US5630674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Road surface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-10-10
•
Granted: 1997-05-20
•
Expires: 2015-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A road surface formed by laying a multiplicity of molded elastic plates 2 each containing a rubber material 6 mixed with an aggregate 7 having anti-wear properties. These elastic plates 2 are laid on a roadbed 3, and are fixed by fixing means 20. Strong adhesive force between this rubber material and the aggregate greatly suppresses peeling of the aggregate 7 from the rubber 6 and prevent formation of pit holes on the surface of the road. The highly elastic nature of the elastic plates prevents plastic deformation and cracks of the road due to vehicle load, suffer little change with temperature variation, providing long-term durability. Accordingly, the frequency of repairs or modifications carried out to improve durability is drastically reduced, and the number of defects is reduced so that the safety of vehicles using the road is increased. A multiplicity of grooves 26 provided in the vehicle travel direction on the surface of the elastic plate 2 guide the wheels of vehicles so as to confer directionality and increase road safety. A light reflecting layer 27 formed on the inner walls of the grooves 26 makes the road surface stand out at night or in dark areas of terrain so that it can be better seen by drivers, thereby contributing to greater road safety.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeo Inaba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:20
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C5/00; E01C5/22; E01C11/00; E01C11/22; E01C11/224; E01C11/225; E01C11/24; E01C11/26; E01C11/265; E01C9/00; E01C9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A road surface formed by laying on a roadbed a multiplicity of molded elastic plates each comprising aggregates having anti-wear properties mixed with rubber material wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a multiplicity of grooves in a vehicle travel direction formed on the top surface of said elastic plate, whereby said grooves help the vehicle to restore the vehicle travel direction thereof when a front wheel of the vehicle deviates from the vehicle travel direction, and suppress skidding and sideways slipping of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A road surface formed by laying on a roadbed a multiplicity of molded elastic plates each comprising aggregates having anti-wear properties mixed with rubber material wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a multiplicity of grooves in a vehicle travel direction formed on the top surface of said elastic plate, whereby said grooves help the vehicle to restore the vehicle travel direction thereof when a front wheel of the vehicle deviates from the vehicle travel direction, and suppress skidding and sideways slipping of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A road surface formed by laying on a roadbed a multiplicity of molded elastic plates each comprising aggregates having anti-wear properties mixed with rubber material wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a multiplicity of voids in a vehicle travel direction underneath the surface of said elastic plate, whereby said voids help the vehicle to restore the vehicle travel direction thereof when a front wheel of the vehicle deviates from the vehicle travel direction, and suppress skidding and sideways slipping of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A road surface formed by laying on a roadbed a multiplicity of molded elastic plates each comprising aggregates having anti-wear properties mixed with rubber material wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a multiplicity of voids in a vehicle travel direction underneath the surface of said elastic plate, whereby said voids help the vehicle to restore the vehicle travel direction thereof when a front wheel of the vehicle deviates from the vehicle travel direction, and suppress skidding and sideways slipping of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A road surface formed by laying on a roadbed a multiplicity of molded elastic plates each comprising aggregates having anti-wear properties mixed with rubber material wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a multiplicity of through-holes in a vertical direction for allowing the passage of rainwater, and wherein each of said elastic plates comprise a multiplicity of drain grooves provided in an effectively perpendicular direction to a vehicle travel direction underneath each of said elastic plates, said groove being connected with said through-holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A road surface formed by laying on a roadbed a multiplicity of molded elastic plates each comprising aggregates having anti-wear properties mixed with rubber material wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a multiplicity of through-holes in a vertical direction for allowing the passage of rainwater, and wherein each of said elastic plates comprise a multiplicity of drain grooves provided in an effectively perpendicular direction to a vehicle travel direction underneath each of said elastic plates, said groove being connected with said through-holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The road surface as defined in claim 1, wherein said grooves comprise a light reflecting layer or a light emitting layer on an inner wall of said grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The road surface as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein each of said elastic plates comprises a wearing course and a base course laid underneath said wearing course, an aggregate being mixed into said base course that is different from an aggregate mixed into said wearing course.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The road surface as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, further comprising fixing means each containing an anchor member and a press member that fixes said elastic plate to said roadbed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The road surface as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein said grooves comprise a light reflecting layer or a light emitting layer on a base surface of said grooves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The road surface as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein each of said plates comprises a heat emitting body embedded in each of said elastic plates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The road surface as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein each of said elastic plates comprises protrusions intermittently in said vehicle travel direction of said road surface so as to give a jolt to wheels of a vehicle traveling on said road surface in said vehicle travel direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The road surface as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein each of said elastic plates are oriented adjacent another elastic plate at a joint which is at an oblique angle to said vehicle travel direction and each of said elastic plates are supported so as to permit relative displacement of each of said elastic plates relative to one another along a line defining a surface of said joint.
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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) | 2000-05-19 | 2000-11-18 | 2001-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-19 | 2004-11-18 | 2005-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-19 | 2008-11-18 | 2009-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |