US20090304444A1

US20090304444A1 - Signaling Point Module For Use On The Road Surface

Info

Publication number: US20090304444A1
Application number: US12/473,216
Authority: US
Inventors: Alejandro PRETOLA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-28
Filing date: 2009-05-27
Publication date: 2009-12-10
Also published as: BRMU8901883U2

Abstract

A module manufactured in colors which are not altered by use as they are inherent to the constitutive material thereof, in order to conform—with a succession thereof—traces delineating lanes, restricted areas, indicative arrows and other graphisms applicable to traffic signaling on roads, streets, gas stations, parking lots, etc., said module having a troncoconical conformation and a very reduced height, the upper base thereof having a diameter significantly lower than the one of the bottom base, in such a way that the enveloping face thereof is substantially a downward annulus slightly inclined towards the outer perimeter, the center thereof having a vertical orifice with a beveled upper entrance, wherein the milled head of a screw is hold, in such a way that the module is fixed on its bottom base supported onto the surface by passing the clamp screw through said orifice so as to insert the opposite end thereof into another orifice made on the road surface, provided with an expandable anchor screw, a bit or a similar anchor means, thus assuring on the basis of said conformation, constitutive material and anchor means, that ongoing traffic stepping thereonto will not cause any transversal forces resulting in alteration of positioning and coloration thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a based upon priority Argentina Utility Model Application No. MUT-080102248 filed Apr. 28, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application refers to a SIGNALING POINT MODULE FOR USE ON THE ROAD SURFACE, manufactured in colors which are not altered by use as they are inherent to the constitutive material thereof, in order to conform—with a succession thereof—traces delineating lanes, restricted areas, indicative arrows and other graphisms applicable to traffic signaling on roads, streets, gas stations, parking lots, etc., said module having a troncoconical conformation and a very reduced height, the upper base thereof having a diameter significantly lower than that of the bottom base, in such a way that the enveloping face thereof is substantially a downward annulus slightly inclined towards the outer perimeter, the center thereof having a vertical orifice with a beveled upper entrance, wherein the milled head of a screw is hold, in such a way that the module is fixed on its bottom base supported on the surface by passing the clamp screw through said orifice so as to insert the opposite end thereof into another orifice made on the road surface, provided with an expandable anchor screw, a bit or a similar anchor means, thus assuring on the basis of said conformation, constitutive material and anchor means, that ongoing traffic stepping thereonto will not cause any transversal forces resulting in alteration of positioning and coloration thereof.
In fact, the present module provides, by means of the inclined perimeter of the above-mentioned annulus, a kind of ramp for smooth ascending and subsequent descending in either way overstepped by the wheel of a vehicle, preventing same from absorbing lateral strengths, receiving only the vertical force of its own weight which does not undermine the fixed state thereof.
Without altering the functional principle disclosed herein, it is possible for the modules destined to skidding and/or detention zones to have accessories such as at least a monolithic fitting, preferably cylindrical, perpendicularly stemming from the bottom face thereof in an eccentrical way, to be embedded into orifices made on the road surface, enabling resistance to transversal forces caused by ongoing traffic conditions and for the bigger modules to have as attachment means onto the surface a plurality of screws distributed in a concentrically circular trace, passing through monolithic fittings, preferably cylindrical, perpendicularly stemming from the bottom face thereof, in such a way that, by clamping into orifices made on the road surface, they can reinforce anchoring and work cooperatively with the transversal resistance thereof.
Well-known road surface signaling means contemplate painting of traces or points with resistant paints, thermally adhered tapes or points and polygonal or pointed studs in a hill-like fashion with anchor spikes within the bottom face thereof.
Painted traces face the problem of being easily discolored or even blurred in short time due to intermittent traffic or altered by the detachment of the upper layer of the road surface when the asphalt layer is exposed to temperatures resulted from solar incidence.
Frequently used, thermally adhered tapes or points face the problem of being a highly expensive material which is very rapidly deteriorated with use, deformed by transversal detachment upon insufficient anchoring, and their partial substitution without losing the delineating trace is really difficult.
Finally, the polygonal or pointed studs in a hill-like fashion with anchor spikes are easily detachable because their customary volumetric conformation provides transversal resistance to ongoing traffic, the incidence of which undermines the effective attachment thereof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the main object of the present application is to provide a signaling point module for use on the road surface, the anchoring thereof being simple and safe, easily replaceable, the conformation of which is performed in a plastic material which is highly resistant to mechanical forces and to chemical and climatic agents; it may be stepped onto by oncoming traffic, acting as a ramp, which minimizes the requirement of transversal forces, the position thereof being secured by the attachment means thereof, the configured trace being unaltered.
Another object of the application is to provide signaling point modules on the road surface of several colors and sizes, in order to conform traces differentiated in accordance with established codes, said colors being unaltered by wear and tear, as they are inherent to the constitutive material thereof, which may include reflective pigments.
As a result, the present application provides a new way in signaling elements on the road surface imparting a better use to the function to which they are destined.
In order to carry out the advantages disclosed herein and to enable the understanding of the constructive and functional features of the signaling point module for use on the road surface, a preferred embodiment is described below, by means of an illustrative scheme and without a determined scale on the figures enclosed. It should be point out that, being an example, it does not imply a limitation whatsoever of the module but it presents a mere illustration of the basic conception on which it is based.
A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following detailed descriptions and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploited perspective view of the module having an anchor means.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along a diametric plane thereof.

FIG. 3 is an upper plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof, with two clamping fittings.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along a diametric plane thereof, with two clamping fittings.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof, with six clamping fittings coinciding with six clamp screws.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a diametric plane thereof, with six clamping fittings coinciding with six clamp screws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description and explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best modes for practicing the invention.
As shown on FIG. 1, the module 1, manufactured with the resistant material of a chosen color, has a troncoconical conformation and a very reduced height, its upper base 2 having a diameter significantly lower than the bottom base 3, projecting the enveloping face thereof as an annulus 4 slightly inclined between said bases in a radial sense in order to act as a ramp for ongoing traffic without exerting transversal forces, the center thereof having a vertical orifice 5 with a beveled upper entrance, defining the attachment 6 of the milled head 7 of the clamp screw 8, passing though said orifice 5 to be connected to the expandable anchor screw 9, inserted into an orifice made onto the surface prior to the installation thereof.
FIG. 2 depicts the sectional view of a diametric plane of the module 1 showing its planar troncoconical configuration, the enveloping face of which defines the annular slope 4 between the upper base 2 and the bottom base 3, said volume having concentrically arranged the cylindrical orifice 5 with its beveled upper entrance 6.
FIG. 3 depicts the upper plan view of the module 1 with its annular slope 4, its upper base 2 and its central orifice 5 with beveled entrance 6.
FIG. 4 depicts a bottom plan view of the arrangement of the two cooperative cylindrical fittings 10 monolithically stemming from the bottom face 3 of the module 1 in positions displaced by the axis of the clamp screw 8, preferably diametrically opposite thereto, being possible for the number of said fittings to be higher or lower.
FIG. 5 depicts a sectional view along the diametric plane of the embodiment shown on the previous figure, having the two fittings 10 arranged symmetrically on both sides of the axis of the clamp screw 8.
FIG. 6 depicts a bottom plan view of module 1 with six clamp screws 8 distributed concentrically with respect to the center thereof, which is blind, in an equispaced way and passing through the fittings 10.
Finally, FIG. 7 depicts the axis of the clamp screws 8 in the arrangement depicted by the previous Figure, projecting in such a way to pass through orifices 5 prolonging within the fittings 10 monolithically stemming from the bottom face thereof 3.
The signaling point module for use on the road surface, as described and exemplified, is comprised within the scope of the present application which is fundamentally defined by the appended claims.
Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications, substitutions, and rearrangements of parts, as well as other uses of the Signaling Point Module for Use on the Road Surface, can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A signaling point module for use on the road surface such as the one used for conforming traffic signaling traces or other signaling graphisms by attaching same onto the surface, characterized in that it is manufactured with a resistant material, said module having a troncoconical conformation and a very reduced height, the upper base thereof having a diameter which is significantly lower than the one of the bottom base, projecting the enveloping face thereof as an annulus slightly inclined in a radial sense between the edges of both bases and having within the center a vertical orifice with a beveled upper entrance defining the attachment for the milled head of a clamp screw, passing through said orifice so as to connect by the opposite end thereof in a holding means inserted into an orifice made onto the surface prior to the installation thereof.

2. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the module has at least a monolithic fitting, preferably cylindrical, stemming perpendicularly from the bottom face thereof in an eccentric way with respect to the orifice though which the screw passes.

3. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means onto the surface is a plurality of screws distributed within a concentrically circular trace, passing through orifices of monolithic fittings, preferably cylindrical, stemming perpendicularly from the bottom face thereof.

4. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means for holding the clamp screws, are expandable anchor screws.

5. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claims 1, characterized in that it has a constitutive material of a color chosen for the visualization thereof.

6. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the means for holding the clamp screws, are expandable anchor screws.

7. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the means for holding the clamp screws, are expandable anchor screws.

8. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claims 2, characterized in that it has a constitutive material of a color chosen for the visualization thereof.

9. A signaling point module for use on the road surface in accordance with claims 3, characterized in that it has a constitutive material of a color chosen for the visualization thereof.