US2317684A - Road marker - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1943. J. c. HAGGART, JR 2.317,634

` 'ROAD' MARKER Filed May 14. 1941 INVENTOR' JOA/ CI HAGGAR.

TORNE Y Patented Apr. 27, 1943 ROAD' MARKER John C. Haggart, Jr., Westfield, N. J., assignor to Signal Ser-vice Corporation, a oorporation of Delaware 6 Claims.

This invention relates to autocollimating refiecting devices, and more particularly to such devices as they are used for road markers to indicate points of hazard or toV give the motorist advance information of road contour or terrain.

These'catoptric devices are designed to reflect the light impinging thereon, at varying angles to the horizontal and Vertical, back towards the light source. A special form of catoptric device which is in general use is known as a central triple reflecton The present invention is illustrated in connection with this type of refiector but it will be understood thatthe invention is independent'of the particular type of reflecting device illustrated as it can be used equally well with various other types of autocollimating refiectors.

It has been found by various experiments and experience has taught that different types and different locations of roads require different arrangements of markers to properly guide and warn motorists traveling the roads. In some cases a single autocollimating refiector is suficient. In others two or more arranged in close proximity to each other are required. In fog, especially, a cluster of two or more is much more effective than asingle unit.- Certain sections of the country are subject to more fog than others, and certain sections of road in the same general locality are subject to more fog than other Sections close by. A low'spot in the road is likely to be foggy when at the same time a point in the road close by but at a higher elevation will have no 'fog at all. Also it is more likely to be fcggy near a swamp, lake or river than it is at other places. When marking roads at points known to be subject to fog, more reflector units are used to provide greater power. Generally a plurality of similar reflectors are mounted close together on a single standard.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a road marker in which one or more autocollim'ating reflector umts, as desired, may be readily mounted upon a single standard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a road marker of this type which is characterized by simplicity of construction, practicability and economy of manufacture.

Another object is the provision of a road marker composed of standard parts that may be assembled and disassemble'd expeditiously.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be appa-rent from the following specification and the drawing forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof looking from the right of Fig. 1, the plane of the section being indicatedby the line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the'line -'l of Fig. 1.

In accordance withV the present invention there is provided a road marker composed of a standard' I and one or more autocollimating reflector units 2, which are suitablysecured thereto near the upper end thereof. The standard l in the form of the invention illustrated herein is an angle iron consisting of two legs or fianges joined together at their apex and extending loutwardly in opposite directions from each other. In'stead of an angle iron as shown the standard l could be a channel iron, I-beam, T-beam, or any one of various other structural shapes. In use the standard I is firmly and permanently mounted in proper position at the side of the roadway.

The reflector units 2 each comprise a reflecting disc 3 mounted in a suitable metal casing 4. The refiector discs 3 may be made from a single piece of glass or other suitable plastic material preferably non-shatterable, which may be molded by use of a suitable matrix, so'as to constitute an integral prismatic structure composed of a series of total refiecting surfaces arranged in contiguous relation and relatively at right angles and collectively around the aXis thereof so as to form a central triple reflector. As mentioned above, reflectors of this type are well known in the art, and as such form no part of the present invention However the present mounting of the refiector units is believed to be novel.

The casing 4 of the refiector unitsV are cupped shaped members shaped to conform to the discs 3 and each consists of a base 5 and an upstanding peripheral flange 6 with an outwardly extending peripheral bead 1 between the base 5 and the up' standing flange the outwardly extending peripheral bead 1 being in substantially the same plane as the base 5. The casing ll encloses the back and sides of the disc 3, the free end of the fiange 6 being turned over into engagement with the face of the disc 3. It serves a tWo-fold purpose. First, it encloses the back of the disc and protects the prismatic refiecting surfaces from dirt and moisture, and second, it provides means for mounting the units.

A holder 8 is provided for each of the refiector units 2, and serves as the means for properly positioning the reflector units upon the standard I. The holder 8 consists of a plate 9, each side of which fiares forwardly and outwardly a short distance and then turns and extends rearwardly and inwardly as indicated at Ill to define a pair of spaced parallel Vertically extending open ended grooves II. A part of the plate 9 is cut out to form an aperture |2 which conforms in out line to the upstanding peripheral flange 6 of the refiector holder 4.

In assembling my road marker a refiector unit 2 is first inserted into the aperture I2 from the rear thereof until the front of the outwardly extending peripheral bead 'I engages the rear face of the plate 9. The holder 8 is then placed on the standard I by sliding it over the upper end thereof, the legs or flanges of the standard being received in the slots II. It is to be understood that the sides of the plate 9 are turned over in such a manner as to form slots I I which conform to the legs or flanges of the standard I so that through the interengagement of the legs of the standard I and the slots II the holder 8 may be mounted upon the standard I in such a manner that it may be moved longitudinally thereon while being constrained from lateral movement with respect thereto. The holder 8 is so proportioned with respect to the standard I and the refiector units 2 that the opposite sides of the beads 1 of the refiector holders 4 will be held substantially in engagement with the standard I when the casings 8 are placed thereon. This will prevent the removal of the refiector unit 2 from the holder 8 until the holder 8 has been removed from the standard I.

A tongue I 3 shaped to fit within the legs of the standard I extends rearwardly into engagement therewith from the top and bottom of the plate 9.

