US3091997A

US3091997A - Highway picket and reflective marker

Info

Publication number: US3091997A
Application number: US3360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray H Byrd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-01-19
Filing date: 1960-01-19
Publication date: 1963-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-04

Description

June 4, 1963 R' BYRD 3,091,997

HIGHWAY PICKET AND REFLECTIVE MARKER Filed Jan. 19, 1.960

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig-5 Ray H. Byrd 2/4 1, 2 2 INVENTOR.

2/4 ova paw 19m June 4, 1963 Filed Jan. 19, 1960 R. H. BYRD HIGHWAY PICKET AND REFLECTIVE MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 302 Fig. 7

Roy H. Byrd 1N VENTOR.

BY ram 5 mm; 19m

United States Patent 3,091,997 HIGHWAY PICKET AND REFLECTIVE MARKER Ray H. Byrd, 2746 Parkridge, Shreveport, La. Filed Jan. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 3,360 8 Claims. (Cl. 941.5)

This invention comprises a novel and useful highway picket and reflective marker and constitutes a continuationin-part of my prior co-pending application Serial No. 738,- 190, filed May 27, 1958, for Highway Picket, and now abandoned.

It is often desirable to clearly mark or delineate certain sections of a highway and in such an unmistakable manner that it is virtually impossible for a motorist to stray from the desired lane or area. It is also frequently desirable to similarly mark aircraft runways and the like. However, no matter how well marked, if the marking is accomplished solely by paint, reflectors or the like placed on the highway surface, the motorist may, if he so chooses, disregard such markings with impunity. If, however, picket or marking devices are utilized which have a substantial vertical projection above the surface, so that the motorist must actually run into such picket if he disre gards the warning of the same, it is much less chance that the motorist will either intentionally or inadvertently disregard such markers. It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a marking device or picket for highways and the like which shall include a substantial vertical projection which, although it will not present a hazard to the vehicle, will nevertheless act as a deterrent for the motorist or others disregarding the marking.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved marking and reflecting device so constructed and arranged as to be readily and quickly permanently anchored to the highway.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved marking device provided with means for quickly and easily permanently fixing the same to a highway and including a removable top section carrying the vertically projecting picket or marker so that the same may be readily replaced if necessary.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an improved marking device including a permanent base portion having means for anchoring the same to a roadway or other surface, a removable base connectible to the permanent base and a removable and vertically elongated marker, picket, or light reflective element.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved highway marking device in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the marker or picket is in the form of a vertically elongated rod of flexible resilient material such as rubber or the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved highway marking device of the character set forth in the preceding objects wherein the picket or marker is readily adapted for coating with luminous paint or the like so as to provide an easily detectable marking device even at night.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved highway marking device of the character described above wherein the top section is quickly and easily removed and replaced with respect to the base section thereof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of still another form of the invention;

3,091,997. Patented June 4, 1963 FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical transverse section taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 19-419 of FIGURE 2 with parts broken away and showing the manner in which the upstanding marker or picket is secured by a removable base to the permanent base of the device;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view, parts being broken away, of the marker, removable base and permanent base portions of the device of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 21-21 of FIGURE 4 and showing the configuration of the anchoring stem portion of the permanent marker component of the device of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a still further form of the invention;

:FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2323 of FIGURE 6, with parts being broken away; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view, parts being broken away, and sh'owing the removable picket, the components of the removable base and the permanent base component of this form of the device.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5 the marker device includes a permanent base member indicated generaL ly by the numeral 200, a removable base member detachably associated therewith as indicated by the numeral 202 and a removable picket or marker assembly generally indicated by the numeral 204. It will be observed that the base assembly 20!] consists of a flat plate-like member as at 206 having an upstanding generally conical flange or rim 208 together with upwardly projecting internally threaded bosses each shown by the numeral 210. Extending axially downwardly from the member 206 is an anchor member 212 in the form of a downwardly tapering stern which as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 is provided with radially projecting ribs 214 by means of which the same may be anchored in a suitable manner in the paving 220. Thus, the base member 200 is permanently secured upon the paving or other surface 220, being prevented from rotation by the radially longitudinally extending ribs 214 thereon.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 3, the picket or marker 204 consists of an elongated upwardly extending body 222 which is preferably of rubber or other resilient material and which is generally tapering, by increasing in diameter from its upper end to its' lower end. At its lower end the picket is provided with an annular enlarged plate-like flange 224 which is provided with suitable apertures 226 therein for the reception of fastening screws 228 which are engaged in the bosses 210 and through corresponding apertures 230 in the removable base 202. This latter member likewise consists of a plate-like element as at 232 from which depends a conical flange 234 receivable over the peripheral surface of the conical flange 208 of the permanent base member 200.

It will be observed that the picket member 222 is triangular in cross-section, having a plurality of radially projecting longitudinally extending ribs as at 236 and corresponding slots 238 are provided in the member 232 of the removable base 202 for receiving the vertical portion of the picket 204 therethrough and thus preventing rotation of the picket relative to the removable base member 202.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the member 224 of the component 204 is provided with a peripheral depending annular ring as at 240 which is adapted to rest uponthe top surface of the member 206 and to be compressed 3 between this top surface and the underside of the member 232 when the screws or fasteners 238 are tightened. Thus a tight resilient connection is established between the three components of this assembly.

A still further embodiment is illustrated in FIGURES 6-8. In this last-mentioned arrangement there is likewise provided a permanent base component indicated genermly at 250, a removable base component indicated generally at 252 and an upstanding picket or marker component indicated at 254. These members are attachably connected together in the manner to be now de scribed.

The permanent base component 254 includes a fiat plate-like annular upper member 256 which is adapted to rest upon the surface of the paving 258 or the like,

and which is provided with an upstanding annular peripheral rim 260 having a conical exterior surface. Depending axially from the member 256 is a stem or anchor member 262 which as shown has radially or diametrically projecting ribs 264 therefrom so that when this member is embedded in the pavement rotation of the same is effectively prevented.

As in the immediately preceding embodiment a pinrality of internally threaded tubular bosses as at 266 rise from the member 256 and will then be cylindrical recessed as defined inside the rim 260 thereof.

The removable base 252 consists of a pair of complementary sections each semi-circular in shape and which are indicated by the

numerals

270 and 272, these sections having dependent semi-circular rims of conical configuration as at 274 and 276, respectively, which are adapted to overlie and thus enclose the rim 260 of the permanent base.

The two sections of the

removable base

270 and 272 are provided with suitable apertures 278 which are also preferably countersunk and which are adapted to register with the tubular bosses 266, as shown in FIGURE 7.

The picket or marker component 254 consists of a vertically elongated member 280 of rubber or other resilient material and which as shown particularly in FIG- URE 8 is noncircular, being indicated as cruciform in cross-section. The lower end of this member is provided with an annular enlargement or flange 282 which is likewise provided with apertures 284 therethrough, these apertures, as shown in FIGURE 7 being of suflicient size to be receivable upon and to surround the upstanding internal threaded bosses 266. Fasteners 236 are engaged through the line apertures in the sections 270', 272, the apertures 284 and the internally threaded bosses 266 to detachably connect these elements together.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the periphery of the annular member 282 at the lower end of the picket 280 is provided with an annular depending rib as at 290 which engaging upon the top surface of the member 256 is deformably compressed between the lower surface of the

sections

270, 272 and the top surface of the member 256 to thereby establish a resilient tight engagement therebetween.

It will be observed that the

sections

270, 272 are provided with radially extending slots 294 disposed opposite to each other together with complementary recesses 2% which in turn define diametrically disposed slots when the two sections are placed together and embrace with these slots the cruciform-shaped exterior of the member 280.

In this embodiment, the member 280 at its upper end is provided with a cylindrical portion 3% in which is adapted to be disposed a disk-like marker, sign or refiective member indicated generally by the numeral 302. The member 302 may either be permanently attached within the hollow cylindrical interior surface 304 of the end 300 or may be detachably secured therein in order to permit the interchangeability of the series of signs, markers or reflective surfaces as desired.

