Traffic delineator

Abstract

A traffic delineator includes a hollow cylinder and a base, useable for connecting cordons, affixing a warning lamp, warning flags or indicating driving directions, etc. The cylinder has one or two areas separated by two or three outwardly extending flanges formed in an upper and an intermediate portion for adhering reflexive sheets on outer surfaces, an M-shaped grip with two parallel through holes, a small through hole on the two parallel holes and two grooves for inserting warning flags. The base has a center hole for the lower end portion of the cylinder to fit therein to stand upright stably by means of the large dimensions and the large weight of the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a traffic delineator, particularly to one having a cylinder and a base having a center hole for a lower end to fit firmly to stand on the ground stably, and the cylinder having a grip formed on top for a ring hook of a cordon rope to hook, and a small through hole for affixing a warning lamp, and two grooves for inserting warning flags. The cylinder further has two areas separated by three flanges for adhering reflexive sheets and two bellows members formed integral with the cylinder to let the cylinder to bend temporarily to adjust its height and to indicate a driving direction.

[0002] A conventional traffic delineator disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,941 includes a cylinder and a base having a center hole for the cylinder to fit therein to stand upright stably. The cylinder has a handle 30 formed in an upper end portion for carrying the traffic delineator and a hole 40 on the handle 30 for affixing a warning lamp, a flag, or the like for warning, a reflexive sheeting adhered on a smooth surface 26, and a channel 50 to form a grip 52 for transporting the traffic delineator 10. The cylinder 12 has the lower end 44 flaring into an outwardly extending flange 46 to be pressed down by the base 14 to keep the cylinder 12 stand upright on the ground stably.

[0003] The grip 30 may have the shape shown in FIGS. 13-17, the shape 70 in FIG. 20 or that in FIG. 32. The handle in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,941 has many various shapes, and those shown in a first and second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 8 and 9-12 are holes to be used as a grip and the holes 40 may be used for affixing a warning lamp or other safe purposes. The handles of a third, a fourth, a sixth, and the seventh embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 13-16, 17-19, 20-23, 24-27 and 28-31 have no warning lamp or flags possible to be affixed. Generally speaking, the conventional traffic delineator of U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,941 has the handle or the grip only for carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE IVNENTIION

[0004] The objective of the invention is to offer a traffic delineator possible to affix various warning members such as a warning lamp, warning flags, a cordon rope, etc with ease and quickness.

[0005] One feature of the invention is a cylinder firmly combined with a base to stand on the ground stably.

[0006] Another feature of the invention is the cylinder further having an M-shaped grip provided with two parallel through holes for a ring hook of a cordon rope to hook therein, a small through hole for affixing a warning lamp and two not-through holes for inserting warning flags.

[0007] Another feature of the invention is a bellows member provided in the cylinder so that the height of the cylinder may be adjusted between the highest and the lowest adjustable for reducing its dimensions to save transporting and storing cost.

[0008] One more feature of the invention is the bellows member of the cylinder possible to be bent to guide vehicles in driving direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] This invention will be better understood be referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the line I-I in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an upper view of the first embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the line II-II in FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a magnified cross-sectional view of the part marked A in FIG. 3;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a magnified cross-sectional view of the part marked B in FIG. 3;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a front view of the first embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a first way in the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a second way in the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view of the first embodiment of two traffic delineators used in a third way in the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 12 is a magnified partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 11;

[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a bellows portion in FIG. 4 lengthened;

[0025] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the bellows portion in FIG. 4 shrunk;

[0026] FIG. 17 is a front view of the fourth embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a first way in the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 18 is perspective view of the fourth embedment of a traffic delineator used in a second way;

[0028] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a third way;

[0029] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 21 is a front view of the fifth embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 23 is a partial front view of the fifth embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a first way;

[0033] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a second way;

[0034] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a bellows portion of the sixth embodiment lengthened for using in a first way;

[0036] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the bellows portion of the sixth embodiment shrunk for using in a second way;

[0037] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment of a traffic delineator used in a third way;

[0038] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 30 an upper view of a base of the seventh embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention; and,

[0040] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the base of the seventh embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMNTS

[0041] A first embodiment of a traffic delineator in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-10, includes a cylinder 1 and a base combined together.

[0042] The cylinder 1 is hollow, blow molded, having an M-shaped grip 10 provided on a top portion with two parallel through holes 11 defined by a circumferential wall 12 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Then cordon ropes 3 may be connected with the two parallel through holes 11 by means of ring hooks 30 quickly and conveniently hooking in the holes 11 for cordoning an investigating area to prohibit common people from entering there. Further a small through hole 13 is bored a little on the two holes 11 for affixing and removing a warning lamp 4 therein easily as shown in FIG. 9 to give a warning during the night. In addition, two not-through grooves 14 are formed in the top portion, forming a &thgr; angle with the small through hole 13 (preferably 45 degrees) for inserting warning flags 5 therein as another warning method.

[0043] The cylinder 1 further has three flanges 15 spaced apart equidistantly in an upper portion defining two areas 150 adhered with reflexive sheets 6, which may not friction with the ground even if the cylinder 1 falls down, protected by the three flanges 15. Further, the cylinder has grip holes 18 formed abutting each other in its circumferential wall in a lower portion, connected with three ribs 180 the circumferential wall. Then four fingers of a person can insert in the grip holes 18 to carry the traffic delineator, with the ribs 180 reinforcing the cylinder 1.

[0044] Next, the cylinder 1 has a lower end portion 16 of a little larger diameter than the rest portion, conforming to the inner diameter of a center hole 20 of the base 2 to let the lower end portion fitting in the center hole 20 and standing stably on the ground by lowering the center of gravity of the cylinder 1. In blow molding process of a cylinder 1, an annular bottom 17 is formed in the bottom end portion, having a thickness (D) larger than that (d) of the cylinder wall, preferably two times more, permitting the annular bottom 17 stand on the ground stably.

[0045] Next, the base 2 may be made hexagonal or of other shapes, having the center hole 20 for the lower end portion of the cylinder 1 to fit therein, keeping the cylinder 1 stand on the ground very stable.

[0046] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second embodiment of a traffic delineator, which has almost the same structure modifying the first embodiment, only different in a disc-shaped bottom 17A of the lower end portion of the cylinder 1 instead of the annular bottom 17 in the first embodiment, preventing the cylinder 1 from falling off the base 2 or the traffic delineator from falling down.

[0047] A third embodiment of a traffic delineator shown in FIG. 13 has the same structure, except no grip holes 18 provided in the cylinder 1.

[0048] A fourth embodiment of a traffic delineator shown in FIGS. 14-19 has the same base as the first and the third embodiment, and the same cylinder as the first embodiment, having only a difference being one or two bellows members 70 additionally provided in an intermediate portion of the cylinder 7, formed integral with the cylinder during the blow molding process of the cylinder 7, having a waved or a corrugated wall as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 to have a proper elasticity to adjust the whole height of the cylinder 1 for some degrees as shown in FIG. 16 (shrunk) or FIG. 13 (lengthened). In transporting or storing the traffic delineators, they can be shrunk to the shortest height, and in using they can be adjusted freely to any height between the highest and the shortest to suit to various kinds of roads. For example, it can be adjusted to the highest in using on an express way or a highway so as to permit drivers see them from afar, and it can be adjusted to the shortest in using on common roads in cities or speed limited roads. In addition, the bellows member 70 can be bent to show driving direction as shown in FIG. 17, and usable in the ways shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the first embodiment and in the ways shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0049] Next, FIGS. 20-24 show a fifth embodiment of a traffic delineator having the same structure of the fifth and the first embodiment except the cylinder 1 shaped conical instead of straight hollow, usable for various places and demands.

