Patent Publication Number: US-11041279-B2

Title: Markers, culvert markers, location markers, combinations, and methods of use

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates to markers, culvert markers, location markers, combinations and methods of use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Culvert markers such as the ICEWORM™ product secure a vertical pole to a culvert via a spring. The spring permits the marker to deflect upon contact by a lateral force such as from snow being cleared from an adjacent roadway. 
     SUMMARY 
     A culvert marker is disclosed comprising: a pole connected to the wire rope; a wire rope; and a base. 
     A culvert location marker is also disclosed comprising: a structural base defining a plurality of fastener holes for securing the structural base to a culvert in use; and a wire rope extending out of the structural base. 
     A marker is also disclosed comprising: a structural base; a wire rope extending out of the structural base; and a mast supported by the wire rope. 
     A marker is also disclosed comprising: a structural base; and a wire rope extending out of the structural base, with a central axis defined by the wire rope projecting through an area defined between plural ground-or-support-surface contacting points that are defined by the structural base and are spaced angularly about the central axis. 
     In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of the following features: The structural base comprises a ground-or-support-surface-contacting plate. The ground-or-support-surface-contacting plate underlies a base end of the wire rope in use. The structural base comprises a collar forming a receptacle that receives a base portion of the wire rope. A central axis defined by the wire rope projects through an area defined between plural ground-or-support-surface contacting points, which are defined by the structural base and are spaced angularly about the central axis. The structural base comprises a plurality of fastener holes. The plurality of fastener holes are angularly spaced about a central axis defined by the wire rope. The wire rope comprises plural strands wrapped helically around a central axis defined by the wire rope, with each of the plural strands having plural core wires. A top portion of the mast comprises a reflective marking. A combination comprises a culvert; and the marker, in which the structural base is secured to the culvert. A method comprises securing the structural base of the marker of any one of claims  1 - 9  to a ground or support surface. A mast is supported by the wire rope. 
     These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the claims, which are incorporated here by reference. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a marker. 
         FIG. 1A  is a section view taken along the  1 A- 1 A section lines from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the undersurface of the plate from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of the marker of  FIG. 1  secured to a culvert located near a road. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims. 
     Markers may be used indicate a position, a geographic feature, a piece of equipment, a place, a route, or to provide other information and visual cues. For example, markers are used to inform motorists travelling along a road or to indicate the location of a particular component, which may at times be at least partially buried under snow or debris or otherwise difficult to visually locate. Markers such as traffic posts may be positioned alongside roadways to help guide traffic along the road, particularly at night when reflectors mounted on such posts indicate the path the road takes into the distance. A marker may comprise a sign positioned in an upright fashion and anchored in the ground, held in place by sand bags or other heavy objects, or spring-mounted on a base, which allows the upright member to bend or deflect relative to the base. Some sign stands provide a spring as a resilient member that couples the upright member or sign to the base. 
     Markers may be used as roadside devices, which are mounted to the ground, road, or other support surface in a permanent or temporary fashion. Permanent mounting may be achieved using a foundation such as a concrete pile. Other permanent mounting methods include insertion of a pole into the ground, in some cases preceded by drilling a hole and cementing the pole in place within the hole. Many permanently mounted devices that require power may be connected underground to a source of power or control lines. Temporary mounting may be achieved by resting the base on the ground. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a marker may include a culvert marker  10 , which is a type of marker used to identify a culvert  22 , which may be adjacent, for example underground below, a road  28 . A culvert is a structure that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, trail, or other obstruction or right-of-way. A culvert may be made from a pipe, reinforced concrete, or other suitable material. A corrugated metal pipe culvert  22  is shown. A culvert may be embedded within the ground, for example laterally penetrating a slope  26  that defines a ditch  24  adjacent the road  28  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A culvert is commonly used as a cross-drain for ditch relief and to pass water, for example between open ends  22 A of culvert  22 , under a road or right-of-way at natural drainage and stream crossings. Culverts come in many sizes and shapes including round, elliptical, flat-bottomed, pear-shaped, and box-like cross-sectional constructions. Culverts may be constructed of a variety of materials including cast-in-place or precast concrete (reinforced or non-reinforced), galvanized steel, aluminum, or plastic, typically high-density polyethylene. 
