US3924958A — Highway retroreflecting marker

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

A highway retroreflecting marker comprising; a housing having a base and a resiliently depressible cap projecting upwardly therefrom, at least said cap being formed from a relatively wearresistant synthetic resin, said cap being substantially sealingly engaged with said base, and retroreflecting means supported in said housing, said cap having a redirecting means which is transparent to enable light rays to pass therethrough and which redirects the light rays striking said redirecting means to an angle of less than 30* to the perpendicular to the plane of said retroreflecting means, said housing being adapted for positioning of said base thereof and said cap thereof relative to a road surface so that light rays striking said redirecting means are redirected within said housing to said retroreflecting means, then are retroreflected from said retroreflecting means to said redirecting means, and thereafter are directed back from said redirecting means in the direction of the source of the light rays.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 155 words

A highway retroreflecting marker comprising; a housing having a base and a resiliently depressible cap projecting upwardly therefrom, at least said cap being formed from a relatively wearresistant synthetic resin, said cap being substantially sealingly engaged with said base, and retroreflecting means supported in said housing, said cap having a redirecting means which is transparent to enable light rays to pass therethrough and which redirects the light rays striking said redirecting means to an angle of less than 30* to the perpendicular to the plane of said retroreflecting means, said housing being adapted for positioning of said base thereof and said cap thereof relative to a road surface so that light rays striking said redirecting means are redirected within said housing to said retroreflecting means, then are retroreflected from said retroreflecting means to said redirecting means, and thereafter are directed back from said redirecting means in the direction of the source of the light rays.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 1 further comprising joining means, and wherein said base and said cap are each of unitary construction and said joining means joins said base and said cap together so as to form a substantially air-tight seal therebetween.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 75 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cap has a stepped construction formed by a plurality of spaced steps, said redirecting means is mounted in said cap in juxtaposed relation to said plurality of spaced steps, said base includes a bottom wall, said retroreflecting means is mounted on said bottom wall, and said joining means joins said base and said cap together with said basE partially inserted in said cap.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 3 further comprising vent means formed in said side wall of said base to enable water vapor to be transmitted from the interior to the exterior of said base.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 60 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cap has a substantially rectangular configuration, said redirecting means is mounted in said cap, said base includes a bottom wall, said retroreflecting means is mounted on said bottom wall, and said joining means joins said base and said cap together with said base partially inserted in said cap.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 59 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cap has a substantially pyramidical configuration, said redirecting means is mounted in said cap, said base includes a bottom wall, said retroreflecting means is mounted on said bottom wall, said joining means joins said base and said cap together with said cap partially inserted in said base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 70 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cap includes a plurality of layer-like portions, said redirecting means is mounted in said cap in juxtaposed relation to said plurality of layer-like portions, said base includes a bottom wall, said retroreflecting means is mounted on said bottom wall, and said joining means joins said base and said cap together with said cap partially inserted in said base.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 67 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base and said cap are each of unitary construction, said cap has a dome configuration, said redirecting means is mounted in said cap, said base includes a bottom wall, said retroreflecting means is mounted on said bottom wall, and said base and said cap are joined together with said base partially inserted in said cap.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 8 furthur comprising spring means supported in said base for biasing said cap to an undepressed condition.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 53 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base comprises a canister portion having a substantially cylindrical configuration consisting of a relatively rigid side wall and a bottom wall, a stand having a plurality of outwardly extending flexible arms, and means for affixing said canister portion to said stand.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said redirecting means comprises prism means operable for reflecting the light rays to said retroreflecting means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said redirecting means comprises prism means operable for refracting the light rays to said retroreflecting means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap includes at least one face having a planar configuration, and said redirecting means is mounted in said cap in juxtaposed relation to said one face of said cap.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in cliam 13 wherein said retroreflecting means is supported in said housing at an angle to the major axis of said housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in cliam 13 wherein said retroreflecting means is supported in said housing at an angle to the major axis of said housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 130 words

A highway retroreflecting marker comprising: a housing including a depressible member, a rigid member and means mounting said depressible member to said rigid member to form a substantially air-tight seal therebetween; said depressible member formed of wear-resistant resilient material, and having redirecting means supported thereon operable to redirect light received thereby; said rigid member including at least one wall having an opening therein; said opening being located in juxtaposed relation to said depressible member; and retoreflecting means supported in said rigid member in a position to receive through said opening of said rigid member the light directed from said redirecting means and for retroreflecting the light back through said opening to said redirecting means to cause the light to be directed therefrom back in the direction of the source thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 130 words

A highway retroreflecting marker comprising: a housing including a depressible member, a rigid member and means mounting said depressible member to said rigid member to form a substantially air-tight seal therebetween; said depressible member formed of wear-resistant resilient material, and having redirecting means supported thereon operable to redirect light received thereby; said rigid member including at least one wall having an opening therein; said opening being located in juxtaposed relation to said depressible member; and retoreflecting means supported in said rigid member in a position to receive through said opening of said rigid member the light directed from said redirecting means and for retroreflecting the light back through said opening to said redirecting means to cause the light to be directed therefrom back in the direction of the source thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 80 words

A highway retroreflEcting marker as set forth in claim 15 wherein said depressible member has a stepped construction formed by a plurality of spaced steps, said redirecting means is supported on said depressible member in juxtaposed relation to said plurality of spaced steps, said rigid member further includes a bottom wall, said retroreflecting means is supported on said bottom wall, and said depressible member is mounted to said rigid member with said rigid member partially inserted into said depressible member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 78 words

A highway retroreflecting marker as set forth in claim 15 wherein said depressible member includes at least one face having a planar configuration, said redirecting means is supported on said depressible member in juxtaposed relation to said one face, said retroreflecting means is supported in said rigid member at an angle to the major axis of said housing, and said depressible member is mounted to said rigid member with said rigid member partially inserted into said depressible member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-12-08	1979-06-09	1979-12-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-12-08	1983-06-09	1983-12-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-12-08	1987-06-09	1987-12-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Highway retroreflecting marker

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