Reflective pavement marker

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6267530
  • Patent Number
    6,267,530
  • Date Filed
    Saturday, October 16, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 31, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Pezzuto; Robert E.
    • Addie; Raymond W
Abstract
A reflective pavement marker having integrally molded one-piece structural body with multiple hollow cavities that are open only at the top reflective faces of the marker, two arcuate sides and integrally sealed planar base surface with textures and discontinuous grooves. This marker provides a device to enhance agglutination to the roadway, improve resistance to flexural stresses due to automobiles impact forces; this is accomplished by maximizing the base surface area for adhesive wetting parameter. The reflective plates are welded on wedge like tops of the partition walls separating hollow cavities from each other. The body can be made of various recycled or virgin structural plastics with high impact resistance and UV stability.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to reflective roadway markers that are used for traffic lane delineation, in particular, to markers with enhanced reflectivity, impact resistant and low cost.




2. Related Art Roadway markers are adhered to pavements along centerlines, edge lines, lane dividers or guardrail delineators. Other roadway markers are used as temporary lane dividers in temporary constructions, detours or prior to permanent marking of newly paved roadways. Since 1965, the most commonly used reflective roadway markers are based on Heenan U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,327 or Balint U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,344. Typically, this type of markers are produced in a process consisting of four to five steps: First, injection molding of a thermoplastic shell, either integrally molded with the reflective face, or the reflective faces welded on a corresponding open recesses within the shell. The reflective face, having 350 or more cube corner reflective elements on each reflective face of the shell. Secondly, either the cube corner reflective elements within a shell or the entire inside surface of the shell coated with a reflective sealer by a process known as vacuum metalizing. This metallic sealer needed to seal the cube corner reflective elements so they retain part of their reflectivity prior to the next step, of filling the shell with a thermosetting resinous material, such as epoxy or polyurethane.




This resinous filler material encapsulate the metalized cube corner reflective elements and give the marker the structural body. Finally, a layer of relatively course sand or glass beads dispersed over the top surface of the filler material prior to solidification of the filler material.




Part of the sand particles will remain partially protruding above this planar surface of the marker base, thereby increase the adhesive wetting parameter of the base surface. This will improve adhesion to substrate, regardless of the type of adhesive used. This type of markers worked well for six or seven months, however, due to poor abrasion and impact resistant of the thermoplastic shell, nearly 60% of the reflectivity is lost thereafter, Also, since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the shell material and the resinous filler material vary, this causes pealing of the reflective face or the shell from the resinous body, thereby losing reflectivity. Several attempt were made to improve abrasion resistant of the reflective face. One was the thin layer of glass, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,319, Another attempt was the use of polymeric coating of the reflective face, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,548 (Forrer). These abrasion resistant coating proving to be expensive and tend to reduce reflectivity. Other major development in the pavement marker art have been made in the attempt to eliminate the use of the metalized sealer for the cube corner reflective elements. This has been achieved by dividing the inside surface of the reflective face into reflective cells, each cell will have several cube corner reflective elements, the cells isolated from each other by partition and load carrying walls. The entire reflective face welded to corresponding recesses within a hollowed or solid body. This method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,227,772 (Heenan); 4,232,979; and 4,340,319 (Johnson et al); 4,498,733 (Flanagan). These markers proved to be superior in reflectivity, however, lack of enough adhesive wetting parameter lead to poor adhesion to roadways, hence caused short life cycle for this type of markers. This applicant successfully developed two markers with non-metallized multi-cell reflective roadway. One roadway marker utilizes raised rhombic shaped abrasion reducing and load transferring raised ridges, which act to intercede abrasion elements and impact load, the shell filled with impact resistant epoxy. The marker body having a base with large wetting parameter for shear and flexural strength, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,706.




The second roadway marker of this applicant, U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,897 developed a mean to increase the abrasion resistant of the reflective face by coating the reflective face with diamond-like film and by having holding pins extended beyond the partition walls into the body, the holding pins sealed by the filler material; this works very effectively, providing structural strength and maximum adhesive wetting parameter. The entire above reflective pavement markers are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Applicant present goal to have a roadway marker having: high reflectivity, enhance structural body, abrasion resistant, low cost, marker base area with maximum wetting parameter and very simple yet consistent process to manufacture.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




This invention provide a novel raised pavement marker that comprises a monolithically injected body with hollow cavities, said hollow cavities with open ends at the reflective faces. At least one reflective face having insert plate with multiple cube corner reflective elements welded on it thereby forming air gaps beneath the reflective elements, said body having a base with large adhesive wetting parameter for better adhesion to the pavement and higher resistance to flexural stresses.




The primary object of this invention is to eliminate the multi steps process in prior arts for making reflective and non-reflective pavement markers while retaining maximum base surface area. Another objective of this invention is to provide a raised roadway marker made of high impact and abrasion resistant material and low cost. The present invention further provide a method of making one piece body for raised roadway markers of any desirable shape and configuration having light weight, such as a marker with truncated body or one piece marker with a body having two rumble portions integrally made with two reflective faces and scalloped recess in-between having planar textured base.




In accordance with still further aspect of this invention, the marker can be made with one or two reflective faces, this will cost considerably less to install to the roadway, or two multi colored parts can be welded together, each with one reflective face opposite the other.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The advantages and unique features of this invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings. These drawings are schematics, no scale used. In the drawings:





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of one of the preferred one-piece marker body of the invention;





FIG. 2

is a plan view of the pavement marker illustrated in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is elevation view of pavement marker in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a cross section view taken along the line


4





4


in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is isometric view of marker in

FIG. 1

showing planar base surface with discontinuous grooves;





FIG. 6

is an isometric view of a reflective plate for attachment in the one piece body of marker in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7

is isometric view of another embodiment of marker with one-piece body of the invention;





FIG. 8

is another isometric view of marker in

FIG. 7

showing the planar base surface with grooves;





FIG. 9

is a plan view of the marker in

FIG. 7

showing the curved sides and reflective face;





FIG. 10

is a cross section view taken along the line


10





10


in

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 11

is an elevation view of the reflective marker in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 12

is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of a spherical marker of the invention showing two cap portions, one with reflective cells and the second with no reflective cells;





FIG. 13

is a plan view of the marker body and a non-reflective cap portion for the body, as in

FIG. 12

;





FIG. 14

is an elevation view of the body in

FIG. 12

with one unattached cap portion, as in

FIG. 12

;





FIG. 15

is a plan view of yet another non-reflective embodiment of the marker of the invention;





FIG. 16

is a cross sectional view taken along the line


16





16


in

FIG. 15

;





FIG. 17

is an isometric view showing part of another preferred embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 18

is a plan view of the reflective marker part in

FIG. 17

with attached reflective plate;





FIG. 19

is a plan view of welded two parts forming two ways marker based on

FIG. 17

part;





FIG. 20

is a cross section of the combined two parts as in

FIG. 19

, taking along line


20





20


in FIG.


21


.











DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Durable, cost effective and simplified production method for reflective and non-reflective roadway markers with maximum resistance flexural stresses can be achieved by having a large wetting parameter surface within the marker base area and producing a lightweight marker body integrally, in one step, from one of various available structural polymers. The marker body can be integrally formed in such a way as to reduce excessive material loss while retaining structural strength and optimum adhesive wetting area for the base surface. This invention satisfies the above conditions.




Referring to FlGS.


1


to


6


, which represent one of the preferred embodiments of the marker designated by the number


25


which comprises a one piece structural body


30


which includes multiple, hollow cavities


31




c


and at least one reflective plate attachment


40


. Structural body


30


integrally having two inclined planar faces


31


for reflective plate attachment


40


, two arcuate sides


34


, a top portion


33


and sealed planar base surface


36


that includes multiple, textured, arcuate grooves


36




a


. The inclined faces


31


, each having a planar surface


31




a


and a recessed portion


31




b


where a reflective plate


40


can be welded or agglutinated. Recessed portion


31




b


is where the wedge shaped top surfaces of the hollow cavity walls


31




d


are located. Hollow cavities


31




c


, each having centerline near perpendicular to the inclined planar faces


31


.

FIG. 4



b


shows a section view of a hollow cavity


31




c


showing wedge shaped top surfaces


31




e


of cavity walls


31




d


, each wall


31




d


forming an angle, preferably about 2 to 5 degrees with respect to the center line of said hollow cavity. Hollow cavities


31




c


having a depth that can be terminated about 0.10 to 0.15 inch above the sealed outside planar base surface


36


, which has an extended lip


35


. This depth for hollow cavities


31




c


allows body


30


to retain a solid base surface, without any opening for said hollow cavities. The thickness of hollow cavity walls


31




d


at the lower end of wedge shaped top surface


31




e


is about 0.07 to 0.20 inch at the planar recess portion


31




b


of the inclined planar face


31


.




These relatively thick, walls


31




d,


with the wedge shaped top surfaces


31




e


will significantly improve the impact resistance of body


30


while maximize the air gap areas beneath each cell shaped remains of the inside surfaces of reflective plate attachment


40


.




The inclined planar faces


31


form an acute angle with respect to the planar base surface


36


, said acute angle, preferably having a value of about 28 to 30 degrees. The reflective plate attachment


40


is welded to the wedge shaved top surfaces


31




e


of hollow cavity walls


31




d,


fusing a thin portion of the inside of reflective plate attachment


40


, thereby forming a cell like reflective segments within the inside surface of plate


40


. Each of said cells having multiple cube-corner reflective elements


41




b


freely open within each corresponding hollow cavity


31




c.


The air gap formed beneath the cube corner reflective elements within each hollow cavity


31




c,


allows maximum reflectivity out the need for metalizing the reflective elements. The outside surface of the reflective plate attachment


40


will have corresponding cell like planar reflective areas


41


, need having similar shaves as the open ends of hollow cavities


31




c


bellow them. Preferably, the outside cell like planar areas


41


will be recessed about 0.001 to 0.010 inch bellow the planar surface of the reflective plate attachment


40


, defining ridge like walls


42


. Several shapes or sizes of hollow cavity


31




c


can be selected for marker body


30


, hence forming corresponding shaped cell like planar reflective areas


41


for the reflective plate


40


.




The following U.S. Patents provides suitable reflective plate or cube corner reflective element design. U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,706 to Stamm, U,S. Pat. No. 4,208,090 to Heenan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,919 to Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,733 to Flanagan and U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,706 to Attar, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Reflective plate


40


can be coated for abrasion resistance, using suitable method of vapor deposited, diamond-like carbon film or silicon dioxide film. Pavement marker body


30


can have any commonly used size or shape for the base area


36


. Preferably, the base are will have a width of about 4.0 to 5.0 inch and the depth to be about 2.0 to 4.0 inch and the marker body height can be about 0.50 to 0.70 inch.




Several recycled or virgin polymeric material are available and suitable for the production of marker body


30


. Pigmented and inert filled thermo set or thermoplastic material can also be used to form marker body


30


. Preferably, a comparable polymer is used to allow the sonic welding of two parts, the reflective plate means and the marker body


30


.




The polymer material used to make the reflective plates


40


, normally is transparent acrylic or polycarbonate thermoplastic.




Referring to

FIGS. 7 through 11

, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a roadway marker


5


having a body


10


integrally formed from any desired structural polymer, said marker body


10


having two hump portions


15


, each integrally having a concave-curve-shaped reflective face


11


with curved surface


11




a,


open ends of hollow cavities


11




c


and small recesses


11




e.


The two hump portions


15


are integrally connected by a scalloped, recessed-portion


16


. The marker body also having two arcuate sides


18


and a sealed planar base surface


12


having a textured and grooved surface


12




a


. Hollow cavities


11




c


, each having a wedge shaped top surface


11




b


slightly recessed bellow the curved surface


11




a


and inwardly tapered partition walls


11




d.


Hollow cavities


11




c


have closed ends that terminate about 0.10 to 0.15 inch above the sealed outside planar base surface


12


, The centerline of each hollow cavity


11




c


makes an angle of about 28 to 32 degrees with respect to the planar base surface


12


. Reflective plate


20


having multiple reflective cells


20




a,


said cells interconnected with thin ties


20




b.


Plate


20


can be welded or agglutinated to the wedge shaped top surfaces


11




b.


Each individual reflective cell


20




a


tightly welded on to the corresponding wedge shape top surfaces


11




b


. Reflective cells


20




a


, each having an outside planar surface that will be positioned slightly bellow the curved surface


11




a


and having an inside surface with cube corner reflective elements sealed within an air gap inside of each corresponding hollow cavities


11




c.


Reflective plate


20


can be coated with abrasion resistant diamond-like carbon film, or silicone dioxide film, to enhance durability.





FIGS. 12 through 16

illustrate yet another embodiment of reflective or non-reflective roadway markers, in accordance to the present invention. Marker


50


has an integrally made body


40


having a round spherical shaped top surface


41


with a round and slightly recessed center portion


42


, said center portion


42


is divided into multiple hollow cavities


42




a


by partition and load carrying walls


42




b


. Walls


42




b


are tapered inward, forming 3 to 5 degrees angle with respect to the centerline of each hollow cavity


42




a


. Hollow cavities


42




a


terminate about 0.10 inch above the sealed outside planar base surface


45


with raised pens


45




a


, said raised pens


45




a


protrude less than 0.06 inch beyond the sealed planar base surface


45


. When cap portion


46




a


is attached to body


40


, a non-reflective marker


50


is formed. Cap portion


46




a


has thickness and contour correspond to the recessed center portion


42


of body


40


. Cap portion


46




a


having an outside surface with raised ridges


43


.

FIG. 12A

shows cap portion


46


. Cap portion


46


having an outside spherical surface


44


integrally built with raised ridges


43


and multiple of reflective cells


47


, each cell having a planar outside surface and multiple cube corner reflective elements on the inside of said cells


47


. The inside surface of cap portion


46


can be integrally textured with either small spherical shaped surfaces, wedged ridges, cube corner shaped surface or any combination of such texturing surface for added brightness and welding parameter. When cap portion


46


to be used, the entire shape and size of the hollow cavities


42




a


have to be formed to correspond to the size and shape to cells


47


. Reflective cells


47


having the outside planar surface positioned about 28 to 30 degrees with respect to the planar base surface


45


. Each reflective cell also forms an angle with respect to adjacent cell, said angle to have a value of not more than 30 degrees. Each cell


47


welded directly on the vertex of wedge shaped top surfaces of hollow cavity walls


42




b


, thereby forming air gap directly beneath the cube corner reflective elements within each cell. Cap portion


46


can be made of impact resistant and transparent polymeric material. Such polymeric materials are available either as a recycled or virgin. When color reflectors are desired, a transparent pigment will be added to the polymer.




Marker


50




a


is another preferred embodiment of a non-reflective marker based on the present invention. Marker


50




a


can be made from recycled or virgin plastics such as ABS, Polypropylene, engineered plastic or any suitable high strength polymer. Engineered plastic is commonly referred to as thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers with various proportions of fiber reinforcement and/or inert materials added. Several compositions of these types of polymers are available and readily marketed, either as a recycled or virgin polymer. Marker


50




a


having a one-piece body


40




a


with a sealed spherical top surface


41




a


, said body


40




a


including multiple, hollow cavities


45




b


, each with an open end at a recessed part


45




c


of planar base surface


45




a


. Each hollow cavity


45




b


ends approximately 0.10-inch bellow the outside spherical surface


41




a


. A planar cap portion


52


can be welded to the recessed part


45




c


of the planar base surface


45




a


where the open ends of hollow cavities


45




b


are located. These types of reflective and non-reflective markers can effectively be used to replace the highly brittle ceramic markers, because it can retain surface brightness due to having minimum contact to tire surfaces, maximum base adhesive wetting parameter and lower production cost and shorter production cycle due to the multiple hollow cavities within the marker's body. Markers


50


and


50




a


can be coated with abrasion resistant vapor deposited diamond like film or silicon dioxide film for added surface enhancement and durability.




Another preferred embodiment is roadway marker


60


, as illustrated in

FIGS. 18 through 22

. Marker


60


is ideally suited for use having two multi colored reflective sides or a one-color marker. Marker


60


formed having two parts


61


connected with a tear-able thin wedge


66




a.


The two parts


61


can be welded or agglutinated at the backside


67


.




Each part


61


integrally comprises a planar top surface


66


, a sealed planar base surface


65


with textured grooves


65




a,


two multi angled sides


64


, an inclined planar face


62


and backside


67


vertical with respect to planar base surface


65


, said backside including hollow cavities


69


.




The inclined planar face


62


includes a planar surface


62




a


and a recessed portion


62




b


. Recessed portion


62




b


having the open ends of hollow cavities


68


and the wedge shaped top surfaces


63




a


of hollow cavity walls


63


that separate said hollow cavities from each other. The planar face


62


is preferably inclined about 28 to 30 degrees with respect to the sealed planar base surface


65


. A reflective plate


70


which has a corresponding size and shape of the recessed portion


62




b


is either welded or agglutinated to the wedge shaped top surface


63




a


, thereby retaining cell like inside areas of the reflective plate with cube corner reflective elements, tightly within an air gap, inside each corresponding hollow cavity


68


. Hollow cavities


68


are formed having a centerline near perpendicular to planar face


62


and a depth that terminates about 0.10 inch above the planar base surface


65


.




Hollow cavity walls


63


form an inward angle equal or less than 5 degrees with respect to each centerline of the corresponding hollow cavity.




Another form of hollow cavities


69


open within the backside


67


, said cavities


69


can be of any eject able shape. Hollow cavities


69


are used to minimize any wasted polymeric material used to make part


61


without hampering the structural integrity of said part


61


. Part


61


can be made of various recycled or virgin polymeric materials with the desired color added. Reflective plate


70


can have either planar outside surface or slightly recessed cell like planar surfaces corresponding to the shapes of the opening of the hollow cavities


68


.




The inside surface of reflective plate


70


is formed with multiple cube-corner reflective elements. The inside of reflective plate


70


is sonically welded to the wedge shaped top surface


63




a


of hollow cavity walls


63


. Hence cell-like areas formed on the inside surface of reflective plate


70


. Each cell can retain multiple of the cube-corner reflective elements within a corresponding hollow cavity


68


.




Either two reflective lenses can be sonically welded to each recessed side, or one blank plate can be welded to one side and reflective plate on the opposite.




The present descriptions are considered to be few of the preferred embodiments of this invention. It is understood that various changes or modification can be made within the scope of the appended claims all such modification fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.




Therefore, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.



Claims
  • 1. A reflective roadway marker having a one piece body with at least one reflective plate means for attachment, said one piece body comprising:multiple hollow cavities, two arcuate sides, a top portion, a sealed planar base, said sealed planar base having a bottom surface with textured, disontinous grooves and two inclined planar faces, each of said planar faces having a planar recessed portion where the open ends of hollow cavities are located and where one reflective plate means can be attached, said planar recessed portions having the top ends of load carrying partition walls defining said hollow cavities within one said piece body, each of said top ends of load carrying partition walls is having a wedge shaped top surface, said wedge shaped top surfaces are being adopted for structural enhancement and to maximize the air gap areas at the open ends of said hollow cavities, said load carrying partition walls each having inwardly formed angle of about 2 to 5 degrees with respect to the center line of said corresponding hollow cavity; and reflective plate means for attachment to the top portions of said wedge shaped top surfaces and periphery of said planar recessed portion of said inclined planar faces of said one piece body, said reflective plate means having inside surface with multiple of cube-corner reflective elements and planar outside surface, said inside surface sonically wedded to said wedge shaped top surfaces thereby fusing a portion of said cube corner reflective elements to said wedge shaped top surfaces thereby defining cell like inside surface upon the reflective plate means, each said cell having the remaining cube corner reflective elements, said planar outside surface can be divided into slightly recessed cell like planar surfaces.
  • 2. The roadway marker is defined in claim 1, wherein each inclined planar face integrally includes a recessed portion where a reflective plate means is attached, said recessed portion includes the wedge shaped top surfaces of said load carrying partition walls, said wedge shaped top surfaces having a base width of about 0.07 to 0.20 inch near said planar surface of said recessed portion of each said inclined planar faces.
  • 3. The roadway marker is defined as claim 1, where said hollow cavities are integrally formed having centerlines near perpendicular to the corresponding inclined planar faces within the one-piece body, said hollow cavities having depths that terminate about 0.10 to 0.15 inch above said sealed planar base surface.
  • 4. The roadway marker is defined in claim 1, wherein the said grooves have a depth of about 0.03 to 0.08 inch.
  • 5. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 1, wherein the one piece structural body can be made various compatible polymeric materials, said material can be recycled or virgin polymer with high impact resistance, said polymeric material can be filled with additive filler materials for strength or pigmentation.
  • 6. The roadway marker is defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective plate means is made of transparent polymeric material, said reflective plate means can have slightly recessed cell like outside planar surfaces of about 0.002 to 0.008 inch deep and inside surface with multiple cube corner reflective elements, said inside surface of said reflective plate means is sonically welded to te top ends of said wedge shape top surfaces forming reflective cell like surfaces within each hollow cavity, each of said cell like surfaces retaining multiple cube-corner reflective elements.
  • 7. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 1, wherein the outside surfaces of the reflective plate means can be coated with a layer of abrasion resistance diamond like carbon film or silicon dioxide film, utilizing evaporative coathing methods.
  • 8. A retro reflective roadway marker comprising:one piece structural body and at least one reflective plate attachment, said one piece body integrally formed comprising: a sealed planar base surface with textured sincontinous grooves, two arcuate sides, a top side having two hump portions each having a concave curve shaped reflective face, a plurality of hollow cavities integrally formed within said one piece body, said reflective face having the top planar open ends of said hollow cavities within a planar recessed portion, said hollow cavities being defined by load carrying partition walls having recessed wedge shaped top surfaces for reflective plate attachment, said two hump portions connected by a center concave recess portion.
  • 9. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one reflective plate attachment is welded or agglutinated to said recessed wedge shaped top surfaces within said reflective faces of said one-piece body.
  • 10. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 8, wherein the reflective plate attachment is made of transparent polymeric material having inside surface with multiple of cube corner reflective elements, a portion of said cube corner reflective elements being welded to said recessed wedge shaped top surfaces of said load carrying partition walls, thereby defining a cell like reflective areas within said hollow cavities.
  • 11. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 8, wherein the one piece body can be made of recycled or virgin engineering plastic or any suitable structural polymeric material with high impact resistance, said polymeric material to be compatible for sonic weilding to said reflective plate material.