     Culverts and other roadside structures such as guardrails may be damaged by contact with heavy equipment such as snow-clearing equipment, or by debris moved by such equipment. Road graders and heavy equipment often damage or plug culverts, causing expensive culvert repairs, risks to equipment operators, and flooding and erosion due to maintenance equipment operators not knowing where culverts are located. Off-road vehicles or right-of-way mowers may accidentally contact a culvert, causing injuries to drivers and mechanical damage to equipment and culvert. Markers may thus be used to indicate to drivers and other individuals where a culvert or other structure is located so as to permit the driver or individual to avoid the structure. Snowplow operators may accidentally block culverts with compacted snow. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a marker such as a culvert marker  10  is illustrated comprising a structural base  14  and a wire rope  12 . Wire rope  12  may extend out of structural base  14 , for example in an upright fashion such as if oriented normal to a ground or support surface contacting plane defined by the base  14 . Structural base  14  may be secured by a suitable mechanism to a ground surface or a support surface, such as a top cylindrical surface  22 B of an exposed section of the exterior surface of the culvert  22 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , location marker  10  may be a roadside marker, a culvert marker, a location marker, or other suitable marker. The structure and configuration of marker  10  may protect marker  10  from being pushed over or damaged by snow or other weather conditions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , structural base  14  may provide a suitable footing from which to mount and support the wire rope  12 . Structural base  14  may comprise a ground-or-support-surface-contacting plate  14 A. Referring to  FIG. 1 , ground-or-support-surface-contacting plate  14 A may underlie a base end  12 D of the wire rope  12  in use. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1B , a central axis  18  defined by the wire rope  12  may project through an area, in this case the under surface  14 G of the plate  14 A, defined between plural ground-or-support-surface contacting points, for example four corners  14 H, that are defined by the structural base  14  and are spaced angularly about the central axis  18 . The area may be defined by perimeter lines that connect the ground-or-support-surface contacting points. In the example of a plate  14 A, the area would be defined as a rectangle. Referring to  FIG. 1 , wire rope base end  12 D of the wire rope  12  may contact a ground surface or other support surface, or may be suspended above a ground or other support surface. A hole may be provided in the plate  14 A coaxially with the wire rope  12 . In some cases (not shown) the structural base  14  has discrete ground-or-support-surface-contacting parts, such as plural legs angularly spaced about the central axis  18  defined by the wire rope  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , structural base  14  may have a configuration suitable for securing or mounting structural base  14  to culvert  22  or other support or ground surfaces. Referring to  FIG. 1 , structural base  14  may comprise a plurality of fastener holes  36 , for example two, three, four or more holes as shown. Fastener holes  36  may permit structural base  14  to be secured to culvert  22 , for example via bolts  34  and nuts  38 . The plurality of fastener holes  36  may be angularly spaced about the central axis  18  defined by the wire rope  12 , for example in ninety degree increments in the example shown. Referring to  FIG. 2 , structural base  14  may be connected to culvert  22  via a suitable mechanism for example welding, nails, screws, anchors, adhesives, or other suitable fasteners. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , structural base  14  may have a structure suitable for receiving and mounting wire rope  12 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , structural base  14  may comprise a collar  14 B forming a receptacle that receives a base portion  12 F of the wire rope  12 , for example defined as the portion of wire rope  12  between wire rope base end  12 D and collar top end  14 E. Wire rope base end  12 D or another part of the wire rope base end  12 D may rest on collar base wall  14 D. The wire rope  12  may be connected to the collar  14 B by a suitable method such as tack-welding about a complete circumference of the collar  14 B. The collar  14 B may be connected to the plate  14 A by a suitable method such as by welding about a circumference of the collar  14 B. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , structural base  14  may comprise a sleeve, a slot, a shaft such as a cylindrical shaft, an I-beam, a C-channel, a hole, or other structure suitable for receiving wire rope  12 . 
