Abstract:
An expandable traffic cone that can be opened and expanded to create a barrier or barricade, lessening the number of cones needed for any situation. The expandable traffic cone is split vertically with a first and second half, joined together by clamps, that when undone, allow the first and second half to be separated horizontally to expose a set of pivoting arms that create a barricade when the cone halves are separated. Arm extensions are also provided to expand the width of the barricade.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 61/397,960 (“the &#39;960 application”) filed Jun. 18, 2010. The &#39;960 application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to traffic cones used to mark traffic lanes in various situations where vehicles must be redirected around hazards or other emergency conditions. Likewise these cones can be used to mark the perimeter of an area that requires temporary restricted access such as an accident or crime scene. More particularly, the present invention relates to a traffic cone that can be expanded to serve the function of a barricade, thereby lessening the number of cones needed for a particular situation and eliminating the need for safety tape or other perimeter defining devices. 
         [0003]    The traffic cone is a familiar item seen often on roadways to mark traffic lanes, and alert and redirect drivers around construction or accidents. However, the conventional traffic cone has a limited function and does not provide a true barricade against pedestrian traffic or individuals that might walk upon a crime scene or into a dangerous area. The conventional traffic cone is essentially a visual safety device and nothing more. The line created by the placement of safety cones creates a virtual or imaginary boundary but not a physical boundary. Previous inventions have sought to overcome this by incorporation safety tape roll dispensers at the top or apex of a traffic cone with the intention of running tape from one cone to another. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention overcomes the limitations of the simple traffic cone and previous attempts to expand its use by providing an improved expandable traffic cone. The inventive expandable traffic cone has a top or apex end and a bottom end and is essentially split vertically into a first half with right and left vertical surfaces and a second half with right and left vertical surfaces with a plurality of clamps holding the first half to the second half along the respective vertical surfaces of the first half and the second half, the right vertical surface of the first half abutting the left vertical surface of the second half, and the left vertical surface of the first half abutting the right vertical surface of the second half. The exterior surface of both the first half and the second half will be light reflective for safety reasons. This light reflective surface could be a coating or an adhesive wrap. 
         [0005]    When the clamps are disengaged, the first half and the second half are pulled apart in a horizontal direction revealing pivoting arms with a first arm hinged at or near the top of the first half and a second arm hinged at or near the top of the second half. Both of the pivoting arms have an upper end and a lower end with the upper end of each arm being the end hinged at or near the top of the respective half. The lower end of the first arm is pivotally connected to the lower end of the second arm. The length of the pivoting arms or the distance between the upper end and the lower end would be less than the height of the inventive expandable traffic cone, thereby being fully encased and sealed within the first and second halves when closed and clamped together. 
         [0006]    When the first half and the second half are fully separated, the first and second arms will rise to a horizontal position creating a barrier or barricade between the separated halves. A spring loaded push button lock will snap into a suitable aperture to lock the first and second arms in their horizontal position. 
         [0007]    In a further embodiment, the first and second arms can be fitted with an extended arm feature with a first arm extension and a second arm extension encased in their respective arms such that the first and second half can be horizontally extended further thereby increasing the length of the barrier or barricade and requiring fewer cones for any situation. Both the first arm extension and second arm extension will be provided with extension push button locks allowing the user to select the amount of extension needed. The first and second arms will be provided with lock apertures for snap engagement of the extension push button locks on their respective arm extensions. It is further understood that the exterior surfaces of the arms and arm extensions will be light reflective in a manner similar to that of the safety cone itself 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inventive expandable traffic cone in the closed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the inventive expandable traffic cone in a partially open position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the inventive expandable traffic cone in the fully open position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the pivoting arms in a partially open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view of the pivoting arms fully open with one arm extension fully extended and one arm extension not extended. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a phantom view showing the pivoting arms encased in the inventive expandable traffic cone in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    In  FIG. 1 , the inventive expandable traffic cone  1  is shown in the closed position with a top end  2 , a bottom end  3 , and vertically split to define a first half  4  and a second half  7 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first half  4  has a right vertical surface  5  in contact with a left vertical surface  9  of the second half  7 . Although hidden in this view, on the opposite side, a left vertical surface  6  of the first half  4  would be in contact with the right vertical surface  8  of the second half  7 . The first half  4  and second half  7  are held together at their respective vertical surfaces by a plurality of clamps  10 . Although only one clamp  10  can be seen in  FIG. 1 , it is understood that there would be at least one clamp on each side of the expandable traffic cone I to securely hold the first half  4  to the second half  7  until it was desired to expand the traffic cone. Also noted in  FIG. 1  are the cone reflective surfaces  23 . It is intended that the exterior surfaces of both halves of the cone  1  be fitted with a suitable highly light reflective surface as commonly used on traffic control and safety signs and devices. 
