US2169674A

US2169674A - Highway marker

Info

Publication number: US2169674A
Application number: US109834A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas L Adas
Original assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
Current assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
Priority date: 1936-11-09
Filing date: 1936-11-09
Publication date: 1939-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-15

Description

` Aug. 15,1939.

HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Nov. 9, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 TY Ogg 1 [Z Y/ ,9 um zum/@Hum uw f Q 6 lr /5 Hllf Waff/c f INVENTOR.

fig/7765 a/as ATTORNEY.

Aug.15,f1939. T L ADAS 2,169,674

HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M194@ .vill Mm I /o/Was L fa/@5 Patented Aug. 15, 1939' HGHWAY MARKER Thomas L. Adas, Chicago, lll., assigner to Purdue Research Foundation, La Fayette, Ind., a corporation of Indiana,

Application November 9, 1936, Serial No. 109,834

3 Claims.

The invention relates to light reflecting devices, such as are commonly utilized as highway markers, and more particularly to devices of this type which are mounted upon the surface of the highway as, for example, along the line between two lanes of traffic. The invention consists mainly in the configuration and structure of the body of the marker and all other novel features illustrated and described in this specification.

Most markers with which applicant is familiar include a pocket for seating the reflecting lens and these pockets usually trap dirt and render the reflector ineffective. One ofthe main objects of the present invention is to avoid such trapping of dirt by constructing the marker so that it will be substantially self-cleaning, that is, that wind and rain will tend to move dirt away from the reflectors rather than to collect dirt in front of the reflectors.

An additional object is to utilize the eddy currents generated by vehicle wheels to remove dirt, etc, from the marker reflectors.v

Another object of the invention is to reduce the height of a marker of this type without unduly Adecreasing the efliciency of the beam of light reflected from the marker.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the passage of traflic and particularly of snow plows and like equipment over the marker with- .;out damage to the marker body and particularly to the marker reflectors.

These and other detailed objects of the invention are attained by the structure described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a top view of the marker.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal view and section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end View of the marker looking 40J-`t0wards the right hand end of Figure 1.

- Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the application of the marker to a highway lane demarcating line and the paths of rays of light originating in Vehicle lamps and reflected by the marker.

Figure 5 is a top view of a modified structure.

Figure 6 is a side elevation and longitudinal section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an end view of the structure shown 50 in Figures 5 and 6.

The body of the marker has what may be termed a Z-shaped plan and comprises a central relatively narrow shank I, extending longitudinally of the marker, and relatively

wide end parts

2 and 3 projecting laterally in opposite directions (Cl. Sii- 79) respectively from shank I. Hollow lugs 5 project from the bottom face of the end parts for receiving lag screws (not shown) or other securing elements imbedded in the roadway.

Preferably the top of end part 2 is curved 5 downwardly and outwardly from the center of the marker, as indicated at 6 and l, and at the inner side the downwardly curved top mergesy with a vertical surface 9 forming an extension of the vertical inside face Il! of shank I.

portion II of part 2 preferably includes a thick vertical wall extending transversely of the axis of the marker from the outer edge of part 2 to shank I. Reflecting elements I2 are mounted in this wall and preferably are catadioptric lenses commonly used in markers of this type. Each lens faces away from the head lights on its side of the longitudinal axis of the marker or in the same direction as the movement of traic on that side of the marker axis. In other words, they reect the light from the lamps of vehicles moving towards the marker on the side of the axis of the marker opposite to that in which the lenses are positioned.

Preferably a plurality oi lenses are mounted in wall I l, being spaced transversely of the marker and being of relatively small diameter as compared with the minimum diameter of single lenses usually provided in markers of this type.

It is practical to use lenses of this size and arrangement because of the configuration of the marker body and because of the fact that a plurality of small lenses will have the same effect upon the eye of the observer as a single larger lens.

Part 3 is a duplicate of part 2 described above and includes corresponding elements 6', l', 8', II and I2' but part 3 extends in the opposite direction from the shank and longitudinal axis of the marker and with its wall II and reflectors I2 facing in the opposite direction.

