US3902818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable traffic sign and base therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-20
•
Granted: 1975-09-02
•
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. A generally vertical bore in the center of the base extends to the top, so that a sturdy shank which has already been secured to the bottom of the traffic sign may be selectively inserted and removed from the bore without the requirement for any tools or special skill. A spring-loaded ball is preferably provided in either the bore or the shank, and a complementary recess is provided in the other of the two, so that they will be held together when they are subjected to only moderate loads-such as wind loads. When a person jerks the sign vertically upward, the spring-loaded ball will allow the sign to be separated from the base. Provision is made for washing out the interior of the base if it should happen to become fouled, by including openings at ground level which communicate with the vertical bore through appropriate passages. The ground-level openings (and passages leading thereto) are at least as large as the bore diameter, so that anything that can be put in the top of the base can be removed from the bottom. Also, no rain water is trapped in the base when the sign has been removed, because the ground-level openings preclude such trapping. No parts of the base are exposed to damage by vehicle wheels that might inadvertently pass over a base that has been permanently installed along a roadway. Preferably, the sign post is connected to the shank by an element which is relatively strong in tension but which will readily fail due to a significant shear load, such as when the sign is accidently struck by an errant automobile.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B Boone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:44
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: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, COMPRISING: A. A RIGID BASE ADAPTED TO REST PERMANENTLY ON TOP OF THE GROUND ALONG A ROADWAY, SAID BASE HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS TOP LEADING TO A GENERALLY VERTICAL BORE FOR RECEIVING A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT WHICH FORMS A PART OF A TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGN, AND THE BASE FURTHER HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING NEAR ITS BOTTOM EDGE WHICH IS CONNECTED THROUGH A PASSAGE WITH THE VERTICAL BORE WITH THE BOTTOM OPENING AND THE PASSAGE HAVING A SIZE WHICH IS AT LEAST AS LARGE AS THE TOP OPENING, SUCH THAT ANY TRASH OR SOIL WHICH MAY ENTER THE TOP OPENING CAN PASS THROUGH AN UNOBSTRUCTED FLOW PATH THROUGH THE BASE AND OUT OF THE BOTTOM OPENING; B. AN UPRIGHT POST HAVING AT ITS TOP A TRAFFIC SIGN AND AT ITS BOTTOM AN ELONGATED SHANK, WITH THE SHANK HAVING A CONFIGURATION SUCH THAT IT CAN BE ISERTED IN THE VERTICAL BORE, AND THE NOMINAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SHANK AND THE VERTICAL BORE BEING ABOUT 0.005 INCH; AND C. MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY HOLDING THE SHANK WITHIN THE VERTICAL BORE OF THE BASE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A SPRING-BIASED ELEMENT ON THE SHANK OR THE BASE, AND A RECESS FOR ENGAGING THE ELEMENT ON THE OTHER OF THE TWO STRUCTURES, WHEREBY THE SHANK AND ITS ASSOCIATED TRAFFIC SIGN MAY BE SELECTIVELY INSERTED AND REMOVED FROM THE VERTICAL BORE IN THE BASE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, COMPRISING: A. A RIGID BASE ADAPTED TO REST PERMANENTLY ON TOP OF THE GROUND ALONG A ROADWAY, SAID BASE HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS TOP LEADING TO A GENERALLY VERTICAL BORE FOR RECEIVING A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT WHICH FORMS A PART OF A TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGN, AND THE BASE FURTHER HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING NEAR ITS BOTTOM EDGE WHICH IS CONNECTED THROUGH A PASSAGE WITH THE VERTICAL BORE WITH THE BOTTOM OPENING AND THE PASSAGE HAVING A SIZE WHICH IS AT LEAST AS LARGE AS THE TOP OPENING, SUCH THAT ANY TRASH OR SOIL WHICH MAY ENTER THE TOP OPENING CAN PASS THROUGH AN UNOBSTRUCTED FLOW PATH THROUGH THE BASE AND OUT OF THE BOTTOM OPENING; B. AN UPRIGHT POST HAVING AT ITS TOP A TRAFFIC SIGN AND AT ITS BOTTOM AN ELONGATED SHANK, WITH THE SHANK HAVING A CONFIGURATION SUCH THAT IT CAN BE ISERTED IN THE VERTICAL BORE, AND THE NOMINAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SHANK AND THE VERTICAL BORE BEING ABOUT 0.005 INCH; AND C. MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY HOLDING THE SHANK WITHIN THE VERTICAL BORE OF THE BASE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A SPRING-BIASED ELEMENT ON THE SHANK OR THE BASE, AND A RECESS FOR ENGAGING THE ELEMENT ON THE OTHER OF THE TWO STRUCTURES, WHEREBY THE SHANK AND ITS ASSOCIATED TRAFFIC SIGN MAY BE SELECTIVELY INSERTED AND REMOVED FROM THE VERTICAL BORE IN THE BASE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The article claimed in claim 1 and further including a shearing member extending axially upward from the shank into