Traffic cone sleeve

Abstract

A traffic cone sleeve made of a sheet of flexible waterproof material that is shaped by bonding its vertical edges together to form a truncated cone sleeve that fits over a standard traffic cone. The truncated cone sleeve includes an upper reflective strip and a lower reflective strip. Attachment tabs are attached to the lower edge of the truncated cone sleeve. The tabs include apertures for allowing screws to attach the tabs to the base of a standard traffic cone. A preferred embodiment includes the the truncated cone sleeve is approximately ten and one half inches in diameter at the base, and approximately twenty-two and one eighth of an inch tall and having a diameter of approximately two and one half inches at the top.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of traffic safety devices and more specifically to a traffic cone sleeve.

Traffic cones are routinely used to warn motorists of a hazard possibility on a roadway. This can be due to work being performed on the roadway or possibly because of a traffic accident. The cones are required by the Federal Highway Administration to remain in “like new” condition. If they are faded, torn, scarred, or covered with items such as tar, asphalt, oils or other substances then they are required to be replaced by new cones. Additionally, if the reflective material on the cones is ripped, faded or covered in substances that reduce reflectivity, the cone is considered non-compliant and must be replaced. The cost of the cones is between $25 and $30 dollars, so the cost of potentially replacing hundreds of defective cones can be quite expensive for a construction company or other organization responsible for maintaining the cones. There have been some attempts to create inexpensive cones which would be less costly to replace, however they have their drawbacks in that they deteriorate more quickly than standard cones so that they would have to be replaced more often. One cone design shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,228,813 by Flamingo Et Al, shows a cone sleeve that is meant to go over a conical spring member which is in turn attached to a base plate. However there is a deficiency in this prior technology in that the cost of the spring and base member is more expensive than a standard traffic cone. Additionally, the resulting cone shape appears to be somewhat irregular and therefore may not pass Federal Highway Administration standards.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide an economical, weather resistant sleeve that fits over a standard traffic cone that extends the life of the cone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic cone sleeve that is the same color and has the same reflective strips as a standard traffic cone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic cone sleeve that can be physically attached to a standard traffic cone.

A further object of the invention is to provide a traffic cone sleeve that can be pressed flat for compact storage and shipping.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a traffic cone sleeve that is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a traffic cone sleeve comprising: a sheet of flexible waterproof material that is shaped by bonding its vertical edges together to form a truncated cone sleeve that fits over a standard traffic cone, an upper reflective strip, a lower reflective strip, a plurality of attachment tabs, said upper reflective strip attached, in a horizontal orientation, to the upper portion of said truncated cone sleeve, said lower reflective strip attached approximately two inches below said upper reflective strip, said attachment tabs attached to the lower edge of said truncated cone sleeve, and said tabs including apertures for allowing screws and screw heads to attach said tabs to the base of a standard traffic cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention ready to be attached to a standard traffic cone.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention attached to a standard traffic cone.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention attached to a traffic cone.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the invention in its flat die-cut state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention 100 about to be placed on top of a standard traffic cone 50. The invention 100 is a truncated cone sleeve made of thin, flexible, waterproof material that matches the size and shape of a standard traffic cone. The standard traffic cone is fluorescent orange in color has two horizontally disposed reflective strips 7, 9. The cone sleeve 100 is also fluorescent in color and has identical reflective strops 4, 8. The upper strip 4 is approximately six inches wide. The low strip 8 is approximately four inches wide. The two strips 4, 8 are separated by a two inch gap 6. The cone sleeve 100 includes a pair of attachment tabs 14, 16. Each tab includes eyelet reinforced apertures 34, 36 that protrude outward thereby allowing attachment screws 10, 12 to penetrate the apertures 34, 36 and be screwed into base plate 28 of the standard traffic cone 50. The standard cone 50 is made of semi rigid plastic which allows a standard self tapping screw to to drill tap its own hole 27, 29. The sleeve 100 of the present invention allows a person to refurbish a standard cone 50 at a fraction of the price of replacing the entire cone. The cone sleeve is formed by overlapping vertical edges 2 and bonding them by standard means such as RF welding, gluing, or sewing. The reflective material 4, 8 on the sleeve 100 is preferably made from 3M Hi Intensity Reflective Series 3340 or its equivalent. The reflective strips 4, 8 are fixedly attached to the sleeve 100 by standard means such as adhesive tape, glue, RF welding or sewing. The truncated cone 100 is preferably made from UV resistant 0.040 thick vinyl. The low durometer material allows the cone 100 to be flattened when not in use, allowing for compact storage and shipping.

Figure two shows the sleeve 100 in place on a standard cone. The sleeve top ends a few inches below the top of the standard cone 52 so that if a person lifts the cone by putting his or her finger in cone aperture 54 and another finger on area 52, the person can lift the cone without engaging the cone sleeve 100. The cone sleeve 100 is fixed on place by attachment screws 10, 12 that secure attachment tabs 14, 16 to the cone base 28.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the sleeve 100 attached to a standard traffic cone where cone top 52 and cone base 28 can be seen. The overall height of the sleeve 100 is approximately twenty-four and five eighths of an inches 18. The cone 50 is approximately twenty-eight inches tall 20. The upper reflective strip 4 is six inches wide 22. The lower strip 8 is four inches wide 26. The space between the two strips 6, is two inches 24. The diameter of the sleeve 100 at the base is approximately ten and one half inches. The diameter of the top of the truncated cone sleeve 100 is approximately two and one half inches.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sleeve in its die-cut flat position. The left vertical edge 66 is wrapped to overlap the right vertical edge as shown by dotted line 64. The length of each vertical edge 38 is twenty-five inches. The distance 32 between the center point 60 and the bottom of the cone edge is 31.590 inches. The tabs 14, 16 protrude from the bottom edge of the cone shape by approximately one and one half inches. In the present embodiment, the tabs 14, 16 are shown as integral to the cone shaped member. However, the tabs 14, 16 may be made as separate pieces and attached to the bottom of the cone shape by standard means such as gluing, sewing, RF welding or stapling.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. a traffic cone sleeve comprising:

a sheet of flexible waterproof material that is shaped by bonding its vertical edges together to form a truncated cone sleeve that fits over a standard traffic cone;

an upper reflective strip;

a lower reflective strip;

a plurality of attachment tabs;

said upper reflective strip attached, in a horizontal orientation, to the upper portion of said truncated cone sleeve;

said lower reflective strip attached approximately two inches below said upper reflective strip;

said attachment tabs attached to the lower edge of said truncated cone sleeve; and

said tabs including apertures for allowing screws and screw heads to attach said tabs to the base of a standard traffic cone.

2. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said said truncated cone sleeve is approximately ten and one half inches in diameter at the base, and approximately twenty-two and one eighth of an inch tall and has a diameter of approximately two and one half inches at the top.

3. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material is colored fluorescent orange.

4. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet is made of UV resistant 0.040 vinyl.

5. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective material is made of 3M Hi Intensity Reflective Series 3340 or the equivalent thereof.

6. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper reflective strip is approximately six inches wide and said lower reflective strip is approximately four inches wide with a two inch space between the two.

7. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective strips are fixedly attached in a horizontal orientation by standard means including RF welding, adhesive tape, glue, sewing or stapling.

8. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bonded edges of said truncated cone are RF welded.

9. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment tabs are an integral part of said flexible waterproof sheet material.

10. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said truncated cone shape can be flattened for storage or shipping purposes.

11. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coloration and reflectivity of said truncated cone sleeve meets or exceeds the standards set by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

12. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein each aperture of each attachment tab includes a reinforcing eyelet to help retain said screw head on top of said aperture.

13. A traffic cone sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein alternate embodiments can be made to fit other standard traffic cone devices having different dimensions than the ones stated in claim 2.