Flexible delineator post

Abstract

A delineator post adapted to spring back to its original upright position after an impact comprises an inground socket permanently installed in a paved surface. A resilient plug having a lower end portion is inserted in the inground socket. The resilient plug has an upper end portion projecting upwardly from the inground socket. An anchor is provided for releasably anchoring the resilient plug to the inground socket. A post segment is fastened over the upper end portion of the resilient plug. The tension in the resilient plug when subject to a deformation as a result of an impact on the post segment returns the post segment back to its original upright position.

1 . A flexible delineator post assembly comprising
 an inground socket permanently installed in a paved surface;   a rubber joint having a plug body including upper and lower end portions, the lower end portion being releasably insertable in the inground socket with the upper end portion projecting upwardly from the inground socket;   an anchor for releasably anchoring the rubber joint to the inground socket;   a post segment having a tubular lower end portion fitted over the upper end portion of the rubber joint; and   a fastener for releasably attaching the post segment to the upper end portion of rubber joint.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein the upper end portion of the rubber joint has a greater cross-section than that of lower end portion thereof, thereby forming a shoulder therebetween, and wherein the anchor comprises a pulling rod mounted to the rubber joint and engageable with a corresponding anchoring point provided on the inground socket for drawing the shoulder in tight engagement against and an upper lip portion of the inground socket. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 2 , wherein the pulling rod comprises a bolt mounted in a axially extending hole defined through the plug body of the rubber joint, the bolt having a threaded shank depending downwardly from the plug body and having a hook threadably engaged thereon for longitudinal movement therealong in response to a rotation of the bolt. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 3 , wherein the anchoring point includes a crossbar extending transversally through the inground socket. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one stopper extends from the plug body for engagement in a corresponding notch defined in the inground socket, the engagement of the stopper in the notch preventing rotation of the rubber joint relative to the inground socket. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein said fastener comprises a pair of bolts extending transversally through the post segment and the rubber joint, the two bolts being link by a metal plate. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein the hardness of the rubber joint is comprised between about 30 to about 70 durometer. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible delineator post assembly defined in  claim 7 , wherein the hardness of the rubber joint is comprised between about 40 to about 50 durometer. 
     
     
         9 . A self-restorable delineator post adapted to spring back to an original upright position after an impact, comprising an inground socket adapted to be permanently installed in a paved surface, a resilient plug having a lower end portion insertable into the inground socket, the resilient plug having an upper end portion projecting upwardly from the inground socket when the lower end portion of the resilient plug is inserted therein, an anchor operable from the upper end portion of the resilient plug for releasably anchoring the resilient plug to the inground socket, and a post segment fastenable over the upper end portion of the resilient plug, the tension in the resilient plug when subject to a deformation as a result of an impact on the post segment returning the post segment back to its original upright position. 
     
     
         10 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 9 , wherein the resilient plug comprises a solid block of rubber material. 
     
     
         11 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 10 , wherein the hardness of the rubber material ranges from about 30 durometer to about 70 durometer. 
     
     
         12 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 9 , wherein the anchor comprises a bolt received in a hole extending axially through the resilient plug, the bolt having a threaded shank portion projecting beyond the lower end portion of the resilient plug and having a hook threadably engaged thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 12 , wherein the bolt has a socket head resting on a washer retained captive inside the resilient plug, the socket head being accessible though said hole from said upper lower end portion of the resilient plug. 
     
     
         14 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 12 , wherein the hook is restrained against rotation inside the inground socket, whereby rotation of the bolt is transferred into linear movement of the hook along the threaded shank portion of the bolt. 
     
     
         15 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 9 , wherein anti-rotation features are provided between the resilient plug and the inground socket. 
     
     
         16 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 15 , wherein the anti-rotation features comprises a pair of projections extending from the resilient plug for engagement in a corresponding pair of notches defined in an upper lip portion of the inground socket. 
     
     
         17 . The self-restorable delineator post defined in  claim 9 , wherein the post segment is fastened to the upper end portion of the resilient plug by at least one threaded fastener extending transversally through the post segment and the resilient joint.