Resilient marker

An economical reflective roadway marker having a substantially vertically disposed reflective assembly, a series of cantilevered protective flaps arranged to flex and cover reflective surfaces and an end base plate assembly by which the marker is attached to a road surface.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to reflective highway markers suitable for assisting 
drivers at night and during storms and is particularly concerned with such 
markers that are adaptable for use in climates necessitating snow removal 
operations whereby the markers are continuously subjected to being 
dislodged or destroyed. 
2. Prior Art 
As is generally known, reflecting markers have long been used as a means of 
delineating the traffic lanes of a highway. The marker devices often 
employ reflectorized tape or a special reflecting assembly and where 
snowplow operation is necessary a special means for guiding a snowplow 
blade up over the marker and/or for rigidly attaching the marker to the 
road surface to prevent the marker from dislodging as a snowplow blade 
passes over it. Representative devices are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. 
Nos.: 3,396,639; 3,587,416; 4,035,059 showing the use of reflectorized 
tape; and 3,924,958 showing a resiliently depressible assembly. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost but 
durable reflective highway marker that is economical to use and replace. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an economical 
reflective highway marker that is readily useable in climates requiring 
snow removal and that will not be damaged by snow removal equipment. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reflective 
highway marker wherein the reflective surfaces are separately protected 
from damage due to tires and the like passing over them. 
Yet another object is to provide a marker suitable for use on highways to 
delineate traffic lanes but also suitable for use on bridges, abutments, 
traffic islands, posts and other structures as warning devices. 
PRINCI FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
Principal features of the present invention include a base plate for 
attaching the marker to the road surface and a reflective assembly mounted 
to the base in such a manner as to be vertically disposed when the marker 
is attached to the road surface. 
The reflective assembly is comprised of a series of transverse reflective 
surfaces separated by cantilevered flaps of resilient material mounted to 
extend transversely across the assembly at right angles to the reflective 
surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, as will be seen from the following 
detailed description, the reflective assembly is comprised of backing 
plate of resilient material on which is mounted reflective tape. 
The cantilevered flaps are mounted on the backing plate and will flex to 
closely overlie and protect the reflective tape. 
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the 
following detailed description taken together with the accompanying 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to the drawings: 
In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the reflective highway marker of 
the invention is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The marker 10 has 
a top or reflective assembly 11 to which flaps 12a-12d are cantilever 
mounted. Base plate 13 is integarally connected by a curved section 14 of 
resilient material to the top assembly 11 and curved section 14 may have 
thickness greater than either the base plate 13 or top assembly 11. 
Preferably, the rate of curvature of the inner surface 14a of curved 
section 14 differs from that of the outer surface 14b. The inner surface 
is formed as a smooth arc whereas the outer surface has a more nearly 
right angle configuration. This preferred shape, in combination with the 
resilient nature of the material used in construction, insures return of 
the top assembly 11 to an upright position after being deformed under the 
load of a vehicle tire. 
The marker 10 is attached to a road surface or other object to be marked by 
a mastic material applied to the object and forced through holes 15 in the 
base plate 13 to provide a secure bond. Strips of reflective material 16 
are adhesively attached to the top assembly 11 between the protective 
flaps 12. 
When the marker 10 is depressed under the weight of, for example, a rolling 
vehicle tire 17, see FIG. 2, protective flaps 12 bend to overlie 
reflective strips 14 and protect the strips 16 from abrasion and other 
general mechanical damage that could otherwise result. 
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the reflective strips 16 are protected regardless of 
the manner in which the top assembly 11 is deflected and a load is applied 
thereto. If the top assembly is deflected to overlie the base plate the 
flaps 12c-12d will overlie strips 16 positioned between adjacent flaps as 
shown best in FIG. 3. If, the top assembly is deflected to lie in 
substantially the plane of the base plate 13 other flaps 12a-12c will be 
deflected over the strips 16 (FIG. 2) or the flaps 12b-12d will be so 
deflected (FIG. 3) depending on the manner in which the load is applied to 
the flaps. 
While not shown, it should be apparent that reflective strips may be 
applied to both faces of the top assembly and that protective strips can 
be cantilevered from both faces to protect the reflective strips if a 
marker visible from two sides is desired. Also, pairs of markers can be 
used in back-to-back relationships to provide a composite marker visible 
from opposite directions. 
Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, it is 
to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that 
variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming 
within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter I regard as 
my invention.