         [0015]    In  FIG. 2  the clamps  10  have been disengaged and the first half  4  and the second half  7  have been pulled apart horizontally to show the pivoting arms  11  encased within the traffic cone  1 . As can be seen there is a first arm  12  with an upper end  13  and a lower end  14 , a second arm  15  with an upper end  16  and a lower end  17 , both arms pivotally connected at their respective lower ends by a pivoting joint  20 . The upper end  13  of the first arm  12  is pivotally connected to the first half  4  at or near the top end  2  by an upper pivot pin  18 . The upper end  16  of the second arm  15  is pivotally connected to the second half  7  at or near the top end  2  by an upper pivot pin  19 . Also shown is a pivoting arm lock  25  and an arm lock aperture  26 . It is intended that the pivoting arm lock  25  be similar to a push button or other spring loaded device that will snap or lock in place in the aperture  26  when the arms are in a fully horizontal position. 
         [0016]    Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a first arm extension  21  encased within the first arm  12 , and a second arm extension  22  encases within the second arm  15 . It is intended that the exterior surfaces of both arms and arm extensions be fitted with a suitable highly light reflective surface as commonly used on traffic control and safety signs and devices. 
         [0017]    In  FIG. 3  the first half  4  and the second half  7  are shown fully extended horizontally with the first arm  12  and the second arm  15  in a horizontal position creating a barricade. The cone reflective surfaces  23  and the arm reflective. surfaces  24  are shown as well as the pivoting arm lock  25  in place in the arm lock aperture  26 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows the first arm  12  and second arm  15  in a partially opened position without the first half  4  and second half  7 , to which the arms  12  and  15  would normally be pivotally connected at the top end of their respective halves. In  FIG. 4 , an extended arm feature is also illustrated with a first arm extension  21  encased in the first arm  12  and a second arm extension  22  encased in second arm  15 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  is a first arm extension lock  27  and first arm extension lock apertures  28 , as well as a second arm extension lock  29  and second arm extension lock apertures  30 . As shown the arm extensions  21  and  22  can be extended as desired by pushing the respective arm extension lock into an arm extension lock aperture and extending the arm until the arm extension lock pops up in the next aperture. It is intended that the extension locks  27  and  29  be similar to a push button or other spring loaded device that will snap or lock in place in their respective apertures  28  or  30  when the arm extensions are in their desired position. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows the first arm  12  and second arm  15  in a fully opened position without the first half  4  and second half  7 , to which the arms  12  and  15  would normally be pivotally connected at the top end of their respective halves. In  FIG. 5 , the first arm extension  21  is shown extended from the first arm  12 , the second arm extension  22  remains fully retracted in the second arm  15 . As also shown in  FIG. 4  is a first arm extension lock  27  and first arm extension lock apertures  28 , as well as a second arm extension lock  29  and second arm extension lock apertures  30 . Also shown is the reflective surface  24  on the exterior of first arm extension  21 , which feature would also be on the exterior of the second arm extension  22 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded view of the expandable traffic cone  1  showing the pivoting arms  11  folded together at the pivoting joint  20  and encased within the traffic cone  1 . As an alternative embodiment, the upper pivoting pins  18  and  19  for the first arm  12  and the second arm  15 , respectively, could be removed and the pivoting arms  11  could be removed from the traffic cone  1 . This would allow the traffic cones  1  to be stacked. Likewise, the use of pivoting arms as depicted for use in a traffic cone could be applied to other commonly used traffic control devices such as large plastic colored barrels.