US2264605A - Highway marker - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1941. e. H. ACKERMAN HIGHWAY MARKER Filed April 15, 1940.

A /7 I I I II II II I I m n? 1. i a

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 HIGHWAY MARKER George H. Ackerman, Webster Groves, Mo., as-

signor to Missouri Rolling Mill Corporation, St. Louis, Mo. a corporation of Missouri Application April 15, 1940, Serial No. 329,766

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to highway markers and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in highway markers of the reflector button type.

My invention has for its primary objects the provision of a highway marker of the type stated which is simple and durable in structure, which may be readily and cheaply manufactured, which may be erected or installed with facility at the desired location, which mayv selectively display the catadioptric units or reflector buttons for signaling traffic in various and different directions, which is uniquely constructed to visually display the reflector buttons in such manner that the buttons are secured from unauthorized removal, which may readily be adapted to meet varying directional requirements resulting from angles in the course of the highway or roadway, and which is highly eflicient in the performance of its stated functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention reside in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a reduced perspective view of a highway marker constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational View, partly broken away and in section, of the marker with its reflector members or units arranged for so-called opposite directional reflection along a straight highway;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of the marker with its reflector members or units selectively arranged for two-directional reflection at a right-angle intersection of the highway;

Figure 4; is a transverse sectional view of the marker, taken approximately along the line 4-4, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the marker, taken approximately along the line 5--5, Figure 3; and

Figure 6 illustrates in transverse section a slightly modified marker of my invention with its reflector members or units arranged for twodirectional reflection at an oblique intersection of the highway.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates practical embodiments of my present invention, the highway marker includes a main standard or post A having the form preferably of a metallic bar of conventionalangular section, the bar or post 55 the reflector buttons B.

A having any desired height and being preferably pointed at an end, as at I, for facilitating ground-engagement.

Adjacent its opposite or upper end, the post A is provided longitudinally in one of its webs or flanges, as, for instance, web a, with a pair of relatively widely spaced openings 2 and intermediate the openings or apertures 2 with a plurality of relatively large openings 3, the center-to-center distance between the openings or apertures 3 being preferably somewhat greater than twice the diameter thereof.

Snugly disposed and seated in and extending through each of the apertures 3, is the cylindrical shell or housing 4 of a conventional catadioptric button B, the light reflector element or lens 5 of which is suitably set in, and presented outwardly from, the shell 4. Formed on the shell l a short distance from the len 5, is a circumferential rib 6 for engaging the one or outer face of the angle-web a. Centrally of its end wall 4, the shell 4 is provided with an axially extending threaded stud 1 for securement, as by means of a nut 8, to a complementarily shaped auxiliary or attachment cup 9 sized to flt snugly over the shell 4 and, in turn, provided at its peripheral margin with an outwardly flaring flange or lip [0 for engaging the inner face of the web a in opposition to the rib 6 for holding the button B securely in place, all as best seen in Figure 2.

Co -operable with, and having preferably the same cross-sectional shape and size as that of, the main standard or post A, is a relatively short angle-bar section 0, one web of which, as, for instance, web c, being provided longitudinally with a pair of correspondingly widely spaced apertures H for respective registration with the apertures 2 of the post web 0,. Intermediate the apertures l l, the web 0 is provided with a plurality of button-accommodating openings or apertures I2 spaced one from the other by the same distance as are the respective button apertures 3 of the post web a. The center-to-center distance between the apertures II and the next adjacent button apertures I2 should, however, be such that, when the section C is engaged, as presently appears, with the post A, the apertures l2 of the section 0 will be fully staggered with respect to the apertures 3 of the post A, as best seen i Figures 2 and 3.

Conventionally mounted in each of the apertures l2 of the companion or complementary section 0, is a catadioptric member or reflector button B substantially identical in all respects with So equipped, the section C is disposed upon the upper end of the post A with its opposite margins impingingly engaging the opposite margins of the post A and with its web 0 oppositely disposed to the web a and, in such relation, is rigidly and firmly secured to and upon the post A as by means of two bolts D in the formation of a closed casing or enclosure, each of the bolts D preferably including a central so-called bar-rel or spacerbodyportion l3 substantially larger in diametral size than the apertures 2, l l, and at its opposite ends diametrally reduced in the provision of axially extending threaded studs 14 substantially smaller in diametral size than the apertures 2, I I. In assembled relation, the studs l4 project respectively through the registering apertures 2, H, of

the standard or post A and member C, and then,

fitted thereupon are socket-headed so-called theft-proof cap nuts E each preferably integrally including an axially extending tubular portion I5 having an external diametral size for snug-fitting disposition within a respective aperture 2- or i I, as the case may be, and having an axial length substantially equal to the thickness of the particular web for holding the post A and section C securely together. So assembled, it will be noted that the shells 9 are fully housed for effectively preventing removal of the buttons B and that, by reason of the relative positions of the apertures 3, l2, thebuttons B are disposed in staggered relation to the buttons B, so that the inwardly projecting portions thereof will fit noninterferingly into the spaces between the buttons B, all as best seen in Figure 2.

The opposite web 0' of the section C may also i be provided with a pair of longitudinally aligned apertures ll having the same diametral size as the apertures II and correspondingly spaced for selective registration with the apertures 2 of the post A.

