EP0043656A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reflective road markers
Assignee: KINGRAY INTERNATIONAL Ltd
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Filing: 1981-06-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A road marker for embedding in a road surface (23) has a displaceable reflector unit (11) resiliently carried in a cup-shaped casing (10) on a spherical rubber spring (12). The reflector unit (11) carries uppermost a pair of oppositely-facing reflective elements (14) disposed back-to-back and inclined at low angles to the horizontal. The reflective elements (14), in the upper biassed position of the reflector unit (11), protrude above the upper rim (17) of the casing (10). A pair of guard shoulders (45) disposed on the reflector unit (11) flank the pair of reflective elements (14), and protrude above adjacent parts of those elements (14), so that when a vehicle tyre rolls over the marker, depression of the shoulders (45) by the tyre displaces the reflective elements (14) away from the tyre and thereby reduces the extent or degree of physical contact of the tyre with the exposed surfaces of the reflective elements (14). The shoulders (45) preferably incorporate metal reinforcement members to protect the shoulders (45) against non-rolling objects which slide over the marker, and the reflector unit (11) has apertures through which jets of air/water are expelled from the casing (10) when the reflector unit (11) is depressed by a tyre.
Inventors
- 👤 Mendel King
- 👤 Raymond Brannan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:02
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/553; E01F9/565; E01F9/571
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A reflective road marker-comprising - an outer casing adapted for embedding in a surface layer of a road with an upper rim part of said casing substantially flush with the surface of said road; and a displaceable reflector unit slidably received in said casing, being supported therein by a resilient supporting means and having parts thereof protruding normally outside said casing above said road surface, said parts including at least one reflective element positioned so as to reflect light received from oncoming vehicles back to said vehicles, and said reflector unit being depressible by a vehicle tyre passing over said protruding parts, characterised in that said reflector unit is provided with protruding guard means adjacent said protruding parts for reducing the extent or degree of physical contact of said parts with a said vehicle tyre passing over said parts, contact of a said tyre with said guard means acting to depress said reflector unit into said casing and thereby to move said reflective element in a direction away from said tyre.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A reflective road marker-comprising - an outer casing adapted for embedding in a surface layer of a road with an upper rim part of said casing substantially flush with the surface of said road; and a displaceable reflector unit slidably received in said casing, being supported therein by a resilient supporting means and having parts thereof protruding normally outside said casing above said road surface, said parts including at least one reflective element positioned so as to reflect light received from oncoming vehicles back to said vehicles, and said reflector unit being depressible by a vehicle tyre passing over said protruding parts, characterised in that said reflector unit is provided with protruding guard means adjacent said protruding parts for reducing the extent or degree of physical contact of said parts with a said vehicle tyre passing over said parts, contact of a said tyre with said guard means acting to depress said reflector unit into said casing and thereby to move said reflective element in a direction away from said tyre.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A road marker according to Claim 1, wherein said protruding guard means protrude from said casing further than said reflective element, so that a said tyre contacts said guard means before or instead of said reflective element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A road marker according to Claim 2, wherein said reflective element is generally planar and is inclined at a relatively low angle to said rim part of said casing in a direction (hereinafter referred to as 'said first direction') generally parallel to that in which light is to be received and reflected when said marker is in use in a road, and wherein said guard means protrudes above said casing rim part further than adjacent parts of said reflective element at all positions along said element in the said first direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A road marker according to Claim 3, wherein said reflector unit also includes a second reflective element which is similar to the first-mentioned reflective element and which is similarly disposed on said reflector unit but in a back-to-back relationship with said first-mentioned reflective element so as to receive and reflect light received from a direction opposite to the said first direction, and . wherein said guard means protrudes above said casing rim part further than adjacent parts of a said reflective element at all positions along the respective elements in the said first direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A road marker according to Claim 4, wherein the distance separating the furthest protruding parts of the respective reflective elements is small compared with the length of each such element measured parallel to said casing rim part and along said first direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A road marker according to any one of the Claims 3 to 5, wherein said guard means comprises at least one guard shoulder disposed alongside a part or parts of the or each said reflective element and extending generally parallel to said first direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A road marker according to Claim 6, wherein said guard means comprises two guard shoulders disposed respectively on opposite sides of the or each said reflective element and extending generally parallel to said first direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A road marker according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the or each said shoulder has an arcuate profile as seen in a direction normal to the said first direction and parallel to said casing rim part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A road marker according to any one of the Claims 6 to 8, wherein the or each said shoulder is formed integrally on said reflector unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A road marker according to Claim 9, wherein said reflector unit is made from a high-impact synthetic plastics material, and each said shoulder incorporates a protective metal reinforcement for protecting such shoulder from damage by non-rotating devices which may be slid over the marker.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A road marker according to any preceding claim, wherein said reflector unit is arranged to slide in a closely-fitting manner in said casing, and is provided adjacent the or each reflective element with a fluid exit aperture whereby on depression of said reflector unit by a vehicle tyre passing thereover air and/or water collected in said casing is ejected through said apertures to provide a cleaning medium for effecting or assisting in cleaning of the exterior surface of the or each reflective element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A road marker according ot Claim 3 or any subsequent claim as dependent on Claim 3, wherein said reflector unit comprises a body member carrying the or each said reflective element and the or each said guard shoulder, and wherein each said reflective element has a generally planar outwardly-facing external surface exposed to the atmosphere, and an inwardly-facing internal surface which (a) is spaced from adjacent parts of said body member except at its periphery, (b) is shaped to constitute a reflective surface for receiving and reflecting said light from oncoming vehicles, and (c) is sealed at its periphery to said-body member to prevent contamination of said internal reflecting surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A road marker according to Claim 12, wherein said body member incorporates a pre-formed assembly comprising a support member on to which is sealed the or each said reflective element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A road marker according to Claim 13, wherein said support member has integrally formed therewith support means for the or each said guard shoulder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A road marker according to Claim 14, wherein said pre-formed assembly carries on the or each said shoulder support means a metal reinforcement member for the associated guard shoulder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A road marker according to any one of the Claims 13 to 15, wherein-said body member is formed by moulding a synthetic plastics material around said pre-formed assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A road marker according to Claim 16, wherein said pre-formed assembly is of a synthetic plastics material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A road marker according to any one of the Claims 1 to 17, wherein the said resilient supporting means comprises a sphere of a resilient material trapped between a base member of said casing and the said reflector unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A road marker according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by the Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A road marker according to any one of the Claims 1 to 18, including a resiliently displaceable reflector unit which is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by the Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
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