[0050] Further, a sixth embodiment of a traffic delineator is shown in FIGS. 25-28, gotten by modifying the third embodiment and having a conical cylinder as the fifth embodiment, and a bellows member 70 as in the fourth embodiment.

[0051] A last seventh embodiment of a traffic delineator shown in FIGS. 29-31 has a larger diameter than the other embodiments, the same M-shaped grip 10 as the first to the fifth embodiments, an annular outwardly protruding flange 17 formed in a lower end of the hollow conical cylinder, an inner annular groove 170 defined by the annular flange 17, and a base 8 having an annular hollow wall 80 and an annular outwardly protruding flange 800 formed to extend out of the annular hollow wall 80 to engage the inner annular groove 170 smoothly. Further, the annular protruding flange 800 is divided into a plurality of small protruding edges separated by gaps 801 between every two abutting edges. As the base is made of plastic having proper elasticity and provision of the gaps 801 also produce some elasticity for the annular protruding flange 80 very smoothly engage the inner groove 170 to keep the upright cylinder 1 stand stably, and a bottom surface 81 of the base 8 has a concave surface to stand on the ground stably.

[0052] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A traffic delineator comprising a cylinder and a base, said cylinder having an M-shaped grip formed in a top portion and having two parallel through holes defined by a circumferential wall for a ring hook of a cordon rope to hook with, a small through hole formed a little on said two parallel through hole for affixing a warning lamp therein, two not-through grooves formed to make up a &thgr; angle with said small through hole for inserting flags therein; said cylinder having three outwardly protruding flanges spaced apart in an upper portion and defining two areas adhered with reflexive sheets, said cylinder further having a lower end portion of a little larger diameter than the rest portion to conform to a center hole of said base, said lower end portion having an annular bottom with a larger thickness (D) than that (d) of a wall of said cylinder to permit said annular bottom rest on the ground stably.

2. The traffic delineator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylinder has a bellows member formed in an upper portion and an intermediate portion integral, said bellow member having a waved or corrugated wall with some elasticity to lengthen and shrink, permitting said cylinder adjustable in its height between the highest and the shortest.

3. The traffic delineator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylinder has a disc-shaped bottom instead of said annular bottom.

4. A traffic delineator comprising a cylinder and a base, said cylinder having an M-shaped grip formed in a top portion, said M-shaped grip having two parallel through holes defined by a circumferential wall for a ring hook of a cordon rope to hook therein, a small through hole formed a little on said two parallel through holes for affixing a warning lamp therein, and two not-through grooves formed to make up a &thgr; angle with said small through hole for inserting warning flags; said cylinder further having three outwardly protruding flanges properly spaced apart to define two areas adhered with reflexive sheets and a lower end portion with a larger diameter than the rest portion to conform to a center hole of said base, said lower end portion having a thickness (D) larger than that (d) of the wall of said cylinder to let an annular bottom of said lower end portion to rest on the ground stably; said cylinder further having plural grip holes formed to be supported with three ribs connected to a circumferential wall of said cylinder for easily carrying said traffic delineator and for separating rods to fit therein for forming a cordoned area.

5. The traffic delineator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bellows member of said cylinder has proper elasticity to let said cylinder bend to indicate a driving direction.

6. A traffic delineator comprising a cylinder and a base, said cylinder having an M-shaped grip formed in a top portion, said M-shaped grip having two parallel through holes defined by a circumferential wall, said parallel through holes serving for hooking a ring hook of a cordon rope therein, a small through hole formed a little on said two parallel holes for affixing a warning lamp therein, two not-through grooves formed to make up a &thgr; angle with said small through hole for inserting warning flags therein; said cylinder further having a lower end flange extending outwardly and an inner annular groove defined by said lower end flange, said base combined with said cylinder by fitting an annular projection formed to extend outward from an annular wall of said base with said inner annular groove, said annular projection divided into a plurality of small projecting edges separated by a gap between every two of said projecting edges, said gaps producing some elasticity for said annular projection to fit smoothly in said inner annular groove, and said base having a concave bottom surface to rest on the ground very stably.