Protective system for airport runway and taxiway light fixtures

Abstract

A system for the protection of airport runway light fixtures and markers is disposed at or near the edge of aircraft runways, taxiway and airport signs. The system includes a thin flexible mat having an axial opening proportioned to enable placement of a runway light fixture or marker therethrough; and peripherally disposed apertures within the mat. The system further includes several anchors for the mat, each of which comprises a planar head, and means for penetration and engagement of earth upon which the mat is positioned. The penetration and engagement elements of each anchor integrally and rigidly depend from a lower surface of the planar head at a central axis. A greatest transverse cross-section of the engagement element is proportioned for complemental insertion within the peripheral apertures of the convex mat. The planar heads of the anchors each engage the mat when the engagement means have fully penetrated the earth upon which the mat is to be secured. The upper surface of the planar head of each anchor preferably includes an axially disposed nut, Alien head screw or the like proportioned for complemental engagement with the drive element of a power tool to effect rotation of the anchor into the earth.

1 . A system for the protection of airport runway lighting fixtures, the system comprising: 
 (a) a flexible convex mat including an axial opening proportioned to enable placement of a runway light fixture therethrough, and a plurality of peripherally located apertures;    (b) a plurality of anchors for said mat, each of said anchors comprising a planar head, and means for penetration and engagement of earth upon which said mat is to be positioned, said penetration and engagement means integrally and rigidly depend from a lower surface of said planar head at a center axis thereof, in which a greatest transverse cross-section of said penetration means is proportioned for complemental insertion through said peripheral apertures of said mat, 
 whereby said heads of said anchors each engage said mat when said penetration means have fully penetrated the earth upon which said mat is to be secured.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which an upper surface of said planar head of said anchor comprises an axially disposed element proportioned for complemental engagement with a drive head of a power tool to thereby effect rotation of said anchor into the earth.  
   
   
       3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which said penetration means of said anchor comprises an elongate spiral having a pointed tip thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , in which said spiral of said anchor comprises a diameter of about two inches and a length of about one-foot.  
   
   
       5 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which said planar head of said anchor defines a circle having a diameter in a range of about four to about eight inches.  
   
   
       6 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which said mat defines a circle.  
   
   
       7 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which said convex mat defines an ellipse.  
   
   
       8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said mat comprises a convex inner region and an integral outer annular region which is substantially flat.  
   
   
       9 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which said mat includes therein holes for the accommodation of snow poles.  
   
   
       10 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , in which an upper surface of said planar head of said anchor comprises an axially disposed element proportioned for complemental engagement with a drive means of a power tool to effect rotation of said anchor into the earth.  
   
   
       11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , in which said penetration means of said anchor comprises an elongate spiral having a pointed tip thereof,  
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said planar head defines a circle having a diameter in a range of about 4 to about 8 inches.  
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which said mat comprises an inner convex region and an integral annular substantially flat outer region.  
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , in which an upper surface of said planar head of said anchor comprises an axially disposed element proportioned for complemental engagement with a drive means of power tool.  
   
   
       15 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said mat comprises a thickness of between about 0.15 and about 0.50 inches.  
   
   
       16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , in which said planar head defines a circle having a diameter in range of about 4 to about 8 inches.  
   
   
       17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , in which a radius of said mat comprises a radius in a range of about 18 to about 40 inches.  
   
   
       18 . The system as recited in  claim 2  in which said mat comprises a convex portion about said axial opening thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , in which a vertical elevation of said convex portion of said mat comprises a range of between about one and about three inches above the earth.  
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , in which a vertical elevation of said mat defines a rectangle.