EP0644297A2 - Reflective Road Studs - Google Patents
Reflective Road Studs Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0644297A2 EP0644297A2 EP94306734A EP94306734A EP0644297A2 EP 0644297 A2 EP0644297 A2 EP 0644297A2 EP 94306734 A EP94306734 A EP 94306734A EP 94306734 A EP94306734 A EP 94306734A EP 0644297 A2 EP0644297 A2 EP 0644297A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- road stud
- reflector
- support
- reflective road
- reflector support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
- E01F9/50—Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users
- E01F9/553—Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members
- E01F9/565—Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members having deflectable or displaceable parts
- E01F9/571—Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members having deflectable or displaceable parts displaceable vertically under load, e.g. in combination with rotation
Definitions
- This invention relates to a reflective road stud and more particularly to a reflective road stud which is resistant to impact by a snow plough.
- Snow ploughs in some countries are set to traverse a path slightly above the road surface so as to prevent damage to the road surface and to reflective road studs set in the road surface. In other countries, the plough is set to make contact with the road surface with the result that reflective road studs set in the road surface are damaged or destroyed.
- the present invention seeks to provide a reflective road stud which is resistant to impact by a snow plough.
- a reflective road stud comprising a hollow plastics body, a reflector support integral with the body and projecting above the body, and a reflector supported by the reflector support, the support being deformable into the body upon receiving an impact from either of two opposite sides of the road stud.
- the road stud also comprises wiper means for cleaning the reflector when the reflector support is deformed into the body.
- the reflector support lies proud of the hollow plastics body and includes two ramp surfaces on each of said two opposite sides of the road stud, which, when impacted, result in the reflector support being deformed into the body.
- the reflector support also comprises a bar extending between the two ramp surfaces on each of said two opposite sides of the road stud and a reflector on at least one and preferably on each side of the bar.
- the wiper means when provided, may be in the form of two blades integral with the body and extending inwards from opposite sides of the body towards the bar.
- the hollow body contains a closed cell foam material, a blow moulding or solid elastomeric material to prevent ice build up in the body which may otherwise resist or prevent deformation of the reflector support into the body.
- the body and support are formed of flexible, impact and abrasion resistant, plastics material.
- the road stud also comprises a housing for receiving and locating the hollow plastics body.
- the reflective road stud shown therein comprises an outer plastics housing 10 and a hollow plastics body 11 located in the housing 10.
- the housing 10 has a base and a generally rectangular wall with curved corner sections defining a cavity for receiving the body 11.
- the housing has a flange 12 at is upper end, six outwardly extending projections 13, external ribs 14 and four internal lugs 15.
- the housing 10 is located in a hole in the road surface and grouted in place. The dimensions of the hole are selected such that the lower projections 13 are deformed upwardly by engagement with the walls of the hole as the housing is placed in the hole to prevent the housing from floating when a grouting mixture is poured into the hole.
- the upper projections 13 contact the road surface to support the housing at the correct level while the housing is grouted in place.
- the ribs 14 help to key the housing to the grouting mixture and the internal lugs 15 co-operate with the body 11 in a manner to be described hereinafter.
- the plastics body 11 has two side walls 16 and two end walls 17 joined by curved corner sections 18 and is open at the bottom.
- a reflector support 19 is provided at the top of the body 11 and is integral therewith.
- the reflector support 19 comprises two ramp surfaces 20 on each side of the body 11 and at opposite ends, respectively, of the body 11.
- the ramp surfaces 20 are defined by arms 21 which are inclined upwards from respective side walls 16 and which are joined in the centre by a bar 22 extending between the ends of the body 11.
- the body 11 and reflector support 19 are formed of flexible, abrasion and impact resistant, plastics material such as that made and sold by Hoechst Polymers under the name Riteflex (TM) and the reflector support 19 is such that it will deform into the body 11 upon receiving an impact from either of two opposite sides of the road stud or from above.
- the housing 10 may be formed of the same plastics material.
- the road stud also comprises two wiper blades 24 which are integral with the body 11 and which extend inwards from respective side walls 16 at positions immediately below elongate recesses 25 formed in the upper edges of the two side walls 16, respectively.
- the blades 24 extend as far as the bar 22 and wipe the surfaces of the reflectors 23 each time the reflector support 19 is deformed into the body 11 to clean the reflectors 23.
- a recess 26 is formed in each side wall 16 immediately below the wiper blades 24 for snap fittably receiving the internal lugs 15 of the housing 10.
- the blades overhang the outer surface of the side walls 16 by a short distance and co-operate with the wall of the housing 10 to keep the wiper blades 24 in contact with the reflectors 23 when the reflector support 19 is deformed into the body 11.
- Slits 27 are provided in the side walls 16 at opposite ends of the wiper blades 24 to allow the reflector support 19 to be deformed into the body 11 without deforming the wiper blades 24.