     Wire ropes are used in a variety of industrial applications. A wire rope is a type of rope made with strands of metal or steel wire laid or twisted into a helix, sometimes around a core. This core can be one of three types. The first is a fiber core, made up of synthetic or natural material. Fiber cores are the most flexible and elastic, but are easily crushed and thus not suitable for heavy loads. The second type, wire strand core, is made up of one additional strand of wire, and is typically used for suspension. The third type is independent wire rope core, which is the most durable in all types of environments. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2 , a wire rope  12  may be used as a resilient part that is biased into an upright position, for example a vertical position as shown in use, and that permits deflection upon exposure to lateral forces above a predetermined threshold. The wire rope  12  may be provided with a sufficient diameter, length, material, and construction in order to stand upright in the absence of lateral forces. The wire rope  12  may have a structure suitable for permitting a limited range of bending or to prevent kinking of wire rope  12 . Referring to  FIG. 1A , wire rope  12  may comprise plural strands  12 A wrapped helically around the central axis  18  defined by the wire rope  12 , with each of the strands  12 A having plural core wires  12 B. Each of the outer strands  12 A may define a respective outer strand axis  12 A′. Each core wire  12 B may be made of a suitable material, such as steel, for example if galvanized steel cables are used. In the example shown a wire rope  12  is made of a central core strand surrounded by plural outer strands. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , marker  10  may comprise a mast  16 , for example supported by wire rope  12 . Mast  16  may be a tube, pole, sleeve or other suitable structure, for example a plastic tube. The tube may be resilient. The tube may be constructed in a variety of colors. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a portion, such as a top portion, adjacent or defined at a top end  16 E, of the mast  16  may comprise a marking, for example a reflective marking  40 . The marking provides a visual reference to catch the attention of a nearby user or driver as to the presence of the marker. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , mast  16  may be secured to wire rope  12  via a suitable mechanism such as a hose or band clamp  32 , welding, adhesive, and others. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , wire rope  12  may be structured in a suitable fashion. The wire rope  12  may extend part way up an axial length  16 G of mast  16 . By using a wire rope  12  whose axial length  12 J is relatively short compared to the axial length  16 G of mast  16 , the relatively denser wire rope  12  remains near the base of the device, and the center of gravity of the marker  10  may be lower than if the wire rope  12  extended along a substantial part of or the entirety of the axial length  16 G entirely. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a top portion  12 G of wire rope  12  may connect to mast  16 , for example as shown where the portion  12 G is received within a receptacle defined by mast  16  via an opening at a base end  16 D of mast  16 . Top portion  12 G, for example defined by mast base end  16 D and wire rope top end  12 E, may be a suitable axial length for example between four to six inches in length. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , wire rope  12  may form a resilient interconnection, form example a cantilever connection, between the structural base  14  and the mast  16  that permits the mast  16  to deflect from the central axis  18  defined by the wire rope  12  when a lateral force, for example a force with a non-zero force vector component oriented a direction  30  perpendicular to axis  18 , is applied to the mast  16  and to return to the central axis  18  when the lateral force is no longer applied to the mast  16 . In some cases, the wire rope  12  causes the mast  16  to return to the neutral, vertical position shown by non-dashed lines, even when the mast  16  must push through snow to do so. A non-zero angle of deflection  20  from neutral may be defined by the wire rope  12  when in a deflected position, and a vertex at collar top end  14 E defined by the wire rope  12  when in a deflected position. 
     As above, markers may function as traffic control devices. Traffic control devices include markers, signs and signal devices used to inform, guide and control traffic, including pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists. Such devices are usually placed adjacent, over or along the highways, roads, traffic facilities and other public areas for traffic control. Traffic signs include signs that use symbols or words to convey information to road users. Traffic signs may convey regulatory, warning, or advertising information. Traffic lights include traffic control devices used for alternately assigning right-of-way to traffic moving in conflicting directions at an intersection. 
     Marker  10  may be positioned adjacent a cement barricade, adjacent or on a guard rail, mounted to the ground, such as directly on the road itself, or in other suitable configurations. Wire rope  12  may have first and second axial portions, for example positioned within structural base  14  and mast  16  respectively, with one portion secured to the base  14  and the other to the mast  16  or other indicator portion such as a sign. Wire rope  12  may depend from base end  12 D the mast  16 . Wire rope  12  may be constructed to support the mast  16  in an upright position when the marker  10  is not loaded with any lateral force. Wire rope  12  may support mast  16  in a vertical position. Wire rope  12  may be a wire rope suitable to form a winch line for a vehicle or industrial equipment. Structural base  14  may depend from base end  12 D of wire rope  12 . Structural base  14  may form an anchor, a foot, or a support base. Structural base  14  may be mounted on top of a guardrail post, for example to indicate to grader operators that a guardrail extends into the ground below a snowbank. Mast  16  may support a sign or may form a sign. Mast  16  may be a pole or a post. In this disclosure, words such as up, down, top, bottom, lateral, base, above, and below are relative and not intended to be restricted to absolute orientations based on the direction of gravitational acceleration on the Earth, unless context dictates otherwise. 
     In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims.