Abstract:
A warning system in the highway or road immediately adjacent to a pedestrian crossing, school crossing, or railroad grade crossing. The embedded warning system consists of a series of strobe lights powered by a nearby electrical source such as a traffic light, flashing warning light, railroad crossing light and/or gate system or other potential source of electricity. A trough containing the lights is submerged, extending to a depth of 9 to 15 inches below grade. The trough is 8 to 12 feet in length and 5 inches wide. The trough is placed parallel to or perpendicular to the direction of traffic so as to cross the path of oncoming traffic. A series of 4 to 9 strobe lights connected together, having a colored filter of amber or red, is placed along the bottom of the trough. The sides and bottom of the trough are lined with a reflective material made of, for example, highway reflective light beads, a highly polished reflective material, or other reflective material. The top of the trough is sealed with a double layer of plastic material. The sides of the trough are rounded to facilitate placement of the trough in an excavated ditch.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/522,990, filed Mar. 9, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system for warning oncoming traffic of a potentially dangerous road crossing area, including school crossing zones, railroad crossings or other locations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the U.S., there are approximately 268,000 highway-rail and pedestrian crossings. In an average year, more people die at highway-rail grade crossings than in commercial airline crashes. Oftentimes, the cause of a highway-rail or pedestrian crossing accident is that the driver fails to pay attention to highway conditions. 
     Most of the highway-rail and pedestrian crossing accidents are preventable. Despite present measures such as traffic lights, stop signs, rail crossing lights (cross-buck signs), railroad gates or other markings, signs or indicators of the potentially dangerous highway location, accidents continue to occur. 
     Many drivers fail to pay attention to traffic signals because of their location on the side of the road and also because the signals are difficult to see in fog. However, most drivers, even when not paying close attention, do look at the road when driving and would tend to notice a highway warning system embedded in the roadway. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a warning system in the highway or road immediately adjacent to a pedestrian crossing, school crossing, or railroad grade crossing The embedded warning system consists of a series of strobe lights powered by a nearby electrical source such as a traffic light, flashing warning light, railroad crossing light and/or gate system or other potential source of electricity. Alternatively, a solar panel and battery recharging apparatus may be used as a source of power. 
     A trough containing the lights is located so that its uppermost surface is at or slightly above grade, extending to a depth of 9 to 15 inches below grade. The trough is 8 to 12 feet in length and 3 to 12, and preferably 5 inches wide. The trough is placed perpendicular to the direction of traffic so as to cross the path of oncoming traffic and preferably is placed parallel with the direction of traffic. The strobe lights flash at a rate of 30 to 120 flashes per minute, and preferably 60 flashes per minute. 
     To accommodate most trenching tools, the end caps of the trough would be rounded. This allows the trough to quickly be inserted into an excavated trough without labor intensive squaring off of the ends of the trough. 
     Preferably one or two troughs are placed parallel to the direction of travel. Preferably, in a four lane road, two sets of two parallel trough sets are located in one direction of traffic with a single-trough in the middle of a lane of traffic, with two spaced rows of two troughs. Another two sets of two parallel trough sets are similarly placed in the opposite direction of travel. 
     A series of 4 to 9 strobe lights connected together, is having a colored filter of amber or red, is placed along the bottom of the trough. When two sets of troughs are used, the first set encountered by overcoming traffic may include amber colored filters as a warning light to urge oncoming traffic to slow down. The second set of troughs would include red colored filters to urge oncoming traffic to stop. 
     The sides and bottom of the trough are made of metal or plastic and are lined with a reflective material. The reflective material may be for example, highway reflective light beads, a highly polished reflective material, or other reflective material. 
     The top of the trough is sealed with a single or a double layer of plastic material. In a double layer configuration, the lowermost layer is approximately 1 to 2 inches thick and is transparent. The upper layer, which is at grade level, has a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 inch. Alternatively, where laws permit, the upper layer of plastic projects above the grade and is of a curved configuration having a thickness of 1½ to 3 inches. 
     The upper layer is transparent or translucent, and preferably transparent. Where the upper surface of the upper layer of plastic is curved, the upper layer also acts as a “speed bump” to slow oncoming traffic. The upper layer may include a honeycomb or prism structure to reflect and disperse light. 
