Stackable And Hand Transportable Traffic Management Device
A traffic management device comprises at least opening in the surface of its body to facility hand grasping of a single or a stacked plurality cones. The traffic management devices may be in the shape of a cone. The device further comprises a registration structure so that a worker can align the devices in a stacked configuration so that the cut outs of each opening are aligned to create a handhold for the stacked cones.
This invention relates to devices that provide a visual alert to persons for a variety of purposes, such as traffic management devices in the form of signals and indicators and often in the form of cones, and, more specifically to such devices constructed to be stackable and having structure for carrying a plurality thereof.
BACKGROUND ARTThe present invention generally relates to traffic management devices. Traffic management devices in the form of cones, commonly-known as parking cones, traffic cones, orange cones, etc., are well-known. These cones are typically portable and temporarily placed in a location as a visual alert to people who may be either or both pedestrians or vehicle operators. In this manner, cones are used to mark indoor and outdoor traffic hazards in various situations where vehicles or pedestrians must be redirected around emergency conditions.
Likewise these devices can be used to mark the perimeter of an area that requires temporary restricted access such as an accident or crime scene, or otherwise to loosely define areas such as an area for a specific use like an athletic field. As used herein and above, the term ‘traffic management device’ and variants thereof refers to all varieties and uses commonly understood for the above-referenced ‘cones,’ each of these terms being used for convenience herein.
Stacking cones is well-known as it lessens the amount of time that a worker has to spend carrying multiple devices and creates a safer way of transporting multiple and stacked devices to work-site near highway traffic. Cones rarely sit in a clean environment, typically being used on roads and highways and dirty floors, and carrying cones by their bases results in transferring the dirt to the carrier.
One traffic management device that is a familiar item seen often on roadways is the traffic cone used to mark traffic lanes, and alert and redirect drivers around construction or accidents. However, this traffic management device has no integrated means for grasping and carrying a plurality of stacked devices from a storage area to a work-site.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the limitations of traffic management devices by providing an improved traffic management device incorporating integrated carrying means whereby a worker can grasp and carry a plurality of stacked devices and, in preferred forms, do so using a single hand. The present invention relates to a traffic management device that can be stacked, stored and carried in a space-efficient manner. The present invention includes a handhold for carrying the cones in a portion at a distance from the base such that, by not having to grasp the bottom of the traffic management device, the worker is able to maintain hand hygiene.
In one embodiment of the present invention the traffic management device is a traffic cone.
The traffic management device is furnished with at least one cut-out creating a handhold while at the same time not diminishing the visually attentive qualities, such as reflective qualities, of the traffic management that make it an effective traffic hazard signal.
In another embodiment of the invention, the traffic management device is furnished with two cut-outs creating a suitcase handle-like carrying means.
The devices can be stacked, typically about six tall, and still maintain the single hand grasping and handle means. The interior of the device behind the cut-outs may be light reflective for safety reasons so that the absence of exterior surface area caused by the cut-outs does not diminish the effectiveness of the traffic management device as a safety device.
One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a traffic management device comprising a body generally defining an exterior surface and an interior space. A base supports the body and is disposed as to support the device on a surface when in use. The device further comprises a handhold formed in the body for grasping and carrying it. The handhold includes at least a first opening in the body extending from the exterior surface to the interior space and configured for receiving a hand there through for grasping the device. In another preferred embodiment the handhold includes a pair of openings. The interior space is defined by an interior surface of the body which has at least a portion visible through the handhold being finished so as not to diminish the alert characteristics of the device to a visual observer. The base includes a portion extending laterally outward from the body. The device and handhold are configured to permit a plurality of devices to be stacked such that the exterior body surface of an inferior-positioned of the plurality of devices is receivable within the interior space of a superior-positioned plurality of devices and at least a portion of the handhold of one device may be overlapped with the handhold of a second device to permit grasping of the devices simultaneously thereby.
The device further includes a registration structure permitting the inferior-positioned device to be received by the superior-positioned device in a predetermined orientation thereto. The predetermined orientation including the handholds of the devices are at least partially overlapping. The plurality of devices that can be stacked may be up to six.