The section or member C is normally, as stated, positioned with respect to the post A with the webs c and a in opposite relation, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, and the reflector buttons B, B, are thus oppositely presented in the formation of a marker for a straight section of roadway. However, the member C may be selectively turned, end-for-end and fastened or secured to and. upon the main standard or post A with the web 0 in opposed parallel relation to the post web a, when the reflector buttons B, B, will be presented at right-angles to each other, as'best seen in Figures 3 and 5, the marker being then installed especially for signaling at a right-angle intersection in the highway.

Further, if desired, the marker may selectively include a complementary member C in the form of a short section of so-called channel iron having a central web portion 16 and obliquely outwardly presented flanges i1 preferably disposed at an angle of 135 to, the web IS, the latter being apertured in substantially the same manner as the web 0 of the member C and likewise provided with a plurality of catadioptric buttons B. The member C may be conventionally secured tothe main standard A by means of: bolts I8 and socket cap screws l9. By reason of the factthat the flanges I! are disposed at an angle of 135 to the web Hi, the web l6 will,

in turn, be disposed at an angle of 45 to the post iii) that the angular relationship between the web l6 and the flanges H of the member C may be varied to meet any particular highway angular requirements, if so desired, although, in actual practice, it has been found that the two complementary members C, C, are sumcient to conform to most types of road or highway formations.

Preferably, further, one web of the particular complementary member, as, for instance, the web 0' of the member C, is suitably elongated or extended at the opposite ends of the member, as at 20, 20, and bent over in the formation of oppositeend walls for the box-like reflector button securing and displaying enclosure provided by the walls of the post A and its companion or complementary member C or C and the like.

The marker may be fully assembled at the manufacturing plant. Preferably, however, the marker is assembled with facility in situ following the upstanding embedment of the post A, any accidental injury to the several reflector buttons during such embedding being totally obviated. The marker may be inexpensively constructed, is exceedingly durable, readily meets the requirements of different highway and traffic requirements, and is exceedingly efficient in the performance of its intended functions.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the highway marker may be made and substituted' for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular in section, a second member of complementary angular section for engagement at its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflector buttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first and secondmembers, means for securing the first and second members marginally together in the formation of a casing with said walls in angular opposition for disposing said buttons for two-directional:reflection, and means for supporting the casing adjacent the highway.

2. A highway marker including, in combination, a. first member angular in section, a second member of complementary angular section for selected. end-for-end disposition with respect to, and engagement at its side margins with the side margins of, the first member, reflector buttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first andsecond members, means for securing the first andsecond members marginally together in the formation of, a casing with said walls in such selected angular disposition for disposing said buttons for two-directional reflection either for a straight, roadway section or at a right-angle intersection thereof, and means for supporting the casing adjacent the'selected roadway section or intersection.

3. A, highway marker including, in combination, a standard; for upright disposition adjacent the highway, said standard comprising a portion angular in section, a complementary member of reduced length relatively to the standard, andalso; of angular section for engagement at its side margins with the side margins of said standard-portion, reflector buttons presented outwardly throughrespective walls of said standardeportion and said complementary member,

and means for securing the complementary member and the standard-portion marginally together in the formation of a casing for disposing said buttons for two-directional reflection.

4. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular in section, a second member of complementary angular section for engagement at its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflector buttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first and second members, means for securing the first and second members marginally together in the formation of a casing, and means housed within the confines of the casing for retaining said buttons in position.

5. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular in section, a second member of complementary angular section for engagement at its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflector buttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first and second members, means engaging the inner face of said respective walls for retaining said buttons in position, and means for securing the first and second members marginally together in the formation of a casing for housing said button-retaining means.

6. A highway marker including, in combination, a main standard of angle section having two flat webs disposed at right-angles to each other, one of said webs being provided adjacent an end with a plurality of outwardly presented reflector buttons, a complementary member also of angle section of substantially the same cross-sectional size and shape as the main standard and having a web provided with a plurality of spaced reflector buttons in staggered relation to the buttons of the standard web, and means for securing said member selectively to the standard with its button-supporting web either parallel or at right-angles to the button-supporting web of the standard.

7. A highway marker including a post of angle section provided in one of its flanges adjacent the upper end thereof with a plurality of spaced reflector button supporting shells, a section of angle iron for engagement at its side margins with the side margins of the post at and adjacent the upper end thereof, and means for securing said angle section in marginal impinging relation upon the post and in alignment along its upper margin with the upper margin of the post in the formation of a box-like casing for housing said shells, said angle section being provided in one of its flanges with a plurality of reflector button supporting shells spaced from each other and from the respective ends of said section in such manner that the latter shells will respectively fit within said casing intermediate the several shells of the post.

8. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular in section, a second member of complementary angular section for engagement at its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflector buttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first and second members, means for securing the flrst and second members marginally together in the formation of a box-like casing with said walls in angular opposition for disposing said buttons for two-directional reflection, means for supporting the casing adjacent th'e highway, and bendable extensions on the second member for forming end walls for said casing,

9. A highway marker including a post formed of equi-flanged angle iron and provided in one of its flanges adjacent the upper end thereof with a plurality of spaced reflector buttons, at relatively short section of angle iron having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the post and provided in one of its flanges with a plurality of reflector buttons spaced from each other and from the ends of said short section in such manner that, when said short section is placed in marginal abutting relation to, and in alignment at its upper margin with, the upper margin of the post, said latter reflector buttons will respectively fit intermediate the several buttons of the post, and means for optionally securing said section and the post together in marginal abutting relation with the reflector buttons of said section disposed either at 180 or at 90 to the buttons of the post.

GEORGE H. ACKERMAN.

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