Surface mount traffic channelizer

Abstract

A Surface Mount Channelizer ( 40 ) for absorbing impacts to a marker or sign used for demarking traffic lanes provides means for replacing a flexible shaft without detaching a mounting base from a lane surface. The apparatus comprises an upright marker ( 10 ) connected to a mounting base ( 18, 24 ), wherein the apparatus has means for providing free movement of marker ( 10 ) in any direction relative to mounting base ( 18, 24 ). The means for providing free movement comprises a flexible hinge ( 22 ), connecting marker ( 10 ) to mounting base ( 18, 24 ). Marker ( 10 ) is preferably comprised of a flexible material, and in combination with flexible hinge ( 22 ) is capable of a range of motion from upright to parallel with the ground 360° around said mounting base.

1 . An apparatus for marking traffic lanes comprising an upright flexible marker ( 10 ) connected to a mounting base ( 18 ,  24 ), said apparatus having a flexible hinge ( 22 ) which is capable of bending at about 90° relative to the upright position of flexible marker ( 10 ) at 360° around mounting base ( 18 ,  24 ), said apparatus being mounted on a surface using an adhesive or by connecting with bolts, wherein said flexible hinge and flexible marker, and said flexible hinge and mounting base are each non-threaded and are each adapted to fit one inside the other, and wherein said flexible hinge is connected to said mounting base using anchor ( 62 ) passes through both sides of mounting base ( 18 , 24 ) and flexible hinge ( 22 ) and which comprises 65% to 85% of the diameter or the width of the base and is easily removed thereby separating flexible hinge ( 22 ) from mounting base ( 18 , 24 ). 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said hinge comprises an upper portion ( 26 ), a mid portion ( 28 ) and a bottom portion ( 30 ), wherein mid portion ( 28 ) is a reduced diameter flexion point. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein marker ( 10 ) is tubular and is adapted to fit over upper portion ( 26 ) of flexible hinge ( 22 ). 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said flexible hinge ( 22 ) comprises a polyester based urethane elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said mounting base ( 18 ) comprises sides ( 32 ), a top ( 48 ), mandrel ( 44 ) and recess ( 46 ) for receiving a flexible hinge ( 22 ). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein mounting base ( 18 ) comprises a shell of break resistant material having a crush resistant honeycomb reinforcing structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  having a rim ( 52 ), reinforcing ring of material ( 54 ) and a broader center ring of reinforcing material ( 56 ), and support struts ( 50 ) connecting outer reinforcing ring ( 54 ), rim ( 52 ) and center ring ( 56 ). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein mounting base ( 18 ) comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.