     The trough is divided into a plurality of sections which are hermetically sealed from each other except for waterproof electrical communication. In the event that one section of the trough is compromised and exposed to the elements, causing failure of one section of strobe lights, the remaining sections of strobe lights will continue to function to provide a warning effect until repairs can be implemented. In this event, the top of the trough is removable for servicing. 
     The connection to the power supply provided by warning lights at a school crossing or a railroad crossing, for example, would be made such that the strobe lights and the trough would be synchronized to be activated at the same time as a crossing signal at a school crossing is activated or upon activation of railroad warning lights at a railroad crossing. This feature provides a coordinated effort to alert oncoming traffic of a potential danger. 
     Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a highway warning system extending parallel to the flow of traffic and providing a visual warning against continued or high speed traffic travel. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a highway warning system including a trough housing having a plurality of strobe lights activated in coordination with another highway warning system. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a highway warning system including a trough having a plurality of strobe lights aimed to flash through a protective plastic covering optionally having a curved uppermost surface to provide a speed bump deterrent to continued traffic travel. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a highway warning system extending parallel to the direction of flow of traffic and located adjacent to another highway warning device and triggered by the other highway warning device to flash a colored strobe light from below the grade level through a transparent or translucent cover of the trough so as to visually alert oncoming traffic to a potentially dangerous traffic situation. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the highway warning system of the present invention installed adjacent to a traffic crossing for a school. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the highway warning system of the present invention installed in a highway located adjacent to a railroad crossing. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the highway warning system of the present invention illustrating a plurality of divided sections, each including two strobe lights and being electrically interconnected. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the highway warning system of the present invention illustrating the trough components and interior reflective layer surrounding two strobe lights in each section of the trough. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an alternate sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of a preferred highway warning system of the present invention according to the present invention illustrating two rows of two light troughs in each direction of travel with each light trough located in a center of a lane of traffic. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of an exemplary light trough having curved end portions. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of a strobe light used in, the light trough of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar mariner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     With reference to the drawings, in general, and to FIGS. 1 and 2, in particular, a highway warning system embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated. as  10 . With reference to its orientation in FIG. 1, the highway warning system  10  is located in a roadway  12  having traffic moving in the direction of arrow  14  as well as traffic moving in the opposite direction as indicated by arrow  16 . 
     In FIG. 1, two highway warning systems  10  are located in a roadway on opposite sides of an entranceway  18  to a school  20 . The highway warning systems are each located adjacent to a traffic signal  22  used to control the flow of traffic by the traditional green, yellow, and red light system. Alternatively, electrical signal device  22  could be, in this instance, a warning light for warning drivers that they are approaching a school zone and that their speed should be reduced to, for example,  15  miles per hour. 
     To ensure that the drivers moving along roadway  12  in the direction of arrows  14  and  16  recognize that they are in a school zone and that it is imperative that their speed be reduced for the safety of children that may be crossing the roadway  12 , the two warning systems  10 , located on the opposite sides of the roadway, are embedded in the roadway  12 , and positioned perpendicular to the flow of traffic on the roadway  12 . 
     As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, electrical wire  24  connects the highway warning system  10  with the electrical signal device  22 . The electrical connection between signal device  22  and the highway warning system  10  is controlled so that the highway warning system will be activated when for example, the signal device  22 , when being a traffic light, is in a red or stop signal mode. Alternatively, when the signal device  22  is a flashing yellow caution sign, energized during morning school starting times and afternoon school closing times, the highway warning system  10  will simultaneously be activated. 
     In FIG. 2, two highway warning systems  30  are embedded in roadway  32  on which traffic travels in the direction of arrow  34  and arrow  36 . The highway warning systems  30  extend perpendicular to the direction of travel indicated by the arrows  34  and  36 . 
     In FIG. 2, a railroad track  38  traverses the road  32 . An electrical signal device  40 , such as a flashing red light with a sign indicating the presence of a railroad crossing, is located on the side of the road  32  with the highway warning systems  30  positioned adjacent to the signal devices  40 . As in FIG. 1, an electrical wire  42  connects the power source of the signal device  40  to the highway warning systems  30 . 
     When the signal devices  40  are activated, such as to indicate the presence of an oncoming train, the highway warning systems  30  will similarly be activated to warn oncoming traffic of the potential danger of a passing train. Therefore, even if a driver of an automobile does not notice the signal device  40  on the side of the road, the highway warning system  30  embedded in the roadway over which they must travel, will visually and physically alert the driver to the presence of a potentially hazardous condition. 
     The details of the highway warning system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 through 6. 
     In FIG. 3, a highway warning system  10  is shown which has an overall length of 8 to 11 feet and is 5 to 9 inches wide. The depth is approximately 12 inches. The sides and bottom are constructed of steel or plastic material to form container  44 . The container  44  includes sidewalls  46   a ,  46   b and end walls  48   a ,  48   b . The thickness of these walls is ¼ to ½ inch. 
     Spaced along the length of the container  44  are three partitions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c  which divide the container  44  into four compartments  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d . Lining the interior of the compartments is a reflective material liner  54 , 
     At the base of each compartment are two strobe lights  56   a ,  56   b ,  56   c  and  56   d , respectively. Interconnecting the strobe lights in each compartment, with reference to FIG. 2, is electric wire  42  entering through sidewall  48   a  and extending through each compartment and to each strobe light in each compartment. The wire is of a waterproof type such that if one of the compartments allows ground water or rain water to seep into a compartment resulting in damage to the strobe lights in that compartment, the remaining strobe lights in the other compartments will still operate and serve to warn oncoming traffic. Spaced along the top edge  58  of the container  44  are a plurality of bolts, the bolt heads  60  being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the strobe lights  56   d  include a light housing  62  mounted on a base  64  by pivot pins  66   a ,  66   b . The pivot pins allow the light housing  62  to be pivoted to an optimal position for projecting light through the cover of the container as will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     In FIG. 5, a container  44  is shown buried in the roadway  32  at grade. The sidewalls  46   a ,  46   b  are shown along with the bottom  68  also being shown buried in the earth  70 . At the top side  72  of the container, which is open, a first cover plate  74  is secured by bolts  76 , having exposed heads  60 . Cover plate  74  is approximately 1 to 1½ inches thick and has a rubber sealing gasket  78  compressed by the bolts  76  to seal the interior of the container  44 . Located above the cover plate  74  is a second cover plate  80  of approximately 2 to 3 inches in thickness and having a continuously curved exterior surface  82 . 
     The curvature of the cover plate  80 , where allowed by law, provides an impact speed bump to the traffic traveling in the direction of arrow  34  so as to physically alert the driver of an impending potentially hazardous condition. In addition, the strobe lights  56  are synchronized to flash continuously when activated by an electrical signal device located on the side of a roadway. The strobe lights  56  may include a filter  84  of amber or red color to further accentuate to the driver of an automobile a visual warning of a potentially hazardous condition immediately ahead. 
     Where curvature of the cover plate is prohibited by law, for example, where allowable speeds on a roadway are above a predetermined threshold, the cover plate  90 , as shown in FIG. 6, has a flat upper surface  92 . Screw heads  60  are recessed into recesses  94 . Higher speed travel is then permitted as compared to the arrangement shown in FIG.  5 . In this instance, the entire warning system would be set back further, as compared to the system shown in FIG. 5, from the school crossing or railroad crossing to allow more braking room for traffic traveling at higher speeds. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, traffic travels along roadway  100  having two lanes  102 ( a ),  102 ( b ) traveling in the direction of arrow  104 . On the opposite side of the highway  100  are two lanes of traffic  106 ( a ) ,  106 ( b ) having traffic traveling in the direction of arrow  108 . Both lanes of traffic cross over a set of railroad. tracks  110 . 
     Positioned in the highway  100 , in a center of lanes  102 ( a ),  102 ( b ) , respectively, are light emitting troughs  112 ( a ),  112 ( b ). These troughs  112 ( a ),  112 ( b ) are electrically connected by wire  114  to a railroad crossing warning light  116 . The power for the crossing light  116  is used to activate the crossing troughs  112 ( a ),  112 ( b ), synchronized with the flashing of the warning light  116 . 
     Spaced downstream in the direction of travel  104  from the two light troughs  112 ( a ),  112 ( b ) are an additional two light troughs positioned respectively in lanes  102 ( a ),  102 ( b ). The two additional light troughs  118 ( a ),  118 ( b ) are connected by wire  120  to a solar panel charging device  122  for powering the light troughs  118 ( a ),  118 ( b ). 
     The light troughs  118 ( a ) ,  118 ( b ) include an amber colored filter to provide a warning to oncoming motorists driving in the direction of arrow  104  of a potentially dangerous crossing which is rapidly approaching. The light troughs  112 ( a ),  112 ( b ) have a red colored light filter to flash a stop or emergency warning to l 1 o oncoming traffic traveling in the direction of arrow  104 . 
     Both sets of light troughs  112 ( a ),  112 ( b ) and  118 ( a ),  118 ( b ) are positioned having their longitudinal axes extending parallel to the direction of travel in lanes  102 ( a ),  102 ( b ). In addition, all four light troughs are positioned respectively in the center of their respective lane of traffic  102 ( a ),  102 ( b ) The parallel positioning of the light trough in the center of the roadway has proven to be extremely advantageous in alerting oncoming traffic to a potentially dangerous situation ahead. 
     The length of each trough is three to twelve feet long. In the illustration, four strobe lights are located in each trough. However, it is envisioned as being within the scope of the present invention that as many as nine strobe lights could be positioned in each trough. 
     The arrangement of the light troughs parallel to the direction of travel along a roadway and in the center of each roadway provides an increased depth of flashing light as compared to troughs which are positioned perpendicular to the direction of oncoming traffic. Therefore, the longer the light trough is extending parallel to the direction of travel, the more light that is presented to oncoming traffic. 
     As additionally shown in FIG. 7, on the opposite side of the roadway, having lanes  106 ( a ),  106 ( b ), are two light troughs  124 ( a ),  124 ( b ) respectively connected by wire  126  to warning signal  128 . Also, two additional light troughs  130 ( a ),  130 ( b ) are connected by wire  132  to solar panel recharging system  134 . As was done in lanes  102 ( a ),  102 ( b ) the successive rows of light troughs in lanes  106 ( a ),  106 ( b ) include amber light filters in light is troughs  130 ( a ),  130 ( b ) and red light filters in light troughs  124 ( a ),  124 ( b ). 
     With reference to FIG. 8, the details of a single light trough are shown. In this embodiment, four strobe lights  136 ( a ),  136 ( b ),  136 ( c ) and  136 ( d ) are spaced along the length of a light trough  138 . Each strobe light is hermetically sealed from an adjacent strobe light by interdispersed partitions  140 ( a ) ,  140 ( b ),  140 ( c ) ,  140 ( d ) ,  140 ( e ) and  140 ( f ). Rounded end walls  142 ( a ),  142 ( b ) facilitate sealing of the end strobe lights  136 ( a ) ,  136 ( d ). 
     Also, the curvature of the end walls  142 ( a ) ,  142 ( b ) facilitate the placement of the light trough  138  in a ditch having a width of three to twelve inches. This width corresponds to the width of a ditch for the light trough  138  which is dug with an excavation tool, such as a back hoe. This ditch has naturally formed curved ends rather than requiring further manual excavation to square off the end walls of the ditch. The light trough  138  of the present invention accommodates the curved end walls of the ditch for placement therein of the light trough with relatively minor manual labor. 
     Each light trough  138  includes triangular reflective portions  144 ( a ),  144 ( b ),  144 ( c ),  144 ( d ) and  144 ( e ) having one or two reflective surfaces depending upon the positioning of the reflective portions  144 ( a ) through  144 ( e ). The strobe lights  136 ( a ) through  136 ( d ) emit flashes of white light which are reflected off the reflective portions  144 ( a ) through  144 ( e ) to pass through transparent plastic layer  146  and alternately through transparent or translucent plastic layer  148 . A rubber gasket  150  seals the end wall portions  142 ( a ),  142 ( b ) with the layer  146  as secured by bolts  152 ( a ),  152 ( b ) 
     With reference to FIG. 9, a single strobe light  136 ( a ), for example, will be described. The energization of an electric filament  154 , produces a flash of light. A plastic encasing cap  156 , can be transparent, or colored, such as amber or red to affect the color of light emitted by the strobe light  136 ( a ) to be white, yellow or red. 
     A heat shrink wrap seal  158  unites the lens  156  and the plastic body  160  of the light  136 ( a ). A plastic nut  162  pressing against a water type seal washer  164 , provides a waterproof access of an electric wire  166  to the interior of the light. Each light forms a waterproof unit which, upon failure, can be replaced without affecting the workings of the additional light units contained within a light trough. 
     According to the present invention a highway warning system provides a visual warning to oncoming traffic of a potentially hazardous situation and, in the instances where the highway warning system acts as a speed bump, to elevate and lower the wheels of oncoming traffic, a physical warning is conveyed to oncoming traffic to the potentially hazardous situation ahead. 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.