For this purpose, the member 300 as shown in FIG- URE 7 is provided with an integral diaphragm or partition 366 extending thereacross and at the rim of this partition, upon each side thereof there is provided an annular or circumferentially extending channel or recess as at 308 and 310, this channel being undercut, that is, of greater width at its bottom surface than the width of the channel at the cylindrical surface of the member 3%. A pair of

disks

312 and 314 of any suitable material but which preferably is of a transparent nature is then secured upon opposite sides of the partition 386 by engaging the peripheries of these disks in the previously mentioned channels 303 and 310 whereby the same will be detachably but frictionally retained in position. Disposed between the

disks

312 and 314 and the intermediate partition 366 are sheets or coatings of material as indicated at 3-16 and 318. The

disks

312 and 314 thus serve to cover and protect these coatings or sheets which latter may be of a light reflective material or paint and may carry or constitute signs or visual markers or reflective surfaces as desirable.

It is to be understood that the type of picket component 254 and the reflector construction 3*32 shown in FIG- URES 6-8 may be utilized in any of the preceding embodiments as desired.

may the utilized with the anchor member 212 omitted. The base 200 would then be apertured and secured to the pavement by bolts or fasteners shot through the apertures into the pavement with a conventional concrete gun.

It is to be understood that the feature of omitting the spike-1ike depending anchor or stem and replacing this form of anchoring fastener with the apertured base plates and bolt-like fasteners secured therethrough into the pavement may be employed in any of the embodiments isclosed herein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A highway marker comprising a base plate adapted to seat on a pavement, means for fastening said base plate to said pavement, said base plate having a downwardly recessed top surface and a peripheral upstanding rim, a resilient vertically extending marker picket having a diametrically enlarged foot portion received in said recessed top surface and within said rim, a top plate having an apertured top surface through which said marker picket slidably extends and a depending peripheral rim embracing said upstanding rim, an upstanding hollow boss on said base top surface within said upstanding rim, said foot portion having an aperture receiving said boss, a fastener engaging said top plate and said boss and passing through said aperture of said foot portion for securing the former to said base.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said foot portion has a depending peripheral rib resting upon the bottom of said recessed surface whereby to support the bottom surface of said foot portion in spaced relation to said bottom of said recessed surface.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said top plate is a single unitary member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said top plate is sectional being divided along a vertical plane extending through said top surface aperture and said standard whereby to be removably engaged upon the latter by lateral movement.

5. A highway marker comprising a base plate adapted to seat on a pavement, means for fastening said base plate to said pavement, said base plate having a downwardly recessed top surface and a peripheral upstanding rim, a resilient vertically extending marker picket having a diametrically enlarged foot portion received in said recessed top surface and within said rim, a top plate having an apertured top surface through which said marker picket slidably extends and a depending peripheral rim embracing said upstanding rim, an upstanding hollow boss on said base top surface Within said upstanding rim, a fastener engaging said top plate and said boss for securing the former to said base.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said foot portion has a depending peripheral rib resting upon the bottom of said recessed surface whereby to support the bottom surface of said foot portion in spaced relation to said bottom of said recessed surface.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said top plate is a single unitary member.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said top plate is sectional being divided along a vertical plane extending through said top surface aperture and said standard whereby to be removablyengaged upon the latter by lateral movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,266,152 Poole May 14, 1918 1,267,021 Watts May 21, 1918 1,337,947 OToole Apr. 20, 1920 2,121,961 Gill June 28, 1938 2,229,075 Haggart Jan. 21, 1941

Claims

5. A HIGHWAY MARKER COMPRISING A BASE PLATE ADAPTED TO SEAT ON A PAVEMENT, MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID BASE PLATE TO SAID PAVEMENT, SAID BASE PLATE HAVING A DOWNWARDLY RECESSED TOP SURFACE AND A PERIPHERAL UPSTANDING RIM, A RESILIENT VERTICALLY EXTENDING MARKER PICKET HAVING A DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED FOOT PORTION RECEIVED IN SAID RECESSED TOP SURFACE AND WITHIN SAID RIM, A TOP PLATE HAVING