Patent Publication Number: US-2021180275-A1

Title: Reflective road marker

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/045,437, filed Jul. 25, 2018, having the title REFLECTIVE ROAD MARKER which application claims priority from Provisional Application 62/537,099 filed on Jul. 26, 2017, having the title REFLECTIVE ROAD MARKER, each of which applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Roadways may include reflective or illuminated markers to improve visibility of road or lane boundaries, crosswalks, or other features of a roadway to assist motorists, bicyclists, and/or pedestrians. Conventional reflective markers may be disposed on or above a surface of the roadway or disposed below a surface of the roadway. A reflective marker that is recessed, or disposed at least partially below the roadway, may not be as visible or reflective as a marker disposed above the roadway surface. Further, a recessed marker may be more vulnerable to damage upon impact, such as by a vehicle, especially when a vehicle&#39;s wheel enters a channel in the roadway containing the recessed marker. 
     Therefore, there exists a need for a reflective road marker having increased visibility and reflectance to improve marking of roadway boundaries, lines, indicators, and other features. Further, there exists a need for a reflective road marker that is configured to withstand and/or be protected from impact and other threats on the roadway. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of a road marker disclosed herein includes a single piece of material having a width of approximately three inches or less. The piece of material includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sloped face disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface. The road marker also includes a reflector disposed on the sloped face. 
     An embodiment of a method disclosed herein includes inserting a portion of a tool within a space between a floor of a channel in a roadway and a portion of a first road marker installed in the channel. The first road marker includes a base adhered directly to the floor of the channel. The base includes a sloped face and a reflector disposed on the sloped face. The embodiment of the method also includes operating the tool to dislodge the first road marker from the channel. 
     An embodiment of a method disclosed herein includes connecting a bottom surface of a base of a road marker directly to a floor of a channel of a roadway. The base is a single piece of material including a bottom surface and a sloped face, and a reflector is disposed on the sloped face. 
     An embodiment of a road marker disclosed herein includes a reflecting member including a reflective surface. The road marker also includes a housing configured to support at least a portion of the reflecting member below a surface of a roadway. The housing includes a first side wall having a first side wall height configured to position the reflecting member below a surface of a roadway, a second side wall having a second side wall height substantially equal to the first side wall height, and a housing lower portion having a housing lower portion width less than approximately 4 inches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The embodiments described herein and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them, will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top plan view of an embodiment of a roadway marker disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross sectional elevation view of the roadway marker of  FIG. 1A  disposed in a channel of a roadway; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-1B ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a reflecting member of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the reflecting member of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 1A-7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a roadway marker disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the roadway marker of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 9-10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the roadway marker of  FIGS. 9-11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart representative of an embodiment of a method for installing the roadway marker of  FIGS. 9-12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart representative of an embodiment of a method for replacing the roadway marker of  FIGS. 9-12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, such specific embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an embodiment of a road marker  10  is provided. The road marker  10  is configured to be positioned at least partially below a surface  16  of a roadway  18  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The road marker  10  includes a reflecting member  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the reflecting member  14  is positioned below the surface  16  of the roadway  18  in a channel  80 . In additional embodiments not illustrated, the road marker  10  and/or the reflecting member  14  is positioned at least partially above the surface  16  of the roadway  18 . In some embodiments, the road marker  10  is secured to a curved or concave portion of a floor  90  of the channel  80 . The road marker  10  of the present embodiments may be utilized in any road. The term “road” or “roadway” as used herein includes any highway, street, path, runway, shoulder, or other location utilized for vehicles and/or pedestrians. The road marker  10  of some embodiments may include one or more electronic components or devices, such as for use as lighting, for power harvesting, storage, and/or delivery, for communication with individuals, vehicles, outside receivers, and/or other markers, for sensing and/or detection, for identification, and/or for geolocation to name non-limiting examples. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the road marker  10  includes a housing  12  and a reflecting member  14 . Referring now to  FIG. 3  with continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the reflecting member  14  includes at least one reflective surface  22 ,  24 . The reflecting member  14  includes a first reflecting surface  22  and a second reflecting surface  24  in the illustrated embodiment. The reflecting member  14  of particular embodiments comprises one or more reflective lenses to reflect light and mark or indicate one or more roadway lines, boundaries, or other features or aspects. The reflecting member  14  may include a white, red, amber, or any other color reflector. The reflecting member  14  may be made from plastic, metal, ceramic, elastomer, thermoplastic paint, or any other material or combination of materials. The reflecting member  14  may be or may include a lens, sheeting, or other structure that enhances its visibility, such as by retroreflecting headlights of a vehicle in one non-limiting example. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first reflecting surface  22  and/or the second reflecting surface  24  each has a reflective surface area  20  of at least approximately two square inches. The first reflecting surface  22  and/or the second reflecting surface  24  each has a reflective surface area  20  of between approximately 1 square inch and approximately 9 square inches in an embodiment, between approximately 1.5 square inches and approximately 6 square inches in an embodiment, and between approximately 2 square inches and approximately 4 square inches in an embodiment. The first reflecting surface  22  and the second reflecting surface  24  each have a reflective surface area  20  of approximately 2.37 inches in the illustrated embodiment. The first reflecting surface  22  and/or the second reflecting surface  24  are positioned at a reflecting surface angle  74  of between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees in an embodiment, between approximately 20 degrees and approximately 50 degrees in an embodiment, and between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 40 degrees in an embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the reflecting surface angle  74  is approximately 35 degrees. The reflecting member  14  has a reflecting member height  66  of at least approximately 0.25 inches in an embodiment, at least approximately 0.50 inches in an embodiment, and at least approximately 0.75 inches in an embodiment. The reflecting member  14  of the illustrated embodiment has a reflecting member height  66  of approximately 0.8 inches. The reflecting member  14  has a reflecting member length  68  of at least approximately 2 inches in an embodiment, at least approximately 2.5 inches in an embodiment, and at least approximately 2.75 inches in an embodiment. The reflecting member length  68  is approximately 2.84 inches in the illustrated embodiment. The reflecting member  14  includes a lower portion height  72  of approximately 0.15 inches and an upper length  75  of approximately 1.00 inches in the illustrated embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the reflecting member  14  has a reflecting member width  70  of between approximately 1.50 inches and approximately 4 inches in an embodiment, between approximately 1.75 inches and approximately 3 inches in an embodiment, and between approximately 2.00 inches and approximately 2.50 inches in an embodiment. The reflecting member width  70  is less than approximately 1.5 inches in an embodiment. The reflecting member width  70  is approximately 2.10 inches in the illustrated embodiment. 
     The reflecting member  14  includes one or more reflecting member lifting portion(s)  82 . The lifting portion(s)  82  of the illustrated embodiment includes one or more notches, and may include any structure capable of being contacted to allow lifting or prying of the reflecting member  14  from the housing  12 . In another embodiment not illustrated, the side surface(s)  84  of the reflecting member  14  is/are angled such that an upper width is greater than a lower width to allow lifting or prying of the reflecting member  14  from the housing  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the housing  12  includes a housing lower portion  34  having a housing lower portion length  76  of at least approximately 3 inches in a direction of the channel  80  in an embodiment, at least approximately 3.5 inches in an embodiment, and at least approximately 4 inches in an embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing lower portion length  76  is approximately 4 inches. The housing  12  further includes one or more tab(s)  78  configured to be positioned on the surface  16  of the roadway  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more tab(s)  78  are frangible. The housing lower portion  34  includes a front lower edge  38  having a plurality of front protrusions  40 . The housing lower portion  34  includes a rear lower edge  42  having a plurality of rear protrusions  44 . The housing lower portion  34  includes a first side lower edge  46 . In some embodiments, the first side lower edge  46  includes a plurality of first side protrusions (not shown). The housing lower portion  34  includes a second side lower edge  50 . In some embodiments, the second side lower edge  50  includes a plurality of second side protrusions (not shown). The protrusions described in the present embodiments improve stability of the marker  10  and reinforce the marker  10  in order to prevent unintended removal of the marker  10  from the channel  80 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the housing  12  is configured to support the reflecting member  14 . The housing  12  includes a first side wall  26  having a first side wall height  28  configured to position the reflecting member  14  below the surface  16  of the roadway  18 . The housing  12  further includes a second side wall  30  having a second side wall height  32  substantially equal to the first side wall height  28 . The second side wall height  32  is configured to position the reflecting member  14  below the surface  16  of the roadway  18 . 
     The housing  12  includes a housing lower portion  34  having a housing lower portion width  36  less than approximately 4 inches in the illustrated embodiment. The housing lower portion width  36  is less than approximately 3.5 inches in an embodiment. The housing lower portion width  36  is approximately 3 inches in an embodiment. The housing lower portion width  36  is less than approximately 3 inches in an embodiment. The housing lower portion width  36  is less than approximately 2 inches in an embodiment. The channel  80  is wider than the housing lower portion width  36 . In the illustrated embodiment, the channel  80  is approximately 3.25 inches wide to allow for epoxy or another adhesive to be positioned between the channel  80  and the housing  12 . The channel  80  is less than approximately 4 inches wide in an embodiment, less than approximately 3.5 inches wide in an embodiment, and less than approximately 3 inches wide in an embodiment. 
     Referring now to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the housing lower portion  34  includes a housing lower portion surface  54  having a plurality of channels  56 . In the illustrated embodiment, the channels  56  are substantially straight and extend from the first side wall  26  to the second side wall  30 . The channels  56  are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first side wall  26  and the second side wall  30 . In other embodiments, the channels  56  are configured in one or more additional and/or alternative ways. In other embodiments, the housing lower portion surface  54  bears other variations on the channels  56 , such as, by way of example, and not of limitation, cross-hatching, recesses, and other configurations adapted to facilitate connection of the housing lower portion  34  to the floor  90  of the channel  80 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the housing lower portion surface  54  is curved about a horizontal axis of curvature  57  extending substantially parallel to the channels  56 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2  with continuing reference to  FIG. 7 , the first side wall  26  includes one or more first side wall edge(s)  58  parallel or substantially parallel with the first reflecting surface  22  or the second reflecting surface  24 . The second side wall  30  includes one or more second side wall edge(s)  60  parallel or substantially parallel with the first reflecting surface  22  or the second reflecting surface  24 . Substantially parallel includes parallel within ±30 degrees. The first side wall edge(s)  58  and the second side wall edge(s)  60  are positioned, sized, and/or otherwise configured to enhance visibility of the first reflecting surface  22  and/or the second reflecting surface  24 . 
     In some embodiments, the first side wall  26  includes one or more first side wall recess(es) (not shown), and the second side wall  30  ( FIG. 2 ) includes one or more second side wall recess(es) (not shown). The one or more first or second side wall recess(es) of the first and/or second side wall(s)  26 ,  30  reinforce the road marker  10  by providing enhanced space to accept epoxy or another adhesive. Further, in an embodiment in which the housing  12  is made according to a plastic injection molding operation, the one or more first or second side wall recess(es) improve the ability to remove the housing  12  from the injection cavity after formation. 
     It will be appreciated that the road marker  10 , including the housing  12  and reflecting member  14 , provides a roadway marker having increased visibility and reflectance to improve marking of roadway boundaries, lines, indicators, and other features. The housing  12  is configured, shaped, and/or sized to increase visibility of the reflecting member  14 . Further, the road marker  10  is positioned subsurface or recessed in the channel  80  such that the marker  10  is configured to withstand and/or be protected from impact by vehicles and other threats on the roadway  18 . The channel  80 , the road marker  10 , and/or the housing  12  are sufficiently narrow to prevent a wheel or other portion of a vehicle from impacting, removing, and/or damaging the housing  12  and/or the reflecting member  14 . However, the channel  80 , the road marker  10 , and/or the housing  12  are sufficiently wide to provide enhanced visibility of the road marker  10  from a significant distance for effective marking of roadway boundaries, lines, indicators, and other features. The configuration of the road marker  10  in the channel  80  extends the useful life of the reflecting member  14  and thereby saves money compared to the frequency with which prior art road markers must be replaced and enhances safety by remaining reflective for a longer period compared to prior art road markers between installation and replacement. 
       FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a road marker  100  disclosed herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the road marker  100  includes a base  102 , a first reflector  104 , and a second reflector  106 . The base  102  of  FIG. 9  is a single piece of material such as any material approved for use by the United States Department of Transportation for use in road markers. As described in greater detail below, the base  102  is to be secured (e.g., adhered) directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80  of the roadway  18 . Thus, the road marker  100  of  FIG. 9  is configured to be disposed in and installed in the channel  80  without the housing  12  of  FIGS. 1-2 and 5-8 . 
