GB2293844A

GB2293844A - Markers for roads or paths

Info

Publication number: GB2293844A
Application number: GB9420165A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Deborah Elizabeth Wildridge; Frederick Frank Bird; Derek Roy Folkard; Matthew James Roger Allard
Original assignee: HALDO DEV Ltd
Current assignee: HALDO DEV Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-06
Filing date: 1994-10-06
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Also published as: GB9420165D0

Abstract

A marker for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards comprises a basebox (22) for securing in the ground and a dome-shaped body (10) of a tough flexible plastics material which projects above the ground and is resiliently deformable so as to be capable of withstanding being repeatedly driven over by road vehicles. The body (10) is translucent and the basebox (22) incorporates lamps (26), light from which illuminates the marker. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: MARKERS FOR ROADS OR PATHS This invention relates to markers for roads or paths, and in particular to markers for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards.

According to one aspect of the invention a marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards comprises a base for mounting the marker in the ground and a body for fitting in the base, the body when fitted projecting above the ground and being made of a resiliently deformable material so as to be capable of withstanding being repeatedly driven over by a road vehicle.

According to another aspect the invention provides a marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards, the marker comprising a base for mounting the marker in the ground and a body for fitting on the base, the body when fitted presenting a domed upper surface which is resiliently deformable and which projects out of the ground by a small distance such that a vehicle wheel can pass over the marker without damage to the vehicle or marker.

The body is preferably of a tough, flexible plastics material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

According to a yet further aspect of the invention a marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards comprises a base for mounting the marker in the ground, and a body for fitting on the base, the body being of a translucent plastics material and the base incorporating lighting means, light from which in use passes through the body to light the marker, the body projecting from the ground by a small distance such that a vehicle wheel can pass over the body.

A marker according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of the parts of the marker, Figure 2 is a side view of the marker, Figure 3 is a plan view of the marker, and Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the marker fitted in the ground.

The marker comprises a body 10 in the form of a tough, resiliently deformable shell-like cover made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a stainless steel annular ring 12, a domed translucent panel 14 of polycarbonate, a cast aluminium lid 16, an aluminium light tray 18 supporting a lamp holder 20 and a cast aluminium basebox 22. The light tray 18 rests on ledges 24 in the basebox 22 and accommodates three fluorescent lamps 26 electrical power for which is led into the basebox 22 by cables passing through a glanded entrance hole (see Figure 4) in the basebox 22. Bolts 28 secure the lid 16 to the basebox 22, with the lid 16 covering and locating the light tray 18. The lid 16 has a rectangular aperture 30 therein to allow light from the lamps 26 to pass through the domed window of the polycarbonate panel 14 so as to illuminate the body 10 from within.The aperture 30 is shaped to locate the panel 14.

The body 10 has a cylindrical lower rim 32 with four attachment holes 34 aligned with holes 36 in the ring 12 and with sockets 38 in the periphery of the light tray 16. Shear pins, one of which is shown at 31 in Figure 4, are inserted through these aligned holes to retain the body 10 in position. Using a special tool, the chear pins can be knocked out by an authorised person to release the body 10. By releasing nuts screwed on the ends of the bolts 28, the lid 16 can be removed to reveal the light tray 18. This can be lifted out of the basebox 22, with the aid of loop handles 40, for replacement of the lamps 26.

Referring to Figure 4, the marker is installed by securing the basebox 22 in the ground so that the upper edge of the basebox is approximately level with the finished ground level 42 around the marker. This leaves the body 10 projecting neatly above the ground and constituting the only visible component (apart possibly from the very small rim of the lid 16). The body 10 typically has a diameter of about 460mm and a height of about 130mm, this then being the amount by which the top of the body projects above the ground.

The body has, adjoining the rim 32, a radial ledge 44 merging into an annular wall 46 the upper edge of which adjoins the domed upper surface 48 of the body. The whole body 10 is translucent, the rim 32, the ledge 44 and the wall 46 being white. The domed upper surface 48 of the body is of orange colour and is therefore visually prominent in daylight without illumination. However, the marker may be illuminated in daylight.

At night, the marker will normally be illuminated. Light is transmitted through the white annular area (constituted by the ledge 44 and the wall 46) and also through the domed surface 48, to provide a highly visible marker which is of a permanent and robust nature and which can be used (either singly or in groups or lines) to illuminate paths, pedestrian zones or hazards in these regions, eg traffic islands, refuges or kerb edges. One particular application envisaged is to use the marker at the centre of a mini roundabout in a road. A possible variation of this is for the marker itself to constitute the mini roundabout. For these applications in vehicular areas, the resiliently deformable body shell is able to withstand repeated impacts by vehicles and being run over by vehicles.

The lamps and the electrical control gear are mounted below ground level and are protected from impact by the strong polycarbonate dome 14.

The body may if desired bear signs, eg direction-indicating arrows.

Claims

1. A marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards, the marker comprising a base for mounting the marker in the ground and a body for fitting in the base, the body when fitted projecting above the ground and being made of a resiliently deformable material so as to be capable of withstanding being repeatedly driven over by a road vehicle.

2. A marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards, the marker comprising a base for mounting the marker in the ground and a body for fitting on the base, the body when fitted presenting a domed upper surface which is resiliently deformable and which projects out of the ground by a small distance such that a vehicle wheel can pass over the marker without damage to the vehicle or marker.

3. A marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards, the marker comprising a base for mounting the marker in the ground, and a body for fitting on the base, the body being of a translucent plastics material and the base incorporating lighting means, light from which in use passes through the body to light the marker, the body projecting from the ground by a small distance such that a vehicle wheel can pass over the body.

4. A marker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is made of ethylene vinyl acetate.

5. A marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards, the marker being constructed and arranged substantially of herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A marker for securing in the ground and for marking vehicular or pedestrian areas or hazards, the marker comprising a base for mounting the marker in the ground, and a body for fitting on the base, the base including a base box accommodating lighting means, the body comprising a top cover which is translucent and resiliently deformable and a translucent panel which covers an upper opening presented by the base box, the top cover and the panel being removable from the base box to enable access to be gained to the lighting means through the upper opening in the base bx,inmse light from the lighting means passing through the body to light the marker, the body projecting from the ground by a small distance such that a vehicle wheel can gasps over the body.

2. A marker according to claim 1, wherein: the lighting moans comprise a light tray which, when the top cover and panel are remqved from the baSe box, can be lifted out of the base box for lamp replacement.

3. A marker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body is made of ethylene vinyl acetate.

4. A marker according to any of the preceding claims wherein the top cover presents a domed upper surface.