Pedestrian traffic control device having tape below top of post

Abstract

An ADA-compliant pedestrian traffic control device including a hollow, one piece post having an open upper end, and at least one slot in the post below the top of the post. A cassette is mounted within the post at the level of the slot. The cassette contains a tape wound on a spool, the spool being spring-biased to rotate in a direction which winds the tape on to the spool. The tape is extendable from the cassette in a direction generally perpendicular to the vertical axis of the post, the tape extending through the slot in the post. The diameter of the cassette, along its entire axial length, is smaller than the internal diameter of the post, so that the cassette can be inserted into the open upper end of the post and moved to its location between the ends of the post. The cassette is furnished with means for maintaining tension in the retractor spring prior to and during insertion of the cassette into the post, the tension-maintaining means being positioned substantially within the confines of the outer dimension of the cassette, so as not to interfere with insertion of the cassette into the post. After the free end of the tape of the cassette is manipulated outwardly through the slot in the post, a pull is attached to the free end of the tape, the pull being too large to fit through the slot and hence preventing full retraction of the tape into the cassette.

1 . A pedestrian traffic control device, comprising: 
 a hollow upright, one piece, post having an open upper end and a lower end,    at least one slot in the post between its ends, the slot being spaced from both ends of the post,    a cassette located within the post and between its ends, the cassette incorporating a tape wound on a spool, the tape being extendable from the cassette, through the slot in the post, in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the post, and    means for holding the cassette within the post.    
     
     
         2 . A pedestrian traffic control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the cassette, along its entire axial length, is smaller than the internal diameter of the post, so that the cassette can be inserted into the open upper end of the post and moved to its location between the ends of the post.  
     
     
         3 . A pedestrian traffic control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the cassette is held within the post at a position such that the lower edge of the tape, when extended, is less than twenty seven inches above the floor supporting the post.  
     
     
         4 . A pedestrian traffic control device as defined in  claim 1  including means for supporting the cassette within the post in the region of the slot in the post.  
     
     
         5 . A pedestrian traffic control device as defined in  claim 4  wherein the support means includes a tube within the post having an upper end in the region of the lower end of slot in the post, the cassette being seated upon the upper end of the tube.  
     
     
         6 . A pedestrian traffic control device as defined in  claim 1  wherein no tape-holding cassette occupies the upper end of the post.  
     
     
         7 . A method of assembling a pedestrian traffic control device, the device including a hollow post having an open upper end and a slot between and spaced from the post ends, and a cassette incorporating a spool on which a tape is completely wound, the free end of the tape being exposed, the method including the steps of: 
 inserting the cassette into the open end of the post,    maneuvering the cassette along the length of the post until the free end of the tape is accessible through the slot in the post,    pulling the free end of the tape through the slot, and    attaching a finger pull to the free end of the tape exposed outside the post, the pull being sized large enough so that the free end of the tape, with pull attached, cannot be retracted into the post through the slot.    
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 7  wherein the tape-carrying spool is spring based in a direction tending to wind the tape on the spool, so that pulling the free end of the tape through the post slot adds tension to the spring.