  • 12. A roadway marker comprising of one piece structural body and one reflective plate attachment, said one piece structural body is formed having spherical shaped upper surface, said upper surface integrally formed with inwardly tapered load carrying partition walls defining multiple hollow cavities integrally within said one piece body, said load carrying partition walls having wedge shaped top surfaces within a recessed portion of said spherical shaped upper surface of said one piece body, said one piece body having an integrally sealed planar base surface with raised pens.
  • 13. The roadway marker as defined in claim 12, wherein the one piece structural body is having the wedge shaped top surfaces at the ends of said integrally formed load carrying partition walls defining said hollow cavities within a recessed spherically shaped portion of said spherical shaped upper surface of said one piece structural body, said one piece body made of high impact resistance recycled or virgin polymeric material.
  • 14. The roadway marker as defined in claim 12, wherein a cap portion welded or agglutinated to the corresponding recessed spherical portion of said one piece body, said cap portion integrally having raised ridges on the outside spherical surface and can have two opposing sides with multiple or planar reflective cells, each reflective cell integrally having inside surface with multiple of cube corner reflective elements, said reflective cells each forms nearly 30 degree angle with respect to planar base surface and each reflective cell forms a horizontal angle of not more than 30 degrees with respect to adjacent cell, said cap portion made of recycled or virgin transparent polymer.
  • 15. The roadway marker as defined in claim 12, wherein the cap portion for said one piece body can be made without reflective cells, said cap portion can be made of various compatible recycled or virgin pigmented polymers.
  • 16. The roadway marker as defined in claim 12, wherein the one piece structural body can be formed with sealed upper spherically shaped surface, said one piece structural body having the open ends of said hollow cavities integrally open within a recessed portion of the planar base surface, said load carrying partition walls having inwardly tapered surface with respect to the planar base surface, said one piece body can be made of recycled or virgin high impact resistance and U.V. stabilized polymer.
  • 17. The roadway marker as defined in claim 16, wherein an attachment planar thin cap portion welded or agglutinated to be recessed portion of said planar base surface, said planar thin cap portion made of compatible recycled or virgin polymeric material, said planar thin cap portion having textured discontinous grooves on the outside surface.
  • 18. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 12, wherein the upper spherical shaped surface can be coated with abrasion resistant diamond-like carbon film or silicone dioxide film utilizing a suitable vapor deposition method.
  • 19. A retro reflective roadway marker comprises:a structural body formed by welding two identical parts integrally connected by a tear able thin wedge, each of said part having a top surface, a textured and sealed planar base surface, two multi-angled sides, one inclined planar face surface with a planar recessed portion, a beaded and hollowed backside forming perpendicular angle with respect to said sealed planar base surface and integrally formed load carrying partition walls defining multiple hollow cavities within each of said part, said load carrying partition walls having open ends with wedge shaped top surfaces within said planar recessed portion of said part; and reflective plate means for attachment to said wedge shaped top surfaces of said load carrying partition walls defining multiple hollow cavities within said planar recessed portions of said part, said reflective plate means having inside surface with multiple of cube corner reflective elements, said reflective plate means having an outside surface with planar transparent surface to intercept light from incoming traffics.
  • 20. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 19, wherein two parts with dissimilar color can be welded at the vertical backside to form a multi colored reflective marker, said marker having corresponding transparent colored reflective plate means attached to each part.
  • 21. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 19, wherein each part of the one piece body integrally having multiple hollow cavities, each hollow cavity having a centerline near perpendicular to the corresponding inclined planar face surface, said reflective plate means sonically welded to said wedge shaped top surfaces of said open ends of load carrying partition walls defining said hollow cavities within said inclined recessed portion of said inclined planar face.
  • 22. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 19, wherein each part having multiple of hollow cavities within the vertical backside, said hollow cavities formed to improve said structural body and minimize production cycle time for said body.
  • 23. The reflective roadway marker as defined in claim 19, wherein the outside surface of the reflective plate means can be coated with an abrasion resistant film, said film could be either silicon dioxide or diamond like carbon film, utilizing suitable vapor deposition method.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Number Name Date Kind
4726706 Attar Feb 1988
5137391 Ballesteros Aug 1992
5425596 Steere et al. Jun 1995
5449244 Sandino Sep 1995
5470170 Lindner Nov 1995
5667335 Khieu et al. Sep 1997
5895725 Caughlin Apr 1999
5897271 Widmer Apr 1999
5927897 Attar Jul 1999
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