Method for deploying traffic warning devices and apparatus therefor
OwnerTed J. Watsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for deploying traffic warning devices, includes loading a plurality of traffic warning devices into a container through a loading port. The traffic warning devices remain stored in the container until they are needed to warn approaching vehicular or pedestrian traffic of an obstruction in a road, such as an accident. At that time, an officer causes the traffic warning devices to be dispensed from the container's deployment port and deposited upon the surface of the road. In a preferred embodiment, the container is modular and includes a top section, at least one middle section, and a bottom section. The holding capacity of the container may be increased by adding additional middle sections.
Claims27
A method for deploying traffic warning devices, comprising:
- (1) providing a plurality of said traffic warning devices, each said traffic warning device having an elongated body;
- (2) providing a road having a surface;
- (3) providing a container for deploying said traffic warning devices, said container comprising:
- a housing having a loading port and a deployment port, said loading port and said deployment port each shaped and dimensioned to pass said traffic warning devices so that said traffic warning devices may enter said container through said loading port, reside inside said container, and exit said container through said deployment port;
- and,
- said deployment port having a retaining mechanism which holds said traffic warning devices in place within said container;
- (4) inserting said plurality of traffic warning devices into said loading port so that said traffic warning devices reside inside said container;
- (5) transporting said container to a desired location;
- and,
- (6) causing said retaining mechanism to sequentially release said traffic warning devices so that said traffic warning devices exit said container and are deposited upon said surface of said road.
A container for deploying traffic warning devices, the traffic warning devices having an elongated body, said container comprising:
- a housing having a loading port and a deployment port, said loading port and said deployment port each shaped and dimensioned to pass the traffic warning devices so that a plurality of the traffic warning devices may enter said container through said loading port, reside inside said container, and exit said container through said deployment port;
- and,
- said deployment port having a retaining mechanism which holds the traffic warning devices in place within said container.
A traffic warning system comprising:
- a plurality of traffic warning devices each said traffic warning device having an elongated body;
- a container for deploying said plurality of traffic warning devices, said container including:
- a housing having a loading port and a deployment port, said loading port and said deployment port each shaped and dimensioned to pass said traffic warning devices so that said traffic warning device may enter said container through said loading port, reside inside said container, and exit said container through said deployment port;
- and,
- said deployment port having a retaining mechanism which holds said traffic warning devices in place within said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.