- the body 11 is located as a snap fit in the housing 10 with the upper edge of the body 10 flush with or slightly below the upper surface of the housing 10 and with the reflector support 19 lying proud of the upper surface of the housing 10.
- the body 11 is substantially filled with closed cell foam material 28 which may be recessed in its upper surface to receive the bar 22 and reflectors 23 when the reflector support 19 is deformed into the body 11.
- This foam material is impervious to water and therefore prevents ice build up which could otherwise resist or prevent deformation of the reflector support 19 into the body 11.
- a blow moulding or solid elastomeric material could be used instead of the foam material.
- the reflector support 19 will deform into the body 11 when impacted by a snow plough to prevent damage to the road stud.
- the reflector support 19 will also be deformed into the body 11 when a vehicle wheel passes over the road stud and contact between the wiper blades 24 and the reflectors 23 when this happens will ensure that the reflectors 23 are kept reasonably clean.
- the foam material may also assist in cleaning the reflectors 23 when the reflector support 19 is deformed into the body 11.
- the ramp surfaces 20 could be arcuate rather than flat.
- the housing 10 could be omitted and the body 11 could be set in a hole in the road by adhesive.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
Abstract
A reflective road stud comprises a hollow plastics body 11, a reflector support 19 integral with the body and projecting above the body, and a reflector 23 supported by the reflector support. The support 19 is deformable into the body 11 upon receiving an impact from either of two opposite sides of the road stud. Wiper means 24 may be provided for cleaning the reflector when the reflector is deformed into the body. The road stud may also comprise a housing 10 for receiving and locating the hollow plastics body.
Description
- This invention relates to a reflective road stud and more particularly to a reflective road stud which is resistant to impact by a snow plough.
- Snow ploughs in some countries are set to traverse a path slightly above the road surface so as to prevent damage to the road surface and to reflective road studs set in the road surface. In other countries, the plough is set to make contact with the road surface with the result that reflective road studs set in the road surface are damaged or destroyed.
- The present invention seeks to provide a reflective road stud which is resistant to impact by a snow plough.
- According to the present invention there is provided a reflective road stud comprising a hollow plastics body, a reflector support integral with the body and projecting above the body, and a reflector supported by the reflector support, the support being deformable into the body upon receiving an impact from either of two opposite sides of the road stud.
- Preferably, the road stud also comprises wiper means for cleaning the reflector when the reflector support is deformed into the body.
- Preferably, the reflector support lies proud of the hollow plastics body and includes two ramp surfaces on each of said two opposite sides of the road stud, which, when impacted, result in the reflector support being deformed into the body. In this case, the reflector support also comprises a bar extending between the two ramp surfaces on each of said two opposite sides of the road stud and a reflector on at least one and preferably on each side of the bar. Also, in this case, the wiper means, when provided, may be in the form of two blades integral with the body and extending inwards from opposite sides of the body towards the bar.
- Advantageously, the hollow body contains a closed cell foam material, a blow moulding or solid elastomeric material to prevent ice build up in the body which may otherwise resist or prevent deformation of the reflector support into the body.
- Preferably, the body and support are formed of flexible, impact and abrasion resistant, plastics material.
- Preferably, the road stud also comprises a housing for receiving and locating the hollow plastics body.
- The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a road stud according to the invention,
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the road stud with the outer housing omitted,
- Figure 3 is a side view of the road stud with the outer housing omitted,
- Figure 4 is a front view of the road stud with the outer housing omitted,
- Figure 5 is an underneath perspective view of the road stud with the outer housing omitted, and
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the outer housing.
- Referring now to the drawings, the reflective road stud shown therein comprises an
outer plastics housing 10 and ahollow plastics body 11 located in thehousing 10. - The
housing 10 has a base and a generally rectangular wall with curved corner sections defining a cavity for receiving thebody 11. The housing has aflange 12 at is upper end, six outwardly extendingprojections 13,external ribs 14 and fourinternal lugs 15. Thehousing 10 is located in a hole in the road surface and grouted in place. The dimensions of the hole are selected such that thelower projections 13 are deformed upwardly by engagement with the walls of the hole as the housing is placed in the hole to prevent the housing from floating when a grouting mixture is poured into the hole. Theupper projections 13 contact the road surface to support the housing at the correct level while the housing is grouted in place. Theribs 14 help to key the housing to the grouting mixture and theinternal lugs 15 co-operate with thebody 11 in a manner to be described hereinafter. - The
plastics body 11 has twoside walls 16 and twoend walls 17 joined bycurved corner sections 18 and is open at the bottom. Areflector support 19 is provided at the top of thebody 11 and is integral therewith. - The
reflector support 19 comprises tworamp surfaces 20 on each side of thebody 11 and at opposite ends, respectively, of thebody 11. Theramp surfaces 20 are defined byarms 21 which are inclined upwards fromrespective side walls 16 and which are joined in the centre by abar 22 extending between the ends of thebody 11. - A
reflector 23, which may be formed of biconvex lenses or which may be a cube-corner-type retrodirective reflector or prismatic, is secured to each of the two longitudinally extending sides of thebar 22. - The
body 11 andreflector support 19 are formed of flexible, abrasion and impact resistant, plastics material such as that made and sold by Hoechst Polymers under the name Riteflex (TM) and thereflector support 19 is such that it will deform into thebody 11 upon receiving an impact from either of two opposite sides of the road stud or from above. Thehousing 10 may be formed of the same plastics material. - The road stud also comprises two
wiper blades 24 which are integral with thebody 11 and which extend inwards fromrespective side walls 16 at positions immediately belowelongate recesses 25 formed in the upper edges of the twoside walls 16, respectively. Theblades 24 extend as far as thebar 22 and wipe the surfaces of thereflectors 23 each time thereflector support 19 is deformed into thebody 11 to clean thereflectors 23. Arecess 26 is formed in eachside wall 16 immediately below thewiper blades 24 for snap fittably receiving theinternal lugs 15 of thehousing 10. The blades overhang the outer surface of theside walls 16 by a short distance and co-operate with the wall of thehousing 10 to keep thewiper blades 24 in contact with thereflectors 23 when thereflector support 19 is deformed into thebody 11.Slits 27 are provided in theside walls 16 at opposite ends of thewiper blades 24 to allow the reflector support 19 to be deformed into thebody 11 without deforming thewiper blades 24. - The
body 11 is located as a snap fit in thehousing 10 with the upper edge of thebody 10 flush with or slightly below the upper surface of thehousing 10 and with the reflector support 19 lying proud of the upper surface of thehousing 10. - The
body 11 is substantially filled with closedcell foam material 28 which may be recessed in its upper surface to receive thebar 22 andreflectors 23 when thereflector support 19 is deformed into thebody 11. This foam material is impervious to water and therefore prevents ice build up which could otherwise resist or prevent deformation of the reflector support 19 into thebody 11. A blow moulding or solid elastomeric material could be used instead of the foam material. - In use, the
reflector support 19 will deform into thebody 11 when impacted by a snow plough to prevent damage to the road stud. Thereflector support 19 will also be deformed into thebody 11 when a vehicle wheel passes over the road stud and contact between thewiper blades 24 and thereflectors 23 when this happens will ensure that thereflectors 23 are kept reasonably clean. The foam material may also assist in cleaning thereflectors 23 when thereflector support 19 is deformed into thebody 11. - The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the
ramp surfaces 20 could be arcuate rather than flat. Also, thehousing 10 could be omitted and thebody 11 could be set in a hole in the road by adhesive.
Claims (10)
- A reflective road stud comprising a hollow plastics body (11), a reflector support (19) integral with the body and projecting above the body, and a reflector (23) supported by the reflector support, the support being deformable into the body upon receiving an impact from either of two opposite sides of the road stud.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means (24) for cleaning the reflector when the reflector support is deformed into the body.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reflector support lies proud of the hollow plastics body and includes two ramp surfaces (20) on each of said two opposite sides of the road stud, which, when impacted, result in the reflector support being deformed into the body.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reflector support also comprises a bar (22) extending between the two ramp surfaces (20) on each of said two opposite sides of the road stud and a reflector (23) on at least one side of the bar.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the wiper means is in the form of two blades (24) integral with the body and extending inwards from opposite sides of the body towards the bar.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow body contains a closed cell foam material (28), a blow moulding or solid elastomeric material to prevent ice build up in the body which may otherwise resist or prevent deformation of the reflector support into the body.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body and support are formed of flexible, impact and abrasion resistant, plastics material.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a housing (10) for receiving and locating the hollow plastics body.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hollow plastics body is a snap fit in the housing.
- A reflective road stud as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the housing is also formed of plastics material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB939319503A GB9319503D0 (en) | 1993-09-21 | 1993-09-21 | Reflective road studs |
GB9319503 | 1993-09-21 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0644297A2 true EP0644297A2 (en) | 1995-03-22 |
EP0644297A3 EP0644297A3 (en) | 1995-09-13 |
Family
ID=10742309
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94306734A Withdrawn EP0644297A3 (en) | 1993-09-21 | 1994-09-14 | Reflective Road Studs. |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0644297A3 (en) |
GB (2) | GB9319503D0 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2426538A (en) * | 2005-05-23 | 2006-11-29 | Ind Rubber Plc | A base unit for a road stud |
WO2006125968A3 (en) * | 2005-05-23 | 2007-05-10 | Ind Rubber Plc | Road stud |
WO2008038069A1 (en) * | 2006-09-28 | 2008-04-03 | Robert Marcellus Schulz | A road stud |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2146359A (en) * | 1937-07-29 | 1939-02-07 | Shaw Percy | Block for road surface marking |
GB903939A (en) * | 1960-06-15 | 1962-08-22 | Gheen Randolph Abbott Sr | Reflector highway marker |
GB903938A (en) * | 1960-06-15 | 1962-08-22 | Gheen Randolph Abbott Sr | Reflecting highway marker |
DE2609726A1 (en) * | 1975-09-04 | 1977-03-17 | Mendel King & Ray Ltd | ROAD VISIBILITY |
FR2323819A1 (en) * | 1975-09-11 | 1977-04-08 | Molehurst Ltd | ROAD SIGNAGE NAIL WITH REFLECTIVE SURFACE |
US4130370A (en) * | 1977-11-14 | 1978-12-19 | Traffic Standard Incorporated | Light-reflective road marker of self-cleaning type |
US4297051A (en) * | 1979-06-01 | 1981-10-27 | Robinson Jesse L | Deformable highway marker |
GB2109039A (en) * | 1981-11-03 | 1983-05-25 | Inoventors Ltd | Reflective road studs and a method of forming such studs |
GB2147038A (en) * | 1983-09-23 | 1985-05-01 | Amerace Corp | Road surface marker |
GB2175943A (en) * | 1985-04-30 | 1986-12-10 | Amerace Corp | Road surface marker |
GB2229470A (en) * | 1989-02-21 | 1990-09-26 | Glasdon U K Limited | Reflective road stud |
US5069577A (en) * | 1990-10-23 | 1991-12-03 | Murphy Patrick E | Flexible raised pavement marker |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB545039A (en) * | 1941-05-13 | 1942-05-07 | Gowshall Ltd | Improvements relating to road studs |
GB1103505A (en) * | 1964-10-08 | 1968-02-14 | Dunlop Co Ltd | Improvements in or relating to housings for reflector studs |
US4659248A (en) * | 1981-11-17 | 1987-04-21 | Amerace Corporation | Self cleaning pavement marker |
-
1993
- 1993-09-21 GB GB939319503A patent/GB9319503D0/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-09-14 EP EP94306734A patent/EP0644297A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-09-14 GB GB9418470A patent/GB2281929B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2146359A (en) * | 1937-07-29 | 1939-02-07 | Shaw Percy | Block for road surface marking |
GB903939A (en) * | 1960-06-15 | 1962-08-22 | Gheen Randolph Abbott Sr | Reflector highway marker |
GB903938A (en) * | 1960-06-15 | 1962-08-22 | Gheen Randolph Abbott Sr | Reflecting highway marker |
DE2609726A1 (en) * | 1975-09-04 | 1977-03-17 | Mendel King & Ray Ltd | ROAD VISIBILITY |
FR2323819A1 (en) * | 1975-09-11 | 1977-04-08 | Molehurst Ltd | ROAD SIGNAGE NAIL WITH REFLECTIVE SURFACE |
US4130370A (en) * | 1977-11-14 | 1978-12-19 | Traffic Standard Incorporated | Light-reflective road marker of self-cleaning type |
US4297051A (en) * | 1979-06-01 | 1981-10-27 | Robinson Jesse L | Deformable highway marker |
GB2109039A (en) * | 1981-11-03 | 1983-05-25 | Inoventors Ltd | Reflective road studs and a method of forming such studs |
GB2147038A (en) * | 1983-09-23 | 1985-05-01 | Amerace Corp | Road surface marker |
GB2175943A (en) * | 1985-04-30 | 1986-12-10 | Amerace Corp | Road surface marker |
GB2229470A (en) * | 1989-02-21 | 1990-09-26 | Glasdon U K Limited | Reflective road stud |
US5069577A (en) * | 1990-10-23 | 1991-12-03 | Murphy Patrick E | Flexible raised pavement marker |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2426538A (en) * | 2005-05-23 | 2006-11-29 | Ind Rubber Plc | A base unit for a road stud |
WO2006125968A3 (en) * | 2005-05-23 | 2007-05-10 | Ind Rubber Plc | Road stud |
GB2426538B (en) * | 2005-05-23 | 2007-12-27 | Ind Rubber Plc | Road stud |
US8070381B2 (en) | 2005-05-23 | 2011-12-06 | Industrial Rubber Plc | Road stud |
WO2008038069A1 (en) * | 2006-09-28 | 2008-04-03 | Robert Marcellus Schulz | A road stud |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9418470D0 (en) | 1994-11-02 |
EP0644297A3 (en) | 1995-09-13 |
GB9319503D0 (en) | 1993-11-03 |
GB2281929A (en) | 1995-03-22 |
GB2281929B (en) | 1997-01-22 |
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