US 4,395,155 AGranted

Reflective highway marker

OwnerFrank Bartolotti, Douglas Dockstaderinventors

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Abstract

A reflective highway marker mounted within an elongated groove formed in a highway pavement, the groove extending longitudinally of the highway and exposing the reflective highway marker to the headlights of oncoming motor vehicles when their approach distance from the reflective highway marker is adequate for highway guidance purposes. The reflective highway marker is provided with a reflective surface which is slightly inclined from the vertical and oriented to reflect back to the eye level of the average driver of an average vehicle a beam of light which emanates from the level of the average headlight on an average vehicle. The elongated groove is substantially narrower than the width of the narrowest motor vehicle tires conventionally in use to prevent destructive contact between the tires and the reflective highway marker.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of providing a reflective marker in a highway, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming in a highway pavement an elongated groove oriented with its longitudinal axis entending substantially longitudinally of the highway, and
(b) affixing the said groove a reflective highway marker whose height does not exceed the depth of the groove at the place of affixation,
(c) said reflective highway marker having a reflective surface which is oriented to face oncoming vehicles,
(d) the length and depth of the groove forward of said reflective highway marker being sufficient to expose said reflective surface to drivers of oncoming vehicles when their approach distance from the reflective highway marker is adequate for highway guidance purposes,
(e) the groove which is formed in the highway pavement being narrower that the width of vehicle tires to prevent destructive contact between the vehicle tires and the reflective highway marker,
(f) said elongated groove being tapered in depth forward of the reflective highway marker from substantially zero depth where the groove terminates at the pavement of the highway to a depth substantially corresponding to the height of the reflective highway marker at the place of affixation thereof,
(g) the length of the elongated groove formed in the highway pavement ranging from approximately 1 foot to approximately 3 feet,
(h) the length of the elongated groove forward of the reflective surface ranging from approximately 1 foot to approximately 1 foot, 6 inches,
(i) the depth of the elongated groove at the place of affixation of the reflective highway marker approximating 1 inch,
(j) the width of the elongated groove ranging from approximately 1.5" to approximately 3.5", and
(k) the reflective surface on the reflective highway marker is inclined rearwardly from its lower to its upper edge at an angle ranging from approximately 1 degree to approximately 5 degrees from the vertical.

8 more elements

In combination with an elongated groove formed in a highway pavement with its longitudinal axis extending longitudinally of the highway, a reflective highway marker adapted to be affixed within the groove, said elongated groove being tapered in depth forward of the reflective highway marker from substantially zero depth where the groove terminates at the pavement of the highway to a depth substantially corresponding to the height of the reflective highway marker at the place of affixation thereof, and said groove being narrower that the width of vehicle tires to prevent destructive contact between the vehicle tires and the highway marker, said reflective highway marker comprising:

(a) a body structure being of a width to fit within said groove,
(b) a reflective surface on at least one side of said body structure, and
(c) means for affixing the body structure in said groove,
(d) the height of said body structure not exceeding the depth of the groove in the area of affixation to preclude projection of the body structure above the surface of the highway pavement,
(e) said body structure being positioned a sufficient distance behind the forward end of the groove to provide clearance for a light beam from a headlight of an oncoming vehicle to impinge upon the reflective surface and said reflective surface being angled to reflect said light beam back to the eye level of the driver of the oncoming vehicle when the approach distance of the vehicle from the reflective highway marker is sufficient for highway guidance purposes,
(f) the length of the elongated groove forward of the reflective surface ranging from approximately 1 foot to approximately 1 foot, 6 inches,
(g) the height of the body structure being approximately 1 inch,
(h) the depth of the groove in the area of affixation not exceeding 1 inch, and
(i) the reflective surface on the body structure being inclined rearwardly from its lower to its upper edge at an angle ranging from approximately 1 degree to approximately 5 degrees to the vertical.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.