US3864052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Applicator for pavement markers
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1974-02-04
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Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1994-02-04
Abstract
Abstract An applicator for applying pavement markers. The pavement markers are arranged in a stack in a magazine on the applicator. A picker means picks an end pavement marker from the stack and carries the marker into wedging contact between a pavementengaging wheel of the applicator and the pavement. Thereupon, the pavement marker is pulled from the picker means and adhered to the roadway.
Inventors
- 👤 James K Blomberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:47
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C23/00; E01C23/16; E01C23/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An applicator for applying pavement markers to a paved surface, comprising: A. a frame; B. wheel means supporting the frame and adapted for rolling engagement with the paved surface; C. a magazine supported by the frame and adapted to receive and hold a stack of pavement markers with an end pavement marker in the stack positioned at an opening in the magazine; D. picker means mounted on the frame and comprising a movable support means and a gripping means attached to the movable support means, said picker means being adapted to move through a cycle of movement that includes, 1. gripping of said end pavement marker by the gripping means, 2. movement of the support means to carry the gripping means and the end pavement marker from the opening in the magazine to a point adjacent the wheel means so as to present the pavement marker into wedging contact between the wheel means and the paved surface, whereupon the pavement marker is pressed against the paved surface by the wheel means and pulled from the gripping means; and 3. return movement of the support means and gripping means to the point of origin of the cycle of movement; and E. drive means for moving the picker means through a cycle of movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An applicator for applying pavement markers to a paved surface, comprising: A. a frame; B. wheel means supporting the frame and adapted for rolling engagement with the paved surface; C. a magazine supported by the frame and adapted to receive and hold a stack of pavement markers with an end pavement marker in the stack positioned at an opening in the magazine; D. picker means mounted on the frame and comprising a movable support means and a gripping means attached to the movable support means, said picker means being adapted to move through a cycle of movement that includes, 1. gripping of said end pavement marker by the gripping means, 2. movement of the support means to carry the gripping means and the end pavement marker from the opening in the magazine to a point adjacent the wheel means so as to present the pavement marker into wedging contact between the wheel means and the paved surface, whereupon the pavement marker is pressed against the paved surface by the wheel means and pulled from the gripping means; and 3. return movement of the support means and gripping means to the point of origin of the cycle of movement; and E. drive means for moving the picker means through a cycle of movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
movement of the support means to carry the gripping means and the end pavement marker from the opening in the magazine to a point adjacent the wheel means so as to present the pavement marker into wedging contact between the wheel means and the paved surface, whereupon the pavement marker is pressed against the paved surface by the wheel means and pulled from the gripping means; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
movement of the support means to carry the gripping means and the end pavement marker from the opening in the magazine to a point adjacent the wheel means so as to present the pavement marker into wedging contact between the wheel means and the paved surface, whereupon the pavement marker is pressed against the paved surface by the wheel means and pulled from the gripping means; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
An applicator of claim 1 in which the movable support means comprises an arm pivotably attached at one end to a shaft and adapted to move between a first position in which the other end of the arm is adjacent to the opening in said magazine and a second position in which said other end of the arm is adjacent to the point of contact of the wheel means and the paved surface, and the gripping means is attached to the said other end of the arm for gripping said end pavement marker in the stack and removing the gripped pavement marker from the stack upon movement of the arm from its first position to its second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
movement of the arm from its first position to its second position so as to remove the bottom pavement marker from the stack and present it into wedging contact between said wheel of the wheel means and the paved surface, whereupon the pavement marker is pressed against the paved surface by the wheel and pulled from the gripping means; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
movement of the arm from its first position to its second position so as to remove the bottom pavement marker from the stack and present it into wedging contact between said wheel of the wheel means and the paved surface, whereupon the pavement marker is pressed against the paved surface by the wheel and pulled from the gripping means; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
return movement of the arm and gripping means to the point of origin of the cycle of movement; E. drive means for moving the picker means through a cycle of movement; and F. timing means for periodically activating the drive means to Cause a cycle of movement of the picker means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
return movement of the arm and gripping means to the point of origin of the cycle of movement; E. drive means for moving the picker means through a cycle of movement; and F. timing means for periodically activating the drive means to Cause a cycle of movement of the picker means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
return movement of the support means and gripping means to the point of origin of the cycle of movement; and E. drive means for moving the picker means through a cycle of movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
return movement of the support means and gripping means to the point of origin of the cycle of movement; and E. drive means for moving the picker means through a cycle of movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
An applicator of claim 2 in which a separating means is engaged by the picker means during movement of the arm from its second position to its first position to cause the separating means to press against the end pavement marker and separate said end pavement marker from the next-adjacent pavement marker.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
An applicator of claim 2 in which said gripping means comprises a gripping head that is pivotably mounted on said other end of the arm and comprises a flange that engages one surface of the pavement marker and a slide that is substantially parallel to the flange and is movable between cocked and extended positions, and means for moving thE slide to its cocked position while the flange engages the one surface of the pavement marker and for moving the slide to its extended position after the flange has engaged the one surface of the pavement marker so as to grip the pavement marker between the flange and the slide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
An applicator of claim 4 in which the means for moving the slide to its cocked position comprises a pivotable cocking element that has a finger adapted to engage a flange on the slide, and the cocking element pivots during movement of the arm from its second position to its first position, causing the finger to first press the slide to the cocked position and then disengage from the flange to release the slide for movement from its cocked position to its extended position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
An applicator of claim 1 in which the magazine is mounted in a generally vertical position and said opening in the magazine is at the bottom of the magazine so that when an end pavement marker is removed from the magazine the next-adjacent pavement marker moves by gravity to replace the end pavement marker.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An applicator of claim 1 including timing means for periodically activating the drive means to cause a cycle of movement of the picker means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
An applicator of claim 7 in which said timing means comprises a switch; striker means driven in proportion to movement of the applicator along the paved surface and adapted to actuate the switch periodically during said travel; accumulating means for counting said actuations of the switch and for completing an electric circuit upon attainment of a predetermined number of actuations of the switch; and a clutch means actuated upon completion of said electric circuit to connect the drive means to the picker means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
An applicator of claim 1 in which a brush is mounted on carrier means that are movably attached to the frame so that the brush is normally held above the paved surface; the carrier means being movable so as to press the brush into contact with the paved surface in the path of the wheel means to clean the area of the paved surface that is to receive the pavement marker; and the carrier means being connected to the drive means so as to move the brush into contact with the paved surface in synchronism with a cycle of movement of the picker means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
182 words
An applicator for applying pavement markers to a paved surface, comprising: A. a frame; B. wheel means supporting the frame and adapted for rolling engagement with the paved surface; C. a magazine supported by the frame in a generally vertical position and adapted to receive and hold a stack of pavement markers with a bottom pavement marker in the stack positioned at an opening at the bottom of the magazine; D. picker means mounted on the frame and comprising 1) an arm pivotably attached at one end to a shaft and adapted to move between a first position in which the other end of the arm is adjacent to the opening in said magazine and a second position in which said other end of the arm is adjacent to the point of contact of a wheel of the wheel means and the paved surface, and 2) a gripping means having gripping elements that may be opened and then closed to grip the bottom pavement marker in the stack, said picker means being adapted to move through a cycle of movement that includes,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
182 words
An applicator for applying pavement markers to a paved surface, comprising: A. a frame; B. wheel means supporting the frame and adapted for rolling engagement with the paved surface; C. a magazine supported by the frame in a generally vertical position and adapted to receive and hold a stack of pavement markers with a bottom pavement marker in the stack positioned at an opening at the bottom of the magazine; D. picker means mounted on the frame and comprising 1) an arm pivotably attached at one end to a shaft and adapted to move between a first position in which the other end of the arm is adjacent to the opening in said magazine and a second position in which said other end of the arm is adjacent to the point of contact of a wheel of the wheel means and the paved surface, and 2) a gripping means having gripping elements that may be opened and then closed to grip the bottom pavement marker in the stack, said picker means being adapted to move through a cycle of movement that includes,
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
An applicator of claim 10 in which said gripping means comprises a gripping head that is pivotably mounted on said other end of the arm and comprises a flange that engages one surface of the bottom pavement marker in the stack and a slide that is substantially parallel to the flange and is movable between cocked and extended positions, and means for first moving the slide to its cocked position while the flange engages the one surface of the bottom pavement marker and then moving the slide to its extended position so as to grip the bottom pavement marker between the flange and the slide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
An applicator of claim 11 in which the means for moving the slide to its cocked position comprises a pivotable cocking element that has a finger adapted to engage a flange on the slide, and the cocking element pivots during movement of the arm from its second position to its first position, causing the finger to first press the slide to the cocked position and then disengage from the flange to release the slide for movement from its cocked position to its extended position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
An applicator of claim 10 in which said timing means comprises an electric switch; striker means driven in proportion to movement of the applicator along the paved surface and adapted to actuate the switch periodically during said travel; accumulating means for counting said actuations of the switch and for completing an electric circuit upon attainment of a predetermined number of actuations of the switch; and a clutch means actuated upon completion of said electric circuit to connect the drive means to the picker means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
An applicator of claim 10 in which a separating means is engaged by the picker means during movement of the arm from its second position to its first position to cause the separating means to press against the end pavement marker and separate said end pavement marker from the next-adjacent pavement marker.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
An applicator of claim 10 in which the bottom pavement marker in the stack rests on spaced rollers disposed so as to engage side areas of the downwardly facing surface of the bottom pavement marker, and the bottom pavement marker is drawn between the rollers when the marker is removed from the stack by the picker means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |