Patents Assigned to Traffix Devices, Inc.
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Patent number: 11773546Abstract: A modular highway warning strip system is formed of a plurality of segments assembled together to create a warning strip assembly having a length, wherein each of the plurality of segments are spaced from adjacent ones of the segments along the warning strip length. The segments are assembled together along a cord disposed along the length of the warning strip assembly. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the cord along the length of the warning strip assembly, between adjacent ones of the segments in order to maintain a spacing between each adjacent segment.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Christopher A. Jaime, Jack H. Kulp
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Patent number: 11699339Abstract: An impact tracking system includes a sensor module that mounts to a fixed crash attenuator, sign, guardrail, or other roadway devices installed along a roadway. When the crash attenuator or other asset is impacted by an errant vehicle, the impact tracker, comprising a sensor system, senses and captures the impact data and sends an alert message to a remote receiver. The receiver may comprise known data receiving means, such as computers or phone systems, which may receive emails, text messages, photos, and the like in real or near real time. Received data may be analyzed, stored, and/or re-transmitted to additional receivers, which may include road authorities, such as transportation departments responsible for inspecting and repairing the impact attenuators.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Brent M. Kulp, Arthur Koroghlian, Bob L. Wielenga
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Patent number: 11648897Abstract: A crash impact attenuator is adapted for deployment on a vehicle, and includes a cartridge portion having at least one energy absorbing module, as well as a backup system having a backup frame, which is adapted to attach the cartridge portion to the vehicle. The backup system includes an actuator configured to pivot the cartridge portion between a deployed orientation and a stored orientation about a pivot axis disposed on a lower half of the backup system. The backup system further includes a lockout frame member having a contact surface on one end thereof, the lockout frame member being actuatable between a deployed orientation wherein the contact surface engages a portion of the backup frame to support the backup frame against vehicular impact forces and a stowed orientation wherein the contact surface is not engaged with the backup frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2022Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, iNC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Ryan Selvius
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Patent number: 11535993Abstract: A modular highway warning strip system is formed of a plurality of segments assembled together to create a warning strip assembly having a length, wherein each of the plurality of segments are spaced from adjacent ones of the segments along the warning strip length. The segments are assembled together along a cord disposed along the length of the warning strip assembly. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the cord along the length of the warning strip assembly, between adjacent ones of the segments in order to maintain a spacing between each adjacent segment.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Christopher A. Jaime, Jack H. Kulp
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Patent number: 11414822Abstract: A modular highway warning strip system is formed of a plurality of segments assembled together to create a warning strip assembly having a length, wherein each of the plurality of segments are spaced from adjacent ones of the segments along the warning strip length. The segments are assembled together along a cord disposed along the length of the warning strip assembly. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the cord along the length of the warning strip assembly, between adjacent ones of the segments in order to maintain a spacing between each adjacent segment.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Christopher A. Jaime, Jack H. Kulp
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Patent number: 11417191Abstract: An impact tracking system includes a sensor module that mounts to a fixed crash attenuator, sign, guardrail, or other roadway devices installed along a roadway. When the crash attenuator or other asset is impacted by an errant vehicle, the impact tracker, comprising a sensor system, senses and captures the impact data and sends an alert message to a remote receiver. The receiver may comprise known data receiving means, such as computers or phone systems, which may receive emails, text messages, photos, and the like in real or near real time. Received data may be analyzed, stored, and/or re-transmitted to additional receivers, which may include road authorities, such as transportation departments responsible for inspecting and repairing the impact attenuators.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Brent M. Kulp, Arthur Koroghlian, Bob L. Wielenga
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Patent number: 11401669Abstract: A sign system snaps for displaying informational or warning information to passing motorists or pedestrians is designed to be snapped on and interferingly engaged with the top end of a traffic marker or cone.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2018Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Jack H. Kulp, Geoffrey B. Maus, Brent M. Kulp, Felipe Almanza, Christopher Jaime