the upright post, said shearing member being mounted so as to hold the post securely to the shank when the member is in tension but to fail in shear upon the post being subjected to impact by a moving automobile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is additionally provided a cooperating key and recess at the juncture of the post bottom and the base top, such that the shank can only be secured in the vertical bore with a single orientation in which the key is aligned with the recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base constitutes a rigid button or near hemispherical shape which is at least partially hollow, and the bottom opening lies just above ground level so that the base does not unduly trap rain water which may enter through the top opening when the shank is not mounted therein, whereby the base may Be left permanently attached to the ground in the manner of conventional traffic lane markers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
200 words
A construction useful as a supporting foundation for temporary traffic information signs, comprising a rigid base adapted to be affixed to the ground along a roadway, the base having a relatively thick upper structure with a generally convex outer surface which protrudes above the ground, and said structure having a generally vertical bore which intersects said outer surface at a top opening of given diameter, and said bore having a substantial length for resisting the bending loads from wind blowing against a traffic sign mounted on the base, and said base having at least one ground-level opening at it periphery, with the size of each ground-level opening being such as to accommodate any particle which can pass through the top opening, with the top opening and each of the ground-level openings being connected by a passage such that nay liquid or solid matter is the nature of trash which enters the top opening can be physically removed through a bottom opening, whereby the base may be permanently affixed to the ground and left in place even when a traffic information sign is not coupled to the base so as to block the top opening against the entrance of foreign matter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
200 words
A construction useful as a supporting foundation for temporary traffic information signs, comprising a rigid base adapted to be affixed to the ground along a roadway, the base having a relatively thick upper structure with a generally convex outer surface which protrudes above the ground, and said structure having a generally vertical bore which intersects said outer surface at a top opening of given diameter, and said bore having a substantial length for resisting the bending loads from wind blowing against a traffic sign mounted on the base, and said base having at least one ground-level opening at it periphery, with the size of each ground-level opening being such as to accommodate any particle which can pass through the top opening, with the top opening and each of the ground-level openings being connected by a passage such that nay liquid or solid matter is the nature of trash which enters the top opening can be physically removed through a bottom opening, whereby the base may be permanently affixed to the ground and left in place even when a traffic information sign is not coupled to the base so as to block the top opening against the entrance of foreign matter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
The construction recited in claim 5 and further including tapered shim means for installation between the ground and the base for causing the base to rest horizontally even though the ground is slanted, whereby the post of a traffic information sign can still be vertical even when it is attached to a base mounted on slanted ground, and said shim means further having a periphery which is the same size as the bottom of the base, and further having orientation-fixing means which permit the shim means to be oriented with respect to the base in more than one manner while still remaining evenly covered by the base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The construction recited in claim 6 wherein the base has a round bottom and the tapered shim means comprises a pair of wedge-shaped discs which are rotatably adjustable with respect to each other, with the diameter of the discs being substantially the same as the diameter of the bottom of the base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base has a plurality of spaced peripheral bolt holes through whcih the base may be affixed to the ground, with the location and quantity of said bolt holes defining a certain hole pattern, and further including a tapered shim for installation between the base and the ground, with said shim having at least two sets of peripheral holes, each of which sets corresponds to the certain hole pattern on the base, whereby the inclination of the installed base is a function of which set of shim holes is aligned with the base holes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein the generally vertical bore in the base is appreciably larger than the shank of a traffic information sign which is to be mounted thereabove, and wherein a rigid sleeve is affixed within the vertical bore so as to receive the shank and to transfer bending loads from the shank to the base, and further including spring-biased means for resisting disenagement of a shank once it is installed over a base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
233 words
A temporary traffic control apparatus, comprising: a. a rigid base adapted to be permanently affixed within the boundaries of a vehicle roadway, with the base protruding above the roadway, and having a generally vertical and non-threaded bore extending to the top of the base, such that a rigid and elongated probe may be inserted into and tightly fitted within the bore, and the base having a generally round bottom with a diameter of at least 6 inches but no more than about 12 inches, and the top of the base being generally convex, whereby the base is relatively immune to damage by contact with vehicle wheels; and b. a post selectively secured on top of the base, such that an information-bearing sign which is attached to the post may be observed By vehicle drivers, with said post having firmly fastened to it bottom an elongated probe with a configuration exactly matching that of the vertical bore, and the post being fastened to the probe with a shear element which is adapted to yield in the event of accidental impact of a vehicle with the post, which inpact may occur from any horizontal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post, whereby a post which is accidentally struck can be severed from its connection with the rigid base so as to leave no part of the apparatus protruding appreciably above the base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
233 words
A temporary traffic control apparatus, comprising: a. a rigid base adapted to be permanently affixed within the boundaries of a vehicle roadway, with the base protruding above the roadway, and having a generally vertical and non-threaded bore extending to the top of the base, such that a rigid and elongated probe may be inserted into and tightly fitted within the bore, and the base having a generally round bottom with a diameter of at least 6 inches but no more than about 12 inches, and the top of the base being generally convex, whereby the base is relatively immune to damage by contact with vehicle wheels; and b. a post selectively secured on top of the base, such that an information-bearing sign which is attached to the post may be observed By vehicle drivers, with said post having firmly fastened to it bottom an elongated probe with a configuration exactly matching that of the vertical bore, and the post being fastened to the probe with a shear element which is adapted to yield in the event of accidental impact of a vehicle with the post, which inpact may occur from any horizontal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post, whereby a post which is accidentally struck can be severed from its connection with the rigid base so as to leave no part of the apparatus protruding appreciably above the base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the rigid base is made of malleable cast iron having a diameter of aboub 7 1/2 inches and a height of about 3 1/2 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and further including a spring-biased means for holding the probe in engagement with the base until such time as the probe is subjected to a substantial vertical upward load, whereby the sign post may be successively engaged with and removed from the base by over-riding the biasing force of said spring-biased means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a construction adapted for marking lanes in a roadway, including a near-hemispherical metal button having a diameter of about six inches, and said button having means by which it may be secured to a hard-surface roadway, the improvement comprising: a generally vertical bore in the button extending to the top thereof where it forms a circular opening having a diameter of about one inch, with said top opening being adapted to receive a cylindrical shank having a diameter of about one inch, with the cylindrical shank constituting the bottom portion of a traffic sign that is to be temporarily mounted over the button, and the button having means for securely holding the cylindrical shank against vibration when it is inserted into the bore, and the button further having means for restricting the cylindrical shank to a particular radial orientation with respect to the button, whereby a traffic sign may be repeatedly connected to and removed from the button, and each time the sign is connected to the button it will have the same orientation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a construction adapted for marking lanes in a roadway, including a near-hemispherical metal button having a diameter of about six inches, and said button having means by which it may be secured to a hard-surface roadway, the improvement comprising: a generally vertical bore in the button extending to the top thereof where it forms a circular opening having a diameter of about one inch, with said top opening being adapted to receive a cylindrical shank having a diameter of about one inch, with the cylindrical shank constituting the bottom portion of a traffic sign that is to be temporarily mounted over the button, and the button having means for securely holding the cylindrical shank against vibration when it is inserted into the bore, and the button further having means for restricting the cylindrical shank to a particular radial orientation with respect to the button, whereby a traffic sign may be repeatedly connected to and removed from the button, and each time the sign is connected to the button it will have the same orientation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination as claimed in claim 13 and further including at least two ground-level openings, each of which has a size which is adequate to pass any object which can be inserted into the top opening, and the top opening being connected with the ground-level openings through passages such that any debris which enters the top opening can be expelled from a ground-level opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
340 words
An article of manufacture, comprising: a. a cast iron base of near hemispherical shape adapted to rest permanently on top of the ground along a roadway, said base having a round opening in its top leading to a generally vertical bore for receiving a cylindrical shank which forms a part of a temporary traffic sign, and a base further having at least one arched opening near its bottom edge which is connected through a passage with the vertical bore, with the bottom opening and the passage having a size which is at least as large as the top opening, such that any trash or soil which may enter the top opening can pass through an unobstructed flow path through the base and out of the bottom opening; b. an upright post having at its top a traffic condition indicator and at its bottom a cylindrical shank, with the shank having a length at least as long as the vertical bore, and the nominal clearance between the shank and the vertical bore being about 0.005 inch, and the bottom of the shank being rounded to facilitate its entrance into the bore; c. means for selectively holding the shank within the vertical bore of the base, said means comprising a spring-biased ball within a passage on the shank, and a recess for engaging the ball in the vertical bore, whereby the shank and its associated traffic sign may be selectively inserted and removed from the vertical bore in the base; d. a shearing member in the form of a bolt extending axially upward from the shank into the upright post, said shearing member being mounted so as to hold the post securely to the shank when the member is in tension; and e. an alignment key mounted adjacent the shank and cooperating recess on the base at the juncture of the post bottom and the base top, such that the shank can only be secured in the vertical bore with a single orientation in which the key is aligned with the recess.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
340 words
An article of manufacture, comprising: a. a cast iron base of near hemispherical shape adapted to rest permanently on top of the ground along a roadway, said base having a round opening in its top leading to a generally vertical bore for receiving a cylindrical shank which forms a part of a temporary traffic sign, and a base further having at least one arched opening near its bottom edge which is connected through a passage with the vertical bore, with the bottom opening and the passage having a size which is at least as large as the top opening, such that any trash or soil which may enter the top opening can pass through an unobstructed flow path through the base and out of the bottom opening; b. an upright post having at its top a traffic condition indicator and at its bottom a cylindrical shank, with the shank having a length at least as long as the vertical bore, and the nominal clearance between the shank and the vertical bore being about 0.005 inch, and the bottom of the shank being rounded to facilitate its entrance into the bore; c. means for selectively holding the shank within the vertical bore of the base, said means comprising a spring-biased ball within a passage on the shank, and a recess for engaging the ball in the vertical bore, whereby the shank and its associated traffic sign may be selectively inserted and removed from the vertical bore in the base; d. a shearing member in the form of a bolt extending axially upward from the shank into the upright post, said shearing member being mounted so as to hold the post securely to the shank when the member is in tension; and e. an alignment key mounted adjacent the shank and cooperating recess on the base at the juncture of the post bottom and the base top, such that the shank can only be secured in the vertical bore with a single orientation in which the key is aligned with the recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1267021A
Cited
US1802940A
Cited
US1822916A
Cited
US2121961A
Cited
US3040636A
Cited
US3212415A
Cited
US3279133A
Cited
US3552698A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |