BACKGROUND
Roads, highways, interstates, intersections and related pedestrian and/or motorized and non-motorized vehicle thoroughfares often receive deposits of a variety of Permanent or Temporary Traffic Control Devices (“TCD”(s)) to inform, guide, or warn motorists/pedestrians and vehicle users or to direct motorists/pedestrians and vehicle users into specific actions (as examples, e.g. “stop” or “go” lights or signs, delineation or channelization devices), to provide verbal or non-verbal communication or announcements, to alert motorists to specific conditions or events (e.g. “caution” barricades, cones, delineators, drums, signs, etc.), or to channelize (convey or direct) motorists into specific pathways (e.g. channelizing barricades, cones, delineators, drums, signs, etc.). One ubiquitous TCD provided in road construction zones are channelizer drums that typically are strategically and intentionally placed to create or otherwise alert and channelize motorists or pedestrians into safe pathways, e.g. to bypass or flow through construction zones. While channelizer drums are often provided in a bright color (typically orange) and often include reflective areas, such channelizer drums typically fail to provide any additional information, guidance or cautionary warnings or directives (e.g. slow down or proceed with caution).
SUMMARY
Covers for notification, channeling, or delineation devices are detailed in this disclosure. The covers can be used to provide notification of immediately proximate or upcoming events, can be used to channel or otherwise direct/redirect traffic flow, and can delineate areas where ingress or egress is permitted or not permitted.
The covers detailed herein expand the capabilities of a single or limited purpose device (e.g. the use of a conventional channelizer drum conveys essentially caution, alert, delineating, or channelizing) to form a device with a cover that is capable of a plurality or multiplicity of purposes, e.g. barrier, caution, condition, event, guidance, directional indication, safety, communication, conveyance, advertising, etc. Additionally, the covers detailed herein can be used in a process of communicating additional information, such as sequential or progressive alerts, methods of covering drums in a sequence or progression at specific points in an array of covers at a site, or other methods. These covers could be utilized to enhance safety for pedestrians, motorists, workers, public safety personnel, contractors, mowers, event staff, etc.
The covers detailed herewithin can provide alert, information, and/or message communication(s) conveyance to motorists or pedestrians, which may be as simple as visual alerts by channelizer cover color coding (e.g. when approaching an accident or crash scene, yellow covers can be used on a series of channelizer drums leading to the crash site and then a different color of cover, red for example, can be used at or proximate the crash site to provide a visual identification of heightened awareness by motorists approaching the crash site of the accident scene). These covers can then be removed from the accident scene when the area has been cleared, e.g. by emergency personnel. Additionally, or optionally, the covers can mirror or mimic the color/reflective design or pattern of the drum itself (e.g. a non-compliant deployed drum “repair” cover), be a different design or pattern, or can be further visually enhanced by symbols or text or illumination on or about the channelizer cover. Optionally, the covers can be audibly enhanced to emit or otherwise transmit or relay electronic sound, or radio frequency modulation of sounds, sound bites or verbal messages, by means of analog or digital or otherwise radio frequency transmission. If visual or audible enhancements are provided, such enhancements can be delivered as a local announcement or can be broadcast or transmitted to devices capable of receiving such analog or digital or otherwise radio frequency messages or signals, such as cellular phones, to vehicles directly, or over wi-fi networks approaching the channelizer cover. As another example of visual or audible enhancements, covers providing analog, digital, wi-fi or otherwise radio frequency broadcasts or signals or transmissions could be linked to traffic controllers, traffic engineers, contractors, public safety or department of transportation personnel or their designates or their equipment or systems to provide special alerts or conditions or data or otherwise vital or non-vital communications to enhance safety and awareness.
The cover(s) detailed herewithin can be used in locations for a short time period (e.g. to cover a channelizing drum during a sporting event or to redirect traffic after a car wreck) or can be used in locations for a longer time period (e.g. to redirect traffic from two lanes into one lane while a section of the road is being worked on or to redirect pedestrians while a building is being refaced). The covers can be provided in any color, including federal, state, or local DOT approved colors, and can include indicia, illumination, print, symbols, transparencies, displays, reflective surfaces, or other textual and verbal or non-verbal communications (e.g. text, images, symbols, shapes, logos, instructions, guidance, enlightenment, or other textual and verbal or non-verbal communications).
The cover(s) can include receiver/transmitter devices or properties to relay information thereon or therefrom, nearby or to off-site locations or personnel or devices.
The cover(s) can include illumination device(s) or feature(s) to optically enhance conveyance, communication, display, or visibility (e.g. illuminating LED's, lights, yarn, reflective, retroreflective, or luminescent elements, surfaces, yarn, print or dyes, etc.).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of the example embodiments described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates upon reading the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A shows a prior art channelizer drum.
FIGS. 1B though 1E show cover embodiments in varying lengths and end closure options.
FIG. 1F shows embodiments of cover sections.
FIG. 2 shows one exemplary method or process 30 of forming a cover for a channelizer drum or barrel.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate exemplary method or process 60 of forming a cover for a channelizer drum or barrel.
FIG. 4 shows various exemplary symbols that can be applied to a channelizer drum cover.
FIG. 5 shows an exemplary application of a channelizer drum cover.
FIG. 6 shows an exemplary method or process of forming a cover for a traffic cone or other conical shape.
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary application of a traffic cone cover.
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary method or process of forming a cover for a J-Barrier or similar shaped barrier or barricade.
FIG. 9 shows an exemplary application of a J-Barrier cover.
FIGS. 10-11 show additional exemplary covers for channelizer drums.
FIGS. 12-15 show exemplary embodiments of traffic control device channelizer drum covers, including retroreflective materials laminated to a textile.
FIGS. 16-17 show additional exemplary covers for traffic cones, grab cones, or delineators.
FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method of forming a cover.
One exemplary cover 10 is shown in FIG. 1B disposed over a channelizer drum 5, a prior art version of a channelizer drum in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1B, the exemplary cover 10 comprises a material sheet or substrate, and can be formed, for example, with first and second ends connected to form a sleeve or other substantially cylindrical toroidal shape with two open ends, with one open end and one closed end, or can include additional end(s). The sleeve and ends can be formed in a desired size that can be secured around, onto, or to a desired shape. In order to use, an open end of the cover can be slid over an end of the channelizer drum and moved over the channelizer drum to cover at least a portion of the channelizer drum with one end of the cover at one end of the channelizer drum and with the other end of the cover at the other end of the channelizer drum. Either end of the cover can include an attachment or securement means to retain, at least temporarily, robustly, semi-permanently, or permanently, the cover 10 on or to the channelizer drum. The attachment or securement means can comprise any fastener, for example, elastic, binding, piping, hook and loop fasteners, strap(s), Velcro®, snaps, trims, molded fasteners, j-channel fasteners, u-channel fasteners, molded flexible fasteners or strips, pieces or portions of the same or different material, secondary material attachments, rigid or semi-rigid materials, hooks and/or combinations of these and other custom or non-custom fasteners or fastening devices or devices providing maximum fastening or light fastening. Examples of fasteners usable in the covers detailed herewithin can include fasteners of YKK, Tokyo, Japan (www.ykk.com), ITW Nexus North America, Frankfort, IL (na.itwnexus.com), Trivantage, Glen Raven, NC (www.trivantage.com), Fasnap, Elkhart, IN (www.fasnap.com), and/or DOT Fasteners or Scovill Fasteners, Clarksville, GA, (www.dotfasteners.com). In one arrangement, elastic can be secured to the open ends of the cover, e.g. by folding a length of elastic over a portion of the cover and securing the elastic to the cover or by folding a portion of the cover to form a pocket into which a length of elastic can be disposed with the folded portion of the cover able to be secured to retain the elastic in the pocket. Or alternatively an elastic can be secured to the open ends of the cover, by applying a length of elastic over a portion of the cover and securing the elastic to the cover. The elastic can be secured onto, to, or within the cover by fasteners, glue, staples, sewing, fusing, radio frequency welding, sonic welding, snapping, tacking, thermal welding, weaving, zipping, or combinations of these. Optionally, the cover can be formed with only one open end, two open ends, one open end and one closed end, or with two closed ends as desired. Or alternatively, the cover can be formed with an upper and lower portion or smaller portion or plurality of portions. Additionally, the cover 10 can be dyed, printed, embossed, sewn, or otherwise provided with appropriate or required size, single, or multiple message(s), pattern(s), logo(s), or symbol(s) as indicated at 20 in FIG. 1B. The cover 10 can be sized to cover the bottom of a channelizer drum as shown in FIG. 1C. Once the cover 10 is disposed on a channelizer drum, if the cover 10 includes an open end, the open end can provide access to a channelizer drum's integrated handle or to a cover perimeter edge, which can allow the cover to be readily and easily grasped and removed from the channelizer drum. Alternatively, the cover 10 can be closed adjacent the handle as shown in FIG. 1D and/or can be sized to allow access to a channelizer drum's integrated handle from a closed end of a cover without removing the cover 10 from the drum. FIG. 1E shows a blank full cover disposed on a channelizer drum.