The under side of shank I has a passage or channel I3 extending upwardly from the roadway and diagonally from side to side and leading directly from in front of the inner edge of wall Il of part 2 to the inner edge of the corresponding wall of part 3. Water, dirt, gravel, etc. moving across the roadway may continue its movement around and over the front portions of the marker and through passage I3 without being trapped in 50 the wide, deep recess provided in the marker for mounting the reectors. Similarly, currents of air moving transversely of the roadway will blow dirt through the passage. Also the currents of air moving longitudinally of the marker and strik- The rear 10 l ing the lenses will be directed in part through the passage. As passing vehicles always set up strong eddy currents of air, it will be apparent that the marker will be subjected to cleansing streams almost continuously irrespective of wind currents. All currents of air, irrespective of their direction, will have a tendency to move dirt from in front of the lenses.

The functioning of the marker is best illustrated in Figure 4 in which the longitudinal axis of the marker coincides with the line X defining the opposite lanes of traffic. Although lenses 22 in this diagram are located at one side of line X, the light received thereby and reflected therefrom may cross the line, as indicated at R, and will strike the eye of approaching traffic moving in the direction of the arrow A. The light reflected back to the approaching driver is not intercepted or interfered with by the body of the marker, because such rays pass above the tapered sides of the marker body.

If desired, the lens mounting walls may be inclined from a line extending at right angles to the marker axis, or the marker as a whole may be canted so that its axis is at an angle to the lane line X.

Although the marker as a whole is of the turtleback type, its Z-like shape, viewed from above, makes possible the provision of larger vertical surfaces or recesses for receiving the refiectors without increasing the size of the marker above those of this type previously in use. The contour also facilitates the passage of snow scrapers or other equipment over the marker as such equipment will usually approach the marker from the outside of the road and will strike the upwardly inclined surfaces 6 and 'l and will not impinge against the upright surfaces of the reector receiving recesses.

In the modified structure shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the device is elongated and narrowed relative to the device previously described. This reduces the area, transverselyy of the roadway, occupied by the marker and also provides for a longer and more gradual incline from the end of the device to its higher central portion. The general turtleback contour is retained. A single lens l is inserted in each transverse wall IG. Preferably the rear portion Ia of the lens is flattened at top and bottom, as indicated at F, to reduce the height of the device necessary to properly house the lens. Such flattening of the reflecting portion of the lens may be made without affecting its usefulness for the present purpose as the full diameter of the lens is not required to afford sufficient vertical angle of reflection. In this respect, the device utilizes to advantage the lens structure shown in the copending application of Joseph J. Imhoif, Serial N o. 733,440.

The diagonal passageway I1 forms a more acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the body of the device than does the passageway in the device previously described. This arrangement will result in passing vehicles creating a stronger draft through the channel as their movement will be more nearly in line with the direction of the channel.

The device is provided with lugs I8 for insertion in the roadway and to receive screws or bolts or other fastening means (not shown) similar tothe device previously described.

The several distinctive features of the marker may be used singly and it will be understood that the provision of a plurality of lenses, the diagonal channel, the type of reflector and the location and type of anchoring lugs are not essential to the broader aspects of the invention. Variations in these features of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. In a marker of the class described, a body with a relatively narrow high central portion with upright sides extending parallel with the longitudinal axisrof the marker, there being upright walls projecting outwardly substantially at right angles from said sides, the top face of said body being inclined downwardly towards the ends of the marker and from the top of said central p0rtion and from the top of said walls, reflecting devices mounted in said walls and facing in opposite directions and away from the respective downwardly inclined top faces, said body being recessed to accommodate unobstructed passage of rays of light to said devices from above, in front and outwardly of the devices.

2. In a marker of the class described, a body having a high central relatively narrow shank, there being members extending laterally from opposite ends of said shank in opposite directions and with their top surfaces tapered downwardly and outwardly from the center of the marker, reflecting devices mounted on said members and facing in opposite directions and being positioned in transverse pla-nes spaced apart longitudinally of the marker, said shank being undercut from its road-engaging surface upwardly and transversely from side to side to provide a passage for air, water, dirt, etc. leading from in front of each of said reflecting devices.

3. In a marker of the class described, a turtleback body with L-shaped recesses at opposite sides, each recess being formed by upright walls extending from top to bottom of said body and facing respectively longitudinally and transversely of the body axis, a reflecting member mounted in each of said transverse walls, there being a tunnel-like aperture extending through the body and upwardly from the bottom of the device with its ends opening through said longitudinal walls at opposite sides of the body to accommodate the passage of dirt, water, etc. from in front of either of said members through the body and away from the other of said members.

THOMAS L. ADAS.