At least a portion of the body may be generally conical and at least a portion of the body exterior surface may be reflective. As well, at least a portion of the body interior surface may be finished in manner consistent with the body exterior surface. The base and body may be configured so that the center of mass of the device is located within the base. The handhold may be generally rectangular having four sides. At least a portion of the handhold sides may be configured for protecting a carrier grasping the device thereat. The registration structure includes interior structure disposed on the interior surface and, exterior structure disposed on the exterior surface such that the interior structure of a superior-positioned device cooperates with the exterior structure of an inferior-positioned device, the registration structure including a slot and a groove cooperatively engageable to align the devices in the predetermined orientation with at least a portion of the openings being overlapping.
The device may further include a frame securable with the handhold for grasping each handhold thereat.
The main advantage of the invention is that it permits multiple stacked traffic management devices to be carried from a storage area to a work-site in an efficient and safe manner using a single hand. There is no need to use a carrier or a caddy to move a plurality of stacked devices.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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The traffic management device 100 is shown comprising a hollow truncated conical body 102 having an exterior surface 114 and an interior space 103. The conical body 102 has a truncated apex 104 and a base 106. The base includes a portion 107 that extends outwards from the body 102. The base 106 may be weighted to ensure stability in wind and the centre of gravity (CoG) 111 of the device is within the base. The base supports the body and is disposed to support the device on a surface when in use.
The truncated apex 104 and the base 106 of the device 100 are open to permit stacking of one device on top of the other. The body 102 is fabricated from a light-weight and flexible material so that when struck by a moving vehicle the conical body 102 can collapse or crush and then regain its original shape without doing damage to the vehicle or becoming a dangerous flying projectile. Materials can range from waterproofed paper to suitable thermoplastics such as PVC to recycled materials. The exterior surface 114 of the body 102 is coated with brightly colored and reflective paints and/or symbols in accordance with Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation or analogous regulatory bodies of different countries.
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When placing one device on top another device, the worker need only rotate the device by hand to feel the inside groove/slot structure of the top placed device engage in registration with the corresponding groove/slot structure of the bottom disposed device and then drop the device into place. As can be seen by reference to
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The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Claims
1. A traffic management device comprising:
- a. a body generally defining an exterior surface and an interior space;
- b. a base supporting the body and disposed as to support the device on a surface when in use; and
- c. a handhold including at least a first opening in the body, the opening extending from the exterior surface to the interior space and being configured for receiving a hand there through for grasping and carrying the device
- wherein the device and handhold are configured to permit a plurality of said devices to be stacked such that the exterior body surface of an inferior-positioned of said plurality of said devices is receivable within the interior space of a superior-positioned said plurality of said devices; and
- wherein the devices are stackable in a predetermined orientation with at least a portion of the openings being overlapping to permit grasping of said plurality of said devices simultaneously thereby.
2. The device of claim 1 further including a registration structure that includes interior structure disposed on the interior surface and exterior structure disposed on the exterior surface such that the interior structure of a superior-positioned device cooperates with the exterior structure of an inferior-positioned device, to assist in bringing the devices into the predetermined orientation during stacking.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the handhold includes a pair of openings.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein the interior space is defined by an interior surface of the body and the interior surface has at least a portion visible through the handhold, the portion visible being finished so as not to diminish the alert characteristics of the device to a visual observer.
5. The device of claim 2 wherein the the registration structure comprises a slot and a groove cooperatively engageable one with the other.
6. (canceled)
7. The device of claim 5 wherein said plurality of said devices includes six devices.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body is generally conical.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body exterior surface is reflective, at least a portion of the body interior surface is finished in manner consistent with the body exterior surface, the base and body are configured so that the center of mass of the device is located within the base, the opening is generally rectangular having four sides, at least a portion of the opening sides is configured for protecting a carrier grasping the device thereat,
10. The device of claim 9 further including a frame securable with the opening, for grasping each opening thereat.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 25, 2014
Inventor: Geoffrey Russell Archer (Victoria)
Application Number: 14/350,757
International Classification: E01F 9/012 (20060101);