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Patent number: 11400884Abstract: Significant safety advantages are recognized for vehicle-mounted or attached crash attenuators, particularly in the form of structural improvements in the nature of a catch shelf which helps to prevent underride of an impacting vehicle, meaning that the impacting vehicle is less likely to release drop under the attenuator. When an impacting vehicle slides under the crash attenuator, there is an inability to take full advantage of the ride-down afforded by elements of the attenuator as they are crushed by the impact, thus potentially increasing damage to the impacting vehicle and injuries to its occupants.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Jack H. Kulp, Felipe Almanza
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Patent number: 11319682Abstract: An end treatment array for crash attenuation includes a transition barrier module formed of side walls, end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the module walls together define an enclosed interior space. The end treatment array further includes a containment impact sled having an axially extending frame. The frame has a width sufficient to contain the transition barrier module within the frame when in an assembled configuration, and has an axial length which is at least one-half the length of the transition barrier module. The frame defines an interior volume, the purpose of which is to contain a substantial portion of the transition barrier module in the assembled configuration, and to contain debris caused by destruction of the plastic barrier modules in a vehicular impact. The containment impact sled is attached to the transition barrier module.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Jeremy Smith
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Patent number: 11247624Abstract: A crash impact attenuator is adapted for deployment on a vehicle, and includes a cartridge portion having at least one energy absorbing module, as well as a backup system having a backup frame, which is adapted to attach the cartridge portion to the vehicle. The backup system includes an actuator configured to pivot the cartridge portion between a deployed orientation and a stored orientation about a pivot axis disposed on a lower half of the backup system. The backup system further includes a lockout frame member having a contact surface on one end thereof, the lockout frame member being actuatable between a deployed orientation wherein the contact surface engages a portion of the backup frame to support the backup frame against vehicular impact forces and a stowed orientation wherein the contact surface is not engaged with the backup frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Ryan Selvius
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Patent number: 11060255Abstract: Molded plastic barrier segments, typically water or sand-ballasted, are engineered to be attached together, end-to-end, in a barrier array, with innovative features which result in low rotation between attached barrier segments. Such a low rotation barrier array will, upon impact by a vehicle, act as a re-directive barrier, rather than a capturing barrier, which is an important safety feature in some crash scenarios, particularly with respect to more recent safety specifications required by many governmental highway agencies.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Jack H. Kulp, Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Christopher A. Jaime
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Patent number: 11060251Abstract: A modular highway warning strip system which comprises a modular warning strip segment having first and second ends, a length extending between the first and second ends, two opposing lengthwise sides, a width extending between the opposing lengthwise sides of the segment, top and bottom surfaces, and a thickness. Each of the first and second ends comprise at least one male protrusion and at least one female receptacle, wherein the at least one male protrusion is configured to engage the at least one female receptacle for joining a plurality of the segments together end-to-end. A segmented metallic plate is disposed between upper and lower rubber layers, the segmented plate comprising a plurality of segments separated by slits comprising living hinges.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Jack H. Kulp, Geoffrey B. Maus, Jeremy Smith
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Patent number: 10822756Abstract: An end treatment array for crash attenuation includes a transition barrier module formed of side walls, end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the module walls together define an enclosed interior space. The end treatment array further includes a containment impact sled having an axially extending frame. The frame has a width sufficient to contain the transition barrier module within the frame when in an assembled configuration, and has an axial length which is at least one-half the length of the transition barrier module. The frame defines an interior volume, the purpose of which is to contain a substantial portion of the transition barrier module in the assembled configuration, and to contain debris caused by destruction of the plastic barrier modules in a vehicular impact. The containment impact sled is attached to the transition barrier module.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Jeremy Smith
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Patent number: 10683625Abstract: Molded plastic barrier segments, typically water or sand-ballasted, are engineered to be attached together, end-to-end, in a barrier array, with innovative features which result in low rotation between attached barrier segments. Such a low rotation barrier array will, upon impact by a vehicle, act as a re-directive barrier, rather than a capturing barrier, which is an important safety feature in some crash scenarios.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: TrafFix Devices, Inc.Inventors: Jack H. Kulp, Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Christopher A. Jaime
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Patent number: 10443197Abstract: A modular highway warning strip system which comprises a modular warning strip segment having first and second ends, a length extending between the first and second ends, two opposing lengthwise sides, a width extending between the opposing lengthwise sides of the segment, top and bottom surfaces, and a thickness. Each of the first and second ends comprise at least one male protrusion and at least one female receptacle, wherein the at least one male protrusion is configured to engage the at least one female receptacle for joining a plurality of the segments together end-to-end. A segmented metallic plate is disposed between upper and lower rubber layers, the segmented plate comprising a plurality of segments separated by slits comprising living hinges.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Jack H. Kulp, Geoffrey B. Maus, Jeremy Smith
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Patent number: 10422092Abstract: A system for displaying a desired reflective sheeting striping pattern on a traffic management device includes providing a portable panel having reflecting sheeting affixed to a face thereof, orienting the portable panel as desired, and affixing the panel to the device using fastener holes disposed about a perimeter of the panel. The displayed striping pattern may be easily changed by removing the panel from the device, turning the panel over to display an opposing side, on which is displayed a different striping pattern, and reattaching the panel to the traffic management device so that the opposing side of the panel is displayed, or by removing the panel from the traffic management device, rotating the panel by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees, and then reattaching the panel to the traffic management device so that the same particular striping pattern is oriented in a different direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Jack H. Kulp
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Patent number: 10422090Abstract: A two-piece traffic marker assembly a marker body includes a marker body formed of a low density polyethylene and a separable molded rubber base. The base has a weight comprising at least 70% of a total weight of the traffic marker assembly, with the marker body having a weight comprising the remaining 30% or less of the total weight of the traffic marker assembly. Because of this advantageous weight distribution, relative to prior art traffic cones, when the traffic marker assembly is assembled, a tip angle of the traffic marker assembly is about 76 degrees from vertical. A plurality of circumferentially spaced interlocking protrusions disposed on the wall of the marker body, for engaging an interior circumference of the base when the marker assembly is in an assembled space, and for also preventing sticking of marker bodies together when they are stacked.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Jeremy Smith, Jack H. Kulp, Brent M. Kulp
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Patent number: 10214866Abstract: An end treatment array for crash attenuation includes a transition barrier module formed of side walls, end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the module walls together define an enclosed interior space. The end treatment array further includes a containment impact sled having an axially extending frame. The frame has a width sufficient to contain the transition barrier module within the frame when in an assembled configuration, and has an axial length which is at least one-half the length of the transition barrier module. The frame defines an interior volume, the purpose of which is to contain a substantial portion of the transition barrier module in the assembled configuration, and to contain debris caused by destruction of the plastic barrier modules in a vehicular impact. The containment impact sled is attached to the transition barrier module.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Felipe Almanza, Jeremy Smith
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Patent number: 10106938Abstract: A modular highway warning strip system which comprises a modular warning strip segment having first and second ends, a length extending between the first and second ends, two opposing lengthwise sides, a width extending between the opposing lengthwise sides of the segment, top and bottom surfaces, and a thickness. Each of the first and second ends comprise at least one male protrusion and at least one female receptacle, wherein the at least one male protrusion is configured to engage the at least one female receptacle for joining a plurality of the segments together end-to-end. A segmented metallic plate is disposed between upper and lower rubber layers, the segmented plate comprising a plurality of segments separated by slits comprising living hinges.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Jack H. Kulp, Geoffrey B. Maus, Jeremy Smith
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Patent number: 10053825Abstract: A system for displaying a desired reflective sheeting striping pattern on a traffic management device includes providing a portable panel having reflecting sheeting affixed to a face thereof, orienting the portable panel as desired, and affixing the panel to the device using fastener holes disposed about a perimeter of the panel. The displayed striping pattern may be easily changed by removing the panel from the device, turning the panel over to display an opposing side, on which is displayed a different striping pattern, and reattaching the panel to the traffic management device so that the opposing side of the panel is displayed, or by removing the panel from the traffic management device, rotating the panel by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees, and then reattaching the panel to the traffic management device so that the same particular striping pattern is oriented in a different direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: TRAFFIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Maus, Jack H. Kulp