents its extraction from the ground once inserted and secured therein.

The segment of the body that is introduced in the housing is of less diameter than the rest of the body.

Advantageously the body is covered with a removable sheath to which is sewn the reflector band. The sheath includes a longitudinal zip fastener to permit its adaptation to the body and its removal.

The fact that the reflector band is sewn to the sheath, which is preferably of nylon, prevents high temperatures from producing the detachment of the reflector band, as conventionally occurs, and in addition the fact that it is sewn to the sheath means that it can be replaced when it becomes worn.

Close to its bottom, the housing incorporates a narrowing defined by a slightly conical segment in order to achieve a better fit between housing and body. Clearly to achieve this same functionality, there exists the possibility that in the upper part of the segment that is inserted into the housing, a conical widening be incorporated.

For the purpose of facilitating a better understanding of this descriptive specification and forming an integral part thereof, a number of drawings are attached in which by way of illustration and not restrictively, the object of the invention is shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the different elements that constitute the traffic cone, according to a possible embodiment of the invention. [0017]
FIG. 2 shows a view in perspective of the traffic cone in which the different constituent elements have been mounted together. [0018]
FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the traffic cone of the previous figure, secured to the ground. [0019]

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A description is provided hereunder based on the aforementioned figures. [0020]
The traffic cone of the invention includes a [0021] body 1 provided at its lower end with a segment 2 of smaller diameter, the whole assembly being made of semi-rigid foam, such as for example polyurethane, in such a manner that it is flexible and reversibly deformable.
Moreover the traffic cone of the invention comprises a [0022] housing 3 which comes with an annular protuberance 4, and on its bottom includes some holes 8.
On a basis of the description made, it is easy to see that this configuration permits the close-fitting insertion of [0023] segment 2 into housing 3, in which operation the air displaced by segment 2 exits through holes 8, provided that these are not closed, for which reason this operation must preferably be carried out before securing the housing to the ground.
Once [0024] segment 2 has been introduced into housing 3, the latter is positioned in and secured to the ground by means of cement or any other means, the securing action being strengthened by the inclusion of the annular projection 4, in such a manner that any attempt to extract the traffic cone results in a vacuum being formed in the bottom of the housing 3, which prevents removal of the traffic cone.
To ensure that this vacuum is formed, there exists the possibility that the upper section of [0025] segment 2 include a slightly conical widening, in such a manner that its exerts a greater pressure against the walls of the housing. Clearly this same effect is achieved if there is a conical section, in the lower segment of the housing 3, which defines a narrowing, in order to exert a greater pressure against the surface of the lower part of segment 2.
Moreover the traffic cone of the invention comes with a [0026] sheath 5 which is provided with a zip fastener 6 that permits the fitting thereof to the body 1. Said zip fastener permits the detachment of the sheath 5.
On [0027] sheath 5 is sewn a reflector band 7 which constitutes the traffic cone's marking medium.
This configuration signifies that when the traffic cone is struck or run over by a vehicle, it flexes about the upper part of [0028] segment 2, turning through 90 degrees until coming into contact with the ground, a flattening and deformation taking place, such that when the pressure is removed, it returns to its upright position and recovers its original shape, whereby a highly resistant and long-lasting traffic cone is obtained.

Claims

1. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE which comprises at least one reflector band and means for securing to the ground; it is characterised in that the body (1) is constituted by a flexible and reversibly deformable material, in order to prevent its breakage when run over.

2. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the body (1) is of polyurethane.

3. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the body (1) is solid.

4. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the means for securing to the ground are determined by a housing (3) open on one of its faces through which a segment (2) of the body (1) is introduced in a close-fitting manner.

5. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 4, characterised in that the bottom of the housing (3) comprises at least one hole (8) through which is ejected the air displaced when the close-fitting insertion of the segment (2) of the body (1) is carried out; in order that once said insertion is carried out the housing (3) is positioned in and fastened to the ground closing the hole whereby the removal of the body (1) is prevented.

6. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that the housing and the segment of the body that is introduced therein, are cylindrical, said housing (3) being open on its upper base and its bottom includes at least the hole (8).

7. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the housing (3) is endowed on its outside surface with at least one annular projection (4) which prevents its extraction from the ground once positioned in and fastened thereto.

8. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the segment (2) of the body (1) that is introduced in the housing is of less diameter than the rest of the body (1).

9. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that it comes with a removable enclosing sheath (5) to which is sewn the reflector band (7).

10. IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONE, in accordance with claim 9, characterised in that the sheath (5) is nylon and includes a zip fastener (6) to permit its fitting to the body (1) and also permit the detachment of said sheath.