Abstract:
An automatic retractable delineator with a housing containing a reciprocating delineator post that reciprocates through an opening in the top surface of the housing. A raising and lowering mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is mechanically coupled to the post. The housing defines an inside cavity that is provided with positive pressure to create a pressure differential between the cavity and the atmosphere. As a result, the housing is substantially protected from the elements as the pressure differential prevents foreign objects and moisture such as dirt, salt, ice, snow or the like from entering the cavity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/636,348 filed Dec. 15, 2004, and entitled “Retractable Delineator” which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There is a need for a retractable traffic control device suitable for use in tollways, parking garages, road diversion, lane closures, parking ramp control, or the like that is durable, resistant to the elements and easy to install. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the above-described need by providing an automatic retractable delineator with a housing containing a reciprocating delineator post that reciprocates through an opening in the top surface of the housing. A raising and lowering mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is mechanically coupled to the post. The housing defines an inside cavity that is provided with positive pressure to create a pressure differential between the cavity and the atmosphere. As a result, the housing is substantially protected from the elements as the pressure differential prevents foreign objects and moisture such as dirt, salt, ice, snow or the like from entering the cavity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designated the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a retractable delineator in a fully retracted position; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a retractable delineator in a fully extended position and mounted in typical road-type installation; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the top plate showing possible mounting configurations and a sealing gasket; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a retractable delineator post and base showing possible reflective markings; and, 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a system of retractable delineators connected in series. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  generally, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a retractable delineator  10  may be utilized to alter the flow of vehicular traffic. The retractable delineator  10  has a housing  13  which is formed as an elongate hollow structure constructed of materials suitable for outdoor installation. The housing  13  is covered by a top plate  16  through which a post  19  may be raised or lowered in order to affect or control traffic conditions. The top plate  16  has an opening associated with it such that the post  19  can extend through the opening into a space above the housing  13 . Extending downward from the top plate  16 , a hollow stub  17  may be positioned around the opening to provide for stabilizing the post  19 . The stub  17  also provides for isolation of the mechanism inside the housing  13  to prevent damage to the mechanism from occurring if the post  19  is struck by a vehicle. When the post  19  is fully extended through the opening, a base  22  is surrounded by the stub  17 . The post  19  is connected to the base  22  which is mounted upon a bracket  25 . The post  19  will break away from the base  22  upon impact and the stub will prevent the base  22  from moving or transmitting force to the remainder of the mechanism. The bracket  25  is attached to a guide  28  which is able to slide vertically along a lift rail  30 , thereby raising or lowering the post  19 . The drive system may be a rodless cylinder  29  which contains the guide  28  and the lift rail  30 . 
   To raise the post  19 , compressed air may be passed through an air line  31  which is connected to the rodless cylinder  29 . Similarly, to lower the post  19 , compressed air may be passed through an air line  34 , thus causing the guide  28  to be lowered along the lift rail  30 . In the example shown, the drive system is a rodless pneumatic cylinder which is commercially available from Bosch Rexroth Ag of Germany. Other means for raising and lowering the post  19  such as hydraulic drives, mechanical drives, or the like would also be suitable. The various ways to accomplish the reciprocating motion of the post  19  will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , to install the retractable delineator  10 , a hole may be excavated in a road surface  58  and through the ground  61  below. Concrete  64  may be placed into the bottom of the hole where upon the housing  13  may be inserted and leveled such that the top plate  16  is level with the road surface  58 . Conduit  40  provides a passageway for the air line  31  and the air line  34  from the compressed air source (discussed below) to the delineator  10 . The conduit  40  may be attached to a nipple  43  thereby connecting the conduit  40  to the housing  13 . Additionally, the air line  31  and the air line  34  may be secured to a side wall of the housing  13  by means of a retaining ring  37 . 
   In addition to providing a pathway for running air lines  31 ,  34 ; the conduit  40  provides a passageway for conditioned air to be delivered from a ring compressor  88  through the conduit  40  into the cavity  55  of the retractable delineator  10 . The conditioned air provides a positive pressure environment such that debris or water would not be able to enter through a gasket  70  ( FIG. 3 ) in the top plate  16 . By continuous delivery of air from the ring compressor  88 , the positive pressure environment inside the cavity  55  creates a pressure differential preventing the elements such as salt, dirt, ice, snow and the like from entering inside the cavity  55 . As a result, the delineator  10  is not exposed to corrosive elements or moisture which improves the durability and reliability of the unit. 
   After the housing  13  is positioned and leveled within the opening in the ground, concrete  64  is added to fill the remaining area around the housing  13  such that the plurality of braces  46  engage the concrete  64  to further secure the housing  13  in the hole. After the concrete  64  has cured, the top plate  16  may be removed and the rodless cylinder  29  may be installed. For ease of installation, the air line  31  and the air line  34  may be attached to rodless cylinder  29  outside the delineator  10 . Once the conduit connections are made, the rodless cylinder  29  and post  19  may then be inserted into the housing  13  using a handle  49  to slide the rodless cylinder  29  into the slide rails  52 . Once the rodless cylinder  29  is seated at the bottom of the housing  13 , the top plate  16  may be repositioned and secured to the housing  13  by means of fasteners  67 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 , the top plate  16  is shown in greater detail. Fasteners  67  are disposed in openings  68  positioned around the periphery of the plate  16 . In the embodiment shown, an adaptor plate  69  is shown in the center of the figure. The adaptor plate  69  has a central opening  72  with a “clover leaf” design to receive a post  19  having a corresponding shape as shown in  FIG. 4 . The adaptor plate  69  has a plurality of openings  74  disposed around its periphery for attaching plate  69  to plate  16 . As will be evident to those of ordinary skill based on this disclosure, other adaptor plates with different shapes for use with different cross-sectional shaped posts (i.e., round, square, oval, etc.) could also be used. Also, the adaptor plate  69  provides versatility for changing the post, but the top plate  16  could also be made from a single piece with an opening in the center for receiving the post  19 . The central opening  72  is bordered by a gasket  70 . Once the air reaches a certain pressure level inside the cavity  55 , it escapes to atmosphere between the post  19  and the gasket  70 . However, as discussed above, the pressure differential prevents debris or moisture from entering the delineator  10 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 4 , the post  19  may be provided with reflective materials  76  for visibility of the post in different lighting conditions. 
   In one example of an embodiment of the invention, the retractable delineator  10  may be arranged as depicted in  FIG. 5  where multiple retractable delineators  10  may be installed. In this particular embodiment, compressed air may be generated by a standard compressor  79  and delivered to the retractable delineators  10  via the air lines  31  and via the air lines  34  which are laid through the conduit  40 . To operate the retractable delineators, a user may select an appropriate setting on a control pad  82  which would send a signal over a wire  85  to the standard compressor  79  to provide compressed air to the appropriate air line. Additionally, conditioned air would be fed from a ring compressor  88  through the conduit  40  and into the retractable delineator  10  such that the positive pressure environment would be formed in the cavity  55  preventing water and debris from entering. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.