Highway guard rail warning and delineating device

Abstract

A highway guard rail device ( 10 ) that warns and delineates through reflex reflectivity of sunlight and vehicle light back to the motorist. The main body of the device is made of protective coated ( 24 ) metal ( 22 ) with retro-reflective sheeting ( 20 ) adhered to the front surface of the device ( 10 ). The device ( 10 ) mounts onto and covers the full vertical height of a W-shaped highway guard rail ( 28 ). The device ( 10 ) comprises of a relatively flat front face plate ( 14 ) and two contiguous convoluted concave protruding ears ( 12 ) on either side of the face plate ( 14 ). The ears ( 12 ) are positioned in the guard rails ( 28 ) U-shaped recessed trough ( 30 ). The reflective convoluted concave ears ( 12 ) and the reflective flat front face plate ( 14 ) provide a lateral reflex reflective surface angle of 0 degrees to 180 degrees. The device ( 10 )is secured to the highway guard rail ( 28 ) by sets of opposing fastening tabs ( 16 ) which are contiguous part of the main body face plate ( 14 ). There are fastening tabs ( 16 ) on the top of the device ( 10 ) and on the bottom of the device ( 10 ). The pair sets of fastening tabs ( 16 ) are bent over the top and bottom of the guard rails edge ( 32 ) respectively. Cable tie fasteners ( 26 ) are threaded and buckled through the opposing sets of fastenings grommet tab holes ( 18 ). The cable tie fasteners ( 26 ) are pulled tight fastening the device ( 10 ) in place and in shape against the front facade of the highway guard rail ( 28 ).

I claim:  
     
         1 . A warning and delineating device that fits on and fastens around a W-shaped guard rail and includes, 
 (a) a face plate that is formed onto the full vertical height of the guard rails front facade, and    (b) a plurality fastening system that secures onto the face plate and annulates the guard rail, and    (c) a reflex reflective surface which refracts incidental light, and    (d) face plate ears that are laterally omnidirectional in reflex reflectivity from 0 degrees to 180 degrees.    
     
     
         2 . The face plate of claim I of said device has a flat surface central main body that abuts onto the front facade of the W-shape guard rails upper and lower horizontally parallel bumpers and has two protruding convoluted concave ears on either side of the central main body that position into the recessed U-shaped trough which runs horizontally in the middle of the W-shaped guard rail.  
     
     
         3 . The device of claim I conforms to the W-shaped guard rails upper and lower salient slope with bendable fastening tabs to hold the face plates conformity  
     
     
         4 . The reflective surface of claim I is bonded to the front side of the face plate and is to be the department of transportation approved specification.  
     
     
         5 . The main body of the device of claim I is made of flexible exterior grade metal with a protective coating to inhibit weather and ultra violet light corrosion.  
     
     
         6 . The face plate of claim I of said device has an omnidirectional form with refractory angle of 0 degrees to 180 degrees that is made up of a flat center main body and two 90 degree convoluted concave ears that are attached contiguously on the left and right side of the face plate.  
     
     
         7 . The device of claim I can be of any longitudenal length with the appropriate plurality of fastening means.  
     
     
         8 . The device of claim I can be used for signage in the manner of words or forms applied on the front face plate.  
     
     
         9 . The fastening means for the highway guard rail warning and delineating device annulusly engages the guard rail in a plurality clamping system.  
     
     
         10 . The clamping system in  claim 9  includes; 
 (a) main body face plate  
 (b) a plurality of fastening tabs which are contiguous to the face plate and are in opposing sets on the face plates upper and lower edges.  
 (c) fastening tab grommet holes  
 (d) cable tie fasteners  
 
     
     
         11 . A method for forming and applying the warning and delineating device on to highway guard rail. 
 (a) providing said face plate is in flat condition and accompanied with cable tie fasteners, and    (b) bending down the fastening tabs and the ears 90 degrees on a straight edge surface, and    (c) compressing said face plate flatly on to the front side of the guard rail said ears will slide outwards and form a convoluted concave structure in the said guard rails U-shaped recessed trough, and    (d) bending the fastening tabs to secure said face plate on to the said guard rail upper and lower parallel edges, and    (e) threading the cable tie fasteners through the opposing fastening tab grommet holes, and    (f) buckling said cable tie fasteners pulling taut until said face plate is secured tightly around said guard rail.