     The first reflector  104  and/or the second reflector  106  may be implemented via plastic, metal, ceramic, elastomer, thermoplastic paint, a lens, sheeting, U.S. Department of Transportation standard reflective material, and/or other structure(s), material(s), and/or components. In the illustrated embodiment, the first reflector  104  is disposed on a first sloped face  402  ( FIG. 12 ) of the base  102 . The second reflector  106  is disposed on a second sloped face  404  ( FIG. 12 ) of the base  102 . A top surface  108  of the base  102  is disposed between the first reflector  104  and the second reflector  106 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first reflector  104  slopes downward from a first side  110  of the top surface  108 . The second reflector  106  slopes downward from a second side  112  of the top surface  108 . Thus, the first sloped face  402  of the base  102  and the first reflector  104  are disposed between the top surface  108  and a bottom surface  312  ( FIG. 12 ) of the base  102 . The second sloped face  404  of the base  102  and the second reflector  106  are also disposed between the top surface  108  and the bottom surface  312  ( FIG. 12 ) of the base  102 . 
     The first side  110  of the top surface  108  is opposite the second side  112  of the top surface  108 . Thus, the first reflector  104  and the second reflector  106  face opposing directions. When the road marker  100  is disposed in the channel  80 , the first reflector  104  faces a first direction of traffic, and the second reflector  106  faces a second direction of traffic opposite the first direction of traffic. As a result, when the road marker  100  is disposed in the channel  80 , only the first reflector  104  may be visible to, for example, drivers driving in the first direction of traffic while only the second reflector  106  may be visible to drivers driving in the second direction of traffic. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first reflector  104  extends from a first side  114  of the base  102  to a second side  116  of the base  102 . The first side  114  is opposite the second side  116 . The second reflector  106  also extends from the first side  114  to the second side  116  of the base  102 . Thus, in some embodiments, a width of the first reflector  104  and/or the second reflector  106  equals or substantially equals a width W ( FIG. 10 ) of the base  102 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a first tab  118  extends from the top surface  108  of the base  102  and overhangs the first side  114  of the base  102 . A second tab  120  extends from the top surface  108  of the base  102  and overhangs the second side  116  of the base  102 . The first tab  118  and/or the second tab  120  facilitate placement of the road marker  100  in the channel  80 . For example, an installer may grab the road marker  100  via the first tab  118  and/or the second tab  120  to lower the road marker  100  into the channel  80 . The first tab  118  and the second tab  120  are to be disposed above and/or on the roadway  18  when the road marker  100  is disposed in the channel  80  in order to ensure depth of placement of the road marker  100  in the channel  80 . In some embodiments, the first tab  118  and/or the second tab  120  are frangible to enable the first tab  118  and/or the second tab  120  to be removed (e.g., broken or sheared off) from the base  102  during or after installation of the road marker  100 . 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the road marker  100  of  FIG. 10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base  102  includes a first lug  200 , a second lug  202 , a third lug  204 , and a fourth lug  206  (collectively “the lugs  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206 ”). The lugs  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206  are protrusions or feet in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the first lug  200  and the third lug  204  extend from a first end  208  of the base  102  away from a vertical plane P 1  that passes through a center of the base  102  and the first side  114  and the second side  116  of the base  102 . The second lug  202  and the fourth lug  206  extend from a second end  210  of the base  102  away from the plane P 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first end  208  is opposite the second end  210 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first lug  200  and the second lug  202  of  FIG. 10  define portions of the first side  114 . The third lug  204  and the fourth lug  206  define portions of the second side  116 . In other embodiments, the base  102  includes other numbers of lugs (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, etc.) and/or the lugs  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206  are disposed in other positions on the base  102 . In some embodiments, when the road marker  100  is installed in the channel  80 , the lugs  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206  are submerged and/or covered by adhesive. As a result, the lugs  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206  improve stability of the road marker  100  and reinforce the marker  100  to prevent unintended removal of the road marker  100  from the channel  80 . 
     The base  102  has a width W. The width W is a distance from the first side  114  of the base  102  to the second side  116  of the base  102 . In some embodiments, the width W is approximately three inches or less. For example, the width W may be approximately two inches to approximately three inches. In some embodiments, the width W is approximately 2.5 inches to approximately three inches. In some embodiments, the width W is approximately 2.75 inches to approximately three inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the width W of the base  102  is approximately 2.88 inches. However, the above-noted values are merely examples, and thus other embodiments may have widths of other values. 