This construction of the holder 8 provides a simple and eflicient means for quickly and easily mounting a refiector unit upon a standard. It also protects the refiector unit since it completely encloses it, except the front face thereof, so that snow and ice or any other foreign matter which might be injurious to the refiector cannot become lodged therein. The manner of forming the groovesV II by fiaring the sides of the plate 9 outwardly and forwardly beyond the front face of the plate 9 affords protection to the front of the refiector unit 2, as any but a very narrow object striking the marker will first come into contact with the forwardly extending sides of the plate 9 and be prevented from striking the reflector. i

Any desired number of refiector units 2 may be mounted in Vertical alignment with each other upon the standard I, three being illustrated in the drawing. The number of refiector units used on each standard is dependent upon the particular use and location of the marker.

Interengaging means between the standard I and the casings 8 are provided for longitudinally positioning the holder 8 upon the standard. VIn the form of my invention illustrated herein this means consists of an abutment Ill on the standard I which engages the lower end of the lowermost holder 8, and a retainer I5, removably secured to the standard I in engagement with the upper end of the uppermost holder 8. The abutment M consists of a rivet or bolt secured in the proper one of a plurality of vertically spaced rivet holes I 6, in one leg of the standard I, the particular hole in which the abutment is secured being dependent upon the number of refiector units placed upon the standard, and the Vertical spacing of the holes IS being proportional to the height of the holders 8. The retainer I5 comprises a bolt I'I secured in the uppermost hole IB by a special nut I8 which is surrounded by a cup-shaped shield I9 secured on the bolt I'l beneath the nut I8. The nut I8 and shield I9 are so constructed and arranged that the nut I8 can only be removed from the bolt Il by a special wrench. This construction prevents the unauthorized removal of any of the refiector units.

It will be understood that various modifications can be made in the construction of my road marker as illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A roadside marker comprising a standard having fiaring flanges, a holder spanning the fianges, rearwardly projecting converging extensions on said holder slidably embracing the free ends of the fiaring flanges, a rearwardly extending tongue at the top and bottom of said holder which tongues are shaped to conform to and engage the inner faces of said flaring fianges, said holder having an aperture in its face and a refiector element backed by the standard and fitting loosely in said aperture and having a retaining bead on its rear face engaging the rear face of the holder.

2. A roadside marker comprising a standard in the form of an angle iron, a disc-like refiector unit including a casing having a retained bead on its rear face positioned within the angle between the legs of the standard in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of said angle with the opposite sides of said casing in contact with the inner faces of said legs, a holder for retaining said refiector unit in position said holder comprising a plate having an aperture therein into which the refiector unit loosely fits, the rear face of said plate adjacent the aperture engaging the front surface of said retaining bead whereby said refiector unit is constrained from movement with respect to said holder, a grooved formation on each side of said plate, said grooved formations extending forwardly of the front face ofsaid plate and slidably engaging the legs of said standard whereby said holder may move longitudinally on said standard but is held otherwise with respect thereto, a rearwardly extending tongue at the top and bottom of said plate which tongues are shaped to fit within said legs, and adjustable interengaging means between said standard and said holder for retaining said holder upon said standard.

3. In a roadside marker, the combination of a standard having fiaring fianges adapted to support one or more refiector units as desired in vertical alignment with each other, means for securing said refiector units upon said standard, said means comprising a holder for each refiector unit each of said holders having means slidably engaging the fianges of said standard so as to position the refiector units transversely of said standard and means for positioning the desired number of refiector units longitudinally of said standard, the said last mentioned means comprising a removable retainer carried by said standard in engagement with the top of the uppermost holder, a plurality of spaced apertures in said standard and an abutment rigidly secured in one of said apertures in engagement with the bottom of the lowermost holder.

4. In a roadside marker, the combination of a.

standard having flaring flanges, a plurality of similar holders each having a pair of spaced parallel slots in which said fianges are slidably received the said holders being in alignment with and in engagement with each other, a refiector unit carried by each of said holders, an abutment carried by said standard engaging the lower edge of the lowermost holder to limit the movement of said holders in one direction, and a retaining means carried by said standard engaging the upper edge of the uppermost holder to limit the movement of the holders in the opposite direction to retain said holders upon said standard.

5. A roadside marker comprising a standard having fiaring fianges, a refiector unit, a holder for retaining said refiector units in position on said standard, said holder comprising a plate having an aperture in which said refiector unit is mounted and a pair of spaced parallel grooved formations one on each side of said plate slidably engaging the fianges of said standard,

whereby said holder may move longitudinally on said standard but is otherwise held with respect thereto, an adjustable interengaging means between said standard and said holder for retaining said holder upon said standard.

6. A roadside marker comprising a standard having fiaring flanges, a refiector unit, a holder for retaining said refiector unit in position on said standard, said holder comprising a plate having an aperture in which said reflector unit is mounted and a pair of spaced parallel grooved formations one on each side of said plate, said grooved formations extending forwardly of the front face of said plate and slidably engaging the fianges of said standard whereby said holder may move longitudinally on said standard but is held otherwise with respect thereto, and adjust-- able interengaging means between said standard and said holder for retaining said holder 20 upon said standard.

JOHN C. HAGGART, JR.

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