US3762825A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traffic lane marker and reflector
Assignee: Republic Steel Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-27
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A marker for indicating traffic lanes on a roadway, in the form of a vault-like metal stamping with a generally flat base comprised of peripherally spaced, inwardly bent, tabs that underlie only a portion of an upper surface of the marker. The upper surface is continuous, with alternate, generally radially extending, ridges and depressions. A preferred configuration of the upper surface has flat horizontal portions at base level, spaced between the ridges at the periphery of the marker, forming a part of the depressions. The ridges incline steeply upward and inward from the periphery and extend generally parallel to the base at the central part of the marker. In one embodiment, an opening is provided in an inclined face of the upper surface for a reflector having a flat face inclined at approximately the same angle as the surface in which the opening is formed. The reflector is of the cube-corner type in which a plane common to the cube corners is perpendicular to the cube-corner axes and angularly related to the front face of the reflector. The plane of the cube corners is located substantially behind the front face, recessed from the opening, and a major portion of the cubecorner pattern extends the full width of the opening in the upper surface of the marker.
Inventors
- 👤 H Reusser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:06
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/553
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A marker for use on roads to mark traffic lanes or the like, comprising a metal structure with an upper surface and a partial base beneath the upper surface, said partial base being comprised of tabs integral with the upper surface, extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, and spaced from each other along at least a substantial portion of their inward extent, and said upper surface having portions of different height.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A marker for use on roads to mark traffic lanes or the like, comprising a metal structure with an upper surface and a partial base beneath the upper surface, said partial base being comprised of tabs integral with the upper surface, extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, and spaced from each other along at least a substantial portion of their inward extent, and said upper surface having portions of different height.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper surface has ridges and depressions that extend in generally radial directions to form at least some of said portions of different height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A marker as set forth in claim 2 including a ridge in said upper surface extending transversely of a radial ridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein the periphery of said upper surface at the base thereOf has a plurality of straight sides and said tabs extend inward from and in part form said sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A steel marker adapted to be adhered to a roadway, comprising a vault form and a flat base beneath the vault, said vault being comprised of a continuous surface that includes flat first portions spaced along and adjacent to the periphery of the vault, second portions that are centrally behind said first portions along a path through the center of said vault and rise to the maximum height of the vault, and third portions that rise from adjacent said periphery to the maximum height of the vault more steeply than said second portions and which are relatively flat adjacent a central portion of the vault, and said base being contiguous with the periphery of said vault, extending inwardly thereof, and only partially occupying the area beneath the vault.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A steel marker adapted to be adhered to a roadway, comprising a vault form and a flat base beneath the vault, said vault being comprised of a continuous surface that includes flat first portions spaced along and adjacent to the periphery of the vault, second portions that are centrally behind said first portions along a path through the center of said vault and rise to the maximum height of the vault, and third portions that rise from adjacent said periphery to the maximum height of the vault more steeply than said second portions and which are relatively flat adjacent a central portion of the vault, and said base being contiguous with the periphery of said vault, extending inwardly thereof, and only partially occupying the area beneath the vault.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A marker as set forth in claim 5 wherein said base includes vertical edges having a total length that is greater than the length of the periphery of said vault.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A marker as set forth in claim 5 in which said base is comprised of tabs that directly underlie and contact said flat first portions of said vault.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A marker as set forth in claim 5 wherein said third portions include a flat face inclined upwardly in a direction toward the center with an opening substantially the full height thereof formed by a flap in the vault that is bent inward about an upper horizontal line and that extends in a downward direction therefrom, said opening being adapted to receive a light reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A marker as set forth in claim 8 wherein said flap terminates at a location below said flat base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A marker as set forth in claim 8 including a light reflector insert located in said opening, said insert having a front face that essentially fills the opening and that is slightly recessed adjacent the top of the opening, relative to the plane of the face in which the opening is formed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A marker as set forth in claim 10 wherein said light reflector insert has a reflective surface comprised of adjacent cube corners.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A steel marker adapted to be adhered to a roadway, comprising a vault form and a flat base beneath the vault, said vault being comprised of a continuous surface the perimeter of which is in the shape of a polygon, flat surface portions adjacent each side forming the perimeter, ridges extending generally radially from a central portion of the vault to adjacent the perimeter diminishing in height along at least a portion of their length considered in a direction toward the perimeter, depressions between said ridges sloping downwardly and outwardly from the central portion of the vault and terminating at said flat surface portions inwardly of the perimeter, and base-forming tabs contiguous with sides of the perimeter extending inwardly of the perimeter beneath and substantially parallel to said flat surface portions, each spaced from the next adjacent tab.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
A steel marker adapted to be adhered to a roadway, comprising a vault form and a flat base beneath the vault, said vault being comprised of a continuous surface the perimeter of which is in the shape of a polygon, flat surface portions adjacent each side forming the perimeter, ridges extending generally radially from a central portion of the vault to adjacent the perimeter diminishing in height along at least a portion of their length considered in a direction toward the perimeter, depressions between said ridges sloping downwardly and outwardly from the central portion of the vault and terminating at said flat surface portions inwardly of the perimeter, and base-forming tabs contiguous with sides of the perimeter extending inwardly of the perimeter beneath and substantially parallel to said flat surface portions, each spaced from the next adjacent tab.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A marker as set forth in claim 12 wherein said ridges have the greatest slope adjacent the perimeter of the marker.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A marker as set forth in claim 13 wherein said perimeter is substantially in the shape of an octagon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A marker set forth in claim 12 wherein the tabs underlie at least one fourth of the area covered by the marker but less than all of the area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A marker as set forth in claim 12 including an opening in said vault and a light reflector insert in said opening, said insert essentially filling the opening and having a reflective surface comprised of adjacent cube corners.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
121 words
A steel marker adapted to be adhered to a roadway, comprising a vault form and a flat base beneath the vault, said vault being comprised of a continuous surface the perimeter of which is in the shape of a polygon, flat surface portions adjacent each side forming the perimeter, ridges extending generally radially from a central portion of the vault to adjacent the perimeter diminishing in height along at least a portion of their lengTh considered in a direction toward the perimeter, depressions between said ridges sloping downwardly and outwardly from the central portion of the vault and terminating at said flat surface portions inwardly of the perimeter, and a means forming a base for securing the marker to a roadway.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
121 words
A steel marker adapted to be adhered to a roadway, comprising a vault form and a flat base beneath the vault, said vault being comprised of a continuous surface the perimeter of which is in the shape of a polygon, flat surface portions adjacent each side forming the perimeter, ridges extending generally radially from a central portion of the vault to adjacent the perimeter diminishing in height along at least a portion of their lengTh considered in a direction toward the perimeter, depressions between said ridges sloping downwardly and outwardly from the central portion of the vault and terminating at said flat surface portions inwardly of the perimeter, and a means forming a base for securing the marker to a roadway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |