PORTABLE ROADWAY WARNING DEVICE
A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips. Each rumble strip comprises a plurality of modular strip sections, each made of a polymeric material. Opposite end edges of each of the strip sections have alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint therebetween. Pressure sensitive adhesive tape is applied to the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections to prevent the connected end edges from inadvertently separating from one another when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted up to move the connected strip sections from one location to another.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/750,016, filed Jan. 8, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to a portable roadway warning device comprising any desired number of portable modular rumble strips for use in various roadway conditions to alert drivers of automotive vehicles including both passenger vehicles and trucks of an approaching condition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is generally known to use rumble strips in roadway applications to provide a perceptible noise and warning vibration when automotive vehicles including passenger vehicles and trucks drive over the rumble strips to warn the drivers of an approaching condition such as a work site, construction site, slow speed zone, check point, toll booth and so on, without alarming the drivers and without adversely affecting the stability of the vehicles. Some types of rumble strips are intended to be permanently installed for long-term use while others are intended to be portable for use at work zones and other applications of relatively short duration. Portable rumble strips should be reusable and quick and easy to deploy and remove. Also they should have the ability to remain in place under heavy traffic conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above and other benefits and advantages of portable rumble strips are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing one or more modular rumble strips each comprised of a plurality of modular strip sections each having a substantially greater length than width, and top and bottom surfaces, and end and side edges, and each fabricated of a suitable flexible polymeric material such as rubber or polyurethane or other polymeric material with similar properties.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, each rumble strip is comprised of a plurality of modular strip sections each having alternating notches and tabs at the opposite end edges sized and spaced for overlapping engagement with respective tabs and notches at the opposite end edges of other ones of the strip sections for connecting the end edges of the strip sections together. Strips of pressure sensitive adhesive tape may be adhered to the upper side of the joints between the connected end edges of the strip sections to prevent inadvertent separation of the connected end edges when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted to move them from one place to another.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the tape is durable enough to hold up under traffic and the adhesive is of a type that provides a secure bond to the modular strip sections and yet allows the tape to be easily removed from the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections, whereby if the tape becomes worn, it can easily be replaced. Also the tape can easily be removed to permit the modular strip sections to be disconnected from one another either to replace one or more of the strip sections should they become damaged, or for ease of stacking the strip sections.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same reference numbers are used to designate like parts, and initially to
Although the dimensions of each rumble strip section 2 may vary, each rumble strip section has a width that is preferably between 8 inches and 16 inches and more preferably of approximately 13 inches. Also, the rumble strip sections are of sufficient thickness to create a noticeable audible and vibration warning to drivers of automotive vehicles including trucks and passenger vehicles when driven over the rumble strip sections, but not so severe as to alarm the drivers, and without causing adverse effect on the stability of the vehicles. To that end, the rumble strip sections desirably have a thickness of between approximately ½ inch and approximately 1 inch and more preferably of approximately ¾ inch.
To provide a better grip between the bottom surface 4 of the rumble strip sections 2 and the roadway and to reduce possible skidding of vehicle tires against the top surface 3 of the rumble strip sections when wet, both the top and bottom surfaces of the rumble strip sections may have texturing 10. Also the texturing may be in the form of an open diamond pattern 11 as schematically shown, for example, in
The leading side edge 5 of each rumble strip section 2 that faces toward oncoming vehicle traffic or both side edges 5 and 6 of each rumble strip section may be beveled to help eliminate any possible movement of the rumble strips caused by initial contact of the vehicle tires with the rumble strips. The included angle of the beveled leading side edge or both side edges of the rumble strip sections is preferably between approximately 10° and approximately 15° and more preferably approximately 12°.
As seen for example in
In one form of the invention, each of the individual strip sections 2 may have a length of between approximately 3½ feet and approximately 4 feet, whereby three strip sections joined together in end to end relation will be of sufficient length to reach across a single highway/roadway lane, which is typically 11 feet wide. Each of the individual strip sections may be made somewhat longer or shorter than that or of different lengths if desired. Also more or less than three modular strip sections may be used to make up a single rumble strip if desired. However, it has been found that modular strip sections each having a length of between approximately 3 ½ feet and approximately 4 feet can be easily stacked and shipped on pallets with the strip sections laying flat.
The notches 18 and 20 and tabs 22 and 24 at the opposite end edges 7 and 8 of each strip section are shaped so that when the opposite end edges of two or more strip sections are connected together as shown in
When the multiple modular strip sections are connected together and in place on the ground, the strip sections won't normally come apart. However, if the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted to move them from one place to another, the strip sections may inadvertently separate from one another. To prevent that from happening, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape 35 may be adhered to the upper side 36 of the joints 37 between the connected end edges 7, 8 of the strip sections as shown in
Although the width of the tape 35 may vary, the tape is desirably wide enough to cover a substantial portion of the joint 37 between the connected strip sections but not so wide as to interfere with any hand grip slots if provided adjacent one or both ends of the strip sections for ease of picking up the individual strip sections from either end thereof.
Any pressure sensitive adhesive tape that has the requisite gripping power and durability to hold up under traffic may be applied to the upper side of the joints of the interconnected strip sections to prevent inadvertent separation of the strip sections. However, known reflective pavement marking tape is preferably used, since it not only has these requisite characteristics, but also adds some reflectivity to the strip sections. Also, known black non-reflective pavement marking tape may be used if desired.
Examples of known reflective pavement marking tape that may be adhered to the upper side of the joints between the connected end edges of the modular strip sections to prevent inadvertent separation of the connected end edges when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted to move them from one place to another are 3M's Stamark™ wet reflective removable tape series 710 and Brite-Line Technologies' Deltaline® temporary wet reflective pavement marking tape.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. In particular, with regard to the various functions performed by the above-described components, the terms (including any reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the function of the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one embodiment, such feature may be combined with one or more other features as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
Claims
1. A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of modular strip sections, each of the strip sections being made of a polymeric material having top and bottom surfaces and end edges and side edges, the end edges of each of the strip sections having alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint between the end edges of the strip sections, and pressure sensitive adhesive tape adhered to the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges to prevent the connected end edges of the strip sections from inadvertently separating from one another when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted up to move the connected strip sections from one location to another.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is pavement marking tape.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is reflective pavement marking tape.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape substantially completely covers the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is wide enough to cover a substantial portion of the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein inner ends of the notches at one of the end edges of the strip sections have outwardly facing pockets, and the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections have similarly shaped outer end portions for receipt in the outwardly facing pockets, and undersides of the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections have transverse slots adjacent inner ends of the tabs at the opposite end edges for seated engagement with lower outer cross members extending between the tabs at outer ends of the notches at the one of the end edges of the strip sections to provide the releasable connected joint therebetween, to the top surface of which the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is adhered.
7. A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of modular strip sections each made of a polymeric material, each of the strip sections having end edges containing alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint between the end edges of the strip sections, wherein inner ends of the notches at one of the end edges of the strip sections having outwardly facing pockets, and the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections having similarly shaped outer end portions for receipt in the outwardly facing pockets, and undersides of the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections having transverse slots adjacent inner ends of the tabs at the opposite end edges for seated engagement with lower outer cross members extending between the tabs at outer ends of the notches at the one of the end edges of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint between the end edges of the strip sections, and pressure sensitive adhesive tape adhered to a top surface of the joint between the connected end edges to prevent the connected end edges of the strip sections from inadvertently separating from one another when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted up to move the connected strip sections from one location to another.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is pavement marking tape.
9. The device of claim 7 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is reflective pavement marking tape.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is only applied to the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is wide enough to cover a substantial portion of the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 6, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2014
Applicant: Plastic Safety Systems, Inc. (Cleveland, OH)
Inventor: David E. Cowan (Orange Village, OH)
Application Number: 14/147,864
International Classification: E01F 15/10 (20060101);