US4681401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet material marker surface for roadways and the like
Assignee: CTF BRITE Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1985-09-23
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Granted: 1987-07-21
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Expires: 2005-09-23
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure involves an improved thin surface-marking strip for adhering to a road surface or the like, employing novel flattened somewhat saw-tooth wedges embodying retroreflective material and of preferably substantially trapezoidal shape, with rather critical separations between wedges relative to height and length of the wedges to obviate shadow effects, provide improved daylight observation, and to increase effectiveness and life, particularly under conditions of rain-covered surfaces and snow removal.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Wyckoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:53
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/576; E01F9/578
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
In combination with a roadway surface and the like, a direction-indicating surface marker strip comprising plastic material secured to said surface, said strip being intermittently deformed upward to provide successive wedges of substantially trapezoidal shape in longitudinal vertical section, each wedge having a top surface bounded by inclined front and rear surfaces, the height of each wedge being small relative to the longitudinal dimension of the top surface of the wedge, each of said inclined surfaces being provided with a surface layer of retroreflecting beads, said layer of retroreflecting beads having at least a top row thereof which is visible at night to a motorist hundreds of feet away by retroreflection of vehicle headlights, the configuration, dimensions, and spacing of the wedges being selected to reduce substantially the obscuring of the marker strip by shadows of the wedges in sunlight, so that the marker strip is clearly visible to a motorist during the day as well as at night, and whereby the marker strip has a long effective life even when subjected to abrasion and dirt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
In combination with a roadway surface and the like, a direction-indicating surface marker strip comprising plastic material secured to said surface, said strip being intermittently deformed upward to provide successive wedges of substantially trapezoidal shape in longitudinal vertical section, each wedge having a top surface bounded by inclined front and rear surfaces, the height of each wedge being small relative to the longitudinal dimension of the top surface of the wedge, each of said inclined surfaces being provided with a surface layer of retroreflecting beads, said layer of retroreflecting beads having at least a top row thereof which is visible at night to a motorist hundreds of feet away by retroreflection of vehicle headlights, the configuration, dimensions, and spacing of the wedges being selected to reduce substantially the obscuring of the marker strip by shadows of the wedges in sunlight, so that the marker strip is clearly visible to a motorist during the day as well as at night, and whereby the marker strip has a long effective life even when subjected to abrasion and dirt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top surface of each wedge has a substantially horizontal area that is substantially greater than the area of each inclined surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 1, wherein successive wedges of said strip are separated by a substantially horizontal surface having an area that is substantially greater than that of each inclined surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 1, wherein each inclined surface forms an angle with respect to vertical that is substantially within the range of 0 degree to 45 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 1, wherein the height of each wedge is a small fraction of the longitudinal dimension of the top surface of the wedge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 5, wherein the longitudinal dimension of said top surface is of the order of a few hundred mils and said fraction is of the order of 1/6.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 1, wherein all of the top and inclined surfaces of said wedges are provided with retroreflecting beads, as well as surfaces of said strip between successive wedges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip in accordance with claim 1, wherein said beads are about 60 percent embedded in the strip material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
246 words
For use with a roadway surface and the like, a direction-indicating surface marker strip comprising plastic material adapted to be secured to said roadway surface, said strip being intermittently deformed upward to provide successive wedges of substantially trapezoidal shape in longitudinal vertical section, each wedge having a top surface bounded by inclined front and rear surfaces, each top surface having a substantially horizontal surface area that is substantially greater than the area of each inclined surface, successive wedges of said strip being separated by substantially horizontal surfaces each having an area substantially greater than that of each inclined surface, each inclined surface forming an angle with respect to vertical that is substantially within the range of 0 degree to 45 degrees, the height of each wedge being a small fraction of the longitudinal dimension of the top surface of the wedge, each of said inclined surfaces being provided with a surface layer of retroreflecting beads, said layer of retroreflective beads having at least a top row thereof which is visible at night to a motorist hundreds of feet away by retroreflection of vehicle headlights, the configuration, dimensions, and spacing of the wedges being selected to reduce substantially the obscuring of the marker strip by shadows of the wedges in sunlight, so that the marker strip is clearly visible to a motorist during the day as well as at night, and whereby the marker strip has a long effective life even when subjected to abrasion and dirt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
For use with a roadway surface and the like, a direction-indicating surface marker strip comprising plastic material adapted to be secured to said roadway surface, said strip being intermittently deformed upward to provide successive wedges of substantially trapezoidal shape in longitudinal vertical section, each wedge having a top surface bounded by inclined front and rear surfaces, each top surface having a substantially horizontal surface area that is substantially greater than the area of each inclined surface, successive wedges of said strip being separated by substantially horizontal surfaces each having an area substantially greater than that of each inclined surface, each inclined surface forming an angle with respect to vertical that is substantially within the range of 0 degree to 45 degrees, the height of each wedge being a small fraction of the longitudinal dimension of the top surface of the wedge, each of said inclined surfaces being provided with a surface layer of retroreflecting beads, said layer of retroreflective beads having at least a top row thereof which is visible at night to a motorist hundreds of feet away by retroreflection of vehicle headlights, the configuration, dimensions, and spacing of the wedges being selected to reduce substantially the obscuring of the marker strip by shadows of the wedges in sunlight, so that the marker strip is clearly visible to a motorist during the day as well as at night, and whereby the marker strip has a long effective life even when subjected to abrasion and dirt.
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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) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-01-19 | 1991-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-01-19 | 1995-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |