Self-erecting roadway marking post

Claim 1

A self-erecting post adapted for marking a roadway, comprising an elongated flexible and collapsible tube of resilient plastics material and having an annular cross-sectional configuration, said tube having a lower portion adapted to project downwardly into a hole within the ground and an upper portion projecting substantially above the ground, said upper portion of said tube being capable of bending above the ground through an angle of ninety degrees in response to being accidentally impacted by a motor vehicle, a set of spring-like tube retaining members, said lower end portion of said tube having a hole for each said retaining member, said retaining members having lower end portions rigidly secured to the inner surface of said tube and projecting upwardly and outwardly through the corresponding said holes, said retaining members having upper end portions being engagable with the ground in response to inserting said lower portion of said tube into a hole within the ground, an elongated tubular erecting member of resilient flexible material, said erecting member extending within said upper portion of said tube and within said lower portion of said tube between said lower end portions of said retaining members, said erecting member having an intermediate portion disposed for bending with said tube when impacted by the motor vehicle, and said erecting member and the surrounding said tube being cooperatively effective to provide said post with a substantial number of self-erections in response to vehicle impacts on said post.