US3858997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable traffic sign and base therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-20
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1994-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A traffic sign construction adapted to be selectively placed on top of a rigid base during certain periods, such as during school hours, periods when parking or turning is restricted, etc. The rigid base may be shaped like a conventional cast iron lane marker, having a convex top and a round bottom, and it is adapted to be permanently mounted along (or within) the boundaries of a vehicle roadway. Certain unobtrusive recesses, lugs, ears, tabs or the like are provided on the base, in order to permit a sign to be anchored to an otherwise exteriorly smooth base. A structural connection already secured to the bottom of the traffic sign may be selectively attached to the base and removed therefrom without the requirement for any tools or special skill. Resilient spring members or toggle clamps are provided as a part of the structural connection. Provision is made for protecting all ''''working'''' parts of the base, so that they are not exposed to damage by vehicle wheels that might inadvertently pass over a marker. If a conventional lane marker or ''''button'''' is to be used, a modification is provided in the form of a plurality of brackets or tabs such that a traffic sign may be mounted above the button.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B Boone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:35
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/60; E01F9/623; E01F9/631; E01F9/638; E01F9/604; E01F9/608; E01F9/61; E01F9/658; E01F9/673; E01F9/677; E01F9/681
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An article of manufaCture, comprising: a. a rigid base adapted to rest upon the ground along a roadway, said base having at least two generally horizontal recesses with said recesses being on opposite sides of the base such that a structural element extending between the recesses may be placed in tension; b. an upright post; and c. means for selectively attaching the bottom end of the post to the rigid base, said means comprising a plurality of resilient spring elements, with each of said elements having a first end permanently attached to the post and a second end adapted to engage a respective one of the horizontal recesses in the base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An article of manufaCture, comprising: a. a rigid base adapted to rest upon the ground along a roadway, said base having at least two generally horizontal recesses with said recesses being on opposite sides of the base such that a structural element extending between the recesses may be placed in tension; b. an upright post; and c. means for selectively attaching the bottom end of the post to the rigid base, said means comprising a plurality of resilient spring elements, with each of said elements having a first end permanently attached to the post and a second end adapted to engage a respective one of the horizontal recesses in the base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The article claimed in claim 1 and further including a pull ring attached near the second end of one of the spring elements, whereby the spring element can be manually pulled outwardly away from engagement with its associated recess to thereby release the post from attachment to the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least three recesses provided in the rigid base, and said recesses are spaced approximately 120* apart around the periphery of the base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bsae constitutes a cast iron button of near hemispherical shape, and the button has a diameter no greater than 12 inches, whereby the button may be left permanently attached to the ground in the manner of traffic lane markers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
215 words
A combination relating to the field of temporary traffic information signs, comprising: a. a rigid bse adapted to be permanently affixed to the ground along a roadway, the base having a convex upper surface which protrudes above the ground, and said upper surface having three widely spaced recesses at radially disposed locations around the base, with each of said recesses having an overhanging lip adapted to oppose upwardly directed forces; b. a post adapted to be temporarily mounted above the base in an erect mode, said post having an information-bearing indicator about traffic conditions on its top end; c. a spring-steel arm extending between respective ones of the recesses and the bottom of the post, with each of said arms having at one end a claw adapted to engage a recess and prevent upward movement of the arm while so engaged, and having at its other end means for permanently attaching an arm to the bottom of the post; and d. a pull ring attached to an outer end of at least one of the spring-steel arms, whereby the pull ring may be used to manually pull a claw radially outward in order to disengage the claw from its associated recess, such that the post can be manually tilted and subsequently removed from the base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
215 words
A combination relating to the field of temporary traffic information signs, comprising: a. a rigid bse adapted to be permanently affixed to the ground along a roadway, the base having a convex upper surface which protrudes above the ground, and said upper surface having three widely spaced recesses at radially disposed locations around the base, with each of said recesses having an overhanging lip adapted to oppose upwardly directed forces; b. a post adapted to be temporarily mounted above the base in an erect mode, said post having an information-bearing indicator about traffic conditions on its top end; c. a spring-steel arm extending between respective ones of the recesses and the bottom of the post, with each of said arms having at one end a claw adapted to engage a recess and prevent upward movement of the arm while so engaged, and having at its other end means for permanently attaching an arm to the bottom of the post; and d. a pull ring attached to an outer end of at least one of the spring-steel arms, whereby the pull ring may be used to manually pull a claw radially outward in order to disengage the claw from its associated recess, such that the post can be manually tilted and subsequently removed from the base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the overhanging lip above each of said recesses constitutes an integral part of the rigid base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the overhanging lip above each of said recesses constitutes a portion of a metal bracket which is mechanically secured to the rigid base, with said overhanging lip being protected against impact from vehicle wheels by the exterior surface of the rigid base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination recited in claim 5 and further including shim means between the ground and the base for causing the base to rest horizontally even though the ground is slanted, whereby the post will be vertical when it is attached to the base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination recited in claim 8 wherein the base has a round bottom and the shim means comprises a pair of wedge-shaped discs which are rotatably adjustable, with the diameter of the discs being substantially the same as the diameter of the bottom of the base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
A temporary traffic control apparatus, comprising: a. a rigid base permanently affixed within the boundaries of a vehicle roadway, with the base protruding above the roadway, and having at least three outwardly facing and widely spaced lugs, with the lugs lying close to the envelope established by the smooth outer surface of the base, such that no parts of the base protrUde so far that they are exposed to breakage as a result of a vehicle wheel passing over the base, whereby the base is relatively immune to damage by contact with vehicle wheels; b. a post adapted to be selectively attached to the base, whereby an information-bearing sign which is attached to the post may be observed by vehicle drivers; and c. resilient means for temporarily attaching the bottom end of the post to the lugs on the rigid base, and said means being adapted to yield in the event of accidental impact of a vehicle with the post, which impact may occur from any horizontal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post, whereby a post which is accidentally struck can separate from the rigid base without breakage of any part of the device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
A temporary traffic control apparatus, comprising: a. a rigid base permanently affixed within the boundaries of a vehicle roadway, with the base protruding above the roadway, and having at least three outwardly facing and widely spaced lugs, with the lugs lying close to the envelope established by the smooth outer surface of the base, such that no parts of the base protrUde so far that they are exposed to breakage as a result of a vehicle wheel passing over the base, whereby the base is relatively immune to damage by contact with vehicle wheels; b. a post adapted to be selectively attached to the base, whereby an information-bearing sign which is attached to the post may be observed by vehicle drivers; and c. resilient means for temporarily attaching the bottom end of the post to the lugs on the rigid base, and said means being adapted to yield in the event of accidental impact of a vehicle with the post, which impact may occur from any horizontal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post, whereby a post which is accidentally struck can separate from the rigid base without breakage of any part of the device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A lane marker for a vehicle roadway which is also serviceable as a base for a traffic sign, comprising: a. a rigid membmer having a generally convex top and a generally round bottom, said member being essentially symmetrical about a vertical axis and having a height which is no more than one-half of its diameter, and having at least two generally horizontal recesses near its bottom, with the upper edge of the member above the recess encompassing an angle of no more than 90*, whereby an overhanging lip is provided, with said recesses being selfdraining so that water will not collect therein, and the recesses facing in opposite directions so that a resilient element may be secured to the rigid member by hooking its respective ends over the overhanging lips.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A lane marker for a vehicle roadway which is also serviceable as a base for a traffic sign, comprising: a. a rigid membmer having a generally convex top and a generally round bottom, said member being essentially symmetrical about a vertical axis and having a height which is no more than one-half of its diameter, and having at least two generally horizontal recesses near its bottom, with the upper edge of the member above the recess encompassing an angle of no more than 90*, whereby an overhanging lip is provided, with said recesses being selfdraining so that water will not collect therein, and the recesses facing in opposite directions so that a resilient element may be secured to the rigid member by hooking its respective ends over the overhanging lips.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The lane marker as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least three generally horizontal recesses are provided, and the recesses are evenly distributed around the periphery of the rigid member with 120* separating adjacent recesses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a construction adapted for marking lanes in a roadway, including a near-hemispherical rigid button having a diameter of at least 6 inches, said button having a pluality of vertical recesses distributed around its periphery with open tops and closed bottoms, there being apertures in the closed bottoms for accommodating bolts for securing the button to a hard-surface roadway, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of generally U-shaped brackets adapted to fit within the vertical recesses, with the mouth of a ''''U'''' opening outward in a generally horizontal direction, with each of said U-shaped brackets having an aperture in the lower one of its legs, with the bracket apertures being equal in size to the button apertures, such that the bolts which hold the button to the ground can also be made to hold the brackets to the button, and the upper leg of each ''''U'''' being long enough to be engaged by a latch but short enough so that it does not protrude beyond the envelope defined by the curved surface of the button, whereby the brackets are relatively immune to damage from vehicle wheels, and whereby a member with appropriate latches may be selectively secured to the button by engaging the spaced brackets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a construction adapted for marking lanes in a roadway, including a near-hemispherical rigid button having a diameter of at least 6 inches, said button having a pluality of vertical recesses distributed around its periphery with open tops and closed bottoms, there being apertures in the closed bottoms for accommodating bolts for securing the button to a hard-surface roadway, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of generally U-shaped brackets adapted to fit within the vertical recesses, with the mouth of a ''''U'''' opening outward in a generally horizontal direction, with each of said U-shaped brackets having an aperture in the lower one of its legs, with the bracket apertures being equal in size to the button apertures, such that the bolts which hold the button to the ground can also be made to hold the brackets to the button, and the upper leg of each ''''U'''' being long enough to be engaged by a latch but short enough so that it does not protrude beyond the envelope defined by the curved surface of the button, whereby the brackets are relatively immune to damage from vehicle wheels, and whereby a member with appropriate latches may be selectively secured to the button by engaging the spaced brackets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination as claimed in claim 13 and further including a structural spider adapted to rest on the button and having legs adpated to extend radially outward toward the vertical recesses, and a latch mounted on the distal end of each leg for engaging the upper portion of a respective bracket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein the latches include toggle mechanisms which are mounted such that the spider is placed in tension when all of the latches are engaged.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as claimed in claim 14 and further including a receptacle fixed to the spider for receiving the base of a traffic informaton sign, whereby said sign may be temporarily mounted over said button.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
121 words
The combination comprising: a. a vehicle lane marker having a convex top and a width no greater than about 12 inches, and having a plurality of peripheral recesses adapted to accommodate mounting bolts which are used to anchor the marker to a roadway; And b. a plate adapted to underlie the lane marker, said plate having tabs which can be aligned with the peripheral recesses in the marker, and said tabs extending upwardly to at least partially lie within the recesses, whereby the tabs are at least partially protected against damage by the marker, and said tabs having a configuration for permitting a structure to be selectively secured thereto in order that the structure may rest on top of the marker.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
121 words
The combination comprising: a. a vehicle lane marker having a convex top and a width no greater than about 12 inches, and having a plurality of peripheral recesses adapted to accommodate mounting bolts which are used to anchor the marker to a roadway; And b. a plate adapted to underlie the lane marker, said plate having tabs which can be aligned with the peripheral recesses in the marker, and said tabs extending upwardly to at least partially lie within the recesses, whereby the tabs are at least partially protected against damage by the marker, and said tabs having a configuration for permitting a structure to be selectively secured thereto in order that the structure may rest on top of the marker.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |