Audible night-visible traffic stripe for a road and method and apparatus for making the same

A method of applying a traffic stripe to a road surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an applicator having first and second members;
• applying a material forming a traffic stripe to a road surface by opening the first member;
• forming the traffic stripe with at least a first portion having a first height and a second portion having a second height by selectively positioning the second member in first and second open positions, respectively;
• and
• deforming the traffic stripe with a deformation member to form grooves in said first portion and said second portion of the traffic stripe while maintaining the second height greater than the first height said deforming step further comprising raising the deformation member so that the deformation member can contact and deform an upper surface of the second portion of the traffic stripe.

A traffic stripe comprising:

• a line of thermoplastic material including at least one first portion having a thickness of at least 0.06 inch and at least one second portion having a thickness of at least 0.5 inch wherein the thickness of said second portion is greater than the thickness of said first portion, said thermoplastic material having a viscosity in a liquid state of at least 4,000 centipoise;
• a reflective coating dispersed over said line of thermoplastic material;
• a plurality of grooves formed in at least said first portion of said line of thermoplastic material, each said groove having a depth of at least 0.04 inch and including at least one side wall having a portion disposed at an angle of less than ninety degrees relative to a horizontal;
• wherein said plurality of grooves allows water to drain from said line of thermoplastic material;
• and
• wherein said sloped side wall of each said groove provides increased reflectivity to said line of thermoplastic material.

An apparatus for applying a traffic stripe to a road surface, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one vehicle;
• a first applicator operatively attached to said vehicle for applying a traffic stripe material to the road surface, said applicator including a first member securable in a first position for allowing the material to be applied to the road surface and in a second position for preventing the material from exiting said applicator;
• and a second member capable of being adjustably positioned such that it forms the stripe with at least one portion having a first height and, at least one portion having a second height, said second height being greater than said first height;
• a second applicator for applying a reflective material to the traffic stripe;
• and
• a deformation member spaced from said first applicator for providing a profile to said at least one portion having a first height and to said at least one portion having a second height such that said second height remains greater than said first height;
• wherein said deformation member includes a first deformation portion and a second deformation portion, the first deformation portion defining a first outer surface of the deformation member and the second deformation portion defining a second outer surface of the deformation member, the second outer surface being spaced inwardly from the first outer surface.

A method of applying a traffic stripe to a road surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an applicator having first and second members;
• applying a material forming a traffic stripe to a road surface by opening the first member;
• forming the traffic stripe with at least a first portion having a first height and a second portion having a second height by selectively positioning the second member in first and second open positions, respectively;
• providing a deformation member having a first deformation portion and a second deformation portion, the first deformation portion defining a first outer surface of the deformation member and the second deformation portion defining a second outer surface of the deformation member, the second outer surface being spaced inwardly from the first outer surface;
• and
• deforming the traffic stripe with the deformation member to form grooves in said first portion and said second portion of the traffic stripe while maintaining the second height greater than the first height.