Patent Document

This invention relates to a road safety reflector and more particularly to a road safety reflector, which may easily gripped, for proper positioning, prior to adhering the same to a road surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Reflecting road markers augment the stripes in the road. The reflecting road markers can be colored to indicate the kind of stripes being used on the road. Typically, the stripes are white, yellow, dashed, continuous or combinations thereof. Such stripes can indicate lane divisions, and passing or no passing sections of the road. 
     With an appropriately colored reflector, the type of stripe or stripes can be emphasized. These reflecting devices are placed on and secured to the road. However, it is difficult to place them on the road in an appropriate position. 
     The road material is very hot. Yet the devices must still be secured thereto. It is necessary for the worker to handle each reflector device and place each one in the proper position at the proper time. However, it is extremely difficult to grip the devices. 
     The reflecting devices must also be durable. The attachment to the road requires durability. Enduring the traffic pounding requires durability. This durability requirement must be met while providing ease of attachment and positioning Due to the heat required for adhering the reflectors to the road, gloves must be worn during the application of the reflector to the road. Gloves, of course, interfere with a firm grip. Something must be done to compensate for the countervailing requirements of gloves and precise placement. 
     A larger size for the reflector cannot solve the problem of gripping. The reflectors cannot be larger than a certain size. All highway departments impose size limitations on such reflectors. 
     If gripping can be improved while at the same time maintaining the reflecting capabilities without destroying the aesthetic appearance of the reflector, great advantages can be obtained. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many objectives of this invention is to provide a grippable road safety reflector assembly, which is easily positioned on a road. 
     Another objective of this invention is to provide a grippable road safety reflector assembly, which is easily positioned by a gloved hand. 
     Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a grippable road safety reflector assembly, which has a desired size. 
     Still another objective of this invention is to provide a grippable road safety reflector assembly, which is durable. 
     Additionally, an objective of this invention is to provide a flexible grippable road safety reflector assembly. 
     Also, an objective of this invention is to provide a flexible grippable road safety reflector assembly, which stays in position. 
     A further objective of this invention is to provide a grippable road safety reflector assembly having two reflective surfaces. 
     These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a road safety reflector assembly having a pair of oppositely disposed finger cradles with a hollow, reinforceable housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a top, perspective view of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a top, perspective view of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention, held by a hand  110 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a end, plan view of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention. 
     FIG. 5 depicts a top, perspective view of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention with only first reflector side  124 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts a plurality of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention in position on a road  112 . 
    
    
     Throughout the figures of the drawings where the same part appears in more than one figure the same number is applied thereto. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the road safety reflector assembly of this invention, the reflector assembly has a shape similar to that of a truncated pyramid. This provides for four trapezoidal sides connecting two substantially rectangular sides. However, two opposing trapezoidal sides provide a first notch side oppositely disposed from a second notch side. First notch side combines with second notch side to provide opposing finger cradles for gripping purposes. 
     First notch side and second notch side are perpendicular to the reflector sides. These notch sides permit the gripping. Because the notch proceeds all the way down the housing and is hemi-cylindrical in nature, it is permitted to grab and efficiently place the device. In this fashion, the workers, even with their gloves, can place the reflectors and achieve the desired results. 
     Furthermore, the notch structure permits rain and ice to separate easily from the grippable road safety reflector assembly. There is no surface to trap the water or ice on the reflector assembly. 
     Referring now to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, perspective view of a grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  of this invention is easily held by a hand  110 . Housing  120  of grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  has a shape similar to that of a truncated pyramid. 
     This truncated structure provides for four trapezoidal sides connecting two substantially rectangular sides. Two opposing trapezoidal sides form first reflector side  124  and second reflector side  126 . The remaining opposing trapezoidal sides provide a first notch side  128  oppositely disposed from a second notch side  130 . First notch side  128  combines with second notch side  130  to provide for gripping fingers of hand  110 . 
     First reflector side  124  and second reflector side  126  each have a reflector element  132  secured therein. Such securing may be accomplished by gluing or other suitable fashion. 
     First notch side  128  and second notch side  130  are perpendicular to the first reflector side  124  and second reflector side  126 . First finger cradle  136  is positioned in first notch side  128 . Second finger cradle  138  is positioned in second notch side  130 . 
     First notch side  128  and second notch side  130  permit the gripping. Because first finger cradle  136  and second finger cradle  138  (that is the notches) are so positioned, proceed down the housing  120  and are hemi-cylindrical in nature, it is permitted to grab and efficiently place the grippable road safety reflector assembly  100 . In this fashion, the workers, even with their gloves, can place the reflectors and achieve the desired results. 
     More specifically, first finger cradle  136  and second finger cradle  138  run from topside  122  of housing  120  to the hollow base  150  of housing  120 . An optional lip  152  runs around the edge  156  of hollow base  150  in order to provide additional strength to housing  120 . 
     FIG.  3  and FIG. 4 combine to show a preferred structure for the grippable road safety reflector assembly  100 . The bonded sand layer  160  may fill the hollow housing  120  and provide both adherence to the road  112  and support for the grippable road safety reflector assembly  100 . 
     With FIG. 5, first reflector side  124  has a reflector element  132 , while second reflector side  126  has a non reflecting element  170 , replacing reflector element  132 , secured therein. Non reflecting element  170  may also be molded directly therein. This permits formation of a one-sided reflector element when desired. Such securing may be accomplished by gluing or other suitable fashion. 
     In this fashion the grippable road safety reflector assembly  100  may be efficiently secured to the road  112  as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     This application—taken as a whole with the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
     Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.

Technology Category: 0