US2073968A

US2073968A - Highway marker

Info

Publication number: US2073968A
Application number: US67905A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl C Krebs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-03-09
Filing date: 1936-03-09
Publication date: 1937-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1954-03-16

Description

March 16, 1937. c. c. KREBS HIGHWAY MARKER Filed March 9. 1936 I Carl Clrca v Patented Mar. 16, 1937 ITED srrss ATE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to traffic indicators and more particularly to that type of indicator adapted to be embedded in the surface of a highway to serve as a marker and divide said highway into different traffic lanes.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an indicator of the type mentioned above which will be depressed when driven over by a vehicle.

10, Another object is the provision of a device of this character into which water cannot enter and one that will be unaffected by the elements.

A still further object resides in providing a trafi'ic marker which will not injure the rubber tires of a vehicle driven thereover.

I It is also an object of the present invention to form a marker of the type specified which will give long service without requiring any undue attention.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the marker comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the indicating mechanism in a depressed position;

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of a flexible diaphragm used in the marker. Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l designates the marker in its entirety. The marker comprises a base 2 which may be constructed of a metallic casting and includes, in the particular marker illustrated, a circular cup-shaped body having a central bore 3, relatively heavy side walls 4 and a bottom wall 5. 4:5 The base 2 is adapted to be set into the paving of the roadway and to prevent it from working out or otherwise being removed, an annular flange 6 is formedat the lower end which will be over-hung by the concrete or other material 50 forming the road surface. Vertical reenforcing ribs are connected to the walls 4 and the flange 6 to provide strength.

Arranged to cover the open upper end of the base is a circular rubber diaphragm l conforming 55 in size to the base 2. A metallic ring 8 is provided above the diaphragm and threaded fastening elements 9 pass through aligned openings in the ring and diaphragm and are received in correspondingly threaded openings in the upper edge of the side walls 4 of the base. When the screws 5 9 are tightened, they cause the ring 8 to firmly clamp the diaphragm in place over the open upper end of the base.

The center of the diaphragm is also provided with an opening through which a threaded stud 10 it), formed in connection with a semispherical button ll, passes. A circular plate l2 slightly smaller in diameter than the bore 3 is threaded on the stud l0 and secures the button I I in place on the diaphragm. A look nut i3 is employed to 5 preclude loosening of this plate on the stud.

At the center of the plate l2 on its under surface, a boss M is formed. This boss is received within a coil formed at the upper end of a conical coil spring is and serves to correctly position the 20 upper end of the spring. The lower end of the spring 55 rests against the bottom wall 5 of the base. The spring acts to force the diaphragm and button ll upward. To limit movement in this direction, the internal diameter of the clamp 25 ring 8 is made a little smaller than the outside diameter of the plate l2. When the spring moves the plate upward to the position shown in Fig.

2, the edge of the plate will engage that portion of the diaphragm under the overhanging edge 0 of the ring and upward movement of the parts will be stopped. Dueto the fact that rubber is positioned between the metallic plate and ring, no objectionable sound will be heard when this occurs. 35

The button I l is provided on a pair of opposed sides with shallow holes It in which are positioned magnifying lenses Ill. These lenses are secured in place by the edge of the hole being pressed inward to engage the outer surfaces thereof. The bottom of the hole i6 is formed angular and polished or coated to produce a re flecting surface Ilia. When light rays from the head lights of a vehicle pass through one of the lenses H, a portion of the rays will be reflected by the surface Illa, to indicate thepresence of a marker,

When the wheel of a vehicle is driven over the marker, the button M will be engaged by the tire and pressed down to the position shown in Fig. 3 and as soon as the tire is removed, the spring will force the movable parts upward to their normal position shown in Fig. 2. The button H is rounded on top and the outer upper edge of the ring 8 is bevelled to prevent the same from injuring the tires of vehicles driven over the marker.

Annular rings of fabric material l8 are incorporated in the rubber diaphragm 'l to provide strength at the points where the perforations are arranged. This reenforcement is omitted between the clamp ring and the button I I to permit the diaphragm to stretch.

The upper edge of the side walls of the casing 2 may be annularly grooved as at I9 to receive the rubber of the diaphragm and prevent the entrance of water which might freeze and injure the marker or prevent movement of its parts.

While there has been shown and described one particular embodiment of the present invention, numerous changes may be made in the mechanical construction of the various parts thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A depressible traific indicator comprising a cup-shaped casing open at its upper end, a flexible diaphragm positioned over the open upper end of said casing, a clamp ring for securing said diaphragm in place, a semispherical button secured to the upper surface of said diaphragm, and spring means positioned within said cup and yieldably holding said diaphragm in its uppermost position.

2. A depressible traific indicator comprising an open topped cup-shaped casing, a flexible diaphragm positioned over the open upper end of said casing, a clamp ring for securing said diaphragm in place, a semispherical button secured to the upper surface of said diaphragm, and a conical coil spring positioned within said casing to resist downward movement of said diaphragm and button.

3. A depressible traffic indicator comprising a base formed with a central bore open at its upper end, a flexible diaphragm positioned over the open upper end of said base, a ring clamping said diaphragm in place on said base, the inside diameter of said ring being slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore in said base, an indicator button positioned on the upper side of said diaphragm, a plate secured to the under side of said diaphragm, the outside diameter of said plate being greater than the inside diameter of said ring and a conical coil spring yieldably holding said plate in its uppermost position.

4. An indicator of the character described comprising a base formed with a central bore open at one end, a flexible diaphragm clamped over the open end of said base, a signal member secured to said diaphragm and spring means positioned in said base between said diaphragm and the bottom of said bore and holding said signal member and diaphragm in their normal position.

5. An indicator of the character described comprising a cup-shaped base member open at one end, a flexible diaphragm closing the open end of said base member, a signal member carried by said diaphragm, spring means tending to force said diaphragm outward away from said casing, and means provided in connection with said indicater for limiting the outward movement of said diaphragm.

6. A traflic indicator comprising a hollow base member open at its upper end, a flexible diaphragm secured to the upper end of said base member in fluid-tight relationship, and a signal member secured to the upper surface of said diaphragm.

'7. A trafiic indicator comprising a cylindrical base member closed at one end and open at the other, a diaphragm clamped in fluid-tight relationship over the open end of said base, a spring positioned between the diaphragm and the closed end of said base, and a signal carried by said diaphragm exteriorly of said base.

8. A traffic indicator comprising a base member provided with an upstanding annular side wall, said wall being provided with an annular groove in its upper edge, a circular rubber diaphragm positioned upon the upper edge of said side wall, a clamp ring securing said diaphragm in place on said side wall with a portion positioned in said groove, a signal button provided with a threaded stud positioned upon the upper surface of said diaphragm, said stud projecting through said diaphragm, a plate positioned upon said stud and clamping said diaphragm against said signal button, and a spring positioned between said plate and base and yieldably holding the former against downward movement.

CARL C. KREBS.