Traffic element with illumination and transparent plastic component designed therefor with illumination means

Abstract

Traffic element with illumination, at least comprising an element body having a transparent plastic component which comprises illumination means encapsulated by the plastic of the component, which transparent plastic component is fabricated by casting a preferably resilient multicomponent plastic in a closed mould. Examples of traffic elements are kerbs, traffic island elements, roundabout elements, a road surface etc. Traffic elements according to the invention are experienced as light-emitting elements.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A traffic element with illumination, comprising an element body having a transparent plastic component, having an outer surface and an inner surface, which comprises illumination means encapsulated by the plastic of the component, wherein the transparent plastic component is fabricated by casting a multicomponent plastic in a closed mould.  
     
     
         2 . The traffic element according to  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane systems and clear bioresin systems.  
     
     
         3 . The traffic element according to  claim 2 , wherein the multicomponent plastic is a resilient multicomponent plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The traffic element according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastic component comprises a reinforcement.  
     
     
         5 . The traffic element according to  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement comprises one or more nonwoven polyester webs.  
     
     
         6 . The traffic element according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the transparent plastic component substantially matches the external shape of the element body.  
     
     
         7 . The traffic element according to  claim 1 , wherein the traffic element is a road surface or a part thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The traffic element according to  claim 1 , wherein the illumination means comprise light-conducting cables, having light exit ends designed to emit light, which can be illuminated.  
     
     
         9 . The traffic element according to  claim 8 , wherein the light-conducting cables comprise light-conducting plastic cables.  
     
     
         10 . The traffic element according to  claim 8 , wherein the light exit ends of the light-conducting cables which are designed to emit light are located within the outer surface of the transparent plastic component.  
     
     
         11 . The traffic element according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent plastic component has a substantially T-shaped cross section.  
     
     
         12 . The traffic element according to  claim 8 , wherein the light-conducting cables have positioning means present near the exit end of the light-conducting cables.  
     
     
         13 . The traffic element according to  claim 8 , wherein the transparent plastic component comprises one or more optical elements for the exit end of the light-conducting cables.  
     
     
         14 . The traffic element according to  claim 13 , wherein the optical elements which are present upstream of the exit end of the light-conducting cables are made of the same material as the transparent plastic component.  
     
     
         15 . The traffic element according to claims  8 , wherein a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are incorporated in a light-emitting diode (LED) assembly in the transparent plastic component to illuminate the light-conducting cables.  
     
     
         16 . The traffic element according to  claim 8 , wherein the light-conducting cables can be illuminated by a light source located outside the traffic element.  
     
     
         17 . The traffic element according to  claim 8 , wherein the light-conducting cables are positioned in a way that permits light leaving the cables to form an angle of about 20° with a road surface when the traffic element comprises the road surface or a part of the road surface.  
     
     
         18 . A transparent plastic component for use in a traffic element comprising an illumination means encapsulated by the plastic of the component, comprising a multicomponent plastic, and formed in a closed mould.  
     
     
         19 . A wing rib for use in a transparent plastic component of a traffic element comprising lugs having positioning openings for positioning light-conducting cables.