Alternatively, the cover can be formed as a wrap that can be wrapped around or about a channelizer drum and secured at least temporarily to the channelizer drum. If formed as a wrap, the wrap can include securement elements that can assist in securing or retaining the wrap onto, around, or about the channelizer drum, with such securement elements attaching at least part of the wrap to itself, or attaching at least one part of the wrap to the channelizer drum, or attaching at least part of the wrap to itself and to the channelizer drum.
The cover(s) could include any number of sections or subsections that are secured or otherwise attached or attachable together. For example, as shown in FIG. 1F, if an exemplary channelizer drum has a height of 36 or 40 inches, a cover section 25 could be formed as a sleeve with a height of 10 or 12 inches. The cover section 25 could then be disposed over the top of the drum and moved toward the bottom of the drum to a desired distance from the end of the drum. Additional cover sections 25 could be added onto the drum, e.g. to be disposed in a pattern or to delineate a particular feature, symbol, warning, direction barricade, guidance, message, or logo. The cover sections 25 could be attachable to each other or can remain disparate sections. The cover sections 25 can be attachable over a larger cover previously disposed on the drum, under another cover, or overlap any portion of another cover, section, or subsection. In one exemplary use, a cover section 25 could be disposed over the exemplary drum with a color or message or symbol or logo or announcement (e.g. red and white stripes, text: “MOWERS AHEAD” or “WORKERS AHEAD” for work zones, “EXIT OPEN”, “EXIT CLOSED”, “WATCH FOR ICE”, etc.). In use, a worker could place a cover section 25 over a drum, or several cover sections 25 in a row or pattern over one or several drums, to delineate a work area. The drum or drums could already have a cover over the drum, which could have been secured or attached to such drum or drums previously. The workers could then perform their work, and subsequently remove the cover section(s) 25 from the exemplary drum or drums, without removing any other cover(s) previously disposed on the drum(s). In this exemplary use, the cover sections 25 could be used to provide secondary, additional, or heightened awareness of a situation within a previously marked worksite, for example.
Another exemplary use of cover sections 25 could involve concerts or sporting events, e.g. by ride sharing services (e.g. Uber, Lyft, etc.) to announce or delineate areas of drop off or pick up, and can be used, for example, by parking attendants to highlight parking and no parking zones or by event officials to provide additional information in specific areas of an event (e.g. assistance, direction, guidance, safety, location, or special location). Even further, cover sections 25 could be utilized at events, e.g. by sponsors or advertisers, to highlight specific areas or to highlight the advertisers themselves, or to highlight the advertiser's products, services, booths, incentives, contests, or other special announcements. These cover sections 25 can be formed in a similar manner as the covers otherwise detailed in this disclosure, e.g. with elastic or other securement/attachment means provided, with two open ends or with one open end, as a wrap, etc. If, for example, the cover sections 25 were formed as a strip or wrap, the ends of the wrap could be attachable by any means detailed in this disclosure, including, e.g., elastic, hook and loop fasteners, snaps or buttons, hooks, zippers, other fasteners, or other fastening means, etc.
FIG. 2 shows one exemplary method or process 30 of forming a cover for a channelizer drum or barrel. The process shown in FIG. 2 starts at 32 where a device to be covered is selected and proceeds to 34 where the dimensions/shape/design/configuration of the device to be covered are measured/recorded. At 36, one or more raw materials are selected. Optionally, at 38, the raw material selected can be a knitted, woven, nonwoven, polymeric film or other material, dyed or printed upon with appropriate or required size, single or multiple message(s), pattern(s), logo(s), symbol(s), or other indicia or markings. At 40, the raw materials selected are cut, formed, knitted, woven, or otherwise sized to the proper dimensions. At 42, the cut piece(s) of substrate or substrates are arranged, folded, or otherwise configured to conform the selected design or device. At 44, the piece or pieces are assembled, such as by sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, or adhesive or non-adhesive bonding. At 46, securing components 48 can be added to the cover by installing adhesive, buckles, elastic, binding, fasteners, grommets, hooks, piping, snaps, straps, webbing, thread, molded trim (e.g. J-channel or U-channel, including trim(s) from BD Custom Mfg. of Bristol, IN for example) or other components by sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, adhesive or non-adhesive bonding, and/or riveting, for example. A finished cover disposed over a channelizer drum is shown at 50.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate exemplary method or process 60 of forming a cover for a channelizer drum or barrel. The process shown in FIG. 3 starts at 62 where a device to be covered is selected and proceeds to 64 where the dimensions/shape/design/configuration of the device to be covered are measured/recorded. At 66, one or more raw materials are selected. At 68, raw material or yarn is circular or three-dimensionally knitted to the size and shape required to substantially match the device dimensions measured in 64. Optionally, at 70, the raw material selected can be dyed or printed upon with appropriate or required size, single or multiple message(s), pattern(s), logo(s), symbol(s), or other indicia or markings. At 72, the raw materials selected are cut, formed, knitted, woven, or otherwise sized to the proper dimensions. At 74, securing components 76 can be added to the cover by installing adhesive, buckles, elastic, binding, fasteners, grommets, piping, snaps, straps, webbing, thread or other components by use of sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, adhesive or non-adhesive bonding, and/or riveting, for example. A finished cover disposed over a channelizer drum is shown at 78.
FIG. 4 shows various exemplary symbols that can be applied to a channelizer drum cover 10, such as those formed in the processes outlined in FIGS. 2 and 3 or for covers detailed in variations outlined hereinbelow. The exemplary symbols can be formed in combinations and can vary in size, shape, color, and composition from the representations shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the symbols include arrows at 80, a slippery surface symbol at 82, chevrons at 84, a pedestrian symbol at 86, the text “Workers Ahead” at 88, and the text “Slow Down” at 90.
FIG. 5 shows an exemplary application of a channelizer drum cover. As shown in FIG. 5, the device to be covered is selected, here shown as a channelizer drum 5. At 92, the cover 10 to be applied is installed on the channelizer drum 5. For example, the cover 10 can be grasped and slipped, wrapped, or otherwise installed over, onto, to, around, or about the channelizer drum 5. The cover 10 can be additionally secured, e.g. by buckling, snapping, fastening with hook and loop, fastening with a custom or non-custom fastening device or overlapping an edge of the drum to retain at least temporarily the cover 10 on the channelizer drum 5. At 94, the combination cover with channelizer drum is shown. The combination device 94 can be portable, and can be deposited, disposed, or otherwise placed in a proper location, for example, to direct or inform motorists into specific actions (e.g. “stop” or “go” lights or signs), to provide verbal or non-verbal announcements, to alert motorists to specific conditions or events (e.g. “caution” barricades, cones, delineators, drums, signs, etc.), or to channelize (convey or direct) motorists into specific pathways (e.g. channelizing barricades, cones, delineators, drums, signs, etc.).
FIG. 6 shows an exemplary method or process 100 of forming a cover for a traffic cone or other conical shape 95, which method is similar to the method of forming a cover for a drum as detailed hereinabove (specifics of forming the drum are incorporated by reference here even if not repeated in specific). The process shown in FIG. 6 starts at 102 where a traffic cone 95 to be covered is selected and proceeds to 104 where the dimensions/shape/design/configuration of the device to be covered are measured/recorded. At 106, one or more raw materials are selected. Optionally, at 108, the raw material selected can be a knitted, woven, nonwoven, polymeric film, or other material, dyed or printed upon with appropriate or required size, single or multiple message(s), pattern(s), logo(s), symbol(s), or other indicia or markings. At 110, the raw materials selected are cut, formed, knitted, woven, or otherwise sized to the proper dimensions. At 112, the cut piece(s) of substrate or substrates are arranged, folded, or otherwise configured to conform the selected design or device. At 114, the piece or pieces are assembled, such as by sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, or adhesive or non-adhesive bonding. At 116, securing components 118 can be added to the cover by installing adhesive, buckles, elastic, binding, fasteners, grommets, piping, snaps, straps, webbing, thread or other components by use of sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, adhesive or non-adhesive bonding, and/or riveting, for example. The cover can be applied around, onto, or to a traffic cone 95. If the cover is formed as a sleeve with two open ends or in a conical shape with one open end and one closed end, either one of the open ends, or the open end, can be slid over an upper portion of the traffic cone 95 and moved over the traffic cone 95 to cover at least a portion of the traffic cone with one end of the cover at one end of the traffic cone and with the other end of the cover at the other end of the traffic cone. The open ends can each, alternatively, include an attachment or securement means to retain at least temporarily, robustly, semi-permanently, or permanently, the cover on or to the traffic cone 95. Such attachment or securement means can comprise, for example, elastic, binding, piping, hook and loop fasteners, strap(s), Velcro®, snaps, trims, molded fasteners, j-channel fasteners, u-channel fasteners, molded flexible fasteners or strips, pieces or portions of the same or different material, secondary material attachments, rigid or semi-rigid materials, and/or combinations of these and other custom or non-custom fasteners or fastening devices or devices providing maximum fastening or light fastening. In one arrangement, an elastic can be secured to the open ends of the cover, e.g. by folding a length of elastic over a portion of the cover and securing the elastic to the cover or by folding a portion of the cover to form a pocket into which a length of elastic can be disposed with the folded portion of the cover then secured to retain the elastic in the pocket. Or alternatively an elastic can be secured to the open ends of the cover, by applying a length of elastic over a portion of the cover and securing the elastic to the cover. The elastic can be secured onto, to, or within the cover by fasteners, glue, staples, sewing, fusing, radio frequency welding, sonic welding, snapping, tacking, thermal welding, weaving, zipping, or combinations of these. Optionally, the cover can be formed with only one open end, two open ends, one open end and one closed end, or with two closed ends as desired. Or alternatively, the cover can be formed with an upper and lower portion or smaller portion or plurality of portions. Additionally, the cover 10 can be dyed, printed, embossed, sewn, or otherwise provided with appropriate or required size, single, or multiple message(s), pattern(s), logo(s), or symbol(s) as indicated at 20. Once the cover 10 is disposed on a traffic cone, an open end is at an upper portion of the traffic cone and can provide ready access to a traffic cone's top, which can include a hole or handle, or to a cover perimeter edge, which can allow the cover to be readily and easily grasped and removed from the traffic cone. A finished cover disposed over a cone is shown at 120.
Alternatively, the cover can be formed as a wrap that is wrapped around or about the traffic cone and secured at least temporarily to the traffic cone. If formed as a wrap, the wrap can include securement elements that can assist in securing or retaining the wrap onto, around, or about the traffic cone, with such securement elements attaching at least part of the wrap to itself, or attaching at least one part of the wrap to the traffic cone, or attaching at least part of the wrap to itself and to the traffic cone.
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary application of a traffic cone cover 121. As shown in FIG. 7, the device to be covered is selected, here a traffic cone 95. At 122, the cover 121 to be applied is installed on the traffic cone 95. For example, the cover 121 can be grasped and slipped, wrapped, or otherwise installed over, on, around, or about the traffic cone 95. The cover 121 can be additionally secured, e.g. by buckling, snapping, fastening with hook and look, to retain at least temporarily the cover 121 on the traffic cone 95. At 124, the traffic cone 95 can be portable, and can be deposited, disposed, or otherwise placed in a proper location, for example, to direct or inform motorists into specific actions (e.g. “stop” or “go” lights or signs), to provide verbal or non-verbal announcements, to alert motorists to specific conditions or events (e.g. “caution” barricades, cones, delineators, drums, signs, etc.), or to channelize (convey or direct) motorists into specific pathways (e.g. channelizing barricades, cones, delineators, drums, signs, etc.).
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary method or process of forming a cover for a J-Barrier or similar shaped barrier or barricade 155, which method is similar to the method of forming a cover for a drum and/or conical shape as detailed hereinabove (specifics of forming the drum and/or conical shape are incorporated by reference here even if not repeated in specific). The process shown in FIG. 8 starts at 132 where a J-Barrier 155 to be covered is selected and proceeds to 134 where the dimensions/shape/design/configuration of the J-barrier 155 to be covered are measured/recorded. At 136, one or more raw materials are selected. Optionally, at 138, the raw material selected can be a knitted, woven, nonwoven, polymeric film, or other material, dyed or printed upon with appropriate or required size, single or multiple message(s), pattern(s), logo(s), symbol(s), or other indicia or markings. At 140, the raw materials selected are cut, formed, knitted, woven, or otherwise sized to the proper dimensions. At 142, the cut piece(s) of substrate or substrates are arranged, folded, or otherwise configured to conform the selected design or device. At 144, the piece or pieces are assembled, such as by sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, or adhesive or non-adhesive bonding. At 146, securing components 148 can be added to the cover by installing adhesive, buckles, elastic, binding, fasteners, grommets, piping, snaps, straps, webbing, thread or other components by use of sewing, thermal bonding or sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, adhesive or non-adhesive bonding, and/or riveting, for example. Once the cover 151 is disposed on the J-Barrier 155, the open end is at an upper portion of the J-Barrier 155 and can provide ready access to a J-Barrier's top, which could include access to an integrated handle or other feature, and to a perimeter edge of the cover 151, which can allow the cover to be readily and easily grasped and removed from the J-Barrier 155. A finished cover disposed over a J-Barrier 155 is shown at 154.
FIG. 9 shows an exemplary application of a J-Barrier cover 151. As shown in FIG. 9, the device to be covered is selected, here a J-Barrier 155. At 152, the cover 151 to be applied is installed on the J-Barrier 155. For example, the cover 151 can be grasped and slipped, wrapped, or otherwise installed over, on, around, or about the J-Barrier 155. The cover 151 can be additionally secured, e.g. by buckling, snapping, fastening with hook and look, to retain at least temporarily the cover 151 on the J-Barrier 155. At 154, the J-Barrier 155 can be portable, and can be deposited, disposed, or otherwise placed in a proper location, for example, to display a message, warn of an impending event, or funnel traffic.
FIGS. 10-11 show additional exemplary covers for channelizer drums. FIG. 10 shows a drum with a cover with an arrow at and FIG. 11 shows a drum with a cover with “WORK ZONE” at 158.
FIGS. 12-15 show exemplary embodiments of traffic control device channelizer drum covers, including retroreflective materials laminated to a textile. FIG. 12 shows a drum with a cover including multiple stripes at 160. The cover in FIG. 12 is a Rapid Repair Sleeve™ (RRS™) that provides safety improvement with instant repair and compliance for a drum or device, continuing compliance as a countermeasure for mixed drum sheeting zones, rapid installation (typically one minute or less), green practice by delaying replacement and reusing non-compliant drum, multiple striping options including retro reflectivity and size, and the capability of meeting/exceeding standards, e.g. MASH and MUTCD. FIGS. 13-14 show symbols, designs, or combinations of retroreflective materials, symbols, and designs for channelizer drums. The cover(s) shown in FIG. 13 is a Warning Sleeve™ (WS™) that provides warning by supplementing existing drums and signage, provides safety improvement by reducing confusion for an aging population, provides flexibility in customization with any desired symbol and/or text, rapid installation (typically one minute or less), green practice by delaying replacement and reusing non-compliant drum, and the capability of meeting/exceeding standards, e.g. MASH and MUTCD. The cover(s) shown in FIG. 14 is a Positive Guidance Sleeve™ (PGS™) that provides positive guidance by supplementing existing signage, provides safety improvement by reducing confusion for an aging population, provides flexibility in customization with any desired symbol and/or text, rapid installation (typically one minute or less), green practice by delaying replacement and reusing non-compliant drum, and the capability of meeting/exceeding standards, e.g. MASH and MUTCD. The cover(s) shown in FIG. 15 is a Directional Indicator Barricade Sleeve™ (DIBS™) that provides safety improvement over conventional DIBs as being more robust, provides convenience by increasing the availability of drums that increases ease and/or the opportunity for use, provides lower cost in comparison to conventional barricades, provides improvement with omni-directional and/or redundant indicators, which redundancy ensures orientation does not inhibit message delivery, provides rapid installation (typically one minute or less), green practice by delaying replacement and reusing non-compliant drum, and the capability of meeting/exceeding standards, e.g. MASH.
FIGS. 16-17 show additional exemplary covers for traffic cones, grab cones, or delineators. Specifically, FIG. 16 shows a traffic cone cover and FIG. 17 shows a delineator or grab cone cover.
FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 160 of forming a cover. As shown in FIG. 18, a method of laminating retroreflective material(s) or substrates to textile (knitted or woven), fabric (nonwoven), or other substrate (polymeric film) in one exemplary process that includes: providing textile, fabric, or other substrates at 162; providing retroreflective material(s) at 164; laminating the textile, fabric, or substrate to retroreflective material(s) to form a combination laminated retroreflective material at 166; and forming a cover, ring, partial cover, or sleeve from the combination laminated retroreflective material for end use utility as a traffic control device cover, ring, partial cover, or sleeve at 168.
The cover(s) detailed herewithin can be formed from any material capable of being used as. For example, the cover(s) can be a flexible substrate cover, primarily consisting of paper, plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, TPU, etc.) or textile (acrylic, cotton, nylon, polyester, etc.) designed, configured, formed or sized to encapsulate, cover, conform to or enclose, either in whole or part, all, or portions thereof, the surface area of a Temporary or Permanent Traffic Control Device or Traffic Control Sign (TCS). Further, a cover for a TCD or TCS can add, augment, improve, supplement or enhance the function, performance, intent or purpose of an existing TCD or TCS, by means of color, reflection, illumination, text, symbol, electronic or airwave frequency non-verbal and verbal “messaging”. The cover(s) can be designed, configured, or assembled by cutting, sewing, thermal sealing, sonic welding, RF welding, adhesive or non-adhesive bonding, 3D printing, 3D knitting, 3D weaving, or combinations thereof, or any other means of forming the cover(s).
The cover(s) can be designed, configured, or assembled as a single piece, multiple pieces, single substrate piece, or multiple substrate pieces combined into a finished cover. The cover(s) can be designed, configured or assembled using singular, or multiple components combined into a finished cover. The cover(s) can combine singular or multiple components into a finished cover and could, alternatively include; adhesive, buckles, elastic, binding, fasteners, piping, snaps, straps, thread or similar components to enhance or optimize the performance or security of the cover. The cover(s) can include additional features, such as color, reflectivity, or illumination of the cover, either in whole or part, and can be generally or logically coupled to a well-known, or newly implemented, messaging system, to convey, transmit, or assist in the transmission of a singular message (e.g. caution), or multiple messages (e.g. caution, work zone ahead, active work zone, extreme caution, hot zone, etc.) installed, integrated or present and “visible” on the cover. The cover(s) can provide, announce, display, or otherwise convey any form of electronic text message, symbol, audible sound, or audible sound message and can be generally or logically tied to a well-known or newly implemented messaging system, to convey a singular message (e.g. caution), or multiple messages (e.g. accident ahead, caution, work zone ahead, active work zone, extreme caution, exit open, exit closed, road open, road closed, slow down, etc.) installed, integrated or present on the cover, communicating the message or messages by means of analog or digital airwave frequency means, integrated within, or attached as a separate device or devices.
One exemplary method of forming the exemplary cover(s) shown in the figures is to cut a flexible textile mesh or substrate into a specific configuration. The cover(s) can be folded at one end and sewn to the other with multi-filament textile, or monofilament, sewing thread. Additionally, as shown, elastic can be sewn about and around the resulting perimeter edge openings at each end of the sewn single piece's specific configuration. The elastic can compress at least partially to secure the cover's open ends to the channelizer drum.
Although not shown specifically in the figures, the cover(s) can be sized and formed to be disposed over an entirety of, or at least a portion of, a traffic barricade cover, a traffic delineator cover, a traffic cone cover, a traffic j-barrier cover, a traffic mile marker cover, traffic sign cover, sign cover(s), sign post cover(s), a sawhorse(s), and an arm such as arms used in exits, switching lanes, toll lanes and areas, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, energy efficient priority lanes, or other restrictive lanes. Further still, though not shown specifically in the figures, the cover(s) can be sized to cover, surround, or otherwise obscure oblong shapes, large shapes, asymmetrical shapes, and/or shapes formed by two or more polygonal dissimilar shapes.
In some embodiments, a cover or cover(s) can be formed in a shape configured to be disposed over a traffic control device, including, for example, a drum such as a channelizer drum, delineator, or barricade. The cover could also include indicia thereon, such as text, symbols, markings, and/or advertising. The cover or cover(s) can comprise the cover itself, i.e. without additional attachments, such as tape, bands, or other securements applied thereover.
In some embodiments, the cover or cover(s) can include an additional attachment(s) thereon, thereto, or thereover. Such additional attachment(s) could, for example, include a reflective or retroreflective element, tape, symbol, object, and/or indicia. One exemplary embodiment could include retroreflective tape, with the cover and tape shaped or formed to mimic or otherwise be capable of being disposed around or about a drum, such as a diamond or contractor grade drum, delineator, or other traffic control device. In use, such exemplary embodiment could be formed to make a drum, delineator, or other traffic control device compliant to meet or satisfy standards for traffic control devices. For example, if a drum, delineator, or other traffic control device that was originally compliant had become noncompliant and could not satisfy industry and/or government standards, a cover could be disposed over such non-compliant drum, delineator, or device to make the noncompliant drum, delineator, or device compliant to satisfy industry and/or government standards. In this manner, a noncompliant drum, delineator, or traffic control device could be repaired to make it compliant.
In some embodiments, a cover can be a positive guidance drum cover that can include markings, indicia, text, symbols, arrows, and/or combinations of these or otherwise. A positive guidance drum cover can be used to convey information in addition to the cover itself and/or in addition to tape, bands, or other additional materials applied to the cover.
In some embodiments, a cover can be a directional indictor barricade cover that includes diagonal, slanted, or offset stripes, which can be disposed in rows, columns, or overlapping to provide different retroreflective strips. A directional indicator barricade cover can offer positive guidance for a barricade, drum, or traffic control device. The diagonal stripes or markings can be arranged or otherwise disposed to provide additional guidance, such as slanting in the intended direction of travel.
In use, a drum can be covered with a cover without additional markings, or can be covered with a cover with compliant markings to make a non-compliant drum, delineator, or traffic control device into a compliant device, or can be covered with a positive guidance drum cover to provide positive guidance, or can be covered with a directional indicator barricade cover to provide directional indication, or can be selectively covered with one or more of these covers as selected for a particular situation, location, time, or venue as appropriate and can be selectively changed therebetween covers.
The cover(s) and cover section(s) detailed herein provide a number of benefits. Some exemplary benefits of the cover(s) and cover section(s) detailed herewithin include: the cover(s) and cover section(s) afford(s) “no excuse” for damaged drums on roadways that are not DOT compliant, the cover(s) and cover section(s) improve eye level communication in work zones to improve safety of vehicle users and the work zone, the cover(s) and cover section(s) supplement work zone devices and communications, including, but not limited to, warnings and/or positive guidance, without additionally convoluting the work zone, the cover(s) and cover section(s) reduce work zone confusion for an aging population, and the cover(s) and cover section(s) provide green practice benefits by reducing landfill disposal of DOT non-compliant or damaged drums by extending the useful life of drums that would otherwise be DOT non-compliant.
The present cover(s) can be understood more readily by reference to the instant detailed description, examples, and claims. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
The instant description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known aspect. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be made to the aspects described, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the instant description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “body” includes aspects having two or more bodies unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
Although several aspects of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other aspects of the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the invention is not limited to the specific aspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention.
Patent Application
20230392330