     By having a width W of approximately three inches or less, the channel  80  may be sufficiently narrow to prevent vehicle tires from entering into the channel  80  and/or contacting the sides  114 ,  116 , the reflective surfaces  104 ,  106 , and/or other portions of the road marker  100 . As a result, the road markers  100  disclosed herein are less likely to be broken, loosened, and/or dislodged from the channel by vehicles during use than traditional road markers. Furthermore, even if not broken, loosened, and/or dislodged from the channel  80  by contact with a vehicle tire moving across the channel  80  in which the road marker  100  is disposed, contact between a tire dipping into the channel  80  and a reflective surface  104 ,  106  mars the reflective surface  104 ,  106  significantly, thus reducing or eliminating the reflective properties of the reflective surface  104 ,  106 . By having a width of approximately three inches or less for the channel  80 , there is insufficient room for a vehicle tire to dip into the channel  80  as it passes over, thereby preventing marring of the reflective surface  104 ,  106 . Thus, the road markers  100  disclosed herein have longer useful lives than traditional road markers. 
     The base  102  of  FIG. 10  has a length L. The length L is a distance from a first tip  212  of the first lug  200  to a second tip  214  of the second lug  202  or a distance from a third tip  216  of the third lug  204  to a fourth tip  218  of the fourth lug  206 . In some embodiments, the length L is approximately three inches or less. In some embodiments, the length L is approximately two inches to approximately three inches. In some embodiments, the length L is 2.5 inches to three inches. In some embodiments, the length L is approximately 2.75 inches to approximately three inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the length L is approximately 2.5 inches. However, the above-noted values are merely examples, and thus the invention contemplates that other embodiments may have lengths of other values. 
       FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the road marker  100  of  FIGS. 9-10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base  102  includes a bottom side  300 . The bottom side  300  includes a central recess or cavity  302 . The bottom side  300  also includes a first channel  304  and a second channel  306 . The first channel  304  extends from the central recess  302  to the first side  114  of the base  102 . The second channel  306  extends from the central recess  302  to the second side  116  of the base  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the plane P 1  passes through the first channel  304  and the second channel  306 . When the road marker  100  is installed in the channel  80 , the base  102  is adhered directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80  via an adhesive such as, by way of example and not of limitation, an exothermic glue. The central recess  302 , the first channel  304 , and the second channel  306  cooperate to define a flow path extending from the first side  114  to the second side  116  of the base  102  to enable excess adhesive to escape from beneath the base  102  when the road marker  100  is pressed onto the floor  90  of the channel  80  and/or when the adhesive expands while drying and/or solidifying. As a result, the base  102  may lie substantially flush against the floor  90  of the channel  80  after installation. 
     The bottom side  300  also includes a first notch  308  disposed along the first end  208  of the base  102  and between the first lug  200  and the third lug  204 . The bottom side  300  further includes a second notch  310  disposed along the second end  210  of the base  102  and between the second lug  202  and the fourth lug  206 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first notch  308  and the second notch  310  are shaped and dimensioned to receive a tip of a tool (e.g., a chipping hammer, a pry bar, etc.). Thus, the first notch  308  and/or the second notch  310  make room for the removal tool to engage the marker-to-roadway-adhesive interface to facilitate removal of the road marker  100  from the channel  80 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom side  300  includes a bottom surface  312  including a first section  314  and a second section  316 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first section  314  is substantially I-shaped, and the second section  316  is substantially I-shaped. In other embodiments, the first section  314  and/or the second section  316  are other shapes. In some embodiments, the bottom surface  312  has a different number of sections. For example, the bottom surface  312  may include one section, three sections, four sections, five sections, and/or any other number of sections to facilitate securing the base  102  in the channel  80  via, for example, an adhesive. In the illustrated example, the lugs  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206  define portions of the bottom surface  312 . In some embodiments, the bottom surface  312  includes surface features such as ridges, grooves, bumps, protrusions, knurls, and/or one more additional and/or alternative features to receive adhesive or other securing material to facilitate adhesion of the bottom surface  312  to the floor  90  of the channel  80  via the adhesive or other securing material. In some embodiments, one or more Buna-N (nitrile rubber) pads are disposed on the first section  314  and/or the second section  316  of the bottom side  300  of the base  102  to form a fluid seal around the central recess  302 , the first channel  304 , and/or the second channel  306  to facilitate removal of the road marker  100  from the channel  80 . 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the road marker  100  of  FIGS. 9-11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom surface  312  is curved about a horizontal axis of curvature  400 . The axis of curvature  400  is disposed above the road marker  100  and extends along the central plane P 1  (i.e., into the page from the perspective of  FIG. 12  and substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions of traffic relative to the road marker  100 ). Thus, the bottom surface  312  is convex. 
     In some embodiments, a radius of curvature R of the bottom surface  312  is substantially equal to a radius of curvature of one or more saw blades employed to form the concave portion of the floor  90  of the channel  80 . Thus, a curvature of the bottom surface  312  of the base  102  substantially matches or corresponds to a curvature of the concave portion of the floor  90  of the channel  80 . Because the base  102  is coupled directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80 , and the road marker  100  is to be installed without a housing or cradle, the channel  80  may be narrower than traditional channels for road markers. As a result, building a road employing the inventive road markers  100  disclosed herein may require less saw operation time to form the channels  80 , and the road markers may thereby be installed and/or replaced using fewer saw blades and/or the saw blades may be replaced less frequently than when installing or replacing traditional road markers. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the base  102  has a height H. The height H is a distance from a lowermost level on the bottom surface  312  to an uppermost level on the top surface  108  of the base  102 . In some embodiments, the height H is approximately one inch or less. In some embodiments, the height H is approximately 0.5 inches to approximately 1 inch. In the illustrated embodiment, the height H of the base  102  is approximately 0.88 inches. However, the above-referenced values are merely examples, and the present invention contemplates that other embodiments of the road marker  100  may have heights of other values. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart representative of an embodiment of a method  401  of installing the road marker  100 . Although the following method  401  is described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 13 , other methods of installing the road marker  100  may alternatively be used. For example, the order of performance of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, and/or combined. 
     The illustrated embodiment begins at block  403  by forming the channel  80  to receive the road marker  100 . In some embodiments, a saw including one or more saw blades is employed to form the channel  80 . In some embodiments, the saw blade is circular and has a radius of curvature substantially equal to a radius of curvature of the bottom surface  312  of the base  102  of the road marker  100 . At block  405 , the road marker  100  is adhered directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80 . By way of example and not of limitation, the bottom surface  312  may be adhered directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80  via an exothermic glue. Thus, the road marker  100  is not supported by a housing or cradle within the channel  80 . In some embodiments, when the road marker  100  is pressed into place and/or as a connecting substance is employed to connect the road marker  100  to the floor  90  of the channel  80  is drying and/or solidifying, the connecting substance flows and/or expands from within the central recess  302 , into the channels  304 ,  306  on the bottom side  300  of the base  102 , and then out of the channels  304 ,  306 . As a result, the central recess  302  and the channels  304 ,  306  direct excess connecting substance out from beneath the bottom side  300  of the base  102  to enable the bottom surface  312  to be substantially flush with the floor  90  of the channel  80  upon installation. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart representative of an embodiment of a method  500  of replacing the road marker  100 . Although the following method  500  is described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 14 , other methods of replacing the road marker  100  may alternatively be used. By way of example and not of limitation, the order of performance of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, and/or combined. 
     The illustrated embodiment begins at block  502  by inserting a portion of a tool within a space between the floor  90  of the channel  80  and a portion of a first road marker (e.g., the road marker  100 ) installed in the channel. For example, a tip of a chipping hammer may be inserted into the first notch  308  on the bottom side  300  of the base  102  of the road marker  100 . At block  504 , the tool is operated to dislodge the first road marker from the channel  80 . By way of example and not of limitation, an operator may cause the tip of the chipping hammer to reciprocate to break an adhesive to separate the road marker  100  from the floor  90  of the channel  80 . At block  506 , a second road marker is connected by any means known in the art directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80  in place of the first road marker. By way of example and not of limitation, a road marker substantially identical to the road marker  100  of  FIGS. 9-12  may be adhered to directly to the floor  90  of the channel  80  via an exothermic glue in a location from which the first road marker was dislodged (e.g., the concave portion of the floor  90  of the channel  80 ). 
     While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.